Cause Of Vince McMahon Back Surgery Revealed

Vince McMahon still wants to lift heavy well into his 70s.

The Chairman of the Board recently underwent life-altering spinal surgery and is on medical leave from WWE. The news of the surgery was first reported by TMZ, with the news surprising many in the company as they found out about the procedure at the same time as everybody else. Following the operation, McMahon has been much less involved in week-to-week programming.

As reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, McMahon required the surgery following frequent intense gym workouts. Some have speculated that the surgery was in fact for McMahon’s neck following surgery that took place in 1994, but the surgery was for his back following injuries sustained from squats.

Years of squatting heavy have finally caught up with McMahon, who is still choosing to load the bar heavy despite being 77 years of age. While squats are a great full-body exercise that builds muscle, they can cause back and hip issues in the long run. The report also states that McMahon has refused hip replacements on multiple occasions for this reason, and also advised Mick Foley against the surgery. Foley would ignore the Chairman’s advice.

Why Is Vince McMahon Selling WWE?

Following a retirement from his position at the top of the company in July 2022 following multiple allegations, McMahon made the return in early 2023 to necessitate a sale of the company. The sale was confirmed shortly after WrestleMania, with Endeavour CEO Ari Emanuel stating that he wasn’t going to let McMahon leave that easily.

In a follow-up interview after the announcement of the merger, McMahon stated that now was the right time to start the next evolution of WWE.