Ex-WWE Star Paid To Testify Against Vince McMahon
A former WWE star has claimed they were paid to testify in court against Vince McMahon.
One of the most controversial episodes in WWE history and the storied life of Vince McMahon came in the early nineties when the United States Government put McMahon on trial in what became known as the ‘steroid trial.’
The US Government accused McMahon of conspiring to distribute steroids, possession of illegal steroids with intent to distribute as well as embezzlement for allegedly using company money to buy illegal steroids.
The trial saw several WWE stars both past and present take the stand and one of those was Nailz – the man best known for being fired after he allegedly assaulted Vince McMahon backstage at a show after his request for more money was turned down.
Nailz was one of 11 wrestlers who took the stand during the trial but was the only one who claimed McMahon had pressured him into taking steroids. Ultimately Vince McMahon was acquitted of all charges.
Now speaking to Mike Johnson on Highspots TV, Nailz claimed that he had no interest in being a witness in Vince McMahon’s trial and ultimately had to be paid to give his evidence:
“I told them to get lost. They called me up and said, ‘we need you to testify against Vince McMahon in the steroid trial,’ and I said, ‘I’m through with that guy, I don’t want to deal with anything.’ They said, ‘We can make you testify.’
“A guy from the Department of Justice called and said, ‘You’re dealing with the Federal Government, we can make you do this.’ I said, ‘I’m sure you can, but I’m not doing it.’ The next day, I went off to go to work at about seven in the morning and my house was surrounded by FBI agents. They handed me a subpoena and said, ‘you’re going to New York to testify.’
“They called me up and said, ‘You got our subpoena?’ ‘Yeah, I told you, you can do what you want and you’re going to make me do it, but I’m not coming.’ He said, ‘we’ll give you X amount of dollars to come out and do it.’ I said, ‘I’m not doing it for that much. This is what I want.’ They said, ‘okay, we’ll pay you what you want.’ They basically paid me what I want to come out and do it.
“The first week I went out there, the trial ran longer, so I was going to testify on Thursday or Friday, they said, ‘it’s not going to happen this week. Stay here and we’ll get you in next week.’ I said, ‘I have to go back. I have a business to run.’ They flew me back home and next week they flew me back in.”
Are Vince McMahon and WWE facing more legal issues?
As part of WWE’s second quarter financial reports for 2023, the company revealed that “On July 17, 2023, federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant and served a federal grand jury subpoena on Mr. McMahon. No charges have been brought in these investigations.”
Vince McMahon has released a statement to WWE employees about the events and says that he is fully focused on his recovery from recent major spinal surgery.