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Secrets Exposed! Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt & Others Paid Price For Vince McMahon’s WWE Return

By Ahmed Hamdy • Published May 25, 2026 19:35 EDT
Vince McMahon - Janel Grant Source: WWE.com
Vince McMahon - Source: WWE.com

A former WWE star has spilled the beans on how Vince McMahon’s return in 2023 impacted major storylines.

The former chairman initially retired from the Stamford-based company in mid-2022 amid allegations of misconduct. While his daughter, Stephanie McMahon, succeeded him as the chairwoman, his son-in-law, Triple H, assumed the position of Chief Content Officer.

Under The Game’s new regime, several previously released superstars returned to the promotion, including Karrion Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux.

Upon their comeback, Kross put the then-Undisputed WWE Champion on notice, placing an hourglass in front of him. Meanwhile, he feuded with Drew McIntyre.

What Happened When Vince McMahon Returned To WWE?

While it seemed like Karrion Kross would get a significant push, his direction suddenly changed. In an interview with Denise Salcedo, Scarlett Bordeaux disclosed that Vince McMahon’s comeback a few months after his retirement secretly shifted their creative plans.

The former WWE Superstar claimed McMahon’s influence on creative was kept a secret behind the scenes, though Kross never had a program with Roman Reigns despite the initial tease. During the same interview, Kross also revealed that he was supposed to fight Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania before the former chairman scrapped the match.

I had a blast working with Drew [McIntyre], and so did [Karrion Kross]. Those first few months felt amazing. Getting to put the hourglass in front of Roman [Reigns], I wish we did more with that. Things felt like they changed very quickly within a few months… Vince was back, so I think if he didn’t come back… He wasn’t publicly out in the company, but we started talking to different producers and we’re like, ‘This show’s starting to feel really weird. The booking’s starting to feel weird. Things are changing last minute. This is starting to feel like it did before Vince left. It feels exactly the same.’

And then a few producers privately told us he’s back. But it was one of those things people knew but didn’t talk about because there was no certainty about it. We didn’t see him around or anything. No [not all talent were told]. Just specific people here and there if you had friends who knew, basically. Not everyone knew this. [H/T: WrestlePurists]

Also read: Bray Wyatt Planned To Form New WWE Faction; Members Revealed

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