WWE: Legal Documents Expose Power Struggle Between Triple H & Vince McMahon
Paul “Triple H” Levesque was never the heir apparent to WWE, but turns out, neither was Shane McMahon.
With Shane falling out of favor with Vince McMahon, the then-company boss ultimately handed over the keys to the operation to Levesque, who became the head of the creative team in September 2022, a position he holds to this date.
In 2022, skeletons began falling out of Vince’s closet, forcing him to step down as the chairman and CEO of the Stamford-based promotion, with his daughter, Stephanie, taking over the said positions.
Vince, however, returned to the company in January the following year, which various media outlets reported. Stephanie McMahon subsequently resigned from her roles, announcing her departure from WWE.
In April 2023, Endeavor Group announced the merger between the wrestling company and Zuffa, the owner of UFC, which came into effect in September of that year.
The merger itself has been controversial and engulfed in a lawsuit, which was filed by shareholders who accused the likes of Paul Levesque and Nick Khan of unfairly trying to ensure McMahon’s survival despite s*xual misconduct allegations against him.
New Messages Reveal Power Struggle Between WWE’s Triple H & Vince McMahon
WWE’s merger with Zuffa was a groundbreaking event at the New York Stock Exchange.
The latest court documents shared in the Delaware Court of Chancery revealed Paul Levesque’s reservations in a text exchange on WhatsApp with the company’s president, Nick Khan, a day before the official merger.
2:10 PM Paul Levesque: How’s it going so far ? Man, I’m wound tight today …. DDay tomorrow, expecting the worst
2:12 PM Nick Khan: [Deleted by the sender]
2:13 PM Nick Khan: [Deleted by the sender]
2:14 PM Paul Levesque: Call u shortly? Or no time?
2:17 PM Nick Khan: 230 EC. Before good. After tricky!
Some texts from Khan appear to have been deleted or set to auto-disappear. When asked to reveal the context of his messages, Khan claimed that he was unable to recollect.
Later in the same day, Levesque conveyed to Khan that Vince McMahon wanted to set up a meeting to discuss talent releases at the same time when the staff was about to be downsized.
5:29 PM Paul Levesque: Vkm. Btw I need to meet with all of U tomorrow re talent releases which coincides with all corporate releases Thx
5:33 PM Paul Levesque: I know you are swamped. Let me know if you have a minute
7:54 PM Paul Levesque: While I’m SURE you like to be done with this shit for today ….. Please let me know if you speak to AE
10:58 PM Nick Khan: I will. I’ll get him early. We missed each other tonight.
11:05 PM Paul Levesque: K
11:06 PM Paul Levesque: U ok?
11:11 PM Nick Khan: Yes sir! How you ?
11:12 PM Paul Levesque: Good anxious for tomorrow and beyond ……
In the above exchange, AE refers to Ari Emanuel, the current CEO and executive chairman of TKO Group.
While Vince McMahon’s return to WWE was hotly debated by the media, the environment within the company was not too swell either.
The media outlets had received a tip about McMahon’s involvement in the creative decisions despite Levesque having taken over the role officially. However, both Khan and Levesque denied it during different public appearances.
The court documents also reveal an exchange between Levesque and Khan on the day of the merger on September 12, 2023, where he thanked the WWE president for his support amid the prevailing “craziness.”
6:57 AM: Paul Levesque: Nick , just wanted to take a moment before all the craziness today to say THANK YOU !!!!! Thank you for getting us here … if it wasn’t for you , I would have been gone a long time ago. I appreciate you and all you have done and gone thru …. And I appreciate our friendship… It means the world to me
Thank you
and
Congratulations6:58 AM: Nick Khan: You are my guy. You got me here. I want us to do this for 20 years and call it a day. I appreciate and admire you.
Levesque also informed him about an in-person meeting between various WWE dignitaries, including Vince McMahon. Again, Khan’s response here was deleted.
7:13 AM: Paul Levesque: Just fyi
Morning! VKM looking to set an in person meeting for today at 4pm with you, Bruce and Ed regarding Talent Policies
7:14 AM: Nick Khan: [Deleted by the sender]
7:18 AM: Paul Levesque: Done
Following the merger, Levesque got full control of WWE’s creative team, with McMahon still serving as TKO’s Executive Chairman.
On December 9, 2023, Paul again reached out to Nick, informing him about Vince being in Cleveland two nights before the Monday Night Raw taping.
While Khan replied, he deleted his responses again.
8:17 PM: Paul Levesque: Was just told by security that VKM is coming to Cleveland TV Monday. What’s that about ??????
8:18 PM: Nick Khan: [Deleted by the sender]
8:18 PM: Nick Khan: [Deleted by the sender]
8:18 PM: Nick Khan: [Deleted by the sender]
8:43 PM: Paul Levesque: Is he in nyc yet …… When is their meeting?
8:44 PM: Nick Khan: [Deleted by the sender]
The following day, the WWE’s two higher-ups again exchanged texts, this time discussing Ari Emanuel’s actions during a meeting.
1:33 PM: Paul Levesque: the more I think about it the more I’m kinda disappointed in that Ari convo…… Seems like we are in the same place , “I’m gonna tell him to stay out of it or else” that’s way different than “I’m telling him he’s done ….. it’s over” Kicking the can down the road
1:36 PM: Nick Khan: [Deleted by the sender]
1:44 PM: Paul Levesque: What do u think about me hitting Shapiro to get his take and let him push or better direct to Ari?
1:44 PM: Nick Khan: [Deleted by the sender]
1:44 PM: Nick Khan: [Deleted by the sender]
The interaction highlights Levesque’s frustrations with Ari Emanuel’s view on the friction between Levesque and McMahon.
2:31 PM: Paul Levesque: Between you and I, It feels like they are both backtracking on the “he’s out” narrative. It’s back to the “well if he wants to go to the show now and then” and “if he gives notes and wants to have a 30min meeting now and then, ok”
2:39 PM: Paul Levesque: He just sent an email re script for Ari
2:43 PM: Nick Khan: Seems off. Lemme call him.
2:58 PM: Nick Khan: They know already. No need to send.
Vince McMahon ultimately left his position in WWE and resigned from TKO in January 2024.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque has held his position as the WWE Chief Content Officer and has been busy with WWE WrestleMania, scheduled for April 18 & 19.
H/T: POST Wrestling