Newly released audio confirms Stephanie McMahon's resistance to Vince McMahon's WWE return & sale to Endeavor
(Courtesy : WWE)
A newly surfaced recording featuring Stephanie McMahon and court testimony provides fresh insight into one of the biggest decisions in WWE history.
A newly surfaced audio recording has offered fresh insight into one of the most pivotal periods in WWE history, suggesting that Vince McMahon had already decided to pursue a sale to Endeavor before formally returning to the company’s board or beginning an official sale process.
The recording follows a December 2022 meeting at The Mark Hotel in New York attended by Vince McMahon, Ari Emanuel, Mark Shapiro, Nick Khan, Stephanie McMahon, Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Linda McMahon.
Combined with testimony from WWE President Nick Khan, the audio paints a clearer picture of the internal disagreements that preceded WWE’s sale and the eventual formation of TKO Group Holdings.
Stephanie McMahon opposed both Vince’s return and the Endeavor deal
At the time of the meeting, Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan were serving as WWE’s co-CEOs, while Triple H had taken over WWE creative following Vince McMahon’s retirement earlier that year.
According to Nick Khan’s deposition, Stephanie strongly discouraged her father from returning to WWE leadership and questioned whether selling the company was even necessary.
“I remember Stephanie discouraging her dad from coming back as the CEO because we didn’t know what role he was going to come back in, and I remember her expressing that there was no need to sell the company if that’s what he was contemplating,” Khan said.
Despite those concerns, Vince McMahon appeared convinced that Endeavor represented the best path forward.
In the recording, McMahon left a message for Jeff Sine of The Raine Group shortly after the December 2022 dinner.
“Very good meeting with Ari and company. And I think probably the best thing to do is to go forward with the deal with Ari. It solves a lot of problems.”
He also explained why he believed the transaction made the most business sense.
“Together, I think it’s a stronger situation than either one of us on our own. But I’m pretty sure that’s the way I want to go now. It’s easier, faster and all that kind of stuff.”
Dave Meltzer clarifies the source of the recording
Although the recording has been widely described across social media as a “leaked voicemail,” veteran wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer disputed that description. Responding to reports about the audio, Meltzer stated:
“It was not a leaked voice mail. It was a deposition.”
His clarification indicates the recording surfaced through legal proceedings connected to the ongoing litigation rather than through an unauthorized leak, providing additional context regarding how the audio became public.
The recording adds a new perspective to WWE’s historic sale
The timing of the recording is what makes it particularly noteworthy. McMahon recorded the message before officially forcing his way back onto WWE’s board in January 2023 and before the company publicly announced it was exploring strategic alternatives.
Within weeks, Vince McMahon returned to WWE, Stephanie McMahon resigned from her executive position, and WWE formally launched the sale process that ultimately resulted in its merger with Endeavor.
The transaction was officially announced on April 3, 2023, creating TKO Group Holdings. However, the deal later became the subject of shareholder lawsuits alleging the sales process moved too quickly and disproportionately favored Endeavor.
McMahon initially remained with TKO as Executive Chairman before resigning in January 2024 after former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a federal lawsuit against him and WWE.
The fallout also affected the McMahon family. Stephanie McMahon later spoke publicly about how the controversy impacted her family before eventually returning to WWE in a different capacity.
She was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026 by her mother, Linda McMahon, alongside her three daughters. During her speech, Stephanie thanked Triple H, her family and several WWE stars who influenced her career. She also admitted she initially did not feel she deserved the honor before ending the ceremony with one of the trademark heel promos that defined her on-screen character.
Taken together, Nick Khan’s testimony, Vince McMahon’s recorded comments and Dave Meltzer’s clarification offer one of the clearest timelines yet of how WWE’s sale to Endeavor unfolded. They also reinforce reports that Stephanie McMahon opposed both her father’s return and the decision to sell the company long before either ultimately became reality.
What does the newly surfaced recording reveal about Vince McMahon?
The recording suggests Vince McMahon had already decided to pursue a sale to Endeavor before formally returning to WWE’s board or beginning the official sales process.
Was Stephanie McMahon against Vince McMahon returning to WWE?
According to Nick Khan’s deposition, Stephanie McMahon discouraged her father from returning and also questioned whether selling WWE was necessary.
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