Backstage at this week’s Smackdown, according to Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com, things were described as being “business as usual” and that “everyone, especially Vince” acted nothing had really happened.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer discussed the most recent accusations.
Meltzer said:
“I think these are all the NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements). I don’t know, but I think these are all the NDAs and I think the other stories are just women who didn’t get money and just, you know, whatever. Didn’t want to fight Vince. Always wanted the chance to come back.
The people who went after Vince are the ones who didn’t want to come back because if you wanted to come back, you don’t do this. So, that’s the carrot that Vince has in these situations, so these are people who, for whatever reason, went to him knowing that by doing this that they’re never coming back.”
As PWMania.com previously reported, it was disclosed on Wednesday, June 15 that Vince was the subject of an inquiry by the WWE Board of Directors regarding the “secret $3 million settlement” he had given to the former paralegal employed in 2019. The involvement of Laurinaitis is also under investigation, and the Board is also looking into other incidents involving former female employees. Then, on Friday, June 17, it was revealed that Stephanie had come back from her leave of absence to serve as the interim CEO and chairwoman after Vince willingly stood down from his chairman and CEO business obligations while continuing to carry out his creative tasks. Then, on Monday, June 20, it was made public that Bruce Prichard, Senior Vice President of WWE and Executive Producer of RAW/SmackDown, is also serving as Interim Senior Vice President of Talent Relations, standing in for Laurinaitis throughout the inquiry. Then, today, Friday, July 8, it was made public that McMahon had agreed to pay four women, among them a former wrestler, more than $12 million in “hush money.”
Stay tuned to PWMania.com for more. You can check out the latest Wrestling Observer Radio below:
