WWE ‘sack exec John Laurinaitis after 20-years as Triple H begins overhaul following Vince McMahon’s retirement’
WWE have sacked longtime executive John Laurinaitis shortly after owner Vince McMahon’s retirement, reports suggest.
McMahon, 76, stepped down as the company’s Chairman, CEO and Head of Creative last month following 40 years in charge of the professional wrestling giants.
The American businessman rolled credits on his career after accusations of sexual misconduct and reports he allegedly paid several women millions in hush money between 2006 and 2022.
According to PWInsider, Laurinaitis was also quietly let go last week after being caught up in the storm.
The Wall Street Journal claimed in June that the WWE board is investigating McMahon after receiving an anonymous tip via email claiming he paid hush money to an ex-employee with whom he had an affair.
The email claimed the 76-year-old hired the woman as a paralegal to a $100,000 (£83,000) salary, and doubled it after the affair began.
Read More on WWE
Then it was claimed McMahon “gave her like a toy” to Laurinaitis, who has been working for WWE since 2001.
The Wall Street Journal later alleged that McMahon paid millions over the course of at least 16 years to four different women with whom he had sexual relationships.
Th article read: “The board’s investigation, which began in April, has unearthed other, older nondisclosure agreements involving claims by former female WWE employees of misconduct by Mr. McMahon and one of his top executives, John Laurinaitis, the head of talent relations at WWE, the people said. The Wall Street Journal couldn’t determine how many previous agreements were being scrutinized.”
McMahon has been succeeded by his daughter Stephanie who is now in charge as Chairwoman and co-CEO alongside co-CEO Nick Khan.
Most read in WWE
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Her husband and WWE legend Triple H has taken over as Head of Creative.
The dismissal of Laurinaitis, who hasn’t spoken publicly about the probe, marks a number of changes under the new regime.
The post-McMahon era has seen superstars return, such as Karrion Kross, stables being created and gimmicks changing – reports suggest there will be more tweaks.
Laurinaitis, who is the brother of WWE Hall of Famer Road Warrior Animal, started out as a wrestler under the ring name of Johnny Ace before becoming an executive.