WEBVTT - Vince Steps Down 0:00:00.280 --> 0:00:02.800 Hey, this is Brian Alvarez and this is today's edition 0:00:02.840 --> 0:00:08.920 of the Wrestling Observer Daily podcast on the eight Side Network. Ready, 0:00:10.600 --> 0:00:16.640 let's get it all. How's it going, everybody? Brian Alvarez 0:00:16.760 --> 0:00:19.759 here on or Wrestling Observer Live. We are here every 0:00:19.840 --> 0:00:23.439 day Monday through Friday. NOO Sivic three Stern Sunday, three Pacific, 0:00:23.480 --> 0:00:26.439 sixth Eastern. Well, it's Friday here on this show. We 0:00:26.520 --> 0:00:30.639 got a lot to talk about. SmackDown is tonight, We've 0:00:30.680 --> 0:00:36.800 got some a W ratings, and there's an n x 0:00:36.840 --> 0:00:39.200 T two point oh coming up next week. We're gonna 0:00:39.200 --> 0:00:43.960 have some matches and ros Monday. I think Triple Mania's 0:00:44.000 --> 0:00:48.880 coming up. Jeff Hardy he oh yeah. Vince is stepped 0:00:48.920 --> 0:00:54.400 down as the chairman and CEO of w w E, 0:00:55.320 --> 0:01:00.000 to be replaced by Stephanie McMann. I can't even say 0:01:00.000 --> 0:01:04.120 it with a straight face. Oh my god, bro, if 0:01:04.120 --> 0:01:06.640 this guy could write storylines like the real life storylines 0:01:06.680 --> 0:01:12.360 going on right now, Holy smokes. So you guys I 0:01:12.440 --> 0:01:18.679 haven't heard, which I'm sure you have allegations against Vince McMahon. 0:01:18.800 --> 0:01:23.200 Vince McMahon stepping down, Stephanie McMahon took a leave of absence, 0:01:23.880 --> 0:01:26.160 and then, as we've been talking about, in a totally 0:01:26.240 --> 0:01:30.959 bizarre turn of events, she stepped down. They started hiring 0:01:31.040 --> 0:01:34.520 people to do her job. And then the first they 0:01:34.520 --> 0:01:39.560 went privately, We're telling people that Stephanie sucked at her job. 0:01:40.280 --> 0:01:44.320 They buried her privately, and then they actually there was 0:01:44.600 --> 0:01:48.520 a public story where they talked about how Stephanie wasn't 0:01:48.560 --> 0:01:52.880 good at her job. They buried her. And now she 0:01:53.880 --> 0:01:57.880 is back as the new chairman and CEO of w 0:01:57.880 --> 0:02:02.240 w E, and Vince McMahon and his canna continue doing 0:02:02.280 --> 0:02:05.000 his job. The exception of his chairman and ceo. Dude, 0:02:05.000 --> 0:02:06.760 he's still he's still writing all the shows and everything, 0:02:07.160 --> 0:02:10.360 still tearing up scripts, brother, and he's going to appear 0:02:11.400 --> 0:02:15.280 on SmackDown tonight. And there's a lot that's been said 0:02:15.280 --> 0:02:18.359 about this, but we'll tell you about it and more 0:02:19.000 --> 0:02:21.760 after the break. Dave Meltzer joins us in the second segment, 0:02:22.040 --> 0:02:48.600 simp for vv coming up next Observer Live. Back in 0:02:48.600 --> 0:02:50.760 the show, bright Over is here Wrestling Observer Live. Mike 0:02:50.760 --> 0:02:53.360 simp for VIV also Wrestling Observer dot Com. I missed 0:02:53.400 --> 0:02:58.240 the Eagles for this today, Well I'm back, good Paul 0:02:58.680 --> 0:03:01.320 for today. In the latest development and one of wrestling's 0:03:01.320 --> 0:03:04.960 biggest stories. I'll say Vince McMahon has voluntarily stepped down 0:03:05.000 --> 0:03:07.840 as w w E chairman and CEO while the company's 0:03:07.880 --> 0:03:12.000 Special Committee of the board investigates alleged misconduct. Stephanie McMahon 0:03:12.040 --> 0:03:16.720 was named interim CEO and chairwoman until the investigation concludes. However, 0:03:17.040 --> 0:03:20.560 Vince mcman quote will retain his role and responsibilities related 0:03:20.600 --> 0:03:23.160 to w w e's creative content during this period and 0:03:23.320 --> 0:03:28.240 remains committed to cooperating with the review under way. Stephanie 0:03:28.240 --> 0:03:30.919 tweeted she will be returning from her leave of absence 0:03:30.960 --> 0:03:34.880 assuming the role of interim chairman and CEO. I love 0:03:34.920 --> 0:03:38.800 our company, Excited to work with Nick kN Etcetera. On Wednesday, 0:03:39.040 --> 0:03:41.680 The Wall Street Journal revealed the board was investigating Vince 0:03:41.760 --> 0:03:44.440 mcmanon every three million dollar hushpack with the former employee 0:03:44.680 --> 0:03:47.320 from which he allegedly had a relationship with, in addition 0:03:47.360 --> 0:03:51.800 to other potential nondisclosure agreements. They announced they were a 0:03:52.160 --> 0:03:56.840 special committee had been created to investigate these allegations into 0:03:57.080 --> 0:04:01.080 alleged misconduct by Vince and John Laura, nita's head of 0:04:01.080 --> 0:04:04.480 talent relations. By the way, as of today, nothing on 0:04:04.800 --> 0:04:09.240 on John Laura Nitis nothing zero ziltra, meaning he hasn't 0:04:09.240 --> 0:04:12.040 been fired. Trying to forget what that means. The Special 0:04:12.080 --> 0:04:16.240 Committee's appointed Stephanie to serve his interim CEO and interim 0:04:16.560 --> 0:04:23.599 chair woman. So then we find out today that Vince 0:04:23.920 --> 0:04:27.680 is going to be on SmackDown tonight. Now a lot 0:04:28.520 --> 0:04:32.080 a lot has been said about Vince McMahon appearing on 0:04:32.160 --> 0:04:36.360 SmackDown tonight. The release from w w E referred to 0:04:36.400 --> 0:04:39.640 him as Mr McMahon, which of course is his character. 0:04:40.200 --> 0:04:43.480 I believe it might have been MSNBC or something had 0:04:43.520 --> 0:04:46.240 reported that he would be doing a quote in character 0:04:46.880 --> 0:04:50.560 interview on the show tonight. Obviously everybody is expecting he's 0:04:50.560 --> 0:04:53.800 going to come out in front of the crowd. I 0:04:53.839 --> 0:04:57.400 think you would be much wiser for him to do 0:04:57.480 --> 0:05:01.160 a pre tape because I've seen live Vince McMahon and 0:05:01.200 --> 0:05:02.880 it would be a much better idea for him to 0:05:02.880 --> 0:05:09.080 do a pre tape. But listen, when SmackDown airs will 0:05:09.120 --> 0:05:13.400 find out what happened. Until then, it's Vince, dude, he 0:05:13.440 --> 0:05:16.800 can change his mind. It's it is the idea of 0:05:16.880 --> 0:05:20.919 Vince McMahon coming out in character to do a segment 0:05:21.160 --> 0:05:24.760 live on SmackDown tonight is a level of madness that 0:05:24.839 --> 0:05:30.400 I cannot even begin to comprehend. I would presume, and 0:05:30.440 --> 0:05:33.720 I shouldn't presume this because the guy is like he's nuts, 0:05:33.720 --> 0:05:35.279 but I would presume that you should just do a 0:05:35.279 --> 0:05:38.680 pre tape deal and say, basically what they said in 0:05:38.720 --> 0:05:42.119 the press release, I am stepping down. You know, I 0:05:42.200 --> 0:05:46.080 respect the board. Whatever they determine is whatever they determined. 0:05:46.440 --> 0:05:52.760 Enjoy the show tonight, him coming out live doing his strut, 0:05:53.880 --> 0:05:55.560 having all of the fans at some of the other 0:05:55.680 --> 0:05:58.400 day go oh, no, matter what happens, Vince can never 0:05:58.440 --> 0:06:00.800 appear in front of the fans again. I was like, 0:06:01.400 --> 0:06:03.800 what planet do you live on? This dude comes out 0:06:03.839 --> 0:06:06.920 Strutton tonight, They're all gonna go like this, They're all 0:06:06.960 --> 0:06:11.000 gonna cheer. You all know this. So we'll see what 0:06:11.080 --> 0:06:13.720 happens here tonight. But as far as like what all 0:06:13.760 --> 0:06:18.120 of this means, I mean, Vince, He's he's stepping down, 0:06:18.160 --> 0:06:20.039 but still doing everything that he was doing on a 0:06:20.120 --> 0:06:23.120 daily basis. He's still writing the shows, he's still tearing 0:06:23.200 --> 0:06:28.720 up scripts. It is beyond fascinating that Stephanie McMahon took 0:06:28.720 --> 0:06:32.839 her quote leave of absence. They buried her first privately 0:06:33.080 --> 0:06:37.680 and then later publicly, and now here she is back 0:06:38.400 --> 0:06:42.000 as the new chairwoman and CEO of w w E. 0:06:42.320 --> 0:06:46.400 You can't write stuff this good, and why they buried her, 0:06:46.760 --> 0:06:49.040 How all of this ties? And I know everyone has 0:06:49.080 --> 0:06:55.040 a thousand theories and we don't know anything. Okay, we 0:06:55.120 --> 0:06:57.560 don't know anything. You can come up with any conspiracy 0:06:57.560 --> 0:06:59.839 theory that you want. The only other thing that I 0:07:00.000 --> 0:07:03.799 will say, the only other thing that I will say, 0:07:04.040 --> 0:07:09.000 is that they have made it clear that there have 0:07:09.080 --> 0:07:15.200 been other non disclosure agreements. And they mentioned Vince McMahon 0:07:15.760 --> 0:07:21.600 and they mentioned John Laurainitis. Okay, the investigation is ongoing. 0:07:24.000 --> 0:07:30.240 The big question and the next hammer that could fall 0:07:31.520 --> 0:07:38.000 is if there are other non disclosure agreements involving other people. 0:07:39.160 --> 0:07:43.520 And I'm not saying that there are, but I am 0:07:43.640 --> 0:07:48.800 saying that I wouldn't be surprised nor honestly, is this 0:07:48.920 --> 0:07:51.440 like something that anybody listening to this will probably be 0:07:51.480 --> 0:07:56.240 surprised by. But this investigation is ongoing, and I expect 0:07:56.360 --> 0:08:00.360 that there will be more that will come out, and 0:08:00.520 --> 0:08:03.480 I think that when that happens and we can talk 0:08:03.520 --> 0:08:06.200 about it. But until then, there's a lot of speculation. 0:08:06.800 --> 0:08:08.800 You know, fans have been asking a lot of questions. 0:08:09.280 --> 0:08:12.280 I apologize for the other night on Observer Radio when 0:08:12.280 --> 0:08:15.480 I got very angry because some one of the questions was, 0:08:15.800 --> 0:08:20.000 where will everything be in a year? Bro, Dude, Wednesday night, 0:08:20.240 --> 0:08:25.280 Where will everything be in a year? Dude? Nobody, nobody 0:08:25.320 --> 0:08:28.080 would have predicted in two days Stephanie McMahon was going 0:08:28.120 --> 0:08:30.640 to be the chairwoman and the CEO of w w 0:08:30.760 --> 0:08:34.760 E nobody. So I can sit here and I could say, well, 0:08:34.800 --> 0:08:36.920 maybe this and maybe that and that and that. Bro, 0:08:37.040 --> 0:08:39.440 we don't know nothing other than what has come out. 0:08:40.000 --> 0:08:41.840 If you want to ask, like, you know what, what 0:08:41.880 --> 0:08:43.480 if the wrestler has been told The wrestler have been 0:08:43.520 --> 0:08:46.520 told virtually nothing. The wrestlers know what you know right now. 0:08:47.440 --> 0:08:52.000 They haven't given him any other whatever. Pat McAfee, I 0:08:52.040 --> 0:08:54.000 think did a thing today. He's totally in the dark. 0:08:54.360 --> 0:08:57.120 It's a shoot. Everybody's in the dark. Nobody knows anything. 0:08:57.960 --> 0:09:01.240 So uh yeah, that's that the update as of right now. 0:09:01.280 --> 0:09:03.640 For those guys who want to breaking news audio, I mean, 0:09:03.640 --> 0:09:07.720 there's nothing to break except what's out. Everything else is speculation. 0:09:08.440 --> 0:09:12.400 You know, why was Stephanie buried? I don't know. There's 0:09:12.440 --> 0:09:15.720 a lot we don't know, So I think a better 0:09:15.800 --> 0:09:18.920 question is kind of who you know? And because Claudine 0:09:19.040 --> 0:09:21.320 Lillian was leaving around the same time, and they were 0:09:21.600 --> 0:09:24.200 very unhappy obviously with her perform and she had only 0:09:24.240 --> 0:09:26.880 been there what a year, and she kind of fell 0:09:26.920 --> 0:09:29.079 into some of the things that Stephanie was doing as 0:09:29.080 --> 0:09:33.360 far as merchandizing and branding and content pushing and all 0:09:33.400 --> 0:09:36.840 that sort of stuff. So probably something I'll last Dave 0:09:36.920 --> 0:09:40.760 because that's interesting to me. Was it somebody from the board? Obviously? 0:09:40.880 --> 0:09:44.679 Because who sent this email? No? Not, no, not who 0:09:44.720 --> 0:09:47.280 sent the email? Who actually was doing the bearing of 0:09:47.280 --> 0:09:51.400 Stephanie McMahon, Because I mean, I know, but I mean, 0:09:51.440 --> 0:09:53.959 it's not like, well, who is it? It's not somebody 0:09:54.000 --> 0:09:58.320 that I mean, I know everyone's gonna be really mad 0:09:58.360 --> 0:10:00.600 at me, but it's not my thing. It's my place 0:10:00.640 --> 0:10:03.320 to say this. Is it somebody on the board? Is 0:10:03.360 --> 0:10:05.880 it somebody? I don't believe it was somebody on the board, 0:10:05.960 --> 0:10:07.920 but that's and listen, that's only the one that I 0:10:08.040 --> 0:10:10.640 heard about. I don't know who they had. I know 0:10:10.840 --> 0:10:13.640 that they were getting the word out privately first that 0:10:13.760 --> 0:10:16.400 she sucked at her job. Well, then the story came 0:10:16.400 --> 0:10:19.439 out where they publicly said that she sucked at her job, 0:10:19.920 --> 0:10:22.800 but I don't know they said it was. They said 0:10:22.840 --> 0:10:24.839 it a lot softer than that. And that's why be 0:10:25.160 --> 0:10:28.280 in the fact that Vince or nobody pushed back at 0:10:28.360 --> 0:10:32.040 all once that business insider thing came out at the 0:10:32.040 --> 0:10:35.920 beginning of the month. You know, That's why I was 0:10:35.920 --> 0:10:38.360 curious as to to who it was, because obviously it 0:10:38.360 --> 0:10:40.520 feels like it was Rubbert stamped, obviously by Vince, but 0:10:40.559 --> 0:10:42.040 I was wondering if it came from the board, if 0:10:42.080 --> 0:10:44.680 it came from who it actually came from, and how 0:10:44.960 --> 0:10:48.640 heavy was that burial behind the scenes, because obviously see 0:10:48.679 --> 0:10:51.160 where she's at today. You could you could ask Andrew 0:10:51.280 --> 0:10:53.320 Zerra and he's talked about it a lot, and he 0:10:53.320 --> 0:10:58.920 he was was directly told, and uh, you know, I'm 0:10:58.920 --> 0:11:01.920 not sure, and I think it's pretty clear actually with 0:11:01.920 --> 0:11:04.800 Stephanie in charge right now, I don't think that one 0:11:04.880 --> 0:11:07.200 had anything to do with the other. These are two 0:11:07.240 --> 0:11:11.040 separate stories that are now connected in a completely bizarre way. 0:11:11.520 --> 0:11:15.679 The best theory that I've heard, which you know, I 0:11:15.679 --> 0:11:18.160 think it's nuts, but the best theory that i've heard 0:11:18.320 --> 0:11:21.439 is Stephanie was going to step away, and they were 0:11:21.520 --> 0:11:26.000 concerned that news of her departure would cause like this 0:11:26.080 --> 0:11:30.240 big you know, stock stock or stock crash, and so 0:11:30.240 --> 0:11:32.839 so the the idea was, well, if we bury her 0:11:32.840 --> 0:11:36.200 and say she sucked and that we're replacing her with 0:11:36.240 --> 0:11:39.720 people who are better than the stock, won't take. And honestly, 0:11:39.760 --> 0:11:42.160 that's like the best theory that I've heard. But even that, 0:11:42.360 --> 0:11:44.960 it's like, well, then you'd have to like clear this 0:11:45.000 --> 0:11:49.280 with Stephanie. Stephanie, listen, we're concerned about the stock falling, 0:11:49.640 --> 0:11:52.080 and so we want to publicly tell everyone that you suck. 0:11:52.120 --> 0:11:54.920 Are you okay with that? Which, you know, given how 0:11:55.000 --> 0:11:57.199 much money she has tied up in stock, she might 0:11:57.200 --> 0:12:00.439 be like, yeah, save my stock, but it just seems ridiculous. 0:12:00.520 --> 0:12:02.800 But but that's why I was wondering who actually said it, 0:12:02.840 --> 0:12:04.959 because then we have a situation where now she's also 0:12:05.080 --> 0:12:08.600 now back as the figurehead face of the company right 0:12:08.640 --> 0:12:12.600 now while Vince quote unquote steps aside here And it 0:12:12.760 --> 0:12:16.280 was amazing at seven o'clock Eastern time this morning to 0:12:16.360 --> 0:12:20.080 start getting text about w W E his released press release, 0:12:20.440 --> 0:12:22.440 and then they follow it up with Vince going to 0:12:22.480 --> 0:12:25.520 be on TV tonight. Amazing. Well, let's talk to Dave 0:12:25.559 --> 0:12:42.680 about it after the break. Observer Live by the show 0:12:42.679 --> 0:12:45.040 by Newber is here Wrestling Observer Live, Mike Zimber, Viv 0:12:45.280 --> 0:12:49.280 Dave Meltzer, who will be on CNN to Pacific five 0:12:49.520 --> 0:12:53.480 Eastern today talking about this story. And if you're a 0:12:53.520 --> 0:12:57.320 subscriber to Wrestling Observer at dot com, David Getter are 0:12:57.320 --> 0:13:01.200 gonna be up tonight with tons more. So we obviously 0:13:01.240 --> 0:13:04.680 can't cover everything here, but subscribers can check that out 0:13:04.760 --> 0:13:08.640 later on tonight and Dave. Vince is stepped down as 0:13:08.720 --> 0:13:14.240 chairman and CEO, replaced by Stephanie McMahon and Vince appearing 0:13:14.320 --> 0:13:19.280 on SmackDown tonight in some form or fashion. What do 0:13:19.360 --> 0:13:22.240 we know? What do you know? Well? I mean, I 0:13:22.280 --> 0:13:24.720 think it's I think it's a cosmetic change. I mean, 0:13:24.760 --> 0:13:27.480 the fact that he's still running creative. I think, you know, 0:13:27.520 --> 0:13:29.480 this is this is just a repeat of what happened 0:13:29.520 --> 0:13:32.080 when he was in trouble decades ago and when all 0:13:32.120 --> 0:13:35.280 of a sudden was president and uh, you know, so 0:13:35.320 --> 0:13:37.440 it's like that's kind of how he does things when 0:13:37.480 --> 0:13:39.920 this type of stuff happened. So I don't really I 0:13:39.960 --> 0:13:42.320 mean It's gotten a lot of headlines, but I don't 0:13:42.360 --> 0:13:44.880 know that it's significant. The fact that it's Stephanie tells 0:13:44.920 --> 0:13:49.840 me also that it's a cosmetic change, because you know, 0:13:50.080 --> 0:13:52.160 she was gone. It is surprised though they went from 0:13:52.160 --> 0:13:54.199 burying her two weeks ago or a week and a 0:13:54.200 --> 0:13:57.840 half ago to making her CEO. It's a crazy world 0:13:57.840 --> 0:14:00.720 that we live in. It sure is a crazy world 0:14:00.720 --> 0:14:05.640 do we live in? So? Uh? Um? Yes, Stephanie McMahon, 0:14:05.960 --> 0:14:09.120 who was privately and publicly buried as being bad at 0:14:09.120 --> 0:14:12.720 her job, I mean, what how do you do you 0:14:12.840 --> 0:14:15.520 just if people ask explained that, well, she was bad 0:14:15.559 --> 0:14:18.600 at that job, but she'll do excellent at this job. Well, 0:14:18.640 --> 0:14:21.080 I don't think anyone you know, again, Vince is running 0:14:21.120 --> 0:14:25.400 the company. I don't think that, um, and Stephanie is. 0:14:25.520 --> 0:14:29.280 You know, it's like it's like, uh, when you know, 0:14:29.320 --> 0:14:31.400 if somebody else was put in the interim CEO position, 0:14:31.400 --> 0:14:32.880 I would take it seriously. And it's not that I 0:14:32.880 --> 0:14:35.920 don't take Stephanie seriously, because obviously I do. But I 0:14:35.960 --> 0:14:40.200 think this is very clearly, Um, you know, it's very 0:14:40.240 --> 0:14:43.400 clearly Vince is still running the company. But they're looking 0:14:43.440 --> 0:14:45.200 like they're trying to make changes. But you know, I 0:14:45.240 --> 0:14:50.240 mean the interesting thing is is that going forward, Um, 0:14:50.280 --> 0:14:53.680 you know how this story you know, eventually turns out. 0:14:54.360 --> 0:14:57.280 That's the really interesting one, you know. And again Stephanie 0:14:57.320 --> 0:15:00.400 has made interim CEO. That's very you know, that wording 0:15:00.400 --> 0:15:03.800 alone kind of tells you that it's like the idea 0:15:03.840 --> 0:15:06.680 is is that it's just because there is an investigation 0:15:06.760 --> 0:15:10.160 going on. They um, you know with the Board of 0:15:10.200 --> 0:15:12.640 directors that Vince probably shouldn't be the head of the 0:15:12.680 --> 0:15:15.240 Board of directors while an investigation by the Board of 0:15:15.280 --> 0:15:17.920 Directors is going on. So I think that's the thing. 0:15:18.080 --> 0:15:20.360 And the fact that Stephanie got it tells you that 0:15:20.440 --> 0:15:23.400 Vince is still in control. Now. The other the other 0:15:23.480 --> 0:15:27.800 question is that this story comes out, Vince steps down 0:15:27.840 --> 0:15:33.000 today and I've heard nothing about John Laura Nitas. Is 0:15:33.040 --> 0:15:36.840 he just showing up and SmackDown and doing his job? 0:15:36.960 --> 0:15:40.720 And I mean, I don't know if he's in Minneapolis 0:15:40.840 --> 0:15:44.240 or not. Um, that is was the big question like 0:15:44.320 --> 0:15:47.760 this morning that everybody had was Okay, we know Vince's coming, 0:15:47.800 --> 0:15:50.800 is John Laura Nita is coming and um, I have 0:15:50.840 --> 0:15:54.720 not heard yet if he's there. So there's Vince. This 0:15:54.880 --> 0:15:58.000 Evince appearance tonight. We've heard a lot of different things. Uh, 0:15:58.160 --> 0:16:01.760 the w w E their own announcement said that he 0:16:01.760 --> 0:16:04.240 would be there live, which of course sounds like he 0:16:04.280 --> 0:16:06.320 will be in front of the crowd. I think he 0:16:06.360 --> 0:16:10.000 would be a horrible idea. I think MSNBC was claiming 0:16:10.000 --> 0:16:12.640 it would be quote in character that would be horrible 0:16:12.640 --> 0:16:16.200 idea sounds even worse. So, I mean, we're not gonna 0:16:16.240 --> 0:16:18.160 know until the show goes in the air exactly what 0:16:18.240 --> 0:16:21.680 he's going to do. But you know, I personally when 0:16:21.720 --> 0:16:23.040 I heard he was gonna be on the show was 0:16:23.080 --> 0:16:26.520 and I'm anticipating, Like the show opens with a short 0:16:26.680 --> 0:16:30.280 video statement basically saying what they said in the press release, 0:16:30.480 --> 0:16:32.880 he can't possibly be thinking of doing something, but they 0:16:32.920 --> 0:16:36.520 announced him as Mr McMahon. That was He made very 0:16:36.560 --> 0:16:39.160 certain to say that, including a strong picture of him 0:16:39.240 --> 0:16:42.720 up there. So, yeah, it's a it's amazing. I mean 0:16:42.760 --> 0:16:45.400 it feels it feels to me like it's a ratings 0:16:45.520 --> 0:16:50.040 ploy as opposed to yeah, as opposed to like some explanation, 0:16:50.120 --> 0:16:52.480 So as a ratings ploy, they're going to do something 0:16:52.880 --> 0:16:56.000 to try and build you know, ratings and and stuff 0:16:56.040 --> 0:17:00.160 off of this. In some way. Uh so that makes it. Um, 0:17:00.200 --> 0:17:01.840 I mean, I I don't want to say I give 0:17:01.880 --> 0:17:04.000 him credit, but it is something to show. I mean, 0:17:04.119 --> 0:17:06.879 it does show how desperate they are for ratings. And 0:17:06.960 --> 0:17:10.040 they've always been that that they would take a situation 0:17:10.080 --> 0:17:12.640 like this and and try to twist it for ratings. 0:17:12.680 --> 0:17:15.200 I mean, because that is there, that is totally Vince's wheelhouse. 0:17:15.440 --> 0:17:18.160 Well look, we've seen examples of that for decades too. Yeah, 0:17:18.240 --> 0:17:21.320 of course it's not a surprise now this. I mean, 0:17:21.480 --> 0:17:24.640 we again will not know until SmackDown is over. But 0:17:25.720 --> 0:17:27.960 you know, there's been a lot of talk about we 0:17:28.000 --> 0:17:31.800 do have a Riddle match with Roman reigns tonight. Randy 0:17:31.880 --> 0:17:35.359 Orton maybe out for a while, so he may be 0:17:35.440 --> 0:17:38.240 off the books for the summer. Obviously, they're gonna want 0:17:38.280 --> 0:17:42.320 to have people talking about something else. I mean, it 0:17:42.359 --> 0:17:44.000 seems like a nothing part of the story. But is 0:17:44.040 --> 0:17:46.960 it possible Riddle actually wins that title tonight to try 0:17:47.000 --> 0:17:49.159 to shift you know? I mean it was it was 0:17:49.200 --> 0:17:52.960 like I'd say no yesterday, but today, sure, I mean 0:17:53.160 --> 0:17:55.560 I could I could see that. Um. I mean, I'm 0:17:55.560 --> 0:17:59.359 sure all plans that they had before are out the window. Um. 0:17:59.440 --> 0:18:02.040 And yeah, I'm sure I I, you know, I don't know, 0:18:02.160 --> 0:18:04.400 but it would it be possible. Yeah, I could see 0:18:04.400 --> 0:18:06.920 it being possible, you know, trying to especially with the 0:18:06.960 --> 0:18:09.280 mentality that we will probably have more people watching this 0:18:09.280 --> 0:18:11.480 show than ever before. They were going to do a 0:18:11.480 --> 0:18:15.480 big angle tonight anyway, so they may do a different 0:18:15.520 --> 0:18:18.840 big angle tonight. Tell everybody the history of the last 0:18:18.840 --> 0:18:23.399 time Vince uh quote is stepped down, but actually I 0:18:23.440 --> 0:18:27.280 mean he was replaced, but it meant nothing. Well, Linda 0:18:27.359 --> 0:18:30.119 McMahon was president of the company when uh, you know, 0:18:30.280 --> 0:18:34.119 Vince Vince was indicted, you know, on charges that he 0:18:34.119 --> 0:18:37.320 doesn't even remember anymore, and um, you know, went to 0:18:37.440 --> 0:18:41.600 trial and everything like that. So um, but eventually, of course, 0:18:41.760 --> 0:18:45.639 you know, I was back running things and had all 0:18:45.640 --> 0:18:48.679 the same title. Actually took years. Linda was on paper 0:18:48.680 --> 0:18:51.320 president for many many years, you know, even after Vince 0:18:51.359 --> 0:18:54.439 was acquitted in the trial in the steroid distribution trial. 0:18:54.920 --> 0:18:59.240 Um steroid conspiracy trial is actually the better term for it. 0:18:59.280 --> 0:19:03.119 But so yeah, I mean that's it's again the m O. 0:19:03.280 --> 0:19:06.000 I mean, Linda is not coming back to be CEO, 0:19:06.240 --> 0:19:10.440 So Stephanie's the one. So there you go. It's it's 0:19:10.480 --> 0:19:14.399 the It's basically a repeat, you know. The the the 0:19:14.440 --> 0:19:19.400 crux of this, this issue seems to be the amount 0:19:19.400 --> 0:19:22.560 of money that this person was paid originally, which was 0:19:22.560 --> 0:19:26.399 a hundred thousand dollars a year, and then being bumped 0:19:26.480 --> 0:19:29.919 to two hundred thousand dollars a year allegedly as a 0:19:29.960 --> 0:19:33.199 result of this, uh, this affair with Vince. Yeah, so 0:19:33.240 --> 0:19:35.240 that that's a that's a that's a real smoking gun. 0:19:35.320 --> 0:19:37.800 That's you know, like that's the one if something's gonna 0:19:37.800 --> 0:19:39.880 get him, that's the one that's going to get him. Now, 0:19:40.200 --> 0:19:44.480 the impression that I was was given is that the 0:19:44.600 --> 0:19:48.520 job that she was doing, uh, it is rare to 0:19:48.600 --> 0:19:51.040 make a hundred thousand dollars a year, and it is 0:19:51.119 --> 0:19:54.240 exceedingly rare to make two hundred thousand dollars a year. 0:19:54.760 --> 0:19:57.439 I mean, if you look at the the structure of 0:19:57.440 --> 0:19:59.720 of w w E and what other people are making. 0:19:59.720 --> 0:20:03.080 I mean, would this be unusual in w w E 0:20:03.160 --> 0:20:07.840 to pay someone even a hundred thousand dollars for the 0:20:07.480 --> 0:20:10.800 hundred is not unusual at all. The hundred's probably about right. 0:20:10.880 --> 0:20:14.040 The two hundreds unusual, yes, okay, so, but it wouldn't 0:20:14.080 --> 0:20:17.840 be out of the ordinary for uh, someone who somewhere 0:20:17.880 --> 0:20:21.000 else might only make sixty thousand a year in w 0:20:21.000 --> 0:20:22.280 w E to do that job. It would not be 0:20:22.400 --> 0:20:24.480 unusual to perhaps and make hunter thou dollars a year, 0:20:24.560 --> 0:20:26.840 you know, the hundred thousands not unusual at all for 0:20:26.920 --> 0:20:28.960 the for the position she was hired in. The two 0:20:29.040 --> 0:20:33.359 hundred um would be on the high end for sure. Yes, yes, 0:20:33.720 --> 0:20:36.400 which it was different position. She was John Moore Knight's assistant, 0:20:36.600 --> 0:20:38.199 but two d will be pretty high for that for 0:20:38.240 --> 0:20:41.360 that position. Yeah, what have you heard? Matter? Yes? Would 0:20:41.400 --> 0:20:44.520 it matter if she got that raise while she was 0:20:44.560 --> 0:20:47.960 being moved to johnny AS's position, because obviously there's a 0:20:48.080 --> 0:20:50.960 claim coming from that email that she was quote passed 0:20:51.000 --> 0:20:53.800 like a toy, which, again, depending on how sinister that 0:20:53.840 --> 0:20:58.159 line really is. You know, what is that line that that? 0:20:58.560 --> 0:21:00.400 What does that mean? And it's like, we know, were 0:21:00.400 --> 0:21:03.600 you transferred with a raise with the expectation of something 0:21:03.640 --> 0:21:06.480 where you you know, that's the timing of the raise? Well, 0:21:06.520 --> 0:21:11.800 that actually matter. I think the timing of the raise 0:21:11.840 --> 0:21:15.119 matters a whole hell lot. Yes, especially since it was 0:21:15.200 --> 0:21:18.280 in in um I believe it was in April one, 0:21:18.320 --> 0:21:20.119 which was at the same time they were cutting cost 0:21:20.240 --> 0:21:22.879 left and right. UM. Not that, you know, not that 0:21:22.960 --> 0:21:25.480 somebody doesn't get it raised. But then again, didn't they 0:21:25.520 --> 0:21:27.640 didn't they go through that period where all races were 0:21:27.640 --> 0:21:30.280 frozen and that, but that they did have Yeah, they 0:21:30.280 --> 0:21:32.520 didn't have that that period, but yeah, and I don't 0:21:32.520 --> 0:21:34.960 know if that's April or not. I have to remember 0:21:35.000 --> 0:21:37.359 my my my concern with the whole thing is that, 0:21:37.800 --> 0:21:40.120 you know, it's basically going to come down to you, 0:21:40.680 --> 0:21:45.879 can you prove that the raise was given because of 0:21:45.920 --> 0:21:48.680 the sexual relationship, because you know, if it's if they argue, 0:21:48.800 --> 0:21:51.160 we just gave her a raise. We give people raises 0:21:51.200 --> 0:21:54.080 all the time, wondering, yeah, but if there is a 0:21:54.119 --> 0:21:56.560 sexual relationship and she had the raise, even if you 0:21:56.640 --> 0:21:58.280 try to justify it and saying she was got the 0:21:58.359 --> 0:22:01.640 raise anyway, there's no way that that's a terrible, terrible look. 0:22:01.920 --> 0:22:05.280 That's that's that's the one. When I read it, it's like, um, 0:22:05.320 --> 0:22:07.080 you know, and then look, they're gonna do everything they 0:22:07.080 --> 0:22:09.640 can to try to do exactly what you said, but 0:22:10.119 --> 0:22:14.200 that's just a terrible look. And has there been anything 0:22:14.240 --> 0:22:16.760 from mcdivott over the last couple of days, because usually 0:22:16.840 --> 0:22:19.040 he's on top of things. I have not heard from 0:22:19.240 --> 0:22:22.199 Jay mcdivott since this thing started, which would be in 0:22:22.200 --> 0:22:27.240 a situation like this highly unusual. Yes, not people, but unusual. 0:22:27.880 --> 0:22:30.560 A lot of people have you know, speculated on you know, 0:22:30.720 --> 0:22:33.120 lots of different things in fantasy book the McMahon's out 0:22:33.160 --> 0:22:35.440 of the picture, Evince, what if they taken over from 0:22:35.480 --> 0:22:39.320 all that stuff? I mean, have you actually had what 0:22:39.320 --> 0:22:42.560 what does happen though? If that's what I'm wondering, Have 0:22:42.680 --> 0:22:44.280 you even had time to think about the fact that 0:22:44.320 --> 0:22:47.080 there's been a McMahon promoting in Rings sports since like 0:22:47.200 --> 0:22:51.679 nineteen fift and what actually then happens after that? You know, 0:22:51.720 --> 0:22:57.560 when it comes to if Stephanie is gone, you know, 0:22:57.720 --> 0:23:01.359 then that might end? Yeah, you know that, because here's 0:23:01.400 --> 0:23:03.720 the thing. If they if if Vince gets forced out, 0:23:03.760 --> 0:23:06.640 at what point do other people on that board who 0:23:06.680 --> 0:23:08.879 don't have as much of an interest in this and 0:23:08.920 --> 0:23:11.800 looking at it from a financial they go, I want 0:23:11.800 --> 0:23:13.800 to push all these McMahon's out. We've got to move 0:23:13.840 --> 0:23:16.679 this thing forward. And then again, I know they have 0:23:16.720 --> 0:23:18.320 all that voting stock and there's a lot of things 0:23:18.359 --> 0:23:19.960 that would need to drop and happen. But if they're 0:23:19.960 --> 0:23:23.280 able to actually then physically force out of Vince out 0:23:23.280 --> 0:23:26.680