Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Vince McMahon
Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Vince McMahon.
Vincent Kennedy McMahon is an American businessman and former professional wrestling promoter, best known as the driving force behind WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion, which he co-founded with his wife, Linda. Besides wrestling, McMahon has also dabbled in promoting other sports such as bodybuilding with the World Bodybuilding Federation and football with the XFL.
July 16, 1986: Alleged Sexual Assault by McMahon
On July 16, 1986, Rita Chatterton alleged that Vince McMahon sexually assaulted her in his limousine.
April 3, 1992: Rita Chatterton's Allegations on Geraldo Rivera's Show
On April 3, 1992, Rita Chatterton appeared on Geraldo Rivera's show and alleged that Vince McMahon sexually assaulted her on July 16, 1986.
November 1993: Indictment in Steroid Controversy
In November 1993, Vince McMahon was indicted in federal court due to a steroid controversy, which led him to temporarily cede control of the WWF to his wife, Linda McMahon.
1993: Feud with Jerry Lawler
In 1993, Vince McMahon engaged in a feud with Jerry Lawler, marking the first time he physically interjected himself into a match. This angle was part of a cross-promotion between the WWF and the USWA.
July 1994: Acquittal in Steroid Trial
In July 1994, Vince McMahon was acquitted of charges related to steroid distribution to his wrestlers, following a trial.
December 1997: McMahon vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
In December 1997, on Raw Is War, Mr. McMahon demanded that Stone Cold Steve Austin defend his Intercontinental Championship against The Rock. Austin forfeited the title after attacking The Rock and knocking McMahon off the ring ropes.
December 1998: Austin vs. Undertaker
In December 1998, Mr. McMahon restarted his feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin, forcing Austin to face The Undertaker in a Buried Alive match with Royal Rumble qualification on the line. Austin won with help from Kane.
1998: Deadly Games Tournament
In 1998, at Judgement Day, with no champion crowned, Mr. McMahon ordered a 14-man tournament called Deadly Games at Survivor Series to determine the WWF Champion. McMahon favored Mankind in the tournament.
January 11, 1999: Corporate Rumble
On January 11, 1999, at Rock Bottom: In Your House, Mr. McMahon reversed the decision in a Mankind vs. The Rock match, returning the belt to The Rock. McMahon participated in a "Corporate Rumble" on Raw, but was eliminated by Chyna.
1999: Feud with Triple H
In 1999, Mr. McMahon feuded with Triple H, focusing on Triple H's storyline marriage to Stephanie McMahon, culminating at Armageddon. Stephanie turned on McMahon, and McMahon disappeared from WWF television.
2000: King of the Ring
In 2000, at King of the Ring, Mr. McMahon, Shane, and Triple H faced The Brothers of Destruction and The Rock in a six-man tag team match. Mr. McMahon was pinned by The Rock. He later fired Mick Foley as WWF Commissioner.
February 26, 2001: Humiliates Trish Stratus
On February 26, 2001, Mr. McMahon and Stephanie humiliated Trish Stratus on Raw. McMahon aligned with Stephanie against Shane.
January 20, 2002: Street Fight vs. Ric Flair
On January 20, 2002, Mr. McMahon faced Ric Flair in a Street Fight at the Royal Rumble, which Flair won. As co-owners, McMahon became the owner of SmackDown!.
February 13, 2003: Hogan's Return
On February 13, 2003, Mr. McMahon tried to derail Hulk Hogan's return on SmackDown!, but Hogan knocked him out. This led to McMahon facing Hogan at WrestleMania XIX.
December 26, 2005: Reviews Bret Hart's DVD
On December 26, 2005, Mr. McMahon personally reviewed Bret Hart's DVD on Raw. He threatened Shawn Michaels, saying, "I screwed Bret Hart. Shawn, don't make me screw you".
2005: Trial of Eric Bischoff
In late 2005, Mr. McMahon began a feud with Eric Bischoff, holding "The Trial of Eric Bischoff" where McMahon served as the judge and "fired" Bischoff.
February 1, 2006: Accusation of Sexual Harassment at Tanning Bar
On February 1, 2006, Vince McMahon was accused of sexual harassment by a worker at a tanning bar in Boca Raton, Florida. He was accused of showing nude photos and groping the worker. No charges were filed.
2006: Feud with Shawn Michaels
In 2006, Mr. McMahon continued to feud with Shawn Michaels, including a Montreal Screwjob reference at Saturday Night's Main Event XXXII and a match at WrestleMania 22.
2006: Feud with D-Generation X
In 2006, Mr. McMahon feuded with Triple H. Michaels saved Triple H and the two reformed D-Generation X (DX). This led to a feud between the McMahons and DX.
2006: Start of Unrecorded Sexual Misconduct Claims
In 2006, unrecorded sexual misconduct claims began against Vince McMahon, eventually leading to $19.6 million in payments between 2006 and 2022.
2006: Bischoff's Return
In late 2006, Bischoff returned on Raw to announce his book release. He blasted remarks at McMahon, saying that there would be no McMahon if not for Bischoff's over-the-top rebellious ideas, and that D-Generation X was nothing but a rip off of the New World Order.
January 2007: Feud with Donald Trump
In January 2007, Mr. McMahon started a feud with Donald Trump, leading to a Hair vs. Hair match at WrestleMania 23. McMahon's hair was shaved bald after his representative lost the match.
June 11, 2007: Mr. McMahon presumed dead
On June 11, 2007, WWE aired a segment where Mr. McMahon entered a limousine that exploded. WWE.com reported Mr. McMahon was "presumed dead" as part of a storyline. The show went off-air shortly after.
February 2008: Hornswoggle is revealed not to be McMahon's son
In February 2008, John "Bradshaw" Layfield revealed that Hornswoggle was not McMahon's son but Finlay's. It turned out that the scam was thought up by Shane, Stephanie and Linda McMahon, along with Finlay.
January 4, 2010: McMahon confronts Bret Hart on Raw
On January 4, 2010, McMahon confronted Bret "The Hitman" Hart for the first time since the Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series 1997, seemingly burying the hatchet but then kicking Hart in the groin.
2011: Alleged Sexual Assault in California
In 2011, Vince McMahon allegedly sexually assaulted a tanning spa worker in California, leading to a lawsuit filed in December 2022.
June 2013: McMahon family dispute begins
From June 2013, members of the McMahon family began to dispute various elements of the control of WWE, such as the fates of Daniel Bryan, and of Raw and SmackDown general managers Brad Maddox and Vickie Guerrero.
2013: McMahon breaks his pelvis after an attack by Brock Lesnar
In 2013, during a performance review on Paul Heyman, Vince McMahon was assaulted by Brock Lesnar, who attacked him with the F-5, breaking his pelvis and requiring surgery.
December 14, 2015: McMahon aligns with The Authority
On December 14, 2015, McMahon aligned himself with The Authority, confronting Roman Reigns and granting him a WWE World Heavyweight Championship rematch with a stipulation.
January 4, 2016: McMahon serves as special guest referee
On the January 4, 2016, episode of Raw, McMahon made himself special guest referee in Reigns' rematch against Sheamus, where Reigns won after McMahon was knocked out.
January 22, 2018: McMahon returns to Raw 25 Years
On January 22, 2018, McMahon returned on Raw 25 Years, calling the WWE Universe "cheap" and turning heel once again. He was later confronted and stunnered by Stone Cold Steve Austin.
2019: Janel Grant's Employment at WWE
Between 2019 and 2022, Janel Grant worked at WWE global headquarters.
2019: Jon Moxley Criticizes McMahon's Creative Control
In 2019, Jon Moxley, formerly Dean Ambrose, left WWE for AEW, citing WWE's creative process and singling out Vince McMahon as the problem.
2019: Start of Hush Money Payments
In 2019, Vince McMahon began making undisclosed hush money payments to two women, which continued until 2022.
2019: McMahon enters the feud between Daniel Bryan and Kofi Kingston
In early 2019, McMahon entered in the feud between Daniel Bryan and Kofi Kingston, not letting that latter receive a WWE championship match at WrestleMania.
2020: Alleged Sexual Assaults by McMahon
Between 2020 and 2021, Janel Grant alleged that she was repeatedly sexually assaulted and trafficked by McMahon.
2021: Alleged Sexual Assaults by McMahon
Between 2020 and 2021, Janel Grant alleged that she was repeatedly sexually assaulted and trafficked by McMahon.
April 2022: Investigation of Hush-Money Settlement
In April 2022, the WWE board began investigating a $3 million hush-money settlement paid by Vince McMahon over an alleged affair with a former employee.
June 2022: Stepped Down as CEO and Chairman of WWE
In June 2022, McMahon stepped down as CEO and chairman of WWE. This decision came in light of claims of hush-money agreements related to affairs with former WWE employees.
June 17, 2022: Vince McMahon steps down as chairman and CEO of WWE
On June 17, 2022, Vince McMahon voluntarily stepped down as chairman and CEO of WWE pending an internal investigation, with Stephanie McMahon named interim CEO and chairwoman.
October 2022: Disclosure of Unrecorded Payments for Misconduct Claims
By October 2022, WWE disclosed $19.6 million in unrecorded payments made by Vince McMahon to settle sexual misconduct claims between 2006 and 2022.
December 2022: Settlement of Chatterton's Lawsuit
In December 2022, Vince McMahon settled the sexual abuse lawsuit filed by Rita Chatterton. He maintained his innocence but settled to avoid litigation costs, reportedly agreeing to a multimillion-dollar settlement.
December 2022: Lawsuit Filed by Tanning Spa Worker
In December 2022, a tanning spa worker filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon alleging sexual assault that occurred in California in 2011.
2022: Criticism of McMahon's Impact on Wrestling Popularity
In 2022, Bryan Alvarez and Variety criticized Vince McMahon for the declining viewership and overall decrease in wrestling popularity since he purchased WCW.
2022: Corroboration of Chatterton's Allegations
In 2022, Leonard Inzitari corroborated Rita Chatterton's allegations of sexual assault against Vince McMahon in a New York Magazine interview.
2022: Alleged NDA Agreement
In 2022, Vince McMahon allegedly agreed to pay Janel Grant $3 million in return for an NDA, but stopped paying after $1 million had been paid.
2022: End of Hush Money Payments
In 2022, Vince McMahon stopped making undisclosed hush money payments to two women.
January 2024: Lawsuit Filed by Janel Grant and McMahon Resigns
In January 2024, Janel Grant filed a lawsuit alleging sexual coercion, trafficking, and assault by Vince McMahon. Following the report, McMahon resigned from TKO.
January 2024: Resignation from TKO
In January 2024, McMahon resigned from TKO after allegations of sex trafficking and sexual assault. This marked a significant and controversial end to his involvement with the company.
January 26, 2024: Vince McMahon resigns from TKO
On January 26, 2024, McMahon resigned from TKO following a report about alleged sexual assaults.
February 1, 2024: Laurinaitis Accuses McMahon of Sexual Misconduct
On February 1, 2024, John Laurinaitis accused Vince McMahon of sexual misconduct through his attorney, claiming McMahon exerted power and control over him.
February 2, 2024: Federal Investigation Launched into McMahon
On February 2, 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that federal authorities in New York had launched an investigation into sexual assault and sex trafficking allegations made against Vince McMahon.
September 25, 2024: Netflix Releases 'Mr. McMahon' Documentary
On September 25, 2024, Netflix released "Mr. McMahon," a documentary series detailing aspects of Vince McMahon's legacy, including his business impact and controversies.
January 10, 2025: McMahon Fined by SEC for Hush Money Payments
On January 10, 2025, Vince McMahon was fined over $1.7 million by the SEC for undisclosed hush money payments dating back from 2019 to 2022.
