Leaked voicemail points to Vince McMahon favoring Endeavor early
Summary
– Stephanie McMahon reportedly pushed back against Vince McMahon returning and selling WWE
– Vince McMahon later left a voicemail saying a deal with Ari Emanuel and Endeavor solved many problems
– WWE’s sale process eventually led to the UFC merger and the launch of TKO Group Holdings
Stephanie McMahon reportedly tried to stop Vince McMahon from moving forward with a WWE sale before the company’s deal with Endeavor became official.
A leaked voicemail has added new context to Vince’s thinking after a December 2022 dinner at The Mark Hotel in New York. The meeting included Vince McMahon, Ari Emanuel, Mark Shapiro, Nick Khan, Stephanie McMahon, Paul Levesque, and Linda McMahon.
At that point, Stephanie and Nick Khan were serving as WWE co-CEOs, while Paul Levesque was leading creative. According to Khan’s later testimony, Stephanie discouraged Vince from returning to the company and questioned the need to sell WWE.
That pushback did not change Vince’s direction. After the dinner, he left a voicemail for banker Jeff Sine of The Raine Group, saying the meeting with Ari Emanuel went well and that moving forward with Endeavor appeared to be the best option.
Vince also suggested that combining forces would make both sides stronger. He viewed Endeavor as the easier and faster path as he considered WWE’s future.
The timing is significant because Vince had not yet officially returned to WWE leadership. Weeks later, he forced his way back onto the board, Stephanie resigned, and WWE launched the sale process that ended with the creation of TKO Group Holdings.
Liberty Media later emerged with a bid reportedly close to Vince’s public valuation target, but Vince still appeared focused on keeping Emanuel informed. Another voicemail showed Vince wanting Ari to hear about Liberty quickly rather than through outside chatter.
The WWE-UFC merger was announced on April 3, 2023. Shareholders later challenged the deal, claiming it was rushed and favored Endeavor because it allowed Vince to keep a role. The defendants denied wrongdoing, and the case was later settled in principle before trial.
Vince became TKO Executive Chairman after the merger, but his run ended in 2024 when he resigned following Janel Grant’s lawsuit against him and WWE. McMahon has denied the allegations.
The leaked voicemail adds another sharp detail to WWE’s sale history. Stephanie McMahon reportedly urged caution, but Vince McMahon left that key dinner ready to move forward with Endeavor.
