New court documents confirm Vince McMahon's involvement in the creative for WrestleMania 39

The figure of Vince McMahon continues to cast a long shadow over WWE even during periods when, officially, he did not hold any executive position. New court documents brought to light this week once again shed light on his real influence in the company during one of the most sensitive moments in its recent history.

The documents, obtained by Wrestlenomics and POST Wrestling, are part of the lawsuit filed by WWE shareholders, a legal process that questions the legality and motivation behind the merger with UFC to create TKO. According to the plaintiffs, McMahon allegedly breached his fiduciary duties by prioritizing his stay in power over the best possible deal for the shareholders.

Among the newly revealed materials are text messages exchanged in July 2022, the same day Vince McMahon publicly announced his retirement. In them, a senior executive showed surprising confidence about what would happen next.

Nick and Stephanie will take over WWE for the next nine months. Vince will return with a new board, or take the company private, or sell it and come with us. The race has begun. The courtship has begun.

The message was sent by Mark Shapiro, current CEO of TKO, to other top executives at Endeavor. At that time, Shapiro not only anticipated McMahon's return, but also correctly pointed out the final outcome: the sale of WWE to Endeavor.

The subsequent timeline reinforces the weight of those words. McMahon returned to WWE's board of directors in January 2023, less than six months after his retirement, with the explicit goal of exploring a sale. Just three months later, the deal with Endeavor was closed.

But the documents are not limited to the corporate realm. They also confirm something that had been speculated about for months: McMahon's direct involvement in the creative process leading up to WrestleMania 39.

This revelation contradicts public statements made by Nick Khan, who stated in an interview on CNBC that McMahon did not participate in creative decisions as he no longer held an executive role within the company at that time.

The contrast between the official version and the now documented information raises an uncomfortable question: to what extent did Vince McMahon really distance himself from WWE before his formal return. With the lawsuit still ongoing, these revelations not only rewrite the narrative of WrestleMania 39, but also reinforce the idea that McMahon's control never completely disappeared, even when it seemed like he had taken a step back.