The ongoing Vince McMahon saga shows no signs of fading away, with the allegations against the former WWE boss being grave and potentially carrying severe consequences.
Dutch Mantell, a long-time associate of the company, believes that the stories surrounding McMahon would likely have been well-known internally within WWE.
While McMahon has faced accusations of sexual misconduct in the past, Janel Grant’s recent lawsuit against the 78-year-old led to his departure from the TKO board earlier this year. The latest revelations from a friend of the late Ashley Massaro have further intensified the spotlight on McMahon.
Discussing the latest developments on Smack Talk, Mantell asserted that many individuals within WWE would have been aware of McMahon’s actions.
Mantell highlighted the culture of silence within WWE, suggesting that fear of job loss prevented people from speaking out against McMahon:
“Well, unofficially, I think everybody knew everything about Vince to begin with. They were just kept quiet. Nobody wanted to say anything about it because they were afraid they were gonna lose their jobs. I get that. But a crime was being committed all during those years of Vince being and owning WWF. It started with Rita Chatterton, and everything was shut up about that, ‘Oh, don’t say anything about this.’ And it was all over TV, but this latest charge has been reported all over the world… WWE programming is everywhere.” [3:50 – 4:51]
Mantell noted that WWE’s global reach means that McMahon’s allegations have become a mainstream topic of discussion.
Additionally, Mantell speculated that McMahon may have been set up for removal following his compelled return to WWE in January 2023.
“It doesn’t look good for Vince; it doesn’t look good for that old regime up there. Of course, they are under new owners now, Endeavor. I think getting Vince out of there, I think this was all set up to move him out because they thought they moved him out anyway.” [From 5:20 onwards]
Despite McMahon’s promises to clear his name, new details about his controversial actions continue to surface online. While McMahon has weathered numerous legal battles in the past, the current media scrutiny appears to be more intense than ever before.
