Vince McMahon, the unflinching force behind WWE’s success, recently had a “major” and “life-altering” spinal surgery. Aged but far from obsolete, McMahon’s five-hour successful operation has sparked more questions than it answered. Is this a sign of change in the WWE’s backstage power dynamics? How will this affect ongoing negotiations for the company’s media rights fees? Most importantly, will McMahon return to the helm in the same capacity, if at all?
We know the WWE Chairman underwent this operation last week, and the recovery has been on-going. The Monday following the surgery, McMahon was notably absent from ‘Raw’, with Chief Content Officer, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, also missing. Bruce Prichard stepped up to the plate, but the vacuum left behind by these two colossal figures wasn’t lost on fans and insiders alike.
While we aren’t privy to the exact nature of McMahon’s surgery, its timing coincides with some major backstage developments at WWE. Currently, the company is locked in crucial negotiations over media rights fees for its weekly programming. It’s intriguing to note that Disney has shown interest in bringing WWE programming to FX, but the real contest may still be between FOX and NBCUniversal, current rights holders for ‘SmackDown’ and ‘Raw’, respectively.
The power dynamics at WWE have always been fascinating and complex. McMahon’s sudden surgery and the resulting uncertainty only adds another layer to this intricate puzzle. McMahon’s influence within the organization is undeniable. He returned from retirement in July 2022 to facilitate WWE’s merger with UFC under Endeavor. With the media rights negotiations on the horizon, the power play backstage at WWE might get even more complex.
Let’s not forget McMahon’s controversial past either, which has seen him face serious allegations of misconduct. It’s fair to say that his every move is scrutinized, every absence keenly felt. As WWE fans, we are left to wonder – will his surgery mark a new era in WWE’s behind-the-scenes drama, or is it just a temporary blip on the radar?
As the ‘Raw’ universe spins in the aftermath of McMahon’s surgery, and with ongoing negotiations, we can only speculate about WWE’s future trajectory. One thing is certain, though – McMahon’s absence leaves a question mark, and the power shift backstage might be more momentous than we can imagine. Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds.