Vince McMahon stepping down as WWE Chairman?

Vince McMahon has been at the helm of the WWE for quite some time. Could he be stepping down as active chairman? It seems like a real possibility now. Rumors are going around about Vince missing an increasingly large number of events. While it would not be that unusual considering he is 74, we are speaking about the patriarch of commercial wrestling. So, could there be another reason? Let’s examine recent events.

Vince Misses Multiple Events Since Thanksgiving

Vince McMahon stepping down from SmackDown Live?

It is well-documented that Vince is very much involved in the WWE product, especially backstage. He’s known to rip scripts up just hours before the show goes on air. However, this seems to have changed since Thanksgiving.

According to Fightful Select, Vince is still involved in the company, but has rarely been seen for events since late last year. It is rumored that he has missed several episodes of SmackDown Live in particular.

“We were told that Vince McMahon was rarely, if ever at the show between Thanksgiving and the February 5th episode.”

It is claimed that Vince is skipping a lot of SmackDown Live, but still remains present on Raw for approximately half the time. Interestingly, Vince was known to attend all the shows without exception, so something is definitely changing.

In addition to missing shows, sources have also claimed that Vince has become more private lately. Last year, the news came that Vince is putting men like Paul Heyman and Bruce Prichard in place to eventually take over Raw and SmackDown live completely. So, we ask the question: “Is the chairman really thinking about retirement?”

Vince McMahon Stepping Down Due To XFL Commitments?

Vince McMahon missing SmackDown Live due to XFL Commitments?

Part of me thinks it could be possible that Vince wants to slow down, but I do have another theory. For years now, he has had an obsession with his XFL project. So much so, that he sold some of his shares in the WWE late last year. Despite the fact the project could stand to lose millions again, the billionaire seems hellbent to make it work.

When Vince started his XFL project again, he promised shareholders that it would not interfere with or influence the performance of the WWE. At this point, I don’t know that is the case. After all, he sold some of his own shares to pump money into his football project. This has not escaped shareholders either, as some of them filed a claim with the courts, claiming Vince is acting against the best interests of World Wrestling Entertainment.

At this point, we can only guess at the reasons for Vince’s absence. For a “normal” living being, trying to slow down at age 74 would not be unusual. But once again, this is the patriarch of commercial wrestling. A man who lives and thrives on control and power. To let go of that power, there must be a serious reason behind it. We’ll keep you updated as we find out.

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