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Tag: Nick Khan

  • WWE President Denies “Online Rumors” About Big Creative Change

    WWE President Denies “Online Rumors” About Big Creative Change

    Nick Khan is now claiming WWE never changed its WrestleMania 40 plans, a statement that flies in the face of The Rock’s own public admission and WWE’s own behind the scenes documentary. The WWE President insists the famous creative pivot fans witnessed in 2024 was the intended outcome all along.

    The road to WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia saw Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes briefly give up his main event opportunity against Roman Reigns to The Rock. WWE reverted to Reigns vs. Rhodes after heavy fan backlash, and a tag team match was booked for Night 1 with Reigns and The Rock facing Rhodes and Seth Rollins.

    Speaking at SBJ On Stage ahead of WrestleMania 42, Khan claimed those plans never changed and that what happened in Philly was always the design.

    “By the way, the plan was always how it ended up in Philly two years ago. Sometimes, it’s a pre-determined outcome in wrestling. You want to throw the fans off, you want to let things bake, and then, boom, it ends up the way that we wanted it to end up. It never changed,” Khan said.

    “That was just online rumors and gossip that we were changing, it never changed. We convinced Dwayne Johnson to come back. He’s on our board of directors. It was a tag team match. He’s about the same age I am, so two years ago let’s say he was 50, he was obviously in phenomenal shape, he did everything that we asked of him and then some. But that was always the result we were looking for,” Khan added.

    Khan’s Claim Contradicts WWE’s Own Documentary And The Rock

    The trouble with Khan’s version is that WWE itself has already told a different story. The promotion released a WrestleMania 40 Behind the Curtain documentary that admitted fan backlash forced the pivot back to Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes.

    The Rock has also said publicly that the original plan was for Roman Reigns vs. The Rock, before WWE pivoted to put Rhodes in the match. Khan’s framing of the situation as nothing more than online rumor runs directly against both accounts.

    Fans pointed out the contradiction on X, arguing that Khan does not want to accept that WWE listens to online criticism. On the same stage, the WWE President made comments tied to the WrestleMania 42 news cycle and claimed the company does not alter creative plans in response to social media reaction.

    Khan’s standing as WWE President under TKO gives his public statements weight, which is part of why this account has drawn such pushback. He recently signed a WWE contract extension that keeps him in the role for years to come.

  • Update On Potential WWE WrestleMania London In 2028

    Update On Potential WWE WrestleMania London In 2028

    The office of the Mayor of London recently confirmed that no specific negotiations are currently underway to bring WrestleMania to the city in 2028, despite nearly three years of speculation since John Cena first pitched the idea to a London crowd in 2023.

    Tom Degun of the Economic Desk with the Mayor of London’s Press Office told POST Wrestling that while general discussions with WWE continue, there are no concrete talks about hosting the 2028 event.

    “There are general discussions with WWE, but at present no specific discussions around bringing the 2028 WrestleMania to London,” Degun wrote in an email to the outlet.

    Mayor Sadiq Khan remains interested in bringing major WWE events to London. Degun noted that Khan is “determined to bring even more sports from around the world to London, including the biggest WWE events, and continues to discuss future opportunities.”

    Nashville Emerges as Leading Candidate

    Nashville appears to be the furthest along in actual negotiations with WWE for WrestleMania 44 in 2028. The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. confirmed to the outlet two weeks ago that the organization is “working on a future date” with WWE.

    WWE President Nick Khan recently teased staff at a company-wide TKO meeting about the 2028 location, saying “wait until you hear the announcement on where we’re going.”

    History of London WrestleMania Speculation

    The push for London to host WrestleMania began at Money in the Bank 2023, when Cena called for the city to host the event. In 2024, Mayor Khan met with Nick Khan and Paul Levesque to discuss the possibility of bringing WrestleMania to London.

    Ireland has also entered the conversation recently, with Kilkenny councilor Maurice Shortall discussing the possibility with the Irish Mirror last week, though his efforts were described as a “suggestion” to local government at that stage.

    WrestleMania 43 is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2027, marking the first time the event will be held outside the United States or Canada.

  • Janel Grant: Nick Khan Knew of McMahon Relationship, Lesnar Named

    Janel Grant: Nick Khan Knew of McMahon Relationship, Lesnar Named

    In a declaration filed in Connecticut District Court on Wednesday, Janel Grant alleged current World Wrestling Entertainment president and TKO board member Nick Khan knew of her relationship with Vince McMahon soon after he joined the company in August 2020.

    Grant sued Vince McMahon and WWE in January 2024, accusing McMahon of sexual assault and sex trafficking in a complaint that was amended in early 2025.

    Grant’s claim against Khan was one of several new allegations made in the case. She also laid out the timeline of when she signed the non-disclosure agreement that has been a centerpoint of the civil suit.

    Attorneys for McMahon and WWE want Grant to adhere to an arbitration hearing, which was a clause in the NDA. Grant’s attorneys say the clause violates federal law, among other issues.

    According to the 40-page declaration, filed as part of her opposition to a motion for arbitration, Grant was forced by McMahon to endure relationships with several members of WWE talent.

    Khan was mentioned previously in Grant’s original complaint, filed in January 2024, and her amended complaint last year, which alleged McMahon assigned Khan with designing an office for her and former WWE talent relations head John Laurinaitis. The designs allegedly allowed McMahon and Laurinaitis to enter Grant’s office with a passcode.

    Grant’s declaration alleged she was assaulted multiple times by Laurinaitis and McMahon. Laurinaitis, originally a defendant in the case, flipped last summer and provided evidence to the plaintiff and was expected to be a witness for Grant if the case goes to trial.

    The declaration included gruesome details concerning new and past allegations:

    • Former WWE executive Brad Blum became aware of the incident after meeting Grant.
    • McMahon and Blum were confronted about Grant by former WWE General Counsel Brad Nurse. Grant said McMahon had indicated Nurse was fired because of his knowledge of their relationship.
    • McMahon’s requests for Grant to engage Brock Lesnar and other WWE talent didn’t stop after Grant signed a non-disclosure agreement on Jan. 28, 2022, but continued.
    • Grant tried committing suicide after she was “raped” by McMahon and Laurinaitis.
    • The physical toll of the abuse against Grant led to her blacking out several times. She doesn’t recall her first alleged assault by McMahon, stating she blacked out.
    • McMahon became angry with Grant’s attorney several times when he began questioning aspects of the NDA. She said she faced “backlash” from Vince when she did share information with her attorney, which he told her not to do.
    • McMahon told Grant that Laurinaitis had previously signed an NDA due to an issue between him and a WWE talent. McMahon said Laurinaitis was demoted and the NDA cost WWE $1 million.
    • Lesnar had requested Grant to travel to Chicago to meet with him for a sexual encounter.
    • Lesnar became outraged when he learned Grant wasn’t working in the legal department (which she did previously), but working in talent relations. Grant said his outrage was due to previous issues he had with the department and Laurinaitis.
    • McMahon said that private videos and photos she had sent to him had likely been viewed by “thousands.”
    • Lesnar used the name “Polish Joe” as an alias in text messages to Grant.
    • McMahon’s efforts to connect Grant and Lesnar went from July 2021 to March 27, 2022, two months after she signed the NDA.

    Grant: McMahon said Nick Khan knew of relationship

    Khan was hired as WWE President and Chief Financial Officer in August 2020.

    “In hindsight, I view Nick’s arrival as the moment my life changed for the worse,” Grant said in the declaration. “My fears about reporting the abuse were realized when I learned from Vince that he put the company’s new president, essentially, his second in command, on notice of his ongoing sexual conduct with me.

    “Nick never asked me whether the relationship was consensual. Instead, Nick also waited for Vince to finish engaging sexually with me during meetings.”

    In November 2022, Grant said Nurse was fired. She said 72 hours after his termination, McMahon flew from Florida to Connecticut to force Grant into sex in McMahon’s office at WWE HQ. According to Grant, McMahon said the encounter in his office at the HQ was a “fantasy that became a reality.”

    Grant said WWE executive Brad Blum and Khan discussed the relationship with McMahon.

    “He said they expressed concern and one questioned whether I could be trusted,” Grant wrote. “Vince told me he provided them with assurances about my loyalty, character, that I would never do something to hurt WWE, and that I ‘would sooner jump off the balcony than hurt anyone.’ He told me that, with these assurances, Nick and Brad were ultimately supportive.”

    ‘Vince coerced me to sign an NDA under duress’

    Grant said McMahon regularly told her she was a threat to him and WWE, once telling her, “Unfortunately, you appear to have my company over a barrel.”

    She said she tried resigning several times. After a brief transfer to the XFL office, Grant said she tried to stay rather than transfer back to WWE. When notifying McMahon of her suicide attempt, Grant said he only pushed her to continue meeting with Laurinaitis.

    On Jan. 9, 2022, Grant said she met with McMahon at his apartment (they both lived in the same apartment building in Stamford). He again told Grant she was a threat to the company.

    “Vince said that he could lose his power, marriage, and home in a way that would be a public nightmare for both of us and require him to involve (Jerry) McDevitt,” Grant wrote. “Unless I came up with a solution for damage control.”

    Grant said McMahon had referenced McDevitt early in their relationship.

    “Vince mentioned that he had an attorney, Jerry McDevitt, on speed dial who was the best at making problems, including people who become problems, go away,” Grant wrote. “Vince told me he did not know the identity of the source leaking the information but expressed someone was trying to hurt him, which made me collateral damage.”

    Grant said she offered to resign “in response to a threat of imminent harm and in exchange for safety and protection.” She said Vince believed “signed paperwork” would satisfy his wife, Linda McMahon, and lead her to “call off a divorce.”

    Grant was concerned with the digital material she had sent McMahon and the people he had shared it with.

    “Vince would not answer who he shared my content with but rather said that thousands of men had probably seen it,” Grant wrote. “Vince said that the compromising pornographic material, and letters he requested, were locked in his personal safe.”

    Grant said McMahon set rules for her resignation, which included her staying away from the office and continuing to see Colker for medical care.

    Despite being a WWE employee, Grant said McMahon had circumvented human resources in her NDA and release from employment.

    “Vince replied that no one would see it because these agreements do not go through the legal department,” Grant wrote.

    McMahon allegedly told Grant that the paperwork would be handled by K&L Gates, McDevitt’s law firm, and it would be put in a “dusty drawer along with ‘the others.’”

    Grant said she couldn’t sleep during this period and had texted McMahon about suicidal thoughts and severe depression she suffered. When McMahon brought up paying her to sign an NDA, she said she was “disgusted and enraged.” She said she began developing rashes on her face and body due to the stress over the NDA.

    “I had no desire to sign paperwork or receive any money, so I would have said anything to get him to stop badgering me about it,” Grant wrote.

    Grant said her concerns with the NDA centered on not being able to share what she had been through with anyone except McMahon.

    She said she never met her attorney, who McMahon and McDevitt had called untrustworthy, which further isolated her.

    According to the declaration, McMahon moved Grant’s deadline to sign the NDA from Jan. 31 to Jan. 28. Grant said she continued to back out.

    “Vince reacted with fury,” Grant wrote. “We engaged in several calls during which he yelled at me and threatened that we would suffer serious harm if I did not sign the paperwork by 8 p.m., including public harm to him, his family and marriage, his empire, my reputation, and my safety. Life as I knew it would ‘blow up’ unless I signed the NDA, and I would be solely responsible for the consequences.”

    Grant said she signed the NDA on Jan. 28, just before 8 p.m., sending a copy of the signatory page to McMahon before sending it to her own attorney. She said she didn’t know which version of the NDA she signed.

    “At 8:42 p.m., my attorney emailed me explaining his concerns with the NDA and the negotiation process, including the fact that McDevitt had been unresponsive that day,” Grant wrote. “Per Vince’s instructions, I did not tell my attorney that I had already sent Vince a copy of the executed signature page.

    “At 9:09 p.m., I texted Vince that I was scared about everything and begged him to call me. On that call, I cried that my life was now in his hands and begged him to let me be small and live a quiet life. I admitted to Vince that I was having suicidal thoughts and wanted to jump off my balcony.”

    Grant said she received a $1 million installment payment on Feb. 4. She said the same day she later shared with McMahon she was having suicidal thoughts. She said a week after the NDA was signed, she was assaulted by McMahon at his condo, and was left retching on the floor.

    McMahon sent Grant a bouquet of flowers on Feb. 14, and encouraged her to meet with an unnamed WWE talent for a sexual encounter. Grant said she told Vince that she was confused about the scope of the NDA, particularly who she could talk to.

    SEScoops asked representatives for Grant, WWE, McMahon and Laurinaitis for comment about the allegations in the declaration. Parties hadn’t responded by Friday morning.

    Edward Brennan, an attorney for John Laurinaitis, sent a statement to Post Wrestling.

    “My client has no need to comment on this salacious affidavit. Anyone can make allegations. Whether those allegations can withstand the harsh sunlight of cross-examination is another matter entirely. I note that after two-plus years of litigation, Mr. Laurinaitis remains the only party exonerated by an independent investigation commissioned by the WWE Board of Directors to review these matters and the only person dismissed, with prejudice, from this lawsuit. Those facts speak louder than any allegations made to buttress a suspect claim.”

    SEScoops reached out to representatives for Grant and asked what Laurinaitis’s status was as a witness for the plaintiff in the case. A response hadn’t been sent when the article was published.

    According to Grant, McMahon had violated the NDA when he or WWE leaked her identity and details of their relationship to a member of the wrestling media. McMahon asserts Grant violated the NDA.

    The arbitration hearing in the case is scheduled for June 16.

  • Nick Khan Signs WWE Contract Extension

    Nick Khan Signs WWE Contract Extension

    Nick Khan has signed a new contract extension to remain President of WWE through December 30, 2030, with the details of the agreement revealed in a TKO SEC filing on Tuesday.

    Khan’s base salary is set at $2 million per year through December 31, 2026, rising to $3 million annually from January 1, 2027 through the end of the contract term. Both parties retain the right to terminate the agreement prior to its expiration under specific conditions outlined in the filing. If Khan continues working for WWE after the contract expires, his employment will convert to an at-will basis. Should he choose to leave, he is required to provide at least 60 days advance written notice.

    The base salary figures are subject to merit adjustments at WWE’s discretion, pending approval from TKO’s Board of Directors or designated committee members.

    Khan joined WWE in August 2020 and has served as President since that time. His tenure has coincided with one of the most transformative periods in the company’s history, encompassing the merger with UFC parent Endeavor to form TKO Group Holdings, the landmark Netflix deal for Monday Night Raw, and the expansion of the company’s premium live event calendar across multiple international markets.

    The extension keeps Khan in place through a contract period that will include several more years of the Netflix deal, the ongoing Saudi Arabia partnership, and whatever the next phase of WWE’s media rights landscape looks like heading toward the end of the decade.

  • TKO is Asking Multiple WWE Talents to Renegotiate Deals

    TKO is Asking Multiple WWE Talents to Renegotiate Deals

    The wave of WWE contract restructurings and releases making headlines in recent weeks may have a specific financial explanation behind it, with Bodyslam reporting that TKO is looking to maximize revenue to help address debts carried over from Endeavor’s past.

    “TKO is asking multiple talent to restructure their contracts as a result of what they view as talent rate of production vs what they are being paid. Another source indicated that TKO is looking to maximize revenue as the company is still currently in debt due to Endeavor’s past.”

    Endeavor, the talent and entertainment agency that acquired WWE and merged it with the UFC to form TKO Group Holdings, carried significant debt from its own operations that has followed the combined entity.

    The post-WrestleMania 42 releases on April 24 included Kairi Sane, Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, and the Motor City Machine Guns among others. JC Mateo and Tonga Loa were added to the list of departures on May 2, the same day The New Day’s exit was confirmed.

    PWInsider’s Mike Johnson separately reported that a majorly pushed talent had accepted a 50 percent pay cut, with Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp adding that multiple talents had been approached about reductions.

  • ‘Pretty Majorly Pushed’ WWE Talent Reportedly Took 50% Pay Cut

    ‘Pretty Majorly Pushed’ WWE Talent Reportedly Took 50% Pay Cut

    A significant picture of WWE’s current approach to talent contracts is emerging in the wake of The New Day’s departure, with PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reporting that a heavily pushed WWE star accepted a 50% pay cut just one day before Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were moved to the company’s alumni section.

    Johnson revealed the detail while discussing the broader direction of WWE under TKO’s ownership, framing the timing of the pay cut report and New Day’s departure as striking.

    “This past Friday, the day before Kingston and Woods were moved to the Alumni section of the WWE website without even a ‘Hey, thanks for all you did for this company’ publicly, PWInsider.com was told of a pretty majorly pushed talent who was asked to take a 50% pay cut, and allegedly did. I’m not naming the talent because I have no way, yet, to confirm this was the case, but the timing of that claim and what happened the very next day was very, very interesting, to say the least.”

    Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select added further context on X, noting that multiple WWE talents were approached about taking pay cuts, though he did not specify which names were involved.

    The New Day’s departure had already been reported to stem, in part, from TKO’s latest contract offer to the team. Kingston and Woods were moved to the alumni section of WWE’s website without any public acknowledgment from the company, a decision that drew criticism in its own right, given their combined tenure and the titles they held throughout their careers.

    Tonga Loa and JC Mateo were also reported to have departed WWE on the same day, though the nature of those exits has not been confirmed.

  • WWE Legend Jokes About Nick Khan’s Earnings From WrestleMania 42

    WWE Legend Jokes About Nick Khan’s Earnings From WrestleMania 42

    WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash has voiced his disagreement with WWE’s recent decision to release the Motor City Machine Guns. He also said that WWE President Nick Khan took half of WrestleMania 42’s net revenue.

    The WWE Hall of Famer made his stance clear during a Q&A session on his Kliq This podcast. He discussed the April 24 wave of roster cuts. The releases of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin caught Nash’s attention among the departures announced that day. He said:

    “I would not have gotten rid of the Motor City Machine Guns, that’s for damn sure.”

    Nash’s comments reflect the surprise some fans felt about the tag team’s exit. The Motor City Machine Guns had been part of WWE’s roster before the company decided to part ways with them.

    Kevin Nash Jokes About Executive Compensation

    When asked if the latest round of cuts surprised him, Nash said not really, especially after seeing recent reports about TKO executive compensation. He joked about WWE President Nick Khan’s earnings in relation to the roster decisions.

    “Not after like two weeks prior when I see what the CEOs [are making]. What Nick’s getting paid. I mean, Nick took f***ing half of the WrestleMania net [laughs],” Nash said. “But I’m busting his balls because we sat here and went over the numbers and the year before was 1.4 billion. The next year, you’re 1.7 billion. So that’s 300 million.”

    Nash also acknowledged that Khan has delivered significant financial growth for WWE. Khan reportedly earned $24.3 million in total compensation for 2025, including a $2 million base salary, $11 million in stock awards, and over $10 million in bonuses.

  • WWE Legend Believes WrestleMania 44 Location ‘Bigger Than Nashville’

    WWE Legend Believes WrestleMania 44 Location ‘Bigger Than Nashville’

    WWE Hall of Famer JBL believes WWE President Nick Khan’s recent comments about WrestleMania 44’s location suggest the company is planning something bigger than a domestic venue.

    Khan made waves at a recent WWE town hall meeting when he told employees to wait until they hear where WrestleMania 44 will be held. The cryptic tease has sparked widespread speculation among fans and industry insiders about whether WWE is finally ready to take its biggest event overseas.

    International Destination Speculation

    During an appearance on the Something To Wrestle podcast, JBL indicated he has several international cities in mind that could host what he described as a “truly historic” WrestleMania. The comment comes as WWE continues expanding its global footprint under TKO Group Holdings ownership.

    “I don’t know. I’m interested. He really teased where they’re going to be for that WrestleMania. And no offense to Nashville, I love Nashville. I think it’s something bigger than Nashville. I think it’s overseas. It seems like an overseas thing.

    And if it is, you know, I think you gotta look at the big cities. I think you gotta look at London. Think you gotta look at Tokyo, and you gotta look at something like Sydney. I think would be the ones to me. But it might be something like Mumbai.”

    “There are some real opportunities out there. I would love to be a fly on the wall and see who all is trying to get WrestleMania for that year,” JBL added.

    WrestleMania 43 is already set for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2027. Khan’s emphasis on waiting for the WrestleMania 44 announcement suggests the 2028 event could mark a significant departure from tradition.

    WWE’s Global Expansion

    WWE has increasingly focused on international markets in recent years, running premium live events in Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other territories. A WrestleMania held outside North America would represent the company’s most ambitious international move to date.

    The company has not officially announced a location for WrestleMania 44. Khan’s comments at the town hall meeting remain the only public indication of the company’s plans for the 2028 event.

  • Nick Khan Teases WrestleMania 44 Location at TKO Town Hall

    Nick Khan Teases WrestleMania 44 Location at TKO Town Hall

    WWE President Nick Khan recently teased the location for WrestleMania 44 during a TKO town hall meeting this week. The destination for the 2028 premium live event remains unannounced, though Khan suggested fans should expect a major reveal.

    “Wait until you hear the announcement on where we’re going to be for WrestleMania in 2028,” Khan said at the town hall meeting,

    Khan did not offer additional hints about the premium live event’s location.

    Back-to-Back Las Vegas Events

    Khan addressed WWE’s decision to hold WrestleMania in Las Vegas for two consecutive years.

    “That was ultimately my decision,” he said. “Maybe we don’t do that one again in terms of back-to-back, but ultimately it ended up being a successful event.”

    WrestleMania 42 took place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Night one’s main event featured Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defending against Randy Orton, while night two closed with Roman Reigns dethroning CM Punk as WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

    WrestleMania 43 Headed to Saudi Arabia

    Following its second straight stay in Las Vegas, WrestleMania will head overseas to Saudi Arabia in 2027. March 27, 2027 is the reported target date for WrestleMania 43, though the weekend of April 10 is also said to be on the table.

    The dates for WrestleMania 44 in 2028 remain unconfirmed.

  • Triple H’s WWE Future Was Internally Questioned Before New Deal

    Triple H’s WWE Future Was Internally Questioned Before New Deal

    Triple H’s new WWE contract sealed his immediate future, but the conversation about whether he would even be in the role much longer was happening inside the company well before WrestleMania 42, not just on Wrestling Twitter.

    That’s the picture painted by Bryan Alvarez on the April 28 episode of Wrestling Observer Live. Alvarez reported that the question of Paul Levesque’s standing was an active discussion topic inside WWE leading into Las Vegas, driven less by what he was doing and more by how often he was getting overruled.

    Why The Internal Doubt Existed

    Alvarez was clear that the backstage conversation was not a referendum on Levesque’s creative work. It was a referendum on his actual authority.

    “Sometimes there will be some things that are booked and fans won’t like it, and then they’ll try to get this traction going that maybe we need to replace Triple H,” Alvarez said. “I will say that this year, leading to WrestleMania, unlike previous years when fans were discussing it, it was a topic of conversation in WWE leading up to WrestleMania 42.”

    The reason, per Alvarez, was the volume of late changes coming from above him on the org chart.

    “I want to make it very clear, the people discussing this within WWE were not discussing this in the sense that, ‘We think he’s doing a horrible job, we need him to be replaced.’ It was being discussed specifically because so much stuff was being done at the last second by people outside. The decision to bring in Pat McAfee, the decision to insert him into the storyline, the thing with Jelly Roll. I had heard about it prior to that as well with other things that had come from above.”

    The McAfee Decision Came From The Top

    The McAfee insertion is the cleanest example of the friction Alvarez is describing. Dave Meltzer previously reported that the call to bring Pat McAfee into the Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton program came from TKO CEO Ari Emanuel, who also represents McAfee. McAfee initially turned the offer down before WWE eventually got him in the door for the April 4 SmackDown reveal as Orton’s mystery caller.

    Jelly Roll was layered onto the angle separately. The cumulative effect, per Alvarez, was a sense inside the building that the people writing the checks did not fully trust the person running the show.

    “It was just kind of there was a feeling that perhaps these people keep getting involved and why would they be getting involved if they had so much faith in this guy. And there were people that thought, ‘I don’t know if this guy is going to be around this time next year.’”

    The New Deal Settles It For Now

    Levesque’s new agreement, announced by WWE President Nick Khan during a TKO town hall on April 27, is reportedly a multi-year deal that PWInsider says could run as long as three years. The deal was reportedly completed before WrestleMania weekend, meaning the internal hand-wringing Alvarez described was happening even as the paperwork was being finalized.

    Khan publicly backed Levesque during that town hall, telling staff he would remain Chief Content Officer for the foreseeable future. Sources told Bodyslam that TKO is satisfied with the work Levesque has done despite the corporate overrides during WrestleMania season.

    “Turns out he ends up getting his deal extended, so he will be around,” Alvarez said. “But it was definitely a discussion point that this may not be his thing for a long period of time. It could be over soon.”

    The contract removes the immediate question. The structural one, who actually gets the final say when WWE’s biggest weekend rolls around, is a separate problem entirely. Court filings from 2023 already showed Levesque navigating outside creative interference once before. The names have changed. The dynamic, by Alvarez’s account, has not.

  • Triple H, Nick Khan Using AI for WWE Storylines, Says TKO COO

    Triple H, Nick Khan Using AI for WWE Storylines, Says TKO COO

    WWE’s creative process is being shaped, at least in part, by artificial intelligence. TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro told staff during a Monday town hall that Nick Khan and Paul “Triple H” Levesque are leaning on AI tools to help guide storyline decisions, according to audio of the internal call obtained by Post Wrestling.

    Shapiro framed AI adoption as a “major priority” for the company, pointing to its potential to make employees more efficient and citing UFC’s existing use of AI for fighter rankings as an internal proof point.

    Shapiro’s Comments on WWE Creative

    “Nick Khan and Triple H are using AI for storylines with the WWE,” Shapiro said. “What’s resonating? What superstars are resonating? In what pockets of the country are they resonating? That helps us with, obviously, our content, our editorial, our creative, our mapping, our touring, and of course, maximizing revenue and getting our product out to the fans most in need of it.”

    The framing positions AI not as a script-writing tool but as a market-research engine feeding creative decisions. Which talent is over in which markets, what storylines are landing with the audience, and where to route the touring schedule are all questions Shapiro indicated AI is now helping answer.

    It also follows weeks of public messaging from Shapiro about TKO’s grip on WWE. Earlier this month, Shapiro told a University of Alabama class that TKO has “complete control” over WWE creative, on the record acknowledgment of a chain of command fans had spent weeks debating after WrestleMania 42.

    TKO CFO Says It’s Still Early

    TKO Chief Financial Officer Andrew Schleimer also addressed AI during the same town hall, offering a more measured view. Schleimer said the company has only run “tests and pilots” so far and remains in the early stages of implementation, with current uses focused on data and analytics for WWE and UFC consumers, plus minor broadcast enhancements.

    The disclosure lands at a moment when Triple H’s grip on creative has just been formally locked in. PWInsider reported earlier this week that Paul Levesque signed a new multi-year deal to remain WWE Chief Content Officer, with TKO publicly endorsing his work in the role despite ongoing fan criticism over recent creative decisions.

    Context for the AI Push

    The AI commentary was one of several headlines from the town hall. Khan also told staff that WWE is “monitoring” the security situation in the Middle East ahead of Night of Champions on June 27 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and acknowledged that running back-to-back WrestleManias in Las Vegas was “ultimately my decision,” conceding the company may not repeat that choice.

    WWE communications staff did not immediately respond to Post Wrestling’s request for comment.

  • Backstage Reason Behind 2026 WWE Wrestlers Releases Revealed

    Backstage Reason Behind 2026 WWE Wrestlers Releases Revealed

    WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H and WWE President Nick Khan were the masterminds behind the latest roster cuts following WrestleMania 42, as per Fightful.

    It has been reported that TKO was not the driving force behind the releases. The outlet noted that Sources within WWE confirmed the cuts were handled internally by the promotion’s leadership team.

    Reason Behind The Cuts

    Fightful reported that most of the releases were due to clearing the way for new talent. The possibility of SmackDown returning to two hours in the near future was also noted as another reason.

    Bodyslam has reported that SmackDown will switch back to two hours within the next few weeks.

    The April 25 cuts saw a handful of wrestlers let go, including The Wyatt Sicks, Aleister Black, Kairi Sane, and Zelina Vega. The report clarifies that TKO, WWE’s parent company, did not mandate the roster reductions.

    Triple H and Khan worked with talent relations to determine which performers would be released following the company’s biggest event of the year.

  • Senator Bernie Moreno Makes WrestleMania Pitch To Nick Khan

    Senator Bernie Moreno Makes WrestleMania Pitch To Nick Khan

    Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno recently used a congressional hearing on the Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act to pitch WWE president Nick Khan on bringing WrestleMania to Cleveland.

    The Republican senator highlighted Ohio’s soon-to-be-built domed stadium in Cleveland, located directly across from a major airport.

    During the hearing, Moreno asked Khan:

    “2029 or 2023…what’s better for you to bring WrestleMania to Cleveland?”

    The senator noted that Ohio successfully hosted SummerSlam in 2024.

    Khan, who appeared surprised by the pitch during the legislative hearing, played along with the request. He joked that Logan Paul pressures him weekly to bring WrestleMania to Ohio, and now he faces additional pressure from Senator Moreno.

    WWE Benefits From Ohio Tax Credits

    Both WWE and AEW have received Ohio tax credits in recent years for bringing events to the state. The financial incentives have made Ohio an attractive destination for major wrestling promotions.

    Khan attended the hearing as the only TKO representative. The hearing focused on the controversial Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act, which would create a new “unified Boxing Organization.”

    Boxing Community Opposition

    Boxing legend and current promoter Oscar de La Hoya also testified at the hearing, speaking against the proposed revision to the Ali Act. Critics argue the bill’s structure too closely resembles the UFC model and could harm fighters’ interests.

    The bill has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas stated he would bring the legislation to the Senate and remains open to bi-partisan modifications.

  • Nick Khan Says Both WrestleMania 42 Main Events Will ‘Overdeliver’

    Nick Khan Says Both WrestleMania 42 Main Events Will ‘Overdeliver’

    WWE President Nick Khan is not concerned about the online reaction to the build-up to WrestleMania 42, and he made that clear two nights before the show.

    Speaking to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Khan pushed back on the mixed fan sentiment surrounding both main event storylines and said the internal read on where things are heading looks very different from what critics have been saying.

    “Let’s see the reaction when the show is done,” Khan said. “I think a lot of times with WWE storylines, they take a moment to develop. We have the good fortune when we’re on the inside of knowing where we’re going. If you look at the two main events, there is real heat there and when the storylines are blurred between reality and pre-determined outcomes in WWE, we think that always delivers, and with the Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes, especially with the addition of Pat McAfee, we think both will overdeliver. Let’s see.”

    Khan singling out McAfee is deliberate. The ESPN personality’s heel turn as Orton’s mystery caller has been the most polarizing element of the WrestleMania 42 build, with Rhodes himself telling the SI Media podcast it was “the most ill-received thing in the history of wrestling.” 

    Rhodes defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Orton in the Night One main event on Saturday, April 18. Orton is pursuing his 15th world title, which would tie Ric Flair for second-most in WWE history.

    Night Two on Sunday, April 19 is headlined by CM Punk defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns, a match built on years of documented real animosity between the two.

    Both nights stream live from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with the opening hour airing on ESPN2 on Saturday and ESPN on Sunday before the full show moves to ESPN Unlimited.

  • Nick Khan Names Rhea Ripley as WWE’s Future Top Star Ahead of WrestleMania 42

    Nick Khan Names Rhea Ripley as WWE’s Future Top Star Ahead of WrestleMania 42

    WWE President Nick Khan believes former Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley will be one of the faces of the company in the coming years.

    Speaking on The Bill Simmons Podcast before WrestleMania 42, Khan named ‘The Eradicator’ as his top pick to be WWE’s biggest star in 2033.

    “I think there’s a shot for a couple people, I think. Keep in mind Rhea is in her late 20s, Rhea Ripley. She’s amazing. She has a chance. She’s already up there.”

    Last year, Ripley helped steal the show at WrestleMania 41. She competed in a triple threat with IYO SKY and Bianca Belair that earned widespread praise from fans and critics.

    Khan’s Vision for WWE’s Future Stars

    Khan also listed Logan Paul, Bron Breakker, Oba Femi, and Trick Williams as options for WWE’s top star in 2033. He highlighted the importance of letting young talent develop at their own pace.

    “I’m high on Logan Paul. He’s good, dude. And by the way, he puts in the work,” Khan said. “I’m high on Bron. We cannot rush it, though. Gotta sort of let him develop at his own pace.”

    Khan praised Trick Williams for being authentic and understanding the media. He looks for wrestlers whose inner voice matches their outer voice.

    “I always look for people whose inner voice matches their outer voice. I look for that in wrestlers. I look for it in political people,” Khan explained. “Trick Williams is Trick Williams. So I like that.”

    Rhea Ripley enters her seventh WrestleMania this weekend in one of the top matches on night two. She challenges Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship on Sunday.

  • Nick Khan Details WWE’s Youth Initiative

    Nick Khan Details WWE’s Youth Initiative

    WWE President Nick Khan addressed concerns about the company’s aging top stars and explained how a conversation with Shawn Michaels led to NXT hitting the road, directly accelerating the rise of Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Je’Von Evans.

    Speaking on the Bill Simmons Podcast, Khan said the issue came into focus shortly after WrestleMania last year.

    “A year ago, right after WrestleMania last year, Triple H and I got together and we said, ‘Let’s take a look at the future, let’s look at our top male superstars,’” Khan explained.

    He laid out the reality of WWE’s current top tier.

    “Cena, it was obviously his retirement year. We have, in some order, Roman, Cody, Punk, Seth, Brock. They’re all 40 years or older. So we said, ‘Alright, we’ve gotta make sure we’re preparing for the future here.’”

    Shawn Michaels Identified the Problem

    Khan said the answer came from a visit to the WWE Performance Center, where Michaels and Matt Bloom run NXT day-to-day.

    The key issue was that performing in a studio environment denied young talent the authentic crowd feedback they needed to grow.

    “Doing it from the studio every week, you don’t get the authentic fan response that young wrestlers need to know if their work is working or not,” Khan said, paraphrasing Michaels. “Randy Orton shows up in St. Louis, he’s getting all the cheers in the world, he shows up in a different city, he doesn’t. You need to know how to react to that.”

    Michaels made the ask simple: take NXT on the road. Khan said WWE delivered within a month.

    “We came back to Shawn, ‘Let’s take it on the road starting in a month,’ or whatever it was.”

    Immediate Results on the Main Roster

    Khan directly connected that decision to the fast-track promotions that followed.

    “Then you saw the quick acceleration of Oba Femi, Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans, soon to be others coming up from NXT.”

    All three have since been called up to the main roster and are booked for WrestleMania 42.

    Femi faces Brock Lesnar, Williams challenges Sami Zayn for the United States Championship, and Evans competes in a ladder match for the Intercontinental Title.

    Michaels has spoken openly about the NXT pipeline as well. He recently revealed he actually pushed back against Evans’ call-up, saying he wanted to keep the high-flyer in NXT for at least another six months before WWE pulled him to the main roster ahead of schedule.

  • Triple H Raised Concerns Over Vince McMahon’s Creative Role Before WWE–Endeavor Merger

    Triple H Raised Concerns Over Vince McMahon’s Creative Role Before WWE–Endeavor Merger

    WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H had expressed anxiety over Vince McMahon’s increased involvement in WWE creative just a day before the company’s merger with Endeavor became official.

    Text messages between WWE’s Chief Content Officer and President Nick Khan, disclosed in Delaware Court of Chancery filings, reveal tension within WWE’s executive ranks in September 2023.

    The exchange took place on Monday, September 11, 2023, according to a report from POST Wrestling. Triple H, who had taken over WWE’s creative team from McMahon the previous year, reached out to Khan for support as McMahon sought more involvement in the creative process.

    Triple H Stressed Ahead of Merger Finalization

    via POST Wrestling

    Later that evening, Triple H informed Khan that McMahon wanted to meet about upcoming talent releases. These releases were part of a staff-cutting initiative tied to reducing costs as promised in the merger.

    Fightful reported that McMahon and Levesque were involved with late changes to the Monday, September 11, 2023, episode of Raw. Vince was not at the event, as he had been on other occasions that year. Those other occasions included the Raw after WrestleMania in 2023, when he made wide-ranging changes to the show in-person.

    via POST Wrestling
    via POST Wrestling

    A few minutes later, Triple H told Khan that Vince McMahon had called for a meeting later that day with “Bruce and Ed,” possibly referring to senior creative team members Bruce Prichard and Ed Koskey.

    via POST Wrestling

    Two months later, on a Saturday night, December 9, 2023, Levesque texted Khan.

    via POST Wrestling

    The next day, the record shows Levesque and Khan trying to reach Emanuel, with Levesque apparently speaking with Emanuel.

    via POST Wrestling
    via POST Wrestling

    The public filings don’t show further messages between Levesque and Khan for the next few hours. It is reported that any calls or messages that might have happened in that window, whether Khan reached Emanuel, McMahon, or both, aren’t reflected in the record.

  • Nick Khan on Boxing\’s \’Going Out of Business\’ Mentality vs. TKO\’s Long-Term Vision

    WWE President Nick Khan has criticized boxing\’s short-term promotional mentality, contrasting it with the long-range planning that has driven success at WWE and UFC.

    Speaking with Max Kellerman on Inside The Ring, Khan explained that boxing promoters treat events like liquidation sales rather than building ongoing narratives and star power.

    \”With boxing, it almost feels like once the fight is over, the promoters were like, \’Okay, our night is over. You know, we\’re done.\’ The night\’s just beginning, but because as Dana says, everything\’s going out of business sale. It\’s not really existing in a continuum like a league or a tour. There\’s no long range plan,\” Khan observed.

    Khan highlighted Terence Crawford\’s team as an exception to this pattern, praising their media strategy following the Canelo Alvarez fight.

    \”I thought Terence Crawford and his team did a phenomenal job post Canelo fight of getting him out there doing podcasts the Monday after doing ESPN hits,\” he noted.

    WWE\’s Perspective on Competition

    The TKO executive revealed that WWE views all entertainment as competition rather than just other wrestling or sports promotions, citing the NFL\’s Christmas Day broadcast featuring Beyonce\’s halftime show as inspiration.

    \”At WWE, we see everything as our competition, including someone just staying home on a Saturday night and looking at their phone and texting friends and watching TikTok. When I see things like the NFL on Christmas Day last year and the Beyonce halftime show, that inspires me. That\’s our competition. I\’m not suggesting we\’re yet in the same league as the NFL, but I look at them and say, \’Wow, they really nailed that,\’\” Khan explained.

    Khan also shared WWE\’s ambitious retail goals, revealing that the company monitors its Black Friday merchandise performance against the major North American sports leagues through its partnership with Fanatics.

    \”When we get our numbers coming off of Black Friday from fanatics, what we\’re curious to know is where are we compared to the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and by the way, soon we\’re going to take the spot of one of those entities. Assume it\’s not the NFL or NBA, but we\’re going to take that spot,\” Khan declared.

    Check out WWE President Nick Khan\’s full conversation with Max Kellerman for Inside Ring:

  • Nick Khan Finally Reveals Secret of Green Shirt Guy

    Nick Khan has finally lifted the veil on one of WWE\’s longest-held mysteries.

    The WWE President was recently a guest on Logan Paul\’s Impaulsive podcast. They discussed things such the masked man who appeared at Survivor Series, relationship with Dana White, and more.

    During the interview, the WWE President was also asked about the famous Green Shirt Guy that has been a fixture of WWE shows for years. Specifically, Khan was asked how he is able to get front row seats to WWE shows on regular, and Nick explained that the fan always pays for his seats:

    “One of the sister companies of WWE and UFC is OnLocation. He pays for his seats. He pays a premium for those seats through OnLocation, and that’s why he gets to be in the front row,”

    Nick Khan was also asked about the rumor that the company started giving him free tickets to avoid a lawsuit when The Green Shirt Guy got hurt during a WWE show. The company executive confirmed that it wasn\’t the case.

    Elsewhere in the interview, The WWE official talked about John Cena\’s retirement and claimed that there has been no dispute between Triple H and The Cenation Leader in his final run. You can check out the full podcast below:

  • Nick Khan Reveals How WWE Feels About Brock Lesnar\’s Return

    Nick Khan is happy to have Brock Lesnar back in WWE.

    The company brought back The Beast Incarnate for a match with John Cena at WrestlePalooza. This was done despite considerable backlash from the fans due to his name being mentioned in the Janel Grant Sexual Trafficking lawsuit against former WWE owner Vince McMahon.

    Nick Khan, who was brought in by the former WWE chairman back in 2020, recently spoke to UFC legend Daniel Cormier. Speaking on the return of Brock Lesnar, the WWE President claimed that the promotion is honored to have him back in the fold:

    \”When he walks into a room, he looks and usually is the baddest dude on the planet. And that’s what he looks like, and that’s his personification.

    By the way, he’s a gem to work with. Easy. As long as he knows things in advance, there are no issues. We’re honored to have him back. I’m happy he’s here, and I hope you enjoyed the WarGames match he was in.”

    Lesnar wrestled in his second match since his return at Survivor Series, where he teamed up with Logan Paul, Drew McIntyre and The Vision in the WarGames main event. The heels went on to beat the babyface team of Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and The Usos.

    Though the booking of this bout seems to have caused some tensions behind the scenes and Triple H confirmed that there was backstage politics involved in it. You can check out his remarks on the matter here.