Vince McMahon continues to face more allegations

Vince McMahon has been an icon in the sports entertainment industry for decades, but behind-the-scenes behavior has forced him to step down from his post in recent weeks (Photo Courtesy of Vallery Jean/Getty Images).

Vincent Kennedy McMahon, the co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE), has been involved in a series of serious lawsuits throughout his career. In recent news, McMahon was accused by a former WWE employee of various sexual assaults and sex trafficking allegations. McMahon is accused of preying on his female employees and wrestlers. 

The most recent allegations have led to his resignation, which has seemed imminent for nearly a decade. Throughout the years, McMahon has created an alarming number of storylines with female wrestlers, many of which are romantic and overly sexual that require a lot of kissing and uncomfortable dialogue. 

Ashley Massaro was a reality television contestant turned WWE Diva. Massaro debuted in WWE after winning the WWE Diva Search contest in 2005. Massaro was widely loved by fans for her alternative outfits and endearing personality. Massoro engaged in several well-received storylines before departing from the company in 2008. It was later learned that in 2006, while WWE went on tour in Kuwait, she was assaulted by a member of the United States Armed Forces. When Massaro raised these issues to WWE executives, she was advised to keep quiet, as McMahon wanted to maintain WWE’s relationship with the Armed Forces. 

After her departure, Massaro went on to reveal that she was one of many women who were harassed by McMahon behind the scenes. According to reports, he would make sexual advances backstage and would often call her at odd hours of the night. She rejected his advances, and following her rejection, he retaliated by making storylines and promos that ultimately tanked her career and reputation with fans.

In 2018, Massaro, along with dozens of other wrestlers, were involved in a lawsuit holding WWE responsible for traumatic injuries they endured during their time in the company. Massaro’s affidavit included the alleged response she received from executives when sharing her story, along with other accounts. Unfortunately, the lawsuit was thrown out and Massaro never received justice. In 2019, Massaro took her own life. After Massaro’s suicide, WWE spoke out revealing that there was never a conversation between Massaro and company executives. They claim that had they known of such actions, reports would have been made to the proper authorities.

This is not the first time McMahon has been involved in legal troubles throughout his career at the WWE. In 1983, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, a fan-favorite wrestler, allegedly murdered his girlfriend Nancy Argentino. Argentino’s autopsy revealed that she died due to a traumatic brain injury. When police arrived at the scene, Snuka instructed McMahon to inform the authorities that Snuka was not responsible for the mysterious death of Argentino. The case remained closed up until 2015. 

The case was reopened when the doctor who conducted the original autopsy revealed that there was foul play involved. Snuka was placed on trial for the murder of Argentino in 2016, but the former wrestler’s health was brought into question. Before the trial, Snuka was diagnosed with stomach cancer and dementia. As a result, he was considered too physically and mentally unfit to stand trial. Snuka passed away in 2017 due to his terminal illness and Argentino’s tragic death is still considered an unsolved homicide. 

WWE has been silent on these topics, among others, for far too long. Allegations surrounding McMahon have been leaking for over 30 years and yet he has managed to protect himself and everybody whom he deemed worthy of protecting thus far. His history of sexual misconduct is not new, and these fresh allegations only serve as a reminder that Vince McMahon is a man capable of abusing his employees and evading charges. The women who have spoken out against McMahon’s misconduct should not be forgotten, even if they are no longer here to share their stories.