29 July 2023 , 18:58
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Veteran WWE CEO Vince McMahon is recovering after he underwent major surgery on his spine over the course of several hours.
The 77-year-old went under the knife to fix an unspecified issue with his back and it is believed that the operation was a success. According to American outlet TMZ, the wrestling chief is no longer in the hospital and is now recuperating at home following the surgery.
There is no timetable for McMahon's recovery at the moment and there has been no suggestion that the surgery will affect his role moving forward.
Those watching "Raw" on Monday night will have noted the absence of the WWE household name, with Bruce Prichard having recently been in charge. WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque also did not attend the TV recording, leaving Prichard to assume the reigns.
McMahon resigned from his roles as CEO and Chairman of the company last year amid allegations of misconduct. The Wall Street Journal had alleged that he had paid out some $20m (£17.9m) to former WWE employees over the claims and an internal investigation was launched.
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His attorney did issue a statement at the time of his departure, which failed to mention any of these allegations which had been made regarding his behaviour down the years. Instead he stated: "As I approach 77 years old, I feel it’s time for me to retire as Chairman and CEO of WWE.
"Throughout the years, it’s been a privilege to help WWE bring you joy, inspire you, thrill you, surprise you, and always entertain you. I would like to thank my family for mightily contributing to our success, and I would also like to thank all of our past and present Superstars and employees for their dedication and passion for our brand.
Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon and Triple H attend the UFC 276 event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)He added: "I would like to thank my family for mightily contributing to our success, and I would also like to thank all of our past and present Superstars and employees for their dedication and passion for our brand. Most importantly, I would like to thank our fans for allowing us into your homes every week and being your choice of entertainment."
However, the businessman did return to WWE as executive chairman to oversee the sale of the company to the parent firm behind UFC. Eventually, Endeavor was able to complete their purchase in April and McMahon still remains at the helm of the company, as things stand.
This new parent company will be named New Whale Inc and the deal was eventually announced in Spring, prior to the WWE's hosting of WrestleMania 39 at SoFi Stadium in California. The agreement decrees that Endeavor will own 51 per cent of the firm, with WWE stakeholders owning a minority of 49 per cent.