The saga of Vince McMahon and his infamous hush-money payments has reached its financial conclusion—at least according to the WWE’s former CEO. McMahon agreed to a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), shelling out a $400,000 civil penalty and reimbursing WWE $1.33 million. The penalties stem from McMahon’s failure to disclose hush-money agreements with two former workers, leading to violations of the Securities Exchange Act.

In a statement shared on X, McMahon minimized the findings, calling the years-long investigation the result of “minor accounting errors.” In true McMahon fashion, he declared the matter closed and expressed excitement about moving on.

The SEC’s Findings: Not Quite Minor

While McMahon shrugged off the investigation as a procedural blip, the SEC didn’t exactly paint it that way. The commission noted that McMahon’s undisclosed settlements caused “material misstatements” in WWE’s financial reports, overstating net income by 8% in 2018 and 1.7% in 2021. Not notifying the WWE board or internal accounting teams about the payments was a key factor in the SEC’s case.

One settlement, reportedly worth $3 million, involved McMahon paying a former employee to keep quiet about their relationship and to waive any claims against him or WWE. Another agreement with a contractor sought to block similar allegations. While these settlements were McMahon’s personal dealings, the lack of disclosure meant WWE’s books didn’t accurately reflect its financial situation—a no-no for a publicly traded company.

McMahon’s Statement: Damage Control, Vince Style

McMahon’s post on X had all the hallmarks of a classic Vince response:

“The case is closed. Today ends nearly three years of investigation… much of that speculation was misguided and misleading… I’m thrilled that I can now put all this behind me.”

Of course, the $1.73 million he’s paying suggests the government didn’t think the matter was just “misguided speculation.”

A Year After Stepping Down

This settlement comes just a year after McMahon resigned as WWE’s CEO in the wake of the hush-money revelations. The scandal marked a turning point for WWE, leading to leadership changes and a renewed focus on corporate transparency.

For McMahon, it seems the final chapter of this saga is written—or at least until the next twist in his storied career.

By Joseph Gallery

I like ice cream, taking a back seat, wondering who I am, and pretending kayfabe is real. May or may not be the Real Dark Brandon. For the LOLZ. MALARKEY!

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