Vince McMahon

Former XFL commissioner Oliver Luck claims that ex-XFL owner and current WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon fired him for "sinister" reasons per a memorandum of law filing in Connecticut federal district court.

According to Michael McCann of Sportico, the brief reads as follows:

"McMahon violated his duty of good faith ... to ensure that Alpha did not manufacture spurious or dishonest grounds on which to terminate Mr. Luck for the sinister purpose of avoiding payment of all compensation to which he was entitled upon a termination without cause." 

Alpha is in reference to Alpha Entertainment, the McMahon-owned former parent company of the XFL.

Per ESPN's Kevin Seifert, Luck was fired on April 9, three days before the league filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The XFL reboot started strong in February, but the league suspended play (before calling the season off entirely) amid the COVID-19 pandemic following five weeks of action.

McMahon and Alpha claim they fired Luck "for cause," citing three reasons. McCann outlined them briefly:

"Last Friday, attorneys for Alpha told Judge Victor Bolden that Luck had made unauthorized emails containing sensitive XFL information to his brother-in-law and NFL agent, William Wilson. Currently the CEO and secretary general of U.S. Soccer, Wilson had co-led the football division at Wasserman Media Group. Alpha also contends that Luck misused his company iPhone and failed to a release a player, Antonio Callaway, who had a 'bad reputation' in violation of XFL policies."

Luck, who signed a five-year, $35 million contract to be the XFL's commissioner, is looking for a $23.8 million judgment to recoup the remaining monies owed.

McMahon and Alpha contend they do not have to pay the eight-figure amount because of the "for cause" firing, which Luck disputes.

The ex-XFL commissioner, who is the father of retired NFL quarterback Andrew Luck, states that McMahon or Alpha did not give him written notice of any concerns regarding "wrongdoing" or a chance to fix those "alleged violations."

Luck also said that McMahon "made a personal and binding guarantee" he would get his money, per McCann.

For the first time since his July 22, 2007 Great American Bash match with then-WWE champion John Cena, it feels like Bobby Lashley is about to win the most prestigious prize in sports entertainment.

And the timing could not be any better—at least for Vince McMahon's pro wrestling empire and its flagship show.

WWE Raw has struggled to create new stars over the last year, leaving lead babyface Drew McIntyre to battle both retreads and competitors just outside the main event scene, all while trying to establish himself as the face of the red brand. The Scot even faced—and defeated—Lashley at Backlash in June. 

However, The All Mighty is a different competitor now. He is driven, focused, and ferocious. He is unwavering in his quest to accomplish a goal that started 16 years ago with his on-screen debut for WWE.

THE ALMIGHTY @WWE CHAMPION SOON COME!!

16 YEARS IN THE MAKING AND NOW JUST A WEEK AWAY. #WWERAW pic.twitter.com/PyybofJRxC

— Bobby Lashley (@fightbobby) February 23, 2021

That determination has helped him develop into the type of unstoppable Superstar fans can buy as a legitimate threat to McIntyre, a real world's champion and the most dominant ass-kicker on Monday nights.

          

It's Been A Long Journey

Lashley was a young upstart, enjoying early success as the ECW champion when The Apprentice host Donald Trump chose him to represent the reality television star in a Battle of Billionaires, against Vince McMahon's hand-selected competitor, Umaga.

In many ways, it was the real main event of WrestleMania 23 and an enormously important spot for a young star with less than two years of televised pro wrestling under his belt.

Lashley accomplished what he set out to do, winning the match and joining Trump and special referee "Stone Cold" Steve Austin for a public shaving of Mr. McMahon's head that would, ultimately, give way to a lengthy feud with The Chairman of the Board.

Then came a WWE Championship match against Cena at the Bash pay-per-view that appeared to be Lashley's coronation as the latest top babyface alongside his opponent. The company had, after all, spent all that time building, pushing and promoting him as the top young star in the industry.

Except, Cena won. Decisively. And within a few weeks, Lashley was gone from the company.

There was a short-lived trip to TNA Wrestling, a stop in Bellator for a 15-2 MMA record, and a return to TNA (now Impact Wrestling).

It was in Impact that we started to see a more polished performer. He was faster, stronger, more agile and more confident in his work. It was obvious in matches with Kurt Angle, Bobby Roode, Moose, MVP and McIntyre.

That run is what brought Lashley back to WWE, ultimately. For the second time in his wrestling career, he was a hot commodity and one McMahon saw dollar signs in. Except, once he returned to the company, it was obvious the writing team did not know exactly how to utilize his talent.

There was inconsistent booking, a heel turn, that time he was overshadowed by his own mouthpiece (the great Lio Rush), and the whole Lana-Rusev disaster-piece.

By WrestleMania 36, Lashley was just some guy lucky to have gotten onto the card to put over Aleister Black.

It was in the wake of that show that Lashley teamed with MVP to form The Hurt Business before the later arrivals of Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander.

Along with a dominant United States Championship run and some protective booking from WWE Creative, it helped this dynamic and explosive heavyweight with freakish athleticism return to form and get back to the level of competition he should have been at from the start.

Every Hurt Lock, every Dominator and every victory helped Lashley build momentum to the point that people believed in him in a way they hadn't for well over a decade.

WWE finally pulled the trigger Sunday at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, when he dropped the U.S. title in a manner that did not hurt him and then entered the WWE Championship picture by obliterating Drew McIntyre and setting him up for The Miz to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase.

A win over Braun Strowman in the main event of Monday's Raw and the image of Lashley hoisting the WWE belt overhead after spearing The Miz, amounted to a declaration to the wrestling world that he is back and a serious contender for the first WWE Championship reign of his career.

           

Perfect Timing

McIntyre had no readily available, logical opponent for WrestleMania 37 on April 10-11.

That is more of an indictment on the creative team than anyone else for its inability to get a heel ready for that position, but then along came Lashley.

The Hurt Business CEO wasn't shoved down the audience's throat or overexposed. There was no red arrow over his head to signal he was next in line for a title shot. No, he simply mastered his character, kicked ass and is now in a position to be rewarded for it.

As much as the opportunity means to Lashley and his legacy as a performer in WWE, it means equally as much to a Raw brand that needed the spark he brings to the table.

The WWE flagship has lacked a heel outside of Randy Orton who could believably oppose McIntyre. Lashley was not ready the first time he was in this position. He needed The Hurt Business, the string of badass beatdowns and that underrated U.S. title reign to really prop him up.

While he was doing that, WWE Creative continued to milk the Orton feud and threw AJ Styles in there for a month. It booked a Sheamus heel turn it never really had any intention of following up and ruined Keith Lee's momentum right out of the gate—all while looking for that next great opponent for its lead babyface.

What did Lashley do? He consistently impressed as a world-beating midcard heel who finally built enough momentum and credibility to be considered a legit foe for McIntyre.

I’ve been saying for YEARS.

If you want a fight, I’ll fight you.

If you can handle pain, I’ll fight you.

If you can’t, I don’t wanna work with you.

No more needs to be said. https://t.co/TLEhI2YH6u

— Bobby Lashley (@fightbobby) February 21, 2021

Sure, The All Mighty still has to get through The Miz on Monday's Raw, but that is more of a formality at this point. The A-Lister cashed in and won the WWE title. It was a nice pat on the back for years of stellar work in WWE.

But this is Lashley's story. He will be wearing that title come WrestleMania in April. He will defend it against McIntyre. While there is no guarantee he leaves with the gold around his waist, it will be the coronation of a former amateur wrestler and Army Ranger-turned-pro wrestling badass.

It's a coronation that looked likely some 14 years ago but is far better timed for right now.

The only question after his journey to WrestleMania 37: How long until he wins it again?

During an appearance on Broken Skull Sessions with WWE Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin on Sunday, SmackDown Women's champion Sasha Banks expressed no shortage of self-confidence. 

At the 1:25:30 mark of the interview on WWE Network, The Boss discussed her standing in WWE and her passion for the professional wrestling business.

Banks said she went from being a superfan to a businesswoman and added: "If I see myself where I wanna see myself, I'm at [WWE Chairman] Vince McMahon's level, and that's just that."

Sasha also said she has aspirations of being a WWE shareholder and remaining part of the company even after she is done wrestling by passing on knowledge to the next generation.

For now, Banks is arguably the biggest female star WWE has, and she is in the midst of the best run of her career.

In addition to being the reigning SmackDown Women's champion, Sasha is a former NXT Women's champion, five-time Raw Women's champion and two-time WWE Women's Tag Team champion.

She is involved in a friendly rivalry with 2021 women's Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair, and all signs point to them facing off at WrestleMania 37 in April.

If that match happens, there is a strong chance it could headline one of the two nights of WrestleMania 37, which would make it only the second women's match to ever serve as a WrestleMania main event.

Along with her success within WWE, Sasha appeared on the latest season on The Mandalorian on Disney+ as Koska Reeves, which went a long way toward giving her mainstream appeal as well.

Sasha's career is reaching new heights, her confidence is at an all-time high and there is seemingly no limit to what she can achieve both inside and outside the wrestling business.

Banks has made a habit of thanking McMahon on Twitter almost daily in recent months, but if she keeps performing at her current level, it may be McMahon who is giving thanks instead.

    

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE universe. 

     

Vince McMahon Denied Sasha Banks Her Release Request

In 2019, Sasha Banks wanted to leave WWE. Her frustrations with creative were long thought to be the biggest factor in her requesting her release, but Banks revealed in a recent appearance on the Broken Skull Sessions that the biggest motivating factor in her wanting to step away was a bout with depression.

"Depression was taking over. My mind was taking over. My thoughts were taking over. This place was being bigger than me. And I really, really lost myself because for a good seven years, I didn't even hear my real name. I didn't hear Mercedes anymore. All I heard was Sasha Banks, and traveling on the road, we only get one to two days off.

"So, I'm home, not even seeing what my real hair looks like. All I see is purple hair every single day. There were just so many things that were just—I let it control me...I couldn't even look at myself. I didn't even know who the hell I was. How I was going into work, how angry I was going in, how sad I was. I was not the person that I dreamt to be."

Banks said she went into Vince McMahon's office and formally requested to leave the company, but the WWE chairman would not let her out of her contract.

"I asked to leave and Vince was like, 'no,'" Banks said. "He said no. He said I'm gonna give you 30 days to think about it. And I took more than 30 days."

Banks was off television for four months before returning to the company, and she hasn't looked back. Her run since returning has been wildly impressive, winning the women's tag team championship with Bayley and then the SmackDown women's title after the team broke up.

Her current run as SmackDown women's champion is the longest she's been a titleholder since joining the so-called main roster.

      

Miz Trolls Critics

While the overwhelming sentiment appeared to be positive about The Miz cashing in his Money in the Bank contract and beating Drew McIntyre at Sunday's Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, Miz still has his fair share of critics who have never quite bought into the gimmick.

Miz, in typical fashion, does not care at all about their feelings.

The new champion cut an impassioned promo that was posted on WWE's YouTube page following the win.

"I could care less if everybody's on the internet going, 'No, Miz doesn't deserve it, oh Miz shouldn't be WWE champion.' Cry, go ahead and cry, and keep on doing it because that is the fuel that lights my fire. I am your WWE Champion, whether you like it or not.

"Ten years ago we had an Angry Miz Girl and I hope, and I pray, that their are thousands upon thousands, millions of Angry Miz Girls right here, right now, sobbing, weeping, wishing that Drew McIntyre was still their WWE Champion. He is not, I am. So this is me saying I am now content being awesome. See you at WrestleMania, or at Monday Night Raw, whichever I feel like because I am champion and I do whatever the hell I want."

While Miz's momentum had largely been halted over the last year or so, his run from 2016 through most of 2019 was perhaps the best work of his career. WWE's timing could use some work, but Miz deserved at least one more title run to cap off a no-doubt Hall of Fame career.

At age 40, the time was now to give him a run—even if it'll likely end between now and WrestleMania to set up a Drew McIntyre-Bobby Lashley showdown. 

      

Cesaro Posts Disappointment After Losing Chamber

Cesaro was seemingly the fan favorite to win the SmackDown Elimination Chamber match, with fans gravitating toward him during a recent hot streak. Daniel Bryan ultimately wound up winning the match, only to get immediately squashed by Roman Reigns, so not much was ultimately lost for Cesaro in the defeat.

That said, Cesaro seemed to be taking the loss hard based on his Twitter post Sunday night.

I’ve been driving for an hour in silence. I don’t really know what to say. So close. Thanks to everyone who believed and still does. I still do. I appreciate you. Always

— Swiss (@ClaudioCSRO) February 22, 2021

Cesaro remains one of WWE's most underutilized talents; he has every bit of the in-ring skill and charisma necessary to be a world champion, but WWE has never felt comfortable putting him in the top spot.

Hopefully he'll eventually get the long-term spotlight he deserves and can someday stop being atop the shortlist of guys we wish would get a run.  

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

    

Cody Talks Sting's Importance to AEW

Since making his surprise debut on an episode of AEW Dynamite in December, Sting has been a regular part of AEW programming.

He appears weekly on Dynamite to cut promos or make his presence felt, and he is set to team with TNT champion Darby Allin against Brian Cage and Ricky Starks at next month's Revolution pay-per-view.

In an interview with Joseph Staszewski of the New York Post, AEW star and executive vice president Cody Rhodes discussed Sting and why he means so much to the company:

"When he walks through the back, the common area right before you get to the go position where my office is, where Tony [Khan's] office is, there is the common area, and when he walks through there, it changes the mood.

"Every local who might be working 'Dark' that night, guy who is chomping away, then when you see him he really brings this great presence. That alone is really invaluable, and the fact that he's on TV and we've only seen the tip of the iceberg with I think what Sting is capable of."

Sting hasn't had a match yet in AEW and isn't likely to wrestle much, but having one of the biggest stars in the history of the business on television and in the locker room undoubtedly helps give AEW a big-time feel.

For a promotion that is really still in its infancy, building that type of legitimacy is important, and Sting brings that to the table because of all the success he enjoyed as one of the faces of WCW for over a decade.

In addition to praising Sting, Cody talked about his desire to have a match against Sting, which would be fitting since Cody's late father, Dusty Rhodes, is synonymous with WCW as well.

Since Cody is one of AEW's top stars, it stands to reason that a match against Sting will happen if he wants it.

AEW will likely have to get creative in that scenario since Sting is 61 and has a history of neck injuries, but given what wrestling companies have been able to do in the realm of cinematic matches during the COVID-19 pandemic, it shouldn't be too difficult for AEW to find ways to utilize Sting.

    

Angle Says Vince Likes to Confuse, Rile Up Fans

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle has known WWE Chairman Vince McMahon for many years, and he recently shared some insight on Vince's mindset when it comes to dealing with WWE's fans.

On an episode of The Kurt Angle Show (h/t Phillip Hendrix of Ringside News), the Olympic gold medalist talked about the rationale behind some of McMahon's decisions:

"Vince listens to the fans, he does. Whether he does things on purpose to tick the fans off, and I think he likes to get them riled up, but he has a psychology to it. It's not ... he always does something to bring them [the fans] back.

"He loves the attention. He loves making noise, he loves doing big things, and he likes making it hard for the fans to understand and confused every once in a while. Being ... basically being frustrated as a fan? Sometimes it makes you want to watch even more to see if they change the stuff up."

Wrestling fans tend to be as critical as any fanbase in entertainment, and McMahon is likely well aware that every booking decision he makes is viewed under a microscope.

WWE, like any wrestling company, has some storylines and angles that work perfectly and others that leave most fans shaking their heads in disappointment or disbelief.

Angle seemingly thinks McMahon creates some of the latter situations on purpose in order to get fans talking, and there is no question he does precisely that quite often.

Being a wrestling fan isn't always easy since it sometimes requires wading through the bad stuff in order to get to the good, but few things are more rewarding than a great wrestling rivalry or match.

Ratings are way down for WWE compared to where they were during the Attitude Era or even just 10 years ago, but the company is more financially successful than ever, which means McMahon must be doing something right.

    

Carlito Open to Working with both AEW and WWE

After making his surprise return to WWE in the men's Royal Rumble match last month, Carlito is open to any good opportunities in wrestling moving forward.

During a recent appearance on Whattaday with Joe Lowry (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Jason Ounpraseuth), Carlito suggested that while he doesn't know what the future holds, he is open to offers from WWE and AEW: "Man, who knows? As of now, I'm open to whatever kind of idea is out there. Right now, I'm on my own. I'm just open to whatever comes my way."

Carlito added: "Whatever great idea is out there, I'm willing to listen and see if I fit in there somehow."

It had been about a decade since Carlito appeared in WWE before he showed up in the Rumble and popped the fans watching at home.

Carlito also wrestled the next night on Raw, teaming with Jeff Hardy in a victory over Elias and Jaxson Ryker.

While Carlito has not been seen on WWE programming since, it is unclear if his stint with WWE is over or if WWE is biding its time and waiting to insert him into something else.

If he is done with WWE for the time being, Carlito could be a potential target for AEW since the promotion has not shied away from signing performers who wrestled in WWE in the past.

The 41-year-old Carlito is in better shape now than at any other point in his career, and there is no denying the resume he put together in WWE during his heyday.

Carlito is a former Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team champion in WWE, and he has long been a favorite of fans.

If any company brings him in moving forward, it would likely be a smart move in terms of generating interest in the product.  

     

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

The Rock's return to WWE on Valentine's Day 2011 episode of Raw sparked excitement around the pro wrestling industry and put The Great One on a collision course with John Cena in a feud that culminated in the biggest dream match of all time, but the impact it has had on the wrestling industry has had nothing to do with the Hollywood leading man.

Nor does it affect his place in the pantheon of WWE Superstars.

No, The Rock's return a decade ago set in motion a parade of part-time performers and industry icons that has stunted the company's growth and allowed WWE to mask its inability to create new stars.

                 

But First, a Homecoming

From the moment he set foot on his first movie set, Dwayne Johnson reiterated his desire to one day return to the squared circle. He said all the right things—WWE was his home, and he would never really be gone.

And then he was. For eight years.

In that time, he became the star of Hollywood's biggest blockbuster stars. He was everywhere, making a name and legacy for himself that extended beyond the industry he had previously taken to new heights. He achieved such tremendous success in film that the idea of his return to a wrestling industry as ice-cold as it was entering a new decade was laughable.

And then he did.

Rediscovering his Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment moniker, he stepped through the curtain to a thunderous ovation and took to the ring to formally accept his role as the host of WrestleMania XXVII.

It was unforgettable and left audiences in awe, goosebumps up and down their arms. It was the unthinkable, a moment in time from a company that seemingly forgot how to produce them.

The Rock's return and the feud with Cena that unfolded over the proceeding year resulted in unprecedented box office success. It also gave way to WWE's troubling habit of looking to the past for its present.

                 

What's Old Is New Again

Throughout the 2000s, WWE routinely relied on the stars of its Attitude Era to help prop up television ratings, house show attendance and pay-per-view buy rates.

Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker and Kane all took center stage at key times of the year in the hopes of propping sagging numbers, so WWE's reliance on aging stars was not necessarily a surprise by the time The Rock returned.

Nor was it when Brock Lesnar returned from the Octagon of the UFC to wreak havoc, raise hell and beat up any fool in his path.

The success of The Rock opened the door for Vince McMahon to throw a ton of money at Lesnar to return to wrestling. The Lesnar effect, and Undertaker's yearly return for WrestleMania matches and the paydays that came with them, opened McMahon's eyes to the wealth of possibilities that existed for him and his company to welcome back stars of yesteryear in limited or part-time roles.

There was Triple H's annual comeback in time for The Showcase of the Immortals and then Kurt Angle dusting off his singlet for one last chance at glory. Ronda Rousey made like Lesnar and chased her dreams from the UFC to WWE.

The company's Saudi Arabian shows brought with them the returns of The Deadman and The Big Red Machine, The Game and The Heartbreak Kid to diminishing returns. The company even turned to The Hardy Boyz for a grand WrestleMania return.

Goldberg's return in 2016 started off excellently with a two-minute squash of Lesnar in the Survivor Series main event, but like most things WWE, it was watered down, overexposed and beaten into irrelevance before too long.

Even The Rock's grand return was soiled by the time 2013 and a rematch with Cena at WrestleMania 29 rolled around. The bloom was off that proverbial rose, but McMahon and Co. never learned their lesson.

To this day, the promotion continues to trot out legends in high-profile matches rather than turning its attention to the issue that plagues it most: the creation of new, exciting and fresh stars.

Until it recognizes its shortcomings in that regard, the company will continue to look for Superstars from days gone by to make cameos and wrestle in high-profile main events, only to realize that after a while, it will have no new names to pull from because it so inadequately created any from this era.

Hopefully it learns its lesson sooner rather than later because The Rock's 2011 return was the stuff of magic. It was the sort of thing that makes fans eager to show off the industry they love to others and, maybe, create new fans.

It has not been robbed of its specialness because of repetition to gradually weakening returns. Best of all, it was accomplished with one goal in mind: cement Cena, that era's top star, as an icon of his time. It worked. Rock lent Cena his credibility, and everyone hugged and high-fived right to the bank.

Why? Because fans cared about a returning star in a way they cannot possibly today thanks to the oversaturation of part-timers and aging veterans who have limped their way on screen and off without any noticeable benefit to the long-term success of the company.

The Rock's return to WWE in 2011 is the sort of thing missing from today's product and something the WWE product will be devoid of until it changes its booking philosophy.

Current AEW announcer and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross divulged this week that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon had a hard time getting past Rey Mysterio's size early in Mysterio's WWE tenure.

On the latest episode of the Grilling JR podcast (h/t Phillip Hendrix of Ringside News), Ross discussed Vince's feelings on the former world heavyweight champion:

"I think Vince's issue with Rey was one word: size. Nowhere had the top guy in WWE been of Rey's size, at least in my tenure there, which began in '93, as I mentioned. Rey would be the smallest world champion in the history of the company. I think that was Vince's unsettling decision.

"But was Rey over? Hell yeah, he was really over. His merch sales showed that. What you hear from the audience when he came out, you can tell that people loved him. They cheer for the underdog."

Mysterio has long been one of the smallest wrestlers in the business at 5'6", but he has also been one of the most exciting and popular performers in the history of the business.

The Master of the 619 made his long-awaited WWE debut in 2002 after a successful run in WCW. Mysterio was largely pigeonholed as a cruiserweight, though, and faced an uphill climb in WWE, which has been referred to as "the land of the giants" over the years.

Mysterio did compete for the Cruiserweight Championship and teamed with Eddie Guerrero in his first years in WWE, but he was eventually given the opportunity to main-event cards.

He won the 2006 Royal Rumble match from the No. 2 spot and went on to beat Kurt Angle and Randy Orton in a Triple Threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22.

Mysterio would go on to hold the world heavyweight title one more time in his career, as well as the WWE Championship.

It is true that Mysterio has been more of an upper midcarder than a full-time main eventer for much of his WWE career, but he opened the door for smaller wrestlers to achieve greatness.

Even at the age of 46, Mysterio is still a huge part of WWE, as he recently had a long rivalry with Seth Rollins and is currently aiding in the development of his son, Dominik Mysterio.

McMahon may have been wary about pushing Mysterio to the top, but he saw the value in doing so and gave him an opportunity even if it wasn't the path he was used to taking.

                     

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).