Add as a preferred source on Google The sale of WWE to Endeavor is drawing renewed controversy following the release of voice messages involving Vince McMahon and Ari Emanuel, the current CEO of TKO Group Holdings.
The audio was obtained by POST Wrestling’s Brandon Thurston through a public records request, after being attached as evidence in the WWE shareholder lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery.
In one message, sent on September 16, 2022, Emanuel tried to reassure McMahon about investigations by the United States Department of Justice and the SEC.
“I spoke to my lawyer from Latham,” Emanuel said, referring to top-tier law firm Latham & Watkins, which often served as Endeavor’s outside counsel. “Just FYI, everybody at the DOJ is former Latham lawyers. So on that side, it will be helpful. SEC, of course, is SEC, but that’s just the penalty. As it relates to everything else, yes, we can indemnify you, and we will. If it’s criminal, of course, you can’t stop criminal, but this is not criminal. Call me when you get a chance.”
Three days later, Emanuel left another message for McMahon, again addressing the legal issues surrounding the then-former WWE chairman.
“I really do think that we all need to get together and talk through all the issues,” Emanuel said in that recording. “Because I think whether it be the DOJ or anything, there’s ways around this to figure this out. And I don’t know what, you know, you’re hearing or thinking. So give me a call if you have five seconds.”
🚨 Des messages d'Ari Emanuel à Vince McMahon révélés devant la justice !
— 𝗟𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 (@LeTempleDuCatch) July 2, 2026
De nouveaux messages vocaux ont été révélés dans le cadre d'une procédure judiciaire relancent les interrogations sur les circonstances du rachat de la WWE par Endeavor, devenu ensuite TKO avec l'UFC.… pic.twitter.com/uRXGQWW4M3
The most notable point, however, came in December 2022, after a meeting in New York involving Vince McMahon, Emanuel, Mark Shapiro, Nick Khan, Stephanie McMahon, Paul Levesque, and Linda McMahon. According to Khan’s deposition, Stephanie tried to convince her father that there was no need to sell WWE.
Shortly afterward, McMahon left a message for Jeff Sine of The Raine Group.
“Hey, Jeff. It’s 10:13 [p.m.]. Very good meeting with Ari and company. And I think and probably the best thing to do is to go forward with the deal with Ari. It solves a lot of problems. I, you know, again, together, I think it’s a stronger situation than either one of us on our own. But I’m pretty sure that’s the way I want to go now. It’s easier, faster and all that kind of stuff. So, let’s talk in the morning. And I didn’t commit to Ari, but let’s talk in the morning, and, and go. [Laughs.] Jeff, thank you so much. Sorry to call so late.”
The shareholder lawsuit alleged that McMahon steered the sale to benefit Endeavor, since other potential buyers could have removed him from power in WWE. The case was settled before trial, but the release of the audio raises new questions about the real reasons behind the merger that created TKO.