![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2D7RVMU7MC6BFSBXVZQFD3AJSA.jpg?smart=true&auth=c23412365746ebd94ae2f0f2ab1028c44bbf6f6bb46676d1b736346db14f1a71&width=400&height=225)
McMahon kicks off WrestleMania 37 in 2021, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: WWE
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3DQKCQY5LVB4HCWBNWKBWOWMK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=98617867c42fe6a48dfa250b46a6b0ddae179725ec4736e508600f61db2d244e&width=400&height=225)
Vince McMahon in 1980, two years before he bought the World Wrestling Federation from his father. He turned a sleepy circuit into a global entertainment franchise. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BKMFRPJ3PRGGPFPBVDLLG7MMUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3ae61af866243b773d2c238219da0e741226dbb9dc1f265064a94fead6c9a83&width=400&height=225)
Vince McMahon with Dr George Zahorian, centre, and wrestler Hulk Hogan in 1988. Zahorian was later jailed for selling steroids to wrestlers, a scandal McMahon managed to shrug off. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VVUGWNZZYBDDTB7UT45XEX2OJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=4db76903c964391a10b39909aee8c08d87843cebfd038dab6b5d7af7fad45544&width=400&height=225)
Vince McMahon at a news conference in New York in 1991 at a time when the franchise was booming. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YWBJ735YGK4PFFOEXTLU32X6BI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d57d1585944cd242e3d23e2dd6fd30897c0d70500aa7c5ffea7b25085af97801&width=400&height=225)
McMahon has a longstanding friendship with Donald Trump, who he often brought into the ring for storyline stunts. Here, McMahon has his head shaved by Trump and Bobby Lashley in 2007 after losing a bet. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WCZVETIZKJHYRJF42V7IOMZQUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d020e21bdaadf389731e97f18a6b27062fa1b20b748f68499497ed14369dfb3d&width=400&height=225)
Film star Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1999 on the television show 'Smackdown'. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63O4EAWQVUL4N6ATQHR6WHF3TI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d79e4e5ad6fc9fb2da534a0f77cb3636369f40b28596c478127145a5fcf3f0c&width=400&height=225)
Stephanie McMahon has been the face of the business for the past decade, but quit in when her father returned to lead WWE. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/466AVVD4DT5RNLYFLMPIGZC6OQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=487e5efd7e47ca8dd2ee68911f5c19845369cb71d7b1c657245f2ebac9d60a31&width=400&height=225)
McMahon's son Shane has been a wrestler and promoter in the business for two decades - but does not hold an executive position in the company. Joe Camporeale / USA Today
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HHTSXIOCFJAM5FOFX3SQJ6XC4I.jpg?smart=true&auth=d50e2fd57ad897bd58270b1655494f71dcf720c0eda22860b8ed4cb1eb4dcb65&width=400&height=225)
McMahon and his wife Linda, who are now separated, in 2008. Ms McMahon is worth an estimated $2 billion. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2D7RVMU7MC6BFSBXVZQFD3AJSA.jpg?smart=true&auth=c23412365746ebd94ae2f0f2ab1028c44bbf6f6bb46676d1b736346db14f1a71&width=400&height=225)
McMahon kicks off WrestleMania 37 in 2021, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: WWE
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3DQKCQY5LVB4HCWBNWKBWOWMK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=98617867c42fe6a48dfa250b46a6b0ddae179725ec4736e508600f61db2d244e&width=400&height=225)
Vince McMahon in 1980, two years before he bought the World Wrestling Federation from his father. He turned a sleepy circuit into a global entertainment franchise. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BKMFRPJ3PRGGPFPBVDLLG7MMUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3ae61af866243b773d2c238219da0e741226dbb9dc1f265064a94fead6c9a83&width=400&height=225)
Vince McMahon with Dr George Zahorian, centre, and wrestler Hulk Hogan in 1988. Zahorian was later jailed for selling steroids to wrestlers, a scandal McMahon managed to shrug off. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VVUGWNZZYBDDTB7UT45XEX2OJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=4db76903c964391a10b39909aee8c08d87843cebfd038dab6b5d7af7fad45544&width=400&height=225)
Vince McMahon at a news conference in New York in 1991 at a time when the franchise was booming. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YWBJ735YGK4PFFOEXTLU32X6BI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d57d1585944cd242e3d23e2dd6fd30897c0d70500aa7c5ffea7b25085af97801&width=400&height=225)
McMahon has a longstanding friendship with Donald Trump, who he often brought into the ring for storyline stunts. Here, McMahon has his head shaved by Trump and Bobby Lashley in 2007 after losing a bet. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WCZVETIZKJHYRJF42V7IOMZQUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d020e21bdaadf389731e97f18a6b27062fa1b20b748f68499497ed14369dfb3d&width=400&height=225)
Film star Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1999 on the television show 'Smackdown'. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63O4EAWQVUL4N6ATQHR6WHF3TI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d79e4e5ad6fc9fb2da534a0f77cb3636369f40b28596c478127145a5fcf3f0c&width=400&height=225)
Stephanie McMahon has been the face of the business for the past decade, but quit in when her father returned to lead WWE. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/466AVVD4DT5RNLYFLMPIGZC6OQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=487e5efd7e47ca8dd2ee68911f5c19845369cb71d7b1c657245f2ebac9d60a31&width=400&height=225)
McMahon's son Shane has been a wrestler and promoter in the business for two decades - but does not hold an executive position in the company. Joe Camporeale / USA Today
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HHTSXIOCFJAM5FOFX3SQJ6XC4I.jpg?smart=true&auth=d50e2fd57ad897bd58270b1655494f71dcf720c0eda22860b8ed4cb1eb4dcb65&width=400&height=225)
McMahon and his wife Linda, who are now separated, in 2008. Ms McMahon is worth an estimated $2 billion. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2D7RVMU7MC6BFSBXVZQFD3AJSA.jpg?smart=true&auth=c23412365746ebd94ae2f0f2ab1028c44bbf6f6bb46676d1b736346db14f1a71&width=400&height=225)
McMahon kicks off WrestleMania 37 in 2021, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: WWE
What next for the WWE after Vince McMahon resigns for the second time?
Divisive figure steps away after new federal lawsuit claims – and just days after $5 billion Netflix deal
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Evelyn Lau
27 January, 2024
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