July 18, 2022 Observer Newsletter: More details on Vince McMahon hush money payments, WrestleMania 38 business
A second Wall Street Journal story contained more details on payments of $12 million to four women, most notably $7.5 million to one woman, to sign nondisclosure agreements not to suppress allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity involving Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis over the past 16 years.
The story was written by Joe Palazzolo and Ted Mann, who did the first story talking about a $3 million payment to a woman who worked both as a paralegal and later as the assistant to Laurinaitis in talent relations.
The first story got significant mainstream news attention and led to a brief stock price drop, although it did rebound to back in the range of what it was at the time the article dropped. The first story also led to a short significant boost in television ratings and appearances on the air by Vince McMahon in front of cheering audiences.
The second story got less attention and led to no television ratings boost nor did McMahon appear on television after it came out.
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.