Report: WWE Talent Unhappy, Extremely Frustrated With Vince McMahon’s Handling Of Initial Hush Payment Allegations

Sean Ross Sapp at Fightful Select has published a new report providing insight from several WWE staffers on Vince McMahon's reaction to the initial Wall Street Journal report last month.

According to one inside source, McMahon's response would go from "no selling the whole thing," to "being defiant." They also said that after McMahon made his "pointless" appearance on the June 17 SmackDown (days after allegations first surfaced), McMahon, "...returned to the Gorilla position and shouted 'F--k em!' seemingly in response to the allegations that caused his insistence to appear on television."

The report adds, "WWE talent have not been available to speak on the record about the allegations and reports, but have spoken with Fightful privately and expressed displeasure and extreme frustration with Vince McMahon's handling of it."

Since the June 17 episode of SmackDown, McMahon has made two other brief appearances on WWE television, and was seen in the crowd at UFC 276 in Las Vegas this past Saturday.

The report comes on the heels of today's Wall Street Journal story that claims McMahon paid over $12 million in "hush money" to "...suppress allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity."

More than three weeks ago, WSJ reported that McMahon had paid $3 million to a former employee that he'd allegedly had an affair with. Two days after the story surfaced, McMahon stepped down from his position as WWE CEO and Chairman while a Special Committee of the WWE Board investigation is ongoing. The 76-year-old continues to oversee WWE creative, however.