More Backstage Details on Vince McMahon Changing WrestleMania 39 Main Event Finish

As previously reported, text messages recently resurfaced in an ongoing lawsuit between WWE/TKO and WWE stockholders regarding the Endeavor acquisition of WWE. The POST Wrestling also revealed text messages between former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and Nick Khan in February 2023 regarding WWE creative plans for WrestleMania 39 featuring Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.

The text messages appear to contradict WWE President Nick Khan’s statements on CNBC a month later, stating that McMahon wasn’t involved in the creative process in WWE. Paul “Triple H” Levesque was named the new head of WWE creative following McMahon’s initial exit from WWE in July 2022. However, it was rumored that Vince McMahon was still taking control of WWE’s creative product after he forced his way back into WWE in early 2023 to start initiating WWE’s sales talks.

During today’s Wrestling Observer Radio (via F4WOnline.com), Dave Meltzer provided more backstage details regarding the creative plans for WrestleMania 39 that were being discussed in the text messages. According to Meltzer, Reigns was the one who initially pitched to change the plans for the WrestleMania 39 finish, which saw Reigns beat Rhodes to retain the title in a shocking finish.

It appears the original plan was for Cody Rhodes to win the title that night, but Reigns pitched the idea to put it off until one year later at WrestleMania 40. However, Vince McMahon still ultimately signed off on the idea. Meltzer stated, “It was Roman Reigns’ call. I mean, Vince had to approve it, but Roman Reigns was the one who went to Vince with the idea and pitched the idea that it would be better, it would be more meaningful if he didn’t win the first time, we build to a bigger one the second time and explained it.”

Meltzer continued, “I think Heyman with Reigns did that. I think they were very persuasive. The argument is very strong with the benefit of hindsight that they were right because the second year was much bigger than the first year. But Vince made the call, and Levesque was on board with the call, but Vince was the one who made the call.”

However, while Reigns and Heyman reportedly were the ones to pitch the idea of Reigns going over at WrestleMania 39, it’s said that McMahon was the one with the final say over the matter, not Triple H. Meltzer added, “Vince was the one who had final say at that point. He had final say the whole time. He was the chairman of the board again or whatever. He was in charge of the company, and he remained having the final say even though Levesque was ‘in charge of creative.'”

WWE Creative Power Reportedly Returned to Triple H Later in 2023 After Ari Emanuel Overruled Vince McMahon

Back in October 2023, it was reported by Sports Illustrated that Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel overruled McMahon having any creative involvement in WWE, and Triple H was allowed to take back main control of WWE’s creative product as the Chief Creative Officer.

The WWE and UFC officially merged into TKO Holdings, Inc. in September 2023. McMahon later resigned from his post as Executive Chairman of the Board of TKO in January 2024, after Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against WWE and McMahon, alleging sexual trafficking and misconduct by the former WWE Chairman.

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