Newly Revealed Text Messages Reveal Tension Between Triple H & WWE Over Vince McMahon’s Return to WWE

As previously reported, WWE shareholders filed a lawsuit over the company’s merger into TKO, with the plaintiffs alleging that former WWE Chairman and TKO executive Vince McMahon manipulated the sale process to Endeavor for his benefit. Now, a new report by POST Wrestling’s Brandon Thurston has details on newly disclosed text messages in the lawsuit detailing friction between WWE and Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque over McMahon’s return to WWE, which took place in early 2023.

The text messages, which were disclosed in the lawsuit, show Triple H’s concern and friction with McMahon, who is also his father-in-law, after he returned to the company in 2023. Triple H assumed McMahon’s creative duties the previous year when McMahon initially resigned from WWE in July 2022, after allegations of sexual misconduct against McMahon by a former WWE employee, later revealed to Janel Grant, surfaced.

The text messages between Triple H and WWE President Nick Khan show Triple H seeking support from Khan and other executives, as McMahon sought to have greater creative involvement.

The day before TKO’s merger with WWE became final (Sept. 11, 2023), Triple H texted Khan that he was dreading the next day. Triple H and Nick Khan were on hand at the New York Stock Exchange the following day to celebrate the WWE and UFC’s merger under the TKOo banner. Triple H writes in the text message to Khan, “DDay tomorrow. [E]xpecting the worst.”

In legal filings, Khan claims he doesn’t remember the content of any messages he deleted. Later in the day, Triple H messaged Khan that McMahon wanted to meet about talent releases happening at the same time as staff member layoffs. He wrote to Khan, “While I’m SURE you like to be done with this **** for today ….. Please let me know if you speak to AE.” AE is referring to TKO CEO Ari Emanuel.

Around this time, it was reported by Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp that McMahon and Levesque were both involved with late creative changes made to Monday Night Raw on Sept. 11 that year. McMahon was reportedly not backstage at the event, but he had been seen sitting backstage at shows earlier in the year, including the Monday Night Raw following WrestleMania 39, where it’s said McMahon made significant changes to the show.

The following month, multiple reports, including Sports Illustrated, indicated that Triple H was given full creative control of WWE again. With Triple H overseeing the creative side, McMahon would take point on WWE’s media rights renewals as TKO Executive Chairman, a role that POST Wrestling notes he was guaranteed for life or until he resigned.

WWE Creative Executive Triple H Vents Frustration Over Vince McMahon in Newly Revealed Text Messages

Another interesting message dated Saturday, December 9, 2023, shows Triple H texting Khan asking about McMahon coming to the WWE Raw taping the following Monday. Triple H wrote, “Was just told by security that VKM is coming to Cleveland TV Monday. What’s that about ??????” Khan’s responses to Triple H were deleted

On December 10, Triple H wrote, “The more I think about it the more I’m kinda disappointed in that Ari convo…… Seems like we are in the same place, ‘I’m gonna tell him to stay out of it or else’ that’s way different than ‘I’m telling him he’s done ….. it’s over’ Kicking the can down the road.”

The WWE Hall of Famer and former WWE Champion also later spoke about going to TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro about the issue. Khan’s responses were, once again, deleted. Later on December 10, Triple H wrote to Khan, “Between you and I, It feels like they are both backtracking on the ‘he’s out’ narrative. It’s back to the ‘Well if he wants to go to the show now and then,’ and ‘If he gives notes and wants to have a 30min meeting now and then, ok.'” He later added, “He just sent an email re script for Ari,” to which Khan replied, “Seems off. Lemme call him.” Khan then later followed that up with, “They know already. No need to send.”

Later in the day, Triple H also expressed concern over McMahon being on the same plane as CM Punk. He wrote at the time, “So he’s on the AM plane ….. I just remembered Punk is scheduled to be on it as well. You think that’s an issue?”

Punk at the time had just returned to WWE the previous month at Survivor Series. The following month, McMahon resigned from his post at TKO after Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against him, WWE, and former executive John Laurinaitis, alleging sexual misconduct.

During his WWE Hall of Fame induction speech that took place the following year, Triple H took time to pay tribute to his father-in-law. He said during his speech, “I love you, Vince, and thank you.”

Images of the newly disclosed WhatsApp text messages in the legal filings are available below:

The story is long and in-depth. Report for @POSTWrestling by me.

Read the full article with all details: https://t.co/loCl7GSvox pic.twitter.com/LAzhaygHWM

— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) April 7, 2026

WWE and TKO did not respond to our requests to comment on Ari Emanuel's point of view on this story or what Khan did to try to resolve the matter, which is at least partly obscured by his deletion of messages.

Read the full story: https://t.co/jFWi8hUyo8 pic.twitter.com/ibu0ZnVhYo

— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) April 7, 2026