WWE Merger Lawsuit Heats Up as Ari Emanuel and Stephanie McMahon Face Depositions

The ongoing legal battle over WWEâ€s merger with Endeavor is intensifying, with TKO CEO Ari Emanuel set to be deposed under oath on December 2. The questioning will take place as part of the shareholder lawsuit currently being heard in Delawareâ€s Court of Chancery, according to filings obtained by Wrestlenomics.

Emanuel, who played a key role in the 2023 merger that created TKO Group Holdings, is expected to face questions about the terms of the deal and his communications with Vince McMahon. Attorneys representing WWE shareholders are alleging that McMahon intentionally steered the sale toward Endeavor because he believed Emanuel would allow him to maintain power within the company—something other potential buyers reportedly were not willing to do.

The deposition schedule includes several major WWE figures. Former co-CEO and board member Stephanie McMahon will testify on October 24, while longtime executive Frank Riddick will be questioned on October 28. Vince McMahon himself is scheduled for November 12, and Paul “Triple H†Levesque will appear on November 4. WWE President Nick Khanâ€s deposition has been moved to November 19 after initially being set for later that month.

Other key names include Brad Blum, a close McMahon associate who now serves as president of McMahonâ€s new venture 14TH & I, who will be deposed on November 14 at WWE headquarters. Mark Zhu, Executive Vice President of Strategy for TKO and Endeavor, is slated for December 5.

The shareholder lawsuit, titled In re World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. Merger Litigation, accuses Vince McMahon and members of WWEâ€s board of directors of breaching their fiduciary duties during the sale process. The plaintiffs claim McMahon manipulated the merger to ensure his continued influence after returning to the company in early 2023. They also allege that McMahon wanted to finalize the deal with Endeavor to avoid potential fallout from sexual misconduct allegations that surfaced during the same period.

Depositions are part of the discovery process, meaning their transcripts are not automatically public. However, excerpts could later be filed as evidence if the case proceeds to trial.

This lawsuit runs parallel to a separate federal case involving McMahon, who faces sexual misconduct allegations from former employee Janel Grant. The shareholder plaintiffs argue that these allegations were one of the motivating factors behind McMahonâ€s determination to merge WWE with Endeavor.

As testimony from top executives continues, the case is shedding new light on the power dynamics and behind-the-scenes maneuvering that shaped WWEâ€s billion-dollar merger.

Do you think Vince Mc Mahon pushed for the merger with Endeavor to maintain control of WWE? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

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