Fox denies involvement in rumored new Vince McMahon wrestling promotion
Whether former WWE chairman Vince McMahon is planning a return to wrestling remains to be seen — but Fox has denied being involved with the rumored new promotion.
Rumors that McMahon could start a new wrestling company emerged over the past few days after being mentioned by Conrad Thompson and Eric Bischoff on their 83 Weeks podcast. Thompson said he’s heard rumblings that McMahon has had conversations with cameramen that are experienced in shooting pro wrestling, and Thompson said it’s rumored that Fox could be holding a spot to air the promotion.
Andrew Marchand — a sports media reporter for The Athletic — reported on the Fox aspect of the rumors today, tweeting that a Fox spokesperson has told him that they are not involved as a partner.
“There is a report that Vince McMahon might start a wrestling company with Fox as a partner. If McMahon is planning that or not, I don’t know, but the Fox part is not true, according to a network spokesman,” Marchand wrote.
Both Thompson and Bischoff expressed doubt that the rumors about McMahon starting a new promotion are true. They mentioned that one aspect fueling the rumors was that McMahon attended Super Bowl LIX earlier this month, which was broadcast on Fox.
McMahon is laying the groundwork to launch an “entertainment hub company” to fund, develop, and produce film and television projects, but it was reported last October that he is not planning to compete with WWE or produce wrestling content.
In January 2024, McMahon resigned from WWE and its parent company TKO Group after being accused of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking in a lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant. McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis are named as defendants in the still-ongoing suit.
Fox was the broadcast home of WWE SmackDown from 2019-2024, with the show moving back to USA Network last September. WWE’s new Evolve series is set to premiere on the Fox-owned streaming service Tubi on March 5.