Not long ago, the Vince McMahon era in WWE seemed over. He retired in July 2022 amid probes into alleged misconduct but returned in January 2023 to start the process of potentially selling WWE. That evolved into a merger with UFC to become one entity, TKO Group Holdings, earlier this month.
Since the merger was first announced earlier this year, McMahon has publicly and privately been present with WWE. He gave an interview earlier this year with CNBC, appeared at the New York Stock Exchange the day the merger became official, and according to PW Insider, spoke at the staff meeting after layoffs hit WWE. For now, he has put any doubts about stepping away to rest.
No one lives forever, and at 78 years old, at some point, one would think McMahon permanently steps away from WWE, right? Not so fast.
Kurt Angle revealed on the Joe Rogan Experience that McMahon had told him in a conversation in 2017 that if anyone wants him out of WWE, “They’re going to have to pry it from my cold dead hands.” To take it another step forward, the man who has pioneered sports entertainment for the last four decades said he plans to live until he’s 120, which is … a long time (h/t Fightful for transcription).
“I love the guy. He’s always treated me right. I never had a problem with Vince. I’m glad he got the money he got. I never thought he would sell the company. I thought you would have to pry it from his cold dead hands. I thought he would keep the company forever. He put his heart and soul into it. No one works harder than he does. He’s a machine. You know what he told me when I came back to WWE? He said, ‘I’m going to have this company for a lot longer than you think, Mr. Angle. I’m 73 right now. My mom lived to be 101. I plan on living until I’m 120. I’m never letting the company go. I’m always going to work here. They’re going to have to pry it from my cold dead hands.’ That’s what keeps him going. That’s why I’m a little, not nervous, but what’s he going to do now? His life is wrestling.”
Angle’s conversation happened before recent circumstances, and while McMahon no longer reigns supreme in WWE, he’s still there and a figure with the company. Unless he gets pushed out of his position, bet on McMahon being around WWE for a long, long time.