Judge Orders WWE to Turn Over DOJ and SEC Records in TKO Merger Lawsuit

WWE made history once again when they merged with the UFC in a breakthrough deal to create TKO Group Holdings. They also raked in a ton of money. Now they need to produce some paperwork.

According to a report from Post Wrestling, a Delaware judge has ordered WWE to turn over records tied to federal investigations as part of the ongoing lawsuit surrounding the TKO merger. The ruling requires WWE directors and officers named in the case to produce documents connected to investigations by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission into Vince McMahon.

Judge Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster of the Delaware Court of Chancery issued the order, as he sided with shareholders who argued that the records are relevant to the case. Now WWE executives and TKO are required to provide documents and communications that were already given to federal investigators.

“Oral argument is not required. The relevance of the investigations to McMahon’s motivations is obvious. The exus not only exists but is tight and direct. The claim that documents have been produced appears strained. The claim that the request came too late has been disproven. The requests are neither disproportionate nor overly burdensome. Control over documents encompasses documents in the possession, custody, or control of agents. If agents made some of the communications, or if agents currently possess or control access to them, then the defendants must collect and produce those communications, in addition to the communications they themselves possess.”

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The investigations stem from revelations in 2022 about multimillion dollar nondisclosure agreements McMahon signed with women formerly employed by WWE.

The lawsuit, that was filed in 2023, alleges that McMahon had already decided to pursue a deal with Endeavor before WWE was shopped to other potential buyers. According to the complaint, the transaction was structured to keep McMahon in power following the misconduct scandal rather than to maximize shareholder value. It was already noted that Vince McMahon put the kibosh on including the PBR in the merger.

Defendants in the case include WWE President Nick Khan, Paul Levesque, and former executives George Barrios and Michelle Wilson. The lawsuit is currently scheduled to go to trial in June 2026, with this latest ruling forcing the production of records that could play a central role in the case.

We will have to see how it all pans out, but this is certainly an interesting development. Only time will tell what is revealed, but there could be some interesting findings in those investigations.

What’s your take on this update from WWE’s legal situation? Do you think that this is the start of some back news for them? Let us know what you think in the comments section!