Steve Carrier on February 25, 2026
TKO’s latest earnings report didn’t just reveal billion-dollar revenue numbers — it also included a fresh update on the legal proceedings still surrounding WWE and its former executive leadership.
As part of documents filed with the SEC, WWE outlined the status of multiple lawsuits and regulatory matters tied to former CEO Vince McMahon and other defendants.
WWE reminded investors that a Special Committee was formed in June 2022 to investigate alleged misconduct by McMahon. He resigned from WWE in July 2022, later returned as Executive Chairman in January 2023, and ultimately stepped down again in January 2024 from all roles at TKO and WWE. The filing addressed the federal scrutiny that followed.
“On July 17, 2023, federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant and served a federal grand jury subpoena on Mr. McMahon.”
It also confirmed the outcome of a Securities and Exchange Commission action earlier this year.
“On January 10, 2025, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission settled charges against Mr. McMahon for failing to disclose certain settlement agreements to WWE’s board of directors, legal department, accountants, financial reporting personnel, or auditor, and in so doing, circumventing WWE’s system of internal accounting controls and causing material misstatements in WWE’s 2018 and 2021 financial statements.”
WWE mentioned that no charges were brought against the company itself.
“No charges have been brought against the Company.”
The filing also referenced a January 25, 2024 lawsuit filed by a former WWE employee in federal court in Connecticut. The suit names WWE, McMahon, and former executive John Laurinaitis, alleging sexual assault and violations of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Laurinaitis was dismissed from that case with prejudice on May 30, 2025. WWE has moved to compel the matter to arbitration.
Another lawsuit, filed October 23, 2024 in Maryland court, names McMahon, Linda McMahon, WWE, and TKO. It alleges sexual abuse by a former WWF ring announcer during the 1980s. The court dismissed one unnamed plaintiff’s claims in December 2025, but other claims remain active after motions to dismiss were largely denied.
In addition to the misconduct-related lawsuits, WWE’s SEC filing outlined ongoing shareholder litigation connected to the TKO merger.
Multiple class action complaints were filed in Delaware Chancery Court alleging breaches of fiduciary duty by former WWE directors, including McMahon, Nick Khan, Paul Levesque, George Barrios, Michelle Wilson, and others.
Those actions have been consolidated under the title In re World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Merger Litigation. WWE, TKO, and Endeavor Group Holdings are no longer defendants in the consolidated case, but certain individual defendants remain. Fact discovery closed in December 2025, and trial is currently scheduled for June 2026.
While TKO’s financial report focused heavily on strong WWE and UFC revenue growth, the legal disclosures show that the company continues to navigate complex litigation stemming from the McMahon era.
With trial dates looming and federal scrutiny already part of the record, how much do you think these ongoing legal matters could impact WWE and TKO long term? Let us know your thoughts below.
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