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More unredacted material tied to the ongoing WWE shareholder lawsuit has shed additional light on Paul “Triple H” Levesque’s mindset surrounding Vince McMahon’s return in 2023, including concerns over his creative authority and a belief that WWE President Nick Khan played a key role in keeping him in his position.
The latest batch of documents, first reported by Brandon Thurston of POST Wrestling.com, includes WhatsApp messages entered as exhibits in the case. The lawsuit itself centers on claims from shareholders that WWE’s merger with UFC under Endeavor to form TKO was improperly steered despite the presence of other potential bidders.
The messages begin on September 11, 2023, the night before the TKO merger was finalized, and consist of exchanges from Levesque to Khan, who has long been viewed as both a confidant and a central power figure within WWE and the broader TKO structure.
Levesque opened with a message reflecting the pressure of the moment, writing, “How’s it going so far? Man, I’m wound tight today… DDay tomorrow, expecting the worst.” Khan responded, although his replies were later deleted, a pattern that recurs throughout the exchanges. In legal filings, Khan stated he does not recall the content of the deleted messages.
Later that day, as discussions regarding post-merger layoffs were underway, Levesque relayed that Vince McMahon wanted to meet regarding talent cuts, texting: “VKM. Btw I need to meet with all of U tomorrow re talent releases which coincides with all corporate releases Thx,” before asking Khan to connect if possible.
To put the timeline in proper context, during this period, McMahon was serving as Executive Chairman of the TKO Board but would not have been involved in day to day creative.
Levesque followed up two hours later, asking Khan to update him if he spoke with Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, writing, “While I’m SURE you like to be done with this sh** for today… Please let me know if you speak to AE.” Khan later confirmed he would. The exchange closed with Levesque noting he was “anxious for tomorrow and beyond.”
On September 12, the day the WWE-UFC merger became official, creating TKO Group Holdings, Levesque sent Khan a message of appreciation early that morning:
“Nick, just wanted to take a moment before all the craziness today to say THANK YOU!!!!! Thank you for getting us here… if it wasn’t for you, I would have been gone a long time ago… I appreciate our friendship… It means the world to me.”
Khan responded in kind, writing, “You are my guy. You got me here. I want us to do this for 20 years and call it a day. I appreciate and admire you.”
Levesque later passed along a message indicating McMahon wanted a same-day meeting involving Khan, Bruce Prichard and Ed Koskey regarding talent policies. Khan replied, though the message was later deleted, and Levesque confirmed the meeting was set.
The documents then jump ahead to December 9, 2023, when Levesque learned McMahon was planning to attend WWE TV in Cleveland. He texted Khan, “Was just told by security that VKM is coming to Cleveland TV Monday. What’s that about ??????”
Khan again responded with messages that were later deleted. Levesque pressed for more information, asking about McMahon’s whereabouts and upcoming meetings.
A subsequent conversation, apparently involving Emanuel and possibly Khan, left Levesque frustrated. In a follow-up message the next day, he wrote that he was “disappointed” in how the situation was being handled, suggesting there had been a shift in how firmly McMahon’s role was being defined:
“the more I think about it the more I’m kinda disappointed in that Ari convo....Seems like we are in the same place", Levesque wrote. " ‘I’m gonna tell him to stay out of it or else’ that’s way different than ‘I’m telling him he’s done… it’s over.’ Kicking the can down the road.”
Levesque appeared to interpret this as a softening stance on McMahon’s involvement in WWE creative, indicating concern that the previous understanding of McMahon being fully removed was evolving into a more limited but ongoing presence.
He later suggested reaching out to TKO President Mark Shapiro to potentially influence the situation, asking Khan if he should “hit Shapiro to get his take and let him push or better direct to Ari?”
The conversation continued, with Levesque stating, “Between you and I, it feels like they are both backtracking on the ‘he’s out’ narrative. It’s back to the ‘well if he wants to go to the show now and then’ and ‘if he gives notes and wants to have a 30min meeting now and then, ok.’”
At one point, Levesque noted McMahon had sent an email regarding a script intended for Emanuel, prompting Khan to respond, “Seems off. Lemme call him,” followed by, “They know already. No need to send.”
Later that evening, Levesque raised a separate concern, noting that both McMahon and CM Punk were scheduled to be on the same flight, asking Khan if that could present an issue. There's no word whether they did end up on the WWE jet at the same time or whether there was an issue because of it.
McMahon would ultimately resign from his role on January 26, 2024, following the filing of a civil lawsuit by Janel Grant against McMahon and WWE alleging “that McMahon lured her with promises of career advancement, and then he allegedly exploited her and trafficked her to other men inside the company.” Grant signed a nondisclosure agreement in 2022 with McMahon, agreeing to a payment of $3 million to not publicly disparage him or to discuss their relationship. She alleges in the suit that he stopped making payments after $1 million, one third of the agreement, was received. Her lawsuit is seeking to void the NDA and additional financial damages. That lawsuit remains ongoing.
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