WWE have completely gone against Vince McMahon's 'sacred' rules with a major change under the new regime.
After running WWE and building into a global powerhouse, in January 2024 McMahon resigned from his position as executive chairman on the board of TKO, the parent company which also houses UFC.
Having stepped down following sex abuse and trafficking allegations made against him by former WWE employee Janel Grant in a lawsuit, McMahon no longer has any involvement in the brand he bought from his father in 1982.
Former 14-time world champion wrestler Paul, 'Triple H' Levesque', married to McMahon's daughter Stephanie, assumed control of the creative department and has helped guide WWE into a record-breaking era which now sees shows aired live on Netflix as part of a mammoth $4 billion deal.
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The product has a freshness and has seen a number of significant presentation changes - most notably the ring.
In a controversial change, WWE announced an unprecedented ring mat sponsorship with Prime, the hydration drink created by KSI and WWE superstar Logan Paul, for premium live events.
However, since then the mat has been littered with lucrative sponsorships with the likes of Riyadh Season, Cricket wireless, Snickers, Fortnite, Netflix and Real American Beer.
And WWE commentator Michael Cole admits former chief McMahon would not have allowed such a change.
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"The Prime logo on the mat, and now all the logos we’ve got," Cole said on the IMPAULSIVE podcast. This would have never happened. I understood Vince’s perspective that it [the mat] was sacred. But it’s 2025, this is the world.”
Cole spent the majority of his career with McMahon directing him in his ear but has been given a new lease of life under the new regime, where he is partnered by former NFL kicker Pat McAfee on the announce desk.
Another key alteration WWE have made recently means Cole is allowed to display more personality, something which has been encouraged by executive producer Lee Fitting after he joined from ESPN.
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Cole continued: "I’ll never disparage the man but Vince was very heavy-handed, controlled, it was his company, his sandbox, whatever you want so I never was really able to break out and be myself with the exception of a little bit of a heel run I had over a decade ago. When Vince left and when Paul came and was in charge, he really changed things.
"Lee coming from ESPN where the talent is the announcer, he came here and said I don’t understand why our guys at the desk aren’t bigger and have bigger personas and aren’t as respected as the people in the ring.
"Being old school, I understand that the guys and girls in the ring are the ones putting their bodies on the line each and every week and people are buying tickets to see Roman Reigns, they’re not buying tickets to see Michael Cole but we’re a very important part of the product.
"What Lee and Paul have allowed us to do is to bring our personalities out and you’re seeing the real Michael Cole now."
Topics: WWE, Vince McMahon
Josh Lawless