Ari Emanuel memoir details Vince McMahon’s TKO exit

Excerpts from TKO Group Holdings CEO Ari Emanuel’s new memoir, ‘Roll the Calls: A Memoir’, provide new details regarding Vince McMahon’s departures from WWE and TKO.

Emanuel describes a January 2024 phone call involving TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro and McMahon following reports by The Wall Street Journal. According to the memoir, Shapiro informed Emanuel that McMahon needed to leave the company entirely with ‘no emeritus position, no involvement in the company whatsoever.’ During a direct call with Shapiro, McMahon reportedly acknowledged the situation, stating he had ‘clarity’ and agreeing to follow the company’s direction to resign.

The memoir also revisits McMahon’s initial departure in July 2022 following reports of hush money payments. Emanuel notes that while McMahon initially intended to step down for the good of the company, he later returned to oversee the merger between WWE and Endeavor that formed TKO Group Holdings. Emanuel characterizes the period surrounding these transitions as a ‘mess’ and details the complexities of managing the company amidst legal allegations and McMahon’s health issues.