Vince McMahon altered WrestleMania 39 match outcome
Vince McMahon, the former CEO of WWE, reportedly changed the outcome of a significant match at WrestleMania 39, leading to a controversial ending. This event took place in Inglewood, California, in 2023, during a time when McMahon's influence was being scrutinized. In the summer of 2022, McMahon stepped down due to a hush-money scandal. Triple H took over creative control of WWE. However, McMahon returned to the company in January 2023, before resigning again in January 2024 due to another scandal. Despite his official remove from operations, reports suggested that McMahon's presence was still felt, especially as WrestleMania approached. One notable change made by McMahon involved the match between Finn Balor and Edge. McMahon insisted that Edge should win, despite the original plan for Balor to come out on top. This decision went against the creative team's direction and showed McMahon's continued influence over major storylines. There was also speculation regarding the outcome of the Cody Rhodes versus Roman Reigns match. While some believed Rhodes should have won the title, Reigns retained it. This was reportedly a long-standing plan, but some speculated that McMahon's touch was evident in the decision-making process. In the aftermath of WrestleMania, the follow-up show faced extensive last-minute rewrites, which frustrated wrestlers and showcased the difference in creative direction between McMahon and the current leadership. McMahon’s actions highlighted his ongoing impact on WWE, even when he was not in a daily operational role.