Michael Cole Admits Vince McMahon Said Inappropriate Things to Him While Working in WWE

Vince McMahon’s name has long been associated with controversy, but matters escalated on January 25 when former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis. McMahon’s behavior while he was with the company is now under a microscope more than ever before.

Grant’s lawsuit, alleging sex trafficking and sexual abuse, sent shockwaves that extended outside the usual pro wrestling bubble. This lawsuit led to Vince’s retirement from the company he helped transform into a global pro wrestling powerhouse. Since then, numerous stories have surfaced regarding the former Chairman of the Board.

Since joining the broadcast booth in 1999, Michael Cole spent over two decades with Vince McMahon, who was known for constantly giving orders through the headset to announcers. Many former announcers have spoken about how Vince’s directives made the work environment uncomfortable. Cole, who spent considerable time with McMahon, noted that Vince often lacked personal censorship in private settings.

In an interview with The Ringer, Michael Cole revealed that Vince McMahon occasionally crossed the line with his comments. While Cole did not elaborate on specifics, he recalled confronting McMahon about what he said.

“I’m not going to lie. There have been times where he has said things to me that were inappropriate. I would go back to Gorilla after the show and get in his face and tell him, ‘That was bullsh*t.’ He respected that I did that.”

“Over the next few years, people still didn’t accept me because they looked at me as being a puppet for Vince. And I think some of that probably was true. Listen, I’m not a rebel. I’m here to make money and take care of my family and provide myself a good living. And when your boss asks you to do something, you do it. I still think, at that time, I was a hell of a good announcer.”

Meanwhile, Bill Simmons is working on a multi-part Netflix docuseries about Vince McMahon. Although McMahon’s retirement and the surrounding scandals have delayed its release, the series is still set to premiere. Fans are likely to binge-watch the series to uncover more stories about McMahon’s tenure in WWE.

In recent months, Vince McMahon has sold a significant portion of his TKO stock and currently holds no active role in the company. He has not appeared at the new WWE headquarters since his departure. Whether he will make another appearance in WWE remains uncertain, especially since even his likeness was blurred in WWE 2K24.

What’s your take on Vince McMahon’s WWE exit? Do you think the upcoming Netflix docuseries will uncover even more controversies? Let us know what you think in the comments section!