What To Make Of This Soap Opera?

 It's been a newsworthy and wild last few days in the world of wrestling. News suddenly breaks late Thursday evening that Vince McMahon is planning a return to the WWE board. Vince even releases a statement confirming that is the plan. Friday Morning arrives and Vince as primary shareholder has strong-armed his way back to the WWE board along with former executives George Barrios and Michelle Wilson, ousting Ignace Lahoud and Man Jit Singh. He claims this will be done to help WWE maximize revenue in a "potential sale".

WWE releases a statement from Stephanie McMahon, Triple H, and Nick Khan basically saying we're all on the same page. WWE holds an all-hands meeting to push the corporate talk of "everything will be fine". Top of the morning Saturday it's announced WWE has already hired JP Morgan to help facilitate a potential sale, with a list of potential buyers already confirmed. All eyes point to Comcast NBCU due to the long-standing relationship between the two companies. NBCU's investment in the WWE network on Peacock, and it has been rumored for years that a potential physical WWE HOF would be built at Universal Studios Orlando. Maybe there's been a hidden agenda all along behind why FCW was moved to Orlando from Tampa when it became NXT.

The flurry of news here came quicker than the scandal last summer resulting in Vince McMahon's retirement. When you look at how things have played out, it all seems like one real life long-form wrestling storyline full of twists and turns. I'm honestly not sure what to make of it. Here's how thing's have played out.

Timeline

January 2020-George Barrios and Michelle Wilson then co-presidents and instrumental in the development of the WWE network resign.

April 2020-WWE releases over twenty superstars citing loss of revenue and cost-cutting measures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

August 2020-Nick Khan is Hired

January 2021-WWE Network on Peacock deal is announced.

April 2021-Another round of talent releases

June 2021-More talent releases in two batches

November 2021-Talent releases are back

May 2022-Stephanie McMahon steps away from her position as Chief Brand Officer to "focus on family". Many assume this is in reference to Triple H's health scare the previous year. 

June 2022-News comes out Vince McMahon has been paying hush money for years for his affairs.

July 2022-Vince McMahon steps down and then retires from WWE. Stephanie returns to the WWE as co-CEO with Nick Khan and board chairwoman. While Triple H lead's the roster and development.

January 2023-Vince is back as board chairman.

Through all this there are several things I'm left wondering. What is the family dynamic honestly like? People can put on fronts and talk all that good talk for the sake of business, but honestly are Stephanie and Triple H on good terms with Vince? It's safe to assume Shane is likely not based on previous rumors of their father/son relationship, and Shane likely sided with Linda on the whole marriage decades long affairs thing (sons have their moms back 99.9% of the time). 

On the business front? People leave companies all the time often on cordial terms, but what really led to the George and Michelle's ousting and what changed that now their standing shoulder to shoulder with Vince again? What kind of deal does Nick Khan have and he was promised some sort of succession role as sole CEO with Stephanie moving on should the WWE be sold? 

Does Vince McMahon really want to sell? or is he using this as some sort of tactic to get back at the board for the investigation and pressuring him to leave? What would a media conglomerate owned WWE look like? Did anyone ever think they'd see the WWE ran without a McMahon at the helm?

As Vince got older even though he denied ever stepping down, has he really planned to sell for some time and the allegations just detoured his plans or forced him to go another route? I mean he was the mastermind known as the "Higher Power" back in '99, so anything's possible.

Just so many questions, this is a real life soap opera and very interesting because as fans we are invested emotionally and financially to see how this plays out.