Vince McMahon — the longtime chairman and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment — is retiring from his role with the company, he announced Friday.
“As I approach 77 years old, I feel it’s time for me to retire as Chairman and CEO of WWE,” McMahon said in a statement.
“Throughout the years, it’s been a privilege to help WWE bring you joy, inspire you, thrill you, surprise you, and always entertain you.”
“I would like to thank my family for mightily contributing to our success, and I would also like to thank all of our past and present Superstars and employees for their dedication and passion for our brand.”
Vince bought the company from his father, Vincent J. McMahon in 1982 … and has been the face of the brand ever since.
Vince was responsible for the “Attitude Era” in the 1990s, which turned professional wrestling into a mainstream phenomenon … and helped Superstars like The Undertaker, Kane, The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, Chyna and more become household names.
The billionaire is also the mastermind behind WrestleMania … which just had its 38th installmentthis past April.
McMahon bought WWE’s biggest competitor, World Championship Wrestling, in 2001 … making his company the most dominant organization in the sport.
“Most importantly, I would like to thank our fans for allowing us into your homes every week and being your choice of entertainment,” he added. “I hold the deepest appreciation and admiration for our generations of fans all over the world who have liked, currently like, and sometimes even love our form of Sports Entertainment.”
Vince recently stepped away from his role as chairman and CEO … amid an investigation into alleged misconduct. His daughter, Stephanie, was named interim CEO and interim Chairwoman.
The investigation comes after a report claiming McMahon allegedly agreed to pay $12 million in “hush money” to 4 different women over a 16-year time period … so they would not discuss their relationships with him.
McMahon appeared on “WWE SmackDown!” shortly after he voluntarily stepped down … and made a speech that felt like a goodbye message to fans.
While Virgin River Season 4 got off to a slow start, proving that they didn’t need those additional two installments if things would meander, the back half of the season has been incredibly strong.
And the events of Virgin River Season 4 Episode 12 are enough to have us reeling and counting down the days until we can return to this beloved couple, town, and all of its delicious drama!
How are we doing, Mel and Jack ‘shippers? MEL SAID YES!
We got the perfect engagement; having it at the airstream was romantic. From the lighting to the view, it was downright majestic.
And we got the desired results about the baby, with Jack as the father, thank the high heavens. We also confirmed what some of us suspected this whole time — that Jack isn’t the father of Charmaine’s twins. However, that still made for an absolutely bonkers cliffhanger.
Mel and Jack had such a rough season that it feels good to see them winning. But we’ll have to dissect that further in a moment because there was so much happening at once.
For one, we had to say goodbye to Ricky as he shipped off, and who knew it would be this difficult?
He’s such a lovable kid. He’s following his dreams and desires, and it’s all you can want for him. But he’s become such a staple of Virgin River and Jack’s Bar that it’s hard to imagine the town without him.
He’s the classic small-town boy next door going off to do incredible things. One can only imagine how things will be for him when he inevitably returns home, more mature, wiser, more experienced, and with a greater appreciation for Virgin River.
Hopefully, he’ll still have Lizzie to return to, as their love story feels like a semicolon rather than a period. They have a beautiful friendship regardless, which is lovely.
Ricky’s most emotional moments were with Lydie and Jack. For his entire life, Ricky has been Lydie’s world, and they captured that well in those moments when she fretted over him while saying goodbye.
It was so difficult for them both. Ricky has been the man of the house and taken care of his grandmother for so long that he has that understandable guilt and worry that comes with leaving her behind. And Lydie has devoted her life to Ricky, and now she faces an empty house with him gone.
The Sewing Circle coming to comfort her, understanding why she couldn’t be there at the sendoff, lest she breaks down crying, was a beautiful scene. Their enduring friendship remains a highlight of this series.
Jack driving Ricky to the station felt right. For so long, he’s been the father figure to Ricky, and that bond has been one of the most consistent and strongest.
Mel: Maybe if I leave, then Cameron will stay and you won’t have to find a replacement. Doc: What do you mean if you leave? Mel: Look, I only want to do what’s best for you, so I’ve decided to resign.
He had all the best advice for Ricky, reminding him that it’s okay that he’s scared right now. Jack walked his path, and it must’ve been hard for him, seeing this kid who probably reminds him of himself, Chris, and others, leaving like that, but part of parenthood is letting your children fly away.
Ricky has been great practice for Jack in that regard.
In Ricky’s absence, we still have a likable young man who managed to win hearts in the final hour. Denny was such a mystery the entire season, and it was frustrating that we didn’t spend as much time fleshing him out.
It’s so much about Denny, I’d still like to know, but I was not mentally or emotionally prepared for the truth. Denny isn’t a scam artist, an imposter, a drug abuser, or anything else.
Lizzie, the reason I can’t be in a relationship is because I don’t have a future. I have Huntington’s Disease which is terminal.
Denny
He’s a grieving young man with a terminal illness who wants a taste of this communal, happy life even if he feels that he’s a dead man walking.
Huntington’s Disease is such a debilitating disease. He’s only 19, and he’s already facing this battle. My heart breaks for him.
It explains why Doc has been worried about him so much and wants him to take better care of himself. Denny is active and enjoys being out and about, but it can be concerning if he has balance issues, passes out, and things of that nature.
Denny confiding in Lizzie feels like a breakthrough for the friendship. She knew there was a wall between them, and it was interfering with the bond they formed.
Hopefully, now that he’s shared the truth with her, he can continue having the support he deserves, and they only grow closer as friends or more.
It’s no doubt that Lizzie will take Hope up on the offer of serving as her aide now that she’s cleared the air with Denny. Lizzie is a good choice. She’s grown so much as a character.
She has a unique bond with both Doc and Hope that makes this new arrangement work without making Hope feel helpless.
Lizzie also does well keeping secrets. She protected Christopher’s privacy well.
I love how the community comes together to take care of their own. Preacher and Connie have been the best things ever to Paige and Christopher.
Preacher was in peak badass mode when he went after Vince. He fared much better this time than in previous instances when he went off alone.
Now that he rescued Paige and the authorities have Vince, what does this mean for Paige and Christopher? Can they stay in Virgin River again? Will she face trouble for killing Wes in self-defense?
And if Paige is still around, where will things stand between Preacher and Julia? We haven’t seen her since, so things feel up in the air.
Mike came in clutch when it counted, and we have yet another season under our belts where Mike has come across suspicious, but nothing comes from it.
It’s not just me, is it? It’s always so hard to trust him. Maybe if we spent more time with him outside of murder and drug investigations, he wouldn’t always make it on the suspect list in fan theories.
His apology to Brady was a bit awkward. It’s not like he can unsay many of the things he’s expressed, especially when he’s butted into Brady and Brie’s relationship.
Brady is a free man. Things were conveniently resolved offscreen regarding the shooting, and some random dirty cop we never heard of was the one who set Brady up and had been working with Calvin.
Mike: You’re a free man. Brady: What? Mike: It turns out Deputy Howard was helping Calvin launder money. Brady: How did you figure that out? Mike: Brie.
They constantly dabble with the crime life, but they don’t fully commit to it, and it’s noticeable when storylines wrap up like this.
Of course, Brady isn’t entirely out of the woodwork because of Melissa, but no one else knows that yet. Not even Brie.
I believe Brady and Brie are in it for the long haul, and their romance is one of the most enduring and endearing. However, they’re obviously going to face their challenges, too, and this thing with Melissa will be one of them.
Brie worked tirelessly to clear Brady’s name. And he’s been the consummate support for her after she shared her sexual assault experience with him.
Don: Why are you being such a bitch? Brie: Say that again.
He’s trying so hard to navigate this delicately, and it’s all you can ask for in a partner. But Don’s arrival is triggering, and Brady is Brady.
If he so much as crosses paths with Don, it could get ugly. Don is such a piece of crap, and I’m happy that Brie had her empowering moment of telling him about himself and announcing that she’d file charges against him.
For her sake and the sake of all of his victims, he deserves to pay for what he’s done. With the fiery Brie leading the charge, he will.
Brie is a strong woman, but this is a big step, and it’ll consist of going public with what happened to her. She tried shoving it all done and not dealing with it, but this will change everything.
Don: I’m sorry if I did something to upset you. Brie: Upset me? You raped me. And you’re the one who should’ve suffered. and you know what? For all the other women in your life, I can’t let that stand.
Jack and Mel’s life will change in so many ways, too.
Shockingly, Mel chose to resign! Mel doesn’t know how NOT to be a nurse, so I can’t imagine her not going to the clinic every day.
I understand her taking precautions since she’s a high-risk pregnancy, but it sucks that she’s stepping down to make a path for Cameron to stay.
She’s sacrificing her job for the greater good of the community and Doc’s well-being, and that’s admirable. Jack is right; she’s compassionate.
But will this choice do any good? Cameron said he wouldn’t want a front-row seat to her and Jack, and it’s hard for him to forget or move on, but Virgin River is so tiny.
It’s impossible to avoid Mel and Jack. He’ll always have that front-row seat whether Mel is working there or not.
The Cameron thing is weird. It’s a pity we didn’t get to know him better so we could be more sympathetic to him, but we never got that chance. As a result, it’s hard to invest in him at all.
We barely saw him practicing medicine on his own. His scenes with Mel didn’t give us enough to support him crushing on her and butting into her relationship, and it’s hard to believe someone could be that unprofessional and immature.
The whole situation is even more awkward because Mel told Doc, Brie, and especially Jack what Cameron said about Jack and where the tension is, and I don’t see how they move past any of that.
Blissed-out Jack is the best version of him, though. Maybe down the road, it’ll be strange when he runs into Cameron, but for now, he couldn’t care less about what Cameron said.
He was too over the moon because Mel said yes to his proposal. It was such a gorgeous setting that it made you swoon, and I love this for them.
And to keep the momentum going, giving us more sweetness to make up for the hell they put us through for most of the season, we know that Jack is the biological father of their baby girl.
Jack: I don’t care what that email says. I love you, and I’m going to love our baby so much. Mel: I love you too. I’m sorry. Jack: What? Mel: We wouldn’t have been in this position if it wasn’t for me. Jack: No, hey this is not your fault. I never thought that I never will. Mel: If I hadn’t gone to the clinic. Jack: If I never broke up with you. We are not here because of you. We’re here because of us. It might not be perfect but we are together that’s the only thing that matters. You and me. We got this okay.
Jack gives off the best Girl Dad vibes, so I’m excited to see the two of them on the journey together, especially now that the soap opera drama portion of “Who is the baby daddy” is over.
Thank goodness they didn’t hold off on that reveal until the following season. It would’ve been too much to bear.
Hopefully, this also means that Mel won’t face messy custody drama with Cassandra.
Mel and Jack can finally have the life they wanted, and these two people who have endured so much hurt, pain, and loss can simply be happy. It’s beautiful.
It remains concerning that Jack is loosely tied to Melissa on the professional front. My theory about Nick pulling out of the deal was wrong.
Nick and Jo Ellen were ecstatic about the engagement and baby, and Nick was happy to help Jack with this investment into the airstreams, but Melissa showed up, too. Trouble is around the corner with her.
Who do you think was taking pictures of them at the restaurant? The authorities are probably investigating Melissa, which means that Jack will get dragged into the mix, too, because she’ll have her hands in his business as an investor.
It’ll also mean Brady gets dragged into some more trouble, too, just when he escaped going to prison before. It’s all so nerve-wracking, but Melissa is apparently sticking around.
And, ugh, Charmaine. They walloped us with this when she was coming across as a better person and character!
Charmaine and Jack had made such progress in their relationship. They were sweet to watch, and it was nice that they learned how to become friends and cast aside their issues.
We knew Charmaine’s relationship with Todd would be doomed. Charmaine was so busy running to the first man who looked like Prince Charming to spite Jack and make herself feel better that she didn’t see any of the signs.
Todd could be cheating, or may he isn’t; it doesn’t matter. He treated Charmaine like a prized possession and not a person. All of it was bound to fall apart somehow.
Charmaine: He’s going to leave me. Mel: Whose leaving you? Charmaine: Todd! I’m going to lose my babies. Mel: No, you’re not going to lose your babies the ambulance is coming. Charmaine: This is karma, I’m being punished. Mel: No, honey you’re not being punished. Charmaine: It’s because I lied. Jack: What? Charmaine: The twins, they’re not your babies.
We couldn’t anticipate Charmaine having a full-blown panic attack, freaking out and fearing that she was losing the babies, and finally admitting that the twins don’t belong to Jack.
It’s been one of the most popular theories for multiple seasons. Charmaine is manipulative enough to pull a stunt like this, but it didn’t make those final moments any easier to watch.
Charmaine has put Jack through so much shit. All you could do was play back everything that’s happened since Charmaine announced she was pregnant.
How does a person even keep up such an egregious lie? No wonder she’s falling apart at the seams and worried about karma!
Charmaine can’t get any lower than this. I also don’t know how she can even come back from this.
On the surface, we can talk about how much she loved Jack and that she desired him as a father because he’s a good guy, and she knew he’d do right by the kids.
We can go on for ages about how broken Charmaine is and that she, too, is a complicated woman with a lot of trauma, baggage, and heartache. But my gosh!
Is there any coming back from this?
Now Jack and Mel have to help Charmaine and be with her as she goes to the hospital while processing this news.
Jack’s entire life changed when he found out about those twins. He’s been trying to make money, sacrificing so many things, all of his relationship issues with Mel, the emotional warfare Charmaine waged on him. — the list goes on.
As a fan of Jack and Mel, the series clearing the path for Jack and Mel to have one child together and for this experience to be special for them is excellent.
But outside of that, this is so messed up! It actually felt like they were redeeming Charmaine, and now they’ve dropped this bombshell to disrupt Jack’s life.
Jack: I’m so proud of you. Ricky: Thanks, I’m just really stressed out.I feel like a coward.
It’s a great cliffhanger to leave on, even if most of us suspected this from day one. There is so much delicious drama they can delve into after this, and I’m dying to see it through when the series returns.
Over to you, Virgin River Fanatics. Let’s discuss that engagement, the paternity news, Charmaine’s deception, all of it!
Jasmine Blu is a senior staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter.
Longtime The Walking Dead cast members Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira wowed fans at Comic-Con on Friday with a surprise appearance at Hall H—teasing an upcoming limited series that will wrap up story arcs for their respective characters of Rick Grimes and Michonne.
The latest TWD spinoff will present an epic love story of two characters changed by a changed world. Kept apart by distance. By an unstoppable power. By the ghosts of who they were. Rick and Michonne are thrown into another world, built on a war against the dead… And ultimately, a war against the living. Can they find each other and who they were in a place and situation unlike any they’ve ever known before? Are they enemies? Lovers? Victims? Victors? Without each other, are they even alive — or will they find that they, too, are the Walking Dead? The Walking Dead Universe’s Chief Content Officer Scott M. Gimple will serve as showrunner for the series, with Lincoln and Gurira as EPs. The show is set to launch with six episodes next year.
Originally, the plan was to wrap up Rick’s story in a standalone film at Universal. Sources say the studio had been talking to Craig Zobel to direct. But Lincoln confirmed today that those plans have been shelved with the network now closing his story in this new series. “I can’t wait to get my cowboy boots back on,” he said.
Nearing the end of its eleventh and final season, The Walking Dead is the first series in a post-apocalyptic zombie franchise, based on Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard’s comic books of the same name, which watches as survivors of an apocalyptic event grapple with an almost constant threat of attacks from zombies referred to as “walkers,” amidst a collapsed civilization.
Lincoln’s character is a Sheriff who led the show’s pack of survivors for its first nine seasons. He’s presumed dead by members of his clan as of Season 9’s fifth episode “What Comes After,” after blowing up a bridge with dynamite to stave off hordes of walkers, and while he subsequently disappears, we learn that he has, in fact, survived, as he helicopters off with Anne (Pollyanna McIntosh) and her allies.
Gurira’s Michonne is a katana-wielding survivor first introduced in Season 3 who joins Grimes’ group and eventually falls for him, becoming a surrogate mother to his kids. The character last appeared in Season 10, setting off to find Rick after learning that he may have survived his near mortal Season 9 injury.
“This is a moment fans of The Walking Dead have been waiting for since Rick disappeared in the helicopter early in season nine, and Michonne journeyed away on a quest to find him the following season,” said Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks. “What a great surprise for the fans at this final Comic-Con for the series that launched this universe and made television history. We couldn’t be more excited for a truly epic series finale later this year and to see Andy and Danai return in a new series they helped create, one of three new series coming in 2023 that continue the stories of so many iconic and fan-favorite TWD characters.”
“Rick and Michonne are two of my favorite people and Danai and Andy are two of my favorite people,” said Gimple in a statement. “Working with all of them continues to be a dream come true. The three of us, along with a terrific team of TWD all stars and incredible new voices, are crafting an insane love epic worth the long, long wait.”
Said Lincoln in his statement: “This has been the most extraordinary journey playing Rick Grimes for the best part of a decade. The friendships I’ve made along the way are deep and lasting, so it’s fitting that I finally get to complete the story with Danai and Scott and the rest of the TWD family. I’m so excited to be returning to the screen as Rick, reuniting with Danai as Michonne, and bringing the fans an epic love story to add to the Walking Dead Universe.”
Added Gurira: “Michonne and this TWD family has meant so much to me, and to continue the journey of these beloved characters, alongside Scott and Andy, both creatively and in front of the camera, and bringing The Walking Dead fans something truly special is just glorious. I can’t wait to pick up the katana again.”
Lincoln and Gurira were in San Diego today for the final Hall H bow of The Walking Dead, which returns for its final set of eight episodes this fall, after more than a decade on the air. Other projects in the works at present, as expansions of The Walking Dead Universe, include a Europe-set spinoff centered on Reedus’ Daryl, and the offshoot Isle of the Dead, which has Morgan and Lauren Cohan reprising their respective roles as Negan and Maggie. Both are scheduled to premiere in 2023.
Lincoln is repped by CAA, Range Media Partners and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Gurira by Suskin/Karshan Management, UTA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
Jo Koy says he’s back in the friend zone with Chelsea Handler after their split … but he’s still got love for his ex.
We got the comedian at LAX on Thursday and asked him about his recent split from Chelsea, which came just shy of one year of dating.
Jo tells our photog everything is good between him and Chelsea despite the breakup … he says they remain great friends.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
As we reported … sources close to the former couple tell us their busy schedules weren’t allowing them to spend enough time together to sustain a romantic relationship.
Jo is still promoting his upcoming movie, “Easter Sunday,” while Chelsea’s about to launch a comedy tour … he says he’s just concentrating on the film and isn’t entertaining the idea of jumping back into the dating pool.
SEPTEMBER 2021
TMZ.com
Even though Jo says he and Chelsea aren’t talking much these days, he gives reason to believe they might get back together down the line.
BT And Warner Bros Discovery UK Sports Joint Venture Approved
Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has given approval for BT Group and Warner Bros. Discovery to form a 50-50 sports joint venture for the UK & Ireland. Both companies sports assets will now combine over coming weeks. BT Sport and WBD’s Eurosport will initially retain their brand propositions before uniting under a single brand name in the future. BT’s Consumer division CEO Marc Allera, who has been named Chairman of the JV, said the approval marked a “milestone.” The chair will rotate between the two shareholders, with management of the JV going to board member Andrew Georgiou, President and Managing Director, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe. The CMA had initially decided too investigate the merger more than six weeks ago.
Netflix Ties With ‘Descendants Of The Sun’ Team For K-Drama
Netflix has greenlit a Korean series from the screenwriter behind popular K-drama Descendants of the Sun about a woman who lives for absolute revenge against the childhood bullies who destroyed her life. Screenwriter Kim Eun-sook (Mr Sunshine, The King: Eternal Monarch) has penned The Glory, which stars Descendants of the Sun actress Song Hye-kyo, plays the lead, a rage-filled woman keen to inflict the ultimate comeuppance on the bullies and those who didn’t care to help. Ahn Gil-hi (Happiness, Record of Youth) is directing and up-and-coming actor Joo Yeo-jeong has also landed a role.
Amazon Picks Up UK Rights To British Mockumentary Keep Calm & Carry On (Exclusive)
Prime Video has acquired British mockumentary Keep Calm & Carry On, which is about three different but connected families deal with the ups and downs of family life as they try to push through the gruelling year of 2020, with a documentary crew following them.The series, from Kayleigh-Paige Rees’ Raspberry Films, stars Rees (Sanditon, All About Casey) Harriet Thorpe (Absolutely Fabulous), Kellie Shirley (In the Long Run, The Office), Jess Impiazzi (The Strike), and Curtis Walker (In the Long Run). Martyn Thomas is director and Lawrence Prestidge the writer.
VFX Collective Territory Group Launches, Acquires LA-Based Cantina Creative
Territory Studio, the London-based VFX company founded by David Sheldon-Hicks and Nick Glover in 2010, is scaling up its activities under the new banner of Territory Group. Under the move, the new group has acquired Cantina Creative, the Los Angeles-based design and VFX studio that has worked on productions such as Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man 2. This first acquisition adds Los Angeles and Vancouver bases to existing Territory Group studio locations in San Francisco, Barcelona, and the United Kingdom. “It’s very exciting for Territory Studio and Cantina Creative as they are incorporated into the group, and this is just the start. As a group, we are built for scale and for success, we have an ambitious roadmap laid out for the years ahead,” said Sheldon-Hicks.
Seven.One Entertainment Secures German-Speaking Rights To Beta’s Finnish Co-Pro Drama ‘Estonia’
Germany’s Seven.One Entertainment Group has acquired German-speaking territory rights to Finnish drama Estonia from distributor Beta, marking the latest network to join the European co-production. Production began on the show three weeks ago, with CMore, TV4 Sweden, MTV Finland and Telia all attached. Swedish director Måns Månsson (Chernobyl) and Finnish director Juuso Syrjä (Bordertown) are overseeing the eight-hour drama about the deadliest civil maritime disaster in recent European history – the sinking of the MS Estonia on September 28, 1994, which claimed the lives of over 850 people. The series follows the events of the fateful night and the attempt to find the cause.
