Below are a couple of top WWE news stories of the day, featuring Ricky Starks and Vince McMahon.
• After Ricky Starks was released from AEW on Monday, he made his WWE debut on Tuesday’s NXT. However, his name was never mentioned.
According to Steven Muehlhausen, Starks’ WWE deal came together so quickly that there wasn’t enough time to produce merchandise for him. As a result, the WWE commentary and social media teams refrained from using his name.
Notably, Starks trademarked “Ricky Starks” under his company Dream Palace LLC in May, but it remains unclear if he will continue using the name in WWE or adopt a new one.
Fightful Select previously reported that WWE’s choice to omit his name was intentional. Additionally, Starks debuted in NXT rather than on the main roster because the brand provides more flexibility in integrating him into storylines right away.
Also Read: Undertaker Was Caught Off Guard By Ricky Starks’ WWE NXT Debut
• Vince McMahon’s attorney, Robert W. Allen, stated that federal prosecutors in Manhattan have ended their criminal investigation into whether McMahon attempted to conceal multiple allegations of $exual misconduct.
“This is simply the result of an appeal of a procedural matter that was argued 5 months ago,” Allen told The New York Post. “We have been in consistent communication with the government since that time and understand, with no ambiguity, that the investigation has definitively concluded and will not result in charges.”
Allen’s remarks follow a recent federal appeals court decision that determined a former lawyer for McMahon improperly withheld documents from a grand jury investigating McMahon’s handling of multimillion-dollar settlements with two female employees who accused him of $exual abuse.
On January 10, McMahon settled a related case with the SEC, agreeing to pay a $400,000 civil penalty and reimburse WWE $1.33 million for violating the Securities Exchange Act. While McMahon has asserted that the issue is resolved, a separate grand jury investigation is still ongoing.
Additionally, in January, Janel Grant amended her lawsuit against McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE, accusing McMahon of $exual assault and trafficking during her time as a WWE employee, with Laurinaitis’ involvement and WWE’s awareness of the situation.
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