![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-04-07-Khan-Levesque-bubbles-678x381.jpg\" "\\"2026")
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September 11, 2023, was the day before the TKO merger became final. The next day, Paul Levesque and Nick Khan were set to be among executives celebrating the $21 billion combination of WWE and UFC as they rang the trading day\u2019s opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange.<\/p>\n
But Levesque was also dreading what was to come in the morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cDDay tomorrow,\u201d he texted to Khan. \u201c[E]xpecting the worst.\u201d<\/p>\n
The messages \u2014 recently disclosed in the ongoing lawsuit over the merger<\/a> \u2014 demonstrate his concern was related to friction with Vince McMahon, his father-in-law, whose duties as WWE head of creative he assumed a year prior. Levesque\u2019s messages show him looking to Khan, his immediate superior, for support as McMahon sought greater involvement in the creative process.<\/p>\n Khan wrote back to Levesque\u2019s \u201cDDay\u201d comment with words he later deleted. In legal filings, Khan claims he doesn\u2019t remember the content of any of the deleted messages noted throughout this report.<\/p>\n POST Wrestling visual representation of text messages between Levesque and Khan disclosed in public court filings. Times shown in U.S. Eastern.<\/p>\n (\u201cEC\u201d above seems to refer to an executive committee meeting with WWE\u2019s corporate leadership that Khan participated in that day.)<\/p>\n The text messages sent over WhatsApp were disclosed last week in exhibits filed in the lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery in which shareholders allege McMahon and certain other board members, including Khan and Levesque, unfairly steered the 2023 WWE-UFC merger to assure McMahon\u2019s personal survival in the new company, despite the sexual misconduct allegations against him.<\/p>\n WWE\u2019s last night as a standalone company<\/p>\n Later that day, Levesque relayed to Khan that McMahon wanted to meet about talent releases that would be happening at the same time as staff members were being downsized. The staff lay-offs were among the cost-cutting synergies the merger promised.<\/p>\n Levesque wrote to Khan: \u201cWhile I\u2019m SURE you like to be done with this shit for today \u2026.. Please let me know if you speak to AE,\u201d the initials of TKO CEO Ari Emanuel, who was about to take on oversight of WWE alongside his existing duties overseeing UFC.<\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear if phone calls or other communications happened between these messages.<\/p>\n An inquiry from POST Wrestling to representatives for WWE and TKO seeking comment for this story on behalf of Levesque, Khan, and Emanuel was not returned. Representatives for McMahon also did not return our request for comment, which included a question about the extent of McMahon\u2019s actual desire to be involved in creative in 2023.<\/p>\n Just nine months earlier, McMahon seized his controlling voting power, returned to WWE, and put it up for sale, ending the brief retirement he announced in the wake of headlines about sexual misconduct allegations and previously undisclosed NDA payments. Since his return and especially after the TKO merger was agreed to in April 2023, multiple outlets reported on McMahon\u2019s renewed influence over WWE\u2019s creative process.<\/p>\n POST Wrestling visual representation of text messages between Levesque and Khan disclosed in public court filings. Times shown in U.S. Eastern.<\/p>\n At the time of these messages, Fightful reported<\/a> that McMahon and Levesque were both involved with late changes to the Monday, September 11, 2023, episode of Raw. McMahon was not personally at the event, as he had been on other occasions that year. Memorably, those other occasions included the Raw after WrestleMania in 2023, when he made wide-ranging changes to the show in-person.<\/p>\n A text message exchange between Khan and McMahon from February 2023, which POST Wrestling included in a previous report,<\/a> is consistent with separate reporting that McMahon pushed for Roman Reigns\u2019 win over Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania in April 2023, delaying Rhodes\u2019 eventual title win and \u201cfinishing his story\u201d until the following year\u2019s WrestleMania. Reportedly, that\u2019s a decision Levesque eventually agreed to.<\/p>\n That instance suggests Khan sometimes acted on both sides as an intermediary between McMahon and Levesque on creative matters.<\/p>\n Executives downplayed McMahon\u2019s role in creative<\/p>\n Meanwhile, in public, McMahon\u2019s involvement in creative was downplayed by all involved. Levesque was looked at by many fans as a major improvement to the creative process, and a resurgence in WWE\u2019s popularity among fans since McMahon\u2019s July 2022 retirement was well-substantiated by increases in attendance and TV ratings.<\/p>\n Who controlled creative is not a subject of the shareholder lawsuit. However, as a publicly traded company with major media rights renewals approaching, who was actually directing WWE\u2019s content was a legitimate investor concern \u2014 particularly given how the executives\u2019 public statements conflict with these private conversations.<\/p>\n The newly-public text message exhibits are intended to support the plaintiffs\u2019 motion asking the court to draw adverse inferences at trial against the defendant board members<\/a> because of their deletion of Signal messages and other evidence. The defendants respond that they didn\u2019t use Signal to discuss the merger, and any records related to that subject were preserved. The plaintiffs, however, also point to Khan\u2019s selective deletion of various text messages he sent, including those within message threads that serve as the basis for this report. The court has not yet ruled on the motion.<\/p>\n Tuesday, February 28, 2023<\/p>\n \u201cHey guys just double checking. Does Roman and Cody know the new creative re WM and next year ?\u201d<\/p>\n Bruce : \u201cNot to my knowledge. Me to Paul: \u201c Paul have U \u201c?<\/p>\n POST Wrestling\u2019s visual representation of text messages between McMahon and Khan disclosed in public court filings. Times shown in U.S. Eastern.<\/p>\n In the February 2023 text exchange between Khan and McMahon, the WWE President appeared to urge McMahon to continue the conversation on Signal. Plaintiffs allege this reflected a broader pattern by Khan in particular, of moving communications to the app, where messages were set to delete automatically, despite legal hold notices from WWE\u2019s lawyers directing Khan and others to preserve certain written communications in anticipation of litigation arising from the merger or the scandal surrounding McMahon.<\/p>\n When Khan was asked on CNBC in late March 2023<\/a> whether McMahon was becoming more involved in creative, he answered, \u201c\u2018No\u2019 is the answer to that,\u201d a denial that\u2019s difficult to reconcile with what McMahon texted Khan a month earlier.<\/p>\n Days later, just after WrestleMania, when the merger was announced, McMahon appeared on the same network, sitting alongside Emanuel, and told viewers<\/a> he would be involved \u201con a higher level\u201d in creative but that he wouldn\u2019t be \u201cin the weeds\u201d anymore. Hours later, he was reportedly at Raw, exercising the kind of control he had for decades before his retirement.<\/p>\n In August 2023, when asked at the press conference following that year\u2019s Summerslam<\/a>, Levesque framed McMahon\u2019s contributions to the creative process as advisory, despite reports at the time that McMahon had become more involved in directing creative.<\/p>\n Levesque praised McMahon\u2019s knowledge of the business and emphasized the value of his advice, then said, \u201cBut is he [involved in creative] day-to-day? No. Is he in it all the time? No.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cD-Day\u201d<\/p>\n Before the market opened on the morning the TKO deal officially closed, Levesque wrote again to Khan, this time expressing his appreciation. Khan and Levesque credited each other for their current positions in WWE.<\/p>\n This is the view outside the New York Stock Exchange this AM. <\/p>\n Massive day for UFC, WWE and Endeavor.<\/p>\n TKO Group Holdings will trade on the New York Stock Exchange as of today under the ticker symbol TKO. The deal is official. pic.twitter.com\/ugmLXfEK3Y<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 12, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThank you for getting us here \u2026 if it wasn\u2019t for you , I would have been gone a long time ago,\u201d Levesque wrote.<\/p>\n Levesque didn\u2019t explain what he meant, but recent history offered reasons why he might\u2019ve seen his role as precarious.<\/p>\n Levesque\u2019s NXT had lost its head-to-head TV ratings competition with AEW<\/a>. NXT moved to a different night, and Levesque was no longer overseeing it. By early 2022, many of his allies had been fired. A heart condition required surgery in 2021, ending his in-ring career. McMahon\u2019s first exit in July 2022 opened the door for Levesque to enter a more prominent leadership role than ever.<\/p>\n Tuesday, September 12, 2023<\/p>\n POST Wrestling visual representation of text messages between Levesque and Khan disclosed in public court filings. Times shown in U.S. Eastern.<\/p>\n A few minutes later, Levesque relayed a message to Khan, possibly from a colleague or assistant. McMahon wanted a meeting later in the day with Levesque and \u201cBruce and Ed,\u201d possibly referring to senior creative team members Bruce Prichard and Ed Koskey. Khan responded with something that, again, he chose to go back and delete.<\/p>\n Tuesday, September 12, 2023<\/p>\n Morning! VKM looking to set an in person meeting for today at 4pm with you, Bruce and Ed regarding Talent Policies<\/p>\n POST Wrestling visual representation of text messages between Levesque and Khan disclosed in public court filings. Times shown in U.S. Eastern.<\/p>\n Soon after the merger closed, with Endeavor leaders Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro overseeing WWE, both media reports and the programming itself suggested Levesque, rather than McMahon, was in clearer control of Raw and SmackDown. PWInsider reported<\/a> in early October that Levesque was \u201cknighted\u201d by the Endeavor\/TKO leaders.<\/p>\n A week later, Sports Illustrated told readers<\/a>\u00a0that Levesque was now in \u201cfull control of WWE creative.\u201d Citing multiple sources in WWE and UFC, the outlet pointed to Emanuel\u2019s belief in a strict division of responsibilities. Levesque would independently oversee creative. McMahon, still TKO Executive Chairman \u2014 a role he was guaranteed for life or until he resigned \u2014 would take the lead on WWE\u2019s important media rights renewals.<\/p>\n Given the track record, though, many fans and talent remained skeptical McMahon would actually stay out of the role he reveled in for decades.<\/p>\n Vince tries again in December 2023<\/p>\n Two months later, on a Saturday night, December 9, 2023, Levesque texted Khan.<\/p>\n \u201cWas just told by security that VKM is coming to Cleveland TV Monday. What\u2019s that about ??????\u201d he typed, referring to the Monday Night Raw taping coming up in two days.<\/p>\n Khan immediately wrote back \u2014 messages, again, he later deleted.<\/p>\n POST Wrestling visual representation of text messages between Levesque and Khan disclosed in public court filings. Times shown in U.S. Eastern.<\/p>\n The next day, the record shows Levesque and Khan trying to reach Emanuel, with Levesque apparently speaking with Emanuel.<\/p>\n \u201cTried you back with him. Call me,\u201d Khan wrote to Levesque at 11:48 AM, \u201chim\u201d possibly referring to Emanuel, given what follows.<\/p>\n POST Wrestling visual representation of text messages between Levesque and Khan disclosed in public court filings. Times shown in U.S. Eastern.<\/p>\n Levesque raises the idea of going to TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro about the issue. Khan again responds with something he deleted later.<\/p>\n Whatever transpired from there, Levesque wasn\u2019t satisfied with.<\/p>\n Among the questions POST Wrestling raised to TKO and WWE representatives, which they did not respond to, were queries about what Emanuel\u2019s point of view was on the friction between Levesque and McMahon. We also asked for clarification about what steps Khan took to resolve this matter, as his role is especially obscured given the deleted messages.<\/p>\n Sunday, December 10, 2023<\/p>\n POST Wrestling visual representation of text messages between Levesque and Khan disclosed in public court filings. Times shown in U.S. Eastern.<\/p>\n The public filings don\u2019t show further messages between Levesque and Khan for the next few hours, after Khan\u2019s \u201cThey know already. No need to send.\u201d Any calls or messages that might\u2019ve happened in that window \u2014 whether Khan reached Emanuel, McMahon, or both \u2014 aren\u2019t reflected in the record.<\/p>\n When Levesque wrote to Khan again that evening, he moved to a different concern.<\/p>\n Sunday, December 10, 2023<\/p>\n POST Wrestling visual representation of text messages between Levesque and Khan disclosed in public court filings. Times shown in U.S. Eastern.<\/p>\n CM Punk, of course, had just returned to WWE for the first time since his acrimonious exit in 2014, which he followed with harsh criticism of McMahon, with whom he now shared a plane ride. As far as we know, there were no issues on the flight.<\/p>\n McMahon, for the second time and so far permanently, resigned<\/a> a month later in January 2024, just after former employee Janel Grant filed a federal sex trafficking lawsuit against him and WWE<\/a>. McMahon has had no known involvement in WWE creative since. Although McMahon\u2019s association with WWE and family connection to Levesque may always invite some to doubt whether he\u2019s truly out, his exit two years ago essentially rendered moot the dynamic Khan and Emanuel were evidently managing in 2023.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vince_icon.png\"){kind=icon}
\n7:21 PM Vince McMahon: Text from me to Paul and Bruce:<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know if Paul has had a conversation with either . Roman\u2019s first appearance since we spoke is Friday in DC. Both will be there in person.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nick_icon.png\"){kind=icon}
\n7:37 PM Nick Khan: Langis<\/p>\n
\n7:41 PM Vince McMahon: What in the blue hell is \u201cLangis\u201d lol<\/p>\n
\n7:41 PM Nick Khan: Read it backwards!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/paul_icon.png\"){kind=icon}
\n6:57 AM: Paul Levesque: Nick , just wanted to take a moment before all the craziness today to say THANK YOU !!!!! Thank you for getting us here \u2026 if it wasn\u2019t for you , I would have been gone a long time ago. I appreciate you and all you have done and gone thru \u2026. And I appreciate our friendship\u2026 It means the world to me
Thank you
and
Congratulations<\/p>\n
\n6:58 AM: Nick Khan: You are my guy. You got me here. I want us to do this for 20 years and call it a day. I appreciate and admire you.<\/p>\n
\n7:09 AM: Nick Khan: [Khan sent an image of the NYSE building with giant WWE and UFC belts<\/a> on display]<\/p>\n
\n7:13 AM: Paul Levesque: Just fyi<\/p>\n
\n7:14 AM: Nick Khan: [Deleted by the sender]<\/p>\n
\n7:18 AM: Paul Levesque: Done<\/p>\n
\n2:31 PM: Paul Levesque: Between you and I, It feels like they are both backtracking on the \u201che\u2019s out\u201d narrative. It\u2019s back to the \u201cwell if he wants to go to the show now and then\u201d and \u201cif he gives notes and wants to have a 30min meeting now and then, ok\u201d<\/p>\n
\n2:39 PM: Paul Levesque: He just sent an email re script for Ari<\/p>\n
\n2:43 PM: Nick Khan: Seems off. Lemme call him.<\/p>\n
\n2:58 PM: Nick Khan: They know already. No need to send.<\/p>\n
\n5:48 PM: Paul Levesque: So he\u2019s on the AM plane \u2026.. I just remembered punk is scheduled to be on it as well. You think that\u2019s an issue ?<\/p>\n