Stephanie McMahon Shockingly Announces Leave Of Absence From WWE

WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon shockingly announced a leave of absence “from the majority of [her] responsibilities” Thursday on Twitter, as the top WWE official will be stepping away indefinitely with plans to return.

“As of tomorrow, I am taking a leave of absence from the majority of my responsibilities at WWE. WWE is a lifelong legacy for me and I look forward to returning to the company that I love after taking this time to focus on my family,” read the tweet.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque, McMahon’s husband, recently went through a major health scare where the WWE Hall of Famer suffered from viral pneumonia and heart failure. Triple H announced his retirement from pro wrestling as a result, and though he has since returned to his duties as a WWE executive, they have been tremendously scaled back amid mass releases of Triple H’s hires throughout the Nick Khan era.

Last month it was reported that both Stephanie McMahon and Triple H made $730,000 each in base salary for WWE per the company’s proxy statement (h/t Wrestling Inc).

Triple H made it clear that he was going to prioritize his family after undergoing a life-threatening emergency, and Stephanie McMahon echoed that sentiment in her statement, which ended with McMahon vowing to “focus on my family.”

The absence of Stephanie McMahon, and reduced role for Triple H, means WWE President and Chief Revenue Officer Nick Khan is likely to wield more power as a trusted top executive in Stamford, Conn. Suddenly, Vince McMahon feels like the last McMahon standing whose role is unquestioned within WWE. Shane McMahon was “quietly let go” amid a dramatic sequence of events during Royal Rumble weekend, though he was brought in during WrestleMania weekend in a backstage role.

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Stephanie McMahon and Triple H’s roles as parents and spouses is taking a clear precedent over their roles as executives. As there continues to be uncertainties around Triple H’s new role, Stephanie McMahon’s undefined timetable for a return will only continue to complicate those matters, which are obviously secondary to family matters.