Mantell sees little chance of a comeback

Dutch Mantell does not expect Vince McMahon to return to WWE television in any meaningful role, saying the company appears determined to move on from its former chairman.

Quoted by eWrestlingNews, Mantell said: “Not a chance in hell unless it’s a cameo. And I doubt if they even do that.”

Mantell argued that WWE has little reason to revisit a period of its history that remains tied to serious legal allegations and public scrutiny. In his view, the company is more likely to keep its focus on the current product rather than reintroduce a figure whose exit still casts a long shadow.

McMahon remains away from WWE

McMahon resigned from his roles at WWE and TKO Group Holdings in January 2024 after former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual misconduct and trafficking. McMahon has denied the allegations.

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According to The Associated Press, McMahon stepped down as executive chairman of WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, after the lawsuit was filed.

The departure marked the second time McMahon had stepped away from WWE leadership. He had previously retired in 2022 during an internal investigation into misconduct allegations, before returning to the board in early 2023.

WWE has softened his presence

WWE has also taken visible steps to reduce McMahon’s presence in some of its archive-driven content.

As reported by Video Games Chronicle, McMahon was absent from the confirmed playable roster for WWE 2K24. Other outlets also noted that his image was blurred in parts of the game’s WrestleMania showcase mode.

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WWE has made similar edits on television. Described by Wrestling Inc., the company removed McMahon’s name from a clip of CM Punk’s famous 2011 “pipe bomb” promo when it was used in a more recent SmackDown video package.

Those changes do not amount to an official erasure of McMahon’s role in WWE history. But they do suggest a company being careful about when, and how, it invokes him.

A closed chapter for now

For decades, McMahon was inseparable from WWE’s public identity, both as its dominant executive and as an on-screen character. That makes any complete separation difficult.

But Mantell’s assessment reflects a broader reality. WWE is now operating under the TKO structure, with Paul “Triple H” Levesque overseeing creative and Nick Khan remaining a central executive figure. Bringing McMahon back to television would risk reopening questions the company appears eager to leave behind.

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For now, a return looks less like a creative possibility and more like a complication WWE has little incentive to invite.

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