Newly revealed text messages between Triple H and Nick Khan show that Paul Levesque was deeply anxious during the TKO merger process in 2023 and grew increasingly frustrated with what he perceived as a failure to fully remove Vince McMahon from WWE’s operations even after the deal closed.
The messages were published by Brandon Thurston of POST Wrestling as part of ongoing coverage of the merger lawsuit, which alleges that McMahon predetermined the transaction with Endeavor to secure his continued role at the company in light of the sexual misconduct scandal surrounding him rather than acting in shareholders’ best interests.
On September 11, 2023, the day before the merger was finalized, Triple H texted Khan expressing significant tension. “How’s it going so far? Man, I’m wound tight today. D-Day tomorrow, expecting the worst,” Levesque wrote. Khan deleted his subsequent responses throughout the exchange, leaving only Triple H’s side of the conversation visible.
Later that same day, Triple H relayed to Khan that McMahon wanted to meet about talent releases that coincided with corporate releases. The following morning, after the merger was officially complete, Triple H informed Khan that McMahon was seeking an in-person meeting regarding talent policies. “Morning! VKM looking to set an in person meeting for today at 4pm with you, Bruce and Ed regarding Talent Policies,” Triple H wrote.
By December 2023, Triple H’s concern about McMahon’s continued presence had not abated. On December 9, he texted Khan after being informed by security that McMahon was planning to attend a Raw taping in Cleveland. “Was just told by security that VKM is coming to Cleveland TV Monday. What’s that about??????” he wrote.
The following day Triple H expressed deeper frustration with what he characterized as a failure by Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro to follow through on removing McMahon from the picture entirely. “The more I think about it the more I’m kinda disappointed in that Ari convo,” Triple H wrote. “Seems like we are in the same place. ‘I’m gonna tell him to stay out of it or else.’ That’s way different than ‘I’m telling him he’s done. It’s over.’ Kicking the can down the road. Between you and I, it feels like they are both backtracking on the ‘he’s out’ narrative. It’s back to the ‘well if he wants to go to the show now and then’ and ‘if he gives notes and wants to have a 30-minute meeting now and then, ok.'”
Triple H also expressed concern at some point about CM Punk and Vince McMahon being on the same plane together, though no follow-up texts on that subject were included in the published messages.
McMahon resigned from WWE in January 2024 following the filing of a lawsuit by former employee Janel Grant accusing him of sexual assault and sex trafficking. Fightful had previously reported that both McMahon and Levesque were involved in late changes to the September 11, 2023, episode of Raw on the night before the merger closed.
Text messages disclosed in the ongoing lawsuit over the TKO merger show Paul Levesque’s reaction to learning Vince McMahon would be coming to a RAW in December 2023.
“Was just told by security that VKM is coming to Cleveland TV Monday. What’s that about ??????”
The record shows… pic.twitter.com/qW4mtzYlIG
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) April 7, 2026
