WWE scandals have been part of the company’s legacy for as long as it’s been on TV. Some made headlines around the world. Others were brushed aside and buried, but none were forgotten by fans.
From backstage bust-ups to courtroom chaos and mid-air meltdowns, WWE has seen it all. For every scandal that changed the company forever, there’s another that quietly wrecked careers behind the scenes.
Join us as we revisit some of the most notorious WWE scandals to ever shake the world of professional wrestling.
1. Vince McMahon’s sex trafficking and abuse lawsuit (2024)
In January 2024, Vince McMahon was named in a federal lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant. The case also listed WWE and former executive John Laurinaitis as co-defendants.
Grant alleged that McMahon abused his power to coerce her into a sexual relationship, claiming she was trafficked and manipulated over an extended period. She described a toxic dynamic in which she felt controlled, degraded and exploited while under WWE employment.
The lawsuit included disturbing claims involving both physical and psychological abuse. Grant’s legal team accused WWE of enabling the situation by failing to protect its staff or prevent the alleged misconduct.
McMahon denied the allegations. TKO Group, WWE’s new parent company, placed him on leave. Weeks later, he resigned from all roles within the organisation, ending his formal involvement with the company he built.
WWE pledged its full cooperation with legal proceedings. Regardless of the ruling, the lawsuit had already changed how McMahon is viewed publicly, raising serious questions about the company’s previous internal culture and long-term oversight.
2. The Chris Benoit murder-suicide (2007)
In June 2007, the wrestling world was rocked by an unthinkable tragedy. Chris Benoit, one of WWE’s top performers, was found dead alongside his wife, Nancy and their seven-year-old son, Daniel.
Police later confirmed that Benoit had murdered his wife and son before taking his own life. The news stunned fans and colleagues alike, with many struggling to reconcile the actions with the man they knew inside the ring.
Initially unaware of the full circumstances, WWE aired a tribute episode of Raw in Benoit’s honour. Once the truth emerged, the company moved quickly to distance itself. Benoit’s name was removed from websites, merchandise, and historical records.
The incident prompted wider conversations around concussion-related brain trauma in sports. An autopsy revealed Benoit had severe CTE, likely from years of head injuries. WWE introduced its Wellness Policy around this time, aimed at improving drug testing, concussion protocols and mental health awareness.
To this day, WWE does not officially acknowledge Benoit’s career, and the event remains one of the darkest chapters in wrestling history. It forced the company and the industry as a whole to confront the long-term risks of physical and psychological damage in professional wrestling.
3. The Ring Boy Scandal (early 1990s)
In the early 1990s, WWE faced serious allegations involving the sexual exploitation of underage boys by employees working behind the scenes.
The scandal centred around ring announcer Mel Phillips, who was accused of abusing young boys hired as part of the ring crew. Former WWE executives Terry Garvin and Pat Patterson were also named in the allegations, though Patterson denied wrongdoing and was later reinstated by the company.
The accusations surfaced publicly as WWE was already under scrutiny for its alleged use of steroids. At the time, the company moved quickly to part ways with those involved, announcing a round of internal resignations in response to the growing backlash.
Although the scandal never led to criminal convictions, it cast a long shadow over WWE’s internal culture. Critics argued that the company had allowed serious misconduct to go unchecked for too long.
The story received limited mainstream attention at the time, in part due to the steroid trial dominating headlines. But with hindsight, many view the Ring Boy scandal as one of the most troubling episodes in WWE history, not just for what happened, but for how quickly it seemed to disappear from the conversation.
4. Owen Hart’s death at Over the Edge (1999)
On May 23, 1999, Owen Hart fell to his death during a WWE pay-per-view in Kansas City. He was performing as the Blue Blazer, set to make a comedic entrance by descending from the rafters.
Something went wrong with the release mechanism. Hart fell nearly 80 feet and landed in the ring before the match began. He later died from internal injuries caused by the impact.
Despite the accident, WWE chose to continue the event. Viewers were informed live on air, with commentator Jim Ross delivering the news in real time. The decision to keep the show going remains one of the most heavily criticised in WWE history.
Hart’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit, arguing that the stunt was unsafe and poorly managed. WWE settled out of court for $18 million. His widow, Martha Hart, has remained critical of the company and has prevented WWE from using Owen’s likeness or inducting him into the Hall of Fame.
Among the most tragic WWE scandals, Hart’s death raised serious questions about safety protocols and responsibility. More than two decades later, the incident still represents a turning point in how wrestling handles risk.
5. The steroid trial (1991–1994)
In the early 1990s, WWE came under federal investigation over the alleged distribution of anabolic steroids to its wrestlers. The case would put Vince McMahon on trial and threaten the company’s future.
The scandal began when Dr. George Zahorian, a former WWE-affiliated physician, was convicted of illegally supplying steroids. Testimony from his trial suggested that WWE had enabled widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs.
McMahon was later charged with conspiring to distribute steroids and misusing company funds to purchase them. He stepped away from day-to-day duties while preparing his defence. Several top stars, including Hulk Hogan, were called to testify.
After a tense trial in 1994, McMahon was acquitted of all charges. But the case damaged WWE’s image and exposed how common drug use had become in the wrestling industry.
This remains one of the most high-profile WWE scandals ever taken to court. While McMahon walked free, the fallout led to changes in hiring practices and eventually the creation of WWE’s Wellness Policy years later.
The trial also signalled a shift in how the company presented its talent, moving away from the oversized physiques that had defined the 1980s.
6. The Montreal Screwjob (1997)
Bret Hart was on his way out of WWE in 1997, but he didn’t want to lose the title to Shawn Michaels in front of his home fans in Canada.
Vince disagreed. He arranged a new finish without telling Hart. During their Survivor Series match, referee Earl Hebner rang the bell while Michaels had Hart in the Sharpshooter, even though Hart never tapped.
The crowd was stunned. Hart spat at McMahon, smashed monitors at the ringside, and punched his boss backstage after the show.
Fans thought it was part of the act. It wasn’t. The Montreal Screwjob quickly became one of the most talked-about WWE scandals, blurring the lines between storyline and reality.
It also helped shape McMahon’s TV character and kick-started the edgier style WWE would embrace in the years that followed. But the personal fallout was real, and it took over a decade for Hart to return.
7. The plane ride from hell (2002)
Alcohol, altitude and egos collided in one of the most chaotic WWE scandals of all time. After the 2002 Insurrextion event in England, a private charter back to the US spiralled into seven hours of mid-air mayhem.
Curt Hennig picked a fight with rookie Brock Lesnar, and the two wrestled down the aisle as a panicked crew tried to stop it. Others added to the carnage, as Sean Waltman cut off Michael Hayes’ ponytail, while Dustin Rhodes drunkenly grabbed the intercom to sing to his ex-wife.
Scott Hall allegedly made lewd remarks toward flight attendants and passed out. He was quietly released soon after.
The most serious allegations involved Ric Flair. Two flight attendants accused him of exposing himself and forcing their hands toward his body. WWE settled the claims out of court.
For years, it was treated like a locker room legend. But when the Dark Side of the Ring documentary team revisited the flight in 2021, it exposed something uglier — a culture that let bad behaviour fly 35,000 feet above accountability.
8. Vince McMahon’s hush money scandal (2022)
In 2022, Vince stepped down as WWE chairman after reports emerged that he had paid millions of dollars in hush money to former employees.
A Wall Street Journal investigation revealed that McMahon had authorised at least $19.6 million in undisclosed payments between 2006 and 2022. The money went to women who accused him of sexual misconduct or workplace harassment.
The payments were not listed in company accounts, raising questions about corporate oversight. WWE launched its own internal investigation, and McMahon announced his retirement soon after.
He was replaced by his daughter, Stephanie McMahon, and CEO Nick Khan. But within six months, McMahon returned to the board ahead of WWE’s merger with UFC.
While serious, this ranks behind other WWE scandals due to the lack of legal charges and McMahon’s brief absence from power. Still, it shook the company’s leadership and set the stage for an even more damaging lawsuit in 2024.
9. The Saudi Arabia travel stand-off (2019)
In 2019, WWE hosted Crown Jewel in Riyadh as part of its ongoing deal with the Saudi government. But the controversy didn’t end in the ring.
After the show, nearly 200 wrestlers and staff were grounded at the airport for over 24 hours. WWE initially blamed mechanical issues, but conflicting reports quickly surfaced. Some wrestlers suggested something more serious had happened.
Former WWE commentator Hugo Savinovich claimed the delay followed a financial dispute between WWE and the Saudi government. He alleged WWE cut the live feed to local broadcasters due to unpaid fees, prompting officials to delay the departing flight in retaliation.
Only a handful of top executives and talent, including McMahon, were reportedly able to leave on private jets. The rest of the crew missed that week’s SmackDown taping, forcing emergency changes to the show.
The true cause of the delay remains unclear, but the fallout was real. Several wrestlers later refused to travel to future Saudi events.
10. CM Punk’s WWE exit and lawsuits (2014–2019)
CM Punk walked out of WWE in early 2014. He later said he was burned out, injured, and fed up with how the company handled his health.
That November, he appeared on Colt Cabana’s Art of Wrestling podcast. Punk criticised WWE’s medical staff and claimed ringside doctor Chris Amann failed to treat a serious infection.
Amann sued both Punk and Cabana for defamation. The case went to trial in 2018. A jury sided with the former wrestlers and dismissed the claims.
The legal drama didn’t end there. Cabana sued Punk over unpaid legal fees, saying they had agreed to split costs. Punk filed a counterclaim. Both cases were settled in 2019 without compensation.
This wasn’t one of the darkest WWE scandals, but it certainly became one of the most personal. Punk eventually returned to WWE in 2023, almost a decade after his dramatic departure.
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