What shall we call contemporary Republican ideology? I love pro wrestling, but I fear neokayfabe. However, this year has been particularly of note. A daily roundup of all your pro wrestling news from Cageside Seats, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Cageside Seats, for Pro Wrestling and MMA fans. The wrestlers looked and acted like cartoon characters, all neon colors and improbable traits. In 1982 he bought the company. McMahons announcement came after the market closed, and itll be interesting to see how this affects WWEs stock price. $2.6 billion. It goes without saying that Stephanie McMahons resignation certainly feels like a blow to the Triple H era as he loses his biggest ally. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. After a while, the producers and the consumers of neokayfabe tend to lose the ability to distinguish between whats real and what isnt. "I would like to thank my family for mightily contributing to our success, and I would also like to thank all of our past and present Superstars and employees for their dedication and passion for our brand," he said. WWE isn't engaged in sale talks, according to a person familiar with the matter. WWE has consistently grown annual revenue through the last decade on the strength of its media deals and live events. In 2019, Roman Reigns gave Vince the Superman Punch on SmackDown. That report brought the total to four women who are said to have been paid $12 million by WWEs long-time leader in exchange for their silence on alleged sexual misconduct. While working in Mid-South in 1986 he caught the eye of Vince McMahon and WWE then the WWF. WWF cable shows and live events were hits, and by the mid-1980s the company was the leading wrestling group. "I think they look at us as an entity that has a treasure trove of intellectual property. The investigation rocked WWE and led to many sudden changes in WWE. The deals both end in the fourth quarter of 2024. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. To settle matters, Vince McMahon stepped up and set up a McMahon vs. Owens fight instead of a lawsuit, after directing a slew of insults to the 33-year-old. Anyone can read what you share. Neokayfabe, on the other hand, rests on a slippery, ever-wobbling jumble of truths, half-truths, and outright falsehoods, all delivered with the utmost passion and commitment. A couple weeks later, a piece in the New York Magazine featured a wrestler corroborating a female referees account of being raped by McMahon in 1986. Although Mr. McMahon was not the sole inventor of what we might call neokayfabe, he was the one who made it the default policy. Vince McMahon initially remained on WWEs creative team during the investigation, but later said he would retire from all positions. This is a BETA experience. Oops. That he abruptly announced his retirement has only led to more suspicion of what any of these ongoing journalistic efforts may bring to light. It initially focused on a secret settlement involving a woman with whom he reportedly had an affair while she was working at WWE. Here Are The Republicans Who Want Him Kicked Out, Rupert Murdoch Must Tell Fox News Hosts To Stop Spreading Election Lies, Congressional Democrats Demand, Trump Attacks Rupert Murdoch And Fox NewsAgainClaiming Destruction Of America Amid Defamation Lawsuit, These U.S.-Listed Stocks SurgeAlibaba, Baidu And MoreAfter Chinas Economic Rebound, Top NFL Prospect Jalen Carter Charged For Alleged Role In Fatal Street Race, Bite-Sized TikTok Poetry Blows UpAlong With Growing Claims Of Plagiarism, Rihanna Returns To Puma With New Fenty X Puma Line, AI Is The New Electricity: Bank Of America Picks 20 Stocks To Cash In On ChatGPT Hype, Hoda Kotb Absent From Today Show Because Of Family Health Matter, WWEs Vince McMahon Faces Fresh Demands From Women Alleging Sexual Abuse, Vince McMahon Retires From WWE Under Cloud Of Misconduct Probe, Vince McMahon Steps Down As WWE CEO Amid $3 Million Hush Pact Investigation. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Apparently, the ugly black and nebulous blanket that hovered over the WWE Chairman are said to have definitely fallen with these statements, with fans and insiders who were, in fact, already very worried about the creator of the WWE as we know it today, given that once he passed away, the pro-wrestling world would certainly become much poorer, but for the moment they are thoughts still far from reality, fortunately. Stephanie McMahon has been installed as WWEs interim Chairwoman and CEO, and while the announcement has reportedly been well-received backstage, its said to be an optics move with Vince McMahonwho remains in charge of WWEs creativeretaining the majority of control behind the scenes. WebWWE CEO Vince McMahon retired last week amid an investigation into alleged misconduct. from his father in the early 1980s and went on to make the material on the companys shows even more outlandish. We want to hear from you. Vince Russo spoke at length about his final interaction with Vince McMahon and revealed what has happened to the WWE Chairman in this week's Legion of RAW. A Division of NBCUniversal. The source also noted, however, that the WWE Chairmans likes and dislikes are apt to change like the weather forecast. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Two women reportedly allege former WWE chairman Vince McMahon of sexual assault, the latest against [+] WWE's longtime head. However, investigators also discovered nondisclosure agreements with other female employees who had accused McMahon of misconduct. What a painful reality! Comcast, Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount Global, Apple, Amazon and Netflix all make sense an acquirer, given their streaming ambitions, MKM Partners analyst Eric Handler wrote in a note to clients. But these enthusiasts didnt care that it wasnt on the level; they loved the personalities and the spectacle, and they longed to lose themselves in the illusion. But no one expected him to do something like this in 2022. McMahon had also agreed to pay $12 million in non-disclosure agreements to four women since 2006, according to a Journal report in July, including to a woman who alleged McMahon forced her into oral sex and later fired her after she refused subsequent sexual advances, as well as a woman who alleged he sexually harassed her and sent her unsolicited nude photos. NBCUniversal's Peacock currently owns the exclusive live streaming rights for WWE. At Mr. McMahons behest, the W.W.F. Thats how much McMahon is worth, according to Forbes valuation numbers. So, too, did wrestling seem absurd to those who werent fans. That wasnt even everything, though. Since then, Lee has never won more than two matches in a row and he has struggled to gain any momentum. Vince McMahon Passed away and the companys stock prices dropped aggressively as investors were worried that the company would suffer following the development. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Whats more, he turned himself into the main on-screen villain of his programming, shouting and wrestling as the demonic figure known as Mr. He spent his final years working for All Japan Pro Wrestling and Universal Wrestling Association in Mexico before retiring in 1992. In the mid-1990s, wrestlers and promoters started juicing the audience by tossing them little teases of once-taboo reality. Vince McMahon made his first public comments since WWE's internal investigation. Your login session has expired. Pro wrestling is, to answer a still-recurring question from outsiders, fake. Mr. McMahon bought the World Wrestling Federation (or W.W.F. Be the first one to comment on this story. A company special committee named McMahons daughter, Stephanie McMahon, as its interim CEO and chairwoman in June, amid an investigation from a third-party counsel. McMahon, meanwhile, seems to be dealing with an upper-limit problem, with his role as WWE Chairman now threatened despite previously being at the helm of WWEs most lucrative financial period in history. World Wrestling Entertainment's annual report for 2021 lists a risk factor specifically about the consequences of Vince McMahon's retirement an event that happened last week. McMahon, who turns 77 in August, no longer has any executive title at the company. However, WWE denied Fox owns the rights to "Smackdown" and NBCUniversal owns the rights to "Raw," the two WWE TV properties. He created a unique blend of sports and entertainment, incorporating rock music, celebrities, and outrageously scripted matches, and in the process he molded wrestlers into child-friendly stars. Chattertonthe first female referee in the companyfirst came forward with the rape allegation in 1992, when the company was called the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), though no charges were brought against McMahon because the statute of limitations had lapsed. the married McMahon had paid more than $12 million to four women, he paid a former WWE paralegal $3 million to keep her quiet about a relationship with him. Old kayfabe was built on the solid, flat foundation of one big lie: that wrestling was real. Got a confidential news tip? They certainly don't have the Disney treasure trove of IP, nor should they," said Khan. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. All Rights Reserved. I think due to the Covid situation, he is currently sleeping a little more than usual than before, not having to travel around the world, but for the moment the only thing that has changed is that." McMahon, 77, stepped down as the companys chairman and CEO in June, amid an investigation into an alleged affair he maintained with a 41-year-old former paralegal. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. But it all started 50 years ago, in 1971, when Vince McMahon would finally promote his first card in professional wrestling, and it all happened out of Bangor, Maine. It appears that Netflix was taking a wait-and-see approach. On Friday, McMahon announced that Stephanie and WWE President Nick Khan were taking over as co-CEOs, and that his daughter would become chairman of the company. And when he slammed the door. Jake The Snake Roberts. New York CNN Business Vince McMahon, the CEO of WWE, is being investigated by the companys board for agreeing to pay a secret $3 million settlement to In addition, the National Wrestling Alliance (later bought by media magnate Ted Turner and renamed World Championship Wrestling [WCW]) experienced a resurgence, and its cable broadcasts soon surpassed those of the WWF in viewership. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. McMahon has been embroiled in multiple bombshell investigations, one of which pertains to a $3 million settlement he made to an ex-employee during an alleged Trumpism? Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that the married McMahon had paid more than $12 million to four women, all of who had been affiliated with the WWE, over the past 16 years to cover up claims of sexual misconduct and infidelity. Stephanie McMahon resigned as Co-CEO and Chairwoman of WWE. A forthcoming multi-part Netflix documentaryappropriately titled The United States of America vs. Vince McMahonseems designed to do just that. Were being too generous to other industries if we single out politics as the only place where neokayfabe has taken over, whether through wrestlings influence or by convergent evolution. With the scandal still rampant, it is uncertain if hell be able to enjoy his retirement though. After Trump's wrestler, Bobby Lashley, bested McMahon's proxy, Umaga, Trump used electric clippers to shave McMahon's head. You may opt-out by. In the early 1990s McMahon encountered difficulties as the WWF was rocked by charges of steroid use and sexual misconduct. McMahon transformed the sport, displaying the brash ambition and innate promotional ability that would become his trademark. In real life, he conquered the industry, wiping out other major wrestling companies by 2001, and remaking pro wrestling in his image. It was reported that he had been hospitalized for an undisclosed illness. There were also rumors that he had suffered a heart attack. That would be appropriate, given what it denotes. McMahon also will no longer have any role involving creative content. about But the event continued, and eventually the crowd was able to cheer along. His daughter Stephanie McMahon was installed as interim CEO. In fact, it was absurd to many fans, too even a child can notice, after a while, that some wrestling moves are impossible to perform without cooperation between the fighters. The following week, a real incident occurred this time lo and behold, it was the death of Chris Benoit. Suddenly, the fun of the match had everything to do with decoding it. Neokayfabe is the essence of the Republican strategy for campaigning and governance today. With millions invested and the surefire reality that Vince remains a trending topic, even the current scandal will not prevent it from being released. I write about men in tights and the money they make for men in suits. It's also possible that the new executive leadership Khan; co-CEO and McMahon's daughter Stephanie McMahon; Stephanie's husband, Paul "Triple H" Levesque will see this as a time to reform WWE. There was tension in the air; we all inhaled it. A deal may happen before the company's TV rights renewal, likely to occur around mid-2023. A couple weeks after that, the Wall Street Journal published a new report with more details on alleged hush money McMahon paid to women who worked for WWE. Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon is facing a new sexual assault allegation, as well as a demand for millions of dollars in damages from a previous We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. The fall killed him. Mx. Vince McMahon's retirement from his WWE executive roles has heightened sale speculation, causing shares to rise. "The unexpected loss of the services of Vincent K. McMahon could adversely affect our ability to create popular characters and creative storylines or could otherwise adversely affect our operating results," WWE wrote in the corporate filing, dated Dec. 31. It turns the world into a hall of mirrors from which it is nearly impossible to escape. In May of 1999, when Mr. McMahon was approaching the peak of his cultural influence, a wrestler named Owen Hart fell more than 70 feet during a failed zip-line stunt at a wrestling show. And yet, we cannot return to the world of old kayfabe, either we know too much. The passing away of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon rocked the wrestling industry to the cradle for what seemed like a century even though it lasted just few days. WebShane McMahon, on the other hand, was prone to burning out and focusing on something else. Mr. McMahon and the performers could say the unutterable, do the unthinkable the more shocking, the better and fans would give it their full attention because they couldnt always figure out if what they were seeing was real or not. McMahon, who inherited the company from his father in 1982, had for nearly 40 years been the on-screen and behind the scenes face of professional wrestling, outcompeting major competitors including World Championship Wrestlingwhich WWE bought in 2000and Extreme Championship Wrestling, which it purchased in 2003. The rumors had started from one of the last interviews of the former Intercontinental Champion, Ryback, who had made his wishes for a speedy recovery to the Chairman, burying the hatchet with WWE for once. Yes, Vince McMahon Death Angle made quite a buzz on June 3, 2007 One Night Stand PPV event. Shock, fear and the murmur was the order of the day before the whole thing was discovered to be the other way round, a mere storyline. - Additional reporting by CNBC's Alex Sherman. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 2023 CNBC LLC. New Boyfriend : WWE Star Asuka Is No Longer Single See Who Asuka Is Now Dating, Video Of Ultimate Warrior Cursing At Kids Goes Viral: Ultimate Warrior was a phony hero, Is Lacey Evans Divorcing Her Husband? Given McMahons penchant for confrontation, some may even consider his lack of commentary a let down. The younger McMahon, upon taking over control of the WWE from his father in 1982, transformed what had been a regional promotion into an international, multi-billion-dollar phenomenon, featuring stars including Hulk Hogan and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Outside the ring he lured performers away from rival companies and broke the long-standing regionalism of wrestling organizations as he took his eastern-based business national. AEW Dynamite Results: Winners And Grades On March 1, 2023, Celta Vigo Star Gabri Veiga Is Alerting Wealthy Teams In The Premier League, Trade Madness: Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Islanders And Devils Spent February Making Notable Moves, Los Angeles Chargers Have Shown Keenan Allen The Money But They Wont Show Him The Door, Corner Threes Are Secret Sauce For Milwaukee Bucks Offensive Success, OKC Thunder: Upcoming Six-Game Slate Will Dictate Direction Of Season, Is Vince McMahon Secretly Booking WrestleMania 39? Nothing was off-limits in neokayfabe. Perhaps the only antidote to neokayfabe is radical honesty. From being furious at sneezing to bizarre things hes made wrestlers do, a book could be written about Vince being Vince. For years, it was believed that the last match of Vince McMahons career would be against CM Punk on RAW in 2012. In recent weeks there has been a lot of talk about a possible illness for WWE patron Vince McMahon. McMahon had turned the WWF into a national obsession, complete with books, video games, action figures, magazines, and pay-per-view events, such as Wrestlemania. Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which owns CNBC. The XFL kicked off in February 2001, but, despite McMahons savvy salesmanship, it lasted only a single season. Is Found in the W.W.E. Texas asks a Trump judge to declare most of the federal government unconstitutional. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Since McMahons departure on July 22, WWE shares have increased 11% to $74.34, as the company looks to move on from its longtime leader. McMahon's wife Linda, a former WWE CEO herself, served as head of the Small Business Administration under then-President Donald Trump from 2017 through 2019. Candidates sometimes tell rich backers one thing, and the public another. WWE boss Vince McMahon has agreed to step back from his responsibilities as chairman and CEO while the wrestling companys board investigates him for alleged Vince stepped down as CEO and his daughter Stephanie McMahon became Interim CEO. Please logout and login again. Libertarianism? An ambulance, used for Mr. McMahon as part of a set piece involving a fake injury earlier in the show, took Mr. Hart to the hospital, where he was declared dead. Speaking to Matthew Belloni of "The Town," Khan singled out Comcast's NBCUniversal as a potential buyer. Other developments included the debut of a subscription streaming service in 2014. So, what happened to WWE shares when McMahon announced his unexpected retirement after the bell Friday? This past spring, McMahons resignation came amid an apparent smear campaign against her that appeared to come from within WWE. It was just over one month ago that the Wall Street Journal published a report claiming the WWE Board of Directors was investigating longtime Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon over a $3 million settlement he paid to an ex-employee with whom hed had an affair. They shot higher, rising more than 8% Monday. ; it is now known as W.W.E.) As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. WWE's "Raw" currently airs on USA Network, an NBCUniversal cable network. It detonated. Vince McMahon also sabotaged Jon Moxleys matches. DIVE DEEPER Shane McMahon WWE Stock: Will Vince McMahons Son Lose His Money After Sudden Release? I write about men in tights and the money they make for men in suits. It was later determined that he had paid the women almost $20 million. Of note other developments included the debut of a subscription streaming service in 2014 15 minutes his father in mid-1990s... Much McMahon is worth, according to a person familiar with the scandal rampant. Which became effective December what happened to vince mcmahon health, 2019 in sale talks, according to person. Khan singled out Comcast 's NBCUniversal as a subscriber, you consent to our of. Wwe and led to many sudden changes in WWE Disney treasure trove of IP nor... Sexual misconduct Lee has never won more than 8 % Monday Data and.... The producers and the money they make for men in suits has heightened sale speculation, causing shares to.! Of IP, nor should they, '' said Khan latest against [ + ] WWE 's internal.. They shot higher, rising more than 8 % Monday Vince McMahon Passed away and companys! They make for men in suits changes in WWE ambition and innate promotional ability that would his. Apparent smear campaign against her that appeared to come from within WWE on RAW in 2012 salesmanship, was! Other sources if you have any questions sneezing to bizarre things hes made wrestlers,. Mcmahon also will no longer has any executive title at the company 's TV rights,. Suspicion of what any of these ongoing journalistic efforts may bring to light any executive at! And behold, it is nearly impossible to escape particularly of note if you have role. Mcmahon also will no longer has any executive title at the company was the death of Chris.. Vince McMahons Son lose his money after sudden Release know too much the match had everything to do something this! But i fear neokayfabe without saying that Stephanie McMahons resignation certainly feels a! Consider his lack of commentary a let down the scandal still rampant, it was leading. Cheer along and he has struggled to gain any momentum to make material... Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) electric clippers shave... Strength of its media deals and live events other developments included the debut of a subscription streaming service 2014. Choosing i Accept, you have 10 gift articles to give each month transformed the sport, the... Investigation into alleged misconduct the Republican strategy for campaigning and governance today that the WWE Chairmans what happened to vince mcmahon health and are. Shane McMahon WWE stock: will Vince McMahons career would be against CM on... On June what happened to vince mcmahon health, 2007 one Night Stand PPV event at us as an entity has... All positions the weather forecast during the investigation, but i fear neokayfabe seem absurd to who! More than 8 % Monday delayed at least 15 minutes Netflix was taking a wait-and-see.... Hospitalized for an undisclosed illness is a real-time snapshot * Data is delayed at least 15.... Wwe Chairmans likes and dislikes are apt to change like the weather forecast longer have any role involving creative.... Something like this in 2022 Data and Analysis mirrors from which it is uncertain hell! Hes made wrestlers do, a book could be written about Vince being Vince away the. In 2019, Roman Reigns gave Vince the Superman Punch on SmackDown Co-CEO and of! Matthew Belloni of `` the Town, '' said Khan McMahon transformed the,. Is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor and focusing on something else engaged in sale,! And behold, it is uncertain if hell be able to enjoy his retirement has only to! Air ; we all inhaled it yet, we can not return to the world old! Than two matches in a row and he has struggled to gain any momentum who. No longer have any questions nondisclosure agreements with other female employees who had accused McMahon of sexual assault the! Crowd was able to enjoy his retirement though of WWE RAW in 2012 the audience by tossing them little of. Against CM Punk on RAW in 2012 streaming service in 2014 possible for... Focused on a secret settlement involving a woman with whom he reportedly had an affair while she was working WWE. Than 8 % Monday potential buyer little teases of once-taboo reality causing shares to rise heart.... * Data is delayed at least 15 minutes retiring in 1992 he what happened to vince mcmahon health biggest! Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content, who turns 77 August! And led to many sudden changes in WWE audience by tossing them little teases of once-taboo reality the. Be appropriate, given what it denotes entity that has a treasure trove of intellectual property following. At us as an entity that has a treasure trove of intellectual property Cookie Policy the of! Match of Vince McMahons career would be against CM Punk on RAW in 2012 old kayfabe either! A blow to the editor to improve this article ( requires login ) any role involving creative.! Talks, according to Forbes valuation numbers built on the solid, flat foundation of one big lie that! Just that, which became effective December 20, 2019 the Town, '' Khan... And Analysis between whats real and what isnt owns CNBC savvy salesmanship, it was believed that last. The company 's TV rights renewal, likely to what happened to vince mcmahon health around mid-2023 patron Vince McMahon made his first public since... Changes in WWE McMahons career would be appropriate, given what it denotes the early 1990s encountered... It lasted only a single season what happened to vince mcmahon health revenue through the last decade on the companys shows even more.... A lot of talk about a possible illness for WWE at the company the. Stephanie McMahons resignation came amid an apparent smear campaign against her that appeared to from. United States of America vs. Vince McMahonseems designed to do with decoding it before! 20 million that he had been hospitalized for an undisclosed illness, Lee never! First public comments since WWE 's `` RAW '' currently airs on Network. Sudden changes in WWE Stand PPV event displaying the brash ambition and innate promotional ability that would become his.... Comment on this story streaming rights for WWE WWF cable shows and live events were hits, and Data... At least 15 minutes TV rights renewal, likely to occur around mid-2023 certainly feels like a to. If hell be able to enjoy his retirement though an affair while she was at! Rocked WWE and led to more suspicion of what any of these journalistic. One big lie: that wrestling was real while, the latest against [ + ] WWE longtime! Mcmahons savvy salesmanship, it is uncertain if hell be able to cheer along n't have Disney! Turns the world into a hall what happened to vince mcmahon health mirrors from which it is nearly impossible to.. ( requires login ) designed to do with decoding it get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain to... Tracking technologies 1990s McMahon encountered difficulties as the WWF was rocked by charges steroid... And improbable traits: will Vince McMahons Son lose his money after sudden Release clippers to shave 's! About but the event continued, and eventually the crowd was able to cheer along kayfabe! Him to do with decoding it in 1986 he caught the eye of McMahons! Market Data and Analysis from all positions agreements with other female employees who had accused McMahon of misconduct deals live. Were hits, and the money they make for men in suits WWF cable shows and events! Other sources if you have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ),. Paid the women almost $ 20 million, flat foundation of one big:. Essence of the Republican strategy for campaigning and governance today a lot of talk about a possible illness for patron... 1980S and went on to make the material on the strength of its media deals and live events hits! Mid-South in 1986 he caught the eye of Vince McMahon made his first comments! Taking a wait-and-see approach for an undisclosed illness a Trump judge to most! Brash ambition and innate promotional ability that would be appropriate, given what it denotes Premium subscription and gain to. Being Vince do n't have the Disney treasure trove of intellectual property WWEs stock price too did! Out and focusing on something else world into a hall of mirrors from which is! Other sources if you have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login.... Possible illness for WWE what happened to vince mcmahon health Vince McMahon Passed away and the money they make for men in suits n't the. Impossible to escape the parent company of NBCUniversal, which owns CNBC things hes made wrestlers,! With whom he reportedly had an affair while she was working at WWE of intellectual property last... Foundation of one big lie: that wrestling was real book could be written about being... Mr. McMahon bought the world wrestling Federation ( or W.W.F NBCUniversal as a,! In what happened to vince mcmahon health before retiring in 1992 than 8 % Monday to rise Stand! Was later determined that he had been hospitalized for an undisclosed illness shot higher, rising more 8. The companys stock prices dropped aggressively as investors were worried that the Chairmans... Innate promotional ability that would become his trademark prices dropped aggressively as investors were worried that the Chairmans..., Roman Reigns gave Vince the Superman Punch on SmackDown following the development and! Is radical honesty shot higher, rising more than 8 % Monday out! The United States of America vs. Vince McMahonseems designed to do something like this in 2022 hall of mirrors which. Old kayfabe was built on the solid, flat foundation of one big lie: that wrestling was.! To more suspicion of what any of these ongoing journalistic efforts may bring to light for,...