Former WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon made a rare public appearance at Madison Square Garden just one week after WWE Raw took place at the same venue. While WWE continued its European tour, McMahon attended an NBA matchup between the New York Knicks and Miami Heat on March 17.
Vince McMahon spotted at MSG
During the broadcast, McMahon was shown sitting courtside and was labeled a "former wrestling promoter."
The 78-year-old, once regarded as the driving force behind WWE's global success, has remained out of the public eye since stepping away from TKO Holdings, WWE’s parent company, in 2024.
His appearance at the high-profile NBA game comes amid ongoing legal battles.
McMahon faces multiple Lawsuits
McMahon initially retired from WWE in July 2022 after allegations surfaced from a former employee, Janel Grant, accusing him of sexual assault and trafficking. The lawsuit, which also names former WWE executive John Laurinaitis, was amended earlier this year to include additional details of alleged abuse.
VINCE MCMAHON SPOTTED AT THE HEAT AND KNICKS GAME TONIGHT pic.twitter.com/hbPXDfCIdg
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) March 18, 2025
WWE and TKO Holdings have attempted to challenge the updated complaint, but Grant’s legal team stated the revisions were necessary to outline the extent of the alleged misconduct.
Additionally, McMahon and his wife, Linda McMahon, are named in a separate lawsuit filed by five anonymous former WWE “Ring Boys.” The lawsuit accuses McMahon and WWE of allowing years of sexual abuse by former ring announcer Mel Phillips. The case is set to proceed following a Maryland Supreme Court ruling in February.
Social media reactions
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) had a field day discussing McMahon's rare public appearance at the Knicks vs Heat game. Many poked fun at Vince's appearance.
Milk aged better than this.
— Acey GNX 🎶🔥 (@aceyflamez) March 18, 2025
Vincent Kruella McMahon!
— 🇺🇸ðŸ‡ðŸ‡¹® (@MDDude02) March 18, 2025
Vince McMahon looks like the waterlogged corpse of Charlie Sheen dredged from a river. pic.twitter.com/RiW3094tzy
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) March 18, 2025
Others, however, were more serious when discussing his allegations. Some found his very public appearance disappointing on NBA's part.
he's so gross 🤮 literally looks exactly like someone who would do all of that.. 💀 pic.twitter.com/WmmTayGdkK
— Elizabeth 🖤 (@elizabethkaiixo) March 18, 2025
Kind of interesting that he’s looked less feeble and more healthy since the allegations came out.
— Texan Nightmare (@TexanNightmare) March 18, 2025
McMahon’s future remains uncertain
Since severing ties with WWE and selling his TKO stock, McMahon has made only a handful of public appearances. Reports suggest he and Linda McMahon have been separated for some time, and speculation continues about his next business move.
Rumors indicate McMahon could be preparing to launch a new entertainment promotion, but with federal investigations still ongoing, his future remains uncertain.
As legal proceedings unfold, McMahon's latest high-profile appearance at Madison Square Garden raises further intrigue about what’s next for the once-dominant figure in professional wrestling.
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