This January has been an incredibly chaotic time for the WWE. On January 6, Vince McMahon shocked the wrestling world when he made his return to WWE by joining the company's board of directors. Just a few days later, news broke that his daughter Stephanie McMahon was stepping down from her position as Co-CEO. She and Nick Khan became Co-CEOs this past July after Vince McMahon announced his retirement.

RELATED: Major Segment Involving The Bloodline Being Dropped From Raw 30 PlansStephanie McMahon's retirement raised a lot of questions about WWE's backstage environment. Nick Khan will carry on as the sole CEO of the company, and Triple H will remain Chief Content Officer, but Vince McMahon's role seemingly remains a point of contention.

Confusion And Frustration Surround Stephanie McMahon's Departure

A report posted by Fightful detailed how Stephanie McMahon's departure has affected WWE's backstage morale. Before leaving the company, Stephanie led a talent meeting that, according to the report, implied some friction between Vince McMahon and some in WWE:

Stephanie McMahon led an employee meeting on January 6 where she admitted "there's naturally some animosity" before correcting the term to "angst," regarding some's feelings about Vince McMahon forcing his way back in. Much of Stephanie McMahon's own team was dismantled in major cuts during the pandemic.

Fightful made contact with several WWE talent who shared their reaction to the news. Some were confused as to what this meant for the company, while others feared the ramifications it would have for workers.

The general consensus that we gauged was uncertainty of what a move like this actually means. One talent heavily stressed that they believe Vince McMahon taking over creative duties would lead to public frustration from the roster. Another source said that they're hopeful this means a sale is coming.

TheSportster Podcast has returned! Check out the latest episodes of the show where Jim Parsons and Norman Quarrinton cover the latest news and events happening in the worlds of WWE, AEW and more!