Vince McMahon’s reputation has been completely tarnished since Janel Grant filed the lawsuit in January. However, many top stars still love and respect McMahon, who made WWE into a global juggernaut.
Recently, Randy Orton inducted his father, Bob Orton, into the St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame. In an interview with Bill Apter of Sportskeeda, Randy Orton was asked about the difference between the McMahon and Triple H eras. Orton said that he still loves McMahon. Orton added that the new regime understands the importance of wrestlers’ personal lives.
“Off the top of my head, listen, I love Vince [McMahon]. He gave me so many opportunities. I think it was kind of time for him to move on. It’s unfortunate that it happened in the way that it happened. But it’s nice having people in charge of me that understand how important it is for you to be home for birthdays and home for Thanksgiving, and home for Christmas.”
Randy Orton recalled a moment when McMahon refused to give him a time off.
“Vince McMahon had RAW on Monday Night Live. He doesn’t care if you had kids. I came to him when I was 35, and my back really started going, and I pleaded with him like, man, I gotta like not do as many shows; maybe do half the tour and be able to recover, and he just looked at me and was like, ‘I need you on those shows, Randy. Mother nature gets us all.’ To hear that and go okay, well, I guess there’s no other thing I can do other than just wear myself out down to the knub until I can’t walk anymore for this man.”
Randy Orton also said that it’s nice without Vince McMahon in WWE. Orton then praised Paul Levesque and Nick Khan for treating wrestlers better.
“All of the opportunities he gave me, it’s nice having him out of there. It’s nice having his son-in-law, Triple H, running the game. Nick Khan is great. Everybody at TKO that’s come in and stepped in they seem to get it, and it’s a different era. I think the way that they care for talent nowadays and make sure the talent is good, and if they need a little bit of a break, we’re only human, they get it most of the time.”