A potential reason has emerged for the high-profile absences of Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and Nick Khan from Vince McMahon’s 80th birthday party. According to a report from Fightful Select, the trio was overseas for a WWE tour, which prevented them from attending the celebration on August 24.
The former WWE Chairman’s party was a lavish, star-studded event held in New York City over the weekend of August 23-24. The celebration took place at upscale Manhattan venues, including the Baccarat Hotel and Gotham Hall.
While WWE’s chief executives were not present, the guest list featured many prominent names from the wrestling world. Attendees included John Cena, The Undertaker, Shane McMahon, Kane, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, and The Miz. Longtime executive Bruce Prichard and WWE Hall of Famers like Jerry “The King” Lawler and Sgt. Slaughter were also there.
Vince McMahon was spotted leaving his 80th birthday celebration in his Maybach, as fans surrounded him asking for photos and telling him they love him.
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) August 27, 2025
(PuanSheets)
pic.twitter.com/vl79a1M7X3
Despite attempts to keep the gathering private, including the hiring of a professional photographer to manage images, photos from the event quickly surfaced online. Jerry Lawler posted a photo from the party on his Instagram but later deleted it after being asked to do so.
Guests who hadn’t seen Vince McMahon in several years noted a visible change in his physical condition. One attendee remarked that he appeared “more frail” and “slower,” adding that the former chairman “looked 80.”
The party occurs as Vince McMahon faces a civil lawsuit from former WWE employee Janel Grant, who accused him of sexual assault and trafficking. He resigned from his positions at WWE and its parent company, TKO Group Holdings, in January 2024 following the allegations and has since sold all remaining financial stakes in the company.
The attendance of current talent sparked mixed reactions backstage. One wrestler told Fightful Select, “A lot of people here still feel like they owe Vince something, even though he made his money back on them tenfold.” Others are reportedly waiting for the legal case to conclude before deciding on any association with McMahon.
Conversely, some who did not attend noted that McMahon would likely not have offered them similar support in a reversed situation. WWE informed talent who inquired that attending was a personal matter. Sources within the company also emphasized there are no discussions or desire to bring Vince McMahon back in any capacity.