What does XFL announcement mean for Vince McMahon's WWE role?

What does XFL announcement mean for Vince McMahon’s involvement in the WWE?

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 08: WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon speaks at a news conference announcing the WWE Network at the 2014 International CES at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on January 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The network will launch on February 24, 2014 as the first-ever 24/7 streaming network, offering both scheduled programs and video on demand. The USD 9.99 per month subscription will include access to all 12 live WWE pay-per-view events each year. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 10 and is expected to feature 3,200 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to about 150,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Expect Vince McMahon to be pretty busy with his new/old sports venture, but not so busy that he leaves his sports entertainment empire completely in the hands of others.

As has been rumored for weeks, Vince McMahon used his “major sports entertainment” to reveal the return of the XFL. The new league will start play in 2020, giving it a chance to ramp up naturally in a way that it never had in its first incarnation.

In other words, there’s going to be a lot of work to be done over the next two years, and it’s obvious that McMahon will be heavily involved in much of it. He even started his own company, Alpha Entertainment, to separate the venture from his sports entertainment business.

Just don’t expect him to step down in any way from his usual role as the last word on everything WWE.

McMahon took questions from the media as part of his announcement and made it crystal clear that the XFL will have no impact on his day-to-day duties as they stand right now.

"“It won’t affect it at all. Yes, I’ll continue to be CEO and Chairman of the Board for WWE.”"

Ironically, WWE is much better positioned to have McMahon hand off some of the top level decision-making than it was during the first XFL go-round in 2001. Triple H is mostly retired from his in-ring role and runs NXT, and Stephanie McMahon’s duties have increased in importance as well. But as longtime fans know, Vince likes having the final say on everything important in WWE operations, and that’s not likely to change until the day he officially retires — if that day ever comes.

Something interesting to watch is that McMahon told a reporter who asked a follow-up question about whether he would be the face out in front of the XFL going forward, and he said no, believing that whatever execs Alpha hires to run the league will be the public faces of the fledgling football league. That doesn’t seem like Vince’s style, so don’t be surprised if there are more press conferences like the first one, even as he continues to run things day to day in WWE.

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