Report: WWE Places John Laurinaitis On Administrative Leave, Bruce Prichard Named Interim Head Of Talent Relations

Reports from PWInsider and Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp have revealed that WWE have placed John Laurinaitis on "administrative leave" until the WWE Board's investigation into misconduct allegations against him has concluded.  

A WWE memo also noted that Bruce Prichard has been appointed Interim Head of Talent Relations, replacing Laurinaitis, and the change was promised to be a "seamless transition." Prichard is already a Senior Vice President within WWE, as well as the Executive Director of Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.

Laurinaitis being placed on administrative leave follows a Wall Street Journal report that revealed Vince McMahon had made a $3 million hush payment to a former WWE female employee over an alleged sexual relationship. Among the allegations, it was claimed McMahon "gave her like a toy" to Laurinaitis. Other nondisclosure agreements involving McMahon and Laurinaitis had also been discovered by the WWE board.

Following the WSJ Report, WWE announced a Special Committee of the Board was investigating the allegations against McMahon and Laurinaitis. McMahon immediately stepped back as WWE CEO and Chairman but the 76-year-old has retained his power over WWE creative and he has appeared on both Raw and SmackDown in recent days.