'I do want to retire,' says the 71-year-old WWE veteran, who says Vince McMahon is hesitant to let him go

Vince McMahon has stated that he would never retire, and he hopes the same of others.

Vince in a file photo. (Image: Twitter)
By Blesson Daniel | Jan 20, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Vince McMahon just doesn’t want Jerry McDevitt to leave his position as WWE’s legal counsel.

Jerry McDevitt spoke with Tim Grant of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about a variety of topics recently. When questioned about his long tenure as McMahon’s and WWE’s lawyer, McDevitt revealed that he’s ready to retire, but Mr. McMahon doesn’t want him to quit just yet.

“WWE is a major client, but I have other clients. I also represented Dr. Cyril Wecht. I’ll be 72 in January, so I’ve been trying to turn it down a little bit as I’m headed into retirement,” Jerry McDevitt said. “But because of my longstanding relationship with WWE, I continue to represent them, although I keep telling Vince I do want to retire.”

For the past 35 years, Jerry McDevitt has served as WWE’s lawyer and Vince McMahon’s personal attorney.

McDevitt worked for WWE in the mid-1990s, when the sport was shaken by allegations of widespread steroid misuse. Jerry has questioned if that case marked a defining moment in his relationship with Vince.

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Vince McMahon and Jerry McDevitt have a special friendship

McDevitt worked for WWE in the mid-1990s, when the sport was shaken by allegations of widespread steroid misuse. Jerry has questioned if that case marked a defining moment in his relationship with Vince.

“I represented Hulk Hogan in the first investigation”.  “Then I represented the company when they were criminally charged up in the Eastern District of New York in the early 1990s, which is really where the relationship kind of cemented because they went through 18 months of an ordeal, unlike anything I’d ever seen. It was a real witch hunt. They were acquitted of all charges without even calling a witness. We just cross-examined the government’s case. After that, my relationship with Vince and Linda McMahon became almost family-like.”

Unlike most lawyer-client relationships nowadays, Jerry McDevitt acknowledged that his connection with Vince McMahon is unique since he works directly with WWE’s founder.

“Most relationships nowadays with lawyers and publicly traded companies are at the general counsel level,” Jerry McDevitt continued. “Outside lawyers work with the general counsel of the company and never with the CEO or chairman of the board. But my contact and my relationship is directly with and to Vince. It always has been. It always will be. That’s kind of a unique relationship in the landscape of the law these days for the outside counsel to have that sort of direct relationship.”

With Court Baurer and Major League Wrestling currently suing WWE, McMahon is definitely grateful for Jerry McDevitt’s continued support.