The new boss in town, Stephanie McMahon, kicked off Friday Night Smackdown last night instead of the scheduled segment with Brock Lesnar. Lesnar was originally set to open the show but left the TD Garden after McMahon’s retirement announcement, only to be brought back for the final few minutes of the broadcast.
Stephanie welcomed everyone to Smackdown and said that earlier today, her father retired from WWE. The fans booed the announcement and an emotional Stephanie said that this is the company that he created and he founded and wanted to make sure that in his retirement, that he thanked all of the fans and all the WWE Universe. She said that is everybody in the back, the crew, those who hang the rigging, those who design the graphics, and “even Pat McAfee and I guess Michael Cole!”
“This is the WWE Universe and we are eternally grateful for all of you. But since Vince had the opportunity to thank us, I think this is the moment that we take to thank him,” Stephanie said.
McMahon then led the fans to chant “Thank you Vince,” something that they had already done a few minutes earlier.
Stephanie then looked straight into the camera and without the microphone, she said, “I love you dad” to end the segment.
