Appointments to the State Board of Education in Connecticut typically face little resistance in the House of Representatives. However, Linda E. McMahon’s selection in 2009 sparked strong opposition.

Andrew Fleischmann, who was the chair of the House Education Committee at the time, recalls feeling deeply troubled by her nomination and leading the charge against it.

“She had no background in education whatsoever,” said Mr. Fleischmann, a Democrat. “She’s accumulated enormous wealth through promoting violence and the sexualization of young women. She’s been a negative influence on children in this country.”

McMahon’s company, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), faced criticism for its promotion of violent behavior, steroid use, and sexually explicit content. In the early 2000s, she even participated in WWE’s theatrical stunts. At one point, she kicked her husband, Vince McMahon, in the groin during a show. In another, she slapped her daughter, Stephanie, and knocked her to the floor.

Despite the controversy, the House voted to approve her appointment with a 96-45 vote, a rare divide for a minor appointment in Connecticut.

Now, McMahon may be facing another confirmation process—this time for the role of Secretary of Education under President-elect Donald Trump.

A lot has changed in the two decades since McMahon was first nominated for the state board. In 2008, WWE made headlines by shifting its content to a PG rating, in response to growing criticism and research that linked watching wrestling to violent behavior in children.

However, much remains the same. The McMahons, once a power couple in the wrestling world but now estranged, have been controversial figures for years. Their company has faced numerous allegations, including promoting steroid use, fostering a culture of sexual harassment, intimidation, and assault. Several legal settlements have been reached over the years, and more recently, a lawsuit accused the McMahons of ignoring sexual abuse by a WWE announcer, echoing previous claims.

Through their legal representatives, the McMahons deny any wrongdoing.

McMahon has limited experience in education. She resigned from the Connecticut school board after just one year to focus on her political ambitions, spending nearly $100 million on two failed campaigns for a U.S. Senate seat.

Her most significant education-related experience comes from her 16 years serving on the board of trustees at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Colleagues there describe her as a pragmatic businesswoman, focused more on practical matters than ideological ones. (Experts have speculated that if confirmed as Secretary of Education, McMahon’s role might be to streamline the department and reduce its staff, given Trump’s pledge to dismantle the Department of Education.)

“I don’t think anyone expected this nomination,” said Michael J. Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a center-right education policy group. “I’m surprised and somewhat disappointed, as someone who believes education matters.”

Petrilli, a former Department of Education official under George W. Bush, acknowledged that McMahon’s business expertise could be helpful for managing the department, which oversees vast student lending programs and has faced persistent issues with FAFSA. However, he added, “She’s not going to be a thought leader on education.”

McMahon’s experience in the Trump world, however, is likely to be her greatest asset. Their relationship dates back to the 2000s, when Trump appeared in WWE events. Since then, McMahon has donated millions to Trump’s political campaigns.

Trump has praised McMahon for her business acumen, noting that she helped transform WWE from a small operation into a global, publicly traded company with over 800 employees. In 2016, he called her a “superstar.”

McMahon did not respond to requests for comment.

Born Linda Edwards in New Bern, North Carolina, McMahon married Vince McMahon shortly after high school and graduated from East Carolina University in 1969. Although she claimed her degree was in education in documents related to her Connecticut board appointment, she later clarified that her major was French. She obtained a teaching certificate but never taught in a classroom. Instead, she worked as a paralegal in Washington, D.C., before entering the wrestling business.

In 1982, the McMahons purchased WWE from Vince’s father and expanded the business into broadcasting, publications, merchandise, and films. WWE later merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, creating TKO Group Holdings.

In a questionnaire she submitted during her Connecticut nomination, McMahon disclosed several legal entanglements, including an IRS fraud investigation that resulted in no charges. The most high-profile legal issue was Vince McMahon’s 1993 indictment for supplying steroids to wrestlers. Although both Vince and WWE were acquitted, steroid use continued to cast a shadow over the company. In 2007, following a tragic murder-suicide involving WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, the company faced a congressional inquiry, and it was revealed that several wrestlers had been suspended for steroid use.

The issue of steroids came up during McMahon’s confirmation hearing in Connecticut, with one lawmaker, Representative Shawn Johnston, recalling a WWE event he attended with his family. He described feeling uncomfortable with the overtly sexual nature of the show, which led him to forbid his sons from watching wrestling.

Supporters of McMahon pointed to WWE’s positive initiatives, such as its involvement in the “Rock the Vote” campaign and a WrestleMania reading challenge for students.

After resigning from the Connecticut board to run for Senate, McMahon argued that her candidacy might violate state laws prohibiting political activity by board members. She lost both her 2010 and 2012 Senate bids, despite spending significantly more money than her opponents. During her campaigns, she positioned herself as a social moderate, supporting abortion rights and charter schools.

By 2016, McMahon shifted her political focus to supporting Donald Trump, donating over $7 million to his campaign. Trump appointed her to lead the Small Business Administration in his first term, and she easily passed the confirmation process with endorsements from both of Connecticut’s senators.

McMahon also played a key role in leading the America First Policy Institute, a right-wing organization, and has continued to financially support Trump’s campaign efforts.

McMahon’s proposed education policies would prioritize charter and private schools, reduce the influence of teachers’ unions, and increase “parental rights” in education, including control over curricula and school library books. In higher education, the group has opposed policies supporting transgender athletes, DEI programs, and college degree requirements for certain public sector jobs.

Though her nomination for Secretary of Education is seen as a consolation prize, after being passed over for commerce secretary, Trump cited her experience on the Connecticut board and her deep understanding of both education and business as the reasons for her selection.

Her time on the Connecticut board, however, offers little indication of how she might run the Department of Education. Most of her votes were routine, and she visited two charter schools on the board’s behalf. She has expressed interest in expanding career and technical education, and former officials in Connecticut’s technical high school system recall her involvement in related initiatives.

At Sacred Heart University, McMahon continues to serve as the board treasurer, where colleagues remember her as a prepared and effective decision-maker, especially on large-scale projects. As for her potential role as Education Secretary, they are hopeful, noting her dedication to higher education, at least in her time at Sacred Heart.