Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon exposed many skeletons that he had in his closet. TKO Group Holdings has already said they will take action on the matter, and Vince has denied all allegations. There is a lot to unpack in this situation, as more information surfaces.
The Complicated Situation With Vince McMahon
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that there is a belief that McMahon may eventually face charges given the potential discoveries from a federal raid. Multiple individuals within the industry claim knowledge of additional individuals involved in the situation, and some have expressed readiness to disclose these names if not revealed otherwise.
A WWE employee, with long-standing experience, reportedly suggested that the ongoing lawsuit may not be the most severe aspect of the situation, pointing to potentially higher settlements.
The situation with John Laurinaitis is very interesting. The source of the initial leak, as well as the timing of everything, is also full of speculation.
Laurinaitis himself has turned on Vince McMahon, in what one person who referred to themselves as a longtime former friend of Laurinaitis called “rats jumping off of the sinking ship.” Laurinaitis attorney has reached out to several in the industry in what many believe is his team trying to find allies, or find out who has talked to who to help gauge his best options moving forward.
There’s still heavy speculation over the source of the original Wall Street Journal leaks, with some thinking it could have been Grant, and others believing it was high up in WWE. It is believed that TKO became very aware of the mess on their hands after the merger, and one source believes they would have handled the rollout much differently had they been aware something like this was imminent. However, they were very aware as of last week when McMahon was present at the NYSE regarding the Netflix deal.
Despite the complicated situation, no company-wide talent meetings have taken place to address the matter. It has only been emphasized to many that Vince McMahon is definitively done and has no path back to the company.
The report also mentioned the significant impact on Brock Lesnar’s creative plans, leading to a halt in his storyline, his absence from major events like the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber, and the cancellation of planned matchups. Although Lesnar’s future remains uncertain, the report suggests that his absence doesn’t necessarily mean a permanent departure.
Responses To The Allegations
John Laurinaitis has already released a public statement on the matter, one where he claims that he was the victim in this situation.
Brock Lesnar was also pulled from WWE’s creative plans, because he was referenced in the allegations from Grant’s lawsuit. He was also pulled from the WWE SuperCard game, and his merchandise is on sale now as well.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this always evolving story about Vince McMahon.
