Lawyers representing Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis have formally opposed Janel Grant’s amended lawsuit, which accuses McMahon of sexual abuse and trafficking. On Friday, February 21, legal teams for the defendants filed motions in the U.S. District Court in Connecticut challenging the amended complaint by Grant’s attorneys filed last month.

McMahon’s counsel, Jessica Rosenberg, contended that the revised lawsuit was filed in “bad faith.” She added that Grant should adhere to the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) she signed prior to initiating the original lawsuit.WWE’s legal representatives argued that the amended complaint did not counter their argument that this matter should be resolved through private arbitration. WWE, McMahon, and Laurianaitis have all argued for arbitration.

Grant’s amended filing introduced new evidence and allegations, asserting that certain WWE personnel were aware of McMahon’s alleged misconduct and participated in its cover-up. While her original lawsuit against WWE, Laurinaitis, and McMahon, was 68 pages in length, the amended version is now at 101 pages.

Janel Grant’s battle with the three parties has gained widespread attention, especially after Brock Lesnar was named in the updated complaint. The amended filing alleges alleges that McMahon attempted to involve Lesnar in the alleged misconduct against Grant.

McMahon stepped down from WWE in January 2024 though has denied all claims of wrongdoing, instead insisting that he and Grant had a consensual relationship. Stay tuned for updates on this case and the wider effects it could have on WWE and the wrestling world.

According to her counsel and a motion filed on Monday in federal district court in Connecticut, one of the non-disclosure agreements Vince McMahon was fined for last week was signed by Janel Grant. This information was part of a motion for status conference that was filed on Monday by Grant’s attorneys.

According to a press release last week from the Securities Exchange Commission, McMahon was fined $400,000 and paid over a million in restitution to World Wrestling Entertainment for not properly disclosing two NDAs he had signed. One was an NDA in 2022, which counsel for Grant said was the NDA she signed at the time. The other NDA McMahon was fined for was with a former WWE contractor/wrestler.

Grant second status conference filing asked the court for a schedule due to the following developments:

• The new judge in the case
• No order entered on the docket officially ending the 6-month stay that was requested by federal prosecutors last year
• Motions by defendants requesting arbitration per the NDA agreement.
• The SEC ruling on McMahon’s NDA with Grant.
  
  Attorneys for Grant planned to amend her complaint by Jan. 15, according to the first motion filed two weeks ago, but asked the court for a schedule in order to consider the SEC fines and charges against McMahon and other developments.

“It is clear that the Court’s guidance is needed to reach consensus on a schedule to move this litigation forward,” the motion said. “Plaintiff respectfully requests the Court schedule a status conference at its earliest convenience, and enter an order clarifying that no further submissions are due until the Court instructs otherwise.”

In a statement to SEScoops, Grant attorney Ann Callis said the SEC charges against McMahon prove the NDA violated the law.

“In light of the SEC’s charges proving that the NDA Vince McMahon coerced Ms. Grant into signing violates the law, Ms. Grant has renewed her request for an updated scheduling conference to ensure these new developments are reflected in her complaint and establish a clear schedule to move her case forward,” Callis said. “Ms. Grant deserves the opportunity to have her day in court and hold her abusers accountable.”

The public information officer for the Southern District of New York Attorneys office wouldn’t give comment on Monday on the status of the federal criminal investigation into McMahon. A representative for Grant on Monday said her counsel was told in December by federal investigators that the criminal probe into McMahon is still ongoing.

Ann Callis, the legal representative of Janel Grant, has weighed in on Vince McMahon’s recent $1.7 million fine, stemming from the ex-WWE CEO’s financial misstatements. In a statement to NBC, Callis said:

“During his time leading WWE, Vince McMahon acted as if rules did not apply to him, and now we have confirmation that he repeatedly broke the law to cover up his horrifying behavior, including human trafficking. The SEC’s charges prove that the NDA Vince McMahon coerced Ms. Grant into signing violates the law, and therefore her case must be heard in court. While prosecutors for the Southern District of New York continue their criminal investigation, we look forward to bringing forward new evidence in our civil case about the sexual exploitation Ms. Grant endured at WWE by Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis.”

McMahon has reached a settlement with the SEC that’ll see him pay a $400,000 civil penalty and a $1.33 million reimbursement to WWE. In their report, the SEC states that McMahon bypassed WWE’s internal accounting controls and caused material misstatements in the company’s financial reports for 2018 and 2021. McMahon has agreed to the settlement, though did not admit to or deny the SEC’s findings.

This payment comes amid Janel Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon, in which she alleges she was sexually abused and trafficked during her time with the promotion, McMahon stepped down from WWE in January 2024, though claims their relationship was entirely consensual. This is a developing story and we aim to provide updates as they become available.

Vince McMahon Community Noted On X After ‘Case Closed’ Comments

Attorneys for Janel Grant are amending her lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment, Vince McMahon and former WWE executive John Laurinaitis.

Ann Callis, an attorney for Grant, sent an email to plantiffs’ counsel on Dec. 16 stating they would be amending the lawsuit by Jan. 15. The email was included in an exhibit filed with a motion for status conference made on Thursday, Jan. 2.

Grant filed her initial complaint against McMahon, WWE and Laurinaitis in January 2024. The case was placed in a stay in May for six months at the request of federal prosecutors. According to the Wall Street Journal, McMahon has been under investigation of a federal grand jury in Manhattan for sex assault, rape and sex trafficking.

In an interview with SEScoops in November, Callis said other women had come forward since Grant filed her lawsuit. She said attorneys were vetting several women and could amend Grant’s suit to include other alleged victims.

McMahon and his wife Linda, who is expected to be Donald Trump’s nominee for the Department of Education post with the Cabinet, were sued in October by five alleged survivors of the 1980s WWF Ring Boy Scandal in Maryland. The civil suit is currently on hold while the Maryland Supreme Court considers whether a state law voiding statute of limitations regarding negligence in sex assault cases is constitutional.

Attorneys for McMahon re-filed his motion on Dec. 23 to appeal the Grant case to arbitration, per the non-disclosure agreement Grant and McMahon signed.

Former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is once again seeking to compel arbitration in the case filed against him by Janel Grant. In a December 23, filing submitted by his attorney, Jessica T. Rosenburg, McMahon formally requested arbitration, citing the Federal Arbitration Act.

The filing states:

“Defendant Vincent K. McMahon, by and through his undersigned attorneys, respectfully moves this Court for an order compelling arbitration of this matter pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 3, 4, for the reasons set forth more fully in the accompanying memorandum of law and Declaration of Vincent K. McMahon. Defendant McMahon further moves the Court for such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.”

McMahon’s motion was supported by a memorandum of law that emphasizes the terms of a January 2022 agreement between McMahon and Grant, which required any disputes to be resolved through arbitration. The documents allege that McMahon and Grant were engaged in a consensual relationship for three years and that McMahon agreed to pay Grant $3 million to ensure confidentiality. According to McMahon, Grant violated the agreement by filing a public lawsuit, leading him to pay only $1 million of the promised amount.

Janel Grant’s Attorney Responds to Allegations Against WWE’s Lee Fitting

WWE, represented by Daniel J. Toal, filed a similar motion the same day. WWE’s filing also requested that the court schedule oral arguments on the matter, in addition to any other relief deemed appropriate.

McMahon maintains that the agreement remains enforceable and insists that an arbitrator should resolve the dispute. As of now, Grant’s legal team has not filed a response.

This week, The New York Times reported that Lee Fitting, WWE’s Head of Media and Production, created a hostile work environment for women during his lengthy tenure with ESPN. Among his alleged actions, Fitting reportedly asked for the hotel room numbers of female staff and on at least one occasion, encouraged a staff member to sit on his lap.

Read More On The Claims Against WWE’s Lee Fitting

In light of the report from The Athletic, representatives for Janel Grant issued the following statement:

Janel Grant’s Spokesperson Responds to New Allegations of Top WWE Producer’s Abusive Workplace History

WWE continues to cultivate an unsafe work environment by employing alleged predators and silencing survivors of harassment and workplace misconduct

NEW YORK – Today, Kendra Barkoff-Lamy, the spokesperson for Janel Grant, released the following statement on The Athletic’s new reporting of decades of sexual misconduct and workplace harassment by Lee Fitting, former ESPN Senior Vice President of Production and current WWE Head of Media & Production.

“How can WWE claim they are committed to improving the company’s culture, and at the same time, hire a man earlier this year who was accused of sexual misconduct and workplace harassment in his previous role? The allegations against Lee Fitting during his time at ESPN are extremely concerning. Revelations like this are why Janel Grant’s lawyers sent a letter to WWE and Endeavor, urging them to release all current and former employees from their NDAs. The same old boys club who enabled Janel Grant’s abuse are continuing to put alleged predators in leadership roles, and this pattern must change once and for all.”

In October, attorneys for Ms. Grant sent a letter to WWE President Nick Khan, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, and Endeavor (WWE’s parent company) CEO Ari Emanuel calling on WWE leadership to waive the company’s non-disclosure agreements and allow former and current employees, wrestlers and contractors to speak out about sexual misconduct, sexual assault, harassment, workplace aggression and the toxic culture at WWE. To date, there has been no response from WWE or Endeavor to the letter.

The full letter is available HERE

Grant alleges that Vince McMahon sexually abused and trafficked her during her time with WWE and that the company was complicit with the actions of the former Chairman. The case was recently unpaused while a federal investigation into McMahon is ongoing. A WWE spokesperson told the Times that they had no comment on the allegations against Fitting.

The District Attorney with the Southern District of New York won’t file an extension of the six-month stay in Janel Grant’s federal civil suit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and World Wrestling Entertainment.

Grant filed the suit in January, claiming the defendants of sex trafficking, sex assault and other civil rights violations, as well as violating a non-disclosure agreement.

Federal prosecutors requested a six-month stay due to possible interference between the case and an ongoing federal grand jury criminal investigation of Vince McMahon that’s been ongoing since 2023.

In a statement to SEScoops, attorney Ann Callis said she’s happy Grant’s case can proceed while the federal investigation continues.

“We are pleased that prosecutors for the Southern District of New York have concluded that they can continue their criminal investigation while we bring forward new evidence in our civil case about the sexual exploitation carried out by Janel Grant’s abusers. For the last six months, Ms. Grant has patiently waited to hold Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE accountable for the sex trafficking and abuse she endured at the company on a near daily basis. Her wait is over, and we now look forward to sharing Ms. Grant’s story.”

Ann Callis, one of the attorneys representing Janel Grant in a civil complaint filed against Vince McMahon the former President of World Wrestling Entertainment in January, said Grant’s lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon has inspired other women in the wrestling industry to come forward with stories of abuse.

Callis credited Grant with allowing other women in the wrestling industry to reach out.

“I can say generally Janel has been courageous in speaking out about her situation,” Callis said. “Her hope is she is an example to other people who feel that they are not alone and they can speak out themselves and we have been seeing that. I have had several people contact me and we are doing vetting and going through that process.”

Callis said while other women have contacted her following Grant’s case, her federal civil suit against McMahon, John Laurinaitis and World Wrestling Entertainment is in a stay until December 11. This came after a request was made by the FBI and federal investigators who are looking into McMahon in a separate federal criminal case.

Callis, who said she couldn’t talk about Grant’s NDA specifically, spoke with SEScoops about non-disclosure agreements in general and the impact they’ve had on people in the work place.

“They have been weaponized and I think that’s why recent laws have been passed in order to protect men and women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted in the workplace,” Callis said.

In 2022, the Speak Out Act was passed making it illegal for non-disclosure agreements to prohibit men and women from coming forward if they were sexually harassed or assaulted.

A year earlier, Congress passed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act.

Callis said these laws don’t end contracted non-disclosure agreements automatically, but prevent them in the future in cases of NDAs signed at the onset of employment being used to silence someone who allegedly suffered sexual harassment or sexual assault.

But the new federal laws, as well as state laws, are aimed at protecting employees in these circumstances.

According to the American Bar Association, 82 percent of employees in the U.S. have signed arbitration agreements with their employers when they fill out paperwork starting a new job. Arbitration agreements are also part of many NDAs in discussing how disagreements should be handled.

Before the stay was issued in the McMahon civil suit, his counsel as well as Laurinaitis and WWE’s filed a motion for a hearing to determine whether Grant should be forced to air her grievances in an arbitration hearing in the NDA she signed.

This type of language isn’t just in NDAs, but in the fine print of paperwork and contracts signed by employees. Callis said many of these arbitration clauses aren’t upheld in court and recent legislation, court precendent should make people feel better about their situation if they want to fight in courrt.

“When you’re faced with a multi-national corporation or a multi-billion dollar company, there’s a lot of road blocks that you will see when you are faced with protecting your children and feeding them,” Callis said. “It’s an unfortunate situation people find themselves in but recent legislation, case law and precednet should make these people feel better about their situation.”

Most wrestlers are independent contractors despite meeting many of the conditions of being employees, according to descriptors set by the U.S. Department of Labor.

“Some companies want to characterize workers as independent contractors, but it’s not as clear cut,” Callis said. “In many of these instances the courts find they are indeed employees.”

Several lawsuits have been filed against WWE and World Championship Wrestling over independent contractor status in the last 24 years.

While Grant’s civil case has been under a stay in federal court, she filed a motion for a bill of discovery against Dr. Carlon Colker and his company Peak Wellness in July in Connecticut Superior Court.

Vince and Linda McMahon, as well as WWE, were named as plaintiffs in a suit filed weeks ago in Maryland by several alleged survivors of the 1980s ring boy scandal. The suit claimed the company and the McMahons were negligent in keeping predators away from children, who were hired as ring boys at the time and later accused WWE employees of sexually assaulting them.

McMahon, who is no longer affiliated with WWE, was reported to be looking to start a new entertainment company last week. Linda McMahon, despite being named in the Ring Boy lawsuit, is part of Donald Trump’s 2024 transition team as he prepares to take over the White House in January.

Friday’s episode of Piers Morgan’s YouTube show, Uncensored, featured former WWE employees Vince Russo, Charly Arnolt, Maven Huffman and Jonathan Coachman, discussing the current issues facing World Wrestling Entertainment and former owner Vince McMahon in the wake of Netflix’s Mr. McMahon six-part documentary.

McMahon is being investigated for criminal charges by a federal grand jury. McMahon, WWE, and former employee John Lauritnaitis are being sued in federal civil court for sex assault, sex trafficking and other complaints by former employee Janel Grant.

A clip of New York Post sports columnist Phil Muschnick was aired from the documentary, where he criticized McMahon and discussed his coverage of the WWF steroid trial in the 90s.

Mushnick’s image immediately drew the ire of several of Morgan’s guests. They were in for a bigger surprise later.

Mushnick then appeared as a surprise guest, catching fire from Huffman, Coachman and especially Russo.

Russo accusing Phil Muschnick of ignoring WWF’s steroid symposium and testing

Russo criticized Muschnick before he appeared on air for not covering the WWF steroid symposium that took place after McMahon was found not guilty in the steroid trial. He repeatedly took shots at Mushnick for his lack of coverage.

Muschnick eventually fired back, stating the man behind the symposium, Dr. Mauro DiPascale, was notorious for teaching how to cheat steroid tests.

DiPascale ran the WWF’s drug testing program for several years. He was also involved in programs with the World Bodybuilding Federation and worked with NASCAR. He’s written several books on what he calls the Anabolic diet.

One source told SEScoops that rumors of DiPascale’s showing how to cheat steroid tests were well known throughout the time he was with WWE and beforehand when he was one of the first to write about steroids. Muschnick also wrote about the allegations in 1999 shortly after the death of Owen Hart in his New York Post column.

Another source said DiPascale was known as the guy to go to in the bodybuilding committee if you wanted to beat steroid tests.

“A naive media filed stories portraying McMahon as a leader in the war on drugs,” Mushcnick wrote in his May 25, 1999 column about his drug testing program coming out of his early 90s steroid trial. “McMahon that day named his new drug czar: Dr. Mauro Di Pasquale, legendary among body-builders for his writings on how to beat drug tests.”

The column mentioned the deaths of Brian Pillman and Rick Rude.

In a 2019 interview with Bodybuilding.com, DiPascale criticized the medical establishment for how it handled steroids and doctors who felt they weren’t healthy or didn’t bring results.

“As well, being traditional and conservative by nature, they tend to follow the general moral consensus. If society in general condemns drug use by athletes, then so do they. Unfortunately they also tend to bend the information is such a way as to discourage behavior that they feel is morally or socially unacceptable.”

Later in the interview, DiPascale said one of his books, Drugs In Sports, was banned by the Canadian Olympic Committee. The interviewer also said the book was straightforward in showing how to beat drug tests.

DiPascale said he wrote his book purposely straightforward as an information guide on steroids.

Coachman, Russo, Maven said they never heard McMahon tell wrestlers to use steroids

Coachman said he spent more time with McMahon during his time period as his assistant than anyone in the company and never heard him talk about steroids.

Russo echoed the same point, stating he spent hundreds of hours with McMahon in the writer’s room and he never heard McMahon say a certain wrestler needed to begin taking steroids if they wanted to keep their job.

Maven Huffman said he told fans on Instagram that he had taken steroids. He said he was never told to by the company and he said he did it out of his own personal vanity.

But this doesn’t mesh at all with what other wrestlers have talked about WWE’s hard emphasis on the bodybuilder look for years.

Shortly before he died, Lance Cade (Lane McNaught), said in an interview he was told repeatedly while in OVW by members of talent relations that his work wasn’t sharp enough to get him called to the roster. Feeling he was being told indirectly that he wasn’t living up to what the company expected, McNaught said he began taking steroids. He was promoted to the main roster within a few months, and told his work had improved, despite little to no change his ability or his work to himself.

Shoot interviews are full of wrestlers, especially during the 2000s, telling stories of how they were demoted because “management” didn’t think they had the proper look. Sometimes this was a demotion to developmental “to get in shape”, other times wrestlers were put on the bottom of the card or taken off TV. This was common knowledge throughout the company and was talked about incessantly by talent in the company.

Mushnick calls McMahon a real life Hannibal Lecter

Mushnick hasn’t written about the Janel Grant case in the New York Post. He also didn’t mention it during his segment on Morgan’s show. He did mention the ring boy scandal of the early 1990s, and referred to it as a “pedophile ring.”

Morgan asked Mushnick how he viewed McMahon, and he said he saw him as a real life version of the fictional Hannibal Lecter, which earned guffaws from several of the WWE supporters during the segment.

Arnolt was asked if she had witnessed or been treated in a way that matched some of the allegations made against McMahon in his civil case. She said she hadn’t, hadn’t seen anything of that nature, but said there was some behavior that she could have taken to human resources, but also knew this was the nature of the wrestling business.

The lack of discussion about Grant was disappointing considering her lawsuit and the current criminal investigation in New York. More disappointing, was how quickly former WWE employees line up and are willing to fight battles for a company that either dismissed them, treated them badly or harassed them.

This was disappointing for several reasons. Russo mentioned he immediately left the WWF for WCW when he asked McMahon if he could spend more time at home with his family. McMahon said with the money he was making, he could afford to hire a nanny to raise his kids. He said this was his impetus for getting out of the company.

Coachman was once the victim of a vile prank by McMahon when he was put in charge of a football pool backstage, then real officers dragged him off and arrested him as a bookie as part of a vicious joke by McMahon. Coachman was also further bullied, but that didn’t change his attitude when he defended John Layfield behavior bullying announcer Mauro Rannallo when Coachman was working for ESPN.

Trump, McMahon similarities ‘are a positive’

Arnolt was asked by Morgan about McMahon and his friendship with presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump. She described them for their speak-first nature, but said they “shared positive traits.” Both McMahon and Trump have been accused of sex assault, rape and sexual assault by multiple women.

Attorneys for Janel Grant filed a memorandum in Connecticut Superior Court on Tuesday in opposition to Dr. Carlon Colker and Peak Wellness to dismiss the bill of discovery complaint she filed in July.

Grant’s filing, a memorandum in law in opposition to plaintiff’s motion to dismiss, challenges several claims in Colker’s motion.

Grant’s memorandum in opposition claims McMahon was in contact with Colker during Grant’s treatment at Peak Wellness, from Nov. 22, 2019 to April 15, 2022.

The motion says the bill of discovery is necessary to see if there’s reason for Grant to file a suit against Colker and Peak Wellness in Connecticut Superior Court. It also reiterates claims from her bill of discovery complaint that Colker and Peak Wellness ignored requests for her electronic medical records and only sent incomplete forms on paper in violation of four different federal laws.

“Defendants (and Vince McMahon) have gone to great lengths to block Ms. Grant from accessing these documents relating to her own medical care,” the statement said.

Colker’s motion said. the bill of discovery complaint violated the stay requested by the FBI and other investigators in her civil case, which is paused until December. The judge in the federal civil case denied a motion to stop the bill of discovery complaint in federal court and said the court wasn’t the correct venue.

Grant’s counsel claims Colker’s attorney’s motion to dismiss was improperly filed and should have been a motion to strike; that Connecticut Superior Court has jurisdiction to hear the bill of discovery complaint; Grant’s bill of discovery has probable cause; McMahon, Laurinaitis and WWE are non-parties to the state action; any procedural issues mentioned by Colker’s counsel weren’t fact or have been fixed; Colker and Peak Wellness don’t dispute they were timely notified of the bill of discovery complaint; Connecticut precedent says courts should make every effort to adjudicate Grant’s action on its claims over procedural matters (Worth v. Picard).

“Ms. Grant filed this bill of discovery for the purpose of investigating potential claims of civil conspiracy, aiding and abetting, fraud, assault, battery, RICO, RICO conspiracy, and/or breach of fiduciary duty against Dr. Colker and Peak Wellness,” Grant’s motion said.

Grant filed the bill of discovery complaint in June claiming Colker and Peak Wellness refused to send her medical records and other information earlier this year for discovery in her federal civil suit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and World Wrestling Entertainment.

Colker and Peak Wellness filed a motion to dismiss the discovery complaint on Aug. 29 stating the discovery complaint wasn’t verified under Connecticut General Statute; the complaint is for a federal case and not a Connecticut state case; and Grant’s motion ignores “the very different and unique procedures for statutory bills of discovery.”

Colker and Peak Wellness counsel sent marshal to serve Grant personally

Grant’s motion of opposition states hours after the Federal judge refused to block her bill of discovery, Colker’s counsel had Grant served personally with their own bill of discovery instead of going through her counsel.

“In a move calculated to cause Ms. Grant extreme emotional distress, Defendants sent a marshal to effect personal service of their petition on Ms. Grant at her home, despite knowing she was represented by counsel,” the motion said.

Colker and Peak Wellness withdrew its bill of discovery after Grant’s counsel filed a motion to strike.

In press release, Grant’s counsel listed their discovery requests from Peak Wellness and Colker.

• Ms. Grant’s electronic medical records, including all associated metadata;
• Dr. Colker and Peak Wellness’ recordkeeping and billing procedures;
• Payment records relating to Ms. Grant;
• Dr. Colker and Peak Wellness’ payment arrangements with McMahon and/or WWE;
• The purpose of Ms. Grant’s prescribed treatments;
• The substance of Ms. Grant’s prescribed treatments;
• Any communications between Dr. Colker and McMahon relating to Ms. Grant; and
• Dr. Colker’s involvement in recommending Ms. Grant’s attorney for negotiation of the purported non-disclosure agreement.

“Imagine being at your most vulnerable, and the doctor you are told to see only makes you feel worse,” said Ann Callis, attorney for Janel Grant. “Our filing today makes clear that Dr. Colker violated ethical and medical standards when he injected unknown substances into Janel’s body and directed her to take unlabeled pills while dismissing her basic questions about those drugs. Peak Wellness owes Janel Grant answers and the clinic’s secrecy and evasion must come to an end.”

Callis, attorney Erica Nolan and SKDK firm spokesperson Kendra Barkoff Lemy will have a press call on Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Janel Grant has asked WWE to waive nondisclosure agreements with other former and current employees and talent so that they can potentially come forward with allegations of misconduct under the promotion’s watch. The Associated Press reports that a lawyer for Grant emailed a letter making the request on Monday evening to attorneys representing WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis.

The e-mail, as sent by Grant’s attorney Ann Callis, states that “WWE continues to protect former CEO Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis by silencing survivors of sexual abuse, harassment and workplace violence.” It goes on to state that WWE is unable to move on from its “sordid past” while “victims remain silenced” by these nondisclosure agreements. It adds:

“We urge WWE to quickly and proactively release its current and former employees and contractors from any obligations under any WWE-executed NDA that would prevent them from discussing sexual misconduct, abuse, or assault during their time at WWE without delay. WWE wants people to believe the company has changed—this is its chance to prove it.”

When approached, Curtis Vogal, a spokesperson for McMahon, declined to comment. WWE and Laurinaitis did not immediately return emails seeking comment and contact to Endeavor and TKO Group Holdings were not returned immediately. McMahon has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has claimed that the relationship he had with Grant was between two consenting individuals.

When approached by Wrestlenomics, McMahon’s team referred to attorney Jessica Rosenberg’s prior statement:

“Ms. Grant’s claims are false, defamatory and entirely without merit. We intend to vigorously defend Mr. McMahon and are confident that he will be vindicated.”

Following Grant’s lawsuit being filed, Ann Callis said that she had been “frankly overwhelmed” by the number of others that have come forward with similar accusations. McMahon is reported to have paid over $12 million to four women in exchange for their silence over his extramarital affairs. Grant alleges that McMahon forced her into a sexual relationship so that she could keep her job and later directed her to have relations with others in WWE, including Laurinaitis.

Grant did not appear in Netflix’s recent Mr. McMahon docuseries, though her claims against the billionaire make up much of the series’ final episode. Callis has said that the six, hour-long episodes only scratch the surface of McMahon’s alleged criminal behavior. This is an ongoing situation and SEScoops will continue to monitor this case for further updates.

Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries has finally been released on the streaming juggernaut, four years after the project was first announced. The six-part series delves into some of McMahon’s most controversial moments, though critics feel it fails to reveal anything that hasn’t already been covered.

One name fans don’t see over the six, one-hour long episodes is Janel Grant whose lawsuit alleging sexual abuse and trafficking resulted in McMahon’s WWE exit in January this year. In a statement shared with Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, Grant’s lawyer Ann Callid argued that Netflix’s docuseries has shown McMahon’s true colors.

“The ‘Mr. McMahon’ docuseries makes it clear there is no difference between Vince McMahon’s on-air persona and his true self, they are one and the same. His “character” – known for violent outbursts, sexual deviance, and manipulation – is the real Vince McMahon and exactly what Janel Grant experienced behind closed doors at WWE for years.”

Callis adds that the the series only scratches the surface of McMahon’s alleged criminal activities, and is hopeful for Grant to have her own chance to tell her story her way.

“While the docuseries put McMahon’s obsession with power and control on full display, it only scratches the surface of his criminal behavior and it fails to tell the full story of his abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking of Ms. Grant. She deserves the opportunity to tell her story, on her own time, and in her own way. We look forward to her day in court and to seeing McMahon at last held accountable for his actions.”

Grant’s comments echo her previous statement, released before Mr. McMahon launched on Netflix, in which she addressed McMahon insisting that what happened with Grant was a consensual affair. The interviews conducted with McMahon took place before Grant’s lawsuit went public, and as a title card in the doc states, McMahon refused to take more questions after that.

In a rare public statement of his own, McMahon has distanced himself from the project, claiming he was misrepresented by selected editing, outdated soundbites, and out-of-context footage. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Netflix’s docuseries which is proving to be a huge topic of discussion in the world of wrestling.

Ann Callis, an attorney for Janel Grant, blasted Vince McMahon for categorizing his relationship with Grant as “an affair” in a statement he released on Monday reacting to a screening of the Netflix documentary Mr. McMahon.

Grant is suing McMahon, World Wrestling Entertainment and former WWE Talent Relations head John Laurinaitis for sex assault, sex trafficking and other claims in federal civil court. McMahon is also being investigated by a federal grand jury in New York in a criminal case.

“Vince McMahon physically and emotionally abused, sexually assaulted and human trafficked Janel Grant for more than two years. Calling his horrific and criminal behavior “an affair” is delusional and nothing more than a sad attempt to save his shredded reputation. Although Ms. Grant has not seen the “Mr. McMahon” docuseries, we hope it shines a bright light on his abhorrent and criminal actions by accurately portraying the realities of his abusive and exploitative behavior.Ms. Grant will no longer be silenced by McMahon. Her story, though deeply troubling and exceptionally painful, is one that can help other abuse survivors find their voices. We seek to hold McMahon, John Laurinaitis and WWE accountable and to give Ms. Grant her day in court.”

Ann Callis, attorney for Janel Grant

Netflix’s Mr. McMahon documentary debuts on Wednesday. Netflix will begin streaming WWE Raw in 2025.

Janel Grant attorney Ann Callis and Kendra Barkof Lamy, managing director of SMDK representation, held a press conference on Thursday, a day after Grant’s team announced the group would be joining her team during her lawsuit against WWE.

Callis and Grant answered questions about the upcoming Netflix documentary, Mr. McMahon, which is scheduled to debut on the streamer on Sept. 25.

Grant’s team, in a statement to SEScoops, said Netflix approached Grant for an interview but said she wouldn’t be taking part.

“Janel Grant is a human being, a victim and a survivor,” Callis said. “She’s not a WWE storyline.”

Grant’s civil case is currently paused in federal court at the request of federal investigators. McMahon is also under investigation by a federal grand jury for rape, sex assault and other crimes, according a reporter earlier this year from the Wall Street Journal.

Callis addressed the upcoming McMahon documentary several times, saying she hoped the producers would shine a light on McMahon’s behavior over the years. She noted McMahon had settled with four women for around $12 million over the past few years.

The Daily Beast shared a report in 2018 from an incident involving McMahon at a Boca Raton tanning salon in 2006, where he was accused of groping and sexually assaulting a young female employee at the business before she ran to a Papa John’s pizza store in the same shopping center and asked workers to call police. Police said there was probable cause to charge McMahon, but the case was dropped by prosecutors based on their not being “proof beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Callis and Lamy said they wanted Grant’s case expedited, but didn’t get into details how. When asked if they wanted the federal investigation to move quicker, Callis said they wanted the civil case to be on track and they wanted federal investigators to “be right” and take their time.

Callis said no one with Grant’s team, or Grant, have seen the McMahon documentary.

Dr. Carlon Colker has withdrawn his litigation against Janel Grant, in which he sought evidence from the former WWE employee who is suing the promotion, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis. Last month, Colker filed a potential that appeared to be a precursor to a possible defamation lawsuit against Grant. In July, Grant filed a petition in Connecticut state court in which she sought to obtain her medical records in support of her lawsuit.

Grant alleges she was directed by McMahon to visit Colker’s clinic, Peak Wellness, in Greenwich where she received treatment without being told what medicines or supplements she was being given. She added that the medical records that have been provided by Colker have been inconsistent and incomplete so far. Colker claimed that Grant had launched a smear campaign against him and that he had suffered damages due to the media spotlight on him and his clinic.

Now, Colker has withdrawn his petition for information from Grant, POST Wrestling reports, including any potential communication she or her representatives may have had with the media. In a statement to POST Wrestling, Ann Callis, Grant’s attorney, had the following to say:

“Unsurprisingly, Dr. Colker has withdrawn his baseless motion. In the same vein as Mr. McMahon’s recently struck down motion, this was filed simply as yet another frivolous attempt to intimidate Ms. Grant.

“Ms. Grant remains steadfast in her right to seeking documents and information relating to her own medical records, meta-data, Dr. Colker’s prescribed treatments, and any communications between Dr. Colker and other parties concerning Ms. Grant or Ms. Grant’s medical treatment.”

Grant is suing WWE, Laurinaitis, and McMahon, alleging that she was sexually abused and trafficked during her time with the promotion. McMahon has denied that their relationship was not consensual and his representatives have gone as far as to call McMahon Grant’s “best friend” during her time with WWE. This scandal, among others, will be referenced in Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries that will be released later this month.

Cody Rhodes took on a big leadership role following WWE Bash In Berlin after addressing a very loaded question regarding Vince McMahon.

Rhodes kicked off the post-show by addressing the media, noting that Triple H was unable to be there due to his daughter heading to college for the first time. Rhodes took several questions before he was asked if he was going watch the forthcoming “Mr. McMahon” docuseries on Netflix and why he thinks the locker room has been silent regarding the Janel Grant case. Rhodes answered both his questions and started off light-hearted by saying he was currently “deep in a Game of Thrones rewatch.”

“I think there’s a bit misinformation in terms of WWE has no involvement in this documentary as far as I know. I imagine I’d get around to seeing it.”

As far as it goes with the locker room “being silent” Rhodes offered a different perspective for the talent.

“I don’t think that’s a matter of ‘belief’ vs. ‘non-belief’ I think it’s strictly speaking we want to be doing what we’re doing out there and the focus and attention it takes: 13,149 people to have a great story and have a great match and do that every single night has left most of us where we’re finding the information out just as you are and that includes the resolution of this information in terms of what happened, how it happened and how justice comes about whatever it may be, but I wouldn’t look at it as an active attempt from the locker to be silent in the attempt we just are doing what we do, day-to-day, WWE business.”

Rhodes was also asked if he believed in Janel Grant and he stated that he didn’t have enough information to know either way. The Mr. McMahon docuseries is set to release on September 25.

Please h/t SEScoops for the transcription.

AEW American Champion MJF didn’t hold back when a fan opted to bring up Vince McMahon in a discussion about appropriate words in wrestling. To promote his upcoming match with Kyle Fletcher, MJF suggested that Fletcher cut his hair as he looks like “MGK [Machine Gun Kelly] and Ellen Degeneres’s dumpster baby.” That line crossed a line for one fan who said that Vince McMahon would never have allowed one of his Superstars to say something like that. MJF fired back, saying what he believes would be a more likely comment from McMahon given the allegations against the former WWE CEO. In a response of his own, FTR’s Dax Harwood shared his support for MJF’s comment.

McMahon has been accused of being sexually abusive and trafficking Janel Grant during a relationship that McMahon’s legal team has said was wholly consensual.

While the case has been postponed due to a federal investigation into McMahon, details around the matter continue to make headlines. Last month, it was reported that Grant had filed a complaint against Peak Wellness and is asking the company to provide receipts and other information for use in discovery in Grant’s case against McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE. In the original civil suit filed by Grant in January, a Peak Wellness employee was accused of participating in an assault against her.

The Future for MJF

As for MJF, he has a busy few weeks ahead of him, including the match with Kyle Fletcher looming. August 2024 will also see MJF compete at Rev Pro’s Summer Sizzler event in the UK, a third-world country in the eyes of the AEW American Champion. MJF will face Michael Oku at the show, who MJF has said he hates because Oku has the respect of Will Ospreay. MJF will face Ospreay with the AEW American title on the line later this month at All In: London 2024.

Counsel for Vince McMahon filed a four-page motion in federal district court in Connecticut on Thursday accusing Janel Grant of violating the stay in her civil suit against McMahon, World Wrestling Entertainment and John Laurinaitis.

On July 16, counsel for Grant filed a bill of discovery complaint against Peak Wellness and Dr. Carlon Colker in Connecticut. The complaint asked for medical records and other information regarding Grant when she was a patient at the clinic. The complaint accused Peak Wellness of refusing to provide Grant with electronic information, sending only paper copies of records that were incomplete.

The complaint said Peak Wellness denied Grant access to her records and had failed to provide discovery in her federal case twice during the spring. The filing claimed Grant visited the clinic under McMahon’s discretion over 60 times in a year and a half.

The Department of Justice asked the judge to stay the case in June because it could interfere with a federal grand jury investigation of McMahon that’s ongoing in the Southern District of New York.

Both McMahon and Grant’s counsel agreed to the stay, which expires in December.

“Today’s motion is in response to Ms. Grant’s flagrant violation of the federal stay order,” Jesica Taub Rosenberg, a lawyer for McMahon, said in a statement provided to SEScoops.

“After telling the federal court she would pause her lawsuit, Ms. Grant immediately violated the stay order by seeking one-sided discovery for her benefit. Her lawyer told the media that the information in the new Connecticut state action is to ‘assist in our claims in the federal action.’ We are asking the federal court to ensure the plaintiff abides by the court’s order and if she does not, that civil contempt and financial sanctions may result.”

In a statement to B.J. Bethel last week, Grant counsel Ann Callis said the filing didn’t violate the stay.

“We did not violate a federal stay by filing a state action against a non-defendant,” Callis said.

Sources familiar with the case said there was no violation since Peak Wellness and Colker aren’t defendants in the federal suit, and it was a state court action.

McMahon’s counsel is asking the federal court to temporarily lift the stay so it can file a motion accusing Grant of violating the order.

In Grant’s civil complaint, filed in January, she accused McMahon and a Peak Wellness employee of sexually assaulting her.

This story was updated with responses from representatives and counsel for Vince McMahon and Janel Grant.

Counsel for Janel Grant, who filed a federal civil suit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and WWE in January, filed a bill of discovery complaint against Peak Wellness and Dr. Carlon Colker on July 1, according to a recent filing.

The complaint was filed in Connecticut state court in Stamford on July 1. It’s asking Peak Wellness to provide receipts and other information for use in discovery in Grant’s case against Vince McMahon and John Lauritinaits.

In the complaint, Grant’s counsel said the information was needed to determine if a possible RICO violation had occurred, referring to the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

In the original civil suit filed by Grant in January, a Peak Wellness employee was accused of participating in an assault against Grant.

“Additionally, an employee of Peak Wellness also was involved in several instances of sexual abuse against Ms. Grant by McMahon as further described in Ms. Grant’s federal complaint,” the discovery complaint said.

The complaint says Grant’s counsel asked Peak Wellness twice for electronic filings of her medical records and other information. The suit claims the records were incomplete and filed on paper.

“In response to each letter, Dr. Colker and Peak Wellness provided records to Ms. Grant’s counsel in paper copies only,” the complaint said. “Peak Wellness used electronic recordkeeping for Ms. Grant’s medical records, as she was instructed to utilize an iPad for administrative purposes, such as patient intake, in the Peak Wellness office. To date, despite repeated requests, Dr. Colker and Peak Wellness has failed or refused to provide Ms. Grant’s electronic medical records, including any associated metadata.”

The complaint, which said Grant visited Peak Wellness 60 times between November 2019 and April 2022, alleged Colker of knowing about the non-disclosure agreement Grant and McMahon signed around the time of her dismissal from WWE. Grant is suing McMahing for violating the NDA and wants previous NDA’s McMahon has signed to be ruled invalid by the court.

Colker is considered a “celebrity” doctor with numerous athletes and actors as clients. He co-hosted “Shaq’s Big Challenge” on ABC with Shaquille O’Neal and appeared as himself in the documentary “Bigger, Faster, Stronger.” His client list includes numerous WWE wrestlers and MMA fighters.

In a statement to Wrestlenomics, a spokesperson for Vince McMahon said Grant’s counsel had violated the stay placed on her federal civil case.

“Ms. Grant’s petition for pre-discovery action against Dr. Colker is a direction violation of the court-ordered stay,” the spokesperson said. “Nothing more than an attempt to generate publicity on her false allegations and to harass people connected to Mr. McMahon.”

SEScoops reporter B.J. Bethel reached out to Grant’s representation for comment and was sent the following statement from attorney Ann Callis.

“We did not violate a federal stay by filing a state action against a non-defendant,” Callis said.

SEScoops reached out to Peak Wellness and WWE for comment on the court filing.

Brock Lesnar has not been seen for quite some time, and that is not going to change until his legal situation is resolved. SEScoops exclusively reported in March, “No one is going to get involved in that situation. This is a legal issue, and until the lawyers decide that Brock is to be brought back, there is no movement at all, or a movement on his behalf.” In the latest Wrestling Observer, Dave Meltzer corroborates our scoop with this note:

“Regarding any rumors of Lesnar returning, he has to be cleared by WWE legal (remember WWE is still a defendant in the Janel Grant lawsuit), and that hasn’t happened yet.”

Janel Grant’s court battle against WWE and Vince McMahon will be delayed, but that’s not necessarily good news for the company.  Grant has agreed to postpone the lawsuit at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice, an ominous sign for McMahon that indicates additional legal pitfalls ahead.

This decision means it will take longer than initially planned before the two sides face off in court, as the case remains under a non-public investigation. As a result, the timeline for Lesnar wrestling again has effectively been delayed indefinitely.

Brock Lesnar Impacted by Janel Grant Lawsuit

Janel Grant’s lawsuit alleges that in July 2021, Vince McMahon directed her to create personalized sexual content for a WWE superstar he wanted to re-sign. The lawsuit did not name the wrestler but described them as both a UFC fighter and WWE talent. Although Brock Lesnar was not mentioned, the timeline suggests a limited number of possible wrestlers.

The lawsuit claims McMahon shared explicit photos with the WWE Superstar, who responded positively. In December, McMahon allegedly gave Grant’s personal cellphone number to the wrestler. The wrestler then requested a video of her urinating and used derogatory language toward her. A meetup was planned but did not happen due to travel issues.

Brock Lesnar was removed from the WWE intro package and has been absent from promotional materials and vignettes since the controversy. His WrestleMania 40 match against GUNTHER was also scrapped, along with his planned bout against Dominik Mysterio at Elimination Chamber.

In WWE 2K24, Lesnar was removed as a playable character but still exists in the game’s code. He was replaced by John Cena on the Forty Years of WrestleMania cover. He remains under WWE contract.

A lawsuit against WWE, John Laurinaitis, and Vince McMahon has been put on pause at the request of the United States Department of Justice. 

Janel Grant is suing the three parties over allegations she was sexually abused and trafficked during her time working for WWE. Grant had been a part of the company’s legal department and worked closely with McMahon during her time under his employ. 

• Vince McMahon’s Former Allies in WWE Have Given Up Defending Ex-CEO

Janel Grant Lawsuit Delayed

While Grant’s allegations were enough to see Vince McMahon step down from WWE and TKO in January, it will be longer than planned before the two sides face off in court. Grant has agreed to delay the lawsuit at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice. A statement from Grant’s legal representative Ann Callis reads: 

“Ms. Grant has consented to a request by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York to stay her case against Mr. McMahon, WWE and Mr. Laurinaitis, pursuant to a pending non-public investigation. We will cooperate with all appropriate next steps.”

Callis does not give the reason why the U.S. Department of Justice has made this request. In a sealed filing today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District Of New York presented material to the federal court of a probe they have opened into McMahon. The 78-year-old billionaire’s business operations will be under the microscope as part of this probe. 

• Vince McMahon Memorandum Claims He Was Janel Grant’s “Best Friend”

Team McMahon Responds

McMahon is being represented in proceedings by Kasowitz Benson Torres. Ironically, the firm recently settled a lawsuit against WWE that saw Major League Wrestling receive $20 million. A statement from Jessica Rosenberg, a partner of Kasowitz, Benson Torres, reads: 

“We remain confident the evidence will prove Ms. Grant’s allegations are false and her complaint is nothing more than a fabricated, vindictive narrative from a disgruntled former girlfriend.”

McMahon has denied all allegations against him and has claimed that Grant’s lawsuit is “rife” with fabrication and inaccuracies. Rosenberg has stated that Grant was in love with McMahon and that her “false allegations are slowly unraveling.”

WWE is aiming for the same outcome that Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis want in the Janel Grant situation.

The company filed a motion with the Connecticut courts on May 14, requesting that Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE be moved to arbitration. The company stated that under the agreed-upon parameters, Grant consented to handle matters in arbitration rather than in the public eye.

WWE claimed that Grant never attempted to resolve the lawsuit through private arbitration. Therefore, WWE is making this motion to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut to compel Grant to go through the allegedly agreed-upon private process. The motion obtained by PWInsider states:

“Plaintiff Janel Grant brings this action against Vincent K. McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE alleging that, while employed at WWE, she was subjected to physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking by McMahon and Laurinaitis. WWE disputes Grant’s allegations. But, as a threshold matter, this dispute cannot be heard in court because Grant agreed to arbitrate her claims. WWE therefore moves to compel this action to arbitration.”

Just this past week, McMahon’s legal team listed several reasons why Grant was a willing participant in the alleged abusive relationship. The memorandum filed lists several reasons why Grant wanted various matters out of a mutual relationship between her and Vince McMahon.

What Is Private Arbitration?

If you need clarification on what arbitration is, it is a process where the two conflicting parties go behind closed doors and try to reach a settlement privately, without airing their dirty laundry in public.

• New Vince McMahon Memorandum Claims Ex-WWE CEO Was Janel Grant’s “Best Friend”

Vince McMahon has every intention to continue forward in the business world, which may explain his conduct regarding Janel Grant’s lawsuit.

McMahon’s only business-adjacent actions since his WWE exit in January 2024 have seen the 78-year-old unload stock in TKO Group Holdings. More recently, McMahon filed a motion in which he made a series of claims against Grant that she wishes to see struck from the record. McMahon’s legal team have called Grant’s efforts to strike the claims the “height of hypocrisy.”

• Vince McMahon Memorandum Claims He Was Janel Grant’s “Best Friend”

On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed McMahon’s claims, in which he states that Grant was a willing participant in their relationship.

“They need to rehabilitate his image enough to where he can do business as a businessman because that’s what he wants to do. Whether it’s wrestling, which apparently from what I’m told it’s not wrestling, but he absolutely wants to do this.”

If McMahon is able to re-establish himself in the business world post-Grant, it’s not expected to be as part of WWE. Not only has McMahon listed all his TKO stock for sale, but there is said to be nobody left defending him in the company. 

• Vince McMahon’s Former Allies in WWE Have Given Up Defending Ex-CEO

It was added that McMahon hopes to avoid being compared to disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein. AEW President Tony Khan recently claimed that WWE was the Weinstein of wrestling while AEW is the Pepsi of the industry.

“He wants to not have this name, he doesn’t want to be Harvey Weinstein. The only way he can do that is to basically make it look like and portray it as this crazy, lying woman. ‘I absolutely had an affair with her, but all that stuff that she said, every single bit of it, is not true.'”

WWE and John Laurinaitis, who are also named as defendants have sided with McMahon in his efforts to compel arbitration. McMahon is being represented in proceedings by Kasowitz Benson Torres. Ironically, the firm recently settled a lawsuit against WWE that saw Major League Wrestling paid $20 million. 

Janel Grant wanted to be the best friend of Vince McMahon as well as surgery paid for by the ex-WWE Chairman, a legal representative of McMahon has claimed. 

Grant has alleged that she was sexually abused and trafficked by McMahon and was used by others in WWE including John Laurinaitis. McMahon has denied all claims against him but stepped down from WWE in January 2024 due to the lawsuit. 

• WWE Siding with McMahon & Laurinaitis In Efforts To Compel Arbitration 

In more recent weeks, McMahon and other defendants have tried to compel arbitration that would see the matter settled outside of court. Grant’s legal team has rejected the notion and has filed for recent comments made by McMahon to be struck from the record. These comments share “vicious falsehoods attacking Janel’s moral character” according to this motion. 

In the most recent response from McMahon’s legal team, they claim that Grant’s effort to strike McMahon’s comments are the “height of hypocrisy” given what she has alleged about him. The new memorandum adds that the discovery in this case will show the following: 

• That she [Grant] was in love with him [McMahon] and he was the love of her life
• That he was her best friend
• That she wanted to have sex with him and provided graphic detail
• That she fantasized about being held down, enjoyed being in pain, and wanted rough sex
• That she wanted Defendant to watch her have sex with other people and know about her sex with others
• That she wanted Defendant to give her thousands of dollars for clothes, plastic surgery, and other gifts
• That she wanted to have a future with Defendant even after signing the Agreement.
• That she wanted Defendant to keep living in the same building, so she could continue to see him, even after signing the Agreement

This is hardly the first time McMahon’s legal team have tried to assert that Grant was a willing participant in their ‘relationship.’ Jessica Rosenburg, a member of McMahon’s team, has claimed that Grant was in love with McMahon and her lawsuit is revenge for their relationship ending. 

WWE will join its former CEO Vince McMahon in an effort to compel arbitration in the lawsuit brought against them by ex-employee Janel Grant. 

The shocking allegations in Grant’s lawsuit resulted in McMahon’s second resignation from WWE in January 2024 though he has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and trafficking. McMahon’s lawyer has claimed that Grant’s lawsuit is ‘revenge’ for McMahon ending their relationship, a claim Grant’s legal team has denied. 

In April 2024, McMahon filed to compel arbitration in the case that would see this lawsuit settled quietly outside of court, a move John Laurinaitis, who is also among the defendants, supports. In a new filing, it is revealed that WWE will align with both men in their efforts to compel arbitration.

“WWE also anticipates filing a motion to compel arbitration and stay this action pending arbitration”, which removes any doubt that all three defendants will be moving to compel arbitration.”

It is proposed that the three defendants file their motion by Tuesday, May 14. WWE has yet to file a motion while Laurinaitis has filed the motion but not a memorandum in support. McMahon has already filed both. 

Not a Comeback

While McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE may be on the same side, fans shouldn’t see this as a sign of a potential return for either man. There is said to be nobody defending McMahon in WWE given the seriousness of the allegations against him. McMahon has listed all of his remaining stock in TKO for sale, and there have been no movements for Laurinaitis to return either.