Vince McMahon has submitted a motion to compel arbitration in the lawsuit brought against him, WWE, and John Laurinaitis by Janel Grant. This is his latest move in the ongoing legal situation brought on by Grant’s earth-shattering allegations.

On January 25, Janel Grant initiated a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and former executive John Laurinaitis, claiming sex trafficking, emotional abuse, and sexual assault. The lawsuit details Janel’s experiences of sexual, physical, mental, and emotional abuse.

McMahon is now pushing to move the case to arbitration, per Wrestlenomics. He is aiming to handle the dispute over the nondisclosure agreement privately, rather than in a public courtroom.

The NDA that was the focal point of this situation, agreed upon by McMahon and Grant, includes an arbitration clause. Although Grant’s complaint argues that the NDA is not enforceable.

Vince McMahon resigned from WWE in response to those terrible allegations, although he had denied that they are true. Grant’s legal team has also stated that they are overwhelmed by the response from others who want to come forward about McMahon.

Vince McMahon’s Defense

In his defense, McMahon claims that Grant’s allegations of sexual abuse and coercion are fictional and aimed at attracting publicity, contradicting her own previous statements.

McMahon asserts that he and Grant had a consensual relationship, denying any coercion or mistreatment. Grant’s January-filed complaint accuses McMahon and Laurinaitis of sex trafficking and details sexual assault. She claims that several of WWE’s top executives were aware of her relationship with McMahon.

In his motion, McMahon also refutes Grant’s assertion that she was grieving her parents when they met in 2019, noting that her father died in 2017 and her mother earlier. He references a 2017 lawsuit about the foreclosure on Grant’s parents’ home. McMahon mentions that Grant was living with her fiancé in the same condo complex during their relationship.

Vince McMahon’s argument describes it as “nonsensical” that Grant would return to her fiancé, located four floors below, without any issues after the alleged acts. McMahon also notes that neither Grant’s fiancé, Brian Gonvalves—a lawyer and executive at TelevisaUnivision—nor anyone from the building, police, or Grant’s friends contacted him about the alleged abuse.

McMahon’s legal team insists the lawsuit should be paused while the matter proceeds to arbitration, pointing out that the NDA was signed by McMahon personally and on behalf of WWE, and argues that Laurinaitis and WWE should also be compelled to arbitration with Grant.

Latest on Laurinaitis’ Side of Things

John Laurinaitis has been implicated in the significant lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon. He is accused of facilitating the sexual abuse that Janel Grant experienced, although he presents a different version of events.

Laurinaitis has also released a statement concerning these allegations. While not denying any acts in Grant’s lawsuit, he did claim that he was a victim in the situation.

The former WWE executive waved his right to be served Grant’s lawsuit. Ronda Rousey has since spoken out about Johnny Ace, calling him a “dirt bag.”

It isn’t Bill Goldberg’s place to comment on the scandal surrounding Vince McMahon but he believes that the new leadership in WWE is for the better. 

McMahon stepped down from WWE & TKO in January 2024 over the shocking allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. McMahon has denied the allegations against him and has vowed to clear his name in court. 

Speaking to 93.7 The Ticket, Goldberg was asked for his thoughts on the allegations against McMahon. The WWE Hall of Famer was quick to make clear that it wasn’t his place to weigh in on the claims Grant has made. 

“The allegations and the things that have come to the forefront over the past six months or a year, I have no comment on it. It’s not my place.”

McMahon’s exit has seen a new ‘era’ in WWE launch, one that has been well-received by fans and those in the industry. In the interview, Goldberg agreed that audiences are doing well with McMahon out of the picture. 

“I think that the current owners of the WWE are going to make decisions based upon what they believe, and I think the decisions they have made have been favorable to the masses.”

McMahon is no longer with WWE and appears ready to break from TKO Group Holdings completely. The ex-CEO recently listed his remaining stock in TKO for sale after months of selling huge chunks of his portfolio in the company.

As for Goldberg, WWE’s new era will seemingly not involve the two-time former Universal Champion. Goldberg recently gave up his pursuit of a final match. The WCW alum had been seeking one last match after his WWE contract ended in late 2022. 

Wrestlers on Vince McMahon’s Resignation

Here are some  articles about wrestlers and what they have had to say in response to the lawsuit against Vince McMahon: 

H/T – Fightful

Welcome to the Daily Drop for Thursday, April 18, 2024. AEW brought a packed episode of Dynamite last night, the go-home episode before Dynasty, as they prepared for Swerve Strickland’s AEW World Title shot against Samoa Joe.

Before we get going, new details about Vince McMahon’s life after WWE were revealed. McMahon has stayed in contact with The Rock and John Cena during his retirement. He has also done a lot of traveling and bought cats.

Let’s get into today’s Daily Drop!

WWE:

– WrestleMania 41 Location: Nick Khan stated that WWE is looking at Las Vegas for WrestleMania 41′s host city. People in Minneapolis may not be thrilled about that.

– WWE Moving PLEs: The WWE CEO also stated that the company will continue promoting the big four premium live events in the United States, but the plan is to shop all other PLEs, around seven a year, to markets outside America. So, overseas premium live events may become a very common thing from this point on.

– Piper Inspires: Piper Niven has spoken about how she wants to be a role model and inspiration for bigger girls.

– Drew McIntyre Gets Heat: McIntyre had a lot of fun trolling CM Punk, and the fans, in Birmingham.

Whole arena just chanted CM Punk at Drew McIntyre, so he grabbed a mic and said:

“Even if he was healthy, which is never, he’d never make the trip to the UK”

?#WWEBirmingham

— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) April 17, 2024

– Drew Was On Fire: During that same match in Birmingham, McIntyre grabbed the microphone a second time. Drew McIntyre interrupted his match to demand respect, noting he’s a Great British Hero and unlike Wade Barrett and British Bulldog, he has won a world title.

Drew McIntyre just grabbed the mic again mid-match and said the crowd should be showing him, a Great British Hero, some respect because Wade Barrett, British Bulldog and all the others never won a world title like he did lol#WWEBirmingham

— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) April 17, 2024

– Roman’s Acting Career: Roman Reigns will be in a new movie called ‘Good Fortune’ With Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer.

– Erick Redbeard Situation: After pulling out of an indie wrestling event, it is the general belief that the former Erick Rowan is on his way back to WWE. The idea is that he may be a part of Bo Dallas’ rumored Uncle Howdy stable. Stay tuned…

Solve the QR Code message and this is what it leads to. #WWERAW #UncleHowdy pic.twitter.com/VgOyRT30Ux

— ?????? (@WrestlingCovers) April 16, 2024

– WWE NXT Viewership: The April 16 episode of NXT drew 625,000 viewers, slightly down from 647,000 on April 9. The April 9 episode’s 18-49 demographic rating was 0.17, a slight decrease from 0.19. NXT faced competition from an NBA Play-In Tournament game between the Lakers and Pelicans, which attracted 1.9 million viewers and a 1.46 rating on TNT.

AEW:

– Nyla Rose Ban: The state of Oklahoma has declared that Nyla Rose is not allowed to wrestle cis-gendered females anymore. This controversy sparked a huge response, and the Native Beast responded to her supporters on Twitter/X during AEW Dynamite.

Hey… ummmm i’m busy at work right now, but I just wanted to let you all know I see the love, and I feel the love and I appreciate all of you… except of course serpentico. #AEWDynamite is on right now. Please watch it.??

— Rizzie McGuire? (@NylaRoseBeast) April 18, 2024

– WWE to AEW: Longtime WWE Spanish language commentator Carlos Cabrera has signed with AEW. He started on Dynamite this week.

– Ruby Pregnant: Ruby Soho announced during the AEW Rampage taping this week that she is pregnant. This doesn’t seem to a storyline.

– Forbidden Door Plans: Bodyslam.net reported that AEW is planning to have Joshi star AZM back for Forbidden Door.

– Goodbye Bay-Bay: Adam Cole is off the road with AEW. The travel was getting in the way of his recovery progress, so he’s taking time off to focus on his ankle injury. That is terrible news for The Devil storyline.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

• AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
• WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
• WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Vince McMahon’s days in WWE may be a thing of the past, but the former Chairman remains in touch with some huge names from the world of pro wrestling.

McMahon resigned from WWE for the second time in January 2024 and unlike his 2022 retirement, he is not expected to return. WWE has made a concerted effort to distance themselves from McMahon including launching a new ‘era’ with WrestleMania 40, the first ‘Showcase of the Immortals’ without McMahon’s involvement. McMahon recently listed the remainder of his stock in TKO for sale which if all is sold, would give him no shareholder influence over the company.

Loyal Friends

While WWE has avoided referencing McMahon on its programming, the billionaire remains in contact with TKO board member Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, NBC News reports. The Brahma Bull was appointed to the board around the same time that the Janel Grant lawsuit against McMahon that resulted in his resignation came to light. 

The 78-year-old billionaire also remains in contact with John Cena though there’s no word on what either man discusses with McMahon. This isn’t the first time Cena’s name has been linked to McMahon following his resignation. The 16-time World Champion’s recent comments about loving McMahon despite the allegations against him spawned a backlash for the wrestler-turned-actor. 

As the top dog in professional wrestling for decades, McMahon built the careers of countless individuals so it’s hardly a surprise that some remain loyal to the controversial billionaire. While it’s been stated that nobody in WWE is defending McMahon, Ronda Rousey isn’t so sure and recently claimed that as long as Bruce Prichard is involved in WWE, McMahon has a direct line to influence decisions. 

More Exits

McMahon’s departure from WWE is arguably the biggest exit in company history but he isn’t the only veteran to leave the squared circle behind. Kevin Dunn left WWE after over four decades in late 2023 despite hopes within the promotion that he’d stay on until WrestleMania 40. He has been replaced as Head of Production by Lee Fitting. 

Sue Aitchison is another long-time WWE name who has left WWE. Aitchison oversaw WWE’s outreach department and played an intrinsic role in nurturing the company’s relationship with Make-A-Wish. For her efforts, she received the WWE Hall of Fame’s Warrior Award in 2019. 

Right now, it’s hard to ignore the ‘changing of the guard’ atmosphere within WWE as those who ruled the company for decades are no longer in the picture. With that said it’ll still be some time until Vince’s people are fully phased out of the promotion’s internal workings. 

As McMahon prepares for possibly the biggest fight of his life, at least legally speaking, the fact that some of WWE’s top names have kept in touch with him is an interesting development, and suggests that McMahon could indeed have an interest in WWE greater than what those in the promotion are letting on.

Non-disclosure agreements became a hot topic in pro wrestling, thanks to the hush money scandal that led to Vince McMahon’s WWE departure. The company’s practice of NDAs extends past that scandalous situation, as even Eric Young agreed to sign a non-disclosure agreement with WWE.

Eric Young requested and was granted his release from WWE in April 2023, shortly after re-signing with the company in November 2022. At the time, it was reported that his decision came after Vince McMahon returned to an official capacity in WWE as part of the deal with Endeavor.

Speaking to Sunday Night’s Main Event, Eric Young revealed that when he rejoined WWE, he never physically left his home for work. He signed a non-disclosure agreement, which still restricts him from naming specific people, but he did acknowledge that he refused to return due to someone who was around.

I actually never left my house (after agreeing to return to WWE in 2022). I mean, the whole story’s wild. Again, I had to sign an NDA, and I’m not allowed to say names… (Host asked if Young’s NDA is as ironclad as Janel Grant’s NDA) I don’t know. It depends if it goes federal or not. I mean, I might be able to say everything here within a few months but, the truth is, I don’t need to talk badly on it.

It is what it is and I talked to Hunter and he hired me back and wanted me back there and I was and another person came back and I won’t work for that person, I won’t be around that person and I said that when I left there the first time when I got fired and I meant it and you know, for me, there was tons of professional reasons.

WWE’s Non-Disclosure Agreements

On January 25th, Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, alleging sex trafficking and sexual assault. McMahon resigned from his position on the TKO Group Board of Directors after Slim Jim pulled their sponsorship on the day before the 2024 Royal Rumble event. He has since denied the allegations, stating his intention to clear his name.

The lawsuit led WWE to distance itself from McMahon, who had previously led the company for over 40 years. In the summer of 2023, McMahon was served with a grand jury subpoena for documents related to allegations of sexual misconduct against current or former WWE employees.

Additionally, it was revealed that Janel Grant and at least four other women had previously entered into Non-Disclosure Agreements with McMahon regarding similar allegations. Grant’s legal team has since said that the amount of people coming forward to issue their own complaints about McMahon is overwhelming.

Eric Young’s Impact Wrestling Exit

Young expressed confidence that he could still work at WWE today. He remains in close contact with Triple H and holds him and the majority of the WWE staff in high regard.

Regarding his departure from IMPACT, Young disclosed that he had no plans to return after signing a four-year contract with WWE.

In 2022, Eric Young concluded his time with IMPACT Wrestling, as he exited their television stories after he was stabbed by Cody Deaner. This angle was designed to write him off as he was transitioning back to WWE, a move that never truly materialized.

WWE just celebrated the biggest WrestleMania weekend in company history. With over 200,000 fans attending the events in Philly, the company was quickly back to business as they fired some high-profile internal names.

The recent round of “spring cleaning” came as Dan Ventrelle, Sid Scala, Trent Wilfinger, and Sue Aitchison were let go. Each one of those cuts were notable.

Dan Ventrelle

Many fans were surprised to discover that Dan Ventrelle, formerly WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, was released on April 11. He had been with WWE for many years, working closely with Nick Khan and Paul Levesque. He entered WWE by way of the NFL, where he joined the Oakland Raiders in 2003, rising to executive vice president and playing a pivotal role in the team’s move to Las Vegas and new stadium construction. After being appointed interim president of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021, he focused on community integration and initiatives like vaccine verification before his departure in May 2022.

Trent Wilfinger

WWE cut Trent Wilfinger, who was Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development. He started his tenure at WWE in the summer of 2021, concentrating on Global Athlete Strategy & Development under Paul Levesque. Prior to WWE, he spent more than ten years at the fitness company EXOS.

Sue Aitchison

WWE Hall of Famers were not immune from the recent releases. Sue Aitchison was the longtime Director of Community Relations at WWE. After joining WWE in 1986, Aitchison had a 38-year tenure. During her time in WWE, she significantly influenced WWE’s community outreach and enhanced the company’s partnership with Make-A-Wish. In recognition of her contributions, she received the Warrior Award at the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019, inducted by Stephanie McMahon.

Sid Scala

Known as the British Superstar for many fans, Sid Scala was released from WWE in the last wave of internal cuts. He had been part of the company since the start of the NXT UK brand in 2017, serving as the Assistant General Manager with Johnny Saint. The NXT UK brand was absorbed by the OG NXT show, with NXT Europe still in the pipeline, but delayed due to the Endeavor takeover.

WWE’s New Era

WWE is entering into a new era under Triple H’s leadership. Vince McMahon is out of the picture, and some notable exits have followed, including long-time WWE executive producer Kevin Dunn in December 2023.

Lee Fitting, who entered WWE from outside the pro wrestling business, brought his expertise from ESPN to replace Dunn as head of production. We will have to see how these remaining spots that came open this week will be filled.

The company went through a major change as Endeavor merged WWE with the UFC. Now as a new company, fans are seeing how things will operate after WrestleMania, and there have already been some notable changes roll out this week. 

The Vince McMahon era is indeed coming to an end as the ex-WWE Chairman’s remaining shares in TKO Group Holdings have been listed for sale. 

A filing published on April 12 revealed that 8,021,405 TKO shares belonging to Vince McMahon had been registered for sale. This allows for the shares to be bought and sold with less administrative friction. This move doesn’t necessarily mean that Vince will be selling all of his shares, although he might. Should every share be sold, it would mean that McMahon has no official stake in TKO Group Holdings.

This move comes mere days after McMahon sold 1.642 million shares to Endeavor while TKO purchased 1.853 million shares. These two sales earned McMahon an approximate $293 million. 

McMahon unloaded 5.35 million shares in early March and sold 3.48 million more shares that same month. With his 8,021,405 shares, McMahon retains a 4.7% stake in TKO. 

A New Era Dawns

McMahon’s selling of shares comes at a pivotal time for WWE as the promotion continues to distance itself from the former Chairman. Over WrestleMania week, there was a lot of talk of a ‘new era’ in WWE with Stephanie McMahon calling this the ‘Paul Levesque Era’ during WrestleMania 40: Sunday. 

It’s hard not to notice this ‘new era’ both on WWE programming and behind the scenes. WWE’s changes to its on-screen production have been praised by fans who appreciate the new style of Lee Fitting who has replaced company veteran Kevin Dunn. Behind the scenes, Dan Ventrelle has left WWE as the company’s Head of Talent Relations with Triple H and Shawn Michaels overseeing both talent and talent development. 

WWE is in a new era under Triple H, and that means the old guard is becoming a thing of the past. Vince McMahon ran the company for decades, but he will soon have even less of a stake in the business. 

New filings indicate that TKO and Endeavor are in the process of acquiring shares from Vince McMahon. 

Through separate agreements, Endeavor is set to purchase 1,642,970 shares for a sum of $142.6 million, while TKO is poised to acquire an additional 1,853,724 shares for approximately $150 million. This amalgamation of transactions amounts to a grand total of roughly $293 million.

Upon the completion of these deals, which are slated to be finalized on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, Vince McMahon will retain ownership of 8,021,405 TKO shares. A straightforward calculation reveals that post-transaction, Vince’s stake in TKO will go down to around 4.7%.

NEW FILING: TKO and Endeavor are buying shares from Vince McMahon.

In two agreements, Endeavor is buying 1,642,970 shares for $142.6M and TKO is buying an additional 1,853,724 for about $150M, for a total of about $293M.

By my count, after the transactions close on Tuesday and… pic.twitter.com/ibVQDvni4H

— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) April 8, 2024

Vince McMahon’s TKO Stock Sell-Off

Vince McMahon has unloaded a lot of WWE stock in recent memory. McMahon sold even more TKO Stock at the end of March, as he unloaded 3,484,006 more shares. This sale added to the 5,350,000 shares he sold in early March.

McMahon resigned from the company after Janel Grant’s lawsuit went public. Slim Jim pulled their sponsorship just before the 2024 Royal Rumble event, and that was the final nail in his proverbial coffin.

Ultimately, McMahon was urged by TKO CEO Ari Emanuel and TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro to resign. Now, Vince is no longer an active part of the company, and it appears that he will have even fewer shares soon enough.

WWE saw a huge change when Vince McMahon resigned from the company before the 2024 Royal Rumble event. Now, Triple H is holding the book, and this year’s event will mark a huge landmark for the company.

A new report from Fightful Select noted that there is a sense of excitement among WWE talent, described as an “aura of excitement” by one prominent figure, due to Vince McMahon’s absence. While the allegations against McMahon aren’t disregarded, the apprehension of his potential interference has gone away.

Furthermore, McMahon’s absence extends beyond WrestleMania, with sources reportedly suggesting that he isn’t expected to make an appearance at the show at all. There have been instances where McMahon’s presence wasn’t necessarily welcomed in the past.

Looking ahead, WWE’s RAW After Mania also has a sense of excitement surrounding it without McMahon’s influence. Many within the company believe that this year’s RAW After Mania has the potential to be a memorable event, free from McMahon’s last-minute changes that marred previous episodes.

Vince McMahon’s Removal From WWE Creative

McMahon originally retired from WWE after the story about hush money payments broke. Then, he returned to the company a short time later to help usher in a sale.

Leading up to WrestleMania 39, McMahon had reasserted himself within WWE, exerting influence over creative decisions. Despite not directly engaging with the creative team, McMahon’s impact was felt as he would later intervene to alter aspects of the show via zoom or telephone call.

Although McMahon had been absent from shows for several months, he resurfaced during last year’s WrestleMania weekend, reportedly altering the outcome of at least one match. While McMahon had favored Roman Reigns retaining over Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39, this decision had already been finalized beforehand.

However, McMahon’s influence has waned significantly for this year’s WrestleMania, with reports indicating that he no longer has any sway over the event directly or indirectly. Additionally, it’s been noted that McMahon’s focus has shifted towards addressing pressing issues, such as the allegations involving Janel Grant.

Now, Triple H is the Chief Creative Officer, calling the shots on what fans see during the company’s weekly television shows. This includes WrestleMania 40, where Vince McMahon is not expected to be seen at all.

Former WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey is far from surprised by the allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against ex-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. 

Janel Grant’s daming lawsuit against WWE and its former chairman alleges that she was a sexual slave during her time and was trafficked by McMahon to various men in the company. McMahon has denied all wrongdoing and claims the lawsuit is rife with fabrications.

Ronda Rousey on Vince McMahon

In her new memoir Our Fight, Rousey doesn’t hold back in her feelings about Vince McMahon, even comparing him to Star Wars villain Emperor Palpatine. Rousey has also spoken out against former McMahon-ally John Laurinaitis, who she claims acted like a frat boy in WWE.

Sitting down with News Nation, Rousey was asked about McMahon and his exit from WWE. The former Raw & SmackDown Women’s Champion made clear she wasn’t taken aback by the lawsuit. 

“It’s not surprising… the reason why nobody else is speaking out is because they know that there will be negative repercussions if they say anything about the company that the company doesn’t like. Everybody is being held hostage.”

Rousey added that her situation is different as with no plans to return unless major changes are made to WWE, she can be more expressive about the promotion.

“I don’t really care if they have me back or not. I can wrestle wherever I want to wrestle and the truth should be told.” 

What Have WWE Superstars Said?

After McMahon’s resignation, Triple H said he had not read Janel Grant’s lawsuit when asked about the matter during the WWE Royal Rumble 2024 post-show press event.

At the same Royal Rumble 2024 press conference, Cody Rhodes called the McMahon situation a dark cloud over WWE.

Seth Rollins was disgusted with what was claimed in the lawsuit. The World Heavyweight Champion has said if the claims are true, he hopes everyone gets what they deserve.

John Cena has taken a different approach. Cena has made clear he still loves McMahon, despite what has happened. While Cena did speak of the importance of accountability, his comments did spark controversy for how glowing he was of the ex-chairman.

Becky Lynch has said that she does not recognize the McMahon discussed in the lawsuit. The Man has said her interactions with Vince in WWE were almost all positive. 

Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Tuesday, April 2. It’s WRESTLEMANIA WEEK and WWE delivered a fun (and historic) ‘go-home’ edition of Monday Night RAW last night from Brooklyn, NY.

Before we get going, with all the WrestleMania hype going around, we want to make sure you know that Triple H revealed the card for each night of WrestleMania 40. You can find those details here.

WrestleMania Countdown: 4 DAYS

Let’s get into today’s wrestling news  items you should know about:

WWE

– Vince’s Attorneys Just Got $20MM Out of WWE: On Monday, the NY Post uncovered that the law firm hired to defend Vince McMahon from the lawsuit filed by Janel Grant is the same company that represented Major League Wrestling in its lawsuit against WWE. That suit was recently settled, with WWE paying out $20 million.

– Return of the Clash: WWE Clash at the Castle 2024 has been announced for Saturday, June 15 from Glasgow, Scotland.  This is WWE’s first-ever PLE from Drew McIntyre’s home country.

– Heyman Inductor: Roman Reigns will induct Paul Heyman into the WWE Hall of Fame this Friday after SmackDown.

– WeezyMania: Lil Wayne made a surprise appearance backstage at Monday’s WWE Raw from Brooklyn. He will be on hand for WrestleMania this weekend, where he’ll debut a new single off his upcoming album, Tha Carter VI.

– WWE Breaking Records: The company broke another record this week for RAW, this time it was for the all-time highest gate in the show’s history. It was also the company’s 13th consecutive sold-out televised event, another record.

– Bo Dallas: WWE meant to drop a tease for Bo Dallas/ Uncle Howdy’s return during the end of the Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal documentary.

WWE NXT Card (4/2):

• Axiom & Nathan Frazer vs. The O.C. (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) vs. LWO (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) – Triple Threat Tag Team Qualifier Match
• Oba Femi vs. Joe Gacy 
• Von Wagner vs. Lexis King 
• Karmen Petrovic vs. Lola Vice 
• Fallon Henley vs. Jacy Jayne 
• Sol Ruca vs. Blair Davenport 

AEW

– AEW Releases: 

• The Boys
• Dasha Gonzolaz
• Jose The Assistant
• Jora Johl
• Anthony Henry
• Gravity
• Stu Grayson
• Parker Boudreaux
• Slim J

– AEW Felt Betrayed: CM Punk revealed that people in AEW were not happy that he showed up to RAW in Chicago in April 2023. He said that they told him they felt “betrayed.”

– Brawl Out: CM Punk also spoke candidly about the Brawl Out situation, where he said he has nothing to hide.

– Another Injury: Ortiz will be out of action for a while due to a pectoral injury. This came to pass just after his former partner, Mike Santana, left the company.

Upcoming Wrestling Shows

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:

April 6: NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.

May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.

Triple H is okay with changing WWE’s storylines due to the response of fans as he handles the company’s plans differently from Vince McMahon. 

The Game serves as WWE’s Chief Content Officer and oversees the company’s creative plans as well as talent relations. Following Vince McMahon’s resignation from WWE, Triple H has been able to book matters fully in line with his creative vision rather than having to appease his father-in-law

Changing Plans

When The Rock returned to WWE, the promotion’s plan was for the Brahma Bull to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. Immediately, fans rejected the notion of Cody Rhodes ‘handing over’ the spot many have expected for him since WrestleMania 39. The ‘We Want Cody’ movement would lead to WWE changing plans; putting Cody back in the Undisputed WWE Universal Title picture and turning The Rock heel. 

Triple H Weighs In

The fact that WWE was willing to change its plans marked a considerable change from the company’s past stance of sticking with its plans even in the face of fan backlash. In a recent interview with ESPN about WWE’s changes in the post-McMahon era, Triple H highlighted how he’s more open to other ideas. 

“Now it’s a different time, and the way I do things is slightly different. My career, I learned from being here, but there were things along the way that I always thought I would do differently. In this time now, I get to make those calls and with a large team of people.

“Everything you do is dependent on reactions. That’s what we do as an industry. … The beautiful thing with this group and with Cody and Roman and Rock especially, everybody’s got their ear to the ground. … And then we all just get together and figure the s*** out.”

Cody Rhodes Weighs In

Nobody has benefitted from Triple H willingness to change plans more regarding this situation than Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare is poised to have another shot at Roman Reigns and the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40. When Rhodes spoke to ESPN, he addressed why The Rock’s return didn’t go as WWE had intended. 

“[Rock] might just have come back at a strange time, which is wild [for] the most popular wrestler of all time and one of the most recognizable faces on Earth… the fact that one person is booing him out there throws me. It means we’re doing something special here.”

Rhodes will team with Seth Rollins to face Roman Reigns and The Rock on WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, the night before Rhodes Vs. Reigns for the title.  

CM Punk’s first interaction with Vince McMahon after returning to WWE at Survivor Series 2023 would also prove to be his last, the Chicago-Made star has revealed. 

The Best in the World returned in the closing moments of the show, in his first appearance at a WWE Premium Live Event since the 2014 Royal Rumble. Punk was fired from AEW in September 2023 following a week-long investigation into his backstage altercation with Jack Perry at AEW All In.

Meeting With Vince McMahon

Speaking to Ariel Helwani of the MMA Hour, Punk recalled being invited to WWE’s headquarters for a workout and being approached by McMahon’s trainers before the man himself. 

“I was in there, and I was on the phone on the treadmill warming up. And Vince’s trainers [say] ‘Hey, you’ve got to get off the phone. Vince doesn’t like it when people are on the phone in the gym… And then I saw him walking down into the gym. He came in for his daily workout. 

When asked, Punk recalled the brief conversation he shared with McMahon and the plans that neither man was able to follow up on. 

“He gave me a big hug. He said ‘Welcome home. Good to see you. Let’s connect after I work out.’ I said alright. Haven’t seen him since [laughs.]” 

What Came Next? 

McMahon would resign from WWE two months after Punk’s return to the company. The 78-year-old billionaire would step away due to the damning claims in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against himself and WWE. McMahon has denied all wrongdoing. 

Mere days after McMahon’s resignation, Punk would suffer a triceps injury that has kept him on the shelf ever since. Despite this, Punk will be a guest commentator at WrestleMania 40 for the World Heavyweight Championship match between Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre. 

Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon uncovered some heinous allegations. Mr. McMahon’s choice in legal representation is raising eyebrows.

Vince McMahon’s legal representative recently released a statement in response to a new development in the case. Many pro wrestling fans will spot an interesting tie, as McMahon is now using the same law firm that MLW had against WWE in their antitrust lawsuit.

Vince McMahon’s Interesting Representation

The New York Post released a new report today with some developments on Janel Grant’s lawsuit. In response to new allegations that Vince McMahon used coercive tactics, his attorney released a statement on the matter.

McMahon’s attorney, Jessica Taub Rosenberg of law firm Kasowitz Benson Torres, told the outlet that “this is revisionist history. No one coerced Ms. Grant to write that letter. She wrote it of her own accord. The fact that the letter shows it was the 24th draft speaks volumes.”

Some pro wrestling fans perked up when they saw Kasowitz Benson Torres in that article, especially as they are representing Vince McMahon. That is the same law firm that MLW used in their recent antitrust lawsuit against WWE.

Interesting that Vince McMahon is being represented by Kasowitz Benson Torres in the Janel Grant case. Same team that repped MLW's $20 million settlement AGAINST WWE.

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) April 1, 2024

MLW’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against WWE

MLW and WWE just came to terms on a massive, years-long lawsuit. In the end, WWE forked over $20 million in the settlement.

In January 2022, MLW filed a legal action against WWE, accusing them of coercive behavior to deter partnerships with MLW by third parties like Vice TV and Tubi. After nearly two years, WWE and MLW settled the dispute in December 2023, with recent reports revealing WWE’s financial commitment of $20 million as part of the agreement, shedding light on the outcome of the antitrust lawsuit.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional information is made available. Keep checking back throughout the day for more updates!

Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Saturday, March 30. We are officially one week away from WrestleMania 40. Let’s get right into today’s Daily Drop!

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 7

WWE:

– WWE World: The full list of Superstar appearances at WWE World was announced. You can click here for that comprehensive article.

– The Man’s Book: We learned a lot from Becky Lynch’s new autobiography, ‘The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl’, and you can find that article here.

– WrestleMania Mystery Slot: WWE has reportedly blocked off a segment during WrestleMania 40 for a mystery slot. We will have to see what they book.

– Martha Hart Reacts: Owen Hart’s widow, Martha Hart, unloaded on Vince McMahon’s allegations. Naturally, she had a lot to say.

– WrestleMania 40 Additions: WWE is still expected to add a few matches to the Mania card.

AEW:

– Jay White’s Absence: It turns out that Jay White hasn’t been around AEW in recent weeks due to visa issues.

– Matt Hardy Contract: AEW has offered Hardy a new contract with the company. That could keep him in the Land of All Elite for even longer.

–Moxley’s New Look: Jon Moxley has updated his look ahead of his CMLL appearance.

– Kenny Omega Update: It seems that Omega may need surgery for his diverticulitis battle after all. We’re sending him our best.

AEW Collision (3/30) Card:

• Thunder Rosa vs. Lady Frost
• AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal: The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) vs. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
• AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal: Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin) vs. Ricky Starks & Big Bill
• Adam Copeland’s TNT Championship Open Challenge: Adam Copeland (c) vs. TBA
• Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, and Katsuyori Shibata vs. The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent) & Lance Archer

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:

April 6: NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.

May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.

AJ Styles may have made a huge name for himself before coming to WWE, but a certain ex-chairman of the company had no idea who the Phenomenal One was.

Styles made a huge splash in 2016 when he was part of that year’s Royal Rumble match. While treated as a debut, Styles had competed a handful of times for WWE years earlier following the demise of WCW. 

AJ Styles and the Redacted One

Speaking during a recent Fanatics livestream, Styles stated that for all his goodwill with fans, Vince McMahon didn’t know who he was. McMahon, whom Styles avoided mentioning by name, had to be convinced to give AJ a prominent spot in the Rumble match.

“The redacted name did not know me. He had no clue who I was. So it was guys who had worked with me with TNA and whatnot that were able to say ‘Let this guy come in [the Royal Rumble match] third, be third in the Rumble, please.’ Finally he goes ‘Fine, let them!’ And then the reaction happens.”

Despite getting a huge reaction during the Rumble match, McMahon still was not convinced that Styles was a big deal, as the Phenomenal One explained: 

“He still didn’t believe them.”He was like ‘Ah it was just a fluke.’ And then the next night I had a match. It was okay but it was nothing special. He was like ‘I’ve got a hundred guys who could do what you just did.’ But what he was saying was true. 

The Redneck Rookie? 

With McMahon overseeing all of WWE’s on-screen production at the time, the promotion tried to present Styles as a brand new wrestler despite his prior accomplishments. One galling example of this was when he was bestowed the nickname of the “rookie redneck,” eight years after entering the wrestling business. It wouldn’t be until much later that WWE would come around and acknowledge AJ’s work in other companies.  

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

The pro wrestling world was turned upside down when Janel Grant’s lawsuit revealed heinous allegations against Vince McMahon. Now, someone who also had an intense battle with Vince and WWE is speaking out.

Martha Hart addressed the allegations against Vince McMahon, expressing her lack of surprise over Janel Grant’s lawsuit. She highlighted the gravity of the allegations and criticized the actions as incomprehensible.

Martha Hart Speaks on Vince McMahon Allegations

While speaking to News Nation, Martha Hart was asked about the allegations against Vince McMahon. She was quite candid as she said that the content of Janel Grant’s lawsuit did not surprise her. 

“No, I was not surprised when I heard there was yet another lawsuit. Over the years, the WWE, they’ve had many lawsuits and they’ve had a lot of bad press. And I tell you, I read all of the 67 pages in that complaint – and it is absolutely horrific. And I have to say that the level of wickedness that’s described is beyond the pale in that complaint, and anyone with a shred of humanity would find the indignant acts just incomprehensible, frankly.”

“So it wasn’t a shock that there was another lawsuit, but the level of, I guess, depravity there certainly was. I’m a doctor in mental health and I’m also the founder and director of the Owen Hart Foundation, so no matter what hat I’m wearing, I always work with at-risk people. And I can tell you that – anyone that takes advantage of a vulnerable person is the most despicable type of person because these are people that need to be supported and protected, not exploited. And by Janel Grant’s own admission, she was a vulnerable person. She was unemployed, her parents had passed away, she was suffering with grief, and she was also just on the cusp of financial collapse. So these are all the makings of a very vulnerable person.”

Hart was also asked if she has any advice for Janel Grant. She suggested that Grant keep pressing this case, and not to back down.

I would say to just stay the course. And her claim is very credible, and I would be steadfast in my convictions, and don’t back down.

Martha Hart’s Legal Battle With WWE

Following Owen Hart’s tragic death in 1999, Martha Hart went to war with McMahon and WWE in court. A wrongful death lawsuit against WWE resulted in an alleged settlement of $18 million. Additionally, Hart pursued another lawsuit against WWE for unauthorized use of Owen Hart’s name and likeness, which was also resolved through a settlement.

Martha Hart recounted that her legal battles with WWE resembled a “David and Goliath” scenario. She explained the challenges she faced while confronting Vince McMahon and his company, describing it as a relentless struggle where they spared no effort to defend themselves. 

WWE used their vast resources and ability to hire top lawyers for the fight against Hart. Martha also had a lot of frustration due to the tactics used to delay proceedings and divert attention from the core issues. 

Owen Hart’s widow went on to note how wealth led to a sense of impunity for WWE, allowing individuals to believe they could act without constraints. Now, Vince McMahon is unable to escape this lawsuit against him that led to his resignation. 

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more, so keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines.

WWE was removed from WWE and the company is doing their best to wash him from their history. This all stems from Janel Grant’s lawsuit going public, and he resigned from his role in WWE shortly after that. Now, he is getting out of the TKO business even more by selling off more shares.

Vince McMahon is selling even more TKO Stock as he just unloaded 3,484,006 more shares. This sale adds to the 5,350,000 shares he sold in early March.

McMahon Sells More TKO Stock

Vince McMahon’s mass selloff of TKO Stock continues as he unloaded 3,484,006 shares, as revealed in an SEC filing released by TKO today.

The filing details McMahon’s sale agreement with an unaffiliated bank, obligating him to deliver up to 3,484,006 shares of TKO’s Class A common stock to settle the agreement.

McMahon and the bank amended the agreement on March 1, 2024. The physical settlement, divided into 15 parts, concluded between March 5, 2024, and March 25, 2024, resulting in McMahon receiving approximately $100 million.

How Much TKO Stock Vince McMahon Has Left

In early March, Vince McMahon also sold 5,350,000 TKO shares at $77 each, generating $411,950,000 from the transaction

Despite the recent sales, McMahon still retains ownership of roughly 11.5 million shares of TKO Group, indicating his continued interest in the company’s performance and future prospects.

He still does not have enough stock to be able to arrange any sort of takeover like he did after his first retirement. We will have to see if WWE continues avoiding any mention of Mr. McMahon on television.

For what it’s worth, TKO Group Holdings stock has shot up in recent memory. Many attribute that rise in value to their impending Netflix deal.

SEScoops will have more of this story, and so much more. Please keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines.

John Laurinaitis’ name was featured in mainstream stories as Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE also included his name as a defendant. Now, more are speaking out about his negative influence on the pro wrestling business.

Teddy Long openly criticized Johnny Ace in response to comments made by Rousey about him. Long expressed that he no longer restrains his opinions about Laurinaitis, calling him one of the worst individuals and accusing him of racial discrimination.

Teddy Long Blasts John Laurinaitis

We previously reported how John Laurinaitis was recently buried by Ronda Rousey, as she called him a dirt bag. WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long happens to agree with Rousey, and he would also throw racist on the accusations as well.

During Wrestle Binge, Teddy Long unloaded on Johnny Ace after Rousey’s comments about him came up in the conversation. Long said that he’s not holding his words back when it comes to Laurinaitis any longer.

I don’t hold my tongue back on John Laurinaitis. One of the worst pieces of sh*t on this planet, and you can do what you want to to me, you can sue me all you want to, ain’t nothing you’re gonna get except ‘holla, holla, holla.’ He is a man who is going to stop me from making a living because of the color of my skin — not because I’m not doing my job. So, you’re gonna tell me that I did my job, the face of that TV for nine years and you’re gonna … you know what I’m saying? Lemme stop.”

Laurinaitis and the Lawsuit

John Laurinaitis waved his right to be served Janel Grant’s lawsuit. He was very much aware of the filing, so he did not need that formality. He still asserts that he was a victim in the situation, as Vince McMahon was his boss as well.

In the lawsuit, McMahon is accused of instructing Grant to create “explicit content” for Laurinaitis, who was WWE head of talent relations at the time. Grant was later moved to the talent relations department, with both McMahon and Laurinaitis expecting her to engage with Laurinaitis sexually, both physically and through explicit content.

The suit also alleges that Grant was sexually assaulted by McMahon and Laurinaitis in June 2021 inside Laurinaitis’ office at WWE headquarters while colleagues were present. They allegedly cornered her, took turns restraining her, forced themselves on her, and ignored her pleas to stop.

SEScoops will continue covering this story, and so much more. Please keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines that you need.

WWE fans have been enjoying the direction the company has been going under the creative leadership of Paul Levesque(AKA Triple H). For years. the company has faced issues like plans being changed during a TV episode to the last minute with Vince McMahon at the helm. However, creativity has seemingly run more smoothly with Levesque in charge, and superstars like Becky Lynch appreciate the shift. 

In an interview with Getting Over: Wrestling Podcast, ‘The Man’ discussed the differences in WWE creative under Levesque and McMahon. She shared that consistency is the main factor and praised the former nine-time WWE Champion for his long-term storytelling. 

“…Paul tends to have a long-term vision of something and an idea of something and then executes, whereas before, you know, it was notorious that the show was being rewritten as it was going, and we were live on TV, and people didn’t know what was happening in the third hour and there would be stories that would start and then Vince would change his mind and so with Paul, he sees things through and for better or worse that gives a different viewing experience,” said Lynch.

‘The Man’ also explained why it’s important to let storylines develop over time as intended rather than nixing them altogether. 

“…You might not like the story on week two, but you don’t know where it’s going on week four, and so if we listen to people that saying ‘Yeah, but we don’t like the story on week two,’ well then you might never get the magic that you were going to get on week four, and so I think it’s important to listen to the audience to a certain degree,” said Lynch.

More On Becky Lynch’s Thoughts On Storytelling

Lynch went into detail about storytelling and why letting things play out as intended over time is good. The former WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion used herself as an example from when she was feuding with Bianca Belair and defeated her in 26 seconds at WWE SummerSlam on August 21, 2021. 

She noted that the fans didn’t like some of the ‘heel’ things she did during her rivalry and that it was meant to elicit negative reactions. 

“…You were meant to be outraged. You were meant to want to see her succeed, and then I think I started talking about her hair, and people were outraged that I might touch her hair,” said Lynch. She continued, “…If you don’t know where we are going… also, I am a heel. You are meant to be outraged by the things that I do, and please understand that is a heel. Heel isn’t like somebody that gives cool zingers. It is somebody that is unlikable that you want to see the babyface overthrow. Doesn’t always work out.”

Lynch reaffirmed her stance that it is good to see things through, which is something that WWE is doing more under Levesque’s leadership. It seems WWE creatively is in a better place than it has been for their talent and fans. Hopefully, the company’s momentum will continue and allow for more creative storytelling that can make for great weekly TV programming. 

Vince McMahon resigned from WWE, and he hasn’t been mentioned on television since the bombshell allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit went public. Everyone had their own reaction to the situation, as they processed all of these alleged acts coming to light. 

Becky Lynch said that the Vince McMahon she knew was like a grandfather. The allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit makes it hard to connect those heinous things and the McMahon she knew.

The Man Speaks on The Chairman

Becky Lynch received her first big push, and became The Man, under Vince McMahon’s leadership. It was a huge shock for her to realize that the man responsible for the biggest boom in her career was allegedly leading such a terrible double life. 

While speaking to Richard Deitsch on the Sports Media Podcast, Becky Lynch answered a question about the allegations against Vince McMahon. She experienced a much different Vince McMahon, and it’s hard to connect the two.

“[They’re horrendous allegations, they’re horrendous, and it’s so hard to listen and reconcile with because you don’t know that person. The person that I’ve experienced was like a grandad. At times a very grumpy granddad, and one that you’re frustrated with. But one that was so supportive of me and my family and of my career, encouraging and understanding as well at times, and is also very responsible for one for the dream that I have, the fact that there is a WWE and then allowing me to live my dream, for meeting my husband, for my whole family, everything that I have. And then you hear these allegations and it’s hard to connect the two. In many ways they just feel like two different people. So trying to see them as one person, I don’t know, it’s very hard. It’s very difficult to reconcile.”

WrestleMANia 40

Becky Lynch is still on top of the WWE roster under Triple H’s creative vision. She won the 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber match, and she is set to battle Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s World Title at WrestleMania 40. 

Lynch also stated that she would like to open up the showcase of the immortals’ first night this year. We will have to see how they stack the show of shows this year. SEScoops will have more updates as they are made available. 

Former WWE superstar Ronda Rousey tells it all in her new book, Our Fight: A Memoir, which will be released on April 2. She is promoting the book ahead of its worldwide release, and she has been opening up about her career in WWE.

In an interview with Cageside Seats, Rousey detailed her frustrations with her time at the company and how she felt mismanaged under Vince McMahon’s regime.  

Rosey also noted that even when McMahon retired on July 22, 2022, his influence was still felt through WWE Executive Director Bruce Prichard. Ultimately, McMahon would return, and Rousey left the company the following year. However, McMahon’s leadership also changed, as he resigned from the company and TKO Group Holding on January 26 after being alleged of sexual assault and sex trafficking by former employee Janel Grant. 

WWE President Nick Khan currently leads WWE, and Levesque is the Chief Content Officer. In the interview, she spoke highly of Levesque and wished he was entirely in charge, dating back to her return to WWE in 2022.  Rick Ucchino transcribed the following quotes:

“I’m so glad that it’s getting turned around,” Rousey said after certain changes were brought to her attention. “Triple H has been great towards the women in the company and really believing in us. He’s the whole reason that I was there, ‘cause he believed in me. I really wish that my last run was under Triple H running things and Vince being gone.”

Ronda Rousey Recalls Conversation With Paul Levesque & Calling WWE Mediocre 

Rousey also revealed that WWE wanted her to stay before she decided to leave last year. She lost her last match in the company against Shayna Baszler at WWE SummerSlam on August 5, 2023. Before the final appearance, the former WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion detailed her conversation with Levesque in her book. 

In a meeting to get her to stay, Rousey shared that she felt it was time to move on and even called WWE mediocre at the time. 

“I had a long sit down with Triple H, and I was like, ‘I can’t be associated with mediocrity.’ And that’s what they seemed to be happy with at the time. And I hope that is different now, but I can’t say… that I’ve ever experienced it any other way,” said Rousey. 

If Levesque had more creative control in WWE two years ago, Rousey may have decided to re-sign with the company. However, the issues behind the scenes were enough to make the former UFC superstar walk away for good. 

Becky Lynch has said that the Vince McMahon she worked with is far different than the McMahon others had to face according to the allegations against WWE’s ex-CEO. 

Janel Grant’s daming lawsuit against WWE and its former chairman alleges that she was a sexual slave during her time and was trafficked by McMahon to various men in the company. McMahon has denied all wrongdoing and claims the lawsuit is rife with fabrications.

Becky Lynch on Vince McMahon

Sitting down with Marc Haynes of the Irish Independent, Becky Lynch was asked about the McMahon allegations. Lynch admitted that it’s been hard for her to cope with the allegations, given how McMahon treated her in WWE. 

“I don’t know that person… We didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but especially in my last run with him there, and when I told him I was pregnant, he was so good to me.”

Lynch said she has McMahon to thank for “my dream” of becoming a WWE Superstar, a role that would also see her meet Seth Rollins and result in the pair having a child. 

Speaking about her own experiences with McMahon, Lynch said they were positive and wished everybody could say the same. 

“I would always love my interactions with him, and that becomes very, very difficult, especially as a woman who has been so driven in changing the way that women are treated in wrestling and making sure that it is a safe space.”

What Have WWE Superstars Said?

Becky Lynch isn’t the only notable name to weigh in on McMahon. After McMahon’s resignation, Triple H said he had not read Janel Grant’s lawsuit.

At the same Royal Rumble 2024 press conference, Cody Rhodes called the McMahon situation a dark cloud over WWE.

Seth Rollins was disgusted with what was claimed in the lawsuit. The World Heavyweight Champion has said if the claims are true, he hopes everyone gets what they deserve.

John Cena has taken a different approach. Cena has made clear he still loves McMahon, despite what has happened. While Cena did speak of the importance of accountability, his comments did spark controversy for how glowing he was of the ex-chairman. 

Ronda Rousey had no issue with taking it to McMahon. In her new book Our Fight, Rousey compares McMahon to Star Wars villain Emperor Palpatine. She adds that it’s hard to distinguish between the evil McMahon character and the real man. 

Vince McMahon’s resignation from WWE and the blockbuster lawsuit from former employee Janel Grant have shaken the company to its core. As the fallout continues to unfold, we’ve got an update on Netflix’s documentary on the controversial billionaire, which will surely need some updating after the events of the past year.

WWE signed a deal with Netflix to bring RAW to the streaming platform in January 2025. Every WWE premium live event for fans outside the USA will also air on Netflix as part of that deal. The whole time, Bill Simmons was working on a Netflix docuseries about Vince McMahon that will not pull any punches.

SEScoops has learned the Vince McMahon Netflix docuseries will not stop production, despite the Netflix committing billions of dollars to the company that was run for decades by the man they’re expected to provide an unbiased look at.

In this week’s Wrestling Observer newsletter, veteran journalist Dave Meltzer says this project is still full-speed ahead. 

“Regarding the Netflix documentary on Vince McMahon, which at last word was to be a six-part series, some thought with the Netflix $5.2 billion deal with TKO and the Janel Grant lawsuit that maybe Netflix would just scrap the thing.”

Meltzer acknowledged, “they obviously have to change the direction based on what happened.”

Bill Simmons had more-than-enough material from McMahon’s ‘storied’ career to produce a jaw-dropping project. The most recent round of allegations, which McMahon vehemently denies, will take things into far darker territory than what was originally planned. 

Interestingly, Simmons recently revealed that he invited Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld) to preview the show during development.

Janel Grant’s Lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon & More

Vince McMahon stepped down from WWE following a lawsuit filed by former employee Janel Grant, alleging sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and other heinous offenses.

On January 25, Grant filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and former executive John Laurinaitis. The lawsuit details Janel’s experiences of mistreatment in terms of sexual, physical, mental, and emotional harm.

Grant’s attorney also stated that there are others who want to come forward. Her attorney, Ann Callis, stated in a written interview, they are “frankly overwhelmed” as they begin the process of wading through the responses of people who have more allegations to share.

Vince McMahon no longer has any defenders in any form within WWE, close to two months after his resignation from the promotion. 

Janel Grant’s daming lawsuit against WWE and itsformer chairman alleges that she was a sexual slave during her time and was trafficked by McMahon to various men in the company. McMahon has denied all wrongdoing and has claimed that the lawsuit is rife with fabrications.

Throwing in the Towel

During the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer addressed a shift in attitude regarding the former Chairman. Meltzer said that those who have previously defended McMahon have stopped, seemingly believing there’s no viable defense for him anymore. 

“People who were even in a situation where they’d been defending other people in the company, nobody bothers to try and defend Vince. 

“It’s almost like they’ve thrown in the towel on him. It’s like, ‘He’s gone and we can’t even try to defend him’.”

Ronda Rousey’s Strong Words

One name who certainly won’t be defending McMahon is Ronda Rousey. In her new memoir Our Story, the ex-Superstar says that McMahon is akin to Emperor Palpatine, the chief antagonist of the Star Wars movies. Rousey adds that it’s hard to know where the evil McMahon character ends and the actual person begins. 

What Have WWE Superstars Said? 

Rousey isn’t the only notable name to weigh in on McMahon. After McMahon’s resignation, Triple H said he had not read Janel Grant’s lawsuit. 

At the same Royal Rumble 2024 press conference, Cody Rhodes called the McMahon situation a dark cloud over WWE. 

Seth Rollins was disgusted with what was claimed in the lawsuit. The World Heavyweight Champion has said if the claims are true, he hopes everyone gets what they deserve. 

John Cena has taken a different approach. Cena has made clear he still loves McMahon, despite what has happened. While Cena did speak of the importance of accountability, his comments did spark controversy for how glowing he was of the ex-chairman.