The pro wrestling world has a few interesting free agents, but Mercedes Mone may have already quietly signed a deal with AEW. It was previously reported that some within the company believe a deal is done. It is all about waiting for the right time to make the big announcement.

Mercedes Mone’s Next Move

Tony Khan has an announcement planned for next week’s AEW Dynamite. Many are under the assumption that he will reveal a big signing, possibly Mone.

Mercedes Mone and WWE were reportedly discussing a deal, but they ran into a financial roadblock. Now, all signs point to the former Sasha Banks debuting for AEW.

Dave Meltzer noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that AEW actually planned to drop their first tease for Mercedes Mone’s debut this week. That was pushed back due to the Vince McMahon news that dominated the news cycle.

The plan is to make a big deal out of Mercedes Mone debut. At one point the plan was to announce it this past weekend, or at least tease it, but it was moved back. The reason given was not wanting to announce it this week given all the far bigger news that came out and that people wouldn’t be focusing on it at all

What’s Next

AEW has one chance to debut Mercedes Mone, and they want to make it count. She could do a lot of good for Tony Khan’s company, but they need to make sure that everything is considered before making that first big move.

It will be interesting to see how AEW inserts Mone into their women’s division. Currently, Toni Storm and Deonna Purrazzo are engaged in a feud for their Women’s World Title. 

SE Scoops will have more updates on Mercedes Mone’s status with AEW. It appears that she is on her way, but Tony Khan needed to change his plan a bit due to the current circumstances.

Vince McMahon’s retirement in 2022 due to a hush money scandal was not the end of his time with WWE. He eventually returned and ushered the company into a merger situation with the UFC. Now, after Janel Grant’s lawsuit uncovered new alleged details of the horrific experience, Vince is totally out and his troubles may not be over.

Vince Under Investigation

Vince McMahon has come under intense scrutiny following allegations of sexual trafficking and misconduct made by a former WWE employee, Janel Grant. These accusations have sent shockwaves through the WWE and the pro wrestling world. Now, United States Federal authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Federal authorities are actively investigating the sexual assault and sex trafficking allegations against WWE co-founder Vince McMahon. Recent months have seen New York prosecutors reaching out to women who have accused McMahon of sexual misconduct as part of the ongoing investigation.

‘‘Federal authorities have been investigating sexual assault and sex trafficking allegations against WWE co-founder Vince McMahon, according to people familiar with the investigation.”

”Prosecutors in New York in recent months have been in contact with women who have accused McMahon of sexual misconduct, the people said.”

Janel Grant’s Lawsuit

In the lawsuit filed by Grant, disturbing claims include McMahon sharing explicit content of Grant without consent, implicating other WWE employees, undisclosed executives, and stars. That lawsuit included some incredibly concerning allegations, including that McMahon defecated on her head during a forced 3-way, one where she was told that “no means yes.”

Vince McMahon denied the allegations against him. He still resigned completely from WWE, and he no longer holds enough shares or controlling interest to re-insert himself into the corporate picture, as he did after his first “retirement.”

John Laurinaitis was named in the lawsuit, and he is also a defendant. Johnny Ace has since released a public statement to claim that he was a victim in the situation. The Bella Twins have also publicly distanced themselves from these terrible allegations.

Brock Lesnar was not named in the lawsuit, but he was identified as a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, one who McMahon allegedly used Grant as a sexual bargaining chip to get him to sign a new deal. He then requested an alleged urination video from Grant, but a play date could not be arranged between the two.

Still, Lesnar was removed from WWE’s current creative plans. He was also taken off the WWE SuperCard game. SE Scoops will have more updates on this story as new updates are made available. 

John Laurinaitis was named in the huge lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon. He was accused of assisting the sexual abuse that Janel Grant went through, but he has a different side of the story.

John Laurinaitis Speaks Out

Vince McMahon has resigned from WWE in response to those terrible allegations, although he had denied that they are true. Now, Laurinaitis is speaking out, via his attorney, and he is claiming to be a victim of the situation as well.

In a statement issued to Vice News, Edward Brennan, Johnny Ace’s attorney, stated that the former WWE executive was also a victim in this terrible situation. This is allegedly all about the control that Vince McMahon had over them.

“Mr. Laurinaitis denies the allegations in the misguided complaint and will be vigorously defending these charges in Court, not the media. Like the Plaintiff, Mr. Laurinaitis is a victim in this case, not a predator. The truth will come out.”

“Count how many times in the complaint Vince [McMahon] exerts control over both of them.” 

“The truth will come out,” Brennan added to the statement. As of this writing, we are still waiting the outcome of this lawsuit or any internal investigation performed by TKO Group Holdings. 

John Laurinaitis Claims To Be A Victim

In response to a question if he was saying that McMahon was the predator and that Laurinaitis, like Grant, was a victim, Brennan reportedly responded to affirm that belief. 

“Read the allegations. Read the Federal Statute. Power, control, employment supervisory capacity, dictatorial sexual demands with repercussions if not met. Count how many times in the complaint Vince exerts control over both of them.”

The Bella Twins React

We already reported how the Garcia Twins, formerly the Bella Twins, spoke out against these allegations. They were horrified to learn of the things their father-in-law allegedly did as they addressed it publicly.

We are shocked and disheartened with the recent allegations against members of the WWE. It has been a lot to process since we found out this past week as you all did. This is something we don’t stand for or condone from anyone no matter who they are. We want all women to feel safe and supported in the workplace and in their everyday lives.

We will have to see how this situation unfolds as we receive new information. Vince McMahon and WWE will want to avoid this lawsuit going to court, because there are already more than enough details out about this scandalous and extremely troubling story in the public.

Vince McMahon’s resignation from WWE came after Janel Grant, a former employee, filed an earth-shattering lawsuit with severe allegations of sexual abuse and much more. The pages of the document have been spread throughout the pro wrestling world, and beyond, at this point. Sadly, there could be others who have not stepped forward yet, but they allegedly want to.

Janel Grant’s Lawsuit Against Vince McMahon

On January 25, Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and former executive John Laurinaitis, alleging sex trafficking, emotional abuse, and sexual assault. The lawsuit provides distressing accounts of Janel’s experiences in terms of sexual, physical, mental, and emotional mistreatment.

Grant’s lawyer, Ann Callis, spoke with Ashleigh Banfield on NewsNation. She provided additional remarks on the lawsuit. Banfield initiated the conversation by inquiring about the possibility of the case being a criminal matter and whether the statute of limitations had expired.

“I don’t believe so, but I represent her in the civil matter and cannot really comment on any criminal matters right now,” said Callis.

When she was questioned about how she felt the lawsuit was received following landmark social movements like Me Too and Speaking Out, Callis replied, “What happened to her was particularly egregious when it comes to the sexual slavery she endured, the devastating consequences physically and mentally when she was going through this, and still is suffering through this with PTSD. She had suicidal ideation. I was a criminal felony judge for nine years. The worst cases actually went to trial, and that is murders and sexual assaults. This is in its own class. This is in its own class of depravity that she had to endure.”

More May Come Forward

When asked why Janel Grant decided to come forward, Callis said it was “a process.” She called it was “an arduous, long, systematic drive to get the best complaint that we possibly could. That’s when it fell to file.” WWE is a multi-billion dollar corporation, “who turned a blind eye to what was happening there to Janel.”

Vince McMahon is a multi-billionaire, and John Laurinaitis is a powerful person as well. While saying that the only had the facts as “a weapon,” she was asked whether there are more who could come forward. Sadly, there are more who wish they could come forward.

“No more than the regular public about the NDAs that everyone has heard who has followed this story. She has no more knowledge than that. Our hope is, and her hope is, by coming out, by stepping forward, by bringing this complaint and putting her face to this complaint, that other victims of Vince McMahon and the WWE will end up becoming public, and she wants to help them find their voice and get justice. She thinks and hopes by doing this, she will.”

In the written interview, Callis claimed that more people want to come forward, but they cannot. At this point, they are “frankly overwhelmed” as they begin the process of wading through the response.

“My office and my inbox have had a barrage of people wanting to come forward to attest about this culture of corruption and also possible victims. We are just beginning now to wade through all this, but we’re frankly overwhelmed.”

What’s Next

This situation with Janel Grant is extremely troubling. She was left feeling “devastated, dehumanized, and discarded, and she is really a destroyed person physically and mentally.”

Through her act of coming forward with this lawsuit, Grant has possibly opened the door for more to come forward who have experienced a similar atrocity against them.

SE Scoops will continue monitoring this story as more details are made known. Our thoughts are with Janel Grant and anyone who was victimized by a traumatic experience.

Shawn Michaels was asked about the Vince McMahon allegations during the NXT Vengeance Day media call on Thursday and answered them head on.

The first three questions of the call were all in relation to the recent heinous allegations made about Michaels’ former boss. One of which was if he talked to his NXT roster about it after all the news broke last Thursday. Michaels said he hadn’t had conversations with the talent about it, but everyone is well-aware of all the controversy.

“It’s incredibly sad situation. I can sit here and go like, you know, ‘It sucks,’ but we have always again, and I’ve mentioned it to you all in the past  that we take all of the youth that come through here incredibly serious because this is a tough line of work regardless of what’s going on, just leaving home and coming here and pursuing your dreams is, is a big thing that we take incredibly serious here.

The 4-time World Champion spoke about WWE prospects being vulnerable and knows the importance of continuing to attract the Superstars of tomorrow.

“We understand young men and women that come through our doors are impressible. So we absolutely certainly encouraged the openness and again, telling everybody to please again, tell us the truth, you know, and let us know how we can help, but that’s something that again has been here for a long time, and we continue to do our best to improve on that because it is, it’s one of the most important things to me is to be able to ask those questions.”

Michaels also went on to say that he doesn’t care if people think talent today are softer because of the positive culture he tries to cultivate down in NXT, but it’s for their own betterment.

Michaels did close out the call by saying this was toughest media call he’s done to date and understood that tough questions needed to be asked.

Vincent Kennedy McMahon is gone from WWE, and the company’s new partners at Netflix have wasted no time in distancing themselves from the former Chairman.

McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last week, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including John Lauriniaits and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. McMahon has denied the allegations against him and, via a spokesperson, has claimed the lawsuit is rife with “obscene made-up instances that never occurred.” 

Netflix’s CEO Comments on Vince McMahon

The allegations against McMahon surfaced shortly after WWE reached a massive deal with Netflix to move Raw to the streaming juggernaut. Given the seriousness of the allegations, there had been speculation that this $5 billion could have been in jeopardy had WWE/TKO not taken action against McMahon.

This week, Netflix staged its press event, dubbed Next on Netflix, at its Tudum Theater in Hollywood. When asked about McMahon and the potential impact the lawsuit could have on WWE’s deal with Netflix, content chief Bela Bajaria asserted that McMahon will not be a factor going forward.

“He’s gone. So he’s not there. He’s gone.”

The Netflix-WWE Deal

Brandon Reign, Netflix’s VP of nonfiction was also at the press event. When asked about the deal with WWE, Reigg commended the combined efforts of the WWE Universe and Netflix’s subscribers.

“I think we’re all really bullish on it, but we know that has an incredibly consistent audience for the last several decades. And so that’s really first and foremost where we’re starting at and then we’ll see where we go from there.”

Monday Night Raw begins streaming on Netflix in January 2025.

Pro wrestling fans are used to outsiders dismissing their fandom by talking down to pre-determined sports entertainment events. When the subject came up for Larry David, he admitted that the moment he figured out the results are prearranged, he became a big detractor.

Larry David Gives His 2 Cents On Pro Wrestling

During a recent interview on the Bill Simmons Podcast, Larry David touched on pro wrestling, but he didn’t have very nice things to say about it, or the fans who show up to watch events in person.

When asked why he still watches pro wrestling, Simmons, who is directing the upcoming Netflix Vince McMahon docuseries, replied that he’s been watching since he was a kid.

“Yeah, I watched when I was a kid too, and then I realized it was fixed, and I stopped watching,” the Curb Your Enthusiasm creator said. “They’re all the same, aren’t they? Every match looks the same.”

Larry David is not a fan of wrestling ? pic.twitter.com/f8NydLr4gj

— Wrestling Magazine (@WrestleMagazine) January 31, 2024

Bill Simmons tried to defend the storylines in pro wrestling, and the two-month character arcs that culminate into a big pay-per-view match, but Larry David didn’t seem interested. Instead, he focused on those fans who are under the mindset that it’s still real to them.

You’re watching at home, but the people there … [laughs] they think it’s real! The people there, are you kidding? They go crazy! They wouldn’t go crazy if they didn’t think it was real!

They continued a short debate on pro wrestling, but things didn’t get too heated. “I’m trying to,” Larry David responded when Simmons asked him if he was staging an intervention. This is a subject that David has tackled on his long-running HBO series, that is due to make its return for a 12th season on February 4th.

Simmons then said that he would make David watch the first episode of his six-part upcoming Netflix documentary on Vince McMahon, and he guaranteed that he would want to watch the rest of them. “Is it scripted?” Larry David asked, to which Bill Simmons said, “no.”

Netflix’s Vince McMahon Docuseries

It was previously reported that the upcoming Vince McMahon docuseries will not pull any punches. With the recent slew of allegations out from Janel Grant’s lawsuit, that six-part docuseries may need some additions to the end.

Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that the interview with Vince McMahon stood out as the most captivating aspect of the documentary. The project will also dive into Vince’s return and the subsequent merger of WWE and UFC into TKO Group Holdings. It appears that Netflix is fully committed to thoroughly narrating the intricate McMahon tale.

When this documentary started, ordered by Netflix years and years ago, obviously, this was not the end result that anyone imagined. It was going to be something that they did. And Vince told them that he does not want a fake documentary. And Vince was probably the most interesting interview on the documentary. I don’t know all the different people they talk to. I only know what I talked about. And they were told this was anything but meant to be a puff piece if it ends up being, perhaps, much of the documentary.

Simmons’ Vince McMahon docuseries on Netflix may be a massive deal, especially since the streaming service just secured the rights to WWE RAW and every premium live event for non-US subscribers in a massive deal that Larry David called “ridiculous.”

Brock Lesnar was set for the 2024 Royal Rumble event, where he would have been a part of the big over the top rope match. He was replaced by Bron Breakker in that match, and now there is a lot of doubt that Lesnar will be back any time soon.

Brock Lesnar May Not Be Back In WWE

Lesnar’s name was not explicitly mentioned in the earth-shattering lawsuit that Janel Grant filed against Vince McMahon, WWE and John Laurinaitis. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion who was a WWE Superstar talking about a new contract at the time was mentioned. This didn’t paint Lesnar in the best light at all.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer mentioned that he has heard from some people who believe that Brock Lesnar may not ever be back in WWE. Then again, with a name that draws the kind of money that Lesnar does, you can never say never.

“As far as what happens next, I don’t know. It appears that Brock Lesnar is not going to be around for a while, some people think ever, you know, when it comes to talent I hate to say ‘forever,’ because it is almost never the case, because if someone can draw they almost always find their way back. As far as Vince, I cannot imagine Vince coming back this time.”

Brock Lesnar’s Link to Vince McMahon Lawsuit

The Janel Grant lawsuit did not specify a wrestler but described one as both a former UFC Heavyweight Champion fighter and WWE talent. Given the timeline of 2021, it’s relatively easy to narrow down those choices, although it’s important to note that Brock Lesnar was not explicitly named.

The lawsuit mentioned that McMahon shared explicit photos with the WWE Superstar, who stated, “he likes what he sees.” Four WWE Producers and television production techs were also alleged to have received this explicit content.

In March 2020, McMahon began sharing sexually explicit photographs and videos of Ms. Grant (including pornographic content he recorded) with other men both inside and outside the company, including with members of the television production “tech” team, executive(s), 4 producer(s), and a world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion with whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract (and ultimately did sign that contract).

In December of the same year, McMahon allegedly provided Grant’s personal cellphone number to the unnamed WWE Superstar. The lawsuit claims that the wrestler requested a video of her urinating, and after she complied, he used derogatory language, calling her ‘b*tch.” She was also later informed that sleeping with this talent was part of his contract renewal, although a “play date” could not be arranged.

The pro wrestling world was shaken up in a huge way when Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon was made public. This lawsuit, which alleges sexual abuse, extortion, and assault, could break the company wide open if private texts and emails are exposed for all to see. To prepare themselves for what’s to come, Nikki and Brie Bella are now speaking out.

The Garcia Twins Respond

The Bella Twins are no longer in WWE, as they allowed their contracts to expire. Now as the Garcia Twins, they are doing their thing in the public eye. After those damning allegations against Vince McMahon, Nikki and Brie had to speak up.

The official Twitter/X account for the Garcia Twins sent out a public announcement about the recent lawsuit and the mountain of allegations that it included. It was made very clear that the WWE Hall of Fame team do not condone anything that the earth-shattering lawsuit alleged, and they support women in every way that they can.

We are shocked and disheartened with the recent allegations against members of the WWE. It has been a lot to process since we found out this past week as you all did. This is something we don’t stand for or condone from anyone no matter who they are. We want all women to feel safe and supported in the workplace and in their everyday lives.

pic.twitter.com/kW2sLGd80u

— Nikki & Brie (@NikkiAndBrie) January 29, 2024

The Bella Twins’ Connection to Vince McMahon’s Big Lawsuit

That lawsuit from Janel Grant wasn’t just against WWE and Vince McMahon, because John Laurinaitis was also named as a defendant. Laurinaitis is also married to Nikki and Brie’s mother.

John and Kathy Laurinaitis were married in 2016, years before the allegations in that lawsuit allegedly took place. Their wedding was also used as a storyline device on Total Divas. As of this writing, Laurinaitis has not released any public statement on this matter, but Vince McMahon’s camp sent out a response of denial.

It was also made clear in McMahon’s statement after his resignation from WWE that he was still claiming total innocence from the allegations in Grant’s lawsuit. SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story.

Allegations In Janel Grant’s Lawsuit

Former WWE employee Janel Grant has filed a lawsuit against McMahon, accusing him of sex trafficking. The lawsuit, filed on Thursday morning, alleges that McMahon, while serving as WWE’s Chief Executive, subjected Grant to sexual abuse and exploitation. The suit claims McMahon coerced her into sexual relations under the promise of career advancement and later trafficked her to other men within WWE.

Grant, who signed a nondisclosure agreement with WWE in 2022, asserts that she first encountered McMahon in 2019 in their shared apartment building. McMahon purportedly promised her work at WWE and showered her with gifts. The lawsuit further claims that McMahon pressured her into sexual activities to secure her a job. Grant was hired as an “administration coordinator” in June 2019, a position the suit alleges McMahon created for her under John Laurinaitis. However, she reportedly had little work, leading to complaints from other WWE employees and Grant feeling her job was undeserved.

Grant further alleges that McMahon sent explicit messages, increased demands for sex, and used “toys” forcefully during intimate encounters, causing injuries. She claims McMahon shared photos and videos of her with other WWE executives and wrestlers, recruiting others within WWE to have sex with her, including then WWE head of talent relations John Laurinaitis. The suit alleges Grant’s mental and physical health declined, leading to McMahon sending her to a “celebrity doctor” in November, with McMahon later paying $20,000 for surgery.

The lawsuit contends that Grant was transferred to the talent-relations division in May 2021, working directly under Laurinaitis. A month later, Grant alleges McMahon and Laurinaitis locked her in an office, sexually assaulting her in turns, followed by McMahon assaulting her again a week later.

Dutch Mantell has always gotten bad vibes when he was around Vince McMahon and the Memphis wrestling legend thinks with the latest allegations where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

On his “Story Time with Dutch Mantell” podcast, Mantell and his co-host covered the 67-page legal document of the horrific allegations McMahon has been accused of.and Dutch thinks with all the NDAs signed that where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

“If he’s already paid out that much money, he’s guilty.”

Mantell then pulls from his personal experience with Vince McMahon and how he got some different energy from McMahon.

“I think he’s guilty of all of this and Vince is not right. I’ve always detected a vibe around Vince that something is off. 

“I didn’t know exactly what it was, but even talking to him sometimes, he’d look at you and you’d think, ‘What the f*** is he talking about?’ And then you get up and leave the room and you may not have even gotten an answer to the question you asked, but you got a lot of Vince’s vibe cause when he would walk into the whole room, the attitude in the room would change.”

Mantell then addresses the allegations that McMahon used sex toys on the victim, Janel Grant, named after WWE Superstars. Dutch believes this certain detail is so unique that nobody could conjure something up like that.

“This is only a detail that she would know. I mean, if I was a woman and I was making up stuff, I couldn’t even make that up so that’s what makes me think it’s real, that it really happened because that does sound like Vince.”

Mantell goes on to add that he doesn’t believe that we’ll see this matter go to trial and a settlement will be reached because other parties don’t want to be implicated and the damage is already done.

Please credit “Story Time With Dutch Mantell” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

Vince McMahon is no longer with WWE, and that is a shocking adjustment that everyone will have to make. A bombshell lawsuit with heinous allegations forced this big move, and now we know how it was received within the company.

Latest on Vince McMahon Lawsuit

In the aftermath of Vince McMahon’s resignation from WWE, a series of legal developments unfolded. PW Insider has confirmed that the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, issued an electronic summons for McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE on January 26th. Each party had 21 days to respond after being served, although as of the last recording, no official service had been documented.

Internal Reaction To Vince McMahon’s Resignation

Internally, Vince McMahon’s departure brought mixed reactions, ranging from relief to happiness among staff and executives. Some believed the allegations in the Janel Grant lawsuit justified the outcome, while others welcomed the official distancing of McMahon from the company. Despite not actively leading WWE Creative, McMahon’s minimal role in 2024 ended with his resignation.

McMahon’s exit reportedly potentially opens the door for Stephanie McMahon’s return, although the transformed corporate landscape post-Endeavor’s ownership complicates her potential role. WWE President Nick Khan expressed the company’s desire to welcome Stephanie back, but the dynamics have shifted significantly.

After the news broke that McMahon had resigned, the initial response internally in WWE among staff and executives that PW Insider spoke with was a mix of relief and happiness. There were some who felt that McMahon got what was coming to him based on the allegations in the lawsuit filing by Grant. There were also some who were glad McMahon was now distanced “officially” from the company, as he was, as one source commented, “a black cloud hanging over everything even though he wasn’t involved in anything” anymore. 

Vince McMahon’s Final WWE HQ Visit

Vince McMahon’s last appearance at WWE HQ was during an all-hands meeting on January 23. It’s speculated that this might be his final physical presence inside a WWE building. Concerns arose internally about Endeavor possibly restructuring to establish a fresh start for the company. Those associated with McMahon might face challenges in the new WWE era.

Ari Emanuel, Endeavor’s owner, is expected to take decisive actions to protect WWE’s business interests. The sentiment is that he will not hesitate to remove anything or anyone that could potentially impact the company negatively. The post-Endeavor WWE operates under a different culture and corporate structure, signaling a significant departure from its previous identity.

WWE’s Slim Jim Drama

Slim Jim’s decision to “pause” its sponsorship deal, the largest in WWE history, played a pivotal role in McMahon’s resignation. That went down on the morning before the Royal Rumble event. This move also prompted other sponsors to reconsider their association, ultimately leading to McMahon stepping down faster than anticipated.

After Vince McMahon stepped down from the company, Slim Jim returned to sponsor the 2024 Royal Rumble event as planned. That included getting a commercial inserted into LA Knight’s entrance before the Undisputed Universal Title match.

Brock Lesnar was not specifically named in the earth-shattering lawsuit that Janel Grant filed against Vince McMahon, WWE and John Laurinaitis. The Beast Incarnate was heavily implied, as a former UFC Heavyweight Champion was mentioned. Now, that connection to this damning lawsuit has disrupted WrestleMania plans.

Brock Lesnar Plans Changed For The Royal Rumble 

Bron Breakker took over Lesnar’s planned creative for the Royal Rumble match. The entry point, eliminations, and his eventual elimination were all originally intended for Lesnar.

I was able to confirm that Breakker was called up to the WWE main roster thanks to that last-minute change. That being said, Breakker will not be taking Lesnar’s planned spot against Dominik Mysterio at the Elimination Chamber premium live event. 

Lesnar vs Dominik is not happening at Elimination Chamber. Bron Breakker was called up to replace Brock in the Rumble, but he won't get that spot at the Chamber event against Dirty Dom.

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) January 29, 2024

WWE’s Original WrestleMania 40 Plans

Dave Meltzer reported during his daily update that Gunther was supposed to face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. While it’s not confirmed that they were planned to have as an IC title match, that match is now on hold. 

The Lesnar creative which at this point he’s not going to be involved with unless they decide they would bring him back, was Lesnar vs. Dominik Mysterio in Australia and Lesnar vs. Gunther (I don’t know factually an IC title match but one would expect) at WrestleMania. Whether Bron Breakker gets those matches is not clear yet.

Brock Lesnar’s Connection To Vince McMahon Lawsuit

The Janel Grant lawsuit didn’t specify any wrestler but described one as both a former UFC Heavyweight Champion fighter and WWE talent. Given the timeline is 2021, it’s pretty easy to narrow down those choices, although it is important to reiterate that Brock Lesnar was not named.

The lawsuit stated that McMahon shared explicit photos with the WWE Superstar, who said that, “he likes what he sees.” Four WWE Producers and television production techs were also allegedly received this explicit content.

In March 2020, McMahon began sharing sexually explicit photographs and videos of Ms. Grant (including pornographic content he recorded) with other men both inside and outside the company, including with members of the television production “tech” team, executive(s), 4 producer(s), and a world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion with whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract (and ultimately did sign that contract).

In December of the same year, McMahon allegedly provided Grant’s personal cellphone number to the unnamed WWE Superstar. The lawsuit claims that the wrestler requested a video of her urinating, and after she complied, he used derogatory language, calling her ‘b*tch.” She was also later told that sleeping with this talent was a part of his contract renewal, although a “play date” could not be arranged.

Triple H is hoping to focus on the positives of the week, which doesn’t include the shocking allegations against Vince McMahon. 

The past seven days have certainly been a mixed time for WWE. The promotion locked in a $5 billion deal with Netflix to bring Raw to the streaming service, and have seen Dwayne Johnson join TKO’s Board of Directors. On the other hand, McMahon and WWE were hit with a lawsuit alleging that he sexually abused Janel Grant and trafficked her to other men in the company. McMahon has denied the allegations but has since stepped down from WWE and TKO. 

Triple H on Vince McMahon

During the post-Royal Rumble press conference, Triple H was asked about the allegations against McMahon and the lawsuit. WWE’s Chief Content Officer made clear he’s looking to focus on the positives that this past week has brought. 

“I’m going to do exactly what you’d expect me to do here. We just had an amazing week and I just said it, 10 year, $5 billion dollar Netflix deal, The Rock joining our board, we just sold out the Royal Rumble with 48,000 people in Tropicana Field. I choose to focus on the positive. Yes, there is a negative but I want to focus on that and just keep it to that.”

When asked if he had read the suit against McMahon, Triple H said he had not. 

“I did not. I think Cody mentioned it, that we all found out real time when you were, and that’s the truth. I’ll go back to what I said before, this is an amazing week for us and I just, at this point, I don’t even want to get bogged down in the negatives of it, I just want to focus on the positives of where we’re going and we’re in the most exciting time of the year for us, the most exciting point to me business-wise that we’ve ever had.”

Triple H wasn’t the only person to speak about McMahon after the Royal Rumble… 

Cody Rhodes hoped to give the WWE Universe something to feel positive about this week following the “dark cloud” that has been the Vince McMahon situation. 

McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE this week, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including John Lauriniaits and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. 

Cody Rhodes Comments on Vince McMahon

On the post-Royal Rumble press conference, Cody Rhodes was asked for his comments on the situation and from an EVP perspective, what he hopes to see changed in wrestling to avoid similar situations. 

“I know as far as the news is concerned, we were finding it out and reading the same things that you guys were reading. And you said a dark cloud, certainly. As far as TKO, Nick Khan and the board, [they] clearly took it very seriously. Acted immediately. Looking at the future, I don’t know the answer to that and I think somewhere is a really basic tenet of just– this crew, more than ever, from a roster standpoint, is very family. I’ve never seen anything like this. Most of the time wrestling locker rooms are fighting, talking trash about each other, making fun of each other, sandbagging each other in the ring, all that nonsense. This crew is very team-based, and perhaps that’s the ingredient. Everyone looking out for everyone. Being accountable.

“I know for me as a performer, as a competitor, I’ve been through dark periods of our industry before. And it might sound cheesy but it’s very re-inforcing if you’re in my position that it’s a time [when you say] ‘Hey, we’ve got 50,000 people out here. I want to give them something else, that isn’t a terrible situation, terrible news. And I think we were able to do that. Obviously, as more news comes out we’ll be seeing it just as you do.”

Rhodes won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match at the show, becoming the first person since 1998 to win back-to-back Rumble matches. 

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

Vince McMahon resigned from WWE in response to earth-shattering allegations that were laid down in a lawsuit from former WWE employee Janel Grant. Although McMahon is gone, Ronda Rousey believes that his influence will not go away without some deeper cleaning.

Bruce Prichard Takes Fire

Vince McMahon had many people help him build his empire through the years. Bruce Prichard has been a player in many historic WWE moments, and he has also acted as one of McMahon’s right-hand men for years. Vince is gone, but Bruce is still around.

Ronda Rousey logged onto Twitter/X, and she had a lot to say on the day of the Royal Rumble event. The former Women’s Champion posted to say that as long as Bruce Prichard is still with WWE, Vince McMahon’s presence will always be felt.

Bruce Prichard is basically Vince’s avatar, if he’s still around Vince still has a hand in the business. Vince was still running things through Bruce when he was “gone” before.

Bruce Prichard is basically Vince’s avatar, if he’s still around Vince still has a hand in the business. Vince was still running things through Bruce when he was “gone” before

— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) January 27, 2024

Others Who Were Involved

Bruce Prichard’s name was not brought up in Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis. Brock Although he was not mentioned explicitly, Brock Lesnar’s name was heavily alluded to.

Lesnar was pulled from the Royal Rumble event after his name was attached to Grant’s lawsuit. It was noted that Vince McMahon allegedly used her as a bargaining chip to secure a contract renewal. The Superstar in question was not named, but they were referred to as a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.

There May Be More To Uncover

This latest set of allegations against Vince McMahon cause shockwaves throughout the pro wrestling world that may not be settled yet. The lawsuit explicitly stated that the accuser was stepping forward for those unable to do so but expressing the desire to speak.

‘Ms. Grant is filing this lawsuit not just to address her own suffering, but also to act for those who are afraid to speak out. Plaintiff Janel Grant is a former employee of WWE who was the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking at WWE.’

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of Vince McMahon’s ongoing drama, and all necessary updates. 

The Royal Rumble is going down in Tropicana Field tonight, and fans are likely to see many surprises. Although Brock Lesnar’s name has come up in some troubling ways over the past couple of days, we have the latest update on his status.

Brock Lesnar’s Royal Rumble Status

Brock Lesnar hasn’t been seen on WWE television since SummerSlam, where he lost to Cody Rhodes. The Beast Incarnate then decided to put Cody over in a big way as he raised his hand to the Ford Field crowd in Detroit.

Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that, as of earlier this week, Brock Lesnar was slated to be at the Royal Rumble event. It is currently unknown if those plans have changed after he was strongly alluded to in Janel Grant’s lawsuit.

We’ve confirmed that as of earlier this week, Brock Lesnar was scheduled to travel to Tampa for the Royal Rumble. We aren’t sure if that has changed,

Brock Lesnar Update Doesn’t Look Good For Royal Rumble

PW Insider provided an update on Brock Lesnar’s situation. It was noted after noon that, as of the report, the Beast Incarnate had not started traveling to the Royal Rumble event yet.

It is now the belief that Brock Lesnar has been pulled from their Royal Rumble, because of how he was involved in the Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon.

The terminology one source used was that Lesnar had been “withdrawn” from tonight’s event and the belief was that a WWE NXT talent would be used in Lesnar’s place tonight.

It is also believed that Vince McMahon would have used Lesnar, no matter what. Then again, this whole situation is to blame on Vince. Since TKO is running the show now, Lesnar may not appear at the Royal Rumble at all. It is unclear who that may change his WrestleMania plans.

The latest on Brock Lesnar ahead of the #RoyalRumble tonight:

‘As of this morning, Lesnar had not traveled to Florida for the event. The word making the rounds at last night's SmackDown was that Lesnar, who was at one point slated to return for WrestleMania season, would not be… pic.twitter.com/QiKYHMyNNQ

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) January 27, 2024

Allegation Involving Brock Lesnar

In the blockbuster lawsuit from Janel Grant, it was noted that Vince McMahon allegedly used her as a bargaining chip to secure a contract renewal. The Superstar in question was not named, but they were referred to as a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.

In March 2020, McMahon began sharing sexually explicit photographs and videos of Ms. Grant (including pornographic content he recorded) with other men both inside and outside the company, including with members of the television production “tech” team, executive(s), 4 producer(s), and a world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion with whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract (and ultimately did sign that contract).

Aftermath of the Allegations

TKO reacted to the lawsuit against Vince McMahon, and they made it clear that they are going to take action. These allegations took place prior to Endeavor’s takeover of the company, but this is a matter that they are taking seriously.

“Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE. While this matter predates our TKO executive team’s tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant’s horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally.”

Vince McMahon Resigns

Vince McMahon resigned from WWE on Friday night, while making it clear that he will defend himself against these allegations. WWE CEO Nick Khan then sent out an email to everyone in the company to inform them of Mr. McMahon’s resignation.

“I wanted to inform you that Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the TKO Board of Directors. He will no longer have a role with TKO Group Holdings or WWE.”

WrestleMania Update:

Brock Lesnar’s planned WrestleMania match against GUNTHER is now up in the air. He was removed from Elimination Chamber plans to face Dominik Mysterio. It is unknown if he will wrestle at the show of shows.

We will have continued coverage of the 2024 Royal Rumble, and everything involving Vince McMahon’s latest controversy, at SE Scoops. 

Janel Grant hopes to see an atmosphere of fear keeping WWE employees from speaking out become a thing of the past following the resignation of Vince McMahon.

McMahon stepped down from WWE & TKO this week after Grant filed a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse and trafficking by the former TKO Chairman. While McMahon has insisted on his innocence, he stepped down “out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents.”

Janel Grant Gives Statement

WWE’s Superstars have been encouraged to not address the McMahon scandal publicly, but now Janel Grant has given her thoughts following McMahon’s resignation. In a statement, Ann Callis, the attorney of Miss Grant, said the following to the Law & Crime Network: 

“She hopes any doors of secrecy have been blown off their hinges and that fresh air fills the headquarters. She hopes those at the company, past and present, who fear speaking out about harm, [that it] is a thing of the past. She wishes everyone peace.”

More Victims? 

During the interview, Callis was asked if she believes there are other victims and said she believes there could be others out there. 

“Whether they worked in the company or not, yes, the belief is there are other victims out there, just the way the grooming of Janel went on, it indicates that. There are a lot of indicators that there may be, and probably are, other victims out there. One of Janel’s hopes is that by coming forward she will give the courage of other victims to come forward too.”

Vince McMahon is gone, and he may not be the last significant departure from WWE and TKO… 

Vince McMahon’s time with WWE and TKO has come to an end, and he may be just the first of many to exit both companies. 

McMahon’s departure from WWE/TKO was announced mere hours ago. Earlier this week, Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, alleged that McMahon had sexually abused her and trafficked her during her tenure with the company. After his resignation was announced, McMahon continued to deny the claims made against him in the lawsuit, which he has previously described as “obscene made-up instances.”

More Departures to Come? 

There is a belief in WWE that Endeavor may sweep out anyone close to Vince McMahon following the billionaire’s resignation this week, PW Insider reports. The gist is that a complete “fresh start” for the company is needed going forward, which may mean cuts to his remaining team. 

There were employees who exited WWE when McMahon initially re-signed in 2022 who would find a way back when he strong-armed his way back onto the Board of Directors in January 2023. There is also a belief among those PW Insider spoke to that anyone with a connection to McMahon may be seen as a major negative going forward, and that may affect their WWE status. 

Backstage Reaction

Those within WWE expected a fallout after Slim Jim paused their big-money sponsorship with the company due to the allegations. Sources within WWE added that anyone’s connection to McMahon may be seen as a “major negative going forward.” Those who left when McMahon did in 2022 and who returned when he returned in January 2023 could be on the chopping block. 

Changing WWE Plans? 

McMahon may be gone, but this situation could possibly change plans for tonight’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event. Brock Lesnar is expected for tonight’s event, but this may change due to Grant’s lawsuit. While Lesnar isn’t mentioned by name, Grant alleges that she was trafficked to a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, believed to be Brock. 

A bombshell lawsuit came out from former WWE employee Janel Grant. The court documents contain a range of sexual assault allegations asserted by the individual. The distressing nature of the lawsuit has resulted in Vince McMahon completely severing ties with the company. Now, he has spoken on the matter, and while McMahon is now acknowledging wrongdoing, he is stepping away completely from the company he led for decades.

Vince McMahon Breaks His Silence

Deadline reported that Vince McMahon has resigned from WWE after those horrific allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. Now, we have an official word from Mr. McMahon on the matter.

“I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth,” McMahon said to the outlet in response to the jaw-dropping lawsuit that was filed this week. “I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name.”

“However, out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately,” the former Chairman of the Board added.

Vince McMahon’s Previous Response

Vince already responded to these allegations, as his camp issued a statement of denial. In a statement released to Deadline, it was said that the allegations are full of lies, and Mr. McMahon will defend himself.

“This lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth. He will vigorously defend himself.”

Vince McMahon Was Already a Risk

TKO Group Holdings had already named Vince McMahon as a risk factor. TKO gave its 2023 third-quarter financial results. In an SEC filing, McMahon, who serves as TKO’s Executive Chairman, was listed under the ‘Risk Factor’ section. The description underneath McMahon’s name said that the hush-money scandal of 2022 could prove detrimental to the company.

“The special committee of independent members of WWE’s Board of Directors’ investigation into allegations of misconduct by Mr. McMahon, and any further allegations and investigations may have an adverse financial and operational impact on our business performance.”

The Lawsuit Allegations

Janel Grant brought forth allegations of sexual assault, and they were quite horrific. Text messages also revealed how McMahon spoke to her, in his alleged unfiltered desires. TKO Group Holdings said that hey planned to take action as a result.

Although he was not named in the lawsuit, Brock Lesnar is believed to be involved as well. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion who was in the midst of a WWE contract negotiation in 2021 was mentioned. It was alleged that Vince set up Ms. Grant to be part of this unnamed Superstar’s contract in the form of sexual relations. 

WWE Superstars were reportedly told to lay low regarding questions about McMahon’s allegations as they do press commitments to promote the Royal Rumble event. This is certainly a huge story, and we will have more updates as they are made available. 

Vince McMahon stepped away from WWE following the public exposure of a hush money scandal in 2022. An internal investigation was conducted in response, and McMahon later made a comeback to WWE, playing a role in the eventual merger with the UFC. Now, substantial allegations have surfaced due to a recent lawsuit, and that led to his total separation from WWE.

Vince McMahon Resigns From WWE

A bombshell lawsuit came out from former WWE employee Janel Grant, who claims a variety of damning sexual assault allegations in the court documents. That lawsuit was terribly troubling, and now that has caused Vince McMahon’s total separation from the company.

In 2022, McMahon resigned from his position as WWE’s CEO amidst an investigation into allegations that parallel those outlined in the lawsuit. The legal action was filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut, where WWE is headquartered. The lawsuit additionally includes WWE and John Laurinaitis, the company’s former head of talent relations and general manager, as defendants. Brock Lesnar, although he was not mentioned, was heavily implied to be involved in the allegations as well.

Deadline reports that Vince McMahon had submitted his resignation from WWE. He has broken off completely from the company he helped rise to power for decades.

Major news. Vince McMahon resigned from all roles with TKO.

The following was sent to some staff pic.twitter.com/kTZbpooTu7

— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) January 27, 2024

Email Confirmation

Brandon Thurston and others confirmed that Vince McMahon has quit WWE. Nick Khan sent out an email to all staff, which stated that McMahon is no longer with the company.

“I wanted to inform you that Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the TKO Board of Directors. He will no longer have a role with TKO Group Holdings or WWE.”

Can confirm Vince McMahon has resigned from his role as Executive Chairman, according to an all staff email from WWE President Nick Khan.

Khan wrote:

“I wanted to inform you that Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the…

— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) January 27, 2024

Endeavor Distancing Themselves From Mr McMahon

There have been some major differences in Vince McMahon’s removal from the company this time around. Unlike his ‘retirement’ in 2022, There has been no farewell for the former chairman and talents have been instructed not to comment on the matter.

The TKO officials seem to be doing everything they can to distance themselves from the longtime WWE owner after the latest wave of accusations. This includes removing references to McMahon from their websites.

The profile page for McMahon on WWE’s website has been made private and visiting users are met with a message reading ‘You are not authorized to access this page.’

While the sports entertainment billionaire is gearing up to defend himself against the latest lawsuit, reports suggest that TKO is looking to cut any remaining Vince McMahon associates to ensure a fresh start for the company.

Sponsors Started To Pull Out

WWE runs on the money they make, and this situation has already cost the company cash. Slim Jim pulled their sponsorship for the Royal Rumble a day prior to the event. It was anyone’s guess, and certainly a fear, that other revenue streams may pull out of dealing with WWE as well.

We will keep an eye on this brand-new story at SE Scoops. We now live in a world where Vince McMahon is not employed by WWE after this week’s landmark lawsuit.

UPDATE: Vince McMahon Makes Statement

Vince has now released a statement about quitting WWE. Although he did not admit to any wrongdoing, he made his reasoning very clear. He also made it crystal clear that he will continue fighting to clear his name.

TKO Executive Chairman Vince McMahon’s past has caught up to him yet again after a lawsuit was filed against him by a former employee. As of now, it is unclear what actions will be taken on McMahon after new allegations of sexual assault and sex trafficking. 

The lawsuit comes at an interesting time for WWE superstars, as the company prepares for the WWE Royal Rumble and is speaking with the media on-site. While some focused questions will be about Saturday’s premium live event, talent may also be asked about their thoughts on the new allegations about McMahon. 

One of the superstars who has spoken about her mindset heading into the PLE after the startling allegation is Nia Jax. She talked to Nick Hausman about whether the news on McMahon has affected her as she prepares for the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match. 

In the interview, Jax shared that it doesn’t and that she is focused on the WWE Royal Rumble this Saturday. 

Hausman transcribed the following quotes. 

“… I’m all business,” said Jax. She continued, “… this business is built on hard work and dedication, and that’s what every single wrestler in this room is doing right now, and so we just move forward. And it’s, you know, and we’re gonna put on an amazing show.”

It’s unclear if other superstars feel the same way as they prepare for one of WWE’s biggest events of the year. However, McMahon’s recent allegation has made fans question if more questions will be asked this Saturday.

Will There Be A Press Conference After WWE Royal Rumble?

The current expectation is that the company will hold a press conference after WWE Royal Rumble. If it were to occur as usual, it’s unknown what talent will be available for questions, but it is assumed that the Head Of Creative, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, will appear. 

Wrestling’s Observer’s Dave Meltzer has reported that WWE has told talent to “Lay low and not talk about anything other than the Royal Rumble or storyline-related things.” It’s unclear if Levesque or other WWE superstars will comment directly on McMahon as the TKO Chairman deals with the new lawsuit. 

A lot has already been said about the latest allegations against Vince McMahon, but don’t expect any comments from current WWE Superstars.

This week, Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, filed a lawsuit against McMahon and the promotion. Grant alleges that she was sexually abused by McMahon and John Lauriniatis and was trafficked to several wrestlers, including a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. McMahon’s camp, which includes former WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt, has denied the claims, calling the suit “replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth.”

WWE Superstars Keeping Quiet

The allegations against McMahon have led to a lot of discussions about WWE and their business practices but those within the promotion are keeping quiet. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it is reported that Superstars have been encouraged to “lay low.” The gist is that talent should not talk publicly about anything other than the upcoming Royal Rumble Premium Live Event or storyline related matters.

This lawsuit comes at a time of great attention on WWE. In addition to this weekend’s Royal Rumble event, the promotion recently finalized a ten-year deal to bring Monday Night Raw to Netflix. 

A Company-Wide Clean Up

While WWE Superstars won’t be speaking on the matter, the same rule doesn’t apply to ex-WWE talent. On Wrestling Observer Live, Lance Storm gave his view on the matter.

“I think there needs to be a legitimate cleaning house of anyone who covered anything up, who knew about this. This is absolutely disgustingly horrible and Vince McMahon needs to be gone and done. And I hope there’s criminal charges brought if any of this is even remotely true.”

Storm deemed the situation “absolutely disgustingly horrible” and stated that if any of the accusations were remotely true, Vince McMahon should be held accountable, even if that leads to criminal charges.

Vince McMahon made headlines in a huge way, as a new lawsuit surfaced that was full of horrible allegations. WWE is days away from the Royal Rumble event, and despite plans in place, the card and booking is always subject to change.

Huge Royal Rumble Surprise May Change

It was recently reported that Brock Lesnar is returning to WWE television very soon. With the Royal Rumble coming up, that brings a natural idea that he may re-emerge at Tropicana Field.

Sean Ross Sapp has now reported on Fightful Select to confirm that Brock Lesnar is expected for the January 27th pay-per-view event. Everything is subject to change, but Lesnar is slated to be at the Royal Rumble.

That being said, Lesnar was slated for a return prior to the recent Vince McMahon lawsuit. The former Universal Champion’s name was brought into the controversy, and that may force a change for things.

This week, Fightful learned that Royal Rumble was originally discussed as a potential target. This was reiterated to Fightful Thursday, but it was noted that in light of Lesnar’s implied inclusion in the Vince McMahon lawsuit, that may change.

Numerous Royal Rumble surprises are anticipated, with one having the potential to undergo changes for evident reasons. You may find a few more expected spoiler returns here.

Brock Lesnar’s Involvement in Vince McMahon Lawsuit

The recent lawsuit against Vince McMahon did not specifically name Brock Lesnar, but it was very heavily implied that the Beast Incarnate was involved in some way. The lawsuit noted that a former UFC Heavyweight Champion under WWE contract wanted to “play” with the victim as part of his contract renewal.

In March 2020, McMahon began sharing sexually explicit photographs and videos of Ms. Grant (including pornographic content he recorded) with other men both inside and outside the company, including with members of the television production “tech” team, executive(s), 4 producer(s), and a world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion with whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract (and ultimately did sign that contract).

Reactions to Vince McMahon Allegations

TKO Group Holdings already stated that they plan to take action internally regarding this matter. This is in spite of the fact that these allegations took place prior to Endeavor’s takeover.

Vince McMahon’s camp has released a statement of outright denial. It seems that McMahon is going to fight these allegations.

With the Royal Rumble coming up on Saturday, and so much going on in WWE, it’s easy to see that this will be a very busy weekend for everyone involved. SE Scoops will have continued coverage for more breaking news concerning Vince McMahon’s latest controversy as well.

Vince McMahon made headlines in a huge way, as a new lawsuit surfaced that was full of horrible allegations. Text messages, allegedly from Vince McMahon, and a victim’s statements tell stories of sexual assault and a total abuse of power. Now, McMahon’s people have spoken on the matter.

McMahon’s Statement on the Matter

Janel Grant, a former employee at WWE’s headquarters, claimed in the lawsuit filed on Thursday that she experienced abuse and sexual exploitation by McMahon during his tenure as chief executive.

Vince McMahon’s camp responded to this new lawsuit. In a statement released to Deadline, it was stated that the allegations are full of lies, and Mr. McMahon will defend himself.

“This lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth. He will vigorously defend himself.”

TKO Responds

TKO Group Holdings stated that, although these alleged acts took place before their takeover of the company, they are taking this situation seriously. They also said that they plan to handle things internally.

Details On Vince McMahon Allegations

These allegations against Vince McMahon were quite damning. McMahon and John Laurinaitis were accused of horrible things by the victim. A top WWE Superstar, one that many believe may be Brock Lesnar, was also mentioned in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit did not specify the wrestler but characterized them as both a UFC fighter and WWE talent. Considering the timeline is 2021, it’s relatively straightforward to narrow down the options, even though Brock Lesnar was not mentioned.

According to the lawsuit, McMahon shared explicit photos with the WWE Superstar, who expressed that “he likes what he sees.” Additionally, 4 WWE Producers and television production techs were allegedly recipients of this explicit content.

The complaint from Janel Grant against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis, filed in federal court in Connecticut today is here.https://t.co/eP9t8aXFiC

— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) January 25, 2024

Vince McMahon stepped away from WWE following the public revelation of a hush money scandal. An internal investigation took place, and McMahon eventually made a comeback to WWE to play a role in their eventual merger with the UFC. However, a lawsuit surfaced with significant allegations, ready to expose a side of the man that could change McMahon’s legacy.

TKO Group Holdings Statement

The Wall Street Journal has reported that a woman, Janel Grant, a former employee at WWE’s headquarters, claimed in the lawsuit filed on Thursday that she experienced abuse and sexual exploitation by McMahon during his tenure as chief executive.

Vince McMahon and WWE is the subject of a new blockbuster lawsuit from former employee Janel Grant. There were a lot of accusations, including some that involve WWE producers, tech guys, and one top WWE talent. 

Variety reports that TKO Group Holdings released a statement on these allegations against Vince McMahon. It was made clear that they do not oversee the daily operations of WWE, and they are taking these horrific allegations seriously. They will also take action by addressing the situation internally. 

“Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE. While this matter predates our TKO executive team’s tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant’s horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally.”

There May Be More To Uncover

This new set of allegations against Vince McMahon is very concerning. It was also made clear in the lawsuit that his accuser is coming forward for those who cannot, but wish that they might. The idea that there may be more with stories about Mr. McMahon is quite concerning.

‘Ms. Grant is filing this lawsuit not just to address her own suffering, but also to act for those who are afraid to speak out. Plaintiff Janel Grant is a former employee of WWE who was the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking at WWE.’

We will have continued coverage of this ongoing lawsuit at SE Scoops. This is a very new story, so there will likely be plenty of updates to come.