A former WWE executive, who was facing sexual abuse allegations in a lawsuit filed by a former employee, has reached a confidential settlement. Now, he will provide support to the plaintiff in her litigation against the company and former leader Vince McMahon, representatives and lawyers reported on Wednesday. John Laurinaitis, former WWE head of talent relations and known in the ring as Johnny Ace, will collaborate with Janel Grant in her lawsuit against McMahon and the wrestling entertainment company. Grant’s representatives and Laurinaitis’s lawyer, Edward Brennan, confirmed the settlement and cooperation agreement, noting that Laurinaitis possesses “evidence” against McMahon and the company, without revealing details.
A court document filed on Wednesday indicates that Grant and Laurinaitis agreed to dismiss the charges against Laurinaitis, but the charges against WWE and McMahon persist. Jessica Rosenberg, McMahon’s lawyer, issued a statement in response.“Their confidential settlement agreement is a crucial step in holding McMahon and WWE accountable, and in bringing justice to Ms. Grant after years of sexual abuse and trafficking,” Grant and Laurinaitis’ representatives stated in a joint statement. “Mr. Laurinaitis looks forward to moving on with his life. We cannot provide additional details at this time.”
Grant and Laurinaitis Representatives
Rosenberg added that a lawyer for Laurinaitis had previously stated that the allegations in the lawsuit were unfounded. WWE representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. Grant sued WWE, McMahon, and Laurinaitis last year in a federal court in Connecticut, where the company is headquartered in Stamford. In explicit detail, she alleges that McMahon coerced her into having sexual acts with him, Laurinaitis, and others, and claims that both men sexually assaulted her. According to her, she was forced to perform humiliating acts during the encounters. The lawsuit also includes photos of text messages of a sexual nature that McMahon allegedly sent to Grant. McMahon, former WWE CEO and chairman, has denied Grant’s accusations. He previously stated that the lawsuit is “filled with lies, fabricated obscene instances that never occurred, and is a vengeful distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these unfounded accusations and hope to clear my name.” His lawyers claimed in court documents that he maintained a consensual relationship with Grant and never mistreated her. Grant began working for WWE in 2019 as an entry-level employee in its legal department, a job managed by McMahon, and was later transferred to the talent relations department, where Laurinaitis was her boss. She has stated that she was finally pressured to leave her job at WWE and sign a $3 million non-disclosure agreement. The lawsuit seeks to have the agreement declared invalid, arguing that McMahon breached the agreement by giving her $1 million and not paying the rest. Currently, McMahon, WWE, and Laurinaitis’ motions to move all claims to arbitration are pending in the lawsuit. They argue that the lawsuit should not be allowed because Grant agreed to resolve any disputes in arbitration as part of his confidentiality agreement. McMahon resigned from WWE’s parent company in January 2024 after Grant filed his lawsuit. At that time, McMahon resigned from his position as executive chairman of the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings, WWE’s parent company. He also resigned as WWE CEO in 2022 amid a company investigation into allegations similar to those in Grant’s lawsuit. McMahon bought what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1982 and transformed it from a regional wrestling company into a global phenomenon. In addition to running the company with his wife, Linda, who is now the U.S. Secretary of Education, he also performed at WWE events as himself.“The dismissal of John Laurinaitis as a defendant does not alter the facts of this case in any way. Vince McMahon never mistreated Janel Grant,” Rosenberg stated. “No matter how many press releases his team issues, the truth remains the same.”
Jessica Rosenberg, McMahon’s lawyer
