Former WWE executive collaborates with accuser in case against Vince McMahon

Agreement in Sexual Abuse Case: Former WWE Executive to Cooperate with Accuser

A former WWE executive, involved in a lawsuit over sexual abuse allegations filed by a former employee, has reached a confidential settlement. This agreement implies that the executive will collaborate with the plaintiff in her litigation against the company and former leader Vince McMahon, as confirmed by representatives and lawyers on Wednesday. John Laurinaitis, who was WWE’s head of talent relations and who also wrestled under the name Johnny Ace, will assist Janel Grant in her lawsuit against McMahon and the wrestling entertainment company. Grant’s representatives and Laurinaitis’ lawyer, Edward Brennan, confirmed the cooperation agreement and revealed that Laurinaitis possesses “evidence” against McMahon and the company, although they did not specify what it is about.

Their agreement for a confidential settlement is a crucial step in holding McMahon and WWE accountable and bringing justice to Ms. Grant after years of sexual abuse and trafficking.

Representatives for Grant and Laurinaitis

A court document filed on Wednesday indicates that Grant and Laurinaitis agreed to dismiss the allegations in the lawsuit against Laurinaitis, but the allegations against WWE and McMahon remain. Jessica Rosenberg, McMahon’s lawyer, issued a statement in response.

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. No matter how many press releases his team issues, the truth remains the same.

Jessica Rosenberg, McMahon’s lawyer

Rosenberg added that a lawyer for Laurinaitis had previously stated that the lawsuit’s allegations were unfounded. Grant sued WWE, McMahon, and Laurinaitis last year in federal court in Connecticut, where the company is headquartered in Stamford. In graphic detail, she alleges that McMahon forced her to have sexual acts with him, Laurinaitis, and others, and claims that both men sexually assaulted her. She says she was forced to perform humiliating acts during the encounters. The lawsuit also includes photos of sexual text messages that she says McMahon sent to Grant. McMahon, the former WWE CEO and chairman, has denied Grant’s accusations. Previously, he stated that the lawsuit is “full of lies, invented obscene instances that never happened 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 said in court documents that he had 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 then transferred to the talent relations department, where Laurinaitis was her boss. She has said that she was eventually 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 stated 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.