Hartford, Conn. — John Laurinaitis, a former executive with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), has settled a lawsuit with a former employee who accused him of sexual assault. As part of the agreement, Laurinaitis will provide evidence to support her ongoing case against Vince McMahon, the former WWE CEO embroiled in multiple allegations of misconduct.
Laurinaitis, previously listed as a co-defendant in a lawsuit against McMahon alleging sexual assault, trafficking, and physical abuse, has been dismissed from that suit following this confidential settlement with Janel Grant, the plaintiff. A motion filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut on Wednesday confirmed the dismissal and outlined Laurinaitis’s commitment to cooperate with Grant’s case against McMahon.
“John Laurinaitis has agreed to cooperate and provide evidence in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE,” stated attorneys representing both Laurinaitis and Grant. They emphasized that this settlement represents a crucial step toward accountability for McMahon and WWE, and a move toward justice for Grant after enduring what she claims was years of abuse and trafficking.
As of yet, WWE and TKO Group Holdings, its parent company, have not made any public statements regarding the settlement.
Grant’s lawsuit, filed in January 2024, accuses McMahon of sexual assault, trafficking, and instigating physical abuse. She contends that McMahon offered her a job and promotions in exchange for sexual favors and alleges that he trafficked her to other men both within and outside the forum of WWE.
Following these allegations, McMahon stepped down as chairman of TKO, a position he relinquished in January 2024. He has consistently denied the claims made against him.
McMahon has faced scrutiny over similar allegations in the past. In 2022, he stepped away from his role as CEO of WWE after a former referee, Rita Chatterton, accused him of raping her in 1986. He later settled the case for millions. His legal counsel, Jerry McDevitt, claimed that McMahon denied the allegations entirely, asserting that the settlement was made to avoid litigation costs.
Additionally, McMahon agreed in January to pay $1.7 million to settle charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission related to undisclosed settlements he made on behalf of himself and WWE.
In a separate legal matter, McMahon, along with his wife and former Education Secretary Linda McMahon, was named in a lawsuit alleging that they facilitated sexual abuse by a WWE employee in the 1980s. Both McMahons have denied these allegations.
This series of events highlights a deeply troubling pattern of allegations surrounding McMahon, raising significant questions about accountability in the world of professional wrestling and corporate governance.
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