Summary

Vince McMahon has resigned from TKO Group Holdings in response to the recent allegations of rape and sexual assault made against him. McMahon plans to vigorously defend himself and clear his name against the baseless accusations in the lawsuit filed by Janel Grant. The lawsuit includes graphic details of McMahon’s alleged sexual misconduct, including coercion, explicit photos, and involvement of other WWE employees.

Vince McMahon has parted ways with TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE and UFC, following last week’s shocking allegations of rape, sexual assault, defecation and more were made public. Though McMahon has vowed to clear his name, he explained that he has made the decision to resign from his position in the company “out of respect for the WWE Universe.”

As per Deadline, the WWE co-founder released a statement which read:

“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. 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.”

Related How Did the WWE Turn a Dysfunctional Backwater Sport into a Massive International Brand? There’s something about bludgeoning a man over the head with a folding chair that unites humanity and transcends race, creed, and language.

How Vince McMahon’s Resignation Came About

Just days after WWE announced a new partnership with Netflix to bring their flagship show Monday Night Raw to the streaming service, a lawsuit filed by Janel Grant, a former employee of WWE, accused McMahon of horrific instances of sexual abuse and sex trafficking. The lawsuit was filed Thursday morning in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. Also named in the suit is the former head of WWE talent relations, John Laurinaitis.

In a report from the Wall Street Journal, the suit stated that Grant was groomed by McMahon after being promised a job in WWE’s legal department. Grant, who was unemployed at the time, had recently lost her parents after serving as their long-term caregiver. She met with McMahon several times in his personal condo to discuss employment, but soon found herself dodging his sexual advances.

The suit claims that after Grant was hired as a legal administrator-coordinator, her first sexual encounter took place with McMahon in May 2019:

“Ms. Grant felt coerced into engaging in sexual activity and that McMahon had trapped her in an impossible situation, as she feared adverse career and personal consequences and legal retaliation if she declined his advances. McMahon stated, “This is what I have been waiting for” as he performed oral sex on Ms. Grant. Ms. Grant asked that protection be used, and McMahon responded that there was no need to worry because he was “clean.”

The suit included graphic details of how McMahon “was adamant about having Ms. Grant send him explicit photographs,” and that she felt “trapped in her existence at WWE.” It was also revealed that McMahon showed Grant’s explicit photos and videos to other company employees, and coerced her into engaging in “threesomes.”

Another instance saw former head of WWE talent relations, John Laurinaitis, sexually assault Grant inside his office, along with McMahon. According to the suit:

“In June 2021, McMahon and Defendant Laurinaitis sexually assaulted Ms. Grant inside Laurinaitis’ office in WWE headquarters while colleagues were busy at their desks. Behind a locked door, the two men cornered her and pulled her in between them, forcibly touched her, before ultimately putting her on top of a table in between them. She begged them to stop, but they forced themselves on her, each taking turns restraining her for the other, while saying “No means yes” and “Take it, b-tch.””

The lawsuit further claims that McMahon “began to recruit [a] WWE Superstar for a sexual encounter with Ms. Grant,” and “directed Ms. Grant to create personalized sexual content for WWE Superstar.” The superstar in question is not named in the suit, but states that he is “a world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion with whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract.”

The entirety of Janel Grant’s lawsuit can be read here, but be warned that it includes graphic descriptions of sexual assault, and features equally graphic screenshots of texts from McMahon to Grant.

Related The Iron Claw Cast Wants to Join the WWE Zac Efron and the cast of The Iron Claw would love to wrestle in the WWE.

Janel Grant is Seeking to Void an NDA She Signed
WWE

While Grant is seeking punitive damages, the lawsuit is also looking to void a nondisclosure agreement that Grant signed upon her dismissal from the company in 2022 under state and federal law, including the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. After she was no longer employed by WWE, McMahon further attempted to traffic Grant to another WWE superstar. As the lawsuit states:

“Even after pushing Ms. Grant out of the Company and muzzling her with an NDA, McMahon continued efforts to exploit her, including attempting to traffic her to a WWE star who would be in New York City for a live event and TV taping in March 2022.”

Grant’s lawyer, Ann Callis, released a statement calling her client a “courageous person who has suffered deeply at the hands of Mr. McMahon and Mr. Laurinaitis.” She is seeking to hold all parties involved accountable, and said that WWE is “well aware of Mr. McMahon’s history of depraved behavior.” Read Callis’ full statement below:

“Today’s complaint seeks to hold accountable two WWE executives who sexually assaulted and trafficked Plaintiff Janel Grant, as well as the organization that facilitated or turned a blind eye to the abuse and then swept it under the rug. She is an incredibly private and courageous person who has suffered deeply at the hands of Mr. McMahon and Mr. Laurinaitis. Ms. Grant hopes that her lawsuit will prevent other women from being victimized. The organization is well aware of Mr. McMahon’s history of depraved behavior, and it’s time that they take responsibility for the misconduct of its leadership.”

If you are the victim of sexual assault, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, or visit RAINN for more information.