WWE’s Vince McMahon sex trafficked employee as ‘pawn’ in business deals, lawsuit claims

A former WWE employee has sued founder Vince McMahon and is alleging he abused and sexually exploited her when he was CEO of the wrestling company, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Janel Grant, the former employee, also alleges that McMahon trafficked her to other men “as a pawn to secure talent deals” with prospective wrestlers the company was recruiting.

Grant filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut on Thursday. The suit names McMahon, WWE and former head of talent relations John Laurinaitis as defendants.

The lawsuit claims Grant endured emotional distress in relation to “years-long sexual and emotional abuse.” The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages. it also seeks a declaratory judgment that a nondisclosure agreement Grant signed while she was a WWE employee is “void and unenforceable.

McMahon stepped down as WWE’s CEO in June 2022 amid an investigation by the company’s board into alleged hush-money payments to women who accused him of sexual misconduct.

Per the lawsuit, McMahon and Laurinaitis both engaged in sexual assault and trafficking of Grant “both for their own pleasure and as a pawn to secure talent deals with prospective wrestlers they were recruiting” and did so on WWE property and using WWE funding.

From the lawsuit:

The lawsuit comes days after Netflix announced it will air WWE Raw starting next year.

The deal is valued at more than $5 billion over 10 years. Netflix has the option to opt out after the initial five years and to extend for an additional 10 years. WWE’s current five-year deal for “Raw” with NBCUniversal is worth approximately $250 million-$260 million per year.

For a complete report of Grant’s lawsuit, check out the Wall Street Journal.