Below are a couple of top WWE news stories of the day, featuring Vince McMahon, Janel Grant, and RAW.
• Vince McMahon and WWE filed motions in U.S. District Court to move the lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant to arbitration. Grant’s lawsuit accuses McMahon of exploiting her and trafficking her to other men inside WWE.
The lawsuit also seeks to void a 2022 non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that Grant signed, which included a $3 million payment for not publicly discussing her relationship with McMahon. She alleges that McMahon stopped making payments after she received $1 million. McMahon’s motion claims the NDA included an arbitration clause, and that Grant violated it by filing the lawsuit.
McMahon’s motion argues that the settlement was a consensual agreement, and that Grant breached it by disclosing the relationship and the NDA’s existence. McMahon denies all allegations and asserts the dispute should be handled through arbitration, where the claims will be disproven. The motion includes a declaration from McMahon stating that Grant’s claims of duress are invalid under Connecticut law.
WWE’s motion echoes McMahon’s arguments and highlights prior attempts to move the case to arbitration. Grant’s attorneys must respond by January 13, 2025. The lawsuit is part of a broader investigation into McMahon’s financial dealings and relationships, including over $14.6 million in unreported company expenses. No criminal charges have been filed, and the investigation’s status remains unclear.
The lawsuit led to McMahon stepping down from his role on the WWE parent company’s Board of Directors and selling significant stock in the company. Grant’s legal team has not yet commented on the latest filings.
WATCH: Sable Kisses Vince McMahon:
• The WWE roster is reportedly unhappy with the recent shift to a two-hour format for Monday Night RAW (which will last until the end of 2024), which has reduced airtime for many superstars.
According to Fightful Select, several wrestlers have voiced frustration over the difficulty of getting TV time under the new format.
Many had hoped to appear on RAW, partly due to the Netflix partnership, but the shorter episodes have limited those opportunities.
