John Laurinaitis, co-defendant in the high-profile lawsuit accusing former WWE executive Vince McMahon of sexual abuse and trafficking, has agreed to cooperate with the accuser, Janel Grant. Representatives disclosed on May 28, 2025, that Laurinaitis has reached a confidential settlement with Grant and will provide evidence in the ongoing litigation.
The legal agreement includes the dismissal of Grant's lawsuit against Laurinaitis with prejudice, preventing any future refiling of the claim against him. Laurinaitis's cooperation marks a significant development in Grant's case against McMahon and WWE.
"John Laurinaitis has agreed to cooperate and provide evidence in Janel Grant's lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE," stated the representatives. "This confidential settlement is a pivotal step toward holding McMahon and WWE accountable and delivering justice to Ms. Grant after years of alleged sexual abuse and trafficking." Laurinaitis's representatives declined to provide further details and expressed his desire to move forward with his life.
Grant originally filed her lawsuit in January 2024 in Connecticut federal court, naming McMahon, WWE, and Laurinaitis as defendants. Following the suit, McMahon resigned as executive chairman of TKO Group Holdings, WWE and UFC's parent company. McMahon has denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit "full of lies" and "vindictive distortion of the truth."
In addition to the civil lawsuit, McMahon settled Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges in January 2025 related to failure to disclose payments totaling $10.5 million to women as part of non-disclosure agreements about his conduct. He agreed to pay a $400,000 civil penalty and reimburse WWE $1.3 million.
Laurinaitis, a former wrestler and WWE executive, was previously implicated in the lawsuit but his settlement and agreement to testify may impact the case's trajectory. Investigation and litigation efforts continue to unfold in this significant legal matter involving top figures in the professional wrestling industry.
This report is developing and will be updated as new information emerges.
