A former WWE employee has shared grim new details of allegations against the organization’s co-founder Vince McMahon in a filing in her sex abuse lawsuit against him.
Janel Grant, who worked at WWE from June 2019 through early 2022, alleged in an affidavit filed earlier this week in Connecticut federal court that McMahon created a job “made from scratch” especially for her in order to gain control over her.
Grant alleges that McMahon subjected her to repeated sexual abuse beginning before she even started working at WWE, escalating throughout her employment.
She claims the encounters became increasingly violent over time, causing physical injuries and emotional distress — prompting her to attempt suicide at one point.
While it is uncommon for alleged sexual misconduct victims to be name, Grant’s lawyer previously said she wanted to go public, explaining she hoped “her lawsuit will prevent other women from being victimized.”
The Post has sought comment from McMahon, who strongly denied the allegations previously.
Grant alleged that in June 2021, she was raped on a table by McMahon and another WWE executive, John Laurinaitis, during work hours.
“They forcefully pushed and pulled me and shoved their hands in my dress and up between my legs,” Grant stated in the affidavit.
“The force caused stitches to pop on my dress, and I subsequently blacked out.”
She described in detail the sexual violence she allegedly endured.
“Throughout our entire ‘relationship,’ Vince subjected me to physically violent sexual interactions with himself and others, causing both physical and mental trauma,” she alleged.
“Sex with Vince and others became so violent that I often cried and suffered physical side effects, including bleeding, swelling, bruising, and incontinence.”
In July 2021, McMahon “mercilessly” beat Grant to “prepare” her for a sexual encounter with Brock Lesnar, she alleged in the 40-page affidavit.
The beatings allegedly involved McMahon pinning her down, dragging her around, ripping out her hair, slapping her and assaulting her with his fists, according to the filing.
“I dealt with the physical, psychological, and emotional side effects of that beating for days afterwards,” Grant alleged.
She claimed that McMahon “continued to advertise” her as part of as “part of the deal to convince” Lesnar to sign a new contract with WWE.
Her allegations include a sick “bet” with Lesnar in which McMahon “brutalized” her with a sex toy.
Grant alleged that WWE President Nick Khan and former COO Brad Blum were made aware of McMahon’s sexual conduct with her and chose to enable it rather than intervene.
She claimed the company’s response was not to protect her, but to transfer her out of the legal department and place her under Laurinaitis’s supervision in Talent Relations.
She also alleged that former general counsel Brian Nurse was terminated after raising concerns about McMahon’s conduct.
The Post has sought comment from WWE and its parent company TKO Holdings, along with Khan, Blum, Lesnar and Laurinaitis.
McMahon resigned as CEO of WWE in 2022 and stepped down from his role at TKO in January 2024, after Grant filed her suit.
“Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE,” TKO Group previously told the Associated Press. “While this matter pre-dates our TKO executive team’s tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant’s horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally.”
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