After only being referred to only as a “former UFC Heavyweight Champion” and “WWE Superstar” in her original lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE, Janel Grant’s amended suit from January of this year explicitly accuses McMahon of attempting to sexually traffic Grant to Brock Lesnar as part as McMahon’s alleged abuse of his former girlfriend and employee.
WWE’s decision to bring Lesnar back at SummerSlam last night (Aug. 3) without publicly addressing or commenting on the allegations involving him has outraged a portion of its audience. It also prompted the following statement from a representative for Grant, provided to Fight Game Media’s Samantha Schipman:
“For far too long, abuse was allowed to thrive under WWE’s leadership. Instead of righting this wrong, WWE has done nothing to ensure those responsible are held accountable. This attempt to sweep misconduct under the rug will backfire. We look forward to the full set of facts, including those about Mr. Lesnar, coming out in a court of law where they belong but, in the meantime, we refer you back to Janel Grant’s updated complaint, which outlines, in detail, the abuse she endured by McMahon and others while employed at WWE.”
Prior to receiving the statement, Schipman shared some of the relevant sections of Grant’s amended suit (which can be read in full here). Some of the less sexually explicit ones from the filing include:
• 15. McMahon treated Ms. Grant as a commodity—offering her to other men. In March 2020, McMahon began sharing sexually explicit photographs and videos of Ms. Grant (including pornographic content he recorded on his cell phone) with other men both inside and outside the company, including with members of the television production “tech” team, executives, producers, and a world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar, with whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract (and ultimately did sign that contract).
• 27. 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 Brock Lesnar who would be in New York City for a live event and TV taping in March 2022.
• 221. Upon information and belief, McMahon began to recruit Lesnar for a sexual encounter with Ms. Grant while she was still a coordinator in the legal department. By July of 2021, McMahon informed Ms. Grant that WWE Superstar Lesnar would be their next “playmate.”
• 224. On or about July 12, 2021, McMahon directed Ms. Grant to create personalized sexual content for Lesnar. McMahon shared the photos with Lesnar and then informed Ms. Grant that “he likes what he sees”
• 225. On July 21, 2021, McMahon flew and/or caused WWE SuperstarLesnar to fly on a jet into a local airport and travel into Connecticut (across state lines) for what McMahon described to Ms. Grant as a “business dinner,” as well as a sexual encounter with Ms. Grant in McMahon’s condo. Upon information and belief, the dinner was to discuss Lesnar’s continued involvement with WWE. Prior to the “business dinner” with McMahon, Lesnar made a brief visit to Ms. Grant’s building. However, Lesnar did not return to the building for a sexual encounter because he was too intoxicated and taken back to the plane.
McMahon has repeatedly denied all of Grant’s allegations, even as he resigned from all roles at WWE and parent company TKO as a result of them. Lesnar has never commented on the case. WWE and McMahon are currently awaiting the judge’s decision on their motion to prevent Grant’s team from receiving new evidence, then the court will resume deciding whether or not the complaint will be addressed in private arbitration or via a public trial.
