Tag: Janel Grant

Janel Grant to speak at Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence event

Posted on by Ian Carey

Janel Grant is scheduled to speak at an event hosted by the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence next week.

Grant will be a guest speaker on Thursday, February 19, at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Connecticut. The event is focused on advocating for policy changes aimed at strengthening protections for survivors of sexual violence.

One stated goal of the event is to pursue reforms to non-disclosure agreement policies that can prevent survivors from speaking publicly about past abuse. Grant’s NDA with WWE and Vince McMahon is a significant aspect of her ongoing litigation.

Grant was quoted in a press release issued on Wednesday:

“We are all more vulnerable to coercive control than we realize. Coercive control happens in increments, and entire industries are built on systems of coercive control. Tools such as NDAs can be used to ominously justify anything, and even turn a life into someone else’s storyline, keeping even those who have not signed confidentiality agreements working in fear. Any system that sacrifices people, whether current or former employees, at the expense of safety and human dignity, is dangerous, if not impossible, for someone to ‘leave.’ I’m not alone in living a life looking over my shoulder. Evolving systems and holistic change in how we address sexual violence remains painfully slow. I am here to be a part of the solution and give a voice to people in Connecticut who are living and working in fear. I want to empower others with information in the hopes that we can create a better and safer world.”

Another stated goal of the event is to encourage lawmakers to codify the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) into Connecticut state law. PREA establishes standards for the detection, prevention, and response to sexual assaults in prisons.

Janel Grant’s motion for early discovery in Vince McMahon lawsuit denied

Posted on by Josh Nason

Friday night saw the latest development in the Janel Grant vs. Vince McMahon lawsuit and one that didn’t go the plaintiff’s way, for now anyway.

Grant was seeking early discovery to support her case for avoiding arbitration in the lawsuit, first filed in January 2024, against McMahon and WWE in which she is claiming McMahon sexually assaulted her and trafficked her. Due to the NDA Grant signed with McMahon that contained a private arbitration clause, his side is claiming that should be followed.

First reported by Brandon Thurston for Post Wrestling, judge Sarah Russell ruled that Grant “had not established ‘good cause’ for obtaining records and depositions before the defendants file their anticipated motions to compel arbitration.” However, Russell stated in her judgment that she could reconsider “limited, reciprocal discovery” once the aforementioned arbitration motions are submitted by McMahon.

Part of the reason for Russell’s ruling was that the court “cannot evaluate from the current record whether discovery from Defendants is required to resolve the applicability of defenses Plaintiff may raise to arbitration. Thus, Plaintiff has not met her burden to show good cause for taking discovery before responding to Defendants’ Motions to Compel Arbitration. Plaintiff may renew her Motion for Leave to Take Discovery in conjunction with filing her response in opposition to Defendants’ Motions to Compel.”

It was the first movement on the case in seven months. To that end, Russell ordered both Grant and McMahon’s legal teams to meet in order to decide on McMahon’s motions to compel arbitration, dates for arguments on that issue, and whether both sides want to be referred to a magistrate judge for a possible settlement.

To this point, neither side has commented on the ruling.

WOL: Gigantic UFC deal, Grant vs. Colker, Kross, TV notes

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including the gigantic deal TKO made with Paramount for UFC, why it’s great news for UFC fans, all the details we know thus far, plus Karrion Kross, Smackdown and Collision notes, Carlon Colker vs. Janel Grant, and more. A packed show as always so check it out~!

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Judge orders release of Janel Grant’s medical records from Peak Wellness

Posted on by Ian Carey

A judge has ordered Dr. Carlon Colker and Peak Wellness to turn over Janel Grant’s medical files.

At a remote hearing livestreamed on Monday, Judge David Bothwell addressed Grant’s requests for her medical records from Peak Wellness and to depose Peak Wellness employees. While the judge ruled in favor of Grant’s request for the medical records, he denied her team’s request to depose clinic employees.

Post Wrestling posted a clip from Monday’s hearing showing the judge’s ruling.

“I am going to grant the petitioner’s records requests and pursuant to the schedule, the proposed schedule by the petitioner filed on August 7th,” Bothwell said.

Colker’s team now has 60 days to turn over the documents. While Colker’s side contends they have already provided all records related to Grant’s treatment, Grant’s team argues what has been turned over is incomplete. The judge’s order also covers billing records and certain communications between the clinic, McMahon, and WWE, though Colker’s team indicated they will challenge this.

Regarding the request to depose Peak Wellness employees, Judge Bothwell said there was no need for it at this time, as Connecticut law typically only deposes people pre-lawsuit in time-sensitive cases potentially involving illness or death.

“At this point, I just haven’t heard enough information about the potential deponents and their depositions to determine that there’s a need for them right now,” he continued. “I’m going to deny the request for the depositions, but grant the request for the documents.”

Grant filed a bill of discovery against Colker and Peak Wellness in July 2024, seeking medical records related to treatment she says was arranged through Vince McMahon. The case is separate from her ongoing lawsuit against WWE and McMahon alleging sexual misconduct.

WOL: BJ Bethel on the last week of WWE news, Janel Grant case updates

Posted on by Jim Valley

Image: WWE

It’s time for the Saturday Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley.

There’s been some massive news stories from WWE over the past seven+ days like the return of Brock Lesnar and WWE legal claiming he has “been cleared” in the Janel Grant lawsuit (whatever that means), and WWE PLEs coming to ESPN starting next April.

Journalist BJ Bethel has been covering the Grant case and the sports broadcasting industry for years. He joins me this week to talk about important aspects of WWE business past, present and future.

It’s a great conversation and you will get a lot out of it. Check it out.

Click here to listen (sub needed)

Janel Grant’s representative issues statement on Brock Lesnar’s WWE return

Posted on by Ian Carey

A representative of Janel Grant has released a statement on Brock Lesnar’s WWE return.

Lesnar returned to WWE in the closing moments of SummerSlam 2025 on Sunday night. He had been gone from the company since January 2024 following allegations in Grant’s lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis that McMahon used sexual encounters with Grant as incentive for Lesnar to sign a new contract.

Fight Game Media’s Samantha Schipman posted a statement from Grant’s team on Monday:

“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.”

Grant publicly confirmed Lesnar by name in her amended lawsuit filed in January 2025. He was referred to as both a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and WWE Superstar in the original suit filed a year ealier. Lesnar’s name now appears in the following sections of Grant’s amended lawsuit:

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.

The lawsuit continues, in graphic detail, to describe similar accusations. The amended lawsuit can be read in its entirety here.

WOR: Raw report, Janel vs. Colker, updated big show lineups

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Image: WWE

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including all the big shows coming up over the next few days, changes to the Women’s Evolution show, WWE RAW report with lots of news, Janel Grant vs. Carlon Colker, your questions and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:

Start: New additions to the weekend shows 

9:36: Update on Janel Grant case

12:55: NXT heading to The Met in Philadelphia just days prior to AEW’s residency at 2300 Arena, Dave Meltzer’s thoughts on Wrestler of the Year (so far)

18:57: WWE Raw recap

38:15: Q&A

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Judge grants Janel Grant’s bill of discovery against Carlon Colker, Peak Wellness

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Some of Janel Grant’s discovery filings are moving forward.

In a ruling announced on Monday, judge Colleen Zingaro of the Connecticut Superior Court ruled in favor of Janel Grant’s bill of discovery against Dr. Carlon Colker and Peak Wellness, ordering both the plantiff and defendants to submit scheduling order proposals.

Grant’s attorneys originally filed a pre-action discovery petition against Colker and Peak Wellness last year, seeking medical records related to Grant’s treatment in the clinic. Last month, Janel Grant’s team requested documents from Vince McMahon and WWE including board materials, NDA drafts, and documents reviewed by federal investigators. Included in those requests were communications between Colker and Vince McMahon. That led to WWE & McMahon filing an appeal to prevent discovery being granted.

In her lawsuit, Grant accused the defendants of facilitating her abuse by administering unapproved treatments and substances, in turn enabling Vince McMahon’s control over her. The lawsuit has claimed that Peak Wellness has failed to provide complete documentation regarding her treatment.

Back in May, Colker responded by countersuing Grant’s attorney Ann Callis and the Holland Law Firm accusing them of defamation, asserting that all medical records had been provided. Colker is seeking punitive damages.

WOL: WWE Raw report, Evolution, Vince vs. Grant, Slammiversary

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Image: WWE

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Lance Storm returns with tons to talk about including the Raw report from last night, a show with NO RUN-INS DURING MATCHES, the Evolution poster, the latest on Vince McMahon and Janel Grant, a lot of TNA news including a new person added to the Slammiversary main event, and more.

A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WWE & Vince McMahon file appeal to prevent discovery in Janel Grant lawsuit

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Vince McMahon & WWE are looking to block Janel Grant’s team from discovery.

According to Post Wrestling, both defendants on Monday filed opposition to Grant’s attempt to obtain new information in the lawsuit, saying that the plaintiff has failed to meet the legal standard for pre-arbitration discovery and is also trying to seek unrelated documents relating to the question if Grant signed the NDA under duress.

“The Court should refuse to indulge Plaintiff’s [Grant’s] improper fishing expedition and deny the Motion in full,” McMahon’s team wrote in the filing.

In WWE’s filing, they wrote that Grant’s request for evidence was an attempt to bypass an earlier decision to hold off on broader discovery.

“Grant’s document requests are a transparent attempt to circumvent the Court’s stay order and initiate full merits discovery before the Court is able to decide Defendants’ motions to compel arbitration,” their legal team wrote.

“Grant has failed to present any allegations, let alone ‘reliable evidence’ that she did not intend to be bound by the arbitration provision or that the agreement to arbitrate was induced by fraud or duress,” they added.

In a filing last Monday, Grant’s team requested documents from both McMahon and WWE including emails between Vince and Linda McMahon relating to Grant and NDA, WWE’s board materials, drafts of the NDA, and communications between McMahon and Dr. Carlton Coker, who has since sued Grant’s attorney Ann Callis for defamation.

Janel Grant requests documents & emails from WWE, Vince McMahon to challenge arbitration

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Janel Grant is seeking documents from Vince McMahon and WWE in an attempt to prevent the case from moving to arbitration.

Her team filed a request for evidence on Monday, according to Post Wrestling, with the court allowing Grant to request discovery related to the issue if the defendants can move the case into arbitration, which would resolve the lawsuit privately instead of publicly.

Grant’s lawyers are requesting internal WWE and McMahon documents including WWE’s board materials, NDA drafts, and documents reviewed by federal investigators. They are also requesting emails between Vince and Linda McMahon relating to Grant and/or the NDA, as well as communications between Vince and Dr. Carlton Colker, who has since countersued Grant’s attorney Ann Callis for defamation.

The filing asks for the following materials:

1. Documents sufficient to show the identity of each individual who participated in drafting and/or reviewing the NDA.

2. All communications between You, on the one hand, and any other person(s), on the other, concerning terminating Ms. Grant’s employment and/or the NDA.

3. All communications between any of Your employees or agents, on the one hand, and any other person(s), on the other, regarding concerning [sic] terminating Ms. Grant’s employment and/or the NDA.

4. All communications between any of WWE’s employees, officers, directors, or agents, on the one hand, and any other person(s), on the other, concerning terminating Ms. Grant’s employment and/or the NDA.

5. All drafts of the NDA.

6. All communications between You, on the one hand, and Linda McMahon, on the other, concerning Ms. Grant and/or the NDA.

7. All communications between You, on the one hand, and Dr. Carlon Colker, on the other, concerning Ms. Grant and/or the NDA.

8. Ms. Grant’s complete employment file.

9. All documents and communications generated by WWE’s human resources personnel, including but not limited to communications to and from Meredith Hutt, regarding Ms. Grant’s employment and separation from WWE and/or the NDA.

10. All communications between You and/or Your counsel, on the one hand, and Jonathan Shapiro, Esq., on the other, concerning the NDA.

11. All Board Materials from January 1, 2019 to January 30, 2025.

12. All minutes of the Board’s Audit Committee from January 1, 2019 to January 30, 2025.

13. All documents and communications between You, on the one hand, and Endeavor, on the other, concerning disclosure of WWE’s litigation liabilities from January 1, 2019 to April 3, 2023.

14. All documents and communications produced by You to government investigators, including but not limited to the Department of Justice and/or Securities and Exchange Commission, concerning Ms. Grant and/or the NDA.

15. Documents sufficient to show (a) all subpoenas and/or voluntary requests for production and/or testimony received by You and/or Your counsel concerning the SEC Action and (b) Your responses and objections, if any, to the government’s requests.

16. All documents and communications concerning WWE’s claim that, “[a]lthough WWE was a party to the Settlement Agreements—one signed in 2019 and one signed in 2022—McMahon failed to disclose the agreements to WWE’s Board of Directors (“Board”), legal department, accountants, financial reporting personnel, and auditor[,]” in the SEC Action.

17. All documents and communications collected and reviewed in response to a request and/or subpoena from the government; determined to be responsive; withheld under an assertion of privilege; and later found to be non-privileged and discoverable under the crime fraud exception by the Southern District of New York, as affirmed by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in In re Grand Jury Subpoenas Dated September 13 (2025), Docket Nos. 24-1588-cv (L), 24-1589-cv (Con) (2d. Cir. Feb 7, 2025).

18. Documents sufficient to show the scope and methodology of the Board’s Internal Investigation.

19. Documents sufficient to identify all person(s) interviewed in the course of the Board’s Internal Investigation.

20. All documents and communications concerning the findings and recommendations of the Board’s Internal Investigation.

“WWE and McMahon had the opportunity to voluntarily provide discovery and they refused,” a representative of Janel Grant told Post Wrestling in a statement. “They claim the NDA and its arbitration clause are enforceable, but resist any attempts to investigate whether Ms. Grant was coerced into signing it—facts that go to the heart of its enforceability. They can’t have it both ways. Today we asked the Court to allow that discovery to proceed, Ms. Grant deserves to have the facts about her case.”

In the filing, it was claimed that there had been a meeting on Friday but the defendants “declined to offer any documents.”

Grant’s attorneys have asked the court to delay further filings until their discovery is complete. As of right now, Grant’s opposition to the defendant’s motion to move to arbitration is due on July 11, while the defendants are allowed to file their reply to that opposition by August 1.

WOR: Jim Ross update, Janel Grant lawsuit, ratings talk, Hangman/Ospreay

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with part one of a two-part show. We’ll talk the death of Salman Hashmikov, Jim Ross, the Janel Grant/John Lauranitis situation, Linda McMahon, Double or Nothing news and notes, Best of the Super Juniors, the RAW ratings and what we can determine, and more. We had a late night situation come up that necessitated ending the show before the RAW and NXT reviews, but we will be back Thursday afternoon to recap both those shows. We apologize for the inconvenience. A packed show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: Salman Hashimikov passes away
8:18: Jim Ross update
10:55: John Laurinaitis flips against Vince McMahon in Janel Grant lawsuit
18:58: AEW Double or Nothing/WWE Google trends, Ospreay/Hangman finish
29:00: NJPW BOSJ updates
33:02: Ratings
48:12: BJ Penn arrested

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Janel Grant voluntarily dismisses claims against John Laurinaitis

Posted on by Ian Carey

Attorneys for Janel Grant have dismissed all claims against John Laurinaitis in her ongoing lawsuit alleging sexual abuse involving WWE and Vince McMahon.

In a court filing submitted Wednesday to the United States District Court of Connecticut, Grant voluntarily dismissed the case with prejudice as it relates to Laurinaitis. This means she cannot refile the claims against him. The dismissal applies only to Laurinaitis. Grant is continuing her legal action against WWE and Vince McMahon.

Today’s filing reads: 

“Plaintiff Janel Grant hereby stipulates with Defendant John Laurinaitis that the above-entitled action is voluntarily dismissed, with prejudice, against Defendant John Laurinaitis. For the sake of clarity, Plaintiff is not dismissing any claims against any defendant other than Mr. Laurinaitis. Each party shall bear its own costs.”

The filing states that each party will bear their own legal costs.

In a statement to Post Wrestling, Grant’s lawyers say that Laurinaitis has agreed to provide evidence for Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon and WWE. Brandon Thurston would later clarify that the statement comes from both Grant and Laurinaitis.

“John Laurinaitis has agreed to cooperate and provide evidence in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE. His agreement to a confidential settlement is a pivotal next step toward holding McMahon and WWE accountable and bringing justice to Ms. Grant after years of sexual abuse and trafficking. Mr. Laurinaitis looks forward to moving on with his life. We cannot provide any additional details at this time.”

The case is currently awaiting a ruling on whether it will be sent to private arbitration. Lawyers for the defendents have until June 13 to refile their motion to compel arbitration. Grant’s team will have until June 23 to respond, and a decision will be made after. 

Earlier this month, a federal judge granted Grant’s request to file an amended complaint to include information regarding WWE’s settlement with the SEC over undisclosed payments, expanded allegations of abuse, the naming of alleged enablers, and efforts to obtain medical records from a doctor she alleges was paid by McMahon. 

WOR: Zoey Stark, Grant case, RAW report, tons more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including Zoey Stark’s injury, the Janel Grant case, what’s up with Collision and Triller, the RAW report, ratings, UFC notes and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: Zoey Stark injury
2:45: Janel Grant lawsuit updates
16:43: AEW Collision still not up on Max, AEW on Triller update
21:51: Fuerza Guerrera having retirement show this fall, ratings, updated AEW Dynamite lineup
30:36: Jon Jones update, Holly Holm returns to boxing, TKO boxing update
38:04: WWE Raw report, Dave’s thoughts on Mistico & Mascara Dorada vs. Komander & Rey Astral

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WOR: Janel Grant case updates, Dynamite & NXT recaps, news

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Image: AEW

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the latest on the Janel Grant case, WWE in Atlanta, SNME, Will Ospreay’s comments regarding WWE, tons of Japan news, ratings, ESPN Select, AEW Dynamite and NXT TV reviews, Collision spoilers and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:

Start: Janel Grant lawsuit update
9:52: WWE loading up on Georgia events during All In weekend, SNME lineup
15:01: Will Ospreay says he prefers AEW’s style over WWE’s
21:56: NJPW Dominion lineup, AJPW Champion Carnival update
25:50: Arena Mexico notes
29:17: Ratings, ESPN’s new streaming service
38:37: AEW Dynamite recap
1:01:49: WWE NXT recap
1:09:01: AEW Collision spoilers, Karl Snyder arrested

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