Janel Grant Fights to Keep Lawsuit Against Vince McMahon in Court, Calls Out “Predatory” WWE Culture

Janel Grant is pushing back hard against efforts by Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis to move her lawsuit into private arbitration—filing a response on March 7 in the United States District Court of Connecticut.

Grant’s legal team didn’t hold back, making it clear they won’t let WWE or McMahon sweep this case under the rug. “It is unsurprising that Defendants wish to avoid confronting the uncomfortable truths Ms. Grant raises in her Complaint,” they wrote, arguing that McMahon and WWE are trying to dodge accountability.

The lawsuit, which had been on hold due to a federal investigation, is now moving forward, and Grant is pushing for her amended complaint to be heard in court. Her attorneys claim the updated filing “describes with greater particularity the horrific sexual, physical, and emotional abuse she experienced at the hands of Defendants.” They also point out that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently found McMahon “engaged in a scheme to cover up his misdeeds and mislead shareholders,” with Grant’s NDA being a key part of that cover-up.

McMahon’s team is arguing that the case should be dismissed or sent to arbitration, but Grant’s attorneys aren’t having it. “Defendants are not entitled to arbitrarily censor the complaint and suppress damaging facts,” they fired back, adding that McMahon’s attempts to claim “prejudice” are baseless because any reputational damage “is no greater now than when Plaintiff filed her initial complaint.”

One of the biggest bombshells in Grant’s response is her legal team’s claim that McMahon’s longtime doctor, Dr. Jeffrey Colker, “administered unknown treatments” to her while allegedly being aware of her relationship with McMahon. Even more concerning, the doctor is “withholding her medical records, which document those treatments and Defendant McMahon’s involvement.”

As for why the amended complaint wasn’t filed sooner, Grant’s attorneys say WWE is trying to manipulate the timeline by ignoring the fact that McMahon himself was the target of a federal investigation that paused the case in June 2024. They also called out the company for attempting to “seize upon the sudden and tragic loss of Judge Meyer for a litigation advantage.”

With the Department of Justice lifting its stay on the case, Grant’s team is making it clear they aren’t backing down. “Plaintiff is comfortable providing a fuller picture of the case, including identifying abusers and enablers who facilitated her exploitation,” they stated, adding that the SEC’s findings prove McMahon’s pattern of silencing women to protect his image.

Grant also provided a statement to Ringside News, expressing her determination to see this case through. “Ms. Grant is grateful and empowered by the support she has received from the community and looks forward to holding Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE accountable for facilitating the sex trafficking and abuse she endured at the company.”

McMahon, WWE, and Laurinaitis now have the chance to respond before the court decides whether this case stays in the public eye or gets pushed behind closed doors in arbitration.