John Laurinaitis Removed from WWE Trafficking Lawsuit and Agrees to Cooperate Against Vince McMahon

John Laurinaitis is officially out as a defendant in the sex trafficking lawsuit filed by former WWE staffer Janel Grant — but he’s not walking away without leaving a mark.

A new court filing submitted Wednesday confirmed that Laurinaitis has been officially dismissed after he agreed to cooperate and provide evidence in the case against Vince McMahon and WWE. The update came with a joint statement from both Laurinaitis and Grant, issued through her legal team to POST Wrestling.

“John Laurinaitis has agreed to cooperate and provide evidence in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE,” the statement read. “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 joint statement from John Laurinaitis and Janel Grant marks a pivotal moment in the case, signaling Laurinaitis’ official cooperation and increasing the pressure on Vince McMahon and WWE as the legal battle intensifies.

Grant’s lawsuit, recently amended and accepted by a judge earlier this month, lays out serious allegations that she was sexually trafficked by Vince McMahon during her time at WWE, with Laurinaitis initially listed as a co-defendant. The amended filing also claims she was assaulted by both men and that WWE failed to protect her.

The defendants, including McMahon and WWE, are expected to file motions by June 13 requesting the case be moved from public court to private arbitration. The argument centers around whether the arbitration clause in a $3 million nondisclosure agreement Grant signed should be upheld. Until then, Grant is permitted to request evidence related to that specific fight over arbitration.

As of now, Laurinaitis’ legal exit doesn’t clear the ring for WWE or McMahon — it only brings more pressure as a former top executive agrees to cooperate from the sidelines.

UPDATE: Vince McMahon’s attorney Jessica Rosenberg responded to the development with a pointed statement to Ringside News.