John Laurinaitis Officially Dropped From Janel Grant Lawsuit as He Prepares to Assist Against Vince McMahon

John Laurinaitis is officially off the hook—at least in terms of being a named defendant in Janel Grant’s explosive sex trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE. A federal judge in Connecticut signed off on the dismissal, clearing Laurinaitis from the case and locking in his status as a cooperating witness.

The court filing, dated May 30, reads:

“Defendant John Laurinaitis is dismissed from this action with prejudice. The court respectfully directs the clerk to terminate Mr. Laurinaitis from the action.”

The order was signed by Judge Sarah F. Russell, effectively sealing Laurinaitis’ legal exit from the case. But his role isn’t over—he’s now assisting Grant in her legal fight against McMahon and WWE, a move that could ramp up pressure on both remaining defendants. This comes after both parties issued a joint statement through Grant’s legal team confirming the shift:

“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.”

Grant’s lawsuit accuses McMahon of luring her with promises of career growth and then exploiting her, even trafficking her to other men within the company. She signed a nondisclosure agreement in 2022, tied to a $3 million payout—but according to her lawsuit, she only received $1 million before the payments stopped.

McMahon and WWE are now trying to push the case into arbitration, citing the NDA. A judge has allowed Grant to pursue discovery related to that specific issue, and the defendants have until June 13 to file motions requesting the move out of public court.

While Laurinaitis may be off the legal hook, his cooperation keeps him firmly involved—and his testimony could play a key role in how this battle unfolds.