The Janel Grant lawsuit is about to vanish from federal court—but Vince McMahon and WWE are not walking away from the fight.
According to a joint status report filed in Connecticut federal court, Grant, McMahon and WWE have signed an agreement to move their entire dispute into private arbitration. Grant must now file paperwork dismissing the lawsuit against the two remaining defendants within five business days. The filing states:
“The Parties jointly report that the Parties have executed an agreement to arbitrate their dispute. Pursuant to that agreement, within five business days, Plaintiff shall execute and cause to be filed a Stipulation of Voluntary Dismissal with Prejudice causing the action to be dismissed in its entirety, as to both remaining defendants, but without prejudice to the Parties’ rights to pursue their claims and defenses in arbitration.”
That legal language matters. Grant will dismiss the federal case “with prejudice,” meaning she cannot turn around and file the same lawsuit again in court. However, the agreement specifically allows Grant, McMahon and WWE to continue pursuing their claims and defenses in arbitration. In other words, the public lawsuit is ending, but the battle is moving behind closed doors.
That is a massive turn after Grant’s lawyers spent months fighting attempts to force the case into arbitration under the nondisclosure agreement she signed with McMahon in 2022.
Grant’s attorneys argued that the NDA and its arbitration clause were invalid, claiming she signed the agreement while under extreme duress and without the ability to properly consent. They also cited federal laws designed to prevent sexual assault and harassment claims from being forced into private arbitration.
McMahon and WWE wanted the case pulled out of federal court. Now, all sides have agreed to a private arbitration process without waiting for the judge to decide whether the original NDA clause could be enforced.
Grant accused McMahon of sexual abuse and trafficking and alleged that WWE enabled or concealed his conduct. McMahon has denied wrongdoing, while WWE has disputed Grant’s claims. Grant originally sought to void the NDA and recover additional financial damages. She claimed McMahon agreed to pay her $3 million under the agreement but stopped after paying the first $1 million.
The biggest change now is privacy. Federal lawsuits generate public hearings, written rulings and court filings. Arbitration generally happens away from the public eye, meaning future testimony, evidence and any potential financial resolution may never be revealed.
This does not mean Grant has dropped her allegations or that McMahon and WWE have admitted wrongdoing. It means the public courtroom showdown is being shut down while the same fight continues through a confidential process.
One of wrestling’s biggest legal cases is now headed behind closed doors, and unless someone involved speaks out, the public may never learn exactly how it ends.
What do you make of Janel Grant, Vince McMahon and WWE agreeing to move the case into private arbitration? Leave your thoughts and feedback in the comments.
