Subhojeet Mukherjee on February 28, 2026
John Laurinaitis isn’t just making a public appearance — he’s now explaining why he’s coming back.
After announcing he’ll appear at Big Time Wrestling’s March Mayhem event on March 14 — his first public appearance since being named in the Janel Grant lawsuit — Laurinaitis has opened up about the motivation behind the move and what he hopes comes next.
While speaking on the Two Man Power Trip podcast on February 28, 2026, Laurinaitis said the timing of his return is deeply personal. Laurinaitis, whose brother was Road Warrior Animal, framed the appearance as a tribute moment rather than simply a return to the limelight.
“March Madness is going to be historic for me because it’ll be my first public appearance for the company. The reason I’m doing it is because it’s kind of ironic — The Road Warriors are being inducted into the Ohio Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, and there’s going to be a tribute match in their honor. So it’s really special that my first appearance will be something that honors my brother.”
But he also revealed there’s more potentially on the table. He confirmed discussions with Big Time Wrestling about helping the promotion grow in a meaningful way.
“I’ve had discussions with Bobby and John about what Big Time Wrestling is looking to do. They want to make it the place to be. There are ideas about bringing in international talent and higher-profile names. I’m looking forward to the future and hoping I can be part of that in some way — whether it’s behind the scenes or helping with promotion.”
Beyond appearances, Laurinaitis indicated he’s interested in contributing in a developmental capacity — something he did for two decades in WWE.
“The more places there are for talent to work, the better it is for the business. I ran the developmental system for WWE for 20 years, so I’d love to help develop and groom young talent. I think that’s the strategy for Big Time Wrestling now — find young talent and develop them into the stars of tomorrow.”
While this is his first public appearance in over two years, Laurinaitis was officially dismissed from the lawsuit in May 2025 after reaching a confidential settlement and agreeing to provide evidence against Vince McMahon and WWE. A joint statement released through Janel Grant’s legal team at the time made his cooperation clear.
“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… Mr. Laurinaitis looks forward to moving on with his life.”
With the legal matter behind him and his first public appearance set for March, Laurinaitis appears to be attempting a gradual re-entry into the wrestling space — potentially in a developmental or promotional role rather than a front-facing executive position.
Do you think John Laurinaitis should be involved in wrestling again in any capacity, or does his past make that too controversial? Share your thoughts below.
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