Details On Vince McMahon's New Company

Earlier, on August 23, 2024, the trademarks “14TH&I” and “14TH & I” were filed to cover services related to private equity fund investment and entertainment production.

The filings were first uncovered by Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics.

Brad Blum, a former WWE executive, is listed as President of 14TH & I. According to his LinkedIn profile, the company is described as:

“a private investment firm focused on the sports, media, and entertainment sectors. We are a disciplined, flexible, long-term capital and strategic partner, primarily targeting buyouts/majority deals, as well as selective growth-oriented minority investments. We seek to partner with and empower exceptional management teams, providing deep expertise, capability, and relationships to help drive significant long-term value.”

The name “14TH & I” appears to reference the location of the Capitol Wrestling Corporation headquarters — once led by McMahon’s father, Vincent J. McMahon — at the corner of 14th and I Streets in Washington, D.C.

In October 2024, it was reported that McMahon was working to establish a new “entertainment hub company,” with plans to develop and produce film and television content.

In January 2025, Conrad Thompson stated that McMahon had purchased a studio and was in the process of building a talent roster for the venture.

This new endeavor follows McMahon’s resignation from WWE/TKO in January 2024 after a lawsuit was filed by former employee Janel Grant, accusing him of sexual assault and sex trafficking. The case remains ongoing.

Between November 2023 and April 2024, McMahon sold TKO shares amounting to nearly $1.5 billion in equity, though he still retains ownership of over 8 million shares.

Vince McMahon sex trafficking case co-defendant John Laurinaitis agrees to help accuser

The co-defendant in the bombshell lawsuit accusing former WWE boss Vince McMahon of sexual abuse and sex trafficking has agreed to cooperate with and give evidence to the woman suing the pro wrestling mogul and the company.

The co-defendant, John Laurinaitis, also reached a confidential settlement with McMahon’s accuser, Janel Grant, according to a statement issued by their representatives on Wednesday.

A filing Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Connecticut shows that lawyers for Grant and Laurinaitis agreed to dismiss her lawsuit against as it applies to the former wrestler and WWE executive with prejudice, which means that it cannot be refiled.

“John Laurinaitis has agreed to cooperate and provide evidence in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE,” the reps said in the statement obtained by NBC News.

“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,” the reps said.

“Mr. Laurinaitis looks forward to moving on with his life. We cannot provide any additional details at this time.”

source: cnbc.com

Kane: Vince McMahon Was A Visionary, But Triple H Connects With Talent

Glenn Jacobs, better known as Kane in WWE, compares the leadership styles of Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon, and Triple H and how they've all shaped WWE's past, present, and future.

Glenn Jacobs was recently on the Freedom Pact podcast and discussed what it was like to work for Vince McMahon. Glenn started with WWE in 1995 and would become one of the company's longest tenured and most successful wrestlers before leaving the squared circle behind to pursue a political career decades later.

When discussing working for Vince McMahon, Jacobs said that he learned a lot about what to do as a leader and much about what not to do as a leader.

"As far as Vince, he was a great mind. I learned some good things from him. I also learned some things that I'm like, 'That's not how I would do things,' So you learn both. 'Okay, this is something to emulate, and this is something that I shouldn't do,' just leadership styles, when Vince and I are obviously very different in that. It certainly wouldn't work for me. I don't think that's how you do things," Jacobs explained. "One of the things that I've become really passionate about is learning about leadership, and I really do believe that organizations rise and fall on the quality of their leadership, and team building, and doing all those things that I think, if you often think, are cliche, right? But they're not. I mean, it's vitally important.

"I look at WWE now, under the leadership of Triple H, and it's just, wow. I'm so proud of everything that he's been able to do with his own style of leadership," he continued. "Just almost taking the company to another level altogether. Vince is one of the great entrepreneurs in history. I don't think he gets enough credit for that, and it's not just in the wrestling business, just in entertainment, you know? He was very visionary, and he could just see things that none of the rest of us could see at the same time."

When asked if he would describe Vince McMahon's leadership style as autocratic and Triple H's as transformational, Jacobs agreed and explained that Triple H can approach issues with a more wrestler-centric mindset because he is a wrestler.

"I would say that. I think the difference is Triple H was one of the guys and understands the locker room, understands the mentality of the locker room, you know? Vince, again, he was a great visionary, a very good business person, but he was always a promoter. He was always outside of the locker room. So, yes, you do have those two very different styles now, both successful in their own ways. I think now, especially with the trajectory that the company's on, because of Triple H is leadership, and it's going to go places it's never even been before. The company's."

Triple H Opens Up About Tensions With Vince McMahon During Creative Transition

Triple H has opened up about the ups and downs of working under Vince McMahon during his time rising through the ranks in WWE, revealing moments of personal frustration with the WWE Chairman's leadership style and creative approach.

Speaking on the High Performance podcast, the WWE Chief Content Officer looked back on his journey from wrestler to executive, acknowledging the major influence McMahon had on his path. Triple H made it clear that despite any personal differences, he would not be where he is today without McMahon’s guidance.

“I got involved in creative early on,” he recalled, stressing how much of a mentor McMahon was in those earlier stages of his behind-the-scenes career. However, as he transitioned from performer to a creative figure, their differences in philosophy became increasingly clear.

“From when you learn, especially from mentors, you learn what to do and what not to do,” Triple H explained. “There were things that bothered me about the way he did things. Certain things with his personality. He would run things totally different than I would, and we’ve talked about that before. Even when I was running NXT he would be like, ‘Why do you do it like that?’ I’d be like ‘Because it’s working for me.’”

The tension between their methods became more apparent over time, especially as McMahon took a more hands-on approach to controlling WWE’s creative direction. Triple H recalled one particular shift that came as a shock—when performers, including himself and Shawn Michaels, were suddenly handed scripts for their promos after years of creative freedom.

“He was much more controlling, especially as he got older,” he said. “When I first came in, when we started DX, it was funny, we were just doing our own thing. Nobody was scripting anything, we were doing our own thing. Most times we were coming back and he was mad at us and screaming at us, ‘You’re gonna get us thrown off the air, God damn it, don’t do that again.’ We were just like, ‘Whatever,’ and we’d go do it again the following week.”

According to Triple H, this freewheeling, rebellious approach began to pay off in terms of ratings and business. But soon, the creative environment changed dramatically.

“Now all of a sudden we show up to TV one week and they hand us a script, ‘What is this?’ ‘It’s what Vince wants you to say tonight.’ ‘What? He doesn’t tell us what to say.’ Well now he wants to start. We’d go into his office, ‘What is this?’ ‘It’s a script. It’s what I want you to say.’ ‘This is terrible. It’s not funny. It’s not us.’”

Triple H then shared how Shawn Michaels, frustrated by the direction, stood his ground.

“We’re sitting in the meeting, we read it a couple of times, we had the argument with him and he said, ‘That’s what I want you guys to do. Just go do it.’ Shawn crumpled up the piece of paper and said, ‘I ain’t saying any of this sh*t.’ He threw it at Vince and we walked out of the office. I was like, Wow, we’re getting fired.”

While those tensions flared, Triple H recognized that McMahon’s controlling nature stemmed from a desire to protect and shape his product. There were moments where even McMahon’s most trusted lieutenants questioned the direction.

“We would all talk about it and would all be like it would be better if we did this. Even Pat Patterson would come to me, ‘Vince wants to do this thing and it’s so stupid. Let’s do this instead. It would be better, we should talk him into this…’ I’m like, ‘Pat, I talked to him until I was blue in the face. You go talk to him.’”

Despite the creative friction, Triple H emphasized that McMahon did some things exceptionally well, particularly in dealing with talent. Even now, as he oversees WWE’s creative direction following the Endeavor takeover and McMahon’s resignation in early 2024, Triple H acknowledges the legacy left behind.

“I would see how he dealt with talents and there are some things he would do way better than I do and some ways he handled talent where I think I wish I could handle talent that way but it’s not just how I am.”

Ideanomics Completes Asset Sale, Shane McMahon And Other Executives Depart

Ideanomics, Inc., a company traditionally associated with electric vehicle and fintech sectors, has finalized the sale of substantially all of its assets following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The transaction was completed on Thursday, resulting in the departure of key executives.

The sale was authorized by a February 26, 2025, court order and involved the transfer of assets to Tillou Management and Consulting LLC (an entity that's controlled by Vince McMahon). The terms included the assumption of certain liabilities, payment of encumbrances, and a credit bid. No proceeds from the sale will be distributed to Ideanomics’ shareholders, as the funds were used to repay obligations under a debtor-in-possession loan agreement with the purchaser, which is now considered settled.

Consequent to the sale, Shane McMahon resigned from his positions as Director and Executive Chairman of the Board on Thursday. Additionally, the company terminated the employment of Ryan Jenkins, the Chief Financial Officer. The remaining operations of Ideanomics will be managed by CEO Alfred P. Poor, primarily through a transition services agreement with the purchaser and other services provided by Poor.

The inability to provide pro forma financial information without unreasonable effort or expense was noted, indicating the company is not in a position to present updated financial statements reflecting the sale’s impact.

This development marks a significant restructuring for Ideanomics, as it winds down its business operations and transitions management following its bankruptcy proceedings.

Ted DiBiase Praises Triple H For What He Has Done With WWE

On the latest episode of Everybody’s Got a Pod, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase talked about Triple H being in charge of WWE and more. You can check out some highlights below:

On today’s WWE and Triple H being in charge: “I’ll be honest with you, I think he’s doing a good job. You know, Vince’s forte wasn’t wrestling so much because he never really was a wrestler. Where Triple H was a wrestler. So he obviously knows more about wrestling than Vince. But Vince’s gifts — again, we wouldn’t be having this conversation if it weren’t for Vince McMahon and what he did for the wrestling world, for sure. But I think that Triple H is doing a pretty good job. It’s kind of like, what I get from a lot of fans — and even some fans who tune into this program — is, ‘Gosh, it’s just not like the old days.’ And it’s like, ‘The good old days’ happens to be that era when it was me and Duggan and all those guys, Andre and what have you. And it’s just not like it used to be. But with Triple H at the helm, I think it’s going to get back to being more like it used to be. I think it’s a good thing. I really do.”

Feds drop criminal probe into whether WWE boss Vince McMahon covered up sexual misconduct allegations, his lawyer says

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have dropped a criminal probe that focused on whether former World Wrestling Entertainment boss Vince McMahon tried to cover up multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, his lawyer told The Post.

The revelation comes as appeals judges on Friday revealed that a grand jury had considered whether the 79-year-old billionaire broke the law by hiding allegations of sexual misconduct from two female former employees, whom he ended up paying $10.5 million to keep quiet.

The ruling from a three-judge panel does not name McMahon but refers to “the subject of an ongoing grand jury investigation concerning whether, as CEO, he engaged in a criminal scheme to circumvent the company’s internal accounting controls and mislead company auditors in order to conceal multiple allegations of sexual misconduct raised against him by two former company employees.”

Prosecutors’ apparent decision to abandon the case comes despite federal Judge Valerie Caproni ruling in June 2024 that the government had “established probable cause to believe” that McMahon and one of his former lawyers broke the law.

There’s evidence that the“circumvented [the Company’s] internal controls andcreated false books and records,” “concealed the Victims’ claims and settlement agreements from [the Company],” and “made false and misleading statements to the Company’s auditors,” Caproni’s ruling said.

Both Caproni and the appeals panel — Judges Gerard Lynch, Beth Robinson and Sarah Merriam — ruled in favor of prosecutors on an evidence issue, writing that McMahon’s conversations with his attorneys were not subject to attorney-client privilege.

source: nypost.com

CM Punk Compares Triple H And Vince McMahon’s Leadership Styles

CM Punk appeared on Friday’s edition of The Pat McAfee Show, where he discussed a range of topics, including the differences between working under Triple H and Vince McMahon.

Punk highlighted Triple H’s openness to feedback and willingness to consider other people’s ideas—something he believes was less common under McMahon. However, he also acknowledged the importance of having a definitive leader in charge.

“I think he’s receptive to other people’s ideas, whereas maybe Vince wasn’t. He was like, ‘I’m the boss. We’re doing this, and this is how we’re doing it.’ And that’s great. If you run a company, you need somebody who is the yes and no man and [has] the final say.”

Punk continued, emphasizing Triple H’s collaborative approach:

“But I think Triple H thinks he’s surrounded, and oftentimes is, by a lot of really, really genius wrestling minds. If he has an idea or see something one way, he’ll look at Michael Hayes and be like, ‘What do you think?’ He’ll turn and look at Paul Heyman. These are people who have Bonafide resumes. They have literally done everything you possibly could do in the sport. I think their voices should be heard. Not all the time everybody’s going to have this dynamite idea. But I think the best idea always wins in today’s WWE.”

WWE legend's name added to Janel Grant's blockbuster lawsuit against Vince McMahon

The blockbuster lawsuit being brought against Vince McMahon and the WWE by former employee Janel Grant has been ammended to include the name of WWE and UFC legend.

In the 104-page lawsuit, Grant now alleges that she was offered to Brock Lesnar “for a sexual encounter” during his contract negotiations with the WWE. In addition, Grant allleges that she was told to sent sexual content to the former WWE champion. It was reported earlier this month that Grant was planning to alter the suit.

The new allegations involving Lesnar come alongside further accusations that McMahon was active in trafficking Grant during her time working at the WWE.

“Ms. Grant's amended complaint reveals new details. That further demonstrates the sexual abuse Janel Grant suffered at the hands of Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis and pulls back the curtain on the dangerous workplace culture McMahon created at WWE. Ms. Grant looks forward to holding her abusers accountable in a court of law,” Grant’s lawyer Ann Callis said in a statement.

The lawsuit was submitted to the U.S. District Court in Connecticut. Grant alleges that the WWE was negligent in allowing McMahon’s behavior to go on unchecked. One of the men previously name in the lawsuit, John Laurinaitis, claims that he too was a victim of McMahon.

Another WWE legend, Michael Hayes, is also named in the new filing with Grant alleging that McMahon told her to make pornographic content for him. At the time, Hayes worked as part of the wrestling company’s creative team.

Other names in the new complaint include Vince McMahon’s daughter and former co-CEO Stephanie McMahon, WWE President Nick Khan, former COO Brad Blum and former legal executive Brian Nurse.

In another section, Grant accuses McMahon of sending her nude photos to others without her consent. At one point, Grant also says that McMahon recorded her naked while he was on a video call with Laurinaitis.

Grant originally accused McMahon and Laurinaitis of sexually assaulting her inside of WWE’s office.

Text messages in the new filing detail McMahon discussing his authority in arranging her sexual encounters and discussing his fantasies involving her. In a voice message, McMahon allegedly pressed Grant to sign an NDA “really f*****g fast.”

In another message, he allegedly wrote: “I’m the only one who owns U and controls who I want to f*** you.”

Vince McMahon’s representatives have responded to the new allegations.

“As expected, the proposed amended complaint is nothing more than the latest publicity stunt in an ongoing smear campaign. It is filled with desperate falsehoods from a team that continues to disregard the law and the truth,” the statement, given to reporter BJ Bethel.

Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon, SEC reach deal over settlements

The Securities and Exchange Commission says it has settled charges against former WWE CEO Vince McMahon over his failure to disclose to the sports entertainment company's board and others that he signed two settlement agreements worth $10.5 million with two women in order for them not to reveal potential claims against himself and WWE.

The SEC said McMahon, without admitting or denying its findings, agreed to cease-and-desist from violating certain provisions, pay a $400,000 civil penalty and reimburse WWE approximately $1.3 million.

"Today ends nearly three years of investigation by different governmental agencies. There has been a great deal of speculation about what exactly the government was investigating and what the outcome would be. As today's resolution shows, much of that speculation was misguided and misleading," McMahon said in a statement. "In the end, there was never anything more to this than minor accounting errors with regard to some personal payments that I made several years ago while I was CEO of WWE. I'm thrilled that I can now put all this behind me."

Manhattan federal prosecutors declined to comment.

McMahon resigned from WWE's parent company in January 2024 after a former employee filed a federal lawsuit accusing him and another former executive of serious sexual misconduct. At the time, McMahon stepped down from his position as executive chairman of the board of directors at WWE's parent company, TKO Group Holdings. He continued to deny wrongdoing following the filing of the lawsuit.

The SEC said Friday that one agreement was signed in 2019 and the other in 2022. One agreement required McMahon to pay a former employee $3 million in exchange for the former worker's agreement to not disclose her relationship with McMahon and her release of potential claims against WWE and McMahon.

The other agreement obligated McMahon to pay a former WWE independent contractor $7.5 million in exchange for the independent contractor's agreement to not disclose her allegations against McMahon and her release of potential claims against WWE and McMahon, the SEC said.

Ann Callis, a lawyer for Janel Grant, who is a former WWE employee who filed a lawsuit against the company and McMahon, accusing him of sexual battery and trafficking, said in a statement that the SEC's charges are confirmation that McMahon broke the law to cover up his behavior.

"The SEC's charges prove that the NDA Vince McMahon coerced Ms. Grant into signing violates the law, and therefore her case must be heard in court," Callis said. "While prosecutors for the Southern District of New York continue their criminal investigation, we look forward to bringing forward new evidence in our civil case."

The Associated Press does not normally name people who make sexual assault allegations unless they come forward publicly, which Grant did.

McMahon has denied Grant's allegations.

By McMahon not disclosing the agreements to WWE's board, legal department, accountants, financial reporting personnel or auditor, it circumvented the company's system of internal accounting controls and caused material misstatements in its 2018 and 2021 financial statements, the commission said.

The SEC's order found that, because the payments required by the 2019 and 2022 agreements were not recorded, WWE overstated its 2018 net income by approximately 8% and its 2021 net income by about 1.7%.

Once WWE learned of the settlement agreements, it issued a restatement of its financial statements in August 2022.

"Company executives cannot enter into material agreements on behalf of the company they serve and withhold that information from the company's control functions and auditor," Thomas P. Smith Jr., associate regional director in the New York Regional Office, said in a statement.

McMahon was the leader and most recognizable face at WWE for decades. When he purchased what was then the World Wrestling Federation from his father in 1982, wrestling matches took place at small venues and appeared on local cable channels. WWE matches are now held in professional sports stadiums, and the company's weekly live television program, "Raw," made its debut on Netflix on Monday, where it had 4.9 million views globally and averaged 2.6 million households in the U.S., according to VideoAmp.

EV investor Ideanomics files for bankruptcy to sell assets; Shane McMahon Exec Chairman

Electric vehicle tech company Ideanomics Inc. (IDEX.PK), opens new tab filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware on Wednesday to find a buyer for its wireless charging business and other technology investments.

Ideanomics entered bankruptcy with over $30 million in debt and just $189,000 in cash on hand, according to documents filed in Wilmington, Delaware bankruptcy court. Ideanomics said it has lost over $800 million in the past five years.

The company spent $320 million on electric vehicle technology investments between 2021 and 2023, but most of those investments were unprofitable. It has shut down all of its acquired businesses except the wireless charging company WAVE, and laid off all but 17 employees. WAVE, which Ideanomics purchased in 2021, will continue to operate during the bankruptcy, and its wireless charging technology is being used by the Antelope Valley Transit Authority in California, which serves commuters in the cities of Palmdale, Lancaster, and Northern Los Angeles County.

The WAVE system is built into routes on public roads and parking facilities, and it is designed to automatically charge buses during scheduled stops, according to court documents. Ideanomics has lined up an $11 million bankruptcy loan from Tillou Management and Consulting, an entity controlled by former wrestling executive Vince McMahon. McMahon is married to Linda McMahon, who U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated as education secretary in his second administration.

Ideanomics plans to sell WAVE to Tillou unless another buyer steps in with a higher offer, according to court documents. Ideanomics saw its stock surge to over $600 a share in 2021 as retail investor interest in electric vehicles surged. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission later accused the company of misleading investors by overstating its financial performance. Ideanomics’ stock was de-listed from NASDAQ in July 2024, and it settled the SEC lawsuit in August.

Before its pivot to electric vehicles, Ideanomics operated in unrelated markets, providing video-on-demand services in China and later providing financial technology used for trading in petroleum and electronic components.

source: reuters.com

WWE Granted Stay In ‘Ring Boy’ Lawsuit

WWE has been granted a motion to stay the lawsuit filed by former “ring boys” against the company as well as Vince and Linda McMahon. As you likely recall, a lawsuit was filed against the parties back in October by five former WWE “ring boys” who allege that Mel Phillips and Terry Garvin sexually abused them, and that Vince and Linda McMahon were aware of the abuse but did nothing to stop it. POST Wrestling reports that Judge James K. Bredar has granted a motion byu the company to stay the lawsuit pending a ruling by the Maryland Supreme Court’s decision on the Child Victims Act.

According to POST, the new Maryland removes the statute of limitations and allows victims to sue “non-perpetrator defendants whose negligence may have led to child sex abuse.” The Maryland Supreme Court is currently considering the constitutionality of the law in a consolidated case, with a decision expected before August 31st, 2025.

WWE filed their motion on Monday asking for the case to be stayed, and the judge agreed to do so. The judge wrote:

“The Complaint raises allegations regarding sexual abuse committed in the 1980s, and the timeliness of the claims depends on the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 (‘CVA’). As Defendants [WWE] explain, the viability of Plaintiffs’ [the ring boys’] claims ‘depends entirely on the constitutionality of the CVA’”.

Linda McMahon's Lawyer Confirms Separation from Vince McMahon Amid Ongoing Lawsuits

The Washington Post has published a new feature piece discussing the ongoing lawsuits involving Vince McMahon and WWE. In the article, Linda McMahon's lawyer confirmed that Linda and Vince are separated.

As previously reported, President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Linda McMahon to serve as Secretary of Education.

Laura Brevetti, who represents Linda McMahon and also defended Vince McMahon in his 1994 criminal trial, stated that Linda and Vince are indeed separated. She also commented on the ongoing "ring boys" lawsuit, saying, “This lawsuit based upon thirty-plus-year-old allegations is filled with scurrilous lies, exaggerations, and misrepresentations.”

Vince McMahon Launching New Entertainment Company With Former WWE Executives

Vince McMahon is not throwing in the towel just yet. The former WWE chairman is in the beginning stages of creating a new entertainment company, according to a PWInsider report that broke Tuesday afternoon.

Despite his ongoing legal issues, McMahon's new venture is being described as an "entertainment hub company" and will reportedly focus on producing film and TV projects in the realms of fiction and non-fiction.

According to PWInsider's report, several ex-WWE employees already offered their services to Vinnie Mac's film and TV business, including Brad Blum. Blum was WWE's Chief Operating Officer under McMahon and stayed on board with the company after McMahon's second ousting earlier this year. This past May, Blum resigned after it was discovered that he was “Corporate Officer No. 2” in Janel Grant's lawsuit.

Kristen Prouty, a former WWE executive instrumental in ushering Logan Paul into the WWE family, is also reportedly connected to the project. She was laid off in May following Endeavor's purchase of the global pro wrestling promotion.

PWInsider's sources claim that McMahon will not pursue the formation of a new pro wrestling company nor anything competitive with WWE. The company is currently preparing for launch should McMahon get cleared of his charges, with a Los Angeles headquarters planned.

Woman suing Vince McMahon, WWE alleging abuse wants NDAs waived

A former WWE employee who filed a lawsuit against the company and ex-leader Vince McMahon, accusing him of sexual battery and trafficking, is asking them to not enforce nondisclosure agreements with other former and current employees and contractors so they can potentially come forward with similar accusations.

A lawyer for Janel Grant emailed a letter making the request late Monday to attorneys representing WWE, McMahon and John Laurinaitis, a former WWE executive and wrestler, in Grant's lawsuit against them.

A spokesperson for McMahon, Curtis Vogel, declined comment. Lawyers for WWE and Laurinaitis did not immediately return emails seeking comment late Monday. Emails to the WWE and its parent companies, Endeavor Group Holdings and its subsidiary, TKO Group Holdings, also were not returned immediately.

McMahon, former CEO and chairman of WWE, has denied Grant's allegations.

Grant, who worked in WWE's legal and talent departments from 2019 to 2022, sued the company, McMahon and Laurinaitis in January, making graphic allegations of sexual assault, harassment, trafficking and other physical and emotional abuse.

McMahon stepped down as WWE's CEO in 2022 amid a company investigation into allegations that match those in Grant's lawsuit. He also resigned as executive chairman of the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings in January, a day after Grant filed her lawsuit.

"If WWE and its parent company Endeavor are serious about parting ways with Vince McMahon and the toxic workplace culture he created, their executives should have no problem with releasing former WWE employees from their NDAs," Ann Callis, Grant's attorney, said in a statement. "This is the first step to rehabilitating a company that covered up decades of sexual assault and human trafficking."

McMahon previously responded to Grant's lawsuit with a statement calling it "replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name." His lawyers said in court documents that he had a consensual relationship with Grant and never mistreated her.

Laurinaitis' lawyer has denied the allegations and said Laurinaitis was also a victim in the case.

Grant said she was pressured into leaving her job with the WWE and signing a $3 million nondisclosure agreement. The lawsuit also seeks to have the agreement declared invalid, saying McMahon breached the deal by giving her $1 million and failing to pay the rest.

Four other women -- all formerly affiliated with WWE -- signed agreements with McMahon that bar them from discussing their relationships with him, The Wall Street Journal reported in July 2022, citing people familiar with the deals and documents it reviewed. Grant was not among those women, her representatives say.

In December 2022, McMahon agreed to pay a female former wrestling referee millions of dollars to settle her allegations that he raped her in 1986, the Journal also reported. McMahon said the alleged sexual assault never happened, and his lawyer said he settled the suit to avoid costly litigation.

Grant's request for the Stamford, Connecticut-based WWE to waive enforcement of the NDAs is similar to ones made to other companies when sexual misconduct allegations arose.

In 2018 and 2019, respectively, the Weinstein Co. and NBC Universal released employees, former employees and others from NDAs made in connection with sexual misconduct claims against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and "Today" host Matt Lauer.

Victims' lawyers call NDAs instruments to silence accusers while allowing alleged abusers to avoid accountability. A federal law approved in 2022 and similar laws in more than a dozen states curb the use of NDAs that block victims of sexual harassment from speaking publicly about their allegations.

The Associated Press does not normally name people who make sexual assault allegations unless they come forward publicly, which Grant did.

She alleges McMahon forced her into a sexual relationship with him in order for her to get and keep a job, and later directed her to have sexual relations with others including Laurinaitis. She also accuses McMahon and Laurinaitis of sexually assaulting her at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

The lawsuit further claims McMahon recruited other people for sexual relations with Grant, shared pornographic photos and videos of her with other men, including WWE employees, despite saying he wouldn't and subjected her to cruel and humiliating acts. source: espn.com

Paul Heyman Tells One Of The Most Heartbreaking Stories In Mr. McMahon Doc, Puts Shane McMahon In A Different Light

JBL: Triple H Is The Only One Who Could Have Taken Over For Vince McMahon

The latest legend to chime in with support for Paul Levesque is John Bradshaw Layfield. Even though he's currently on a world tour of sorts as the guardian of wrestling, making appearances in TNA Wrestling, Major League Wrestling, and Game Changer Wrestling, JBL took the time to talk about Triple H during a recent Q&A with Sportskeeda.

Bradshaw says he's amazed by what has been done since the new regime took over and believes that Triple H is the only one who could have taken over for Vince McMahon.

"Triple H is the only one, to me, that could have taken over for Vince. He’s not only taken over and kept the company the same, they made it better. What they’re doing is just amazing. The billion dollar TV contracts, the crowds they are drawing. I am blown away by what he and Nick Khan together, and the entire team, Bruce Prichard and all the guys, what they’ve done. It’s absolutely amazing to me."

source: fightful.com

Vince McMahon Criticizes Netflix Documentary for Misleading Portrayal of His Life

Vince McMahon has publicly voiced his disappointment with a new Netflix documentary that focuses on his life and career. In a statement, McMahon expressed regret over the portrayal of him in the film, criticizing how it conflates his on-screen wrestling persona, "Mr. McMahon," with his actual self.

McMahon contends that the filmmakers missed an opportunity to present a balanced and accurate portrayal of both his personal life and his business accomplishments. According to McMahon, the documentary distorts the truth by relying on selective editing, outdated soundbites, and out-of-context footage to mislead viewers. He claims that these editorial choices were deliberately made to push a deceptive narrative, which paints a skewed picture of his life.

A key point of McMahon's criticism is the documentary's handling of a past lawsuit and affair, which he says were presented in a way that reinforces the misconception that his fictional "Mr. McMahon" character is a true reflection of his real persona.

McMahon concluded his statement by encouraging viewers to approach the film with an open mind, reminding them that there are always two sides to every story.

Vince McMahon's Official Statement on the Netflix Documentary:

McMahon writes: "I don’t regret participating in this Netflix documentary. The producers had an opportunity to tell an objective story about my life and the incredible business I built, which were equally filled with excitement, drama, fun, and a fair amount of controversy and life lessons. Unfortunately, based on an early partial cut I’ve seen, this doc falls short and takes the predictable path of conflating the 'Mr. McMahon' character with my true self, Vince. The title and promos alone make that evident.

Much has been misrepresented or left out entirely in an effort to leave viewers intentionally confused. The producers use typical editing tricks with out-of-context footage and dated soundbites to distort the viewer’s perception and support a deceptive narrative.

In an attempt to further their misleading account, the producers use a lawsuit based on an affair I ended as evidence that I am, in fact, 'Mr. McMahon.'

I hope the viewer will keep an open mind and remember that there are two sides to every story."

Vince McMahon Docuseries Sets Netflix Premiere Date

The Netflix docuseries on former WWE boss Vince McMahon has set its premiere date.

The series, titled “Mr. McMahon,” will debut on Sept. 25. It consists of six one-hour episodes. The official synopsis for the series states:

“‘Mr. McMahon’ chronicles the rise and fall of Vince McMahon, controversial businessman and co-founder of WWE. From his transformation of the WWE from a small, regional business into a global entertainment powerhouse to the explosive sexual misconduct allegations that led to his eventual resignation, this six-episode series offers a deep dive into McMahon’s life and his enduring franchise. Culled from over 200 hours of interviews with McMahon himself (prior to his resignation), his family members, business associates and some of the most iconic names in wrestling history, as well as the journalists who uncovered McMahon’s allegations — filmmaker Chris Smith (‘Tiger King’) and executive producer Bill Simmons (’30 for 30′) present an unflinching, no-holds-barred look at one of the most enigmatic figures in sports entertainment.”

The docuseries was originally announced back in October 2020. Less than two years later, McMahon announced his retirement from WWE amid an investigation into misconduct allegations by the WWE board of directors. He made a stunning return to the company in early 2023 to negotiate its sale, which eventually happened when Endeavor bought WWE and merged it with UFC under the TKO Group banner. McMahon then resigned from the TKO board of directors after a former employee filed a lawsuit against McMahon, accusing him of sexual abuse and trafficking her to other men.

“The goal behind ‘Mr. McMahon’ was to pull back the curtain and reveal the true Vince McMahon, obscured beneath the persona he presented to the world,” said series director and executive producer Chris Smith. “Over the four years of production, the story evolved in truly shocking ways, culminating in some extremely harrowing allegations. The final product is a revealing documentary that we believe offers a rich and nuanced portrait of the man and the complex legacy he left behind.”

Along with Smith, Bill Simmons and Zara Duffy serve as executive producers on “Mr. McMahon.” The series is produced by Library Films in association with Ringer Films. source: variety.com

TKO Details Repayments By Vince McMahon For Misallocated Funds

Former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon resigned from WWE and parent company TKO in January following the filing of a sex trafficking lawsuit against him by Janel Grant, 18 months after his initial resignation in 2022 following reports he had misappropriated company funds to pay NDAs to Grant and others. McMahon has since been reimbursing the money waylaid to WWE — which merged with UFC under TKO in September 2023 — and the company's latest quarterly report indicates he has continued to do so since his resignation.

"Mr. McMahon has agreed to make future payments to certain counterparties personally," the report reads. "As of December 31, 2023, total liabilities of $1.5 million are ... owed by Mr. McMahon to certain counterparties."

It's further noted that as of June 30, 2024, McMahon had made the payments to the relevant parties in full and directly.

"In connection with and/or arising from the investigation conducted by a Special Committee of the former WWE board of directors, Mr. McMahon has agreed to reimburse the Company for additional costs incurred in connection with and/or arising from the same matters," the section concludes. 

McMahon returned to WWE after his initial resignation in January 2023, announcing his intent to secure a sale of the company. That turn of events led to the formation of TKO, with which McMahon continued as Executive Chairman. Grant's lawsuit in January this year alleged gross sexual misconduct and trafficking at the hands of McMahon during her time with the company, which he has continuously and vehemently denied, and saw him resign from his roles with TKO and WWE.