WWE's Vince McMahon Resigns Amid Sex Trafficking Allegations

Vince McMahon, the founder of modern professional wrestling who weathered allegations of sexual misconduct for decades, resigned as executive chairman of TKO Group on Friday.

The Wall Street Journal reports his resignation came a day after a former employee alleged in a lawsuit that McMahon sexually abused her and trafficked her to others inside World Wrestling Entertainment. Last year, McMahon sold WWE to Ari Emanuel’s Endeavor Group to create the merged company TKO Group.

Thursday’s lawsuit by Janel Grant, whom McMahon agreed in 2022 to pay $3 million to keep her quiet about their relationship, contained graphic allegations of abuse that she said began soon after they met in 2019.

Vince McMahon

McMahon denied the allegations, as he announced his departure. “I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name,” he said in a statement Friday. 

Grant alleged that McMahon sexually exploited her—including by sexually assaulting her in the WWE’s offices and trafficking her to other executives and stars—while she worked at the Stamford, Conn., headquarters from 2019 to 2022.

Grant’s lawsuit said that McMahon made promises of employment at WWE and showered her with gifts, but over time McMahon’s sexual demands intensified. He defecated on her head during a threesome, forcibly used sex toys on her and directed her to have sex with John Laurinaitis, an executive who has since left the company, the lawsuit said. 

McMahon also directed her to send explicit photos to a WWE star and attempted to traffic her to the wrestler, who wasn’t named in the suit. People familiar with the matter said it was Brock Lesnar, one of WWE’s top talents. 

This week, Netflix bought the rights to “WWE Raw” and other WWE shows in a deal valued at more than $5 billion. Netflix hasn’t responded to requests for comment. .

NBCUniversal’s USA Network is the current rights holder for “Raw,” with a five-year, $1.325 billion deal through the end of this year.