Past WWE Board member says they did reach out to Janel Grant about Vince McMahon
In a statement to the New York Times, a past WWE Board of Directors member stated despite what Janel Grant has claimed, they did reach out to her during their 2022 special investigation of Vince McMahon.
Grant filed a lawsuit Thursday where she claimed she was the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking during her nearly three years as a WWE employee.
In the suit against McMahon, WWE and John Laurinaitis, Grant claimed the Board never contacted her during their investigation despite offering to speak to them. She is seeking unspecified financial damages and termination of the agreement/NDA she signed with McMahon where she only received $1 million of the $3 million they agreed to.
Former Board member and special investigation leader Jeff Speed, who left in 2023, said he felt their process was “thorough” and that he remains “confident in our investigation which included outreach to Ms. Grant and engagement with her lawyer.”
He added he was “not at liberty to comment on what was and was not learned during our investigation.”
Through a spokesperson Thursday, McMahon said the lawsuit was full of lies and made-up instances that never occurred and that he will “vigorously defend himself.”
On Friday, he resigned from his role as executive chairman for TKO, the combined WWE & UFC.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.