Vince McMahon‘s legal drama has taken another major turn.
The bombshell civil lawsuit brought by former WWE employee Janel Grant is set to be dismissed after Grant and McMahon agreed to resolve their dispute through arbitration instead of taking the case to trial.
Yes, after all the headlines, accusations, and courtroom drama, the story is now moving behind closed doors.
Grant filed the sweeping lawsuit against McMahon in early 2024. She accused the longtime WWE boss of sexual abuse and trafficking. Her complaint included disturbing allegations about her relationship with McMahon and claims involving other individuals.
The lawsuit became one of the biggest scandals to hit the wrestling world in years. It also drew massive attention because of McMahon’s position as one of the most powerful figures in professional wrestling.
Now, however, the case will reportedly not play out in front of a jury.
Instead, the parties have agreed to an arbitration plan. That means the dispute will be handled privately rather than through a public trial.
Late Monday night, both parties reached an agreement to bring the case to arbitration, dismissing Grant’s federal lawsuit in Connecticut and handling the dispute behind closed doors.
“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,” lawyers for Grant, McMahon and WWE wrote in a joint status report filed late Monday night.
For anyone who was expecting a dramatic courtroom showdown, that is probably disappointing news. There will be no jury sitting in the room, no dramatic witness testimony playing out on television. And no lawyers delivering those movie-style closing arguments.
McMahon had long pushed to move the case out of the public eye, citing an arbitration agreement in Grant’s nondisclosure agreement. Last month, a federal judge in Connecticut greenlit the move to arbitration and urged the parties to reach an agreement on the next steps of the case.
WWE, its parent company TKO and lawyers for Grant and McMahon didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment on the new development.
In her initial 2024 complaint, Grant made a number of shocking accusations that rocked the pro wrestling world and led to McMahon taking a step back from his leadership role at WWE. Grant claimed she was offered a job with WWE’s legal department in 2019 after the death of her parents.
The lawsuit has already sparked conversations about power, workplace relationships, and accountability in the entertainment industry.
Now, the next chapter will happen through arbitration.
For fans hoping for a blockbuster courtroom battle, the show is apparently moving to a much smaller venue.
