World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) boss Vince McMahon has announced he has quit the organisation following sex-trafficking allegations from a former employee.
The announcement comes just 24 hours before one of the biggest WWE events of the year, The Royal Rumble, which is set to take place this evening at Tropicana Field in Florida.
Mr McMahon, 78, released a statement announcing that he had made the decision to resign as executive chairman of TKO, the parent company of WWE.
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McMahon has completely denied all allegations made against him.
"I stand by my prior statement that Ms Grant's lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth," Mr McMahon said in a statement on Friday.
"Out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader, it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately," He continued.
Janel Grant claims that Mr. McMahon and another former executive, John Laurinaitis, sexually assaulted and trafficked her in order to lure wrestling talent.
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At the time she encountered Mr. McMahon, Ms. Grant was unemployed and grappling with the aftermath of her deceased parent's bankruptcy.
The lawsuit alleges that Mr. McMahon coerced her into a physical relationship by promising her employment at WWE.
As per the legal case, Ms. Grant subsequently worked at WWE's headquarters in Connecticut from 2019 to 2022.
Grant further accuses both defendants of sexually assaulting her at WWE headquarters in Connecticut in June 2021.
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In 2022, the WWE board initiated an investigation into an alleged $3 million settlement between Mr McMahon and a former employee with whom he had a consensual affair.
As a result of this investigation, the 78-year-old was temporarily replaced as acting chief executive and chairperson by his daughter. However, in January 2023, he resumed his role as WWE chairperson following the conclusion of the investigation.
SPORTbible have contacted WWE for comment.
Topics: WWE, Vince McMahon, Wrestling
Tom Jenkins