A former WWE Board member has commented on yesterday’s Vince McMahon lawsuit and the Board’s investigation into McMahon.
Allegations of sex trafficking, abuse and more were made against McMahon in the lawsuit filed on January 25, which you can read in full below.
The suit also called into question the WWE Board’s 2022 investigation into McMahon, calling it a “sham” and claiming the committee “never even bothered to interview” Janel Grant, the accuser.
The following items were listed in the suit:
28. WWE has also attempted to sweep the matter under the rug. Following media reports that McMahon was involved in a “hush money” payment scandal, WWE released a statement in June 2022 to announce that a special committee of its board of directors was investigating the alleged misconduct and appointing Stephanie McMahon as Interim CEO and Interim Chairwoman.
29. In this capacity, Ms. McMahon publicly affirmed her commitment to “doing everything in [her] power to help the Special Committee complete its work…and to implement its findings.” She also declared the “importance of a safe and collaborative workplace.” Notwithstanding this public statement, the investigation was a sham.
30. In November 2022, WWE touted the conclusion of the Special Committee investigation into the misconduct – yet the Special Committee never even bothered to interview Ms. Grant or request any documents despite Ms. Grant stating that she would cooperate.
Jeff Speed, former WWE Board member who headed up the investigation, commented on the matter to the New York Times:
Jeff Speed, who led the investigation as a board member, described it as thorough and emphasized that Mr. McMahon had “publicly left the company” while it proceeded.
“I remain confident in our investigation which included outreach to Ms. Grant and engagement with her lawyer,” Mr. Speed said in an email sent Thursday by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett L.L.P., the law firm hired to represent the committee.
Mr. Speed, who left the W.W.E. board in 2023, added that he recognized “the horrific nature of the allegations” in the lawsuit but that he was “not at liberty to comment on what was and was not learned during our investigation.”
Speed is not a member of the current TKO Board of Directors.
Today, WWE has removed Royal Rumble-themed Vince McMahon merch from stores.
In the current Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported:
“The WWE did not respond to questions regarding the suit. WWE talent was told to lay low and not talk about anything other than the Royal Rumble or storyline related things.”
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