As we previously reported here on eWn, WWE was forced to scrap plans for Brock Lesnar, pulling him from the 2024 Royal Rumble pay-per-view event due to the recent allegations against Vince McMahon made by former WWE employee Janel Grant.
McMahon resigned from his position at TKO Group after Grant accused him of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and more. WWE and John Laurinaitis are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.
Lesnar was not mentioned by name in Grant’s legal complaint. However, it did allege that McMahon shared explicit photographs and videos of her with other men inside and outside of WWE, including “a world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract.”
The legal complaint also states Grant was used as a “sexual pawn” to entice a “World-Famous Wrestling Talent” to stay under contract with WWE, and McMahon recruited the talent for a “sexual encounter” with Grant while she was working for WWE.
It appears that WWE is continuing with its removal of Lesnar from various promotional materials.
Lesnar has been removed from WWE’s “Then, Now, Forever” video introduction. The Beast Incarnate has been replaced by LA Knight in the video package.
The change was noted as early as the January 30 edition of WWE NXT on the USA Network.
Lesnar was also recently removed from WWE Supercard and the cover artwork for WWE 2K24 “40 Years of WrestleMania.”
The recent allegations against Vince McMahon, the CEO of WWE, have had significant repercussions within the company. One of the most notable consequences is the removal of Brock Lesnar, a prominent WWE wrestler, from various promotional materials.
The allegations were made by Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, who accused McMahon of sex trafficking and sexual assault. The lawsuit also named WWE and John Laurinaitis as defendants. While Lesnar was not mentioned by name in Grant’s legal complaint, it did claim that McMahon shared explicit photographs and videos of her with other men, including “a world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract.”
According to the legal complaint, Grant was allegedly used as a “sexual pawn” to entice a “World-Famous Wrestling Talent” to stay under contract with WWE. McMahon supposedly recruited this talent for a “sexual encounter” with Grant while she was working for the company.
In response to these allegations, WWE has taken steps to distance itself from Lesnar. He has been removed from the company’s “Then, Now, Forever” video introduction, where he has been replaced by LA Knight. This change was first noticed during the January 30 edition of WWE NXT on the USA Network.
Furthermore, Lesnar has also been removed from WWE Supercard and the cover artwork for WWE 2K24 “40 Years of WrestleMania.” These actions indicate that WWE is actively removing Lesnar from its promotional materials in light of the allegations against McMahon.
It is important to note that these allegations are still under investigation and have not been proven in court. However, WWE’s decision to distance itself from Lesnar suggests that the company is taking the accusations seriously and wants to avoid any association with the controversy.
This situation highlights the challenges faced by companies when their key figures are involved in legal disputes or allegations of misconduct. WWE’s swift action in removing Lesnar from promotional materials demonstrates its commitment to addressing the issue and protecting its brand reputation.
As the investigation into the allegations continues, it remains to be seen how WWE will handle the situation and whether there will be any further consequences for Lesnar or other individuals within the company. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for both WWE and the wrestling industry as a whole.