The legal battle between Janel Grant and the House That Vince Built is heating up, and this time, it’s not happening under the bright lights of WrestleMania—but in the far less forgiving ring of Connecticut federal court.
On Friday, Grant’s legal team formally asked the court to begin the discovery process, the next major step in her explosive lawsuit alleging sex trafficking, coercion, and corporate complicity involving Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE itself. Think less “sports entertainment,” more “federal firestorm.”
📂 Discovery Mode: Activated?
Grant’s legal team wants to crack open the WWE vault with a laundry list of demands—emails, internal policies, and documents tied to sexual misconduct payouts, travel records, and communications with executives, contractors, and yes, even “former UFC Heavyweight Champions.”
(Spoiler: Grant’s amended complaint directly named Brock Lesnar as the unnamed fighter McMahon allegedly “offered” her to during contract talks in 2020, along with demands for explicit content.)
🛑 WWE & Vince Say: “Not So Fast”
The defendants are trying to block the discovery process from starting, arguing it’s premature. Their legal counter: this whole case belongs in private arbitration, not open court—a claim rooted in a non-disclosure agreement they say Grant signed willingly, and she says was the product of manipulation and coercion.
If successful, arbitration would essentially move the fight behind closed doors, away from the public eye—and the headlines. Grant’s team, meanwhile, is clearly signaling: we want this public, we want this documented, and we want it now.
👩⚖️ Judge Sarah F. Russell: The Ultimate Referee
Judge Russell hasn’t ruled yet on whether discovery can proceed or if the case will be moved to arbitration. She also still needs to decide whether Grant’s amended complaint will become the new foundation for the lawsuit moving forward.
📑 What Grant’s Team Wants Access To:
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Records tied to Vince’s known payouts to other women
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WWE’s policies on sexual harassment
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Travel logs for McMahon, Laurinaitis, and Lesnar
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Internal WWE and TKO/Endeavor communications involving any current or former executives, agents, or contractors
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Evidence regarding coercive conduct tied to NDAs, abuse of power, and content production
💬 WWE’s Legal Argument:
Starting discovery now is like setting up the ring before you know if there’s a match—a waste of time and money if arbitration ends up being the judge’s call. They point to Connecticut federal rules that allow discovery to be delayed when a motion to compel arbitration is pending.
This case is becoming a landmark moment not just for WWE, but for how corporate power, private arbitration clauses, and allegations of abuse get handled when the accused aren’t just executives—but iconic faces of billion-dollar brands.