The pressure on Vince McMahon just cranked up another level—because John Laurinaitis has officially flipped.
Following his removal as a defendant in Janel Grant’s sex trafficking lawsuit, Laurinaitis has reached an agreement with Grant’s legal team to cooperate and provide information against McMahon and WWE. In return, he was dropped from the lawsuit entirely—an arrangement that now puts McMahon directly in the legal spotlight.
Dave Meltzer broke down the implications during Wrestling Observer Radio on May 29, analyzing the strategy behind the deal and what it reveals about where Laurinaitis—and his lawyers—think the case is headed.
“He made a deal with the attorneys—with his attorneys and the attorneys for Janel Grant—that they would take him out of the lawsuit and in exchange, he would help them and provide information on Vince McMahon to help them with their case against Vince McMahon and WWE.”
Meltzer noted that the move likely wouldn’t have happened unless Laurinaitis’ legal team believed Grant’s lawsuit would move forward and not be sent to arbitration.
“The fact that he’s doing this tells me that his lawyers had to believe that this case is going forward. Because there’s no reason to do it unless the case is going forward.”
But Meltzer also pointed out Laurinaitis’ shaky credibility heading into any future legal proceedings.
“He’s already flipped twice. Early on, when the lawsuit was filed, his lawyer said he was a victim too. Then he flipped to say nothing happened and backed Vince McMahon’s story. He’s going to have no credibility under oath.”
As for why Laurinaitis is suddenly turning on his former boss, Meltzer didn’t mince words.
“Why would he turn on Vince? You know, I don’t think he’s someone who suddenly grew a conscience. I do not believe for one second that John Laurinaitis is that person who just wants to do the right thing.”
Then came the most damning revelation from Meltzer—one of the NDAs Vince McMahon paid over $1 million for was to cover Laurinaitis’ actions, not his own.
“One of the NDAs that Vince signed and paid over $1 million for was for John Laurinaitis—not Vince. Vince didn’t pay to cover himself that time—he paid to keep quiet what Laurinaitis did.”
Meltzer mentioned how serious this looks from a corporate standpoint, especially since Laurinaitis was brought back into power afterward.
“From a corporate standpoint, that’s a real red flag. He was put back in charge years later after this happened. But again, that’s how they operated in those days.”
And as for what this all means for Vince McMahon?
“It can’t make things better for Vince McMahon. They [Grant’s legal team] evidently think it makes things worse. And the timing, before the judge’s ruling, says a lot about what Laurinaitis’ team expects to happen.”
Laurinaitis may be done fighting this case in court, but make no mistake—he just lit the fuse from the outside. If he really delivers the dirt Grant’s legal team is hoping for, Vince McMahon’s legal nightmare could be just getting started. And with credibility already in question and million-dollar NDAs in play, this thing’s nowhere near over.
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Do you think John Laurinaitis’ decision to turn on Vince Mc Mahon will help blow this case wide open? Or is it too late to matter? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.