Janel Grant Lawsuit Against McMahon, WWE Heads To Private Arbitration

The civil lawsuit filed by Janel Grant against Vince McMahon and WWE is moving out of the courtroom and into private arbitration, with all parties agreeing to the arrangement.

According to a court filing, the shift follows an order issued by the court on July 13, 2026, in which Grant, WWE and McMahon were directed toward resolving the matter through arbitration rather than a public trial. All sides have since agreed to proceed that way, a move that was previously approved by the court overseeing the case.

Grant filed suit in January 2024, alleging sex trafficking and abuse by McMahon during her time working for WWE, along with claims implicating the company itself and former executive John Laurinaitis. The lawsuit sent shockwaves through the wrestling industry, ultimately leading to McMahon’s resignation from WWE and parent company TKO Group Holdings shortly after the allegations became public. The case has continued to work its way through the legal system in the time since, with both sides sparring over procedural matters as it developed.

Moving to private arbitration typically means the proceedings — and any eventual resolution — will largely happen outside of public view, a contrast to the open court process that had kept elements of the case in the public eye. Details on the scope of the arbitration agreement, including whether it covers all claims against both WWE and McMahon individually, were not immediately clear.

It’s not uncommon for disputes involving corporate entities to be steered into arbitration, particularly when contractual language calls for it, and it can significantly limit what becomes public knowledge going forward. For a case that has drawn intense scrutiny since it was first filed, the shift to a private process marks a notable turning point.

PW Exclusive will continue to follow developments in the case as they become available.