John Laurinaitis is a widely despised figure in the pro wrestling world, meaning no one was overly surprised when he was named in the recent lawsuit filed against Vince McMahon by former WWE employee Janel Grant.
The former Head of Talent Relations in WWE allegedly took place in multiple attacks on the woman and is said to have also embarked on an inappropriate relationship with her (which is where the people trafficking part of the complaint comes in).
Now, a lawyer for Laurinaitis has shared a statement with VICE News which makes it clear he plans to paint himself as a fellow victim of McMahon's.
"Mr. Laurinaitis denies the allegations in the misguided complaint and will be vigorously defending these charges in Court, not the media," attorney Edward Brennan says. "Like the Plaintiff, Mr. Laurinaitis is a victim in this case, not a predator. The truth will come out."
The site reached out for clarification on that latter point about Laurinaitis also being a victim and was told, "Read the allegations. Read the Federal Statute. Power, control, employment supervisory capacity, dictatorial sexual demands with repercussions if not met. Count how many times in the complaint Vince exerts control over both of them."
This is a little hard to believe and verges on being an insult to Grant given what she's allegedly been put through by Laurinaitis and McMahon. However, it's now clear Vince won't have his old ally on his side if and when this goes to court.
Grant's lawyer, Ann Callis, recently addressed the lawsuit in an interview with News Nation and seemed to suggest more possible victims plan on coming forward.
"No more than the regular public about the NDAs that everyone has heard who has followed this story. She has no more knowledge than that. Our hope is, and her hope is, by coming out, by stepping forward, by bringing this complaint and putting her face to this complaint, that other victims of Vince McMahon and the WWE will end up becoming public and she wants to help them find their voice and get justice. She thinks and hopes by doing this, she will."
"My office and my inbox have had a barrage of people wanting to come forward to attest about this culture of corruption and also possible victims. We are just beginning now to wade through all this, but we’re frankly overwhelmed."
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as we have them.