Multiple Changes To WWE WrestleMania 40 Plans Following Vince McMahon Lawsuit

The lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE caused multiple changes to be made to the company's plans for WrestleMania 40. McMahon was accused of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and emotional and physical abuse in the lawsuit. John Laurinaitis was accused of sexual assault and WWE were accused of attempting to sweep the allegations against McMahon "under the rug." 

Vince McMahon has since resigned from his role as TKO Executive Chairman, although he still remains a major shareholder in the company, owning approximately 12 percent of the organisation. 

Brock Lesnar was not named in the lawsuit but a "former UFC Heavyweight Champion" was referenced within the suit that was later confirmed to be Lesnar by the Wall Street Journal. Janel Grant was allegedly used as a sexual pawn in Vince McMahon's attempts to re-sign Lesnar in 2021 which saw her produce "personalized sexual content" for the former WWE Champion. Lesnar also twice allegedly arranged to have a sexual encounter with Grant but plans fell through and he directed her to film herself urinating in a video for him. 

After Lesnar was implicated in the lawsuit, he was withdrawn from WWE Royal Rumble, having originally been scheduled to return at the event. His creative was given to Bron Breakker, who replaced him in the men's Royal Rumble match.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has reported that WWE's top planned matches for WrestleMania 40 in Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk, Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch, and IYO SKY vs. Bayley are still planned for the show. A "number of changes" were made for Mania over the last few days, though, as a domino effect of Lesnar being pulled from the Royal Rumble. Lesnar was scheduled to face Gunther at WrestleMania but those plans are off as of late January. 

The other plans WWE have had to modify are currently unknown.