WWE's Nick Khan Amongst Key Names In Vince McMahon Lawsuit

Content warning; discussion of alleged sexual assault

With Vince McMahon having been forced to resign in disgrace for a second time in the midst of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse allegations from former WWE employee Janel Grant, the lawsuit brought against McMahon referenced four unnamed WWE officials, in addition to John Laurinaitis and an ex-WWE Champion and former UFC fighter who The Wall Street Journal identified as Brock Lesnar.

Now, a collaboration for Front Office Sports by POST Wrestling's John Pollock, Wrestlenomics' Brandon Thurston, and VICE's Tim Marchman names "Corporate Officer No. 1" and "Corporate Officer No. 2" as WWE President Nick Khan and WWE Chief Operating Officer Brad Blum. Front Office Sports independently verified this information, with Ann Callis, the lawyer of Janel Grant, stating, "Those names are correct".

To be clear, Khan and Blum are not alleged to have partaken in the abuse towards Ms. Grant or had any knowledge of these acts. Rather, the two were key to Janel Grant's WWE employment "in a completely undefined role, except for the understanding that she remain a sexual slave to be used and trafficked by McMahon within the WWE".

This report calls Nick Khan and Brad Blum "key lieutenants" of McMahon's who were complicit in Janel Grant's WWE employment despite her not having the necessary experience for the $75,000 per annum role she initially landed in the company's legal department. Blum is said to have met Ms. Grant prior to her employment, "asked hardly any questions", and she was then soon hired by WWE.

When Janel Grant later introduced herself to Nick Khan, he responded by telling her he "knew exactly who she was". Ms. Grant alleges she met with Vince McMahon later that day, who revealed he'd informed Khan and Blum of their relationship. McMahon is said to have admitted to Janel Grant that Khan and Blum had expressed their concerns on "whether Grant could be trusted", though WWE denies this allegation.

In addition to Nick Khan and Brad Blum, the person referred to in the lawsuit as "Corporate Officer No. 3" - as identified by Front Office Sports and again confirmed by Ann Callis - is Stephanie McMahon. Stephanie is alleged to have had knowledge of "other instances of [Vince] McMahon engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct". In the lawsuit, Stephanie McMahon is only mentioned once, in an ambiguous way, and a situation is described where she once gestured for Janel Grant to sit near her at a high-level corporate meeting. Front Office Sports has reached out to Stephanie for comment but has yet to receive a response from her as of this time.

Rounding out the previously-unnamed WWE officials, "Corporate Officer No. 4" is Brian Nurse, WWE's former Head of Legal. Like the other figures, Nurse was identified by Front Office Sports, and his name was then verified by Ann Callis. According to the lawsuit, Vince McMahon informed Ms. Grant that he'd ordered Nurse to offer her a job with the company back in 2019. Nurse has also not been able to be reached for comment at the time of writing.

On the identification of these four corporate officers, WWE released the following statement:

"WWE takes Ms. Grant's allegations very seriously and has no tolerance for any physical abuse or unwanted physical contact. Neither Nick Khan nor Brad Blum, prior to the lawsuit being filed on January 25, 2024, were aware of any allegation by Ms. Grant that she was the victim of abuse or unwanted physical contact; nor does the complaint allege that either had knowledge of such."

Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis deny the allegations brought against them.