Paul Roma has discussed the allegations made against Vince McMahon, and says that the worst case is yet to be uncovered.
On January 25, Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and WWE, alleging cases of sex trafficking, emotional abuse and sexual assault against the 78-year-old. Not long after, McMahon departed his role at the TKO Group.
Speaking on News Nation with Ashleigh Banfield, ex-WWE talent Paul Roma, who was a tag team wrestler between 1984 and 1991, discussed his knowledge of abhorrent behaviour in the company, first detailing how the propositioning of contractors into uncomfortable situations was ‘pretty regular’.
“Yes. It was pretty regular. You heard it on a regular basis, for the most part. Then, you wouldn’t hear it for a while, then it would come full circle. It wasn’t so much Vince as it was the people he had surrounding him. Talking about an industry where you have young, good-looking, well-built men in the ring, half-naked, three-quarters naked. It left the door open. You have people around him; Vice Presidents, bookers, that were very much into that. That put you in a really bad situation, especially once you start making some money. You kind of get comfortable with that. Then, you find out that your job is on the line. Either do it or get fired. I witnessed quite a few that walked away. Money wasn’t worth it for them to go that route.”
-Paul Roma
In particular, Roma revealed that some talent were asked to do sexual things with other men that they weren’t comfortable doing, he included how it happened to his former tag team partner.
“They were asked to do things. Sexual things, with other men, that they did not want to do. My former partner being one of them. I was actually in a cab ride in Washington. We were coming back and the gentleman next to me kept saying, ‘It’s not worth it. It’s not worth the benjamins. It’s not worth the benjamins.’ ‘What are you talking about?’ ‘It’s not worth it.’ ‘What’s not worth it?’ ‘It’s just not worth it.’ We got back to the hotel. The next day, we’re filming for our second TV taping and he was gone. He jumped on a flight, went back home, and never showed up again to wrestle. He had an unfortunate accident, hit his head, and passed away while he was asleep. He had a bleeding of the brain.”
-Paul Roma
When Banfield asked if Roma ever got clarification on what ‘wasn’t worth it’, Paul said that he didn’t know but it was surrounding sexual favours.
“Sexual favors. My former partner, one of my former partners, when I was part of the Young Stallions, he was propositioned. He said he went to one of the agents and told him what had happened. I said, ‘Why would you do that? You just ratted on both of us.’ He kind of threw us both under the bus, just starting out.”
-Paul Roma
When asked whether those involved were WWE executives, Roma replied that they simply had to be due to the fact they were offering money to tempt men into taking part in uncomfortable sexual encounters.
“Let’s leave it this way. That’s all it could be. If someone is going to give you money, it had to be that. There is nothing else. It’s not going to be one of the other boys that you’re wrestling with. They’re not going to offer you money. Even my former partner. Same thing, they offered him money, drugs, just lay on your back and you don’t have to do a thing. He came running right to me when I came into TV, and I said, ‘What are you going to do?’ ‘I already spoke to Arnold.’ ‘Why would you do that? You killed our team. What do you think he’s going to do? He’s going to go to the people that propositioned you. What do you think is going to happen to them? Nothing.”
-Paul Roma
Interestingly, Banfield noted that Mario Mancini had spoken previously to say that he knew of a case worse than that of Janel Grant. Paul confirms that, while he shouldn’t get into it, he does know of the alleged case and is surprise that no one has come forward about it.
I really shouldn’t, right now, but yes, I do know what it is. It is worse. Just that Mario and I are really surprised. We spoke about it. We’re surprised that no one has come forward, but on the flip side, they’re of an age now that they’re maybe married, have kids, and they don’t want to open Pandora’s box. I can’t blame them. I said that to Mario. ‘Can you blame them? Would you really want to open this up? No. You wouldn’t want to open it up.”
-Paul Roma
The lawsuit by Grant against McMahon included graphic details which shocked readers and stunned the TKO board. So, there allegedly being a worse case out there that remains uncovered is certainly an unnerving and unsettling thought.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on the lawsuit brought against Vince McMahon and any further allegations as soon as we hear more.
H/T to Fightful for the transcription.
