A former top executive claims he knew of Ashley Massaro’s allegations against WWE.
Shortlt after former WWE Superstar Ashley Massaro tragically passed away by suicide in May 2019, an affidavit was made public where she alleged WWE covered up that she was sexually assaulted while on a military base in 2007.
WWE published the following statement on the matter at the time:
“At no time was Vince McMahon or the management of WWE ever informed by Ashley Massaro or anybody else that she had been sexually assaulted, drugged, raped or sodomized by a military doctor with a nurse standing guard while on a goodwill tour in 2007 to U.S. military bases in Kuwait. In fact, if she ever articulated such a claim to WWE, we would have reported it immediately to the Base Commander.
-WWE
At no time was there ever a meeting with Vince McMahon, Kevin Dunn, John Laurinaitis or other company executives in which she told them of such a claim and was instructed to keep it quiet.”
This has now been contradicted by a key name involved, however, as in a new interview with Tim Marchman of VICE, John Laurinaitis’ lawyer, Edward Brennan, objected to use the term “cover-up”, but did reveal that Laurinaitis was aware of the allegations as he claimed “most upper level management” were.
In response to questions about Massaro’s allegations, Brennan stated the following:
“Any allegations that Mr. Laurinaitus helped to cover up an alleged rape allegation is an outright lie. Johnny, like most upper level management at sometime became aware of the allegations and ensured all proper WWE protocols were followed, including privacy for the alleged victim. We object to the use of the term cover up as no such plan or plot ever took place to hide or assist in the alleged rape.”
-Edward Brennan
On top of the comments from Laurinaitis’s lawyer, VICE News were able to gather further information on Massaro’s allegations within the affidavit, revealing that an NCIS investigation was in fact opened in June 2019, but was then closed in January 2020.
“VICE News can report for the first time that the Naval Criminal Intelligence Service opened an investigation into Massaro’s allegations in June 2019. That investigation was closed in January 2020, according to an NCIS spokesperson. Further information, they said, could not be immediately released, as it would need to be obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.”
-VICE News
The allegations appear in a new light following the filing of a civil lawsuit by former WWE employee Janel Grant accusing both McMahon and Laurinaitis of sex trafficking and sexual assault in graphic detail.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on the allegations facing both Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis as soon as we hear more.
