The wrestling industry finds itself embroiled in a maelstrom of serious allegations against Vince McMahon, a towering figure in sports entertainment. Amongst the swirling debate and controversy surrounding McMahon, including accusations of trafficking, it appears that WWE’s Consensual Relationship Policy documents have undergone updates.
On January 25th, Janel Grant, a former WWE staff member, initiated legal proceedings against WWE, John Laurinaitis, and Vince McMahon, alleging incidents of sexual assault, emotional abuse, and sex trafficking dating back to March 2019. These damning allegations have cast a dark cloud over McMahon’s once unassailable reputation, prompting widespread condemnation within the industry.
In the wake of McMahon’s departure amid a lawsuit that exposed unsettling accusations, WWE underwent significant internal changes. The company swiftly implemented an updated policy in response.
Reports from POST Wrestling and Wrestlenomics indicate that WWE circulated a memo concerning workplace relationships, with a leaked three-page copy of the policy subsequently published.
Introduced in June 2023, this policy addresses sexual or romantic relationships in the workplace, a response to reports of alleged sexual misconduct involving former Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon.
The policy explicitly prohibits employees from holding any instructional, evaluative, or supervisory role over individuals with whom they have had or currently have a consensual relationship. Moreover, it delineates specific guidelines regarding relationships with top executives, such as WWE Board Members or members of the executive team, including the CEO, President, CFO, Chief Content Officer, Chief Legal Officer, or Chief Human Resources Officer.
As WWE continues to roll out new policies aimed at addressing the issues that have surfaced over the years, the question remains: Will these measures be sufficient to reckon with the legacy of Vince McMahon? Only time will tell.
[Link to Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4_F01UuCjQ/]What are your thoughts on whether this updated policy will effectively address the transgressions attributed to Vince McMahon over the years? Share your opinions in the comments section below!