John Laurinaitis Lawyer Claims WWE Management Knew of Ashley Massaro Rape Allegations at WWE Overseas Military Tour

Former WWE wrestler Ashley Massaro passed away in May of 2019. Following her passing, an affidavit was released revealing that Massaro claimed that she was raped by a United States military member during an overseas tour WWE held at a military base in Kuwait in 2006. Massaro had also claimed that WWE management covered up this incident due to them not wanting to “ruin” their working relationship with the U.S. military.

WWE’s official response at the time denied that Massaro had ever informed them about her allegations nor the claims of them covering up the incident. WWE also claimed that this was something made up by lawyer Konstantine Kyros during the class action lawsuit he led against the company.

“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.

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.”

In a recent statement to VICE News, John Laurinaitis’ lawyer Edward Brennan objected to the use of the word cover up to describe the situation but stated that Laurinaitis and most of WWE’s upper management were aware of the allegations made by Massaro, which contradicts the company’s public statement at the time.

“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.”

Laurinaitis was named as an active participant in a recent lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant against Vince McMahon accusing McMahon of committing sex trafficking and sexual abuse towards her during her time in the company. Laurinaits’ lawyer denied the allegations against him and claimed that he was also a victim and not a perpetrator.