Former WWE board members Michelle McKenna and Jeffrey Speed provided depositions in a settled shareholder lawsuit that detailed the company's internal probe into Vince McMahon. The accounts, released publicly last month, show the board's early awareness of allegations from Janel Grant.
McKenna, who joined the board on September 15, 2022, stated she believed McMahon could not return after his July retirement. She answered no when asked if she viewed the relationship between McMahon and Grant as an affair, and yes when asked if she saw it as sex abuse and sexual trafficking.
Speed confirmed that the board's investigation uncovered text messages sent by McMahon to Grant, including some involving Brock Lesnar. He said the messages were read aloud during a meeting and described them as very graphic, though the board was not shown any photos that were found.
McKenna remained on the board through the WWE and Endeavor merger. She voted against McMahon's return in December 2022 before supporting it in January 2023. Speed was removed from the board in early 2023 after McMahon regained power.
The depositions indicate the board knew of Grant's accusations well before her 2024 lawsuit was filed.
