WWE Introduces Consensual Relationship Policy Following Vince McMahon Scandal

WWE established a consensual relationship policy in June 2023 following the hush money and sexual misconduct scandal in the Summer of 2022 that led to Vince McMahon's brief retirement from the company. McMahon had forced his way back into WWE by June 2023 but he resigned as TKO Executive Chairman in January 2024 following the lawsuit filed by Janel Grant which accused the 78-year-old of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and physical and emotional abuse.

John Pollock of POST Wrestling and Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics have obtained the three-page policy on sexual or romantic relationships in the workplace that was established in June 2023.

The policy states: "An employee shall not exercise responsibility (instructional, evaluative, or supervisory) for any affiliated individual with whom the employee has or had a consensual relationship."

Relationships between employees and top WWE executives are also a part of the policy.

"WWE strongly discourages consensual relationships involving any WWE Board Member, or executive team member, such as the CEO, President, CFO, Chief Content Officer, Chief Legal Officer, or Chief Human Resources Officer," the policy reads. Should executives violate the policy, they may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.

WWE's policy also includes a "Consensual Relationship Acknowledgement" form and the "affiliated relationships" aspect of the policy states relationships between an employee and any independent contractor must abide by the Consensual Relationship Policy.

The policy has received some criticism, though, with Dr Lisa Mainiero of Fairfield University telling POST Wrestling & Wrestlenomics: "Most corporations have strict anti-harassment policies, but only about 30 per cent have consensual romance policies, according to the Society of Human Resources Management surveys. Some firms go as far as to request a 'love contract' where both parties sit with HR and claim the romance is indeed consensual, and if any harassment occurs, it will be reported to HR and that employee will be protected.

"This is an 'okay' policy, better than most, but still inadequate. However, [WWE] did not address the issue of hierarchical relationships, which are certainly a conflict of interest. I am pleased to see they included 'affiliated relationships' as part of their policy."

Professor Michael Z. Green, the Director of the Workplace Law Program at Texas A&M University's School of Law, also suggested WWE revise the section of the policy on relationships between employees and top executives.

"[I]t should say that if any such officer seeks to engage in a consensual relationship with a subordinate or does engage in a purported consensual relationship with a subordinate, the WWE can consider such action as bad judgment warranting cause for immediate termination from the executive position the person holds," Green stated.

In addition to Vince McMahon, WWE and John Laurinaitis are named as defendants in Janel Grant's lawsuit. McMahon remains under federal investigation over multiple allegations of sexual assault dating back to the 1980s.