El Grande Americano Unmasked; WWE Fights Grant’s Discovery Bid

At the June 30 episode of WWE RAW, viewers were stunned by a surprising reveal: with Chad Gable sidelined for surgery, the masked persona of El Grande Americano made his return in a backstage vignette with the American Made faction. Immediately, speculation swirled until it became clear that Ludwig Kaiser was the man under the mask.

This unexpected twist sets up Kaiser to carry the Speed Championship torch under this vibrant new identity. Fan reactions have been mixed: some praise the creative ingenuity, while others question whether this character truly fits his style.

In parallel to WWE’s storyline drama, a high-profile legal development unfolded on July 1 in the Janel Grant vs. Vince McMahon case. Grant, formerly a WWE paralegal, has sought the release of internal communications, NDA drafts, medical records, and federal documents to challenge the enforceability of her arbitration clause.

Vince McMahon and WWE have responded with a formal legal opposition filed Monday night. They argue Grant’s discovery requests are both premature and irrelevant, labeling them a “fishing expedition,” and assert that she has not provided sufficient factual ground to question the validity of the arbitration clause.

• McMahon’s filing States: Argues that “the Court should reject Plaintiff’s improper fishing expedition and deny the Motion entirely.”
• WWE’s attorneys further contend: “Grant is not entitled to discovery related to the motion, having failed to present adequate facts that would challenge the legitimacy of the arbitration clause.”

In response, Grant’s legal team insisted the requested materials are “basic discovery” necessary to determine whether the NDA and its arbitration provision are valid, stressing the need for accountability and transparency, especially if WWE truly has “nothing to hide.”

This legal clash is only one chapter in a sprawling case against McMahon and WWE:

• Allegations of abuse and trafficking: Grant’s original lawsuit, filed in January 2024, alleges sexual assault, trafficking, coercion, non-consensual medical treatments, and a toxic WWE culture that enabled these actions.

• Expanded complaint: In January, Grant amended her case to include disturbing new details, such as McMahon allegedly offering her to Brock Lesnar, demanding sexually explicit content, and recording her without her consent.

• John Laurinaitis flip: Former WWE executive Laurinaitis has reached a confidential settlement, been dismissed as a defendant, and agreed to cooperate with Grant’s legal team, potentially a pivotal turning point in the case.

• Federal pause lifted: The case had been on hold while federal authorities investigated, but resumed late in 2024. Grant now also challenges the NDA under the Speak Out Act in addition to contesting the arbitration clause.

• SEC fines add context: Vince McMahon was fined over $1.7 million by the SEC for undisclosed hush-money payments from 2019–2022, which included several NDAs like Grant’s $3 million settlement, only $1 million of which was reportedly paid.

The core legal battle now hinges on whether Grant may obtain discovery before arbitration. WWE and McMahon argue that the arbitration clause mandates this as a preliminary step, whereas Grant maintains that early access to internal records and correspondence is crucial to assess the clause’s legal validity.

The court’s upcoming ruling on this discovery motion could determine if the case proceeds publicly or is diverted into private arbitration. With Laurinaitis now cooperating, the dynamics could shift significantly, especially if the case goes to full trial.