On the same day as VICE TV is airing their Vince McMahon documentary, Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal is reporting that McMahon is facing legal demands from two women who have alleged he sexually assaulted them, per internal documents and people that are said to be familiar with the legal negotiations.
According to the report, former WWE referee Rita Chatterton is said to be seeking $11.75 million after going public alleging that in 1986 she was raped by McMahon. The report also states that an attorney of former spa manager claims McMahon assaulted his client back in 2011 at a resort in California.
The Wall Street Journal report further notes John Clune, the lawyer representing Chatterton wrote in a legal demand letter dated November 3, 2022 that the damages to his client from the alleged rape were “hard to overstate” and that his client also “has suffered years of ongoing depression, substance abuse, disordered eating, lost income, and overall a decreased quality of life.”
WWE Hall of Famer Greg Valentine told the Wall Street Journal that Chatterton opened up to him about that rape allegations while they were smoking marijuana together at a Marriott hotel parking lot in Albany, NY. Valentine said that he did not believe Chatterton then or now, “because he didn’t think she was attractive enough for Mr. McMahon.”
Chatterton was known as Rita Marie during her time in WWE as a referee.
As it pertains to the alleged 2011 assault at the resort, the alleged victim’s husband was said to have made an attempt to confront McMahon at WWE live event, but that he was turned away by security. Michael Bressler, who is the lawyer for the woman of the alleged assault has reportedly been in contact with McMahon’s attorney since July.
McMahon has supposedly told people that he refuses to pay settlements to Chatterton and the former manager of the spa. The audio for WWE -Deloitte & Touche LLP, has reportedly advised WWE that any resolutions of the claims, even if confidential, would possibly have to be disclosed by the company publicly.
In conclusion, the report notes that according to people familiar with his comments, McMahon has reportedly told people he intends to make a comeback in WWE. McMahon also supposedly said he received bad advice from people close to him to step down from WWE and he now has a belief the allegations and investigations would have blown over had he stayed in the company.
McMahon retired as WWE CEO and Chairman back on July 22 after a board investigation of sexual misconduct and allegations of what was referred to as hush money. The $19.4 million investigation concluded last month.
As of this writing, WWE’s stock is down about 2 percent to $74.00 a share.