John Laurinaitis is one of the most infamous personalities to have ever worked in WWE. His high-ranking position within the company often allowed him to take advantage of his power. As the former head of talent relations in WWE, Laurinaitis wielded significant influence, but many stories about him paint a negative picture. He has been accused of numerous unethical actions during his tenure.

Laurinaitis is no longer part of WWE, largely due to several allegations against him. It was revealed that he had blackmailed female employees for sexual relations and shared these encounters with Vince McMahon. In a lawsuit filed by Janelle Grant, it was alleged that Laurinaitis participated in sex trafficking and threesomes with McMahon and Grant. McMahon is even accused of defecating on Grant’s head during these encounters. Laurinaitis has since claimed he was also a victim of McMahon’s abuse of power, stating he never wanted to partake in illegal activities.

Laurinaitis’s attorney Brennan wrote, “Mr. Laurinaitis denies the allegations in the misguided complaint and will vigorously defend these charges in court, not the media. Like the plaintiff, Mr. Laurinaitis is a victim in this case, not a predator. The truth will come out.”

Many former WWE employees have shared stories of Laurinaitis’s misconduct. For instance, René Duprée, one of WWE’s youngest stars, recounted how Laurinaitis yelled at him after a near-neck-breaking accident during a match with RVD, showing more concern for punishing him than for his safety.

Laurinaitis is also known for derailing careers. Fit Finley, a respected figure in wrestling, was set for a solo push upon his return to the ring. However, Laurinaitis paired him with Hornswoggle, against Finley’s wishes, limiting his career growth.

In his role as head of talent relations, Laurinaitis made several questionable hiring decisions. Notably, he mistakenly sent a tryout invite meant for Xavier Woods (real name Austin) to Adam Cole (also Austin). This identity mix-up delayed Cole’s WWE entry by years.

Laurinaitis also had a poor approach to hiring female talent. He was more interested in their looks than their wrestling abilities, hiring women from swimwear and lingerie catalogs rather than those with wrestling experience. This included stars like Alicia Fox and Kelly Kelly, and even his future stepdaughters, the Bella Twins. AJ Lee revealed in her book that Laurinaitis considered her “too ugly to succeed.”

Jim Cornette, a well-known figure in wrestling, has openly criticized Laurinaitis. Cornette claimed Laurinaitis’s interference in developmental stories and talent management led to his resignation in 2003. Laurinaitis’s actions often left developmental organizations struggling and disrupted carefully planned storylines.

Laurinaitis also had a hand in WWE budget cuts, which led to multiple star releases. For example, he released Nia Jax despite her offer to take a pay cut, indicating the decision was not solely budget-related.

One of Laurinaitis’s most dangerous decisions involved advising Brock Lesnar to perform a shooting star press at WrestleMania, which resulted in a severe concussion for Lesnar. This could have ended Lesnar’s career.

Perhaps one of the most reckless incidents was during the 2005 Armageddon event when Laurinaitis approved a blood spot for Bob Orton, who had hepatitis. He did this without informing The Undertaker, putting him at serious risk.

John Laurinaitis’s tenure in WWE is marked by controversy and allegations of misconduct. His actions have left a lasting negative impact on many wrestlers and the industry as a whole. As legal proceedings continue, the full extent of his influence and actions may come to light.

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