Vince McMahon Comes To Multi-Million Dollar Settlement With Ex-WWE Referee Who Accused Him Of Raping Her

WWE

In its latest Vince McMahon story, the Wall Street Journal reports that McMahon has come to a multi-million dollar settlement with ex-WWE referee Rita Chatterton, who had accused McMahon of raping her in 1986.

In November 2022, Chatterton demanded $11.75 million in damages in a letter to McMahon’s attorney.

According to the WSJ, sources say Chatterton agreed to an amount less than $11.75 million, but still in the multi-millions. The exact figure is unknown.

The settlement was completed in December.

McMahon’s lawyer Jerry McDevitt said:

“Mr. McMahon denies and always has denied raping Ms. Chatterton. And he settled the case solely to avoid the cost of litigation.”

Chatterton came forward publicly in 1992 to accuse McMahon of raping her in 1986, however no charges were brought against McMahon due to the statute of limitations running out prior to her public accusation.

A New York law has recently opened  a one-year window that allows alleged sex crime victims to file lawsuits that would have otherwise not been possible due to the statute of limitations.

Chatterton’s attorney sent McMahon’s attorney a legal demand letter seeking the $11.75 million weeks before that window opened.

According to WSJ’s sources, the agreement provides Chatterton with a lump sum payment followed by annual installments, similar to McMahon’s reported previous agreements with women.

McMahon ‘retired’ from WWE last July after the WSJ reported he’d made four prior secret settlement payments to women who’d accused him of sexual misconduct, but he returned earlier this month.

On January 6, using his power as majority owner, Vince McMahon put himself and former WWE presidents George Barrios and Michelle Wilson back on the company’s Board of Directors, disposing of JoEllen Lyons Dillon, Jeffrey R Speed, and Alan M Wexler in the process.

McMahon had stated that his intention was to facilitate a sale of the company.

He changed bylaws to ensure that no sale or media rights deal could be completed without his approval.

Upon McMahon’s return, two further Board members resigned of their own volition, those being Man Jit Singh – who was the one heading up the Board’s investigation into McMahon – and Ignace Lahoud.

Stephanie McMahon then resigned from her role as co-CEO and Chairwoman and her position on the Board on January 10, as Vince McMahon was elected Executive Chairman.

On January 15, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported that Vince McMahon was back in his office and had been “suggesting changes” to different departments.

On January 17, WWE made a new SEC filing stating that, as of January 16, Vince McMahon no longer needs stockholders’ approval for his actions.

There has been much speculation that Vince McMahon was looking to sell to a party that would commit to keeping him in charge of the company despite the multiple sexual assault allegations that have surfaced in the past year that led to his initial ‘retirement’ in July.

Paul Levesque (Triple H) told WWE talent in a meeting before SmackDown on January 13 and before Raw on January 16 that nothing would change on the creative side of things and he would still be the person heading that up.

He did say he and McMahon “may have discussions”, but Levesque is the one making final decisions.

However, it’s worth remembering that WWE did hold a meeting with employees (not talent) a week earlier and the message was “business as usual” and that no management would be changing, and then Stephanie McMahon resigned just days later, so it seems even what’s being said in the meetings is a fluid situation and things may change.

You can keep up with all the latest news and updates on Vince McMahon by clicking here and a potential WWE sale by clicking here.

Think you’re a wrestling mastermind? Well you can prove it by taking quizzes in our brand new quiz section! Don’t forget to tweet us your results!

• Rita Chatterton
• Allegations
• Vince McMahon
• wwe

Share this article with friends