Anish Vij
WWE's Vince McMahon has reportedly agreed a multi-million dollar settlement to an ex-referee who accused him of 'raping her' in 1986.
The executive chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. has reportedly settled with the organisation's first ever female referee, Rita Chatterton, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The publication claim to have got ahold of a letter sent to McMahon by Chatterton, which showed that she was seeking $11.75 million in damages for the alleged rape.
She reportedly agreed to a lesser settlement but the WSJ were unable to obtain an accurate figure.
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“Mr. McMahon denies and always has denied raping Ms. Chatterton. And he settled the case solely to avoid the cost of litigation,” said Jerry McDevitt, a lawyer for McMahon.
The 77-year-old contended in a 1993 lawsuit that Chatterton was induced to make a false rape charge against him by a former wrestler with a grudge.
McMahon decided to withdraw the lawsuit the following year.
UNILAD have contacted World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. and Chatterton's lawyer for comment.
Chatterton's attorney, John Clune, previously claimed his client 'has experienced years of persistent depression, substance abuse, disordered eating, reduced income, and generally a decreased quality of life'.
Last year, McMahon agreed to pay $3 million to a former WWE employee with whom he allegedly had an affair with.
Then in 2018 McMahon reached a $7.5 million settlement with a former wrestler who alleged he coerced her into giving him oral sex.
In July 2022, the 77-year-old briefly stepped down as chairman and chief executive of WWE.
However, earlier this month, he reinstated himself to facilitate a sale of the professional wrestling company.
McMahon remains as controlling shareholder of WWE.
In the letter, the WWE board said Mr. McMahon’s return 'would not be prudent from a shareholder value perspective'.
“This determination is based on a variety of factors, including non-public information the Board has become aware of and the risks to the Company and its shareholders of placing a greater spotlight on these issues,” the letter read.
McMahon's daughter Stephanie is co-CEO and Chairwoman of the board and her husband Triple H remains Chief Content Officer.
McMahon is largely responsible for the success of WWE from a regional operation to a publicly traded company worth millions.
He gave his first sit-down interview in years to The Pat McAfee Show at the start of 2022 and said: "If you built something, you should want it to grow and prosper, with or without a family member. The business is best for everyone.
"You have to look at family members as well as employees. You have to do what's right for the business."