John Laurinaitis, the former Head of Talent Relations at WWE, found himself embroiled in controversy and negative headlines following his alleged involvement in a hush money settlement scandal with Vince McMahon. This scandal had severe consequences for Laurinaitis and ultimately led to his downfall. Although he is no longer associated with WWE, recent accusations have emerged, claiming that Laurinaitis threatened to have an ex-WWE Superstar arrested.
Marty Garner, known as Cham-Pain during his tenure as a WWE Superstar from 1994 to 1998, created an online blog in the mid-2000s and submitted it to various wrestling newsletters. The blog quickly gained traction, attracting around 100,000 visitors and capturing the attention of Johnny Ace, who was a talent relations executive at WWE at the time. However, the situation took an unfavorable turn for Garner.
During a conversation recounted on the Cheap Heat Productions Podcast, Marty Garner recalled an exchange he had with Laurinaitis after fans initiated a “Hire Cham-Pain” campaign on the internet. As a result of the campaign, Johnny Ace started receiving an influx of 300 to 500 emails daily, which seemingly led him to issue a threat of arrest to Garner.
According to Garner, Laurinaitis stated the following:
“Well, I don’t wanna ever see you again. If you come to a show, I’ll have you arrested.” Frustrated by the situation, Garner responded, “Johnny, I’m just trying to get an F-ing job,” expressing his desperation for employment. However, Laurinaitis accused Garner of cursing at him, to which Garner clarified that he was cursing about the situation, not directing his words towards Laurinaitis personally.
As a result of this incident, Johnny Ace was placed on indefinite administrative leave, casting doubt on his future within the company. Subsequently, Laurinaitis was terminated by WWE earlier last year, marking the end of his tenure with the organization. However, his actions and demeanor have left a lasting negative impression on many individuals, ensuring that his likability remains tarnished in the eyes of many, with little possibility of redemption.
