A friend of Ashley Massaro claimed that Stephanie McMahon helped cover up sexual assault allegations made by the former WWE star who committed suicide in 2019.
Massaro committed suicide five years ago, months after her lawsuit was dismissed alleging that head injuries during wrestling made her depressed and addicted to painkillers.
The former Playboy model and wrestling competitor also alleged before her death that WWE had discouraged her from reporting that she had been sexually assaulted at a military base during WWE’s tour of Kuwait in 2006.
WWE issued a statement after Massaro’s suicide stating that they were never aware of the former wrestler’s accusations.
Vince McMahon later resigned from his position as CEO of TKO, the company behind the merger of WWE and UFC, after being accused of sex trafficking in a separate complaint filed by another individual. An investigation is ongoing.
Stephanie McMahon has been accused of covering up sexual assault allegations made by former WWE star Ashley Massaro.
Massaro previously complained to WWE that she had been sexually assaulted during the organization’s tour of Kuwait in 2006.
Massaro alleged that members of the United States Armed Forces drugged and sexually assaulted her while she was in Kuwait and then took their own lives.
McMahon denied the allegations, calling them “baseless claims” during his resignation statement.
Massaro complained before his death that he had been told not to go public with his sexual assault allegations.
Her friend has now claimed that McMahon’s daughter Stephanie made her feel “comfortable” by going to a boardroom meeting before turning on her and trying to cover up the star’s complaints.
Revealing the claims she claims Massaro told her, Cara Pipia added: “He spoke to Vince McMahon many times.
“Vince had his daughter (Stephanie) take his place because she was a woman and so Ashley would feel comfortable and they just played with her.
“They played with her because as much as Stephanie had made her feel comfortable and safe, as soon as they walked into this boardroom meeting, Ashley was completely alone.
“She was threatened and there was no compassion, no sympathy, there was nothing,” he added.
Stephanie became a popular figure within the WWE setup as an on-screen character during the ’90s, and her influence then grew and she rose to become co-CEO and president at the time when a series of accusations of misconduct against his father. .
McMahon was previously a WWE series star in the ’90s before moving into a role in the boardroom.
McMahon and his father Vince (left) previously stepped down from their executive roles within WWE.
However, he eventually resigned from his position in January 2023 after Vince was elected president again.
Pipia further claimed that Massaro had met with a locker room doctor before the boardroom meeting where he was allegedly told what would happen with his sexual assault allegations, but the doctor, although understanding, had no authority.
“Just before entering the meeting room she spoke to the locker room doctor, who was aware of everything and, in fact, was very understanding with her, but he had no influence, so he gave her what advice he could,” he added.
Vince and Stephanie McMahon have been contacted for comment.