Ex-WWE Star Details Sexual Propositions; Claims Vince McMahon Knew
A former WWE star has claimed Vince McMahon did nothing when they complained about unwanted advances.
Vince McMahon is currently facing accusations of sexual assault and sex trafficking in a lawsuit that details horrifc allegations made against him. As a result, he has been forced to resign from TKO but is vowing to fight to clear his name.
The lawsuit has led to more allegations of inappropriate behavior throughout the history of WWE hitting the headlines. Recently, Lee Cole has opened up about the unsettling experiences he suffered at the hands of Mel Philips and Terry Garvin while working as a ring boy. Lee is the brother of Tom Cole, the ring boy who made allegations against Phillips, Garvin, and Pat Patterson that rocked WWE in the early 1990s.
Now former WWE star Nick Kiniski has come forward with his own experiences of Garvin. Kiniski was part of the then-WWF roster from 1986 to 1987. While he mainly worked on house shows, he also featured in multiple episodes of Wrestling Challenge and WWF Superstars. In 1986, the star faced Randy Savage in an unsuccessful attempt to capture the Intercontinental Championship.
During an appearance on Pollock and Thurston, Kiniski detailed the uncomfortable experiences he had with Garvin.
“He would come up to me and hit on me … I won’t say what he said, but you’ll understand the meaning behind it. He says ‘Hey Nick, let me perform oral sex on you, you can read a Playboy and you’ll have it made for life.’ And, you know, he is my boss, he controls my boss. This is my livelihood, what I want to do, I kind of joked with him, I said ‘Hey Terry, you know, I’m not that way. But if I ever change, you’ll be the first. I’ll let you be the first.’
“We just kinda laughed it off. But he was always kind of coming up and joking, and one time he came to my hotel room late at night and I told him to leave. Knocked at the door. So, it put me in a very awkward position, you know?”
Vince McMahon Did Not Help Nick Kiniski
Kiniski recalled going to Vince McMahon about the situation, but although McMahon promised to “deal with it,” nothing changed.
“I remember where it was, it was in Milwaukie, Oregon, we wrestled in Portland. I called Vince, and I said ‘Hey, Vince, I don’t think this is right. Terry’s hitting on me. I don’t appreciate that and I would like it to stop.’ And Vince said ‘Oh, ok. I’ll deal with it.’ And that was it.
“Nothing changed. [Garvin would] still say ‘Hey, have you thought about your proposition?’ as he walks by in the dressing room.”
After his complaint, Kiniski says he was taken off a show he was scheduled to compete in, losing a payday in the process. He approached McMahon again, but this time told him he was leaving the company.
“I talked to Vince, I said ‘This isn’t right, Vince. I complain, and now you guys are punishing me. I’ll finish my bookings, but I’m not putting any guys over. Put me in the ring we’ll see what happens.’ Vince knows I could take care of myself, so he said ‘No.’ I said, ‘I’m done.’ I said,‘ I’ll finish my matches,’ ‘Nope, you’re done now.’ ‘Thank you very much.’”
Following his departure, Kiniski worked for the AWA and later World Class Championship Wrestling before retiring in 1990.
H/T to F4W Online for the above transcription.