John Laurinaitis biography: 13 things about ex-wrestler born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

John Hodger Laurinaitis is an American business executive of Lithuanian descent. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, he is also a retired professional wrestler whose ring name was Johnny Ace.

Laurinaitis is 3 years older than his brother Marcus Laurinaitis and was 2 years younger than their brother Joseph Michael Laurinaitis. Marcus and Joseph were wrestlers, as well.

John is 6’4″ tall and he weighs around 250 pounds. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. From 1981 to 1985, he attended Minnesota State University, Mankato in Mankato, Minnesota, USA.
2. From 1986 to 1990, he wrestled in National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling.
3. From 1988 to 2000, he wrestled in All Japan Pro Wrestling. From 2001 to 2001, he wrestled in World Championship Wrestling.
4. In March 2001, he joined World Wrestling Federation as a road agent.
5. In June 2004, he became WWE’s vice president of talent relations.
6. In March 2009, he became WWE’s executive vice president.
7. In 2012, WWE relieved him of his backstage executive duties.
8. On September 3, 2015, he and Kathy Colace got engaged. On March 24, 2016, they got married.
9. On September 22, 2020, his brother Joseph died in Osage Beach, Missouri, USA at age 60.
10. He, Janel Grant and Vincent McMahon allegedly had a threesome on December 20, 2020 and on March 6, 2021. On March 9, 2021, McMahon verbally directed Grant to transfer to the WWE’s talent relations department, reporting to him shortly after he was hired again as the head of the department. On June 15, 2021, he and McMahon allegedly sexually assaulted Grant inside his office in the WWE headquarters.
11. On June 21, 2022, he was removed from his post as WWE’s head of talent relations. On August 8, 2022, he was officially fired.
12. On July 31, 2023, he turned 61.
13. He was named as a defendant in the lawsuit Grant filed against McMahon on January 25, 2024.