Former Ring Boys File Lawsuit Against WWE, Vince McMahon

A new lawsuit was filed against WWE, Linda McMahon, Vince McMahon and TKO on behalf of former ring boys who survived sexual abuse.

The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, MD and claims that the survivors — identified as John Does 1-5 — were hired by Melvin Phillips Jr. to assist with errands and other tasks.

“The underaged Ring Boys were groomed, exploited, and sexually abused by Phillips, who targeted children from broken homes,” DiCello Levitt said in a press release, per Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston. “His sexual assaults occurred not only at the wrestling venues but also in hotel rooms and other locations where Phillips would shuttle the boys in plain sight. Defendants were fully aware of the systemic and pervasive abuse and did nothing to prevent or stop it.”

You can read the full lawsuit here. There also was a video provided by the attorneys that explained the case.

In 1992, Phillips and Terry Garvin were accused of having inappropriate sexual relations with underage boys by former ring boy Tom Cole. Phillips initially was fired by McMahon but later re-hired with the mandate to stay away from kids. The FBI identified at least 10 former ring boys abused by Phillips, and the lawsuit alleges there “are likely countless others who have suffered in silence for decades.”

The new lawsuit from the former ring boys was filed while WWE and McMahon were in the process of a lawsuit from former WWE employee Janel Grant who accused McMahon of sexual assault and human trafficking.