A new lawsuit accuses the WWE and its founders of fostering a culture that allowed sexual abuse to occur unchecked, focusing on allegations that a longtime ringside announcer exploited his position to prey on young men hired as “ring boys,” CBS News Baltimore reported Oct. 28.
The lawsuit, filed Oct. 23 in Maryland, follows a recent change in state law that eliminated the statute of limitations for child sex abuse claims, enabling survivors to seek justice regardless of how much time has passed.
The complaint centers on Melvin Phillips, a ringside announcer for WWE from the 1970s through the early 1990s, alleging he targeted disadvantaged young men and subjected them to abuse in dressing rooms, hotels, and even wrestlers’ locker rooms. Five men, who were between 13 and 15 years old at the time, are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
While Phillips, who passed away in 2012, is not a named defendant, the lawsuit targets WWE founders Vince and Linda McMahon. It alleges the McMahons were aware of Phillips’ actions but failed to take meaningful steps to stop him, creating what the plaintiffs describe as a culture of abuse.
The alleged incidents occurred across multiple states, including Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania.
A History of Abuse Allegations Against WWE Leadership
The lawsuit comes in the wake of Vince McMahon’s resignation from TKO Group Holdings, WWE’s parent company, earlier this year amid his own sexual misconduct scandal. McMahon stepped down after a federal lawsuit accused him of offering a WWE employee to a wrestler for sex and distributing explicit materials without her consent. These allegations followed his earlier resignation as WWE’s CEO in 2022.
In response to the latest lawsuit, McMahon’s attorney denied the claims, calling them “untrue and unfounded” and referencing similar allegations made in the early 1990s.
Emails from the Associated Press requesting comment were sent to Linda McMahon, WWE, and TKO Group Holdings. No responses have been reported at this time.
The Role of Maryland’s New Law
The lawsuit was filed under Maryland’s recently enacted law, which abolished the statute of limitations for child sex abuse claims. Previously, individuals abused as children could file lawsuits only until they turned 38.
Lawmakers approved the legal change following revelations about the Catholic Church’s widespread abuse scandal in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The new law opens the door for claims against various entities, including organizations like WWE, but its future remains uncertain. The Maryland Supreme Court is currently reviewing the constitutionality of the legislation.
WWE’s Legacy and the Allegations’ Impact
WWE, which Vince McMahon transformed from a regional operation into a global sports entertainment powerhouse, merged in April with the company behind the Ultimate Fighting Championship to form TKO Group Holdings, valued at $21.4 billion.
The lawsuit alleges that WWE leadership allowed Phillips to use his prominent position to lure young fans into abusive situations. It claims Phillips was fired in 1988 after allegations surfaced but was rehired just six weeks later.
Linda McMahon, who stepped down as WWE’s chief executive in 2009, later served as the head of the Small Business Administration during the Trump administration and was recently nominated to lead the Department of Education under the second Trump administration.
