More Former Ring Boys Join Lawsuit Against WWE, Vince McMahon & Linda McMahon

WARNING: This article contains accounts of alleged child sexual abuse.

Three more former ring boys have joined the lawsuit filed against WWE, TKO Group Holdings, Linda McMahon, and Vince McMahon in an amended lawsuit filed on Monday, April 28, POST Wrestling has reported.

The lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland increases the number of plaintiffs to eight - identified as John Does 6, 7, and 8 - and includes new allegations of sexual abuse against children by Mel Phillips, Pat Patterson, and Koko B. Ware.

Within the initial lawsuit filed in October 2024, it is alleged that WWE, TKO, Vince McMahon, and Linda McMahon were aware of the sexual abuse carried out by Mel Phillips, but did nothing to prevent or stop it. It is alleged that Phillips groomed, exploited, and sexually abused underage WWE ring boys. 

WWE ring boys were children who helped to set up the ring at WWE shows in the 1980s and 1990s. Mel Phillips worked under Terry Garvin as part of the ring boys crew.

John Doe 6 has alleged that he met Mel Phillips around 1988 when he was 11 or 12 years old. Detailing an alleged incident following a WWE house show in July 1989, Doe 6 alleges he was given alcohol while in Pat Patterson's hotel room and was forced to perform oral sex on Patterson. It is also alleged the WWE official performed oral sex on the child.

In another alleged incident, John Doe 6 has alleged Koko B. Ware forced them against a wall and grabbed them by the crotch in a WWE locker room when Mel Phillips, Pat Patterson, referee Danny Davis, and Tony Chimel were present. It is alleged that most in the room laughed, except Chimel who "said something like, 'Don't do that, let him go.'" Chimel then told the child they shouldn't be on the ring crew and should run away.

Doe 6 also alleges Phillips sexually abused him after a July 21, 1992 event, which would have been after Phillips' exit from WWE around March 1992.

John Doe 7 alleges they met Phillips in 1974 when they were around 14 or 15 years old. It is alleged that Phillips sexually abused them around and away from WWE events, including forced oral sex. Some of the abuse took place at hotel rooms in Baltimore, Maryland after they were given alcohol by Phillips. It is alleged that Phillips sometimes recorded the abuse with a video camera.

John Doe 8 claims they met Phillips when they were around 15 years old in 1982. It is alleged that Phillips sexually abused him and another underage ring boy at a hotel, during which Phillips placed the boys' "feet on his penis to compare sizes. Phillips was aroused." The boys were also allegedly offered cocaine and pills by Phillips.

Also within the lawsuit, the ring boys have outlined a number of instances where they interacted with or were in the presence of Vince or Linda McMahon.

WWE, TKO Group Holdings, Vince McMahon, and Linda McMahon filed motions to dismiss the original lawsuit in early April, claiming a lack of jurisdiction over them in Baltimore, Maryland and a failure to allege they had a duty of care to the plaintiffs. WWE also claimed the original lawsuit didn't establish the current version of the company was liable for what allegedly happened in the predecessor company.