WWE, Vince McMahon & Linda McMahon File Motions To Dismiss Ring Boys Lawsuit

WWE, TKO Group Holdings, Vince McMahon, and Linda McMahon have all filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit filed against them by five former WWE ring boys. The filings were made before the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland on Monday, April 7.

All defendants have claimed in their motions to dismiss that the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland does not hold jurisdiction over them as they do not reside in the area, nor does WWE or TKO have a business location in Baltimore County.

Vince McMahon's motion to dismiss also claims the lawsuit fails to state a claim against him and that only one of the five former ring boys in the lawsuit has met him.

WWE and TKO's motion claims that the lawsuit fails to show the companies are liable under successor liability as the allegations took place while WWE was the World Wrestling Federation. The motion also argues that the lawsuit fails to show a negligence claim.

Linda McMahon, who is currently the United States Secretary of Education, claims she didn't have any prior knowledge of the allegations despite the ring boy scandal being covered in the media since the 1990s. Linda also claims she never personally supervised Mel Phillips and didn't direct his activities. McMahon also states that to the best of her knowledge, she has never met or communicated with any of the ring boys in the lawsuit.

Five former WWE ring boys filed a lawsuit in October 2024 alleging 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.

H/T PWInsider