FBI Identified at Least 10 Ring Boys as Victims in WWE Abuse Case

A major legal battle involving WWE, TKO Group Holdings, Vince McMahon, and Linda McMahon just took a major step forward. On February 4, law firm DiCello Levitt announced that the child sex abuse lawsuit filed against WWE and its executives will proceed, following the Maryland Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Child Victims Act.

This ruling removes the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits involving child sexual abuse, meaning there is no longer a time limit preventing survivors from taking their cases to court. That decision is monumental for the lawsuit filed by five former Ring Boys—underaged workers for WWE (formerly WWF) in the 1980s and 1990s—who allege that WWE and its leadership allowed and enabled their abuse by former ring announcer and ring crew chief Mel Phillips.

DiCello Levitt Partner Greg Gutzler, who is leading the case, issued a strong statement following the court’s decision.

“The Maryland Supreme Court’s decision upholding the Maryland Child Victims Act, effectively eliminating any statute of limitations on child sex abuse lawsuits, is the right one, and we hope other states will follow Maryland’s lead,” Gutzler said. “Survivors of sexual assault, especially children, often do not come forward for years or even decades after the abuse occurred. This delayed disclosure happens for numerous reasons—shame, fear, or manipulation—and it has too often prevented survivors from ever seeking justice and getting accountability. It also has allowed perpetrators to continue hurting countless innocent people.”

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Gutzler didn’t mince words about the impact this case could have.

“My clients’ lives were destroyed by the defendants who allowed and enabled the open, rampant sexual abuse to occur for years,” he added. “The abuse inflicted on my clients was inexcusable; they were mere children and had the right to expect that WWE executives would take action to protect them from the predators working within WWE. We will bring light to their truth and fight for accountability and justice.”

The lawsuit, originally filed on October 23, 2024, alleges that Phillips groomed, exploited, and sexually abused the Ring Boys—many of whom came from broken homes. The abuse reportedly took place not only at wrestling venues but also in hotels and other locations where Phillips moved the boys around in plain sight. The suit claims that WWE executives knew about the systemic abuse and did nothing to stop it.

According to the FBI, at least 10 Ring Boys were identified as victims of Phillips, though attorneys believe the true number of survivors could be far greater. Since the lawsuit was filed, additional survivors have stepped forward.

With the Supreme Court’s ruling now clearing the way, this case is moving full speed ahead. WWE has yet to comment, but this legal battle is far from over.

What are your thoughts on this lawsuit and the Maryland Supreme Court’s ruling? Should other states follow Maryland’s lead in removing the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases? Share your thoughts in the comments.