Judge Allows Ring Boy Abuse Lawsuit Against WWE, Vince & Linda McMahon to Move Forward

The federal lawsuit accusing WWE, Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon, and parent company TKO of enabling and ignoring the sexual abuse of underage ring boys is officially moving forward—with some adjustments.

In a ruling dated December 2025, U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar denied key parts of the defense’s motions to dismiss the case entirely. The court rejected claims of lack of jurisdiction and ruled that the case can proceed—although not without narrowing the scope.

According to court documents obtained by Brandon Thurston, the judge allowed claims to move forward against WWE, TKO, Vince McMahon, and Linda McMahon—while dismissing some allegations “without prejudice,” meaning they could potentially be refiled later. One plaintiff, John Doe 7, is no longer part of the case.

“Defendants World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC (‘WWE’) and TKO Group Holdings, Inc.’s Motion to Dismiss… is hereby GRANTED with respect to Plaintiff John Doe 7… and DENIED with respect to Plaintiffs John Does 1–6.”

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Vince McMahon’s motion to dismiss was also partially granted. The court ruled that John Doe 7’s claims against him were dismissed, while the rest continue:

“Vincent McMahon’s Motion… is hereby GRANTED with respect to Plaintiff John Doe 7… Vincent McMahon’s Motion… is hereby DENIED with respect to Plaintiffs Does 1–6.”

As for Linda McMahon, her motion was only partially successful. The judge allowed some claims to proceed against her:

“Linda McMahon’s Motion… is hereby GRANTED with respect to Plaintiffs John Does 1, 3–4, and 7… and DENIED with respect to Plaintiffs John Does 2 and 6.”

This means Linda McMahon remains a defendant—but only for two of the eight plaintiffs.

The lawsuit alleges that former WWF ring announcer Mel Phillips sexually abused multiple underage boys during the 1980s and early 1990s. Phillips was fired in 1992 after longstanding allegations surfaced. Former WWE executive Pat Patterson and wrestler Koko B. Ware were also named in the lawsuit. Patterson and Phillips are both deceased.

The defendants had asked the court to dismiss the case outright, citing lack of jurisdiction and claiming no legal duty was owed to the plaintiffs. But Judge Bredar rejected that in a detailed 48-page opinion, keeping the case alive—though he has not yet ruled on the merits of the abuse claims.

This lawsuit is running parallel to a growing list of legal problems for Vince McMahon, who stepped away from WWE earlier in 2024 amid a separate sex trafficking lawsuit.

The next step in the case could involve hearings on the actual abuse allegations. For now, WWE and its former top executives are still very much on the hook.

Should Vince McMahon and WWE be held accountable for abuse that happened decades ago under their watch? Share your thoughts and drop your feedback below.