The legal war over the infamous ring boy scandal just escalated. Eight men suing WWE, TKO Group, and Vince and Linda McMahon have now fired off their formal opposition to the defendants efforts to dismiss the lawsuitarguing the abuse they suffered has direct ties to Maryland and that the wrestling empire failed to protect them.
According to latest filing via Post Wrestling on July 22 in Maryland federal court and lays out why the plaintiffs believe the case must stay in-state. These menwhose names remain sealed to the public but are known to the defenseclaim they were groomed and sexually assaulted by longtime WWE employee Mel Phillips. One of the plaintiffs also alleges abuse by legendary senior official Pat Patterson. Both men are now deceased.
While WWE, TKO, and the McMahons want the case tossed on jurisdictional grounds, the plaintiffs push back hard by citing WWEs consistent footprint in Maryland. Their legal team detailed the companys long-standing presence in the state, which included hundreds of live shows and nearly 100 episodes of Tuesday Night Titans taped in the Baltimore suburb of Owings Mills between 1984 and 1986.
The defenses claim that the plaintiffs were never formal employees is also under fire. WWE says it had no duty to protect them because they were technically working for Phillips and not the company. But the plaintiffs attorneys paint a different picture:
They also allege WWE and the McMahons were aware of Phillips misconduct as far back as the 1970s. Though he was let go in 1988, the filing states he was later brought back to worka move that allegedly further endangered minors under WWEs watch.
Another wrinkle in the legal fight comes from TKO, WWEs parent company. TKO argues it cant be sued for events that happened long before it existed. The plaintiffs responded by invoking successor liability, pointing out that TKO inherited WWEs legal baggage during the 2023 merger. They even used Linda McMahons own legal filing against her:
If the judge agrees with TKOs position, the entity could be removed from the lawsuitbut the case would still continue against WWE and the McMahons.
The plaintiffs are also asking for a chance to amend their complaint or request limited discovery if the court grants any of the defendants motions. For now, the next big deadline is August 27, when the defense must file its reply brief. A hearing could follow, where both sides would argue their positions in person.
This lawsuit reopens some of the darkest pages in WWE history while putting Marylands powerful new Child Victims Act to the testa law passed in 2023 that eliminates time limits for filing child sexual abuse claims. If the judge allows the case to move forward, the next stop will be discoverywhere the spotlight could turn to what WWE leadership knew, and when they knew it.
What do you think about this major legal development and WWEs ongoing responsibility in historical abuse claims? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
