McMahons file oppositions against plaintiffs’ anonymity in ‘ring boy’ lawsuit
Vince & Linda McMahon have filed oppositions against plaintiffs’ requests to keep their anonymity in the ongoing ring boy lawsuit.
According to Brandon Thurston of Post Wrestling, the McMahons are asking a federal judge to require the plaintiffs to litigate under their real names, arguing that the anonymity hurts their ability to defend themselves. The plaintiffs earlier this month had filed a motion to continue allowing them to use ‘John Doe’ pseudonyms.
In their arguments, lawyers for both Vince and Linda McMahon cited recent cases involving Sean Combs and Kevin Spacey where plaintiffs were required to use their names during proceedings, although those cases were in New York whereas the ring boy lawsuit is taking place in Maryland, which isn’t required to follow those precedents. The McMahon’s attorneys have also brought up the potential for limited confidentiality orders. The plaintiffs have until February 6 to respond to the oppositions.
The lawsuit against the McMahons, WWE, and TKO was filed back in October of 2024, accusing the McMahons of knowing and doing nothing to prevent Mel Phillips from sexually assaulting underage boys in the 80s and early 90s. The case was held up as the Maryland Supreme Court considered the legality of the law that allowed plaintiffs to sue. The case was allowed to continue when the court ruled in October that the law was constitutional.
Bryan Rose is an editor from California that has been covering professional wrestling for well over a decade. He officially joined F4WOnline as an editor in 2017.