Judge Allows WWE “Ring Boy” Plaintiffs to Remain Anonymous During Pre-Trial

A federal judge in Maryland, James K. Bredar, has ruled that the plaintiffs in the ongoing lawsuit tied to WWE’s ring boy scandal may proceed under “John Doe” pseudonyms for the pre-trial period, denying motion by Vince and Linda McMahon to unmask them. The protection applies only until trial and could be revisited later; the defendants are already aware of the plaintiffs’ identities and the court noted the potential harm public disclosure could cause.

The lawsuit, filed in 2024, names Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon, WWE and TKO as defendants and centers on allegations stemming from the 1980s–1990s ring boy scandal, including accusations against former ring announcer Mel Phillips and one claim against Pat Patterson, both now deceased. Eight plaintiffs argue that forcing them to reveal their identities would re-traumatize them by exposing abuse they have not disclosed to people in their lives, while WWE and TKO did not take a position on the anonymity issue.

Originally reported by Wrestling Observer: https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/judge-rules-against-mcmahons-allows-ring-boys-stay-anonymous/.