‘Ring Boy’ Lawsuit Plantiffs File Motion Asking To Keep Using Pseudonyms

The plaintiffs in the “ring boys” lawsuit against WWE and Vince & Linda McMahon have filed a motion asking to keep using their “John Doe” names in the suit. As previously reported, several former ring boys filed a lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon, and Linda McMahon in October 2024. The lawsuit alleged that Mel Phillips and Terry Garvin sexually abused them during their time working for the company in the the 1980s and 1990s, and that Vince and Linda McMahon were aware of the abuse but did nothing to stop it.

The lawsuit has been moving forward in the months that have followed, and Brendon Thurston of POST Wrestling reports that the plaintiffs filed a motion last week asking to continue using the pseudonyms of “John Doe.”

According to the motion, the plaintiffs say that the two McMahons are opposing the notion of keeping the plaintiffs anonymous. They state that WWE and TKO take no position on the matter. The plaintiffs’ motion reads:

“Despite already knowing the identities of the Plaintiffs, none of the Defendants agreed to permit the traumatized men to proceed anonymously.”

The judge in the case previously allowed the plaintiffs to move forward in anonymity, saying he would revisit the matter after ruling on motions to dismiss. The motion notes:

“Defendants Vincent K. McMahon and Linda McMahon now oppose Plaintiffs’ desire to continue proceeding under pseudonyms, necessitating this motion. Defendants World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC (‘WWE’) and TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (‘TKO’) informed Plaintiffs that they take no position at this time.”

Court rules state that the defendants may file their opposition or response to the motion by around January 26th, with the plaintiffs’ reply due two weeks after that. The judge will decide the issue afterward.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs argue that there is “significant risk of subjecting Plaintiffs to re-traumatization if they are forced to publicly reveal their identities, making them permanently available on the Internet.”

The defendants could potentially argue if they decide to oppose the motion that the use of pseudonyms will harm discovery, contending that the plaintiffs’ names staying private could prevent potential witnesses from coming forward.