Horrifying abuse accusations dating back decades emerged in a Baltimore County Circuit Court filing this week; a lawsuit alleges ring announcer Mel Phillips sexually abused boys who worked for him throughout his time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
“These are now men that, when they are in their teens, enticed, lured, and groomed by a public-facing official with the WWE,” Greg Gutzler, an attorney representing plaintiffs labeled as John Does in the suit, told WMAR.
Gutzler says the ‘ring boys’ were sexually abused on a systemic basis, and no one stepped in.
“Each of our John Does, the plaintiffs here, were hurt in Baltimore or the greater Maryland area. So, we have some from Landover, from the Capital Centre. Most were from Baltimore, the Civic Center, and the Baltimore Arena, which it was known as,” Gutzler said.
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Phillips died in 2012; the lawsuit filed this week is directed at WWE, Vince and Linda McMahon, and TKO Group Holdings.