Tag: Linda McMahon

Linda McMahon, a co-founder of Titan Sports, Inc. and a key architect in the global expansion of WWE, recently opened up about one of the most difficult periods in her and her husband Vince McMahon\’s life: the time they went into bankruptcy.

While many might assume their financial struggles were related to the inherent risks of the wrestling business, Linda clarified that the bankruptcy was the result of a failed outside investment. Her story provides a candid look at the challenges they faced in the early 1980s, just as they were beginning to transform WWE from a regional territory into a national powerhouse.

Speaking in a recent interview with Sage Steele, Linda McMahon was asked if she ever worried that their ambitious plans for WWE wouldn\’t work out. She explained that the company\’s financial ruin came from a different venture entirely.

“No, because we were building as we went. However, during that time, we did have an accountant who suggested that we were putting all of our eggs in one basket, and we should diversify a little bit. He made some suggestions that we should invest in a construction company. We knew absolutely nothing about it. We put money into some construction accounts, co-signed on some loans. That went belly up, which eventually put us into bankruptcy. It wasn’t the wrestling side of what we were doing, but it was the other side that we invested in, outside of what we were doing with wrestling. We lost everything. My house was auctioned off. My car was repossessed in the driveway. I was pregnant with Stephanie. I know what it’s like to lose everything.”

Linda McMahon later went on to have a successful career in public service, most notably serving as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019.

TKO, WWE, Vince McMahon, and Linda McMahon are formally moving to having the ring boy abuse lawsuit dismissed, claiming that they held no responsibility to protect the alleged victims. On Wednesday, June 11, attorneys representing the wrestling company and its former executives filed motions in Maryland federal court seeking to throw out the lawsuit. They argue that the defendants had no legal duty to the alleged victims.

The defendants argue they had no legal “duty of care” to protect the plaintiffs. WWE maintains that the ring crew were not employees, and even if they were, Phillips’ actions were not within the scope of his employment

\”Any alleged sexual abuse by Phillips in Maryland was plainly outside the scope of his employment, which means he was not acting as an agent of WWF (or TKO or WWE) at the time of the events.\”

The lawsuit was filed by eight anonymous former WWF ring crew members who allege they were sexually abused in the 1980s by former WWF ring announcer Mel Phillips and, in one instance, by former executive Pat Patterson. Both Phillips and Patterson are deceased and are not named as defendants.

Plaintiffs have until July 28 to respond to the dismissal motions, and the defense may file replies by August 27. A court hearing could follow, where both sides would present arguments directly to the judge.

This case is separate to Janel Grant\’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, which resulted in his second departure from WWE in January 2024. McMahon has claimed that his relationship with Grant was wholly consensual. Today, Linda serves as the Secretary of Education under Donald Trump, a role that has sparked backlash given her lack of any background in education.

The latest Saturday Night Live (SNL) Weekend Update took aim at Linda McMahon’s WWE past in a new skit.

For years, McMahon served as CEO of WWE, working alongside her husband, Vince McMahon, the company\’s founder. During WWE’s Attitude Era, Linda was featured in several storylines as the McMahon family—Vince, Stephanie, and Shane—became prominent on-screen figures.

One notable storyline from 2003 saw her attacked by Kane to build up a feud between Kane and Shane McMahon. This angle was recently referenced on Weekend Update.

During the segment, Colin Jost used McMahon’s WWE history to joke about her role in dismantling the Department of Education. The punchline, “Maybe as high as 69,” was delivered alongside an image of Kane performing a Tombstone Piledriver on her.

While the skit acknowledged Linda McMahon’s WWE tenure, it did not mention that Kane’s portrayer, Glenn Jacobs, is now the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.

Jost and his Weekend Update co-host, Michael Che, are no strangers to WWE. The duo competed in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 35 in 2019, adding to the long history of celebrity involvement at WrestleMania.

A panel discussion at The City College of New York will analyze Linda McMahon\’s nomination for Education Secretary following her advancement by the Senate HELP Committee. The committee approved her nomination in a 12-11 party-line vote on February 20, 2025, sending it to the full Senate for final consideration.

\”Understanding Linda McMahon: Secretary of Education in an age of TrumpMania\” will examine McMahon\’s proposed policies, including her support for reducing federal education oversight and emphasizing state control.

The event features Staten Island Technical High School Principal Mark Erlenwein, The City Tutors Executive Director Garri Rivkin, and journalist Brian R. Solomon, with S Jay Levy Fellowship Managing Director Lavie Margolin moderating.

The free forum takes place Tuesday, March 11, 3:30-4:45pm EDT in Shepard Hall (Room SH-350) at City College, 160 Convent Avenue. Registration is available through Eventbrite. Panelists will explore McMahon\’s background as WWE co-founder and her vision for federal education policy, as her nomination currently awaits Senate consideration.

The lawsuit brought against WWE, TKO and others by former \’ring boys\’ has been put on pause due to an upcoming ruling by the Maryland Supreme Court. Federal Judge James K. Bredar ruled to stay proceedings until the Supreme Court rules on whether the state\’s Child Victims Act is constitutional.

The CVA, which was first introduced in 2023, removes the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits involving child sexual abuse, even in cases of negligence. The law is crucial to the case brought forward, as they alleged abuse took place decades ago.

The lawsuit was filed in October and alleges that former WWE employee Mel Phillips sexually abused the five plaintiffs, anonymized as John Doe 1 through 5, while they worked as ring boys in the 1980s. It also claims that WWE, Vince, and Linda McMahon failed to act despite being aware of Phillips\’ conduct. Phillips passed away in 2012.

Vince McMahon\’s attorney Jessica T. Rosenberg, also representing McMahon in the Janel Grant lawsuit, has described the case as full of claims that are \”untrue and unfounded.\” Linda McMahon\’s lawyer Laura Brevetti has described the lawsuit as “filled with scurrilous lies, exaggerations, and misrepresentations.”

The Maryland Supreme Court\’s ruling on whether the CVA is constitutional or not is expected by August 2025. If passed, it will allow this case and others like this one to move forward, regardless of how much time has passed since the alleged abuse. This is an ongoing case and we seek to bring updates in due time.

Linda McMahon has issued her first statement since being named the next US Secretary of Education by President-elect Donald Trump.

The former WWE CEO took to Twitter to repost the statement from President Trump, and wrote that she is looking forward to working with students and educators to strengthen the US education system:

\”I look forward to working collaboratively with students – educators – parents and communities to strengthen our educational system; ensuring every child regardless of their demographics is prepared for a bright future.\”

Linda\’s daughter and former WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon was the first member of their family who congratulated the female politician on her new role:

• Watch: Triple H Meets Up With President-Elect Donald Trump At UFC 309

Linda McMahon\’s Political Career

Linda McMahon previously served as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration between 2017 and 2019, during Trump\’s first term.

She played a crucial role in getting the Businessman-politician re-elected. McMahon was one of the top donors of the 2024 Republican campaign and she was also named the co-chair of Trump\’s 2024 transition team.

There has been a lot of chatter about how Linda\’s appointment and Trump\’s re-election will affect the ongoing federal investigation against former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon over sexual trafficking charges.

Though Linda\’s attorney has claimed that she is separated from the billionaire wrestling promoter and our analysis suggests that Trump will not be able to pardon all of Vince\’s legal woes away.

• Wrestling and Politics: How Donald Trump Brought WWE to Elections and the White House

Former WWE heads Vince and Linda McMahon are separated, according to an attorney for the latter who spoke this week. In a statement to the Washington Post, Linda’s attorney, Laura Brevetti stated that the 76-year-old and Vince are separated.

This news comes amid reports that President-Elect Trump will nominate McMahon as Education Secretary in his next administration. Linda served as Trump’s Small Business Administration chief from 2017 to 2019 and has remained supportive of his initiatives, including his attempts to overturn the 2020 Presidential Election. McMahon served on Connecticut\’s Board of Education from 2009-2010 but has no history in teaching.

Much was made of the relationship of Vince and Linda following the 2022 \’hush money\’ scandal that saw Vince step away from WWE in June of that year. While McMahon was able to force his way back into WWE in January 2023, he stepped down in January 2024 due to Janel Grant\’s lawsuit. McMahon was tight-lipped during the recent Mr. McMahon docuseries by Netflix which explored some of Vince and WWE\’s past controversies.

The Ring Boy Lawsuit

The McMahons, alongside WWE and TKO, are facing another lawsuit regarding the \’Ring Boy\’ scandal, which alleges that underage boys were groomed, exploited, and abused by Mel Phillips at wrestling events and other locations. In a statement, Brevetti said the following about her client\’s ties to the suit.

\”This lawsuit based upon thirty-plus-year-old allegations is filled with scurrilous lies, exaggerations, and misrepresentations.\”

Linda and Vince married in 1966 when she was 17 and he was 21. The pair have two children, both of whom are married, and six grandchildren. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Linda McMahon.

A new lawsuit has been filed against WWE, TKO, and Vince & Linda McMahon, alleging that the McMahons were well aware of the infamous \’Ring Boy Scandal\’ of the early 1990s. The lawsuit has been brought on by five individuals who, according to the suit, feel empowered to come forward in the wake of regime changes in WWE and McMahon\’s exit from the wrestling promotion earlier this year.

 In a statement to Brandon Thurston on Fightful Select, Rosenberg said:

“More than 30 years ago, the columnist Phil Mushnick tried to make headlines with these same false claims. Those allegations were never proven and ultimately became the subject of a defamation lawsuit against Mr. Mushnick. The negligence claims against Mr. McMahon that were asserted today rely on these same absurd, defamatory and utterly meritless statements by Mr. Mushnick. We will vigorously defend Mr. McMahon and are confident the court will find that these claims are untrue and unfounded.”

The Ring Boy Scandal came to light in 1992 when allegations against Mel Phillips, Terry Garvin, and Pat Patterson led to their firings from WWE. While Garvin and Phillips were permanently removed, Patterson was later rehired and remained with the company until his death in 2020.

The lawsuit alleges that Phillips exploited and sexually abused underage boys who had been underage boys who had been hired to perform tasks at WWE events. The abuse allegedly occurred in various locations, including wrestling venues and hotel rooms, where Phillips would transport the boys under the pretense of work-related errands. This is an ongoing situation and we aim to provide updates as and when they become publicly available.  

WWE has a long history of controversies, many of which have received a spotlight this year thanks to Netflix\’s Mr. McMahon docuseries. Now, a new lawsuit has been filed against both Vince and Linda McMahon over the Ring Boy scandal of the early 1990s.

Law firms DiCello Levitt and Murphy, Falcon & Murphy have initiated a lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Vincent K. McMahon, Linda McMahon, and TKO Group Holdings, Inc. The lawsuit is being brought on behalf of five survivors of sexual abuse, identified as John Does 1-5, who allege they were subjected to systemic abuse while working as “Ring Boys” for WWE during their youth.

The lawsuit centers on allegations against WWE’s former ringside announcer and ring crew chief, Melvin Phillips Jr. According to the plaintiffs, Phillips exploited and sexually abused underage boys who had been hired to perform tasks during WWE events. The abuse allegedly occurred in various locations, including wrestling venues and hotel rooms, where Phillips would transport the boys under the pretense of work-related errands. The lawsuit claims that WWE management, including Vince McMahon and Linda McMahon, were aware of this abuse but took no action to stop it.

The survivors, now adults, have only recently become aware of how much WWE executives, including the McMahons, knew of the abuse, the lawsuit states. The filing suggests that recent corporate changes, including the WWE’s acquisition by TKO Group Holdings and Vince McMahon’s departure as CEO, have empowered these survivors to come forward without fear of retaliation. Additionally, changes in sex abuse laws, particularly in Maryland, have paved the way for this legal action.

Greg Gutzler, a partner at DiCello Levitt and lead attorney for the plaintiffs, stated:

“Thanks to the bravery of our clients, we now have a chance to hold accountable those who allowed and enabled the rampant sexual abuse of these young boys. That so many knew about the abuse and did nothing to prevent or stop it is simply unconscionable.”

Mark DiCello, founding partner of DiCello Levitt, emphasized the significance of this case, stating:

“The WWE and McMahon had a responsibility to these underaged boys, and they failed them in the worst way possible. We will vigorously fight to uncover the truth about this systemic, insidious, and life-altering abuse. We commend our clients for their bravery in coming forward and promise to relentlessly seek justice for them.”

Professor Marci Hamilton, founder and CEO of CHILD USA, a nonprofit advocating for children’s rights, praised the survivors for coming forward:

\”These survivors are profiles in courage. One-third of child sex abuse victims never come forward, silenced by shame, humiliation, and trauma.\”

Hamilton stressed on the importance of statute of limitations reform, pointing out that “due to the Maryland window we fought for, these brave survivors can now seek justice.”

DiCello Levitt has a history of representing survivors in high-profile abuse cases, including the civil suit against disgraced fashion mogul Peter Nygard. This is a developing story and we seek to provide updates as and when they are available.

Netflix\’s Mr. McMahon docuseries was released last month and has given viewers an in-depth look into Vince McMahon, even if the six-part series is light on new information. In addition to Vince, several members of the McMahon family were interviewed, but Linda was reluctant to share according to the show\’s consulting producer.

Speaking to the SI Media Podcast, David Shoemaker was asked if Vince McMahon was forthcoming with information and shared how Linda was reluctant to speak.

\”You asked about Vince not giving you anything, Linda was not the most forthcoming person in that interview either. I think I was there for that one, I don’t even remember if there was more good stuff on the cutting room floor. I certainly wish we could have gotten more details about that from her. It’s a very business relationship, I would say.”

It\’s hardly a surprise that Linda, who remains a name in politics, was hardly eager to talk about WWE\’s past controversies, many of which occurred under her watch as CEO. Similarly, Linda would be understandably reluctant to speak on her husband\’s infidelity and alleged trafficking of Janel Grant, the topic for Mr. McMahon\’s sixth and final episode.

Linda McMahon hasn\’t appeared for WWE in years but her name remains known to countless wrestling fans around the world. While the former CEO of WWE would have endless stories about the company, fans may never hear about the seedier side of wrestling from the 75-year-old.