Who is Linda McMahon, wife of WWE’s Vince McMahon – aka star of Netflix’s Mr. McMahon? She works for Donald Trump and twice ran for Senate and failed … she’s now accused of allowing boys to be groomed

Oct 30 , 2024

Who is Linda McMahon, wife of disgraced WWE ex-boss Vince McMahon? Photo: Getty Images

Five alleged victims have come forward claiming that WWE’s ringside announcer, Mel Phillips, used his ‘highly visible position’ to recruit young boys – and that the couple knew about it

World Wrestling Entertainment co-founders Vince McMahon and wife Linda are accused of knowingly allowing the grooming, exploitation and sexual abuse of young boys throughout the 1980s and 90s, according to a lawsuit filed on behalf of five alleged victims.

Linda and Vince McMahon in 2013. Photo: Getty Images

According to the suit, the former CEO of WWE and his wife were aware that the organisation’s prominent ringside announcer, Mel Phillips, used his “highly visible position” as a ring crew chief to hire boys as young as 12 to assist with errands in preparation for WWE’s wrestling shows.

They also knew that Phillips’ “real motivation” in hiring the boys “was to sexually assault them,” the 82-page complaint alleges.

In January, McMahon resigned from his roles at parent company TKO after a former WWE employee accused him of sexual misconduct. McMahon has vehemently denied the accusations.

Mr. McMahon, a six-part documentary series about WWE’s “record-breaking highs and crushing lows” under McMahon’s leadership, premiered on Netflix last month.

Here’s everything we know about Vince McMahon’s allegedly complicit wife, Linda.

Linda McMahon co-founded WWE and ran for Senate

Linda McMahon and her husband Vince McMahon co-founded WWE. The pair served as president and chairman respectively. Photo: Getty Images

Linda McMahon co-founded WWE in 1980 alongside her husband.

In 2009, she stepped down from her role as president and CEO of the company to pursue a seat in the United States Senate, for Connecticut, as a Republican. However, she lost to Democrat Richard Blumenthal in the 2010 election. McMahon was also the Republican nominee for Connecticut’s other Senate seat in the 2012 race, but was defeated by Democrat Chris Murphy. The two failed Senate races cost her US$100 million, per The New York Times.