WWE has faced many controversies over the years, some of which may have faded from the public eye. The “ring boy scandal” was recently revisited in the Mr. McMahon Netflix docuseries, bringing renewed attention to the topic. In fact Lee Cole, brother of Tom Cole, has shared what his brother told him on the day of his passing, adding a personal perspective to the tragic events.
WWE, Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon, and TKO Group Holdings, Inc. are facing new legal challenges due to a lawsuit filed on October 23. The lawsuit accuses them of negligence regarding their response to the sexual abuse of underage boys by former WWE employee Mel Phillips, in the “Ring Boy Scandal.”
In 1992, former WWE ring boy Tom Cole accused Mel Phillips and Terry Garvin of inappropriate sexual conduct involving him while he was still underage. In response, Vince McMahon initially dismissed Phillips but later reinstated him with a condition to avoid contact with minors.
Tom Cole, who tragically passed away by suicide in 2021, had also made claims against Pat Patterson, alleging inappropriate gestures, which eventually led to a legal settlement with WWE. Despite his passing, Tom’s brother, Lee Cole, is committed to bringing these allegations to light and uncovering the full story.
While speaking to Brandon Thurston and Josh Pollock of Wrestlenomics, Lee Cole shared details of his last conversation with his brother Tom on the day Tom passed away. Tom initially reached out to Lee by text, which Lee still has saved on his phone. Concerned, Lee called Tom, and the two spoke for nearly two hours.
During the conversation, Tom urged Lee to let people know what he had endured. Lee recalled replying that it felt like no one was listening anymore. However, Tom expressed confidence, telling Lee that if he kept speaking out, eventually, something would change. Lee admitted he never expected anything significant to actually happen.
“Well, the last day my brother was alive, I got texts too. I have them on my phone to show it. He sent me texts initially, and I got worried about him, so I called him. We ended up talking on the phone for two hours, and he told me, ‘Lee, let everybody know what these people did to me.“
“I remember responding to him in the text, ‘Tom, what more can we do? No one’s listening anymore.’ But Tom said to me, ‘Lee, I know you. If you keep it up, I know that something will happen.’ I never thought anything was going to happen.”
Vince McMahon’s attorney Jessica Rosenberg has already denied the claims brought forth in the lawsuit. With WWE, Vince McMahon, and TKO Group Holdings now entangled in a new lawsuit, it’s evident that many fans are hoping this will be the moment Tom Cole finally receives the justice he sought. The ongoing case has reignited interest in Cole’s story, as supporters continue to call for accountability and closure surrounding the allegations, so we’ll have to see how the case progresses.
Do you believe that Vince McMahon and the rest will be brought to justice after what happened to Tom Cole? Let us know in the comments section below!
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