Tag: trademarks

WWE star Cody Rhodes files trademark for ‘The Renaissance Era’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Cody Rhodes thinks WWE is in the midst of a renaissance.

While speaking with Fox News Digital this week, Rhodes said he really likes “The Renaissance Era” as the name for this time period in WWE. Rhodes likes the term so much that he filed a trademark for it. The filing was made on April 3 with Cody Runnels (Rhodes’ real name) listed as the owner.

The trademark relates to merchandise and is listed as being for:

Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Providing online interviews featuring a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality in the field of professional wrestling and sports entertainment for entertainment purposes

Rhodes told Fox News Digital that he likes the “Renaissance” term because of all the ways WWE is currently changing:

I’ve heard it coined as the Renaissance Era, and I really like that outlook on it. For me, as a wrestler, I’m most excited that we no longer have to stand in the shadow of the Attitude Era because of the last two years we’ve done better business than they ever did — and they did exceptional, unbelievable, amazing business. I’m only making comparisons on a black and white level, dollars and cents, in terms of what WWE’s been able to do over the last two years.

I mentioned Renaissance because of all the things we’re trying, the changing of the programming and also the characters. They now appeal differently. Every year has its signature thing. There was Hulkamania — eat your vitamins and say your prayers. There was the Attitude Era — the (Jerry) Springer-type crash TV.

Now, we have a more, reach-across-the-aisle and connect-to-the-audience-type relatable superstars. We still have larger than life, no doubt, but that’s all going into this very, like I said, Renaissance Era.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque also recently told Complex that he believes WWE is in another white-hot era like the Attitude Era right now.

Rhodes could usher in a new era for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship if he defeats Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 night two this Sunday.

The first night of WrestleMania 40 will see Rhodes and Reigns clash as well. Rhodes & Seth Rollins are taking on Reigns & The Rock in a tag team match.

Trademark filed for ‘WWE Speed’ concept

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After debuting last Friday, WWE has officially filed a trademark for its new “WWE Speed” concept.

Before SmackDown last week, two off-air matches with WWE Speed branding took place. The matches had five-minute time limits with a point system. Wrestlers gain one point with a victory, lose one point with a loss, and no points are awarded for time limit draws.

Bronson Reed vs. Nathan Frazer and Cedric Alexander vs. Axiom were the first two WWE Speed matches to take place. It appears that the matches were filmed, but no broadcast details have been announced for WWE Speed. It’s possible that this was a pilot for a potential new TV show or digital media series.

On Monday (December 18), WWE applied to trademark “WWE Speed” for the following purposes:

Entertainment services, namely, a show about professional wrestling; entertainment services, namely, the production and exhibition of professional wrestling events rendered through broadcast media including television and distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; providing wrestling news and information through broadcast media including television and distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment through broadcast media including television and distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information

Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick did commentary for last Friday’s WWE Speed matches.

Jack Perry files for ‘Jurassic Express,’ ‘A Boy and His Dinosaur’ trademarks

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Jack Perry has filed for more trademarks relating to his previous Jungle Boy gimmick.

On December 5, Perry applied to trademark “Jungle Boy.” He followed that up on December 11 by filing trademarks for “Jurassic Express” and “A Boy and His Dinosaur.” Jurassic Express was the name of an AEW faction with Perry & Luchasaurus. Marko Stunt was also a member at one point and Christian Cage was their mentor for a period of time.

A Boy and His Dinosaur was the name of Perry & Luchasaurus’ tag team dating back to their time on the indies.

The trademarks were filed through Perry’s Boy Myth Legend, Inc. Patent attorney Michael Dockins worked with Perry on the filings.

The trademarks are listed as being for:

Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Providing online interviews featuring a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality in the field of professional wrestling and sports entertainment for entertainment purposes

Perry has been away from AEW programming since his backstage incident with CM Punk at All In this August. Perry was suspended from AEW indefinitely following the incident. Punk, who has since returned to WWE, was terminated from AEW with cause.

At All In, Perry lost the FTW Championship to Hook.

Perry is one of the names that fans have speculated could be revealed as the Devil character who has targeted MJF in AEW, but AEW hasn’t disclosed who is behind the Devil mask.

AEW files trademark for ‘East West Express’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

AEW has applied for an interesting new trademark.

On Monday (November 27), AEW filed a trademark for “East West Express,” which is the name of Nick Wayne & Jordan Oliver’s tag team on the indies. Wayne has been signed to AEW since 2022 and made his debut for the company this July. Oliver has never wrestled for AEW.

The trademark is for “entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a group or individual professional wrestlers.”

Word Mark: EAST WEST EXPRESS

Goods and Services: IC 025. US 039 022. G & S: Bandanas; Beanies; Hats; Shirts; Sweatshirts; Tank tops; T-shirts

IC 041. US 107 100 101. G & S: Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a group or individual professional wrestlers; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a group or individual professional wrestlers; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer

Wayne & Oliver are former GCW Tag Team Champions. They held the titles together from March of this year until losing them in August.

Oliver formerly wrestled for MLW before being released by the promotion in October 2021.

In AEW, Wayne is part of The Patriarchy. The faction is led by Christian Cage and also includes Killswitch (Luchasaurus).

Oliver tweeted on Monday night:

Trademark filed for ‘AEW: Rise to the Top’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A new AEW-related trademark was filed earlier this week.

On June 26, AEW applied to trademark “AEW: Rise to the Top.” According to the filing, the trademark is related to a downloadable game.

The filing can be seen below:

Word Mark AEW: RISE TO THE TOP

Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Downloadable game software; Downloadable video game programs; Downloadable computer game software for use on mobile and cellular phones; Downloadable electronic game software for use on handheld computers and mobile gaming devices

AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports announced on June 20 that they’re partnering together for an AEW: Figure Fighters mobile game. It’s scheduled to be released in 2024. Following AEW Elite GM and AEW Casino, Figure Fighters will be AEW’s third mobile game.

AEW’s Fight Forever console game was released this week. Our Bryan Rose has a review of it.

Jeff Jarrett files trademark for term ‘heat’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Jeff Jarrett is attempting to get heat — both in the ring and in trademark form.

Jarrett applied to trademark the term “heat” on June 1. The filing was made with patent and trademark attorney Michael Dockins as the attorney of record.

The trademark filing can be seen below:

Word Mark HEAT

Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Providing online interviews featuring a professional wrestler and sports entertainer in the field of professional wrestling and sports entertainment for entertainment purposes

Jarrett currently works for AEW in multiple roles. He joined the company as its director of business development last November and also competes in the ring.

At Double or Nothing, Jarrett & Jay Lethal were unsuccessful in their attempt to win the AEW Tag Team titles from FTR. Jarrett and Lethal are part of a faction with Sonjay Dutt, Satnam Singh, and Karen Jarrett.

Jarrett joined AEW after departing his position as WWE’s senior vice president of live events last August.

Jarrett also co-hosts the “My World” podcast about his career alongside Conrad Thompson.

Mercedes Mone files trademark for ‘The CEO’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The former Sasha Banks has filed a trademark for one of her nicknames.

On January 11, Mercedes Mone (real name Mercedes Varnado) applied to trademark the term “The CEO.” The filing was made through Mone’s Soulnado company.

The full filing can be seen below:

THE CEO

Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainment personality; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Providing online interviews featuring a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality in the field of professional wrestling and sports entertainment for entertainment purposes

Mone was introduced as “The CEO Mercedes Mone” when she made her NJPW debut at Wrestle Kingdom 17 earlier this month. It was Mone’s first pro wrestling appearance since walking out of WWE last May.

Following Wrestle Kingdom, it was confirmed that Mone will challenge KAIRI for the IWGP Women’s Championship at NJPW Battle in the Valley on Saturday, February 18. The show is taking place in San Jose, California and will be available live as a Fite TV pay-per-view with English commentary.

It was announced last week that Mone will have a role in an upcoming action-thriller film titled “The Collective.” The movie has already wrapped filming.

MJF ‘Reign of Terror’ among new AEW, WWE trademark filings

Posted on by Josh Nason

In today’s pro wrestling scene, trademark filings are often as newsworthy as what happens in the ring as they can provide insight into what might be coming down the pike in the future.

Several WWE and AEW-related trademark filings in the last few days fit that bill including ones by MJF and Sasha Banks.

After uttering the phrase “reign of terror” during a segment on last Wednesday’s Dynamite, a representative for AEW World Champion MJF filed to trademark the term the following day for merchandise like hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts and bandanas.

On December 3rd, AEW filed a trademark for the commonly used hockey term “hat trick” as “intended to cover the categories of entertainment services in the nature of live wrestling performances, entertainment services in the nature of production of television shows and multimedia entertainment content featuring wrestling programs and events; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a group or individual wrestlers; Entertainment services, namely, production and distribution of ongoing television programs in the field of wrestling.”

On the WWE side of things, the company filed for “WWE Ring Leaders” on December 1st as relates to their Next-in-Line (NIL) program for college athlete recruitment.

Finally, while she hasn’t been seen on WWE TV since May, Sasha Banks filed to trademark her real name (Mercedes Varnado) on December 1st as relates to “live audio performances by an actor or musician and “wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer.”

Trademark notes: New WWE filings, Sasha Banks

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

Fightful reports that “Iron Survivor Challenge” is planned to be a “new match type that is slated for the NXT brand.” On tonight’s NXT, Shawn Michaels is making an announcement regarding December’s NXT Deadline special.

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– WWE has filed a trademark for what appears to be a new series.

On November 10, WWE applied to trademark “Iron Survivor Challenge.” The full trademark filing can be seen below:

Word Mark IRON SURVIVOR CHALLENGE

Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment services, namely, a show about professional wrestling; entertainment services, namely, the production and exhibition of professional wrestling events rendered through broadcast media including television and distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; providing wrestling news and information through broadcast media including television and distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment through broadcast media including television and distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information

– WWE also applied to trademark “Oba Femi” on November 10. That looks to be a new wrestler name, potentially one from NXT/the WWE Performance Center.

– A company named Soulnado Inc. filed for the following trademarks on November 10:

  • Mercedes Mone’
  • Mone’ Talks
  • Bank Mone’
  • Statement Maker

The filings state that they’re for:

Goods and Services IC 014. US 002 027 028 050. G & S: Jewelry; Jewelry and imitation jewelry; Pins being jewelry

IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S: Decals; Stickers; Posters made of paper; Stickers; Collectable printed trading cards; Collectible printed trading cards; Pictures in the nature of printed photographs; Printed post cards; Printed postcards; Printed posters

IC 021. US 002 013 023 029 030 033 040 050. G & S: Coffee mugs; Drinking glasses; Water bottles sold empty

IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: Hats; Leggings; Pants; Shirts; Socks; Bandanas; Sweatshirts; Hooded sweatshirts

IC 028. US 022 023 038 050. G & S: Action figure toys; Action figures; Action figures and accessories therefor; Toy action figures

IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment services in the nature of live audio performances by an actor or musician; Entertainment services in the nature of live visual and audio performances by an actor; Entertainment services in the nature of live visual and audio performances by an actor or musician; Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestler, actor, and musician; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler, actor, and musician; Entertainment services, namely, providing music tours in the nature of live musical performances; Entertainment services, namely, providing non-downloadable prerecorded music via a website; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestler, actor, and musician; Entertainment, namely, live music concerts; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Providing on-line music, not downloadable; Providing on-line videos featuring a professional wrestler, actor, and musician, not downloadable; Providing online music, not downloadable

Michael Dockins, a patent lawyer who works with pro wrestlers to file trademarks, was the attorney of record on all four of those filings. It’s speculated that the filings have something to do with Sasha Banks (Mercedes Varnado).

Banks teased last month that she has something “crazy” in the works. Banks said it’s something that she’s been waiting for, but she didn’t say if what she was talking about was related to wrestling or not.

It was announced today that Banks (billed under her real name) will be appearing at Comic Con Revolution in Ontario, California in May 2023. 

Cody Rhodes says he is able to use full name again

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Cody is now able to use the name he used in WWE, Cody Rhodes.

He cut a promo after tonight’s episode of Dynamite, saying he wasn’t able to cut a promo in front of the fans until this evening. He announced that he no longer had just one name, saying “It feels really good to be Cody Rhodes again.”

WWE, who owned the trademark, filed a cancellation notice (via HeelByNature) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on 11/2, effectively surrendering the Cody Rhodes trademark to Cody.

The name had expired in April. Cody immediately filed his own trademark for the name, but it was rejected in July.

Cody had recently dropped filings for two trademarks WWE opposed, “The Match Beyond” and “Slamboree”, last month.

Brandi Rhodes is able to use the last name as she went by the name Eden Stiles in WWE.

Cody competed in the main event of Dynamite tonight, teaming with Billy and Austin Gunn against The Dark Order’s Jon Silver, Colt Cabana, and 10, with Austin Gunn getting the win after hitting the quick draw.

Cody files for trademark on ‘Cody Rhodes’ name

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW/Lee South

Taking advantage of WWE allowing their trademark to lapse, Cody Runnels filed for a trademark on the “Cody Rhodes” name with the US Patent and Trademark Office on April 13th.

Fightful was the first to report the news.

WWE had owned the rights to the name since filing for it in June of 2007. Fightful noted WWE was notified in October 2018 that the mark was set to expire in a year, plus an additional six month grace period. WWE didn’t refile so Runnels made the move the first day he was able to.

When Runnels left WWE in 2016, he went by his real name and eventually just Cody in order to avoid any legal issues. He said last year that he could use the Cody Rhodes name, but chose not to. It’s unclear whether he will adopt the full name in AEW if he is successful in acquiring the trademark.

Runnels has been active with trademarks on certain terms or concepts that his father created or came up with. One example is AEW using the Bash At The Beach name earlier this year which WWE objected to despite Runnels owning the rights.

Runnels also owns trademarks like The American Dream, The American Nightmare, Dusty Rhodes, Battlebowl, Bunkhouse Stampede, The Prince of Wrestling, and The Match Beyond, all related to wrestling use.