Tag: wrestling trademarks

Chris Jericho abandons trademark for ‘The Jericho Vortex’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After submitting an application in 2024, Chris Jericho has abandoned his trademark filing for “The Jericho Vortex.”

The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a notice of abandonment regarding the trademark on October 21. The reason for the abandonment is that Jericho did not submit a statement of use or an extension request in the six-month period after the trademark was officially allowed.

Jericho was using “The Jericho Vortex” in a tongue-in-cheek way after fans had adopted the term as a way of saying his AEW opponents were worse off after facing him. Jericho did not believe that was true, saying those he worked with usually ended up in a better place than they were previously.

The trademark was to cover the following goods and services:

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

At the end of 2025, Jericho’s contract with AEW is slated to expire. There are rumors that he could be headed back to WWE, though Jericho has not closed the door on re-signing with AEW in the times he’s spoken about his contract status.

WWE files for ‘Showdown’ trademark after scrapping ‘Invasion’ name

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With WWE NXT having to rename its upcoming special with TNA Wrestling, a new trademark has been filed.

It was confirmed last night that the October 7 episode of NXT will no longer be named “Invasion.” The show will still have an NXT vs. TNA theme, but it will now be called “Showdown” instead. The episode will air live on The CW in NXT’s normal time slot.

WWE filed for the “Showdown” trademark on September 30, with it covering goods and services related to pro wrestling events:

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

An “Invasion” trademark had been filed by WWE on September 24, calling back to its WWF vs. WCW pay-per-view of the same name from 2001.

The reason for the change from “Invasion” to “Showdown” is likely due to WWE receiving criticism for planning to run an invasion-themed show on what would have been the two-year anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel.

On TV, TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella explained the change by saying that TNA was not invading NXT — the two sides have a good relationship and this is just a showcase of their rosters.

Here is the card for the event:

  • NXT vs. TNA Survivor Series-style men’s match: Team NXT (Ricky Saints, Trick Williams, Myles Borne & Je’Von Evans) vs. Team TNA (Mike Santana, Frankie Kazarian, Moose & Leon Slater)
  • NXT vs. TNA Survivor Series women’s match: Team NXT (Jacy Jayne, Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker & Lola Vice) vs. Team TNA (Kelani Jordan, The IInspiration & Mara Sade)
  • Title for title: NXT Tag Team Champions DarkState vs. TNA Tag Team Champions The Hardys
  • NXT North American Champion Ethan Page defends against Mustafa Ali

New WWE NXT wrestler name revealed after ‘PJ Vasa’ trademark filing

Posted on by Joseph Currier

We now know why WWE recently applied to trademark the term “PJ Vasa.”

On September 28, WWE made a trademark filing for “PJ Vasa” — which appeared to be the new name for an NXT talent. That’s now been confirmed with Performance Center recruit Penina Tuilaepa revealing that the moniker is for her. She posted a tweet about the new name and also updated her social media accounts to reflect the change.

“Happy Monday nosey mfs – PJ Vasa has entered the chat,” she wrote. “COME GET YO ISSUE #WWE #WWENXT”

Tuilaepa has a background in rugby and is of Samoan descent. She played rugby in college for Lindenwood University, along with playing for the Western Force in Australia.

Nicknamed “P Nasty,” Tuilaepa has been a cast member on both seasons of WWE LFG on A&E. She is currently a finalist on season two. Dani Sekelsky will be her opponent in the women’s finals.

The “PJ Vasa” trademark filing from WWE notes that it’s for goods and services related to pro wrestling performances:

Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered live and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment

AEW files for two bacon-related trademarks

Posted on by Joseph Currier

This week, AEW applied for two new bacon-related trademarks: “AEW Bacon Brawl” and “Bacon Brawl.”

The promotion filed for the trademarks on September 24, with the applications listing that they are for goods and services relating to cookware, merchandise, and food:

  • Non-electric cookware, namely, pots, pans, and dishes; Flatware being plates and saucers; Drinkware; Cups; Mugs; Utensils for barbecues, namely, forks, tongs, turners; Kitchen containers
  • Shirts; Pants; T-shirts; Sweatshirts; Shorts; Headwear; Footwear; Socks; Undergarments
  • Prepared meals consisting primarily of meat, fish, poultry or vegetables

While it hasn’t been confirmed what these new trademarks will be used for, the good and services provide an indication. They are the same as were listed in the “All Elite Feast” trademark filing that AEW made in July. That trademark ended up being for a new partnership between AEW and fast food restaurant White Castle. They launched an online-exclusive kit last month where customers could order an All Elite Feast meal and have it shipped to them.

That AEW-White Castle collaboration meal included 10 classic slider burgers, 10 cheddar bacon cheese sliders, pickles, desserts, coupons, and two exclusive pieces of AEW merchandise.

WWE files for new ‘Invasion’ trademark

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has made a new trademark filing that looks to be related to NXT’s TNA invasion storyline.

On September 24, WWE applied to trademark the term “Invasion.” The application states that the trademark is to cover goods and services related to pro wrestling performances:

Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered live and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment

Tuesday night’s NXT episode ended with an angle where — one week after voicing frustration with how NXT is treating them — TNA stars invaded NXT and brawled with the show’s roster. The episode was headlined by NXT Champion Oba Femi vs. TNA World Champion Trick Williams in a title vs. title match, which ended in a no contest due to the invasion.

Williams — an NXT star — has held the TNA World Championship since May. He has a title defense coming up against Mike Santana at TNA Bound for Glory on October 12. The story is that Santana has the chance to accomplish his goal of becoming World Champion along with bringing the title back home to TNA.

TNA is reported to be in discussions for a new TV deal with a WWE-associated network, with The CW and A&E both mentioned as options. The CW is also the broadcast home of NXT.

AEW files trademark for new faction name

Posted on by Joseph Currier

AEW has filed a trademark for “The Demand” — Ricochet & The Gates of Agony’s new faction name.

The newly named group was victorious at All Out this past weekend, defeating The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & MVP) in trios action. Records show that AEW made a filing on September 21 to secure the rights to “The Demand” trademark.

In the application, it’s stated that the trademark covers goods and services related to pro wrestling performances:

Conducting entertainment exhibitions in the nature of professional [wrestling] exhibitions and performances by professional wrestlers, namely, performances by a team of wrestlers during professional wrestling events; Entertainment services in the nature of live professional wrestling performances

At the post-All Out press conference, Ricochet said The Demand made a statement with their victory and now have their sights set on getting another Trios title shot. The Opps (Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs & Katusyori Shibata) retained the belts over Ricochet & The Gates of Agony this August after MVP Interfered and hit Ricochet with a cane.

The Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) are former ROH Trios Champions with Brian Cage prior to linking up with Ricochet in this new faction.

All Out marked the second straight PPV for Ricochet & The Gates of Agony, with them having defeated “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight & Michael Oku on the Forbidden Door 2025 pre-show.

New AEW trademark filing hints at potential upcoming special

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Ahead of the promotion’s upcoming residency at the former ECW Arena, AEW has filed for a new trademark that looks to be for an upcoming special.

AEW will begin a seven-show residency at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on August 27. The residency lasts through September 11 and includes three Dynamite episodes, three Collisions, and ROH’s Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view. It appears that at least one of the Dynamite or Collision episodes could be specially themed, with AEW recently applying to trademark the term “September to Remember.”

The filing was made on August 18 and is for goods and services related to a pro wrestling event:

Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services in the nature of live professional wrestling performances; Entertainment services in the nature of production of professional wrestling programs and events

The trademark filing is inspired by “November to Remember,” which was the name of one of ECW’s PPVs.

AEW’s Philadelphia residency begins with the post-Forbidden Door edition of Dynamite and is happening in advance of All Out 2025. The All Out PPV is being held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on September 20.

Tony Khan reveals idea behind AEW ‘Fairway to Hell’ trademark

Posted on by Joseph Currier

In a new interview, Tony Khan explained the idea behind an interesting trademark that AEW filed for last year.

AEW applied to trademark the term “Fairway to Hell” for merchandising and golf tournament purposes in June 2024. Nothing has come of the trademark yet, but Khan revealed on Barstool Sports’ My Mom’s Basement podcast that he’s had the idea of holding a golf tournament that could raise money for charity while also hopefully bringing new fans to both golf and wrestling.

The golf tournament would be called “Fairway to Heaven” — with a special “Fairway to Hell” edition of AEW Dynamite then taking place in the same region the next day.

“I had this amazing idea that I think the Barstool audience would love and I think golf fans would love. I really want to do something that I think would be for a great cause, and it’s a charity golf tournament and it would be great for wrestling and it would be great for wrestling fans,” Khan said. “Hopefully it could bring some new fans to golf and some new fans to wrestling, because I think there’s more of a crossover than people would realize between the sports.

“And I want to do a charity golf tournament — and this is a thing I’m breaking on My Mom’s Basement with the great Robbie Fox — I want to do a charity golf tournament called ‘Fairway to Heaven.’ And then have wrestlers and golfers and people participate for charity at Fairway to Heaven. Have the charity golf tournament on Tuesday and then do Dynamite in the same city or same location/region on Wednesday — ‘Fairway to Hell.’ Fairway to Heaven, Fairway to Hell, it would be great right? And I think it’d be awesome.”

It remains to be seen when or if the inaugural editions of Fairway to Heaven or Fairway to Hell will take place.

Khan’s full appearance on My Mom’s Basement is available to watch below: