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The real Tony Modra is not pleased with WWE using his name for NXT wrestler Brendan Vink.
Vink announced on social media, his new in-ring name is now Tony Modra, leading many to believe it’s an ode to the Australian football icon.
Welcome Tony Modra to@wwe / @wwenxt #WWE #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/aTQjDEQf6U
— Duke Hudson (@sixftfiiiiive) October 26, 2020
In an interview with News Corp, the real Tony Modra revealed he had people texting him about the WWE wrestler using his name.
“I’ve got no idea who he is,” Modra told News Corp. “He claims to be an Adelaide fan but it’s a bit disappointing, a bit disrespectful.”
Modra says his son is a fan of WWE, but was surprised a wrestler who he wasn’t familiar with was using his father’s name.
“My lad loves WWE and I see a lot of that stuff but he’s even asking why some wrestler he’s never heard of before wants to change his name to his dad’s.” Modra stated. “I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know you had to copyright your own bloody name.”
He said he doesn’t have a personal grudge against Vink, but would have appreciated asking him for prior permission.
“If he was doing it for charity or something – I do a lot of stuff for Little Heroes Foundation – I wouldn’t mind, but it seems like personal gain.”
Last week, WWE filed a trademark for the name Tony Modra, for use as a professional wrestler.