WWE Owns Trademarks For Multiple Released Talent
WWE released a number of talent Thursday, one year after ‘Black Wednesday’, when dozens of talents and employees were let go amid the ongoing pandemic.
Following their release, talent will be subject to a 90-day non-compete clause, and will be able to sign with another company in mid-July.
WWE has active trademarks on a number of talent who were released, but doesn’t own the name of one of the top stars who were let go from the company.
Released WWE Talent Trademark Status
Samoa Joe: Seanoa, Nuufolau Joel (Samoa Joe’s real name) owns trademarks for his in-ring name under a number of different classifications. He will be able to use the name in the future.
Bo Dallas: WWE filed a trademark for his name in February 2019. The filing has yet to be registered and will be abandoned on June 1, 2021 if they cannot provide written consent from Taylor Rotunda (Bo Dallas real name). Dallas can register the name on his own if he wishes to continue to use it.
Chelsea Green: WWE filed a trademark for her name on September 24, 2020. The filing has yet to be registered and will be abandoned on August 16, 2021 if they cannot provide written consent from Chelsea Green. She can register the name on her own to use. WWE’s will likely be abandoned for not supplying a record of consent.
Mickie James: WWE originally owned the trademark for her name until 2010. They transferred ownership back to James on July 30, 2010, but then applied for a new trademark in 2017. WWE currently holds ownership of the name, but may once again transfer it back to her.
Kalisto: WWE owns the name, registered on August 22, 2017.
Tucker: WWE owns the name ‘Tucker Knight’, which was registered on June 9, 2020. Based on his Twitter handle, he is using his real name Levi Cooper moving forward.
Peyton Royce: WWE owns the name, registered on October 8, 2019.
Billie Kay: WWE owns the name, registered on October 8, 2019.
Mojo Rawley: WWE filed an application to trademark the name in January 2020 but was faced with issues due to a lack of written consent. The USPTO issued a notice to WWE on October 23, 2020, seeking written consent from Dean Muhtadi (Mojo Rawley’s real name). WWE has until April 23, 2021, to submit the consent, or be subject to losing the trademark. He can register the name on his own to use it if WWE’s is denied and abandoned.
Following last year’s releases, WWE transferred ownership of trademarks for Karl Anderson and Lio Rush, which are names those wrestlers used prior to joining WWE.
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