AEW star Jon Moxley competed as Dean Ambrose for WWE between 2011 to 2019 and became one of their biggest stars. Despite an offer of a new contract, he opted to let his current deal expire due to his unhappiness with WWE’s creative, explicitly calling out Vince McMahon for giving him what he considered to be low-quality promo material. As the name Dean Amrose was WWE’s intellectual property, he could no longer go by that name and instead reverted to using what he was known by on the independents.
Despite initially opting to let their trademark on “Dean Ambrose” expire on August 28, 2020, WWE reconsidered and filed for it again on October 8, 2020 application under “entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler.” Now though, it’s been revealed that WWE is having issues getting the trademark application approved due to not having the written consent of Moxley. WWE currently has six months to get his written content, or their trademark application will be abandoned.
It isn’t known why WWE has filed this new application, but it’s potentially to ensure Moxley doesn’t register it himself. Alternatively, it could be to ensure they protect The Shield’s legacy. Trademarks have been a fundamental part of the wrestling industry for some time but have become even more important since AEW launched. It was only recently that Cody Rhodes got his name back after seemingly agreeing to give up former WCW names he registered in exchange. Also, Ryback is currently in dispute with WWE after they renewed what he considers to be his name years after he departed the company.
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