AEW Applies For Major Expired WWE Trademark

AEW Applies For Major Expired WWE Trademark

Rewind the clock back a few years and Cody Rhodes was one of the brightest stars in WWE. He then became Stardust and the less said about that the better.

Following his WWE release, he started going by Cody, as WWE had trademarked the name Cody Rhodes, meaning Cody was unable to use it in NJPW, AEW or on the Indies.

However, that trademark has just expired, and Cody and AEW have now applied to get it back.

Cody has said in the past that he could use the Rhodes surname without an issue, but that he hasn’t wanted to. That didn’t stop him from applying for the trademark on the same day it expired, however.

Speaking in 2018, he said:

“I can use it, I won’t use it, though. This is not the romantic Game of Thrones answer everyone wants. The reason I don’t use it is because I got so used to being ‘”The American Nightmare” Cody’ in Japan. I love that. I love the idea of trying my damndest to get a single name over. I got the rub off Dusty and my family long enough. I don’t mind not using it. You’ll see it every now and then. Some people, they already know. By no means is WWE holding that name hostage. That is not a real thing. If I was to walk out tomorrow lower thirded as ‘Cody Rhodes,’ announced as ‘Cody Rhodes,’ nobody’s going to sue us. Nobody’s coming after us. There’s a lot of respect between the families that are involved here. I just like using my first name.”

It isn’t clear whether Cody has changed his mind and now wants to go by Cody Rhodes again, or whether he’s just stockpiling as many trademarks as possible in the hope WWE will trade him the Starrcade trademark for a few of those he has in the bank.

4 years ago by Andy Datson

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