WWE Disputes TNA Trademark Despite Recent Partnership

WWE has continued its opposition to a TNA trademark filing.

In January 2023 at Hard to Kill, Anthony Carelli made his return to TNA as the onscreen ‘Director of Authority’. In this role, he has been using the ring name he formerly used in WWE, Santino Marella. Ahead of the star’s return, TNA’s parent company, Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions, filed to trademark the name in December 2022 after it was allowed to lapse.

However, according to PWInsider the sports entertainment giant has now requested a 90-day extension to oppose the registration, which the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted. The company has made the move in order to maintain control of its intellectual property.

Despite the ongoing dispute, the two companies are continuing their successful partnership which has seen NXT and TNA stars appearing on one another’s TV shows. Recent Impact tapings even included a reunion between Marella and his daughter, NXT’s Arianna Grace.

WWE Sends Bryan Danielson Legal Letter Over Trademark

The dispute with TNA isn’t the only time in recent history that WWE has disputed a trademark. Bryan Danielson has revealed that WWE sent him a legal letter when he decided to trademark his “Yes!” catchphrase, a chant that has been synonymous wit the star since he launched the ‘Yes! Movement’ in 2013.

The AEW World Champion admitted that he saw the move as being “really weird” as the trademark had been available and he had no intention of using it to “try to sell anybody anything.”