AEW Allows Wrestlers To Keep Their Names, Unlike WWE

[@lukkaworldwide]

Most of the time it's for the better though. Imagine Shawn Michaels being called Michael Hickenbottom 😂😂😂

[@2dogsmowing]

I just found out what his last name was just the other day. Lol

[@AnthonyAnalog]

The Heartbreak Kid, Hickenbottom 😂

[@kenrickkahn]

Bruh!!! 😂😂😂😂😂​@@AnthonyAnalog

[@kenrickkahn]

But A name like Bill Goldberg has a badass ring to it.. To see if your name sings superstar.. Just say it out loud and see how people respond..

[@AnthonyAnalog]

@@kenrickkahn Bill Goldberg is not a badass name whatsoever 🤣🤣🤣 we just associate how jacked Goldberg was with his name lol.

[@Web4Brainz]

Cody said in 2018 that he is able to go by Cody Rhodes, but he just preferred Cody at the time

[@itsshayansm]

This is not true, Cody had to trade over the rights to Bash at the Beach to WWE in exchange for his last name. That happened I believe in either late 2019 or early 2020.

[@marvinb5100]

​@itsshayansm your not true also Brandi has rhodes trademarked that's why aewcsais cody and Brandi rhodes

[@itsshayansm]

@@marvinb5100 Brandi Rhodes had the name Brandi Rhodes trademarked, but that does not mean that Cody had his last name trademarked, and he didn't. It takes a quick Google search to figure out that WWE dropped the Rhodes trademark to Cody in late 2020, who in turn decided to drop the Bash at the Beach trademark back to WWE, which is why AEW now uses Beach Break instead.

[@Hsw_wrestling]

@@itsshayansmBrandi didn’t have to trademark her name because where she was ring announcer for WWE she used the name “Eden”

[@kennethcampbell7263]

He has the right to go by both Runnels, as it is his birth name, but because his father went by Rhodes he has that right because WWE already accepted and Branded him second Generation Rhodes.

[@2ndstorywindow993]

I'm sure I'm forgetting alot more but Samoa Joe, Tonga Loa, Tama Tonga, Jacob Fatu, Shinsuke Nakamura, Karl Anderson, Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer say otherwise

[@xavanium]

Ethan Page.

[@itsshayansm]

Every single one of those wrestlers used those names before coming into WWE. WWE did not have the right to copyright them because they did not own them, the reason they kept their names is because they were already big under those names on the indies. Nice try though, maybe next time do some more research.

[@kingsofwrestlingpicfed]

​@@itsshayansm thats the point of this comment. wwe is allowing them to use their name from before wwe

[@itsshayansm]

​@@kingsofwrestlingpicfed you're getting fooled. They are not LETTING them use anything, they are allowing them to use their names because they have made names for themselves outside of WWE and now they want to take advantage of that for their own benefit. There are less than 10 people in the company who are using their own name, there are more than 150 who arent.

[@kingsofwrestlingpicfed]

@@itsshayansm you realize i used the word allowed not let correct?

[@balamohammed5947]

Technically, Vince does that. the wwe, particularly Nxt, allowed a lot of Indy guys to use their already forged ring names

[@jimmyju76]

This has been a thing in all promotions, not just wwe

[@fscorpion678]

"Lexus King"

[@balamohammed5947]

@fscorpion678 he chose to change his name just like bron breaker

[@HondaRR929]

All empty werstling also can’t draw people to a dynamite show/collision/rampage taping but they let wrestlers keep their names lol 2500 people showed up for dynamite on October 23 2024 #AllEmptyWrestlingWhereTheOkayToGoodWrestleInFrontOf2500People😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@KoolKeithProductions]

​@balamohammed5947 "Bianca Belair" is literally the best name change WWE ever made. Instead of changing her name to something random like Brandy Box, they simply looked at her actual name Bianca Blair, and said "let's just add an E between the B and the L. BOOM, new trademarked name" 😂

[@elchomper.1063]

Half of NXT is just AEW guys in they're now trademarked name. Shawn spears a former WWE guy stuck with his chairman gimmick

[@P3TER_Official23]

Half of NXT? Ethan Page, Shawn Spears... I don't know anyone else in NXT from AEW Even if you look at the full roster, Jade Cargill, Bea Priestley/Blair Davenport, bus she doesn't count because her name was changed, so it's still only 3

[@P3TER_Official23]

The Lucha Bros (Rey Fenix & Penta) will come but not for a while, because Tony Khan was petty and extended their contracts

[@nateatagootak5270]

A lot of AEW guys are from WWE. Do what’s the difference?

[@ItsDainsleifDuh]

​@@P3TER_Official23 Lexis King, Dragon Lee (before being called into main roster)

[@gamedude8189]

Now spears, all ego are back in nxt

[@jasoncoward-aintscared]

What would have been hilarious is if WWE could have trademarked "Superstar." Adam Copeland "The Rated R Super Talented and Popular Fella" has a fantastic ring.

[@kenrickkahn]

On this one I would not had a problem with those names.. 😂I would have popped for it..

[@xcrowsgardenx]

It's actually very smart... Look at AEW a year ago annoying AF Adam Copeland Adam Cole Adam Page Ethan Page Christian Cage Brian Cage Bryan Danielson Bryan Kieth Keith Lee Lee Moriarty Brodie Lee Brody King Eddie Kingston I think i might be able to do this all day! 😅😅😅 WWE is smart for avoiding this issues haha

[@redhoodmashups5045]

I got a question, what if Brian Cage joined the Patriarchy and become Christian Cage’s son? Would newer viewers actually think that Brian is Christian’s son?

[@jameschristian4747]

Sometimes watching AEW on KZbin a commentator would refer to a Cage or Page & confuse the Hell out of me. I'd have to rewind to figure out which 1 they were referring to.

[@jimmyju76]

imagine if Michael Hickenbottom kept his name 😅😅

[@kenrickkahn]

Especially with all the rumors surrounding him and Vince's relationship.. 😂

[@mrsnoopaloop5035]

I think a name change is fine when the name being changed isn't a well known household name. Mark Callaway didn't start off as The Undertaker, Terry Bollea didn't start off as Hulk Hogan

[@jimmyju76]

Heart Break Kid Michael Hickenbottom 😅

[@redhoodmashups5045]

Cody Rhodes didn’t start off as Stardust

[@mrsnoopaloop5035]

@redhoodmashups5045 if it wasn't for stardust we may never have gotten the Cody Rhodes you see today 🤷‍♂️

[@markbailly8627]

@@mrsnoopaloop5035 Sterling Golden, Terry Boulder aka Hulk Hogan.

[@SkellyDrAgOn]

That was when Vince McMahon was in charge.

[@Hsw_wrestling]

This is a thing of the past because the majority of the talent that his been hired under Triple H has been able to use their original name.

[@Projectbadazz27]

WWE has been doing that recently. They’ve been allowing people keep their ring names

[@prestonwilliams2783]

It makes sense they let aj styles keep his name considering he practically single handed built tna to what is was and was one of the most known wrestlers ever at the time and still is and did almost everything u can do in the business

[@515Kanniu]

WWE does allow wrestlers to keep their names when they go to different promotions. The made the change earlier this year, pretty much why you see Ricochet using his WWE name in AEW

[@wintertrooper7918]

I will say this is probably the smartest thing AEW does

[@user-Mr.Chad_123]

Wait was that Lil Tjay😂😂

[@London.Bridgez]

"Tommy End" on it's own is a cool name. WWE is the pinnacle of wrestling so I understand wrestlers letting them revamp them however it's still the wrestler out there pouring blood, sweat and tears building their name & brand.. They should get to keep their name off the rip.

[@hinro]

They do get to keep their names. Just not the wwe name. There is a bit of a disconnect there though. It's also the wwe pouring in a lot of time and money into creating that name and brand and they are going to make their money back. You're severally underestimating how much the wwe does when they sign people. That's the difference between running a business and a hobby. using tommy end as an example yeah it's not a bad name but aliester black along with that gimmick was just perfect. So much so he kept most of it when he went to aew.

[@eddieherrera5314]

Apparently wwe doesn’t really do that nowadays under triple H

[@freshmoney899]

Here go the defender lmaooo

[@Evan-dm3si]

@@freshmoney899the shit is true if you actually look at the recent signing bozo

[@donnielp3]

@@freshmoney899 Internet tip: research first. complain second. You're welcome.

[@MrHesse1979]

@@freshmoney899Found Tony’s burner account.

[@eddieherrera5314]

@@freshmoney899 I’m just an observer But it’s good to know wrestling has some blind audiences left

[@ShonekaHall]

The names in WWE matches the wrestlers more than their old and real names most of the time

[@Marley11st]

naaaaaaah

[@Afaqahmad-k5d]

Lol nah

[@אדירדדון-ב9ה]

Walter walter walter walter walter

[@AnthonyAnalog]

They should've let KENTA be KENTA.

[@headlocks76]

Tribalism is a hell of a drug.

[@D_D_L]

AJ Styles name was supposed to be used in WWE, Allen Neal Jones just kept using this ringname because he knew he would be back😅

[@ReelRonDog]

Edge found a loophole with his lol WWE can’t own rated r superstar cause MPA owns it.

[@Denny-Berge]

WWE does the same thing now.

[@LuisHernandez-cd4in]

If they creat the character then it’s obvious that they will keep it It’s their business they don’t have to give them the rights for the character imagine if RDJ was iron man in every single movie or appearance on tv..

[@ther3aper561]

A few months ago someone from inside the company said WWE now gives people their names so they can use them elsewhere when they leave. Although they didn't specify if it was people with names who had them before they entered or if that meant WWE original ones too

[@thefloppawithcontent7094]

If the Motion Picture Association owns it then how has WWE and Edge used it without consequences?

[@juancarlosrivera5689]

Maybe they had permission

[@dezpotizmOFheaven]

Edge always hated being called Adam and then used it in AEW. I:'D

[@superginrai8036]

Malakai Black has a better ring to it anyway.

[@havoc-ado]

I think WWE under Trips is a little more relaxed. Just a few months ago, FTR was able to get their finisher name The Shatter Machine back to be used in AEW. I'm guessing either the trademark expired and they didn't want to renew it, or they came to an agreement that WWE can use the name and finisher because DIY started using it recently, with Graves calling out the move name very prominently.

[@noeldiaz7304]

This is old news……WWE lets them keep there Indy name but WWE trademarks it and if the wrestler gets released they get there name back.

[@christophertmunro4503]

Can you imagine The Rock being called Dwayne Johnson???

[@J3TT420]

Ricochet got to keep his name leaving WWE to aew

[@Justme-nvm]

That's because he used it in the Indies before joining WWE. They can't trademark something that they didn't create.

[@Walt_Xander94]

lol. I didn't know Rated-R was owned like that. Then again, its no wonder other Regions have different Rating systems.

[@OuTSMOKE]

WWE doesn't have this policy anymore.

[@surajhawk27]

even during vince era they did leave the stars with their names aka kurt angle jeff hardy matt hardy hardy boys and many more

[@juancarlosrivera5689]

Some name changes are not bad tbh

[@thephatjesus3032]

AJ Styles got to keep his ring name because it's tatted on him

[@dwaterson21]

KENTA didn't have his name changed. He chose to change it to Hideo Itami to differentiate himself from his character in NOAH. Same with Walter becoming Gunther, it was his idea to change it because, in his words, "Walter is an old man's name." Also, sometimes a name change works. I would rather call a guy Damian Priest instead of Punishment Martinez, and Rhea Ripley is a better ring name than Demi Bennett-Adams. And Bruiser Brody is better than Frank Goodish.

[@emanuelmartinez7267]

Cody got around this in a smart way using his wife Brandi Rhodes as his valet since she never used the Rhodes name in WWE they didn't have the trademark so during that time period the announcers would always say "Cody and Brandi RHODES" to keep the association with the name

[@MrNotorious2010]

That's so if they were to ever leave they have the freedom to use the name they had prior to

[@itsyaboimax5433]

Gunter kept his real name for so long Walter until wwe changed it

[@QingSlayer1001]

I like Asuka’s name but I really loved Kana

[@seanclark9258]

Did not know that about the rated R trademark

[@michaelbriscoe906]

This has to be old because now since the Merger with TKO they allow wrestlers to keep their names

[@Obilly88]

People don’t understand trademark laws and how the WWE has actually went to court over some wrestlers names that they trademark. WWE has won some of their court cases but they have also lost some of their court cases and the rulings from the court cases they have lost is what establishes how WWE trademark a wrestlers name now. WWE cannot trademark an individual birth name because a birth certificate is a legal document that an individual owns that states this is the name that individual goes by. Therefore, WWE cannot trademark names of wrestlers who use their birth name like Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar, Jeff and Matt Hardy. Second it has been rule that WWE can only trademark stage names that they created and was first used under their company brand. For example Edge, Kane and the Undertaker. However, for wrestlers like CM Punk and AJ Styles who have wrestled under this stage name before entering and wrestling in the WWE is the reason why the WWE cannot trademark their stage name since the WWE were not the ones to create these wrestlers stage name.

[@beastathart6145]

That’s a Vince move fsss

[@freshmoney899]

No it wasn’t it was triple k

[@hotredtiger316]

Meh ring names vs badass ring names. • • Daniel Bryan (WWE ring name) - Meh! • Bryan Danielson (real name) aka The American Dragon - PHUQ YEEAAAHHHH

[@KAlexanderTheGreat]

If im not mistaken, WWE has actually stopped this practice so they can keep their names if they leave

[@Lilly-gamingx]

Yeah because Aj styles is phenomenal and you can’t top that

[@khrawbryan]

Finn Balor is actually a great one

[@LucasBeavers-v8o]

Edge should’ve kept his name

[@EdwardJones-fg2qt]

I'll be honest even though they gave them trademark names it's good names for example more people know him as edge than Adam coopland or the Undertaker and even some use the actual name mixed with the trademark for example Dwayne the rock Johnson

[@CadChamberlain]

You should try out the decks you used from your first ever Clash Royale videos and see if they still work

[@dr.syedinayatullah9125]

What about Hogan, Warrior, macho man, lex Lugar, Ric Flair. all have same wwe trademark names in their wcw tenure.

[@pratty8459]

Keeping the same name your whole career is at your own risk wrestlers either adapt with a new gimmick or a new name

[@panfilip9963]

That didn't age well, since WWE now allows people to keep their names from their time with the company.

[@RagingZeus1]

Nobody and I mean Nobody can keep the name Undertaker that name is cemented in history of wwe now

[@ejdolo]

Didnt Dwayne Johnson just recently get the rights to the name The Rock?

[@aidanbagwell7879]

Kerryn gave more pill energy than usual

[@mr.anderson777]

Tbh Tony should not allow his talents to keep their whole character, if they're leaving for WWE, because they don't allow it either. I know Tony is a nice guy but it's not fair that he is the only one doing it the right way...

[@jimmyju76]

it's neither a right way or wrong way plus would you want another company making money on your character?

[@harsh_1910]

​@@jimmyju76it's the wrestler's character, they put in the hard work the company shouldn't own it especially given that they like to pretend wrestlers are independent contractors not employees

[@sampride9107]

This actually doesn’t mean anything anymore WWE allows their talent to take their names wherever they want no

[@bronsontaylor4203]

funny enough that Io (Shirai) and Kairi (Hojo) changed their names after leaving Stardom but Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer still have the same names. pretty sure Giulia was running the DDM stable at the time that Stephanie V was in Oedo Tai. both units are currently disbanded though so just a couple scoops of useless information for y'all i guess. sorry

[@kennethcampbell7263]

AJ Styles and Jade Cargill got that honor because They used their own Trademarked brand.

[@tyrellh43]

Wwe just chagned this recently under the new management

[@AReallyLongAndUnremakableUser]

Jade Cargill 'Talent' LOL!!

[@MorrisseyMuse]

Put it this way, who would you rather watch? Edge or Adam Copeland..? lol

[@dylansteele4918]

WWE has changed the rules on the name thing so this doesn’t apply.

[@nehemiahpouncey3607]

MVP is still MVP. Shelton Benjamin is still Shelton Benjamin.

[@Obilly88]

WWE cannot trademark an individual legal birth name. Thus, Shelton Benjamin can use his name outside of the WWE. As for MVP I am not sure since that is not his legal birth name. Unless he use that name before entering the WWE because the WWE can only trademark stage names they create. This is why CM Punk and AJ Styles can use their names outside the WWE since they used these names before wrestling with the WWE. So maybe this is the case for MVP but I don’t know.

[@WizardoftheGhost]

Finn Balor is a great name tho

[@michaelakey8384]

WWE does it so they can make money off it. They even trade mark their real names. John Cena is owned by WWE

[@user-fzero07]

Ricochet:???

[@DZR_]

Trade mark your own name and the govt cant use it to make money 😂

[@SugarCyanide-p8d]

Not True, Black Taurus changed to Beast Mortos

[@mr559]

WWE games. They still want to use all their names.

[@michaelmercury1297]

Does HHH still do the trade mark thing? I know Vince McMahon used to do it.

[@bradwhite3978]

Aj only kept the name cuz of the big ass tattoo

[@Dogo_XLBullys]

Matt an Jeff hardy Chris Jericho cause he is a rock star Adam Cole sting went through the indies wcw wwf tna an aew as sting

[@Obilly88]

WWE cannot own an individual birth name. Thus, Matt and Jeff Hardy can use their name outside the WWE since it is their birth name. Chris Jericho was using this name in WCW before he entered the WWE. This is the reason Jericho can still use his name. WWE can only trademark stage names they create. Wrestlers like AJ Styles and CM Punk who were using these stage name before wrestling in the WWE can use their name outside the WWE and WWE cannot trademark them.

[@LordOfTerra]

Adam Cole?

[@TheHardys01]

Another reason why AEW is better than WWE. Y'all should really focus on the lyrics in Cody Rhodes theme.

[@aaronpolselli3691]

That's how it should be... stop forcing crap laws and contacts on their real or b previous wrestling names or even forcing them to change to a stupid list of choices to use in their company. I feel like the reason they got up to that point to be signed by wwe they would be better off using t their names they were most well known after😊

[@yuhin4694]

What happened to Bea 😂

[@jarodgrayson7981]

Bobby Lashey

[@Obilly88]

Bobby Lashley is his birth name. Well Franklin Roberto Lashley is his official birth name. However, WWE already lost in court against Brock Lesnar where a judge ruled against WWE stating that birth certificate are legal documents. Thus, WWE since it’s a corporation cannot own an individual birth name. They probably would have lost in court if they tried to prevent Bobby Lashley from using his name since his middle name is Roberto and Bobby is associated with the name Roberto. That’s why Brock Leanar, John Cena and Dave Bautista are able to use their names outside the WWE.

[@clramakrishnan2520]

CM Punk has been CM Punk for 25+ years...Starting from his days in Indies, ROH, TNA, WWE, AEW...Now that's something...

[@redknight6521]

Why are you adding... after every sentence? It reads like you're forgetting what you said or that you're flat out stupid.

[@MrPaz4vida]

AJ Styles was never an AEW name

[@D_D_L]

He debuted the name against the Hurricane...

[@shuvbhowmickbestin]

Cody Rhoades

[@IsoEsa66]

This is the difference between a proper business and a hobby bouncy castle club.

[@syxxpoppin8830]

What up with Brodie lee

[@Theeunicorn777]

I really love that AEW doesn’t care and we all can root for our favorite superstars without butchering their new handles 😂🙌🏾

[@dimpochoudhury1073]

Cm punk is always cm punk 💪

[@Obilly88]

Because he used this name prior to wrestling in the WWE. WWE can only trademark stage names they create.

[@KindaHappy15]

What abt cm punk

[@robertcsatlos6869]

Way to state the obvious

[@DJSethieSeth22]

Its smart to keep the brand wwe is just egocentric nd want full control

[@johnaaltonen1039]

Jade Cargill is her real name ! Learn before you try to make a video

[@ezioauditore6371]

Jade Cargill also trademarked her own name before she even entered AEW so no matter where she wrestles at, she can keep her name

[@johnaaltonen1039]

@ezioauditore6371 false! Chris Jericho owns her trademark name.

[@simplysteve9718]

​@@johnaaltonen1039 If that's the case, then why Jade Cargill used it in the WWE?

[@johnaaltonen1039]

@simplysteve9718 , Because Chris Jericho didn't stop her. It's all about money.

[@25resontv]

AEW is not as big as WWE

[@aaronkayondo]

WWE are Sharks!

[@geeloco1600]

This video isn’t breaking any news it’s always been like this.. weirdos

[@georgebarajas372]

Edge is much better than Adam Copland keep finding ways to say AEW is much better than WWE but in reality it really isn't

[@ryugano5025]

Going HAM on that boot huh

[@madhatter8508]

This video is so outdated that it's laughable.

[@SkylerDouglas]

Jade is not rare she is doodie