WWE makes new ‘RKO’ trademark filing amid similarity dispute
WWE has made a new trademark filing for “RKO” after its most recent attempt to trademark the term was refused.
On July 6, WWE submitted another trademark for Randy Orton’s finishing move. The company already has active “RKO” trademarks for merchandising purposes, but WWE’s 2024 application related to wrestling performances was refused over what the patent and trademark office determined to be potential confusion with marks owned by RKO Pictures — the classic Hollywood studio that had a hand in distributing movies like “Citizen Kane” and “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
It’s been an ongoing process since the initial refusal, with the patent office ruling in January 2026 that WWE’s trademark and the goods and services listed were “confusingly similar” to those owned by RKO Pictures.
- Applicant’s mark is RKO (standard characters) for, as amended ‘Wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler rendered through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network’ in International Class 041.
- The cited marks [from RKO Pictures] are as follows:
- RKO (standard characters) (Reg. No. 3318872) for ‘entertainment services, namely, producing, leasing and exhibiting motion picture films; producing and recording videotapes featuring stage performances and other entertainment performances’ in International Class 041.
In April, WWE filed a three-month extension to file a response, which explains this new application. The new application and the one from 2024 are both labeled as “live” and “pending” by the patent office. There is also another pending “RKO” filing, separate from WWE and RKO Pictures, from a Polish clothing company related to footwear.
Here are the goods and services listed in WWE’s new application:
- Wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network
RKO as Randy Orton’s WWE finisher —
Representing his initials (Randal Keith Orton), Orton debuted the RKO — his version of the Ace Crusher/Diamond Cutter — in 2003. He initially used the Overdrive before switching to the RKO, which has become one of the most famous finishers in WWE history.
It’s been a few months since we last saw Orton on WWE television. He’s been away since losing to Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 42 night one this April. Our Dave Meltzer reported leading into Mania that Orton was dealing with a back injury.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.