A new legal dispute has emerged in the world of professional wrestling as the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) has formally opposed All Elite Wrestling’s attempt to trademark the term “Shockwave.”
According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the NWA filed an official opposition to AEW’s Shockwave trademark on June 5th, 2025. The conflict centers around the rights to the name, which both companies have previously used or attempted to register.
AEW initially filed for the Shockwave trademark on September 6th, 2024. Just weeks later, on September 24th, the NWA filed its own application for NWA Shockwave. However, the NWA claims it holds common law rights to the term dating back to 2020, citing the original broadcast of NWA Shockwave in December of that year as evidence of prior use.
As part of the filing, AEW acknowledged that they sent a cease-and-desist-style letter to the NWA’s legal team on September 26th, 2024, requesting that the NWA abandon the Shockwave moniker. However, no response was received from NWA regarding the matter.
AEW now has until July 15th to formally respond to the NWA’s opposition filing.
This isn’t the first time trademarks have become a battleground in the pro wrestling industry, and this particular dispute could have implications for branding, programming, and merchandise for both promotions.
Stay tuned to PWMania.com for ongoing coverage of this developing legal situation and all the latest news in the world of pro wrestling.
