WWE’s application to trademark “RKO,” the name of Randy Orton’s finisher, has been rejected for the second time by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Fightful reported that WWE received the decision on Tuesday, and the reason was the same as the first time. The issue is that the term is similar to trademarks held by RKO Pictures, the classic Hollywood studio that distributed films like “Citizen Kane” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
The examiner cited six trademarks held by the studio, including one that’s just the three letters, exactly the same as WWE’s application. The USPTO found that the services WWE filed for, including wrestling shows on TV, radio, and the internet, could be confused with RKO Pictures’ work in film, television, and entertainment.
The USPTO asked WWE to explain if “RKO” has any specific meaning in pro wrestling.
But the decision isn’t final. WWE has until February 3, 2027, to respond and make its case with evidence to back up the application, and it can pay a fee to get three more months.
WWE’s first application was filed in November 2024 and got a final refusal in January. That led WWE to file a new application on July 6, which the USPTO took 120 days to turn down. WWE has been trying to trademark the term for its shows for almost two years.
WWE currently holds “RKO” trademarks for merchandise and clothing purposes. But that one also took a long time. The application was filed in March 2019 and was only approved in May 2024, more than five years later.