All Elite Wrestling trademarks filed, startup promotion linked to Young Bucks, Cody Rhodes, Omega, and cast of Being the Elite (w/Radican’s Analysis)

By Sean Radican, PWTorch Columnist

The Young Bucks (photo credit Wade Keller © PWTorch)

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...

Trademarks for All Elite Wrestling, LLC have been filed. The new promotion is believed to be spearheaded by Tony Khan, who is the son of Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan. Neither Tony or Shad’s name appear on the filing, but the address linked to the trademarks is the address of TIAA Bank Field where the Jacksonville Jaguars play their home games. The filing took place on Nov. 5 and was first reported by WrestlingNews.co. Trademarks for AEW, AEW All Out, All Elite Wrestling, Tuesday Night Dynamite, and AEW Double or Nothing were filed.

Radican’s Analysis: The filings of these trademarks seem to bring some credence to the rumors of Khan working with members of Being the Elite to launch a new promotion. Cody Rhodes has stated publicly that the Being the Elite crew wants to stick together and these trademark filings would seem to indicate that the previously reported wrestling promotion launched by Khan is moving forward.

Nothing is official, but if the members of Being the Elite cast are staying together it would likely mean that Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Adam Page, Cody Rhodes, Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, and Scorpio Sky would be part of whatever promotion the cast joins. As of right now, everyone is still under contract with the exception of Cody Rhodes and can’t sign a new deal with another promotion. The only cast members that wouldn’t be part of the Being the Elite free agent class joining a new promotion together would be Marty Scurll and Flip Gordon, who are under contract to Ring of Honor. The trademark filings are the first solid piece of information to be made public that the rumor of Khan funding an Elite promotion might become a reality.

Whatever the cast of Being the Elite ends up doing, it appears they aren’t going to be taking any indie dates during the first half of  2019, as multiple promoters have confirmed that they aren’t taking any dates as of right now and they also haven’t accepted any bookings for WrestleMania weekend.

It has also been reported that Chris Jericho and Jim Ross would be involved with the promotion backed by Khan, which both have denied publicly, although Jericho has publicly expressed his desire to continue working with the Being the Elite crew in the future. Ross isn’t returning to AXS TV once his WWE contract expires and the timing for Ross to be part of this new promotion seems to work out, especially given that The Being Elite cast isn’t going to be taking any independent dates up through WrestleMania weekend in the U.S. or elsewhere during the first part of 2019. AXS TV was rumored to be part of this new promotion, but they have issued a public denial.

It’s going to be interesting to see how these pieces all fit together between Jericho and Ross, the Being the Elite cast, and a TV deal when it comes to launching a new promotion. There’s a lot to unpack from the trademark filings, but it appears the new promotion backed by Khan would have a Tuesday night time slot. The filings for All Out and Double or Nothing would appear to be PPV special names on the surface.

No matter what happens, in order for Khan’s new wrestling venture to be a success, the promotion needs a TV deal. PWTorch has been unable to confirm if a TV is in place or not for All Elite Wrestling. If the promotion does not have a real TV deal than it doesn’t have real backing. September’s “All In” live event’s pre-show hour did air live on WGN.

 

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