AEW Drops Shockwave Trademark in NWA Dispute

All Elite Wrestling has abandoned its effort to trademark the name "AEW Shockwave," ending a year-long legal dispute with the National Wrestling Alliance over prior use of the term.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office closed the case on November 17, 2024, after AEW filed to withdraw its application on November 13. The decision was entered with prejudice, permanently barring AEW from pursuing the trademark in the future. AEW had initially filed for the mark on September 6, 2024, on an intent-to-use basis, suggesting plans for a potential television program or similar project under the name.

The National Wrestling Alliance contested the application, asserting that it had used "Shockwave" in commerce since at least December 2020 for a YouTube series. NWA officials sent a legal demand letter to AEW in September 2024 and followed with a formal opposition filing, arguing that the promotion had revived the branding earlier in the year with a new series of events. AEW countered that NWA had not actively employed the name in recent years, but the dispute escalated through the summer without reaching a formal settlement.

AEW President Tony Khan addressed the matter in an interview aired...