A TNA Wrestling star has disclosed that WWE still holds the trademark rights to his wrestling name but permits both him and TNA to use it. Santino Marella, who joined TNA Wrestling in January 2023 as the new director of authority, returned nearly a decade after his WWE full-time career ended, continuing to use his WWE-sanctioned name.
During a conversation with Chris Van Vriette, Marella shared how former TNA president Scott D’Amore tried to acquire the rights to the name. Due to WWE’s ownership of trademarks for characters they developed, including Santino Marella’s persona, Scott had to navigate legal complexities. WWE reminded TNA of their intellectual property rights, and after some negotiations and extensions, the trademark was eventually allowed to be used by TNA, fostering a cooperative relationship between the companies.
Marella has also made appearances on WWE programming amidst an ongoing corporate partnership, with his daughter Arianna Grace frequently featured in TNA and NXT’s Impact as a liaison.
Fan Take: This revelation highlights the enduring power and influence WWE holds over wrestling trademarks, even after talent has moved on, underlining how important intellectual property is for the business. For WWE fans, it signals that the company’s legacy characters continue to shape wrestling’s evolving landscape, maintaining strong ties between promotions and athletes.
