WWE is taking another crack at locking down one of its most iconic move names.
The company has submitted a new application to trademark “RKO” in the United States, the signature finishing move of Randy Orton, after a previous attempt was rejected. According to the filing, WWE’s earlier request to trademark the term for wrestling performances was turned down by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The reason for the rejection was a conflict with an existing trademark. The office cited similarities with the “RKO” trademark in the IC 041 category, which is already held by RKO Pictures, the classic Hollywood movie studio.
Notably, WWE does already own active “RKO” trademarks, but those cover merchandise and fall under a different trademark category than the one being sought for wrestling performances.
The trademark push comes at a time when Orton himself has been out of the spotlight. Orton has been absent from WWE television since WrestleMania 42, where he came up short against Cody Rhodes. Orton has not appeared on programming in the months since, and his current status and return timeline remain unclear.
