In a world where wrestling giants jostle for dominance, the WWE is making clear its intention to exploit every facet of its vast intellectual property holdings. A series of new trademark filings suggest that the company may soon be reviving some of the most iconic event names from ECW's storied past, but to what end?
Recent documents show WWE has secured trademarks for ECW classics: Barely Legal, CyberSlam, and Massacre On 34th Street. These are all names that longtime wrestlingfans will recognize. Notably, Barely Legal was ECW's inaugural pay-per-view, headlined by the memorable bout in which Terry Funk triumphed over Raven for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship. The other two aren't to be overshadowed either: Massacre On 34th Street, one of ECW's final PPVs, and CyberSlam, the innovative interactive convention that ran from 1996 until ECW's unfortunate demise in 2001.
But these aren't the only ECW-related trademarks WWE has secured. It has also snapped up Hardcore Heaven, fueling speculation about how the company plans to utilize these classic titles, but many are wondering, why now?
One can't help but notice the timing. NXT, WWE's developmental brand, has been known for adopting and modernizing old event names, infusing them with fresh energy and vigor. It successfully brought back The Great American Bash and whispers now abound that these newly trademarked ECW events could be next on the docket for NXT's premium live events.
