# USPTO Refuses WWE's Second Try to Trademark "RKO"

Label: CONFIRMED  
Promotion: WWE  
By WrestlingNews.com Staff  
Published Nov. 8, 2026, 6:05 AM ET  
URL: https://wrestlingnews.com/story/uspto-refuses-wwe-second-rko-trademark-application/

> The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office refused WWE's July 6 application to trademark "RKO" for wrestling services on Nov. 3, citing six marks owned by RKO Pictures, Wrestling News reported. WWE has until Feb. 3, 2027 to respond.

## The quick version

- The refusal is "nonfinal," so WWE can answer it. The deadline is Feb. 3, 2027, and WWE can pay for a three-month extension, per Wrestling News and WrestleZone.
- The examiner found a likelihood of confusion with six registrations held by RKO Pictures, Inc., the film studio.
- It is the second refusal in the same category. WWE already holds active RKO trademarks for merchandise.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has refused WWE's second application to trademark "RKO," Randy Orton's finishing move, for wrestling services. First reported by Wrestling News (wrestlingnews.co) on Nov. 4, the office action is dated Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. WrestleZone credited that report the same day. We have not seen the filing ourselves, and we found no WWE comment on it.

## What the office said

WWE filed the application on July 6, per Wrestling News. It covers wrestling exhibitions and performances shown on television, radio and online, and providing wrestling news and information online.

The examining attorney refused it because of a likelihood of confusion with six registrations owned by RKO Pictures, Inc., the classic Hollywood studio, per Wrestling News. The cited marks are RKO Pictures and design, RKO in typed form, and RKO Stage and design. The attorney wrote, as Wrestling News quoted: "One of registrant's marks is in typed form and is identical to applicant's mark."

The office also found WWE's wrestling services closely related to RKO Pictures' film, television and multimedia work and its entertainment information website. It asked WWE to say whether "RKO" has any particular meaning in the wrestling business or is a term of art.

## What is still open

- The refusal is not final. WWE has until Feb. 3, 2027 to reply with arguments and evidence. It can pay for a three-month extension, per Wrestling News.
- WWE's first application in the same category was rejected for the same reason, per Wrestling News. WWE already holds active RKO trademarks that cover merchandise, which fall under a different category.
- WWE has not said whether it plans to answer the refusal.

## What to watch

WWE's reply or a new filing. Cageside Seats noted on Nov. 5 that the reply has to explain why "RKO" matters in pro wrestling.

**How we know.** Source: Wrestling News (Angel Aramboles), which quotes the examining attorney's office action, and WrestleZone (Manik Aftab), which credits Wrestling News. We did not open the USPTO record. We did not contact WWE.

## Sources

- Wrestling News (Angel Aramboles), "USPTO Rejects WWE's 'RKO' Trademark Again, Cites Classic Hollywood Studio RKO Pictures", Nov. 4, 2026 (the office action, the quote, the deadline). https://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/uspto-rejects-wwe-rko-trademark-again-rko-pictures/
- WrestleZone (Manik Aftab), "WWE Suffers Another Trademark Setback Over Randy Orton's RKO", Nov. 4, 2026, 3:21 PM ET (second report, same facts, credits Wrestling News). https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1669845-wwe-randy-orton-rko-trademark-refused-again
- Cageside Seats (Cain A. Knight), "Rumor Roundup (Nov. 5, 2026): WWE signs Enzo Amore, Hurt Syndicate's AEW status, RKO issue, more!", Nov. 5, 2026 (third outlet, the reply requirement). https://www.cagesideseats.com/rumor-round-up/485011/rumor-roundup-wwe-signs-enzo-amore-rko-trademark-dispute-hurt-syndicate-aew-contract-mustafa
- WrestlingNews.com staff reporting: compared the Wrestling News and WrestleZone accounts, which agree on the date, the deadline and the cited marks. We did not check the USPTO record and we did not contact WWE.

How we credit sources: [Editorial standards](https://wrestlingnews.com/editorial-standards/).