Report – WWE & Ryback Showdown Brewing Over A Trademark?

UPDATE x 3: As we already know by now, Ryback and WWE are at odds over their negotiations on a new contract that led to Ryback being sent home from RAW. Now it appears that they’re at odds over a trademark as well. Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Ryback filed a trademark for “The Big Guy” back in October and that WWE filed the same trademark three months later, both for “conducting entertainment exhibitions in the nature of performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer.”

Ryback’s filing was published for opposition this morning, with WWE having thirty days to challenge the filing.

UPDATE x 2: Ryback posted the following update on his WWE status today, explaining why he is having issues with WWE and wrestling in general…

Today I sit and fly home and for the first time in years feel absolutely free. I will start by saying I did request to be taken off of WWE television until myself and Vince could get a yes or no on a new deal. This has been going on since my IC Title run and had been nothing but a major strain on my life as all I ever wanted to do was work for WWE. I was told to head home until we agree or not agree to specific terms and contrary to reports it isn’t over money or a bus that stuff was settled a while ago. It comes down to a major problem I have with not only WWE but wrestling in general.

Wrestling is pre determined, we as performers know before we go out to that ring or perform a backstage scene who is winning and losing etc or have a general idea of what we are going to say. It blows my mind how in a sport which is pre determined from a company standpoint winners are paid so much more than the losers. Every single person who works for WWE from top to bottom is absolutely just as valuable as the next. The winners cannot win unless the losers go out there and agree to lose to them.

It blows my mind that in this day and age though we still adhere to this formula. Obviously things have always been this way, but does that make them right? Times have changed and our goal as humans should be to evolve and learn from our past and the past of others so we could make this world a better place. Why is it a guy who is told he is going to go out and lose and does everything he is told be paid not only less, but much less than said winner over a period of time. Every single performer for WWE sacrifices the same amount of time from home and their families and every single man or women goes out and does what they are told. Looking at this formula though losers turn into what fans like to call jobbers and their value decreases in the companies eyes and before you know it they get released. For what? For doing exactly as they are told!

Why not pay the talent equally? The winners have more MERCH as it is or are supposed to anyways so they get that extra perk, but why make the guy who is told to and agrees to lose earn less and sacrifice spots in big pay per view match ups etc. This is one of the major problems with wrestling and WWE today. Most guys take great satisfaction in helping making other talent, the bitching and the moaning we always hear about stems from the fact they know they are ultimately over time going to make less and live in fear of being released.

I am proud to say I have never gone to change a finish and have gladly took pride in helping put over other talent. Hell look at my pay per view record of 12-26 and you will see that has been the pattern of my career. I have always been confident in my ability and work ethic to being my best every day and ultimately always felt that by doing good it was the right thing to do. Personally seeing my money go down over the years though even though I was working as much as ever and being denied magazine covers and other projects as well as watching my role diminish no matter what I did or how hard I tried takes its toll on a human. Being told no matter how hard I work or how good I get doesn’t always pay off is something I fucking refuse to ever believe in my life. I am a creative being and to be restricted time and time again is no way to live life. There is nothing I cannot do and I know no matter what comes of this situation I am going to be just fine. It isn’t soley about money, it is about commitment. Commitment to a guy who fucking cares and who loves this more than anything in the world and wants to know that his passion his efforts and his determination to constantly improve is going to be recognized and taken care of.

WWE may very well release me, which if it is the case so be it. If we can work things out a lot needs to change as I am not living in fear and creatively cannot continue to live a life that limits me creatively. I have many other interests and passions and have been very smart with my finances over the years. I thank every WWE superstar from top to bottom for their sacrifices and for working with me. The world is an amazing place and there is more than just a WWE universe there is The Universe and I will prove one way or another over time I am the greatest big guy in the universe!

MORE MEフィード
MORE ME fīdo

UPDATE: On this morning’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer spoke about the Ryback situation. Meltzer noted that Ryback had a meeting with Vince McMahon about the contract situation, noting that they are far apart on money. The meeting reportedly ended with McMahon suggesting that Ryback go home, and he agreed. Ryback was originally scheduled to be part of the U.S. Title #1 contenders Battle Royal match on RAW. He was outspoken in an interview during the international tour, noting that he wasn’t happy about being on the WrestleMania pre-show. At Payback, the second show in a row he and Kalisto wrestled on the pre-show, he wore a workout belt that read, “The Pre-Show Stopper.”

ORIGINAL: Ryback is not at Monday Night RAW at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri tonight.

The word backstage is that Ryback was sent home and will be, as of this writing, off WWE Programming until further notice. One version of the story is that Ryback himself asked to be pulled from TV.

Ryack’s contract with the WWE expires this summer and the two sides have been, according to several sources, at odds over negotiations for a new contract.

We’ll have more on this developing story as soon as it becomes available.

100% DIRECT LINK (PHOTOS): Ryback In-Ring **BEFORE** Joining WWE! WTF?!?!?