Lawsuit filed against Cody Rhodes and WWE for “American Nightmare” trademark

Cody Rhodes and WWE now have a lawsuit filed against them for supposed illegal use of the phrase "American Nightmare."

Lawsuit filed against Cody Rhodes and WWE for “American Nightmare” trademark

Cody Rhodes being sued for the phrase 'American Nightmare' (via WWE)

Cody Rhodes has infamously been known as the American Nightmare for nearly a decade now. He was billed with this iconic name for the first time in 2016 upon his debut in NJPW. He carried the name over to AEW when he founded the company and has stuck with it since his WWE return in 2022. While this nickname has largely been adored by fans, the 39-year-old may soon get in trouble for using the moniker.

Musician Wesley Eisold recently filed a lawsuit against Rhodes (Cody Runnels), WWE, and the company’s merchandising partner, Fanatics. The suit accuses these parties of trademark, breach of contract, and intentional interference with contractual relations. The Punk Rock musician is the lead singer and co-founder of the band ‘American Nightmare’. He has held the trademark for the name since 2016 for use in music, clothing and merchandising services.

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Rhodes filed a trademark for the same name for wrestling-related activities in March 2019. Eisold initially opposed the trademark application, but the parties eventually came to a mutual agreement two years later, in March 2021. This agreement was kept alive when he switched to WWE in 2022.

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According to the settlement terms, the former AEW EVP was allowed to use the phrase under the condition that the merchandise prominently featured Rhodes’ name, likeness, or wrestling-related imagery in a size that is at least 75% larger than the ‘American Nightmare’ text. The agreement also comprised the WWE Undisputed Champion paying Eisold a sum of $30,000.

Eisold now claims that Cody Rhodes and WWE have violated the agreement. He claims that while many items feature the’ ‘American Nightmare’ phrase, they contain little to no reference to Rhodes and professional wrestling.

How did Cody Rhodes get the name ‘American Nightmare’?

Long before the WWE Undisputed Champion was called the American Nightmare, there was another Rhodes going around with that particular name. His brother, Dustin Rhodes, was the original user of the infamous moniker and had a short run with it in WCW before the company was bought out.

Cody Rhodes American Nightmare
Cody Rhodes (via WWE)

Dustin Rhodes came out with blonde hair and wore a jacket with the USA Flag on it. Of course, this name was a reference to the American Dream, a name used by their father, Dusty Rhodes. Furthermore, he did not mind at all when his little brother wanted to use the name for himself. The 39-year-old eventually He also got a neck tattoo representing the gimmick in 2020. representing the name in 2020 as well.

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Traditional wrestling knowledge would dictate that a name such as the American Nightmare be used for a heel. This was true for Rhodes’ time in NJPW when he played the role of a bad guy. However, he carried the name with him even after turning babyface in 2018. He has not been a major heel character on TV since then.

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