Actually I just did a search, WWE doesn't own the name or character but they do still own the rights to all product licensing.

The character/name one was actually canceled in February of this year.

Hm, so he could theoretically get sued for introducing himself like this on that comedy show?

so he can still use the RVD name in TNA. that's good

Before it was canceled, yeah.

For the record:

Typed Drawing
<hr width="20" align="LEFT"> <table border="0"><tbody><tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Word Mark </td> <td> ROB VAN DAM</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Goods and Services</td> <td>(CANCELLED) IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment services, namely wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network. FIRST USE: 20010716. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20010716</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Mark Drawing Code</td> <td>(1) TYPED DRAWING</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="LEFT"> Serial Number</td> <td>78101416</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Filing Date</td> <td>January 8, 2002</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Current Filing Basis</td> <td>1A</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Original Filing Basis</td> <td>1B</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Published for Opposition</td> <td> July 30, 2002</td> <!--WWWAnswer Token=T_TAG info=PO--> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Registration Number</td> <td>2739105</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Registration Date</td> <td>July 15, 2003</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Owner</td> <td>(REGISTRANT) World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 1241 East Main Street Stamford CONNECTICUT 06902</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Assignment Recorded</td> <td>ASSIGNMENT RECORDED</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Attorney of Record</td> <td>Lauren A. Dienes-Middlen</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Type of Mark</td> <td>SERVICE MARK</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Register</td> <td>PRINCIPAL</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Other Data</td> <td>"ROB VAN DAM" DOES NOT IDENTIFY A LIVING INDIVIDUAL.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Live/Dead Indicator</td> <td>DEAD</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Cancellation Date</td> <td>February 20, 2010</td></tr></tbody></table>

lol. RVD is "dead" to them

There are a few others like this one, they just list different products.

<table style="width: 589px; height: 1225px;" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" align="LEFT">




Word Mark </td> <td> ROB VAN DAM</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Goods and Services</td> <td>IC 028. US 022 023 038 050. G & S: Toy action figures and accessories therefor; cases for action figures; toy vehicles; board games; playing cards; toy spinning tops; stand alone video output game machines featuring wrestling; arcade games related to wrestling; pinball games related to wrestling; hand-held units for playing electronic game; tabletop action skill games related to wrestling; jigsaw puzzles; kites; toy wrestling rings; dolls; puppets; stuffed toy animals; card games; toy guitars; water guns; Christmas tree decorations; costume masks; toy belts, doll furniture; party favors in the nature of crackers and noisemakers; skateboards; bowling balls and accessories, namely, bowling gloves, wrist supports, bowling ball bags; windup toys; toy scooters; bowling pins; knee and elbow pads for athletic use; yo-yo`s; plastic model kits for making toy vehicles; pool cues; novelty toys, namely, toy banks made of tin; toy gum machines; toy candy bowl mechanical dispensers; toy stick gum dispensers; toy gum figure makers; confetti. FIRST USE: 20020131. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20020131</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Standard Characters Claimed</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Mark Drawing Code</td> <td>(4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="LEFT"> Serial Number</td> <td>78386079</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Filing Date</td> <td>March 17, 2004</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Current Filing Basis</td> <td>1A</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Original Filing Basis</td> <td>1B</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Published for Opposition</td> <td> December 27, 2005</td> <!--WWWAnswer Token=T_TAG info=PO--> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Registration Number</td> <td>3177775</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Registration Date</td> <td>November 28, 2006</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Owner</td> <td>(REGISTRANT) World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 1241 East Main Street Stamford CONNECTICUT 06902</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Attorney of Record</td> <td>Lauren A. Dienes-Middlen</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Prior Registrations</td> <td>2739105</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Type of Mark</td> <td>TRADEMARK</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Register</td> <td>PRINCIPAL</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Other Data</td> <td>The name shown in the mark identifies Robert Szatfowski, whose consent is of record.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT"> Live/Dead Indicator</td> <td>LIVE</td></tr></tbody></table>

They dont have RVD trademarked though, and its tough to get initials trademarked frankly.

RVD in ecw and in gimmick matches is great. But any other time, his matches just seem really formulaic, and predictable to me.

Pretty pumped to see him in some sort of hardcore match with Abyss though.

Keep in mind that RVD is now 39 years old....and so he may not even be physically capable of doing some of the stuff that he did before.

Well if he has to come out to MIDI music, hope its a version of "Walk" atleast!

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Why are people complaining about this? I don't remember anyone talking about ratings going up just because Rob Van Dam was there, yet people are criticising the signing on that basis? Look, RVD is one of the biggest free agents still in the business, so it'd be a great move to sign him. He literally fits any division TNA has.

I would love to see him in Ultimate-X at Destination X.

May I say that was one of your best posts off late? I loved that find!

I like Bischoff. I feel like it's Hogan and his cronyism that will fuck up the company. You lose Awesome Kong now Bubba's back? Nasty Boys getting any form of tv time. Shit like that. Other than that, I think they can bring some positives to the table.