Another Dudley gets screwed

[Dave Youell]

Another Dudley bites the dust. According to the webmaster of Spike Dudley's official website, Spike will join his "Dudley Brothers" in having to come up with a new ring name once his 90 day no compete period ends next month. The webmaster made the comments on the site's message forum in response to queries made by readers after the issue with the Dudley Boyz name came up last week.

Spike was informed that he would be unable to use any combination of the Spike or Dudley name, as well as any likenesses or similarities to the character he portrayed in WWE. Spike had been using the name since his ECW debut in the Fall of 1996. Spike is said to have come up with a new ring name but is keeping mum until he applies and receives a trademark on it.

Last week, WWE informed the former Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley that they would not be able to use their ring names or the intellectual properties that came with those personas. It was the first case of WWE telling performers that they are unable to use names and characters that were devised prior to their WWE debut, in another company, after their WWE tenure has ended.

It should be interesting to see what other names and personas WWE tries to lay claim to legally in the coming months.