As noted, the LLC owned by WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair recently filed to trademark “The Man” name, which is also used by RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch.
Above is new video of The Nature Boy talking about the trademark issue with TMZ Sports.
“I’m glad I’m having this opportunity to clear the air,” Flair said. “When I first saw this go down in August of 2018, I thought, ‘Cool, The Man, my gimmick, vs. my daughter, Charlotte.’ It started right after SummerSlam. I thought, ‘Cool.’ So, I said I’m going to make some money, it’s my trademark, they have it. I’ve been saying it since 1981. So I got my worded statement, I sent them a text and their lawyer, who just has no respect for me whatsoever, which is something I’m not going to deal with much longer, he said, ‘You’re wrong, not even close.’ I said, ‘Not even close?’ So, boom, I sent him another text and he didn’t respond. So, I had my lawyer call him and he blew off my lawyer.
“This is all in 2018, or in January of 2019. So, I call Hunter [Triple H], I told Hunter I’m going to file. The reason they don’t have it [the trademark], from my understanding, is because it’s too close to mine. I’ve been saying ‘To be The Man’, which I have trademarked, I wrote a book, ‘To Be The Man.’ So, I told Hunter, if push comes to shove, I’m going to file for it.”
Flair went on and talked about how he’s supported the women’s division, and would’ve texted props to Lynch and Sasha Banks after this week’s TV segment, but he’s not sure what Becky has been told. Flair also revealed that daughter Charlotte Flair is mad at him for filing.
“Here’s the deal,” Flair continued. “I love Becky Lynch and no one has supported the women’s division more than me, as an outsider. As a matter of fact, I’ve told the guys… I would’ve texted Becky last night [after TV] and Sasha, but I’m sure Becky… I don’t know what the WWE spin has been to her. They stole it [the show] last night.
“It’s funny, my daughter is mad at me because I filed, not even understanding it’s not with Becky, I have no beef with Becky, but here’s the deal – when I almost died two years ago, one person stayed by me the whole time, 31 days in ICU, 12 days while I was dying on a respirator, and I’m going to take care of her and her family, and my family, has taken care of me no matter what. I don’t care what the WWE thinks of me personally, I know they love me, but obviously they’ve lost respect for me. If I don’t win and even if I won, Becky can have it all day long, I’m glad. But I want the company to pay me for it, and I’m going to take care of my family. I am going to be ‘The Man’ and if I don’t get it, may on my tombstone say, ‘He died trying to be The Man.’”
Flair and Lynch have tweeted about the trademark battle, seen below.
Lynch wrote, “I am The Man.”
Flair responded, “To Be The Man, You Gotta Beat THE MAN! #alreadytrademarked”
Stay tuned for updates on the story.
To Be The Man, You Gotta Beat THE MAN! #alreadytrademarked
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) August 31, 2019
https://twitter.com/BeckyLynchWWE/status/1167665524911816704