WWE Files Interesting New PLE Trademark Application
Does this trademark application pinpoint WWE's signpost live event future?
WWE has filed a new trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a premium live event it hasn't held in two years.
Per the filing in the USPTO's database, WWE filed a trademark application for "TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs" on 2 November 2022. The promotion is pursuing the mark for the following purpose:-
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: Clothing, namely, tops, shirts, jackets, sweatshirts, hoodies; outerwear, namely, coats; bottoms, pants, shorts, underwear, dresses, pajamas, lingerie, clothing ties, scarves, gloves, swimwear; Halloween and masquerade costumes; footwear, namely, shoes, sneakers, slippers, flip flops, boots; headwear, namely, hats, caps; wrist bands; bandanas; championship trophy belts
Lauren A. Dienes-Middlen is listed as the Attorney of Record on the application.
WWE last ran Tables, Ladders & Chairs as a dedicated premium live event on 20 December 2020, where Randy Orton defeated 'The Fiend' in a Firefly Inferno match. A regular on WWE's calendar since 2009, TLC was kept off the schedule for 2021 and isn't on the docket for 2022 either.
TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs To Make A Comeback?
Whether or not the trademark means TLC will make a comeback as a premium live event remains to be seen. The new application could be a straightforward case of the promotion looking to secure the rights to TLC for archival reasons, as its previous trademark for "TLC Tables Ladders Chairs" was cancelled in September 2019.
Recent reporting points towards WWE and Paul 'Triple H' Levesque scaling back on WWE's gimmick-focused premium live events. This is despite this year's Survivor Series events being built around WarGames, which makes the jump from NXT to the main roster.
Nonetheless, Levesque is believed to be scrapped Hell In A Cell as an annual concept, opting instead to save the stipulation for feuds and storylines that demand it. It'll be interesting to see if this applies to other gimmick matches as well.