Kofi Kingston Files Interesting New Trademark Applications (AEW News)

Say goodbye to WWE Superstar Kofi Kingston. Say hello to...

by Michael Hamflett
New Day Kofi Kingston Xavier Woods
WWE.com

With rumours swirling about the next move for the artists formerly known as the New Day, ex-member Kofi Kingston has taken another big step forward in whatever new frontier awaits.

A speculation builds that Kingston (real name Kofi Sarkodie-Mensah) and stablemate Xavier Woods (real name Austin Creed) could appear in All Elite Wrestling either at or just either side of the company's enormous All In: London show on August 30th, Kofi has taken legal control of his own name for use in a wrestling contact.

Per trademark applications via the United States Patent and Trademark Office (h/t Wrestling Observer/FWOnline) on August 11th, the former WWE Champion has locked down "KSM" and "Kofi Sarkodi-Mensah" for, amongst other things, "Shirts; Sweatshirts; Hooded sweatshirts; Hats; Bandanas; Socks....Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Providing online interviews featuring professional wrestler and sports entertainer in the field of professional wrestling and sports entertainment for entertainment purposes".

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Amidst the various discussions around what the pair might do next or where they'd go had been what exactly they'd go by. Woods has gone by real name Austin Creed on his UpUpDownDown channel for years, which has crossed over into various other outside interests he's pursued in the time. Kingston has used his real first name when going down similar avenues, and this will evidently continue now both are no longer working for the market leader.

Though not yet officially All Elite, the probable future WWE Hall-Of-Famers have been announced as "Super Massive Guest Captains" on the upcoming Jericho Cruise. As of writing, Kofi's last match was an April 17th 2026 SmackDown defeat alongside Grayson Waller against Damian Priest and R-Truth. Woods' goes back even further, but a January dark match alongside Kingston and Waller also ended in defeat, this time against Shinsuke Nakamura and the also-since-departed Motor City Machine Guns.

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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation for nearly 10 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with over 70,000,000 total downloads. Within the podcasting space, he also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House! and Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana, 411Mania and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has provided in-person coverage of some of the biggest pay-per-views and Premium Live Events in wrestling history, including WrestleMania, Survivor Series, All In & Double Or Nothing in destinations such as New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in music and culture magazines The Crack, Pilot as well as Sunderland AFC's premiere fanzine A Love Supreme. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it every other Saturday at the Stadium Of Light, and at Cribs gigs nationwide.