World Wrestling Entertainment Preventing The Use of "Dudley" Names
On Saturday, August 27, 2005 at 3:27 PM EST According to early reports, World Wrestling Entertainment is preventing Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley from using those names since leaving the company this year. What led many to feel this was taking place was when the website for WrestleReunion listed both as "Team 3D" instead of their usual names. The same applies to the Hardcore Homecoming website, although neither are referred to by their wrestling names.
The word making the rounds at this time is that although the original story was that Paul Heyman signed over trademark rights to both Bubba Ray & D-Von to use the Dudley names, they never filed for trademark protection. WWE currently owns the trademarks on the "Bubba Ray Dudley" and "D-Von Dudley" names as well as the "Dudley Boyz."
We hope to have more on this developing situation very soon.
Credit: Bob Ryder @ 1wrestling.com