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question for the blog

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Godfather is getting back into indy wrestling. He will work as Godafther or Papa Shango. Goldust works indys as Goldust as well.
 
My question is how does this work? Does WWE not care about ex employees using old gimmicks?
 
thanks
 
rancho king

Short answer, no they don't care.  Long answer, it depends on the contract they signed and whether the person has the rights to their own gimmick and whether they're on good or bad terms with WWE and a zillion other reasons.  Generally they've got everyone important from that era under some sort of Legends agreement and they'll look the other way.

Comments

  1. jdg9September 27, 2013 at 1:57 PM

    In addition to what Scott said it probably depends on where they wrestle. They may be fine with Dustin wrestling as Golddust in an indy. They probably wouldn't be ok if he wrestled in TNA as Golddust.

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  2. theJawasSeptember 27, 2013 at 2:29 PM

    Agreed on the Usos, lol.

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  3. Ripner CabbitSeptember 27, 2013 at 2:30 PM

    As long as they aren't working TV/DVD/iPPV indy shows I don't think the WWE cares.

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  4. Biscuit!September 27, 2013 at 2:58 PM

    MVP wrestles as MVP in Japan, so I suppose they're pretty lenient.

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  5. NoCashSeptember 27, 2013 at 3:32 PM

    I'm sure there's rules to it. Goldust can't drink blood and the Godfather can't fuck one of his hoes in the ring. That sort of thing.

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  6. Stuart_ChartockSeptember 27, 2013 at 3:49 PM

    The Dudleys say "hi".

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  7. Not Garret BischoffSeptember 27, 2013 at 3:52 PM

    He would have to wrestle as Black Reign

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  8. Stuart_ChartockSeptember 27, 2013 at 3:55 PM

    As Scott said, as long as WWE can profit off of them (through the "legends" deals), and they don't use the gimmick on any sort of broadcasted competitor's show, Vince probably doesn't/shouldn't care.

    Plus, it CAN end-up benefitting Vince - if I go to a show and remember how cool Godfather was back in the day, then I may be tempted to buy a piece of WWE-licensed "legends" memorabilia.

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  9. OfficerFarvaSeptember 27, 2013 at 4:08 PM

    If "Rancho King" isnt a porn name, I dont know what is.

    #jealous

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  10. dirtyearsbillSeptember 27, 2013 at 4:10 PM

    Somebody please book Papa Shango vs. Colt Cabana.

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  11. Mister_E_MahnSeptember 27, 2013 at 4:31 PM

    I've always assumed that it was written into the legends deals that they are allowed to work their gimmick on non-televised shows, or something similar.
    I'd be surprised if they simply look the other way knowingly. Lawyers don't like that sort of thing, and intellectual property is sort of a thing these days moreso than ever.

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  12. Nick PiersSeptember 27, 2013 at 5:23 PM

    Shane Helms wrestles all the time on the indies as The Hurricane, in full costume and all. That one surprises me more than Papa Shango or Golddust.


    On a related note, I'm surprised they haven't tried bringing him back (if he'd even be interested). The marketing towards kids would make The Hurricane gimmick a pretty good seller, I imagine.

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  13. kbjoneSeptember 27, 2013 at 5:28 PM

    The Dudleys changed their name without a lawsuit IIRC...

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  14. Devin HarrisSeptember 27, 2013 at 5:38 PM

    So what was the deal with that? Did they have to give up the rights to the name in order for the WWE to sign them?

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  15. Adam WrightSeptember 27, 2013 at 5:39 PM

    My understanding from various interviews I've read is that OFFICIALLY a huge number of gimmicks belong to the WWE either because they came up with them (Godfather, Goldust) or they bought the rights to them (Dudley Boyz, etc) however WWE is perfectly fine with performers using their previous gimmicks to find work as long as it only for a company that doesn't have a tv deal in the US.
    Even if the wrestler doesn't appear on tv, the fact that the company has a tv deal means they are out, which is why you can have Shelton Benjamin appearing in ROH but you can't get Hardcore Holly, instead he's had to trademark his name as Bob Holly instead.

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  16. PhredericSeptember 27, 2013 at 6:23 PM

    He might own it, or maybe they have good relations with Japan.

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  17. Charismatic e-Negro Jef VinsonSeptember 27, 2013 at 6:58 PM

    From what I understood Heyman gave them the name but they never trademarked them, so Vince swooped in and did it.

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  18. Devin HarrisSeptember 27, 2013 at 7:50 PM

    Dang! I can't fault Vince but that still sounds a tad shady; although, it probably doesn't rank on the Vince shady scale.

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  19. NewKidsOnTheBlogSeptember 27, 2013 at 9:45 PM

    But in Japan it stands for Malcolm Victorious Paltrow.

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  20. kbjoneSeptember 27, 2013 at 10:29 PM

    Nailed it... and apparently Heyman said he HAD done the legal work on the Dudley name... but no luck for them.


    (Allegation made by the Dudleys, someone else probably knows exactly where it came from. RF Shoot?)

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  21. Eric GriffithSeptember 27, 2013 at 10:56 PM

    Hurricane is awesome. It would fit so well with the current product. It's a shame WWE never took full advantage.

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  22. AmericanWolves02September 28, 2013 at 12:02 AM

    I heard MVP say in a couple interviews that he owns the MVP gimmick.

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  23. Gavin LopezSeptember 28, 2013 at 12:44 AM

    Why would Goldust drink blood? Are you thinking of Gangrel?

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