Why Will Ospreay Can Use United Empire In AEW: He Owns The Trademark
Will Ospreay owns the United Empire trademark, which is why he can use the group's name, logo, and theme in AEW, according to Fightful Select. He registered the trademark in April with attorney Michael Dockins, and the faction has since appeared more often in AEW with members such as Callum Newman, Mike Bailey, and Andrade El Idolo. NJPW still uses the United Empire name, and Ospreay is set to defend the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships on October 12.
Will Ospreay secured the United Empire trademark himself in April, working with patent attorney Michael Dockins, according to Fightful Select. AEW sources said that ownership lets him decide how the name, logo, and entrance music are used, which helps explain the faction's increased presence on AEW programming.
The group now includes Callum Newman, Mike Bailey, and Andrade El Idolo, among others. NJPW continues to use United Empire, though it is unconfirmed whether a deal with Ospreay was required. A prior example involved Bullet Club Gold, which became Bang Bang Gang because NJPW owned the Bullet Club mark. Ospreay is scheduled to defend the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles on October 12.
This development may affect wrestlers and promotions by highlighting how individual talent can control faction branding, potentially giving performers more leverage in cross-promotional appearances. Fans could see more stable continuity across AEW and NJPW programming, though rights arrangements may remain complex. It may also encourage talent to secure trademarks earlier, shaping how wrestling groups are managed and marketed.