There’s a battle brewing over who can call themselves ‘The Man’

Yesterday (Aug. 30), PWInsider reported Ric Flair applied for the trademark on “The Man”. Wrestling Inc found the application, where Flair’s LLC said the term would be used for:

“Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions, live appearances and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered live and through broadcast media, namely, television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; Providing a website in the field of sports entertainment; Fan club services; organizing and staging entertainment events with wrestling fan club members; Providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; Online journals, namely, blogs, in the fields of sports entertainment.”

Calling oneself “The Man” is something that’s been going on a long time. It’s a boast wherever there’s competition and/or testosterone. And while I’m not positive he was the first to use it in pro wrestling promo, it certainly became synonymous with the Nature Boy in interviews like this one:

But... in the past year, a current star of the squared circle claimed the title en route to a winning two titles, the Royal Rumble, and a WrestleMania main event. Becky Lynch also ruffled a few feathers because she did all those things while calling herself “The Man”, irrespective of being a woman.

And the Raw Women’s champ doesn’t seem to agree that Naitch can lay claim to the moniker:

Not that he cares (WOO):

Probably time for WWE’s lawyers to do some stylin’ and profilin’.

Stay tuned.