WWE has made a new move to trademark the Spike Dudley name, just days after Matthew Hyson withdrew his own application.

The company submitted its filing on November 6, covering wrestling performances, entertainment services and online content. Hyson, who portrayed Spike Dudley in ECW and WWE, had been seeking to register the name for action figures.

WWE’s application includes the following description:

“Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered live and through broadcast media including 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 information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment.”

Hyson submitted his application on May 13, and it was published for opposition on August 25. WWE was then granted a 90-day extension on September 25, giving the company until December 23 to decide whether to oppose the registration.

However, Hyson filed an express abandonment on November 1. According to US Patent and Trademark Office records, the application was officially marked abandoned the following day. WWE submitted its own filing four days later.

The reason behind Hyson’s decision to withdraw has not been confirmed.

This is not the first time he has attempted to register the name. In November 2005, a few months after leaving WWE, Hyson applied to trademark Spike Dudley for wrestling services. That application was refused because of WWE’s existing Dudley Boyz registration and was eventually abandoned in January 2007.

Now 56 and retired from wrestling, Hyson works in financial services. His Spike Dudley character originated in ECW before he joined WWE in 2001. WWE later acquired ECW’s assets in 2003.

During his WWE run, which ended in 2005, Hyson won the Cruiserweight and European Championships once each, held the Hardcore Championship eight times and captured the WWF Tag Team Championship alongside Tazz.

He also competed in TNA as Brother Runt, returning under that name at Bound for Glory in October 2025. That appearance saw him come to the ring before Team 3D faced The Hardys in their “One Final Table” match.

D-Von Dudley also voiced his support for Hyson in February, calling on Triple H to induct his former Dudley family partner into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Would you like to see Spike Dudley receive a WWE Hall of Fame induction? Share your thoughts in the comments.