Prior to departing WWE in March of this year, Nikki Garcia was expecting to talk to WWE about using her ring name (Nikki Bella) outside of the company. Instead, she received a legal letter.
Speaking on the latest edition of her “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast, the former WWE “Diva” said WWE refused to talk to her about any potential arrangement for her and her sister to continue to use the “Bella” name. She said,
“There was never even a conversation. I think a lot of us, we thought, ‘Oh, maybe there will be a conversation because we have such a huge brand,’ and we were actually making WWE a lot of money. So we actually thought there was gonna be a conversation of, ‘Okay, you guys aren’t re-signing. Let’s talk about the name. Maybe when you do future projects, we take a percentage, you keep the name.’”
She continued, “I’ll be honest, I got a lawyer letter four hours before my contact was ending. They were seizing it all. I keep that letter in my office so I can always see it and just know that, as I enter this new chapter, it’s like I get to see what wasn’t even talked about [with] something I built for 20 years, but I know that I have the power as a woman to build something else for the next 20 years. It was upsetting because we were attached, but also I get a business, like, ‘Hey, this is our platform.’ I get it, I’m very understanding in that way. That is their IP. But we would have continued to have built that if there was a talk.”
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Former WWE wrestler Nikki Garcia, better known by her ring name Nikki Bella, recently revealed that she had hoped to discuss the use of her ring name outside of the company with WWE before her departure in March. However, instead of a conversation, she received a legal letter from the company.
During an episode of her podcast “Not Skinny But Not Fat,” Nikki Bella expressed her disappointment with WWE’s refusal to discuss any potential arrangements for her and her sister Brie Bella to continue using the “Bella” name. She mentioned that they believed their brand and the money they generated for WWE would warrant a conversation about the name.
Nikki Bella explained, “There was never even a conversation. I think a lot of us, we thought, ‘Oh, maybe there will be a conversation because we have such a huge brand,’ and we were actually making WWE a lot of money. So we actually thought there was gonna be a conversation of, ‘Okay, you guys aren’t re-signing. Let’s talk about the name. Maybe when you do future projects, we take a percentage, you keep the name.'”
However, instead of a conversation, Nikki Bella received a lawyer’s letter just four hours before her contract was ending. The letter indicated that WWE was seizing control of her ring name and all associated rights. Despite the disappointment, Nikki Bella acknowledged that WWE has the right to protect its intellectual property but expressed her frustration at not having the opportunity to discuss the matter.
She stated, “It was upsetting because we were attached, but also I get a business, like, ‘Hey, this is our platform.’ I get it, I’m very understanding in that way. That is their IP. But we would have continued to have built that if there was a talk.”
Nikki Bella’s revelation sheds light on the complexities of intellectual property rights in the world of professional wrestling. While wrestlers often build their personas and brands using their ring names, these names are typically owned by the wrestling promotions they work for. This situation can create challenges for wrestlers who want to continue using their ring names after leaving a company.
As Nikki Bella embarks on a new chapter in her career, she remains determined to build something new and impactful for the next 20 years. Despite the disappointment of not being able to retain her ring name, she recognizes her power as a woman to create and establish a new brand.
In conclusion, Nikki Bella’s experience with WWE highlights the importance of understanding intellectual property rights in the wrestling industry. Wrestlers must navigate these legal complexities as they build their careers and brands.