Well folks, it seems WWE is cracking open a cold one and tightening its grip on one of the most iconic catchphrases in wrestling history—Austin 3:16! Yes, that’s right, WWE has filed an updated trademark for Stone Cold Steve Austin’s famous line, because apparently, owning it since 1999 just wasn’t enough.
Now, you might be wondering, “Didn’t they already have this locked down during the Attitude Era when Stone Cold was handing out stunners like candy?” Well, you’re right. But as it turns out, the original trademark only covered “live and televised performances,” and WWE, being the business-savvy machine that it is, wants to expand that coverage. This time, the trademark filing is aiming to include “exhibitions, performances, wrestling news,” and basically anything else you can slap “Austin 3:16” on—including, we imagine, future merch that’ll fly off the shelves faster than a Stone Cold Stunner to Vince McMahon.
This move comes as part of a larger trend in wrestling’s trademark battles. Over on the AEW side, Chris Jericho is trying to lock down “Hi guys!” (because why not?), and AEW itself is eyeing “Shockwave” for a potential TV show, perhaps for Fox. WWE, meanwhile, is also looking to secure a trademark for its new star, Giulia. But the real headline? The return of the “Texas Rattlesnake” to the paperwork battleground.
Interestingly enough, this trademark filing could also hint at something more. While Stone Cold hasn’t been a regular presence since his epic WrestleMania 32 match against Kevin Owens (where he stunned everyone—literally), the renewed interest in “Austin 3:16” suggests the relationship between WWE and its beer-swigging Hall of Famer is still as frosty as ever (in a good way). And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, Stone Cold could come back for one more match. If the stars align, and the beer flows, of course.
Until then, WWE is making sure no one forgets that “Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your ***!”—and that they own the rights to it, in case you were wondering.