Since Scott D’Amore’s release from TNA Wrestling in February, there was speculation as to what his future in the professional wrestling industry would be – or, for some, if he would return to the industry at all.
Recent trademark filings in Canada and the United States seem to shed some light on the situation. Based on these, it looks like D’Amore intends to make his return imminently.
On April 24th, the corporation Maple Leaf Wrestling Inc. applied for the trademark for the term “Maple Leaf Wrestling.” This followed a similar application made in the United States on April 16th.
Notably, the company Maple Leaf Wrestling Inc. is owned by D’Amore, and it shares the same address in Windsor, Ontario, Canada as D’Amore’s Border City Wrestling, and his other business ventures under the D’Amore Group umbrella.
In both countries, the applications were to register the term for use in a variety of wrestling-related contexts.
In terms of Services, this includes: entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; (live, personal, and televised) appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing online interviews featuring professional wrestlers and sports entertainers in the field of professional wrestling; and sports entertainment for entertainment purposes.
In terms of Goods, the applications outlined the following clothing-related items: hats; shirts; socks; bandanas; shirts and short-sleeved shirts; sweatshirts; clothing jackets; and hooded sweatshirts.
While not definitive – D’Amore has not made any public statement to date on the filings or his intentions – it is possible that this could mark the launch of a new wrestling promotion by D’Amore. He currently owns an existing company, Border City Wrestling, but that show holds shows only occasionally; the last event was its special 30th Anniversary event in September 2023.
The reference to news, interviews and sports entertainment also leaves the door open for D’Amore to utilize his extensive video tape library, possibly for a TV or other kind of streaming show, featuring matches from yesteryear.
D’Amore owns the rights to the library of Maple Leaf Wrestling, which was formerly owned by late Toronto promoter Jack Tunney; D’Amore acquired the library in 2012 from previous owner Aaron Weiss, who bought it from Ed Tunney, the son of Frank Tunney, who inherited the rights upon the death of his cousin, Jack. That footage, which was pre-WWF, is known to include matches featuring legends like Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Roddy Piper, Andre the Giant, and Bret Hart (wrestling at that time under the name Buddy Hart).
In addition, D’Amore owns the rights to all of Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling, some Grand Prix Wrestling from Montreal footage, and part of the library from the classic Superstars of Wrestling show originally presented by George Cannon.
Stay tuned to SlamWrestling.net for further developments.
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