Ric Flair Files Trademark On “The Man,” Demands Royalties From WWE

Ric Flair filed a trademark on the nickname “The Man,” staking his claim to the popular title. WWE RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch had been using the term since late-2018 into 2019, leading to WWE releasing merchandise.

Flair recently spoke to TMZ Sports about the filing, saying that the reason why WWE doesn’t have a trademark on Lynch’s usage of “The Man” is because it’s too close to the Nature Boy’s “To Be The Man, You’ve Got To Beat The Man” catchphrase.

Flair had some choice words when he spoke to TMZ:

“When I first saw this go down in August 2018, I thought, ‘Cool. The Man. My gimmick vs. My daughter Charlotte.’  It started, right after SummerSlam. I said, ‘I’m gonna make some money. My trademark.’ I’ve been saying it since 1981. I got my royalty statement and I sent them a text, and their lawyer, who has no respect for me whatsoever, said, ‘You’re wrong. It’s not even close.’ I said “It’s not even close?” I sent him a text and he didn’t respond. I had my lawyer call him and he blew off my lawyer. This is all in 2018, or January 2019. I told Hunter, ‘I’m gonna file.’ The reason they don’t have it is because it’s too close to mine. I have ‘To Be The Man’ trademarked.”