Kingston's New Brand Future
Kofi Kingston Files New Trademarks, Signaling Extensive Post-WWE Brand Expansion
Key Points
The filings explicitly include hooded sweatshirts in the apparel category, expanding beyond the more commonly listed shirts and sweatshirts.
Kingston and Austin Creed reportedly exited WWE at the start of May, with an animated video commemorating their exits released in late July, signaling a transition phase and potential future projects.
Industry outlets flag the possibility of Kingston heading to AEW, though nothing has been confirmed yet.
The initials 'KSM' align with his real name, Kofi Sarkodie-Mensah, potentially enabling a concise, cross-platform brand to cover merchandise and media.
Former WWE Champion Kofi Kingston has filed two trademark applications — one for "KSM" and one for his legal name, "Kofi Sarkodie-Mensah" — with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, according to PWMania and WrestleZone. The filings cover both merchandise and a wide range of entertainment services, signaling a deliberate move to build a post-WWE brand.
Kingston and his longtime tag team partner Austin Creed — known in WWE as Xavier Woods — left WWE at the start of May. The move has sparked growing speculation about where the duo will land next, with WhatCulture noting that All Elite Wrestling is among the possibilities being discussed.
What the Two Trademark Filings Actually Cover
The applications cover a broad slate of goods and services. On the merchandise side, they include shirts, hooded sweatshirts, hats, bandanas, and socks, according to TPWW. That apparel list goes beyond what most trademark filings in wrestling typically include.
The entertainment services side is equally wide. The filings cover live wrestling events, televised appearances, online interviews, and the right to provide wrestling news and information online, per AOL. Together, the two applications would give Kingston a legal umbrella for nearly any media or merchandise project he pursues.
"KSM" Initials Build a Concise Cross-Platform Identity
The initials "KSM" map directly to his real name: Kofi Sarkodie-Mensah. That alignment is no accident. A short, three-letter brand is easy to put on merchandise, social media handles, and show branding. PWMania noted the initials could support a unified identity across both merchandise and media.
Using his real name, rather than his WWE-owned ring name, gives Kingston full legal control over his identity as he builds outside of WWE. It is a common strategy for wrestlers leaving large promotions who want to work across multiple platforms without legal restrictions.
Kingston and Creed's Exit From WWE Sets the Stage
Kingston and Austin Creed departed WWE at the start of May 2025. In late July, WWE released an animated video marking their exits — a sign the company formally acknowledged their departure, according to WhatCulture. That video also signaled a transition phase, with both men now free to pursue outside work.
The timing of the trademark filings lines up with that transition. Filing for both a nickname and a legal name suggests Kingston is thinking carefully about how to brand himself across different platforms and audiences going forward.
AEW Speculation Grows but Nothing Is Confirmed
Multiple outlets have flagged AEW as a possible destination. WhatCulture reported that Kingston and Creed "may appear in All Elite Wrestling either at or just either side of" a major company event. No deal has been announced by either party.
The trademark filings do not point to any single promotion. They are broad enough to cover independent wrestling, podcasting, merchandise, and streaming — giving Kingston flexibility to work with AEW, another promotion, or entirely on his own terms. Exact plans remain unconfirmed.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativePublishers
10
Articles
3
Reach
13
