AEW Files Trademarks For "Forbidden Door" & "Forbidden Portal"

As first reported by Heel By Nature, All Elite Wrestling filed to trademark "Forbidden Door" and "Forbidden Portal" on February 8 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The trademarks were filed for entertainment and merchandise services. 

The description of the filings is as follows: 

"IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: Bandanas; Hats; Headwear; Pants; Shirts; Shorts; Socks; Sweatshirts; Undergarments; Jackets; T-shirts

"IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Educational and entertainment services, namely, a continuing program about wrestling accessible by radio, television, satellite, audio, video and computer networks; Entertainment services in the nature of development, creation, production, distribution, and post-production of wrestling programs and events; Entertainment services in the nature of live wrestling performances; Entertainment services in the nature of production of wrestling programs and events; Entertainment services, namely, production and distribution of ongoing television programs in the field of wrestling; Entertainment services, namely, providing ongoing webisodes featuring wrestling via a global computer network; Entertainment services, namely, an ongoing multimedia program featuring wrestling distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; Entertainment services, namely, an ongoing series featuring wrestling provided through a global computer network" 

The forbidden door came to represent the relationship between NJPW and AEW during the build to Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chris Jericho at Wrestle Kingdom 14. Tanahashi was interviewed by Tokyo Sports ahead of the match and declared he wanted an AEW World Title shot if he defeated Le Champion, saying, "He's their champion, isn't he? If I win and he says, 'One more time,' I can say, 'Then put the belt on it.' Then the forbidden door will open."

While the relationship between New Japan and AEW would remain shut following the match, the forbidden door was recently knocked off its hinges and both sides have formed a working relationship.