Will Ospreay Owns Rights To United Empire Name & Gimmick

It seems that Will Ospreay owns the United Empire, both on-and-off screen.

Although Ospreay created the faction whilst part of New Japan Pro-Wrestling - with Callum Newman now heading the group in NJPW - the AEW World Champion leads his own branch of the group in All Elite Wrestling.

A report from Fightful Select states that this is possible due to Ospreay owning the trademark to United Empire, having trademarked the name in April 2026 with help from Michael Dockins. The report claims that Ospreay has the freedom to do what he wants with the name.

The case of the United Empire in AEW is certainly interesting, as the Jay White helmed Bang Bang Gang are so-named for trademark reasons, with NJPW holding the rights to Bullet Club - of which the BBG are an off-shoot. The Bang Bang Gang were originally called Bullet Club Gold before quietly dropping that moniker.

Since lifting the AEW World Championship at All In, Ospreay has pressed ahead with forming his own United Empire in AEW, recruiting ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey, Alex Windsor, and Jamie Hayter, whilst also retaining the services of established UE members Andrade el Idolo, and Francesco Akira, the latter working dates for both NJPW and AEW.