The Cody Rhodes American Nightmare lawsuit was a federal trademark and breach-of-contract case brought in September 2024 by musician Wesley Eisold against Rhodes, WWE, and merchandise partner Fanatics. Eisold alleged that WWE apparel bearing the phrase “American Nightmare” violated a 2021 settlement he had signed with Rhodes over the same name. The parties reached a settlement in principle on November 11, 2025, with terms not disclosed.1Post Wrestling. Settlement Reached in Wesley Eisold’s American Nightmare Lawsuit Against Cody Rhodes, WWE, and Fanatics
Who Wesley Eisold Is and Why He Owns the Mark
Eisold is the frontman of the Boston hardcore band American Nightmare. In 2016, he registered “American Nightmare” as a trademark covering music, clothing, and entertainment services.2Yahoo Entertainment. Cody Rhodes, WWE, Fanatics Sued Over American Nightmare Trademark
Rhodes, whose legal name is Cody Garrett Runnels, wrestles as “The American Nightmare,” a play on his father Dusty Rhodes’ “American Dream” persona. When Rhodes applied to register the phrase as his own trademark in March 2019, Eisold opposed the application. The two sides negotiated a settlement finalized in March 2021.2Yahoo Entertainment. Cody Rhodes, WWE, Fanatics Sued Over American Nightmare Trademark
The 2021 Agreement That Set the Rules
Under that deal, Rhodes could not register “The American Nightmare” himself but could sell merchandise bearing the phrase. He paid Eisold $30,000.3Cageside Seats. Cody Rhodes, WWE, Fanatics Sued Over American Nightmare Trademark The key condition: any merchandise using the phrase had to prominently show Rhodes’ name, likeness, or substantial wrestling imagery, and those identifying elements had to appear at a size at least 75% larger than the “American Nightmare” text.4Boston Herald. Boston Hardcore Punk Band Singer Wesley Eisold Sues WWE Wrestler Cody Rhodes The agreement was signed while Rhodes was still with All Elite Wrestling.5Post Wrestling. WWE Fanatics Attorneys Argue Cody Rhodes Neck Tattoo Is Part of His Likeness in Motion to Dismiss
What Eisold Claimed WWE and Fanatics Did Wrong
Filed September 4, 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the complaint alleged that WWE and Fanatics were selling shirts featuring “American Nightmare” with minimal or no wrestling identifiers, breaking the 75% size rule.6Bleeding Cool. American Nightmare Band Sues WWE Over Trademark Dispute Eisold’s attorneys singled out a “Crown” design shirt whose only wrestling reference, they said, was a small WWE logo on the sleeve.7Stereogum. Wesley Eisold Sues Cody Rhodes, WWE, Fanatics Over American Nightmare Trademark The complaint also said the design mimicked the band’s own tour merchandise, and cited real-world confusion: social media users tagging the band’s accounts when discussing the wrestler’s gear, and fans wearing Rhodes shirts to American Nightmare concerts.3Cageside Seats. Cody Rhodes, WWE, Fanatics Sued Over American Nightmare Trademark
Eisold said his lawyers had raised the issue with Rhodes’ representatives as early as 2022 and sent cease-and-desist letters to both Rhodes and Fanatics before suing.3Cageside Seats. Cody Rhodes, WWE, Fanatics Sued Over American Nightmare Trademark Against Rhodes, he brought claims for breach of contract, federal trademark infringement, and California trademark infringement. Against WWE and Fanatics, he added inducing breach of contract and intentional interference with contractual relations. He sought $900,000 in damages, an injunction against further sales, attorney’s fees, and a jury trial.8PWInsider. WWE, Cody Rhodes, Fanatics Sued Over American Nightmare Trademark
How the Defendants Answered
WWE and Fanatics moved to dismiss, with Rhodes joining in support.9Sports Illustrated. WWE Responds to Lawsuit Involving Cody Rhodes Their central argument was that the shirts already carried Rhodes’ skull logo, which they said counted as both part of his likeness and as wrestling indicia. Attorneys pointed out that Rhodes has the skull tattooed on his neck and that fans widely associate the mark with him as a wrestler. The skull is also itself a registered trademark used for wrestling purposes.5Post Wrestling. WWE Fanatics Attorneys Argue Cody Rhodes Neck Tattoo Is Part of His Likeness in Motion to Dismiss
WWE separately claimed it had no prior knowledge of the 2021 agreement, which was signed while Rhodes was still under contract with AEW.9Sports Illustrated. WWE Responds to Lawsuit Involving Cody Rhodes
The November 2025 Settlement
On November 11, 2025, the parties told the court they had reached a settlement in principle. The terms were not disclosed.10F4WOnline. Settlement Reached in Cody Rhodes American Nightmare Trademark Lawsuit They asked the court to stay and administratively close the case while a written agreement was drafted, and said they expected to file a joint stipulation of dismissal within 90 days. As of that date, the court had not yet ruled on the request, and no formal dismissal had been filed.1Post Wrestling. Settlement Reached in Wesley Eisold’s American Nightmare Lawsuit Against Cody Rhodes, WWE, and Fanatics