In 2000, the World Wide Fund for Nature sued the World Wrestling Federation for unfair trade practice as both parties had been using the "WWF" initials.
In May 2002, the World Wrestling Federation officially became World Wrestling Entertainment.
"When this lawsuit was filed, we tried to fight it, as we do most lawsuits. It looked like, 'Wait. We're not gonna win this thing.' They had, in fact, used the initials WWF long before we did. So it changed from WWF to WWE because we were entertainment. It wasn't necessarily a good thing that we had to change our name. I didn't want to change, but you can't do anything about it. Once something is closed, you have to move on. Whenever there is a failure, and there've been a lot of failures in my life, if you allow it to fester like, 'I wish that would have worked. If I'd have done this, that would've worked.' It'll drive you nuts. Let it freaking go and think about something positive and work at something positive, not anything that's negative," Vince McMahon said on "Mr. McMahon."
WWE started the campaign to "Get the F out" in changing from WWF to WWE.
In having to change the name, initials, and logo, WWE had to edit references to WWF on archived footage.
Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, filed a lawsuit in January against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis. The lawsuit accuses McMahon of sexual assault and sex trafficking. On May 30, Grant agreed to pause the lawsuit for six months while the federal investigation continued against McMahon, who resigned from TKO/WWE following the lawsuit being filed.
Victim Resources:
National Sexual Assault Hotline
Hours: Available 24 hours
1-800-656-4673
