Spike Dudley Inks WWE Legends Deal Following Trademark Resolution

Matthew Hyson, best known to wrestling fans as Spike Dudley, has announced via Facebook that he has signed a WWE Legends deal. Hyson indicated that new merchandise is forthcoming, though WWE had not yet publicly confirmed the agreement at the time of writing.

The signing arrives shortly after WWE moved to secure the “Spike Dudley” trademark. The company filed an application on November 6 covering wrestling services and online content, roughly one week after Hyson abandoned his own filing for the name. Hyson had originally applied in May for rights related to action figures; following a 90-day extension granted to WWE in late September, he formally withdrew his application on November 1, per U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records. WWE submitted its own application shortly thereafter.

This was not Hyson’s first attempt to claim the name. He sought to register “Spike Dudley” for wrestling services in 2005 after departing WWE, but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office refused the application due to WWE’s existing “Dudley Boyz” registration. Hyson abandoned that effort in 2007.

Spike Dudley’s career

Hyson performed for WWE between 2001 and 2005 under the Spike Dudley persona, which originated in ECW. During his tenure, he captured the Cruiserweight Championship, European Championship, and Hardcore Championship, and also won the WWF Tag Team Championship alongside Tazz. He later appeared in TNA as Brother Runt.

Now 56 and retired from in-ring competition, Hyson works in financial services. His most recent wrestling appearance took place at TNA Bound for Glory in October 2025, when he accompanied Team 3D to the ring for their “One Final Table” match against The Hardys. Earlier this year, D-Von Dudley publicly urged Triple H to induct Hyson into the WWE Hall of Fame.

WWE recently extended a similar Legends agreement to Necro Butcher in October, despite the fact that Butcher never competed for the promotion.

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