Bryan Danielson has revealed that WWE recently contacted him with a direct order to stop using the “Yes!” chant, a signature part of his on-screen persona for over a decade. The former world champion shared the information during a special panel appearance at Starrcast.
This move by WWE appears to be the culmination of a business effort to secure the popular intellectual property. The company filed two separate trademark applications for the phrase “YES YES YES” in 2024. This followed a previously abandoned attempt by Danielson himself to trademark the chant.
The instruction from his former employer adds a new dynamic to Danielson’s current position within the wrestling industry. Although he concluded his full-time in-ring career in late 2024, Danielson remains an active on-screen personality.
He currently serves in a creative capacity backstage for both AEW and Ring of Honor. With WWE now enforcing its trademark, how Danielson interacts with live crowds during any future appearances could be significantly altered.