Will Ospreay’s United Empire has become a far more visible part of AEW programming during 2026, bringing a group with deep New Japan Pro-Wrestling roots into a second major promotion. The appearances of Francesco Akira, HENARE and current United Empire leader Callum Newman have made the crossover especially notable, while Mike Bailey and Andrade El Idolo have also been connected to the faction’s AEW-side direction.
That expansion naturally created a key question: how has Ospreay been able to use the United Empire name, presentation and theme music in AEW when the stable was established in NJPW?
The reported answer is that Ospreay, rather than NJPW, owns the United Empire trademark.
AEW sources have indicated that Ospreay trademarked the United Empire name in April with assistance from patent attorney Michael Dockins. With Ospreay holding the trademark, he is reportedly able to use the name as he chooses, including on AEW television. That ownership provides an explanation for why United Empire has been featured with greater prominence in AEW throughout the year despite its history as an NJPW faction.
For more background on this topic, read Místico vs. El Desperado Announced for NJPW x CMLL Lucha Kingdom.
A New Japan Group With an AEW Presence
United Empire has long been tied to Ospreay’s New Japan career. The group was formed around him in NJPW and developed into one of the promotion’s established units, with its lineup changing over time while maintaining its international identity. Ospreay’s move into AEW did not end his connection to the stable, and 2026 has instead seen the group’s profile stretch across promotions.
Akira, HENARE and Newman have all appeared in AEW as part of that ongoing association. Newman’s involvement is particularly significant because he is identified as the new leader of United Empire, illustrating that the group’s story in Japan and its activity around Ospreay in AEW are not being treated as entirely separate entities.
The distinction matters. A wrestling stable can be a central part of a performer’s identity, but the legal rights to a name are a different issue from where the group was created or where it is most closely associated. United Empire originated in NJPW, yet the reported trademark ownership means Ospreay is in a position to carry that brand into AEW.
That does not mean NJPW has stopped using the name. The company continues to present United Empire, including in connection with its championships and scheduled events. What has not been confirmed is whether NJPW reached a specific agreement with Ospreay to continue using the trademarked name. The available information establishes that NJPW still uses United Empire, but does not establish the terms under which it does so.
Why the Trademark Detail Is Important
In professional wrestling, a name’s history does not always determine who controls it. Promotions frequently own the intellectual property associated with their characters, teams and factions. At other times, performers retain ownership or acquire it themselves. Those differences can have major consequences when a wrestler changes companies or works across more than one organization.
Ospreay’s reported ownership gives United Empire a different position from some other NJPW-created brands that have later appeared in AEW. The group can be presented under its familiar name rather than needing an altered label for American television. That continuity is valuable for an act with an existing history, established imagery and a fan base that has followed its developments in Japan.
The use of the group’s recognizable name, logo and theme helps preserve that continuity. Rather than asking viewers to treat Ospreay’s AEW allies as a wholly new faction, the presentation allows AEW to draw directly on the United Empire identity that fans already know from NJPW.
It also helps explain why the recent appearances have felt like more than occasional guest spots. United Empire members are not simply appearing around Ospreay without context; the stable’s branding has been a defined part of its AEW presentation. The trademark situation appears to give Ospreay freedom to make that connection explicit.
The Contrast With Bullet Club Gold
The situation has been compared to the path taken by Jay White and Juice Robinson after they introduced Bullet Club Gold in 2023. Bullet Club, like United Empire, was created in NJPW and remains one of the most recognizable faction names in modern wrestling.
White and Robinson initially used the Bullet Club Gold name in AEW. However, NJPW owns the Bullet Club trademark, and the group was later required to move away from that branding. In 2024, the stable formally became known as the Bang Bang Gang.
That example highlights why the ownership of United Empire is such a consequential detail. The issue is not whether a faction has a New Japan past; both groups do. The issue is who possesses the trademark rights. With NJPW owning Bullet Club, White’s AEW group could not permanently continue under the Bullet Club Gold name. With Ospreay reportedly owning United Empire, the same obstacle does not apply to his faction.
The comparison also shows why fans noticed the matter in the first place. United Empire’s AEW usage could have appeared unusual without an explanation, particularly as the group’s members, logos and music became more present on television. The reported trademark arrangement gives the situation a straightforward legal and practical basis.
Bailey and Andrade Add to the AEW Branch
United Empire’s growth in AEW has not been limited to wrestlers who were already closely linked to the unit in NJPW. In September, Ospreay recruited “Speedball” Mike Bailey into the faction. Bailey’s addition gave the group another notable presence in AEW and expanded the sense that an American branch of United Empire is taking shape around Ospreay.
Andrade El Idolo has also been positioned closer to Ospreay on television. Andrade technically joined United Empire at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20, and his more recent alignment with Ospreay has further connected him to the faction’s American-side activity.
The word “branch” is important in understanding the current presentation. United Empire’s established history in NJPW continues, with leadership and members active in that environment. At the same time, Ospreay’s AEW affiliations have created an additional setting for the group. The stable’s identity is now functioning across multiple rosters and storylines rather than being confined to one company.
That broader reach is possible in part because Ospreay remains involved with NJPW while building his AEW career. His work in both environments has allowed United Empire to remain relevant in Japan while also becoming a recognizable feature of AEW programming.
Ospreay Set for New Japan Title Defense
Ospreay’s next scheduled NJPW appearance will come on October 12 at King of Pro Wrestling in Tokyo. He will team with HENARE and Great-O-Khan to defend the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships.
The United Empire trio is scheduled to face the Knockout Brothers and a mystery partner. Ospreay, HENARE and Great-O-Khan won the championships in May, but they have not yet made a title defense. Ospreay’s demanding AEW schedule has been cited as the reason the champions have not defended the belts since winning them.
The match will provide another clear example of United Empire’s unusual current position. The same name being emphasized in AEW is still tied to active championship business in NJPW, with Ospreay and his stablemates carrying six-man gold into one of New Japan’s major Tokyo events.
For Ospreay, the reported trademark ownership means he can maintain a consistent United Empire identity while operating in both worlds. For AEW, it allows the company to present an already established international faction without changing its name. And for NJPW, United Empire remains an active part of the promotion’s landscape even as several of its associated names have appeared elsewhere.
As the group continues to develop across 2026, its legal ownership and on-screen expansion will remain closely linked. The stable may have been born in NJPW, but the United Empire name is now being used as a bridge between Ospreay’s New Japan commitments and his growing AEW orbit.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.