WWE’s legal fight over The Bloodline’s raised-finger pose is moving toward a showdown. A settlement conference is set for October 26 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and if both sides cannot make a deal, the case is scheduled to go to trial on December 27.
Independent promoter Nathaniel Tatha-Nanandji filed the lawsuit against WWE and 2K, claiming The Bloodline copied a recurring visual sequence he created for a WCWA faction called Tier 1.
Tatha-Nanandji is not claiming ownership of one finger being raised in the air. His case is built around the full sequence—the group formation, the pause, the leader giving the cue, the other members following and the final camera-facing pose. The lawsuit claims WWE began using a similar presentation for The Bloodline in 2021.
“Beginning in or around September 2021, after Plaintiff had created and publicly used the Tier 1 Audiovisual Sequence, WWE introduced a visually and narratively similar ritualized audiovisual sequence for its ‘Bloodline’ faction.”
Tatha-Nanandji claims an unnamed wrestler who previously worked for WCWA later appeared on SmackDown and requested footage for WWE scouting personnel to review. He also alleges an unnamed WWE employee attended a WCWA event and remained in contact with him through 2021. The lawsuit argues that those connections gave WWE several chances to see the Tier 1 presentation before The Bloodline began using its own version.
“Through these direct and indirect channels, including internal scouting review and publicly accessible WCWA content on platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, WWE and its affiliates had a reasonable opportunity to view, study and copy the Tier 1 Audiovisual Sequence.”
The promoter is seeking damages, profits tied to the alleged use, a full accounting of revenue and an order stopping WWE from using the sequence. He also wants the material removed from WWE 2K games and destroyed wherever it appears. WWE is trying to have the case thrown out and says the promoter is attempting to claim ownership of a basic celebration used throughout sports and entertainment.
“Once Plaintiff’s meaningless, jargon-filled descriptions of his ‘Tier 1 Audiovisual Sequence’ are brushed aside, it becomes clear that he is claiming exclusive rights over the simple act of a wrestler raising his arm with a ‘number 1’ hand gesture or his championship belt in victory, followed by other wrestlers in the group doing the same.”
WWE warned that allowing the claim to continue could put common victory gestures at risk.
“The ‘number 1’ gesture and raising an award or prize are universal symbols used throughout the world to tout one’s accomplishments. If Plaintiff is permitted to monopolize such commonplace gestures and poses, it would put at risk athletes, sports fans and any other group of people who raise their fingers or awards in victory.”
The company also argues there is no proof that anyone inside WWE had access to footage showing the Tier 1 pose before The Bloodline began using its version.
“Plaintiff’s copyright claim stumbles out of the gate, as he now admits that the unidentified WWE wrestler or employee who allegedly contacted him could not have passed on to WWE any WCWA matches with the Tier 1 Group Pose, because the pose did not even exist at the time.”
WWE says the two presentations are not close enough to support a copyright claim and points to differences in timing, group setup, camera angles and lighting.
“No court has ever permitted a copyright infringement claim to proceed without substantial similarity of protectable expression, which is completely lacking here.”
The October settlement conference gives both sides a chance to end this before a jury ever sees it. If nobody gives ground, WWE will have to defend one of The Bloodline’s most recognizable visuals in court.
Do you think the Tier 1 sequence is close enough to The Bloodline’s pose to support a lawsuit, or is this just a common wrestling celebration? Leave your feedback in the comments.
