Rumors are flying of an XFL reboot, and the WWE has done nothing to refute them

Rumors were running wild yesterday that the XFL, the failed football league venture between WWE and NBC, will be rebooted in 2018.

David Bixenspan of Deadspin contacted WWE regarding the rumors and the company did not confirm nor deny the rumors but said that Vince McMahon is funding a separate project from WWE. “Vince McMahon has established and is personally funding a separate entity from WWE, Alpha Entertainment, to explore investment opportunities across the sports and entertainment landscapes, including professional football. Mr. McMahon has nothing further to announce at this time,” the statement read.

The XFL only lived for one season and the 50/50 partnership between WWE and NBC ended with almost $40 million in losses. Later Vince McMahon admitted that the league was pretty much a colossal failure.

What is interesting is that WWE filed for two new XFL trademarks with the USPTO this year. The first one was on January 4 for clothing and apparel and the second one on June 28 for entertainment services. Both applications were filed by Lauren A. Dienes-Middlen, WWE’s Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Intellectual Property.

In February of this year, ESPN aired the 30 for 30 documentary titled This Was The XFL, chronicling the short-lived league with interviews from those who worked the league and the men who ran it, Dick Ebersol of NBC and Vince McMahon.