Originally published on ProWrestlingSheet.

Pro Wrestling Sheet has learned Ryback is currently in the midst of trademark battle with WWE over "The Big Guy" ... and the issue has only continued to escalate less than 24 hours after he was sent home from Monday Night RAW.

According to the USPTO ... Ryan Reeves, a.k.a. Ryback, filed a trademark on "The Big Guy" back in October for "conducting entertainment exhibitions in the nature of performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer." However, WWE filed the exact same trademark just 3 months later.

Reeves' filing was published for opposition this morning -- which means any contending sides have 30 days to fight the filing or it's his -- but this doesn't necessarily means Reeves pulled the trigger.

It's possible WWE had their legal team push the USPTO to publish so they could oppose. It could also just be a random coincidence. At this point it's impossible to tell. But with Ryback saying he was told to go home after not being able to agree on a new deal, we're gonna guess it's not the latter.

Stay tuned.