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WWE name changes are nothing new. Iconic Superstars including The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Triple H had different names before they became main-eventers in the 1990s.
Would those three men have achieved the same success if they kept the names Rocky Maivia, The Ringmaster, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley? Maybe, maybe not, but their name changes certainly worked out for the best.
In modern-day WWE, there is hardly a month that goes by without someone receiving a new name on RAW or SmackDown. Apollo Crews and Mustafa Ali even had their names shortened to Apollo and Ali, respectively, before they were given their full names again.
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The majority of name changes are not that drastic. Otis, for example, is now known by his first name instead of Otis Dozovic. His surname was quickly forgotten and it would seem odd if people suddenly referred to him by his old name again. The same can be said for the likes of (Antonio) Cesaro and Big E (Langston).
Now, while some WWE Superstars have embraced their name changes, others have openly admitted that they disliked the fact that their name was altered.
In this article, let’s take a look at three WWE Superstars who liked their new name, as well as three who did not.
#6 Matt Riddle liked his WWE name change
The latest high-profile WWE name change was confirmed on October 29, 2020. Matt Riddle had always been known by his real name in MMA and pro wrestling, including his time on the independent scene and in NXT.
As is often the case with WWE main-roster call-ups, The Original Bro initially kept the same name when he moved from NXT to SmackDown. However, after four months on Friday nights, his first name was removed from his WWE name following his switch to RAW.
Needless to say, the name change did not go down too well with the WWE Universe. Riddle quickly responded to the online backlash by revealing that he likes the fact that he is now only known by his surname.
It was reported by Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp that Vince McMahon ultimately decided to remove Matt from Riddle’s name. The WWE Chairman reportedly made the decision after watching Riddle’s match against Sheamus on the October 26, 2020 episode of RAW.
According to Sapp, McMahon felt the name change could lead to Riddle being taken more seriously as a WWE character.
#5 Curtis Axel did not like his WWE name change
Before he was repacked as Curtis Axel in 2013, Joe Hennig was known as Michael McGillicutty in WWE. Despite being the son of Mr. Perfect, Hennig’s family history in the wrestling business was hardly referenced as part of his McGillicutty character.
The former WWE Intercontinental Champion admitted in an interview with Phoenix New Times in 2013 that he disliked the McGillicutty name. He also vowed to never use it in WWE ever again.
“I still would get embarrassed when people say, ‘You’re a wrestler?’ And then they’d ask what my stage name was and I was pretty embarrassed when I had to say ‘Michael McGillicutty.’ I didn’t really like the name, but I’m glad that’s gone and I’ll never do that again.”
Hennig kept the name Curtis Axel until he received his release from WWE in April 2020. Although he has not wrestled since leaving WWE, the veteran Superstar has changed his name back to Joe Hennig on social media.
#4 Elias liked his WWE name change
Elias used to be known as Elias Samson during his time in WWE NXT. However, shortly after he began appearing on WWE RAW in 2017, his surname was suddenly removed from his name.
Speaking on The Steve Austin Show, WWE’s resident guitarist said he found out about the name change when he showed up to RAW. He added that he was fine with dropping the Samson part of his name, as long as WWE did not change his character.
“I’m still gonna be me and as long as they’re not trying to change who I am or my character – which they’re one in the same anyway, as far as I’m concerned – I’m cool with calling me whatever you call me.” [H/T Wrestling Inc.]
WWE also stopped referring to Elias as The Drifter after he moved from NXT to RAW.
#3 Chad Gable did not like his WWE name change
One of the most memorable moments of Chad Gable’s WWE singles run came when he reached the King of the Ring finals in 2019. Following his loss to King Corbin, several WWE Superstars began to make fun of Gable due to his height (173cm).
The former American Alpha member embraced the mockery and began to refer to himself as Shorty G. It initially seemed that the Shorty G name was only going to be used as part of a short-term storyline. However, Gable ended up keeping the nickname in WWE for the next 12 months.
After reverting back to the name Chad Gable, the 2012 Olympian admitted on After The Bell that he did not like the Shorty G character. Gable also clarified that he asked for an opportunity on WWE television, so he did not want to complain when he finally received a storyline.
“I always ask for opportunity. I’ve been in Vince [McMahon]’s office, I’ve talked to the writers, everybody. I’m asking constantly for opportunity - that’s what I want. When I finished King of the Ring, it was explained to me that this was the direction we’re going. We’re gonna be playing off this short thing going forward, including the Shorty G name.”
Gable said he felt that the short gimmick was flawed because he often interacted with WWE Superstars and interviewers who were shorter than him.
#2 Roman Reigns liked his WWE name change
Back in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) and WWE NXT, Roman Reigns went by two names: Leakee and Roman Leakee. He explained on Talk Is Jericho in 2017 that he only wanted to be known as Roman in WWE. However, he was told that he needed to have a surname.
Another developmental talent, Calvin Raines, left FCW shortly before The Big Dog was asked to think of a new name. Corey Graves then suggested that he should take Raines’ surname but spell it in a different way.
“I was going through it and Corey Graves, he was down in FCW, still working at that time, he's actually one of my good buddies and our families are like really good friends. He told me, he was like, 'Hey, I heard you saying 'Roman Raines'. What if you spelled it like, 'Reigns', like a king reigns.' And I was like, 'Whoa, I like that.' And there you go. And total heel name too!” [H/T Wrestling Inc.]
The Leakee name was used for the final time at a WWE NXT live event against C.J. Parker on August 16, 2012. Two weeks later, the Roman Reigns name debuted in a Fatal Four-Way match at another live event on August 30, 2012.
Reigns made his first appearance on WWE’s main roster three months later at Survivor Series.
#1 The Rock did not like his original WWE name change
While Curtis Axel was keen for his family history to be part of his WWE character, Dwayne The Rock Johnson had the opposite mindset. He told Oprah in 2020 that he wanted to make a name for himself without being compared to the rest of his legendary wrestling family.
"When I first started wrestling, the idea was why don't I call myself Rocky Maivia, out of respect for my father, Rocky Johnson, and for my grandpa, Peter Maivia. I hated the name. I just wanted to make my own way.
"I love my family, but I don't want to do it like that, because it's like I'm trying to leverage their fame. The powers that be [WWE management] said, 'Nope, that's your name.'" [H/T Wrestling Inc.]
WWE’s decision-makers eventually dropped the Rocky Maivia name and allowed the up-and-coming Superstar to use the name The Rock instead. As The Rock, Dwayne Johnson went on to become one of the most successful Superstars that WWE has ever seen.
Although he initially had reservations about acknowledging his family history, The Rock recently said he would like to face his cousin, Roman Reigns, in WWE. The WWE Universal Champion refers to himself as The Tribal Chief of their family – something that The Rock’s character would undoubtedly dispute.
