5 WWE Superstars whose career took off once they changed their look

WWE Superstars have often tried to make adjustments to their look, their attire or their attitude in order to further their careers. Some, like Kane, have constantly tinkered with their attire to fit the times and not necessarily to completely change their character. Still others, like Superstar Billy Graham in the 1970s to 80s, completely altered their looks to change their character. Graham was a bleached blonde, muscle-bound WWE Superstar in 1970s. When he returned to WWE in the early 80s, Graham sported a shaved head, mustache and karate pants. He included martial arts in his arsenal but was never as popular as he was in the 1970s.

While changes made by Kane over the years have been noticeable, his character came into WWE on fire and his career was an instant success. For someone like Superstar Billy Graham, the changes he made were drastic but, unfortunately, he was unable to duplicate or surpass his past successes. On this list, the WWE Superstars all made changes to their looks that did drastically alter their careers and helped them take off.

The five characters on this list turned themselves into champions based on the changes they made.

Here are 5 WWE Superstars whose careers took off when they changed their look:

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#5. WWE rags-to-riches story: Jinder Mahal

Jinder Mahal first made his way onto the WWE main roster in 2010. He was tall with a slightly thin build and short hair. He had a minor feud with the Great Khali and then moved on to other rivalries, including one with Ryback. Mahal would eventually be sent to NXT before resurfacing again in WWE in 2012. Mahal came back and would form an alliance with Drew McIntyre and Heath Slater.

The threesome of Mahal, McIntyre and Slater would be called the Three Man Band or 3MB for short. The trio initially had a solid run as a tag team, with Mahal often serving as manager. Brock Lesnar would later destroy all three members of 3MB on RAW and the group soon lost traction. By late 2013 the group turned into a comedy act, set up to lose to every strong team. In June of 2014, Jinder Mahal was released by WWE.

When Mahal returned to WWE full-time in 2017, he was noticeably more lean and muscular and had grown out his hair and beard.

Mahal was pushed heavily and eventually earned a WWE title shot against Randy Orton at Backlash in May of 2017. Mahal would feud with Orton and then Shinsuke Nakamura before finally dropping the strap to AJ Styles. Adding muscle to his frame, growing a beard and embracing his heritage changed Mahal from a comedy act to a WWE Champion.

#4. WWE’s Prototype to the Doctor of Thuganomics

Recent WWE history could have looked a lot different had John Cena never made a character change. Coming through the ranks as “The Prototype”, Cena was a musclebound performer who looked destined to be a midcard talent. Even after slapping Kurt Angle and exhibiting “ruthless aggression”, Cena never quite took hold with the WWE Universe.

Even after his initial heel turn, it wouldn’t be until the Halloween edition of SmackDown in 2002 until Cena found his new look. Dressed up as former rapper “Vanilla Ice”, Cena performed a freestyle rap and was a hit with the audience. Soon he was rapping before matches and cutting down his opponents with his words. He would start wearing jean shorts, sports jerseys, and a large chain around his neck.

By the first half of 2003, with his new gimmick and look, Cena was chasing Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship. He had a feud with the Undertaker and then Kurt Angle. Soon, he would become the hottest star on SmackDown. He turned face and was the United State champion by WrestleMania XX. In one year’s time, Cena would defeat JBL and become WWE Champion.

Cena’s transformation from a simple muscle-bound wrestler to the Doctor of Thuganomics completely catapulted his career. He would later become more PG and lose the rap gimmick eventually, but it was this change that sent him on the way to a record number of championships in WWE.

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#3. WWE’s “Chosen One”

There was a time when Vince McMahon looked at a young Drew McIntyre and saw the next face of his company. Hired as a developmental talent in 2007, McIntyre was elevated to SmackDown in 2009 and was IC Champion later that year. Unfortunately, the tall, lanky Scotsman never quite took hold with WWE audiences. By 2014, McMahon’s “Future WWE Champion” was out of the company.

McIntyre slowly began rebuilding his confidence on the independent circuit and in TNA. By the time he returned to WWE in 2017 and first appeared on NXT, he had a completely new look. Gone was the brown hair and lanky frame. Instead, McIntyre now sported black hair and a black beard and was noticeably more muscular. He tore through NXT and was soon the NXT Champion.

McIntyre was back up on the main roster to stay in 2018. He was instantly booked as a dominating heel and ran roughshod over the competition. He was initially aligned with Dolph Ziggler but eventually went on his own. By the Royal Rumble in 2020, WWE fans were cheering for McIntyre, who would go on to win the event. He would defeat Brock Lesnar at that year’s WrestleMania to complete his journey and finally become the next WWE Champion.

McIntyre’s ascension in WWE can be directly linked to his change in look and character. He gained size and strength and changed the color of his hair. McIntyre used his time on the independent circuit to change his look, his attitude and the rest is history.

#2. From Husky to an Eater of Worlds

When he debuted in WWE as Husky Harris, few could have known that he was a third generation superstar and would eventually become one of most popular acts in the company. Chunky, with short hair and little facial hair, Bray Wyatt’s debut in WWE as Husky Harris was forgettable. Even as a member of Nexus, a renegade group aimed at taking over WWE, Wyatt lacked the look and charisma to stand out. By 2011, Wyatt was sent to rebrand his character.

By the time Wyatt returned to WWE television following a series of vignettes hyping his arrival, he was Bray Wyatt, a long-haired, thick bearded cult leader of the Wyatt family. His ring entrance was dark, his music was dark and his tone was dark. Wyatt instantly became one of the most captivating figures in WWE. Physically, he was a bit more muscular and added a significant number of tattoos to add to his look.

Wyatt would have memorable feuds with Kane, John Cena and Randy Orton, among others. With his unique style, despite being portrayed as a heel, Wyatt became one of the more popular superstars in WWE. He would make a short run as WWE Champion before briefly turning face after a feud with Matt Hardy. Even as a face, Wyatt remained dark, mysterious and highly popular with the WWE Universe.

Wyatt would alter his character once again and resurface as The Fiend before his eventual release from WWE. However, it was his first character change, to Bray Wyatt, that set him on the path to success in WWE.

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#1. From WWE Ringmaster to true Stone Cold Superstar

Steve Austin had previous success in WCW as Stunning Steve Austin, a long-haired brash talking midcard talent. Following his release from WCW, Austin had a brief run at ECW before being signed by WWE. His character, the Ringmaster, was a bland, short haired wrestling technician. Working under the Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, Austin looked destined to be a midcard, solid performer in WWE.

When Ted DiBiase left for WCW, WWE gave Austin several possible gimmicks he could try out. Austin rejected them all. Wanting to be more like himself, Austin came up with the nickname Stone Cold and the course of WWE history would forever change. Austin grew a goatee, shaved off his hair and donned black boots to go with his black trunks. He added a black vest with skulls on it and taped his wrists black. The Stone Cold Steve Austin era was born.

Austin was not your typical WWE Superstar. He never cowered in terror from his opponents as most heel wrestlers would. Despite being a heel, WWE audiences quickly related to Austin’s character. By the time, he uttered his famous line at King of the Ring 1996, “Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your a**!” -- the antihero was born.

Without question, Austin’s character change is the single biggest in WWE history and sports entertainment in general. He would go on to become the most popular WWE Superstar of all-time, be a multi-time WWE champion and help Vince McMahon and WWE become a billion dollar company.