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

#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.