5 original names for WWE Superstars that Vince McMahon said no to

As Shakespeare wrote in Romeo and Juliet, "What's in a name?"

One of the first thing you ever receive, your name will follow you throughout your life, and based on perceptions, could be a defining part of you for your life.

In the WWE, a name can often be the most important thing a new Superstar receives, as a ridiculous name can often sink a Superstar's plans, unless they are incredibly talented.

Even nowadays, most WWE Superstars have to adapt to a name they've never used before, unless they have been a big star elsewhere, whose name already has plenty of credibilities and drawing power to it, for example, AJ Styles.

Here are five names for current WWE Superstars that Vince McMahon said no to, and why he made the call.

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#5: Bayley (Davina Rose)

Bayley has become one of WWE's most popular women in recent history.

SmackDown Women's champion Bayley is one of the most popular women in the WWE, even when she didn't have any gold around her waist.

Joining the wrestling scene in 2008, the former RAW Women's Champion spent years on the independent scene, honing her craft under the ring name Davina Rose.

Becoming a part of WWE in 2012, Bayley was hoping to continue to compete as Davina Rose, though the name was shot down by WWE officials.

Whilst it's never been clear why exactly the name was shot down, the WWE have in recent years preferred one-word names, with several stars getting cut, including (Antonio) Cesaro, (Alexander) Rusev, and most recently Andrade ('Cien' Almas).

Fortunately for Rose, the name Bayley has worked, with the San Jose Superstar becoming one of the most beloved WWE Superstars of all time, thanks to her cheery personality.

#4: Elias (Heavy Metal Jesus)

Elias has had many name changes throughout his career in wrestling.

As one of Monday Night Raw's most popular stars, it's hard to imagine Elias without his legion of fans to walk with.

But before The Living Truth made his presence in NXT, he competed on the indies, under the name Heavy Metal Jesus, a name that was rejected by the WWE when he finally made it in WWE.

Whilst the name may have seen as blasphemous by some members of the WWE Universe, the name he received instead wasn't much better.

Competing as a masked guitarist, Elias was briefly renamed 'El Vagabundo', Spanish for The Vagabond,

El Vagabundo would lose almost all his matches, before he was finally given the much better name of Elias Samson, which was eventually shortened down to just Elias who many expect to win his first championship in 2019.

#3: Ruby Riott (Heidi Lovelace)

Heidi Lovelace would later change the name and become Monday Night RAW Superstar Ruby Riott.

With a body adorned in tattoos and piercings, Ruby Riott isn't your prototypical WWE female Superstar.

But before Riott made her impact in WWE, the future Riott Squad member would make an impact under the moniker Heidi Lovelace.

Speaking about her former name, Riott said how it was inspired by Ada Lovelace, a 19th Century British Mathematician who worked on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine, seen by many as the first computer.

According to Riott, the Heidi part of her name came from the actress Heidi Montag, as the future RAW Superstar thought it was a great name that hadn't been used in wrestling before.

Eventually finding the name Ruby Riot in WWE, the Superstar has recently undergone other name changes, as in 2017, the second 't' was added to her name

#2: Christian (Christian Cage)

Christian captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship twice in 2011.

Though he may never have reached quite the same heights in WWE as his brother/friend Edge, Christian led a truly Hall of Fame worthy career.

A former World Champion, Intercontinental, European, Light Heavyweight, Hardcore and Tag Champion, Chrisitan holds both the WWE Triple Crown and Grand Slam (under the old format).

Originally though, Christian's name was the slightly longer Christian Cage, the name he had used before WWE, often working with the Rated R-Superstar even before they joined the company.

Though it's not quite sure why the name was changed, it may be due to he and Edge being portrayed as brothers, and the name Edge Cage not having a great ring to it.

Though he wouldn't use the Cage name in WWE, Christian did become Christian Cage years later during his time in TNA Wrestling.

#1: The Rock (Flex Kavanaugh)

The Great One has come a long way from being Flex Kavana

The name 'The Rock', is great, and tells you a lot about the man himself.

Much like a lump of granite, the Brahma Bull was sturdy and tough in the ring, and could easily crush his opponents.

The name Flex Kavana, just can't compare.

To be fair to the Great One, the Flex name came about as the future WWE Champion didn't want to live off his family's name, though things changed when he joined the World Wrestling Federation.

Debuting at the 1996 Survivor Series, Flex became Rocky Maivia, a portmantaue of Rocky Johnson (Rock's father), and Peter Maivia (his grandfather).

It wouldn't be until the People's Champion turned heel in 1997 that the Rocky name would be shortened to The Rock, as the career of one of the greatest stars in wrestling started to kick off.