5 Wrestlers who disliked their own name

In the unique world of professional wrestling/sports entertainment, it is not uncommon for performers to dislike the characters that they are portraying on television.

For example, Bray Wyatt has mentioned in media interviews that he did not enjoy performing as Husky Harris in the early days of his WWE career, while Jon Moxley’s vision of the Dean Ambrose character was very different to how Vince McMahon wanted him to play the role.

Now, it is one thing for a wrestler to disagree with a storyline decision or occasionally have to participate in uncomfortable segments, but did you know that several performers have even had a strong dislike of their own in-ring names at various stages of their careers?

In this article, let’s count down five wrestlers who did not like their name and take a look at the reasons why.

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#5 Allysin Kay (aka Sienna)

Allysin Kay has competed for companies including WWE, Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor and SHINE during her 11-year wrestling career so far.

Nowadays, the NWA World Women’s Champion wrestles under her real name, but she previously went by the name Sienna while working for Impact Wrestling between 2016-2018.

Speaking to Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, the 2018 Mae Young Classic participant revealed that she did not like her Sienna name and she now wants to be known as Allysin Kay.

“I was Sienna for a couple of years and, to be perfectly honest, I’ve always hated that name. I didn’t like it, I didn’t want it at first. I tried to push for other names and none of them stuck. I did not want a one-word name and they [Impact] were not having it at the time.”

Kay added that she is only known as Sienna on social media platforms because she will lose her verified tick if she changes her account name.

#4 AJ Styles

Long-term wrestling fans have known AJ Styles, real name Allen Neal Jones, by his current in-ring name since way back when he competed for WCW in 2001.

However, as “The Phenomenal One” recalled on Atlanta, Georgia's Rock 100.5's Bailey And Southside, he originally wanted to wear a mask as a wrestler and go by the name Velocity.

Before making it to WCW, the two-time WWE Champion was quickly given the surname ‘Styles’ by a promoter one day and the name has stuck ever since (quotes via Wrestling Inc.).

"I didn't have a name. Everybody always called me 'AJ' anyway, so I stuck with AJ. And then, [the promoter] is like, 'yeah, you're tagging with Damien Still. We need a last name. Styles! Go!' That's it. That's how the name [came] about. AJ Styles. I hated it. I hated Styles for a really long time."

The veteran added that he would have been willing to use a different name in WWE if that is what the company wanted, but he is glad they allowed him to continue working as AJ Styles.

#3 Eden Stiles

Nowadays, Brandi Rhodes has an important behind-the-scenes role in AEW as the company’s Chief Brand Officer, while she can also be seen making on-screen appearances as an in-ring competitor and as a manager for her husband, Cody Rhodes.

During her time in WWE, Brandi went by the name Eden Stiles during her brief spell as a Superstar in 2011 and her three-year run as a ring announcer and interviewer between 2013-2016.

Speaking on Chris Jericho’s Talk Is Jericho podcast, she said she “hated” being called Eden Stiles and attempted to change her name to Eden Rhodes or Brandi Rhodes after Dusty Rhodes passed away in 2015.

“When Dusty passed, I felt like the only thing I wanted to do to feel like I’ve done what I should do is change my last name. They can keep Eden, that’s fine, but I did really want to change my last name to Rhodes because I just feel like that’s what needs to happen, and I know he [Dusty] was okay with it because I asked him in the first place.”

Brandi added that she was “baffled” when she was told that WWE had plans to name a tournament – the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic – after Dusty, so they did not want her to change her on-screen name to Rhodes.

#2 Moose

Quinn Ojinnaka played 62 games in the NFL between 2006 and 2012 before swapping American Football for the squared circle.

The 295-pounder initially competed in matches on the independent scene and worked alongside The Bravado Brothers in Dragon Gate USA as a bodyguard. He then became known as Moose and established himself as one of wrestling’s best up-and-comers during his time with Ring of Honor and Impact Wrestling.

Speaking to Chris Van Vliet in 2018, Moose revealed that he received his nickname as an American Footballer and he originally disliked it. However, now that it has become part of his wrestling persona, he is happy to reap the financial rewards of using the name.

"A team-mate of mine gave it to me during my football days. Hated it. Couldn't stand it. Hated everybody who called me Moose, and now Moose makes me money."

Moose has recently been involved in a rivalry with Fallah Bahh in Impact Wrestling, while he recorded a statement-making victory over Rob Van Dam at the company’s Slammiversary XVII event in July 2019.

#1 Ricochet

The likes of Adam Cole, Matt Riddle and Samoa Joe have been able to keep their in-ring names after leaving other companies to move to NXT/WWE. However, there are plenty of other examples where previously established names (e.g. Kevin Steen/Kevin Owens) have been given different names upon signing with the company.

In Ricochet’s case, WWE initially referred to him as Trevor “Ricochet” Mann after announcing that he had reported to the Performance Center, so it was unclear whether he would keep his name.

As it turned out, the one-time United States Champion has remained Ricochet throughout his time in WWE, despite telling WWE.com that he originally “hated” going by that name early on in his career.

“Looking at my in-ring style, it just seemed like an obvious choice. I actually hated the name originally. But since then, it has grown to become a part of me just as much as my birth name.”

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