5 WWE Superstars whose careers took off after transforming their look

Just like the entertainment industry, WWE also requires its performers to work on their looks as well as their talent to get ahead. WWE Superstars have to work hard to ensure that they don't only have the in-ring talent to succeed but also look the to make it to the top of the company.

Most WWE Superstars are used to switching between heel and babyface characters. Top Superstars such as Randy Orton, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins have been able to switch between characters without bringing about much change to their physical appearance.

However, some superstars have made positive changes to their looks that have helped take their careers to great heights.

Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kane, The Undertaker and Mick Foley are just some of the WWE legends who brought about drastic changes to their looks to become successful.

In this article, let’s take a look at five current WWE Superstars whose careers took off after transforming their look.

---

#5 A change in look earned Jinder Mahal the WWE Championship

Jinder Mahal turned his fortunes around in WWE

Jinder Mahal returned to WWE in August 2016 for a second stint with the company. Less than a year later, Mahal defeated Randy Orton to win his first WWE Championship. He held the title for nearly half a year before losing it to AJ Styles.

Mahal’s first stint at the company saw him remain on the mid-card more often than not while serving as an enhancement talent. What allowed him to get a major push upon his return was a drastic transformation that made him look like a true wrestling star.

Mahal changed his look for the better before heading back to the company in 2016. He looked much more muscular compared to his earlier run, and WWE gave him a major push after seeing his dedication.

Speaking to Sportskeeda Wrestling’s Pratyay Ghosh in 2017, The Modern Day Maharaja revealed how it felt returning to WWE after a hiatus:

“It feels great to be back, especially after the position I was at. I was just floating near the midcard and the bottom of the card so it was good that I got to go away to find myself as a performer and improve upon myself, improve my body, improve my promo skills and in-ring skills.”

Mahal also spoke about his improved physique and how the transformation made him feel better:

“The secret is consistency. I literally haven’t had a cheat meal in 3-4 months. I haven’t eaten anything I shouldn’t have. Even now, on the tour, I have my cooling bag with me and I carry 5 meals with me so that I eat every 2 hours. I eat 30/40 grammes of carbohydrates, 30/40 grammes of proteins with every meal. Then there’s cardio 6 days a week and weight training 6 days a week. I also became straight-edge. I also do a lot of Olympic compound movements. Then there are lots of basic squats, lots of push-ups and other exercises. Overall, from diet to exercise, I’m seeing good results. I’m going to keep getting in better shape because not only do I look better but I feel better. I feel better inside the ring in terms of stamina and endurance, which is important if I want to become WWE Champion and have long matches every night.”

Mahal is still part of the WWE and has recently returned to RAW after some time off-screen. It looks like he’s ready to get involved in another top rivalry that could see him reach the WWE title picture once again.

#4 Dakota Kai had a great transformation on WWE NXT

Dakota Kai has had an incredible change in her look in WWE

Several WWE Superstars have changed their look to play a character well. Dakota Kai is one such superstar who brought about a change in her look to play the role given to her.

Kai was seen playing the good-girl character on WWE NXT. She had several matches against top superstars where she played the underdog. However, at NXT WarGames 2019, Kai decided to bring a big transformation to her character.

The Captain of Team Kick turned heel during the match and then brought about an incredible change to her look to push her new character forward. The transformation helped her solidify the new villainous character that allowed her to receive a significant push in NXT.

Kai revealed what she had to do to undergo the change during an interview with Sports Illustrated:

“It would have been easy for me to keep playing that role. The start of my NXT career, up until I got injured, was very much playing that role. Deep down, I knew I had so much more to offer than that. When the opportunity came, I seized it.

"I wanted to show a lot of people what I wanted them to see. I promised people that I would hit the ground running when I came back from injury, including a whole new aggressive side.”

Kai’s change in look and character has allowed her to become one of the top superstars on NXT today. She has been in contention for the NXT Women’s Championship more often since the transformation.

The Captain of Team Kick has won the first-ever WWE Women’s Dusty Rhodes Classic Cup and the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships with Raquel Gonzalez since turning heel.

#3 Drew McIntyre returned to WWE with an impressive look

Drew McIntyre 2010 - 2020

Drew McIntyre’s first stint in WWE wasn’t anything special as the superstar failed to make the desired impact. Even though Vince McMahon dubbed McIntyre ‘The Chosen One', he wasn’t able to pounce on the opportunities given to him.

After a decent Intercontinental Championship run, McIntyre was reduced to nothing more than an enhancement talent. In 2014, The Chosen One was released from his WWE contract.

McIntyre did not give up and started working on other promotions outside WWE. He put in the hard work and brought about a positive physical transformation. McIntyre put on several pounds of muscle and cut down well to unveil an eye-popping physique.

The work he put in earned him a return to WWE where he became the NXT Champion before moving forward. The Scottish Warrior discussed the changes he has made and felt since his first run with WWE:

"I am certainly an evolved version of myself. Physically, it seems I have eaten my previous version because I have grown so much bigger! But previously, character wise, there was something that wasn’t quite where it needed to be. But I realized that all I needed to do was relax. And that’s what I finally did. And then my real story started to come through, how I have had to keep fighting for my dreams and keep picking myself back up. I became the real Drew, and the real Drew is a bit silly, a bit sarcastic. I became relatable, because I was able to be myself."

After moving from NXT to the main roster, McIntyre gradually became a fan-favorite and went on to win the WWE Championship. The physical transformation certainly helped his career take off and reach new heights.

#2 Bray Wyatt has been one of the most versatile superstars in WWE

Bray Wyatt has played some of the most unique characters in WWE

From Husky Harris to The Fiend, Bray Wyatt has played some of the most memorable characters in WWE today. Wyatt appeared as part of Nexus early in his career but failed to make an impact. At the time, Wyatt did not have the look or physique required to be a top superstar in WWE.

Ten years on, Wyatt is now a former WWE and Universal Champion. The superstar’s first change in look came when he transformed into the cult-leader personality known as Bray Wyatt.

The Eater of Worlds led a successful faction and received a good push from WWE. The successful change in look and gimmick allowed him to become one of the most recognizable superstars in WWE.

In 2019, he ditched the leather apron and long beard and got himself in better shape to take on an even more sinister gimmick. Wyatt returned to attack Finn Balor as The Fiend. He then defeated The Prince at SummerSlam 2019.

While playing The Fiend character in the ring, Wyatt also took up the role of a children's TV host for the Firefly Fun House.

Wyatt’s physical and character transformations have made him one of the most creative superstars in the company today. The superstar enjoys a large fanbase and is always looking for ways to change his look and character to keep things fresh.

#1 Becky Lynch managed to turn her fortunes around in WWE with a change in her look

Becky Lynch hasn't looked back ever since she changed her look in WWE

Becky Lynch came across as one of the sweetest female superstars in WWE until SummerSlam 2018. At the pay-per-view, Lynch was featured in a SmackDown Women's Championship Triple Threat Match against Carmella and Charlotte Flair.

The end of the match saw Flair win the gold. Lynch then turned heel by attacking the newly crowned Champion. Not only did Lynch change her character following the match, but she also decided to slowly bring about a change in her look to make a bigger impact.

While Lynch had won the SmackDown Women’s Champion before in her career, the transformation helped her get an even bigger push. Eventually, The Man defeated Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair in a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania 35 to become the first-ever women’s double champion in WWE.

Lynch explained to Timesnownews.com how she turned things around following her heel turn in 2018 and how her two reigns as champion were different:

“Both the achievements have a different kind of importance for me as I had to make a lot of changes to myself as a person. Since I took up the character of ‘The Man’, I have made sure I just dominate everything I’m a part of and results such as WrestleMania are a testament to that.”

The Man’s transformation brought about a positive change in her career. She ended up becoming one of the biggest names in WWE.