Have you wondered “Why is WWE changing all these names?” I mean, it’s an extremely valid question. After all, the name changes are happening to superstars who have been on WWE broadcasting for years. It turns out that the Old Man, Vince McMahon is the root of these name changes, of course.
Vince McMahon Issues Name Change Decree in WWE
When name changes occur, they’re usually when the wrestler signs a WWE contract. So, it’s not unusual to see a wrestler who established themselves outside of WWE get a new name. Again, it’s when these wrestlers have established themselves within WWE’s branding and a name change occurs that has some fans scratching their heads.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter got its hands on an internal memo where Vince McMahon said that superstars aren’t to use their real names nor names built on the indy scene. That’s all to it, actually.
The change gives WWE more control over the legal aspect once wrestlers leave and their stock raises from that WWE exposure. There’s a bucketful of former WWE stars who jumped to AEW and it’s their WWE time that kept them relevant—some of those wrestlers are using names they had in WWE.
For the most part, those talents used their real names but you have a couple who used names forged on the indies in WWE yet managed to hold on to those names such as Samoa Joe and Adam Cole.
It also ensures that whatever name a wrestler uses in WWE doesn’t get hit with anything that would be a pain to deal with later such as editing out names in its content vault.
Another pro to this for WWE is that creatively, certain names restrict what can be done gimmick-wise with a superstar. If WWE wanted to give Pete Dunne—now called “Butch” on SmackDown—a dark, brooding, counterculture gimmick, “Pete Dunne” and even “Butch” aren’t going to scream “dark and brooding”.
The new approach isn’t going to affect some established superstars who were pretty much grandfathered in. Orton and Lesnar are names we’ve heard for roughly 20 years now, don’t expect them to become Randy Rancid and Brockasauraus next week or in the coming months. Also, Cody Rhodes escaped the dreaded re-branding bullet.
Personally, I’d like if the renaming came with first and last names if it has to be done. Shortening names and not having a distinguishable character as a gimmick always smacked of “You’re only going so far here, pal.” Hell, during the Divas-era of the WWE women’s division the majority of them were one-name andies.
What do you think, do you like the new re-branding approach? Would you rather superstars keep the names they’ve developed over the years? Or will you just roll with it?
Let us know down below!
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