Only Someone Who Grew Up In The 90s Knows These WWE Gimmicks
- by Lucas Wesley
- – on
- in Sports
Not every wrestler arrives on the scene as a future WWE Champion in the making. In fact, it’s actually much more common for a given superstar to change their name, gimmick, and style a bunch of times throughout their career in order to stand out and stay relevant. Even those who have reached the proverbial top of the mountain might later decide they need to switch things up, suddenly shedding everything about their previous persona and starting over with something new.
Luckily, the WWE Universe is an infinitely adaptable landscape, making it extremely easy for fans to forget about early misfires and focus on the here and now. This allows any wrestler to experiment with different characters pretty much whenever they want, so long as one of them finally clicks. Of course, this doesn’t mean audience members with particularly strong memories will ever forget about what came first.
Because many wrestlers got their start outside of Vince McMahon’s sphere of influence, it’s totally understandable not all fans would know what their names were in the beginning. Except, that is, when it comes to their favorites, when knowing a few earlier aliases is pretty integral to understanding the full story. To see how much you really know about where today’s wrestlers got their start, keep reading to take our quiz on the earlier gimmicks of these future WWE superstars.
What did Roman Reigns call himself in FCW?
Since WWE made it clear they preordained Roman Reigns as the next face of the company, he’s started simply calling himself The Guy. Vague and unexciting as this is, the three time WWE Champion actually started out with an even less inspiring name. Not that it was particularly awful, as the idea was clearly for Roman to follow in his family’s footsteps with a traditional Samoan name. Still, it’s hard to picture him in the main event of four consecutive WrestleMania’s with the gimmick he used in Florida Championship Wrestling.
What was Seth Rollins’s name on the independent scene?
Always in control of his own destiny, “The Architect” Seth Rollins would have found a way to become a star no matter what random name WWE told him to use. That said, something about his current moniker does naturally roll off the tongue, especially in the phrase “WWE Champion Seth Rollins.” That full description has been used twice, in addition to countless other title designations Rollins has been given throughout his career. The same was true of his earlier persona, as well, though instead of WWE, the World Championships he won belonged to Ring of Honor and FIP.
What was John Cena’s gimmick in OVW?
Now that he’s the most mainstream wrestler in America, John Cena has largely ditched the rapper persona that made him famous. However, the fact he rhythmically leads himself to the ring by rapping his own theme song means pretty much everyone remembers that phase of his career. Less prominent was Cena’s time in OVW, when he used a decidedly goofier gimmick literally suggesting he was partially a robot. Coincidentally, Cena’s greatest criticisms later in his career could be described as him digging in to that earlier character a little too deep.
What was The Undertaker called before becoming a zombie?
Across the entire 28 years he spent in the WWE Universe, The Undertaker has been perhaps the most well defined character in wrestling history. Even when he took a brief dalliance from pure darkness to be the American Bad Ass, the unmistakable aura of Big Evil always permeated his presence. Of course, before he started working for the McMahon’s, The Undertaker wasn’t any sort of zombie at all, but simply a big tough biker closer to his real life persona. Back then, he wasn’t even all that dark.
What did WCW call The Big Show?
For all the flak WCW gets about not making new stars, one of their top names went on to become an enduring figure in the WWE Universe for over two decades. Of course, Vince McMahon changed his name to The Big Show, unable to accept the stink of his rival company in the monstrous wrestler’s original persona. Given the weird way WCW came about choosing it, we totally understand, as WWE didn’t feel the need to continue a lie regarding who Big Show’s father was.
What was Finn Bálor’s original name in Japan?
Truth be told, no mere human name is going to match the bombastic energy on display each time Finn Bálor enters his full-blown Demon persona. Not to knock the traditional Irish sounding moniker he uses today, nor the royal persona he used as a top name in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Using the other title, Bálor was integral in forming Japan’s iconic Bullet Club, which has lead to the company’s current practice of calling his fans the Bálor Club. Of course, that wouldn’t have made sense back then.
How did Becky Lynch refer to herself on the indy scene?
Not only was Becky Lynch probably on the scene for a lot longer than people realized, but her earlier persona actually wrestled a pretty full career. At one point, the Irish Lasskicker feared she may have suffered an injury severe enough she temporarily retired, not finding the strength to make a return to the ring until WWE came calling. Because they gave her a new name and persona when she arrived, it was as though that earlier moniker really did remain retired, and the superstar we see today is entirely new.
What was Xavier Woods called in TNA?
Generally participating in fewer matches than his teammates, Xavier Woods could be called the lowest ranked member of New Day in terms of overall success. However, he also happens to be the only man in his gang who experienced significant success over in TNA before signing with the McMahon’s. Wrestling as a clear impersonation of his favorite Rocky villain, the future charismatic unicorn won the TNA Tag Team Championships with Jay Lethal, along with serving as a second for Pacman Jones when he couldn’t defend the belts with Ron “The Truth” Killings.
What was Rusev’s name before signing with WWE?
Believe it or not, there was actually a point in wrestling history when every day wasn’t Rusev Day like it is now. Not that the Bulgarian Brute didn’t already deserve our applause, but quite frankly, the traditional name he was using at the time was a bit of a mouthful for regular celebration. For this reason, there was a lot of experimentation at the start of his career over what to call him. Even in the WWE Universe, his name was once a little bit longer than just “Rusev,” but this question is going back a little further than that.
What did Jeff Hardy call himself for his technical WWE debut?
Unlike most wrestlers on this list, future WWE Champion Jeff Hardy had absolutely no say whatsoever in the name he used when debuting for the company. When appearing on a 1994 episode of Raw, Hardy was simply given the name of another athlete who was supposed to be in his spot, but for whatever reason couldn’t make it. Ever the Charismatic Enigma, he used a few other strange names on the independent scene before realizing his best brand was probably being himself.
What was Daniel Bryan’s name on the indy scene?
Typically, wrestlers develop their better personas later on in the game or they just stick with the name they used when debuting. Daniel Bryan went a different route, eschewing a perfectly good nickname early on in exchange for more generically using his own real name. Then, because WWE loves branding, they switched things up a little bit to give him the catchier name that later made him an international superstar and World Champion. Truth be told, we still like the first moniker he used best of all, anyway.
What was Bayley’s original name?
Bouncing her way to the ring with a beaming smile, a Bayley by any other name would still hug every person she sees. That was indeed the case back when she was on the independent scene using a different name, slowly rising up the ranks until Vince McMahon finally noticed her cheery presence. After he gave her the requisite name change, it took Bayley no time at all to get the whole WWE Universe on her side, leading to a top role in the women’s wrestling revolution.
What was Hideo Itami’s gimmick on the indy scene?
One of the perks of wrestling gimmicks is that they can help differentiate wrestlers with very common real names. The Steve’s and Chris’s of this world feel the problem worst in America, and other names have it just as bad all around the globe. Hideo Itami definitely knew the sting, sharing the name of another iconic wrestler who coincidentally happened to be his mentor. To alleviate confusion when wrestling in Pro Wrestling Noah and Ring of Honor, Itami typically wrestled under his first name alone stylized in all capital letters.
What did Sami Zayn call himself when wearing a mask?
Most wrestlers change when first signing with the WWE Universe, yet the wrestler now known as Sami Zayn underwent a particularly major transformation. For the first time in his career, Zayn ditched his mask and revealed his true face and identity. As an inside joke, some fans have kept the old character going by wondering what ever happened to the charismatic and popular superstar that once held the PWG Championship. Of course, winning the NXT Championship under his new name made that previous persona ancient history.
What was Matt Hardy’s original gimmick?
Similar to his brother Jeff, the first WWE appearances of Matt Hardy came in the early ‘90s on forgettable side shows where he quickly lost. At the same time, the Boyz were regularly promoting their own shows with a company they called OMEGA. Naturally, Matt served as the promotion’s top star, though he wouldn’t originally use the same name that made him famous. Instead, he took a name suggesting a burst of energy that would later fit both him and his brother…at least until he was Broken or Woken or whatever he calls himself today.
What did Mickie James call herself on the indy scene?
Showing just how long she’s been around, Mickie James is one of the few women in WWE today who completely eschewed the NXT process when initially making her debut. That doesn’t mean WWE didn’t stick her have her change her name anyway, though, as that concept vastly predates the current developmental league. In this case, it made sense James would change her name, as she already found moderate fame as a decidedly darker character on the independent scene and in TNA, where she was the only female member in Raven’s Gathering.
What was Kevin Owens called before signing with WWE?
Aside from his last name, very little has changed about Kevin Owens since he left the independent scene for WWE. He’s still a huge bully on the microphone and in the ring, callously abandoning and sacrificing his closest friends on a regular basis, all for want of fame and glory. Believe it or not, however, it could be said Owens actually toned things down a little, as he now simply promises to fight and fight rather than his old catchphrase, which suggested he was a stone cold killer.
What was Kane’s first name in the WWE Universe?
Infinitely adaptable even after 20 years as a main event superstar, Kane has truly done it all in the WWE Universe. This has included winning every championship the company has to offer, not to mention less tenuous accolades like getting accused of serious crimes involving a mysterious cheerleader named Katie Vick. He also got set on fire, lied about it, then started setting other people on fire, too, as some sort of backwards revenge. Before any of that happened, he had an entirely different persona, leaving the hellfire and brimstone behind for a more regular profession.
What was Dean Ambrose called in CZW?
Crazy as he is now, the “Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose used to be even less put together during his days in Combat Zone Wrestling. For the uninitiated, that promotion often serves as a modern day ECW, with more violent and hardcore matches than the average independent promotion. This means Ambrose was regularly left a bloody mess under his original name, but this didn’t stop him from winning the CZW Championship twice. Of course, winning the WWE Championship without any blood shed was significantly more impressive.
What was Bray Wyatt’s original name in FCW?
In some cases, when a wrestler changes their name, early fans are a little annoyed by what almost feels like an act of betrayal. Not so in the case of Bray Wyatt, whose fans were all overjoyed to hear he ditched the goofy original name he was saddled with for something better. After shedding his questionable original story, Wyatt immediately started rising up the ranks, in no small part thanks to the cult he gradually formed. Quite frankly, there’s no way Wyatt’s family would have supported him if not for the name change, so it’s a good thing it happened.
What did Asuka call herself in Japan?
No matter what she’s called, Asuka has always been one of the most destructive forces in all of pro wrestling. In the WWE Universe, she underwent the longest winning streak in modern history, but the story began in her native Japan, where she found similarly dominant success in just about every major female promotion around. Though already living up to her later distinction as the Empress of Tomorrow, the former NXT Women’s Champion used a different yet similarly simple moniker as she destroyed the competition.
What was Apollo Crews called on the indy scene?
In recent months, Apollo Crews has actually been one of the more controversial names in the WWE Universe…well, in a literal sense, anyway. WWE can’t seem to decide whether or not he should keep that last name, popping it off and back on after actor Terry Crews complained about WWE “stealing” it from him on social media. None of this would have been a problem had WWE stuck with the name Apollo was using on the indy scene, but as per usual, the desire for corporate branding overrode a perfectly acceptable gimmick.
What was Aleister Black’s name in England?
The moment he arrived in NXT, Aleister Black’s dark energy began heavily influencing the company’s direction. Only slightly over a year later, he’s already the NXT Champion, yet this success hardly came out of nowhere. For many years, Black honed his skills throughout the United Kingdom with a similarly vicious and enigmatic persona, albeit one that had a different name. Of course, Black was still just as mysterious and destructive, firmly preparing to take over the WWE Universe sometime in the near future.
What did WWE originally call R-Truth?
With all due respect, it must be said that R-Truth has one of the more confusing and difficult to say names in all of the current WWE Universe. Not that this has slowed him down, as the man has been a constant presence in the company for almost a decade now, and plenty of championship success has decorated his career. The name also makes sense in it’s own way given the contest of his TNA gimmick, Ron “The Truth” Killings. Before that even happened, though, Truth played a even wilder and more rambunctious character in WWE.
What was Sarah Logan’s name on the indy scene?
Because the WWE Universe is far more mainstream than the average independent wrestling promotion, sometimes a wrestler has to ditch their original persona for entirely corporate reasons. That was likely the case with Sarah Logan, who was more than a bit unhinged as she worked for Ring of Honor and Shine Women Athletes. Some rumors suggested the background even made her perfect to portray Bray Wyatt’s fated Sister Abigail, but instead, she toned down her persona, took a relatively demure name, and joined the Riott Squad.
What was EC3 called during his first stint with NXT?
It’s a little early to call, but chances are EC3’s time in WWE won’t compare to the success he found with TNA. Immediately upon arrival, Ethan Carter III rocketed to the top on the merits of his relation to the company’s owner. Of course, they weren’t really related, and he was chosen for the role because he could back it up in the ring. Because Carter was a relative unknown at the time, it was easy for fans to accept the story. However, EC3 did experience a brief stint in WWE under a different name before any of it happened.
What was Kairi Sane’s ring name in Japan?
Smiling her way to victory in the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament, Kairi Sane is a much cheerier sort of superstar than her fellow countrywoman Asuka. The one thing they have in common is impeccable skills inside the ring, which Sane, like Asuka, began developing in her native land years before going stateside. Sane was one of the top stars of World Wonder Ring Stardom, with her work receiving incredible critical acclaim from wrestling’s top journalists. Naturally, WWE had to have her as soon as possible, and just as unsurprisingly, they had to tweak her name when she signed.
What was the original gimmick of The Rock?
To his millions and millions of fans around the world, Dwayne Johnson is an international movie star who can pretty much do no wrong. The reputation began when he was known as The Rock, arguably the most popular star of wrestling’s hottest era and the unquestioned People’s Champion to this day. However, it’s a valid question whether or not he would have achieved any of this success under his first name. He probably would have needed a haircut and wardrobe change, as well.
What name did André the Giant use at the start of his career?
In all likelihood, there will never be another legend in pro wrestling quite like that of André the Giant. Even when the sport was fractured into dozens of different territories, André achieved national fame with his overwhelming charisma and even more impressive size. The same was essentially true before André immigrated to America, with the small caveat that he obviously used a different name when wrestling in his native country. Based on a traditional folk legend, André’s original title was pretty awesome already, but the legend may not have grown as big as it did without translating things to English.
What was the original ring name of JBL in WWE?
From a dark and mysterious Acolyte to a corporate Texas businessman, John Bradshaw Layfield went through a whole lot of changes while WWE desperately attempted to make him a star. While the future WWE Champion would ultimately prove quite adaptable in this role, he originally struggled to standout as the company had him play several variations of bland cowboys. Unsurprisingly, a big hat and broad accent alone weren’t enough, but once Bradshaw added untenable anger and millions of dollars to the mix, fans accepted him as a true villain.
What was Shane McMahon called when he was a referee?
Believe it or not, even Vince McMahon’s own son was forced to change the name he originally used for his wrestling debut. In fact, it could be said that Shane McMahon especially had to change his name, since it was no longer reasonable to expect fans wouldn’t know his true identity. Not to suggest they were really trying to pull wool over the audience’s eyes or anything—Shane simply made his debut as a referee when Vince was still an announcer, so pointing out their relationship wasn’t really relevant.
On which animal did “Macho Man” Randy Savage base his original gimmick?
Iconic and unforgettable as he was, “Macho Man” Randy Savage made some mistakes in his career like anyone else. In addition to the questionable late period choices related to WCW, Savage also had a rough start when his career began, using two different ring names that didn’t quite work out. The second of these was his real name, Randy Poffo, which didn’t feel menacing enough to fit his wild and out of control persona. First up was something that might even be sillier, named after an animal and styled after a comic book that had surprising resonance in Savage’s life.
What was Ruby Riott’s name on the indy scene?
Compared to the usual random name generator that seems to affect most incoming NXT superstars, Ruby Riott actually has a pretty great moniker. There’s a reason the Riott Squad shares her name, as it screams superstar and dominance in every way a rising WWE talent would hope to express. Not that there was anything wrong with the name she used in Shimmer Women Athletes, Chikara, and other independent promotions, as it likewise spoke volumes about her character, albeit in a slightly different way.
What was Steve Austin’s first name in WWE?
Throughout all of wrestling history, it’s hard to find a more iconic ring name than “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. There was a whole lot more to the Texas Rattlesnake than simply his gimmick, but it must be said his name looked good on a T-shirt regardless of match quality or quantity of Stone Cold Stunners delivered. Austin himself knew the importance of this, having famously spoke out about the original name WWE gave him. Indeed, it’s hard to picture a smoking skull filled with snarling snakes attached to someone with such a pun-y moniker.
What name did Andrade “Cien” Almas use while in Mexico?
Like many wrestlers south of the border, Andrade “Cien” Almas spent the bulk of his career thus far proudly wearing a mask. That all had to change when he put his headgear on the line in a match against Atlantis and lost, thus beginning to change his career forever. As if unmasking wasn’t drastic already, it wasn’t long before Almas left his original home in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre behind, traveling the world to New Japan Pro Wrestling and then the WWE Universe. With that last jump, he also changed to his more familiar name.
What name did Sasha Banks use on the indy scene?
Every wrestler evolves as they go from an indy sensation to a WWE superstar. Sasha Banks in particular went a long way extremely fast, going from a relatively bland yet talented athlete to a Legit Boss in every sense of the expression. In all fairness, her original ring name wasn’t that bad, suggesting a certain flair for excess that would continue in her fully formed persona. Even so, the four time Raw Women’s Champion is a far cry from the nascent rookie she was in Chaotic Wrestling and other indy promotions.
What was Drake Maverick called when working for Impact Wrestling?
Of all the wrestlers to take on dramatically different personas when joining WWE, few went through as big a change as Drake Maverick. Okay, so he’s always dabbled with being a light authority figure, and the coiffed suits aren’t exactly new, either. However, it’s nonetheless notable that since jumping ship from Impact Wrestling, Maverick basically ended his career inside the squared circle. This was surprise given that before becoming the GM of 205 Live, Maverick was a former X Division Champion with aspirations for greater gold…or so we thought.
What name did Paul Heyman use in WCW?
Ladies and gentlemen, his name may be Paul Heyman, but that’s not how he introduced himself to the wrestler world. The modern day Advocate of Brock Lesnar actually used the same slightly comedic moniker from his days in WCW until he was outed as the owner of ECW, and even them, some loyalists kept calling him by the old name. Make no mistake about it, Heyman made quite the impact no matter what he was called, leading an entire Alliance of wrestlers against Sting’s Squadron in one of the most fondly remembered WCW feuds in history.
What was Cesaro’s name on the indy scene?
In a rare case of a wrestler’s real name already sounding perfect for the ring, Cesaro didn’t even bother coming up with a fake one until he joined the WWE Universe. Up until that point, whether competing in his native country or American independents like CHIKARA and Ring of Honor or the Japanese Pro Wrestling NOAH, the Swiss Sensation simply represented himself as he truly was. There’s no question to why he did this, as Cesaro happens to be blessed with a name that looked great on a headline, but of course, WWE had to put their own spin on things, anyway.
What was the original name of Kassius Ohno?
By and large, when WWE changes a wrestler’s name, they do so for the better. In the very least, even decisions based purely on marketing aren’t actively harmful to the given individual’s career. That may not be the case with poor Kassius Ohno, who has struggled to stand out in both of his two stints in NXT. This is a huge departure from his previous runs in CHIKARA, CZW, and ROH, where he experienced highly acclaimed reigns with all sorts of championship belts. Ironically, his gimmick back then was also more mainstream, which probably accounted for his level of success.