The success of a pro-wrestler depends upon many factors like their in-ring ability, looks, mic skills, character, and a suitable name. The name plays a vital part in representing what the character stands for. The Undertaker's character got backed up with an equally legitimate name, and likewise, a superstar's name can either take them to the top or push them down the depths.
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WWE has a history with mixed reactions when it comes to changing the names of its superstars. Sometimes, they ended up changing a superstar's name on multiple occasions throughout their careers.
10 Curtis Axel
Being the son of WWE Hall of Famer "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig, Curtis Axel followed his father's footsteps inside the squared circle back in 2008. He competed in WWE's then developmental territory FCW as Joe Hennig until he broke out into the spotlight on the second season of NXT.
By the time he reached NXT, WWE had changed his name as Michael McGillicutty. He ended up in second place in the season finale by losing to Kaval but still found his way up to the WWE main roster. After a brief stint as a part of The Nexus, he started his singles career, with WWE changing his name once again as Curtis Axel.
9 Sycho Sid
Former WWE superstar Sycho Sid had also undergone numerous name changes throughout his tenure with the company. He made his first appearance for the company under the name Sid Justice back in 1991 on an episode of Wrestling Challenge.
He competed under the name until 1992 before leaving the company to join WCW. He returned to WWE in 1995 under the name Sycho Sid but got his name shortened to just Sid within a few weeks. However, WWE gave back the name Sycho Sid to him the same year, and he competed under the name until he left the company for good in 1997.
8 JBL
The self-proclaimed wrestling God has also undergone multiple name changes throughout his time in WWE. He signed with the company back in 1996 and performed as Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw and later formed "The New Blackjacks" with Barry Windham, getting renamed as Blackjack Bradshaw.
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WWE shortened his name to just Bradshaw in 1998 before he formed the APA along with Ron Simmons. He reached 0the peak of his career after starting his singles run after getting renamed yet again as John Bradshaw Layfield, and he went on to become the WWE Champion and a great heel.
7 Batista
The six-time WWE Champion Batista has also had his fair share of name changes during his time with the promotion. He started his career in WWE's developmental territory OVW where he competed under the name Leviathan. He made a few non-televised appearances in WWE shows under the same name before he made his televised debut as D-Von Dudley's enforcer Deacon Batista.
He had his final and permanent name change after moving to Raw in 2003, with his name shortened to just Batista. He joined Triple H's Evolution stable, and the rest they say is history as he went on to become one of the faces of the company and a successful Hollywood star.
6 Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns recently returned and won the Universal Title. He has undergone a paradigm shift with a drastic change in character. But he's no stranger to changes in his career as he has undergone multiple name changes ever since he signed with WWE. They assigned Reigns to their developmental territory FCW in 2010, where he competed under the name Roman Leakee.
He got his name shortened to just Leakee in mid-2010 before getting renamed as Roman Reigns when he made his main roster debut at Survivor Series 2012. The Big Dog has since climbed up the ranks to become the face of the company by replacing John Cena.
5 Luke Gallows
Luke Gallows signed with WWE back in 2005 and competed in their developmental territory DSW as Dorian "Deacon" Deville. He then later changed his name to Freakin Deacon and started appearing in Raw house shows and episodes of Heat. He made his main roster debut as the Imposter Kane in 2006 in a short feud against the real Kane. However, the rivalry ended abruptly, and he got sent back to DSW.
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WWE reintroduced him as Festus and teamed him up with Jesse in 2007 until they split up in 2009. He once again got repackaged as Luke Gallows and joined CM Punk's Straight Edge Society.
4 Matt Bloom
Matt Bloom, who now works as the head trainer at the WWE Performance Center, has also had his fair share of name changes throughout his WWE career. He signed with the promotion in 1999 and performed under the name Prince Albert. WWE shortened his name to just Albert in March 2000, which he used until 2002 before he got renamed once again as A-Train.
He left the company in 2004 and made his return after eight years with a new gimmick. WWE looked to capitalize on the popularity he gained in NJPW and re-introduced him as Lord Tensai to the WWE fans in 2012. He went on a short undefeated streak before getting his name shortened to just Tensai and soon found himself dancing around with the Funkasaurus Brodus Clay.
3 Bray Wyatt
Bray Wyatt didn't have a great start to his WWE career. He started with WWE's developmental territory FCW as Alex Rotundo in 2009 and got renamed as Duke Rotundo. He broke into the spotlight as Husky Harris as a part of the second season of NXT, leading to his infamous run with the Nexus faction.
After WWE disbanded the group, he got sent back to FCW before he got repackaged into the cult leader Bray Wyatt and made it back to NXT. He continued the same momentum on the main roster, and after a few years, he adopted another character under the name The Fiend, and he's been doing great with two reigns as the Universal Champion.
2 Kane
Glenn Jacobs had to undergo various character changes before he could make it big in WWE. He made a couple of appearances for WWE before signing with the company. That included a one-off match in 1993 under his real name in a dark match on WWE Superstars.
He started his career as Mike Unabomb in 1995 before getting repackaged as Dr. Isaac Yankem DDS. He portrayed the character until WWE made him play as the fake Diesel in 1996. It was in 1997 that he would find his break after getting repackaged as The Undertaker's long-lost brother Kane.
1 Mick Foley
WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley is known for portraying multiple characters throughout his career. He made a few appearances for WWE as Jack Foley and Nick Foley on a few episodes of Wrestling Challenge in the late '80s. He signed with WWE in 1996 after stints in WCW and ECW as Cactus Jack.
WWE brought him up as Mankind, and soon introduced the three faces of Foley to their audience. Apart from his Mankind gimmick, Foley brought back the Cactus Jack character for the WWE audience along with a new gimmick in Dude Love. With also having competed under the name Mick Foley, he's had a total of six names throughout his WWE career.
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