'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
WWE Superstars portray characters when they are seen on-screen, which is why many stars opt to create an alternate persona. Whilst the vast majority of the current WWE roster is made up of stars who have created their own alter-egos, there is a handful who have been able to retain their given names.
When WWE stars are able to keep their real name, it makes it much harder for WWE to trademark not only the name but the image rights along with them. It also means that when stars leave the company they are free to continue to use the name while stars who wrestle under a different name are not.
The following list looks at just 10 current WWE Superstars who wrestle under their real name on live TV.
#10 Former WWE Tag Team Champion Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin is a former RAW Tag Team Champion and someone who has been around the wrestling business for several decades. Benjamin first joined WWE back in 2000 and went on to make his debut on WWE TV in 2002.
The former champion was close friends with former world champion Brock Lesnar and worked alongside him throughout his time in OVW. Interestingly, Lesnar was another WWE star who was able to retain his real name throughout his WWE career.
At the age of 45, Shelton has been wrestling for more than two decades and has only ever been known under his given name.
#9 RAW WWE Superstar Humberto Carrillo
Humberto Carrillo recently entered the United States Championship picture on Monday Night RAW, after months of being forgotten over on Main Event.
Carrillo came to WWE off the back of a successful career in Mexico, where he was known as Ultimo Ninja. When Carrillo was signed to WWE back in 2018 he reverted to his real name before making his debut on NXT later that year.
Just months later, Carrillo was able to make his debut on the main roster where he stepped into a storyline with Rey Mysterio before being handed the opportunity to feud with his own cousin, Angel Garza.
Interestingly, Humberto's real name is Humberto Garza Carrillo, whilst his cousin Angel Garza's given name is Humberto Garza Solano.
#8 Former WWE United States Champion Matt Riddle
Matt Riddle was signed to WWE following a successful MMA career and was also able to retain his real name. Throughout his time in NXT, Riddle was known under his given name before his move to the main roster saw his ring name shortened to just Riddle.
The former champion has turned several heads in WWE since his debut given his outspoken attitude and the fact that he wrestles barefoot. Now it appears that he has been taken under the wing of WWE legend Randy Orton since the two men currently make up RKO-Bro.
#7 Former 14-time WWE Champion Randy Orton
Randy Orton made his WWE debut when he was just 22 years old back in 2002, over the past two decades The Viper has become one of the company's most successful stars.
Following in his father's footsteps, Orton was always destined for greatness with Cowboy Bob in his corner which could be why he was able to retain his real name when he signed on the dotted line.
The former world champion's real name is Randal Keith Orton but has always been called Randy Orton for short.
#6 Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Drew Gulak
Drew Gulak has most recently been plying his trade as part of 205 Live but has also been seen on WWE's Monday night RAW whilst fighting for the 24/7 Championship.
Gulak first came to WWE through the original Cruiserweight Classic back in 2016 but wasn't able to win the competition, having been eliminated by Zack Sabre Jr. At the time Gulak signed for WWE in 2017, the star had already become known under his real name.
Throughout the course of his WWE career, Gulak has been able to win the Cruiserweight Championship and lift the 24/7 Championship on seven occasions.
#5 Former WWE 24/7 Champion Akira Tozawa
Ahead of his debut for WWE, Akira Tozawa had a successful stint as part of Dragons Gate in Japan. Much like Gulak, Tozawa first appeared for WWE as part of the original Cruiserweight Classic.
Tozawa didn't win the competition but was knocked out at the quarter-finals. Despite this, Tozawa was still signed by WWE as part of the new Cruiserweight Division and made his debut on the main roster later that year.
Tozawa is the current 24/7 Champion in his tenth reign, as well as a former Cruiserweight Champion.
#4 Former WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Shayna Baszler
Shayna Baszler is currently one of the oldest female wrestlers in WWE after joining the wrestling business after a successful MMA career. The Submission Magician came to WWE as part of The Four Horsewomen of MMA and at the time was already known under her real name.
Baszler has been able to adapt to wrestling by bringing in the skills that she learned in the Octagon. The former NXT Women's Champion has dominated the Women's Division since her debut and has put several of her fellow wrestling stars to sleep in the past.
#3 Former WWE United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura
The King of Strong Style was a huge acquisition for WWE given his success in Japan ahead of his NXT debut. Shinsuke Nakamura is a former NXT Champion, but in recent years the Japanese star has been unable to find the same success on the main roster.
Interestingly, Shinsuke Nakamura is one of just a handful of WWE stars who were able to retain their real name after making their WWE debut. Nakamura has wrestled under his given name throughout his almost two-decade-long career.
#2 Former WWE Champion Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy originally debuted in WWE when he was just 16 years old back in 1996. At the time, Hardy lied to the company about his age since there was a belief that he was 18.
Hardy and his brother Matt later made quite the impact in WWE as a tag team, before later going their separate ways. Matt and Jeff returned to WWE at WrestleMania 33 a few years ago, but Matt has since left WWE to compete for AEW whilst his brother Jeff has remained part of the company.
Hardy has wrestled under several names during his almost three-decade-long career but is best known under his real name.
#1 Former NXT Champion Superstar Keith Lee
Keith Lee made his wrestling debut back in 2005 and before he was signed by WWE he had already made a name for himself in Ring of Honor, Evolve and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.
Lee was signed by WWE back in 2018 after being unsuccessful in a tryout 10 years prior. Interestingly, Lee was able to retain his real name and has been able to keep his real name throughout his career.
