5 former WWE Superstars who used the same ring name in multiple promotions

Whether it be WWE, AEW or any other promotions, your ring name is a very important part of your character and persona. It is the easiest and most recognizable element of each wrestler. There are certain performers who are known by just their first or last name because of how iconic they have become.

WWE has taken certain ownership over superstars' names over the years. These names are trademarked and copyrighted to prevent the competitors from using their names outside of the company.

This is why stars like Razor Ramon and Diesel had to change their names before heading to WCW or why Rusev and Aleister Black changed their names before going to AEW.

In recent years, there haven't been many former WWE superstars who have been able to retain their names due to their trademarking. With a wrestler leaving the company and keeping their ring name in tact, it seems like an ideal time to remember the stars who have done the same.

In this article, let's take a look at the five former WWE superstars to use the same ring name in multiple promotions:

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5) Adam Cole - WWE & AEW

Adam Cole gained a significant amount of success during his four-year run in WWE. He debuted for the company at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III and immediately put together the Undisputed Era stable. Cole and the UE won the first ever WarGames Match in company history.

Adam Cole would then go on to become the first NXT North American Champion, defeating Johnny Gargano to win the NXT Championship and became the second triple crown winner in NXT history. To add another accolade to his legacy with WWE, Cole was the longest reigning NXT Champion in the brand's history as well.

The former Undisputed Era leader accomplished a lot before even coming to WWE with his PWG Championship reign being one of the longest in the company's history. After his loss against Kyle O'Reilly at TakeOver 36, Cole's contract with WWE expired and left the door open for him to head elsewhere.

Adam Cole shocked the wrestling world at AEW All Out 2021, debuting for the company and immediately realigning with The Elite. Since Cole was able to keep his pre-WWE name when he signed with the promotion and never had a run on the main roster, he walked into All Elite Wrestling with the signature ring name that he has built his entire career. Adam Cole is a rare example of this in recent years.

4) Macho Man Randy Savage - WWE & WCW

Macho Man Randy Savage is widely regarded as one of the most famous WWE superstars of all time. He came into the promotion during the golden era of the 1980s. Everything about his character was iconic. From the voice to his "Oh Yeah!" catchphrase to the unique attire, Savage made his mark very quickly in the company.

His relationship with Miss Elizabeth was the centerpiece of some of the biggest rivalries of the 80s and 90s for the WWE. Macho Man and Elizabeth are considered the first couple of the company.

Savage is one of the greatest Intercontinental Champions of all time and put on the first WrestleMania classic with Ricky The Dragon Steamboat at Mania III.

Macho Man Randy Savage parlayed the success of his IC Title reign to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania IV. That led to the biggest partnership and rivalry of his career with and against Hulk Hogan, who headlined WrestleMania V. Macho Man won the WWE Championship once again over Ric Flair at WrestleMania VIII.

Savage maintained his legendary name when he left the WWE for WCW in late 1994. He would spend five years with the promotion. Macho Man won the WCW Heavyweight Championship on four occasions and was in great feuds against the likes of Ric Flair and Diamond Dallas Page during his time there. Savage might be one of the main superstars who made Vince McMahon start trademarking names.

3) Rob Van Dam - WWE, ECW & IMPACT Wrestling

Rob Van Dam was part of the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame class during WrestleMania 37 weekend. His legacy is etched in the promotion, but it started long before then in the Land of Extreme.

RVD became a top player for Extreme Championship Wrestling during the Monday Night Wars and used the rivalry between promotions to build his resume.

RVD came over to the WWE to make appearances and earned the moniker of "Mr. Monday Night." He propelled up the card for ECW in the process and became the longest reigning Television Champion in company history at 700 days before injury forced him to relinquish the title. Following the closure of ECW, he returned to WWE full-time, keeping the same ring name.

Rob Van Dam became a mainstay for WWE during his time with the promotion. He quickly became Hardcore Champion before advancing to winning the Intercontinental Championship on six occasions. Van Dam would also become a two-time Tag Team Champion, once each with Kane and Booker T.

RVD gained his biggest success in 2006 when he won Money In The Bank and cashed in to win the WWE Championship. He became the first man to simultaneously hold the WWE and ECW Championships.

After a controversial end to that run, he left the company in 2007 and joined IMPACT Wrestling under the same ring name. Rob Van Dam further added to his legacy in IMPACT Wrestling, winning the TNA Heavyweight and X-Division Championships.

RVD was known by many nicknames such as "Mr. Monday Night" and "The Whole Dam Show", but his ability to maintain his original signature ring name helped him tremendously.

2) Hulk Hogan - WWE, WCW, NJPW & IMPACT Wrestling

There might not be a bigger name in WWE history than Hulk Hogan. The Immortal One was the top star of the first boom period for the company. Hogan defeated Iron Sheik to become the WWE Champion in January 1984 and held the title for the next four years. He put on legendary feuds with Paul Orndorff, Andre The Giant and Macho Man Randy Savage that helped the promotion rise to prominence.

Hogan eventually left the company in 1993 after losing the WWE Championship to Yokozuna at King of the Ring. A year later, he signed with WCW under the same ring name that became famous in Vince McMahon's promotion. He took his fanbase and helped the competition become a mainstay in the industry.

Hulk Hogan caused a second boom period as a heel, this time in the iconic New World Order stable with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. After winning the WWE Championship five times, Hogan won the WCW Heavyweight Championship on six occasions. Hollywood Hogan eventually did return to WWE for one more run with their top prize as well.

In 2010, Hulk Hogan showed up at IMPACT Wrestling along with Eric Bischoff to help Dixie Carter run the company. Despite the much maligned stint there, he kept his trademark name in tact with yet another promotion. Hogan made appearances for NJPW during his time in WWE under the same ring name, making him one of the few to keep his name in four major companies.

1) Chris Jericho - WWE, WCW, ECW, NJPW & AEW

When fans think about the biggest names still active in WWE or AEW, Chris Jericho is at the top of everyone's list. Jericho has been going strong in the business for four decades now. After stints in Japan and Mexico, the Lionheart showed up in ECW and became the Television Champion. This allowed him the opportunity to get signed by WCW.

Chris Jericho had a long run at WCW and was successful on many levels. He initially made his home in the Cruiserweight division, winning the title on four occasions. Jericho went on to win the Television Championship as well. Despite his popularity, he hit the glass ceiling and went on to sign with WWE.

In one of the greatest debuts in WWE history, Chris Jericho arrived on Raw in August 1999 and confronted The Rock. Jericho was able to win the Intercontinental and European Championships in his first year in the company. He put on exceptional bouts against the likes of Chris Benoit and Triple H at the time.

His biggest success came in December 2001 when he defeated The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin on the same night to become the first Undisputed WWE Champion at Vengeance. Despite that big win he was usually in the upper-midcard of the promotion. It changed after his hiatus from the company, and subsequent return in 2007.

Chris Jericho entered a superb rivalry against Shawn Michaels that finally cemented his spot as a top star for the WWE. He evolved as a character into a more serious "Honest Man" persona, once again winning the World Heavyweight Championship and putting on an all-time classic with the Heartbreak Kid at No Mercy 2008.

Jericho won the World Heavyweight Title again in 2010, but he was more used as an enhancement talent for established superstars as well as up-and-comers in WWE during different stints from 2012 through 2016.

His final run in the promotion saw him evolve again and become wildly popular using The List of Jericho. His feud with Kevin Owens was one of the best of 2016-2017, but never got its due at WrestleMania.

Chris Jericho made history when he left WWE and arrived in NJPW to feud with Kenny Omega. Omega and Jericho put on a Match of the Year candidate at Wrestle Kingdom 12 that is viewed by many as the most influential encounter of the past decade. It was that bout that heavily influenced the arrival of All Elite Wrestling in the business.

AEW has become the first real competition for WWE in over 20 years with Chris Jericho at the forefront. The Demo God was the first ever AEW World Champion and helped establish the company. Le Champion has helped elevate that title, as well as many young talents like Orange Cassidy, Sammy Guevara and MJF, among others, in the first two years of All Elite Wrestling.

Through a thirty-year career and five major promotions, Chris Jericho has gotten over and maintained his signature ring name the entire time. That's why Jericho is the former WWE superstar that most fans will think of when asked about someone who has kept their same ring name in multiple promotions.