5 worst name changes in WWE history

WWE has an intellectual property that necessitates them to own their superstars' names. Whether it be a competitor from outside promotions or a former NXT talent, these shifts in alias are pretty surprising and confusing when they transpire.

The latest example of these name changes came on NXT 2.0 when former NXT UK Champion WALTER became Gunther. The company will make these changes at a moment's notice, and widespread criticism will follow quickly after that.

There have been times when these changes have been successful, but more often than not, they are met with criticism from the fanbase.

Picking from the worst name changes is an easy endeavor because of the sheer volume of these shifts that fans despise. A few of these are head-scratchers due to the company presenting stars under one name and then switching them up out of nowhere.

In this article, let's look at the five worst name changes in WWE history.

Honorable mentions

• Piper Niven becomes Doudrop
• All of RETRIBUTION
• Big E drops the Langston

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5) Colt Cabana becomes Scotty Goldman in WWE

Colt Cabana came to World Wrestling Entertainment in 2007, bringing a loyal fanbase with him. The Chicago native had made a name for himself across the independent wrestling scene. Like CM Punk before him, many fans believed the company would use his pre-WWE persona to bring those fans over to watch him rise through the ranks.

However, the promotion decided otherwise. Despite being known as Colt "Boom Boom" Cabana in Ohio Valley Wrestling, the company changed his name to Scotty Goldman upon his main roster call-up. It was a shift that many fans didn't agree with. It was a stereotypical Jewish name to play off his real-life background, but it was never a name that would be a player for the promotion.

After an underwhelming run, it didn't surprise anyone when the company decided to part ways with Scotty Goldman in 2009. He started using the Colt Cabana moniker again upon returning to the indies. Now, he finds himself part of the Dark Order in All Elite Wrestling.

4) Former NXT Tag Team Champions The War Raiders becomes the Viking Experience on WWE's main roster

The Viking Raiders are one of the top tag teams on WWE's main roster at the moment. They are currently the number one contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles and are set to face The Usos in the future.

Before WWE, the tag team was known as War Machine. Upon their arrival in NXT, the company changed their name to the War Raiders.

The initial change was due to the company wanting to own the duo's persona. Hanson and Rowe experienced another change when they were called up to the main roster in 2019. Their names were changed to Erik and Ivar, while their tag team name was changed to the Viking Experience.

Fans rejected this, and the promotion had to follow suit by changing the name again to Viking Raiders.

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3) Joe Hennig becomes Michael McGillicutty for WWE's NXT brand

When the child of a former legend is introduced, it excites fans about what this second-generation superstar will offer. Randy Orton and Charlotte Flair are among the biggest second-generation competitors currently on the roster. However, there have been occasions where the promotion decides not to acknowledge the family history of a new superstar and wants them to be known for their skills.

Joe Hennig made a mark in the developmental system. Many backstage officials believed the son of Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig to be a main event player for years to come. However, they decided to change Hennig to Michael McGillicutty upon his arrival in NXT.

This name change was made even worse by McGillicutty's farewell promo after losing the second season of NXT. The promotion wisely changed course and reintroduced Hennig as Curtis Axel upon his re-debut. This name was based on his father's and grandfather's names and was appreciated by fans.

2) Former WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champion Chad Gable becomes Shorty G

Current WWE RAW Tag Team Champ Chad Gable is a former Olympian and a 4.0 academic genius. He has been a tag team specialist, holding tag gold on all three brands of the promotion. His current run with Otis as Alpha Academy will surprise many fans who remember how the promotion unbelievably changed Gable's name.

To play off his feud with Baron Corbin, who was making fun of the size of Gable, Chad changed his name to Shorty G. He also switched up his attire and came out dressed as a basketball player.

This character shift was widely regarded as ridiculous and unnecessary. This is why the company changed his name back to Chad Gable within a year.

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1) Former WWE Tag Team Champion Chavo Guerrero becomes Kerwin White

The name change will forever be regarded as the most idiotic. Chavo Guerrero came to WWF as a former WCW Cruiserweight mainstay. Apart from the legendary Guerrero family, Chavo was the nephew of Eddie Guerrero. The duo teamed up to find success as WWE Tag Team Champions twice.

After a rivalry with his uncle and reigns with the Cruiserweight Title, World Wrestling Entertainment changed Guerrero's name to Kerwin White. This was an entire character overhaul with the persona being a privileged golfer who looked down on the lower classes. He even introduced his personal caddie, Nick Nemeth, later known as Dolph Ziggler.

The fanbase widely panned this, but the company persisted in the face of criticism. However, the death of Chavo's uncle Eddie led to the character finally being dropped so that he could return to his Guerrero name. This was a controversial persona that should have never been attempted.