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5 WWE Superstars who have transformed unrecognizably since debut

By Suhas Jirgi
Modified Sep 23, 2020 02:45 IST
Becky Lynch, then and now [Image courtesy: GMS]
Becky Lynch, then and now [Image courtesy: GMS]

A large part of a Superstar's success in WWE hinges on their ability to repackage themselves. Very few WWE Superstars are lucky enough to find a gimmick that clicks universally early-on and stick to it (We're looking at you, John Cena). Most wrestlers need to develop their character over a period of time, tweaking it constantly with each new feud. Sometimes, a wrestler may even have to overhaul their whole persona just to fit into the dynamic WWE landscape.

While some members of the WWE roster go their whole careers looking for the elusive gimmick that has the potential to propel them into stardom, a handful are successful in hitting the nail on the head. Even rarer are wrestlers like Chris Jericho, for example, who have managed to reinvent themselves in every era, each character more enticing than the last.

In this list, we look at few top WWE wrestlers who have an exceptional character now but had wildly different debuts.

#5 Former WWE RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch's similarities with her debutant version start and end with her flaming red hair. Becky was told to come up with a gimmick for her WWE NXT debut match against Summer Rae back in 2014. Becky chose to lean into her Irish roots with a glossy green attire and tap-danced her way all around the arena.

She even poked fun at herself when Rob Gronk's dancing debut on SmackDown caught a lot of eyes:

The hardest aspect to digest though, is the constant smile she sported. The Becky Lynch of today oozes toughness and has a rebellious streak about her, hardly ever smiling except when she's conquering her opponents in the ring. It was a long road for her, though.

Even after debuting on the main roster, Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks had their legendary rivalry while Bayley was popular beyond belief among the younger fans. This meant Becky Lynch was the least relevant of the Four Horsewomen for quite a while. It did not help that few of her other attempts at reinventing herself fell flat too:

But things changed when she became the first SmackDown Women's Champion. She elevated her Twitter game to 'Savage' and became a legit badass. Becky invading RAW before Survivor Series and wrecking their women's roster even when Nia Jax broke her nose and left her face bloodied cemented her place at the top of the pecking order. And since then, she hasn't looked back.

#4 Reigning WWE Champion Drew McIntyre

Future Shock to the Claymore [Image courtesy: SportsBible]
Future Shock to the Claymore [Image courtesy: SportsBible]

This is one transformation that has been done to death, yet one that WWE fans never tire of discussing. That is the testament to the spectacular evolution of Drew McIntyre.

Back in 2007, when the Scottish Psychopath debuted, there was only one way to describe his character: An Entitled Prick. He oozed "Vince McMahon's Boy" from every angle. It may have had something to do with the fact that Vince McMahon openly handpicked him and said he'd be a future champion, thereby acquiring the nickname 'The Chosen One'.

What followed was a few years of WWE trying to build him up slowly, but McIntyre failing to click with the crowd. He was ultimately put into the 3MB, which was the beginning of the end, as he was squashed every single week before being let go. He doesn't regret it though, as he views it as a part of his essential journey to where he is now:

Drew McIntyre's successful transformation has been there for everyone to see. The advent of social media has enabled fans to follow his journey in the Indie scene. From being someone shoved down their throats, Drew McIntyre changed to someone who had hit rock bottom and vowed to turn his life around.

It took 13 years, but Vince McMahon's prediction came true. The prodigal son returned to WWE and claimed the Championship he was destined for.

Today, no one would link the initial grumbling Drew McIntyre to the built, wrecking machine that we now witness.

#3 Former WWE Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler

Spirit Squad
Spirit Squad

Recognize anyone in the above photo? Yes, that's WWE's resident Show-Off all the way to your right. During his debut in 2004, he was part of the Spirit Squad. If you are not familiar with them, they are the stable who's most noteworthy moment was DX dumping waste all over them. That pretty much tells you all you need to know.

Dolph Ziggler didn't have his signature swagger or fancy skillset. He was just another gag character that DX would pick on and never really stood out. Ziggler even acknowledged that his debut was far from ideal.

But nothing can take away from his contributions to WWE. He acts as the unofficial gatekeeper for the company. Every new WWE NXT call-up or recruit, more often than not, have their first-ever feud with him. Say what you want, but there is no denying that no one sells the way Dolph Ziggler does.

He currently continues to put on performances that elevate the quality of every match he wrestles in. While he may never be seen in the main event picture again, he is someone the company trusts.

A true workhorse
A true workhorse

For mainstream appearances, high-octane bouts, and building of new stars, there is no one WWE prefers more than the golden boy from Hollywood, Florida.

#2 Former WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champion Big E

Big E [Image courtesy: Pinterest]
Big E [Image courtesy: Pinterest]

Big E has always been the incredibly built hard-hitting WWE wrestler wearing the same ring gear right from his debut. Even his finisher 'The Big Ending' remains unchanged. Yet, if you met the big guy when he debuted, you'd think he would be the twin brother of the light-hearted, hilarious New Day wrestler we know and love today.

Big E made his first appearance on WWE's main roster back in December 2012, where he beat down John Cena to align himself with Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee. Big E waited four months before wrestling his first match against Team Hell No in April 2013. He spent his time being Dolph's enforcer, standing on the side and frowning, waiting for someone to irk him so he can pound them down.

There was no goofy smile, twerking hips, or loving teammates around him. He was just a muscular man looking for the next person to hurt. Luckily, The New Day transformed him to the pancake devouring, unicorn promoting individual we know today. And thank god for that!

Imagine the number of laughs that would have been missing from our lives if Big E had been just another muscle-bound competitor with no life behind his eyes.

#1 Former WWE Universal Champion Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt [Image courtesy: WWFOldSchool]
Bray Wyatt [Image courtesy: WWFOldSchool]

With kayfabe being a fleeting commodity in WWE today, very few have the ability to pull of far-fetched personas. While the jump from Wyatt Family version of Bray Wyatt to The Fiend is itself a highly commendable transformation, attaining the same from Husky Harris as the starting point is almost unfathomable.

Debuting as part of the Nexus, the invading faction comprising of eight unhappy participants from WWE NXT's Season 1 and 2, Husky Harris was an afterthought even among the faction that ultimately became an afterthought itself. He made no discernable impact as his appearance was slowly tapered off.

Ironically, one of the greatest Superstars on the mic today struggled each time he picked up the microphone in NXT. But 2009 was a long time ago.

He introduced the character of Bray Wyatt in WWE a few years later. This struck a chord with fans. An unsettling cult with supernatural prowess was something many wrestling fans had not witnessed in ages. He led the eerie duo of Luke Harper and Eric Rowan as part of The Wyatt Family.

While his promos would transport viewers to a different swampy land, he always came up short in big matches, constantly derailing the momentum he gained through promos.

That was until the advent of The Fiend. A character so spooky that the subtly disturbing Firefly Fun House segments hosted by Bray Wyatt (The Fiend's alter ego of sorts) seemed pleasant by comparison. Bray Wyatt has mastered the art of feeding the audience out of the palm of his hands as his words have a depth that is difficult to explain. Pair this up with the horrifying mask of the Fiend and the swiftness that no man of his size should possess, and WWE have found a gem.

Who knew Husky Harris would be the most must-see performer of WWE in 2020?

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