'%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)
It is a well-known fact that the names that WWE Superstars use are their ring names and, on most occasions, are different from their real names. WWE has had a habit of changing up the ring names of their Superstars for various reasons.
While most of the Superstars who come to WWE from other promotions go through a change in their names, there have been several instances of the company changing a Superstar's name during their time with them. While some go through a gimmick change and get a new name like Shorty G, others just get their names shortened.
In this article, we look at six Superstars who lost a part of their names in WWE and three others who later got it back. Be sure to let us know your thoughts on the same in the comments section below.
#6 & #5 WWE Superstars who lost a part of their name: Otis and Tucker
Mr. Money in the Bank 2020 Otis has been one of the breakout stars for the company this year. His love angle with fellow Superstar Mandy Rose has been an amazing storyline in 2020, with fans getting completely behind him to win the heart of the girl he loves.
What many fans might not remember is that The Heavy Machinery member was initially referred to as Otis Dozovic during his time in NXT. Soon after his main roster debut, his name was shortened to just Otis. The same was the case with his tag team partner, who was initially called Tucker Knight and later just Tucker.
Heavy Machinery is one of the most featured tag teams in WWE right now. Otis had earlier teased that he could use his Money in the Bank contract to cash in on the SmackDown Tag Team titles and while he has been behind the Universal Championship now, things could change anytime.
#4 WWE Superstar who lost a part of their name: Cesaro
Cesaro is considered one of the most underrated WWE Superstars on the current roster. While he has had his moments in WWE, winning titles including several Tag Team Championships with different partners, Cesaro is yet to get a much-deserving run with the WWE Championship or any other world title.
Long-time fans would remember that Cesaro was initially known as Antonio Cesaro, but WWE later dropped his first name. The reason for the same was explained recently by Dave Meltzer.
“There was a meeting and at the meeting, Vince goes ‘we gotta drop that first name. If we call him Alexander Rusev, people are gonna start gonna calling him Alex and Alex is not a good name for a heel.’ That’s the real reason so that’s why they dropped the first name. The same thing happened with Cesaro. The reason why they dropped [the name] Antonio Cesaro was because Vince said people are going to start calling him Tony and Tony is not a heel name so we gotta drop the first name.”
It is indeed a weird yet understandable theory of Vince McMahon behind dropping Cesaro's first name. It is to be seen whether the current SmackDown Tag Team Champion will get his hands on a world title in the future.
#3 WWE Superstar who lost a part of their name: Andrade
Former NXT Champion Andrade was called up to the main roster in 2018 on the night after WrestleMania 34. Accompanied by Zelina Vega, Andrade was a massive star on the Black and Gold brand of WWE and is now one of the prominent members of the Monday Night RAW roster.
Interestingly, his name during his time in NXT was Andrade "Cien" Almas, which he continued during the initial days on the main roster. It was in January 2019 that WWE shortened his name to just Andrade. He has won the United States Championship on one occasion and is currently in a feud with Angel Garza.
#3 WWE Superstar who got it back later: Mustafa Ali
Mustafa Ali is one of the few WWE Superstars who were able to get their "lost name" back. Initially making his WWE debut at the 2016 Cruiserweight Classic tournament, he soon joined 205 live. Impressed by his performance, Vince McMahon called him up to SmackDown, where he even pinned then WWE Champion Daniel Bryan. However, his initial push abruptly came to an end due to an injury.
It was in March 2019 when his name was shortened to just Ali, to which the WWE Superstar even responded on Twitter. Later that year in November, WWE decided to change his name again and reverted to Mustafa Ali.
#2 WWE Superstar who lost a part of their name: Big E
Fans who have been watching Big E after his New Day stint began might not be aware that he had a very different gimmick during his initial days in WWE. Starting off in NXT, he was a dominant competitor and even won the NXT Championship. Known at that time as Big E Langston, he was famous for his "five count" pin. Big E made his main roster debut in December 2012 as an enforcer for Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee.
It was at Elimination Chamber 2014 when his name was shortened to Big E. While his singles career was going directionless, he formed an alliance with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, together known as The New Day, and the rest is history.
#2 WWE Superstar who got it back later: Luke Harper
Former WWE Superstar Luke Harper, now known as Brodie Lee in All Elite Wrestling, is also one of the few lucky ones who had their names shortened but got it back later. Starting his WWE career as part of The Wyatt Family, Luke Harper had some decent amount of success in the company, winning the Intercontinental Championship once and Tag Team Championships thrice.
When WWE repackaged him with Erick Rowan as The Bludgeon Brothers, his name was shortened to Harper. He later got it back and was again referred to as Luke Harper. He was released from WWE in December 2019 and later joined AEW in March 2020, where he is the current TNT Champion.
#1 WWE Superstar who lost a part of their name: Murphy
One of the recent instances of WWE shortening the name of a Superstar happened with RAW Superstar Murphy, who was earlier known as Buddy Murphy. The former NXT Tag Team Champion and WWE Cruiserweight Champion aligned himself with the Monday Night Messiah Seth Rollins in January 2020.
In February, WWE shortened his name to just Murphy. He accompanied Rollins on most occasions and the two even had a brief run with the RAW Tag Team titles. Recently, there have been issues between him and Rollins with the Monday Night Messiah attacking him while Murphy is looking to win back his trust. It is to be seen whether this will eventually lead to a face turn for him.
#1 WWE Superstar who got it back later: Apollo Crews
Former WWE United States Champion Apollo Crews has been a huge part of the RAW mid-card recently. Starting off his WWE career with NXT in 2014, he made his main roster debut in April 2016. Initially impressing everyone with his fantastic physique and in-ring work, he unfortunately got lost in the mix soon.
It was in February 2019 when WWE shortened his name to just Apollo. Hardly a couple of months later, he got his lost name back and was again referred to as Apollo Crews. Currently, he is in a feud with The Hurt Business' Bobby Lashley, who ended Crews' US title run at Payback.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
