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Over the years, the WWE Universe has seen certain superstars change their ring names multiple times. This usually happens when they transform their gimmick, some rather successfully and others not so much.
When a superstar changes their gimmick and ring name, it is essential they create traction with the WWE Universe. This business works on engagement with fans. In this article, we look at 5 WWE Superstars who have changed their ring names multiple times.
Special Mention - Nikki A.S.H
Nikki debuted in WWE as Nikki Glencross in NXT on 17 August, 2016. She later changed her ring name to Nikki Cross, moving to SmackDown on 6 November 2018 to answer an open challenge from champion Becky Lynch. During this time, her tag team partnership with Alexa Bliss blossomed as they won the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship on two different occasions.
Nikki would then see a third change in her ring name and gimmick to become Nikki A.S.H. (Almost a SuperHero) wearing a blue and yellow attire with a superhero cape.
Nikki A.S.H. is currently one of the most successful WWE superstars on the women's roster. She won the Money in the Bank ladder match on 18 July, 2021. Nikki cashed in her contract the next night on RAW to become WWE RAW Women's Champion by beating Charlotte Flair.
She is currently one half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions along with Rhea Ripley after they overcame former champions Natalya and Tamina last week on RAW.
#5 WWE Superstar Happy Corbin
Corbin debuted in WWE under his ring name Baron Corbin. His rise to the main roster from NXT happened at WrestleMania 32 in 2016 where he won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal by eliminating Kane.
Corbin continued with this ring name for a few years in WWE, until he won the King of the Ring tournament in 2019 by beating Chad Gable to become King Corbin.
Corbin would subsequently lose to Shinuske Nakamura in a Battle for the Crown match on the June 18 episode of SmackDown to give up his King title. The loss would see him go back to his earlier ring name Baron Corbin albeit protraying a poor man who had lost all his wealth.
His latest gimmick change happened on the August 27 episode of SmackDown. His ring name was modified to Happy Corbin as he turned his misfortunes around in Las Vegas. Happy Corbin also pioneered a new talk show on SmackDown called Happy Talk, which debuted on the last edition of SmackDown.
# 4 Former WWE Superstar Kane
Glenn Jacobs, aka Kane, has had multiple gimmicks and ring names in WWE. He first appeared as the evil dentist Isaac Yankem in a June 26, 1995 episode of Raw. He was shown as Jerry Lawler's private dentist and would go on to feud with WWE Hall of Famer, Bret Hart.
Jacobs also portrayed the fake Diesel in 1996, when Kevin Nash left for WCW. His best gimmick in WWE would debut at Badd Blood in 1997. He was revealed to be The Undertaker's half-brother, Kane, when he tombstoned the Deadman in a match against Shawn Michaels.
Kane became the most successful character and ring name for Jacobs with and without the mask. In late 2013, Kane evolved into a new version of himself as he was renamed Corporate Kane as he sided with The Authority. During this time he played a dual character of Corporate Kane and would also transform into the masked monster, Demon Kane.
# 3 Former WWE Universal Champion Bray Wyatt
Wyatt debuted in WWE as Husky Harris in 2010 on NXT. In his first gimmick, he was part of the faction Nexus before evolving into a more sinister character with a new ring name, Bray Wyatt. As the head of the Wyatt Family, he would eventually have Erik Rowan, the late Luke Harper and Braun Strowman complete the faction.
The Wyatt Family debuted on a July 8 episode of RAW in 2012 attacking Kane. They went on to become one of the biggest heel factions at the time, feuding with superstars like John Cena and Randy Orton.
Wyatt underwent another change in 2019, this time to a far more frightening character called The Fiend. Bray Wyatt sported a leaner look, wearing a demonic mask.
On the July 15 episode of RAW in 2019, The Fiend appeared in the ring for the first time attacking Finn Balor. The Fiend would beat Finn Balor at SummerSlam 2019 and also overcome John Cena at WrestleMania 36.
His rivalry with Randy Orton was the last the WWE Universe would see of the character, with his final appearance at WrestleMania 37. Bray Wyatt, the following night on RAW, appeared on The Firefly Fun House for the last time before being released by WWE.
# 2 WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan has also seen multiple ring names and gimmick changes. He debuted in WWE as Hulk Hogan in 1983 wearing yellow and red attire. He was a fan-favourite character for ten years until he left the company for WCW. During this time, Hogan won two consecutive Royal Rumbles in 1990 and 1991 along with being a five-time WWE Champion.
In 2002, he would return to WWE in the heel character that was made famous in WCW, under the ring name of Hollywood Hogan. He would shed his yellow attire for a black one. Hogan would eventually turn babyface after his battle against The Rock at WrestleMania 18.
Hogan would then have a third gimmick in WWE as Mr. America in 2003, where he would wear a mask as a babyface. He would feud with Vince McMahon and the late Roddy 'Rowdy' Piper, beating the latter at the Judgment Day pay-per-view that year.
#1 WWE legend Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin has evolved across multiple ring names and gimmicks throughout his storied career. Having debuted as Stunning Steve Austin in WCW back in 1991, Austin portrayed the character of a handsome young man sporting blonde locks.
He then moved to ECW in 1995 to evolve to the ring name Superstar, where he was shown as a rich man feuding with wrestlers like The Sandman. In 1996, Austin would debut in WWE as The Ringmaster, and was awarded the Million Dollar Championship by his manager Ted DiBiase.
Austin soon realized The Ringmaster gimmick was not working with the WWE Universe and asked for a change. He was finally repackaged as Stone Cold Steve Austin where he shaved his head bald and grew a goatie. Like they say, the rest was history.
Stone Cold Steve Austin became a household name in WWE, making the Attitude Era memorable in the late 90s and early 2000s through his feuds with Vince McMahon. A fine in-ring performer and brilliant on the mic, The Texas Rattlesnake rose to become a true WWE legend.
