'%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,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFAABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABv/aAAgBAQAAAAAq9//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL/2gAIAQIQAAAAP//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT/2gAIAQMQAAAAX//EACIQAAECBQQDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDBAAFBhESAQcUIhNhkv/aAAgBAQABPwDc3dBd3V8y4oG0l7HBsSfiBQl8cguX2XWKaq9mFOSoOOueLRLTIrXLpp7j/8QAGREAAQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAEIVHw/9oACAECAQE/AGRk6l//xAAaEQEAAQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAEFEWHB/9oACAEDAQE/ALiCaHGuz//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
AJ Styles stirred the pot in sensational style just recently when he referred to The Undertaker by his real name - insisting that The Phenom should have retired 10 years ago.
Styles fired the stinging shot The Undertaker's way ahead of their showdown at WrestleMania, in a clear attempt to make things personal. After all, in the character-driven, kayfabe world of professional wrestling, nothing quite smashes the proverbial fourth wall than real names being used!
So while we're all used to knowing The Rock, The Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin by the names with which they gained stardom and fame throughout their WWE careers, it's worth remembering that their parents and families most likely call them by something entirely different!
So have you ever wondered about the real names of your favorite wrestling stars, from the present day and years gone by?
Well, we've finally got something to ease your curiosity. Here, we take a look at the names behind the Superstars - and what better place to start?
The Undertaker
As you'll now be aware if you were watching the recent episode of RAW, the man we all know fondly as The Undertaker is known in more personal circles as Mark Calaway. He's been using the Undertaker name since his WWE debut in 1990. He did use a variation of his real name in wrestling prior to his arrival in WWE, however, having previously been billed as both Mark Callous and Mean Mark Callous.
AJ Styles
AJ Styles might have drawn some gasps of breath from the WWE Universe when he used The Undertaker's real name, but what about if the Deadman had followed suit and returned the favor? To do so, he'd have needed to fire his retort in the direction of Allen Jones, which is the real name of the Phenomenal One - which, of course, abbreviates quite nicely to AJ.
Mark Calaway vs Allen Jones at WrestleMania? It, somehow, just doesn't have the same ring...
Hulk Hogan
The Immortal Hulk Hogan is known by fans and the vast majority of his colleagues as Hulk, or the Hulkster, or any such variation of his WWE 'stage' name. However, the man himself is actually named Terry Bollea. Yeah, we prefer Hulk, too!
Roman Reigns
The Big Dog of WWE, Roman Reigns is arguably one of the biggest stars in the company today, and one of the most popular, too. He always generates a reaction from WWE Universe, but Roman is, of course, not Roman - at least not to his family, anyway! Roman's real name is Leati Joseph Anoaʻi or Joe for short.
Seth Rollins
Reigns' former Shield brethren is Seth Rollins, a former WWE Champion, Universal Champion and Money in the Bank ladder match winner, to name just a few of his wide-ranging accomplishments in the ring. You may see his face and think Seth, but his actual name is Colby Lopez.
Dean Ambrose
He may not be in WWE anymore, but it seems sensible to include the other member of The Shield in our list, Dean Ambrose - now wrestling in AEW as Jon Moxley. Before he was Ambrose (And Moxley again, for that matter) the man himself was Jonathan Good to his family and friends.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
When you think of major stars in the WWE over the course of the past generation or so, there are few bigger figures or names than Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Texas Rattlesnake was the hero of the Attitude Era, and the ultimate anti-authority figure. The name 'Austin' may well, therefore, be synonymous with this legend, but it isn't his actual name. He was born Steve Anderson, a name later changed to Steve Williams, according to the Superstar's book.
William Regal
William Regal's placing in this list may appear random, but there's a method to it. You see, he wrestled for much of his career in WCW and WWE as Steven Regal but, with so many many wrestlers named Steve around (Austin, Williams, Blackman, etc), WWE opted to switch the Brit's name to William. All of that is also moot when it comes to Regal's real name, as he's neither a Steve nor a William, he's one Darren Matthews.
Becky Lynch
The Man, the leader of the women's roster on RAW and the brand's Women's Champion, Becky Lynch is undisputed as one of the hottest acts in WWE right now. Fiery and determined she maybe, but a Lynch she is not - at least in 'real' life - Rebecca's (Becky's) real surname is Quin.
Bray Wyatt
He was the leader of and the dominant force behind the Wyatt Family and, after, became the dangerous and sinister Fiend - but the man you will know as Bray Wyatt from his fantastic body of work in WWE is actually named Windham Rotunda. His father, Mike, also wrestled in WWE as IRS in the 1990s, while Bray's (Windham's) brother, Taylor Rotunda is better known to audiences as Bo Dallas.
Aleister Black
You may better know him as the threatening master of the Black Mass, but WWE's resident swift kick artist is not actually named Aleister Black, or though you could argue that is a name that fits his character well enough. Black's real name, in fact, is Thomas Bugden.
Asuka
She's the Empress of Tomorrow and, for over a year, she was a truly dominant force in NXT as the Women's Champion. Yes, it's Asuka, the SmackDown live Superstar and a major player in the women's division. Her real name is Kanako Urai, with her screen name arguably more palatable to western audiences.
Baron Corbin
He divides opinion in as much as there are as many people who find him entertaining and hilarious as there are folks who can't stand to listen to him, but there's no denying that WWE Superstar Baron Corbin is one talented individual. The former footballer's real name, though, is Thomas Pestock - leading to many wrestlers calling him 'Football Tom' when he first arrived in the company.
Big E
It should come as absolutely no surprise that Big E's name is not actually Big E - after all, could you ever imagine mail being addressed to Mr. Big E? It just isn't happening! The wrestler more formally known as Big E Langston earlier in his career is actually named Ettore Ewen. So don't you dare be sour!
Elias
He's the best musician in WWE history - or at least that's what he'll tell you! Elias, formerly Elias Sampson, The Drifter in NXT, sings and plays his guitar wherever he goes and has slowly gathered himself quite the fanbase along the way. Though Elias trips off the tongue quite nicely, he's actually the gentleman more formally known as Jeffrey Daniel Sciullo.
Kofi Kingston
He's the former WWE Champion and the spiritual leader of the New Day, not to mention one of the most popular and long-serving Superstars on the roster.
Kofi Kingston is known by that very name to millions of people around the world, a name that was originally given to the first incarnation of his character that pulled on the roots of his Ghanaian (or Jamaican if you're keeping score) roots.
Another man to have had his real name slightly simplified to suit a more western audience, Kofi's real first name is Kofi Sarkodie-Mensah.
Mandy Rose
She may be one of the most talented members of the women's roster in WWE, and she may set Corey Graves' heart racing whenever she enters an area, but Mandy Rose isn't Mandy Rose, she's actually Amanda Saccomanno - at least Mandy for short!
Murphy
WWE fans were confused and, in parts, angered by the decision to change Buddy Murphy's name to simply Murphy earlier this year, after the Australian began to establish himself higher up in the card in the company. But while many may have been attached to the Buddy Murphy name, the man himself wasn't - he goes by the name Matthew Adams when he's away from the wrestling world.
