Name changes in WWE is not uncommon as we have grown to be accustomed to.
WWE has changed the names of numerous Superstars over the past couple weeks. Austin Theory is now known just as Theory, Raul Mendoza will now go by the name Cruz Del Toro, Raquel González is now Raquel Rodriguez, Walter was recently changed to Gunther, just to name a few.
According to a report in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the reason for all the recent WWE Superstar name changes recently is due to a new rule within the company that Vince McMahon has, where all talent on the WWE roster are to have new names which have never been used before. In addition, it was stated that Superstars ring names could not include a name that is part of their actual real-life name as well.
“The actual story behind this is all the talent got a memo and Vince McMahon decreed he doesn’t want anyone new using their real names anymore, nor names they’ve used before on the indie scene. Walter became Gunther because Walter was both his real name and a name he used on the independent scene. Raquel Gonzalez kept Raquel (not her real name) but had to drop Gonzalez (her real name). Many thought Austin Theory dropped the Austin because of Steve Austin, but it’s actually because his real name is Austin White. Raul Mendoza is a WWE name, except Raul really is his first name so he had to ditch it.”
“As it always the case, the memo only applies to people who are newer and who they decided it applies to. Randy Orton isn’t going to change to Frank Trevino and Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey don’t have this applied to them. It would be nutty if Riddle has to change his name because Riddle really is his last name, but it looks like this applies mostly to people just coming to the main roster and this doesn’t apply to Cody Rhodes. Humberto Carrillo isn’t a pushed name but his real first name is Humberto. Pete Dunne had to be Butch.”
“As for Marcel Barthel, who knows past somebody didn’t like the name since Marcel Barthel was a WWE owned name that he never used until WWE. But from this point forward, they don’t want anyone new using former names from elsewhere or real first or last names. Except if you’re Gable Steveson. And this will change soon enough like it always does.”
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