Excited to know how do WWE wrestlers get their names! The world of professional wrestling is known for its over-the-top characters and elaborate storylines, but one aspect that often goes overlooked is the names of the wrestlers themselves. While some wrestlers use their real names, many have adopted stage names that better capture their personalities or brand. In this article, we will dive into the fascinating backstories behind the names of some of the most popular WWE wrestlers.
Real story behind how do WWE wrestlers get their names
Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns is one of the biggest names in professional wrestling today. However, what many people don’t know is that he actually borrowed part of his name from another wrestler. When Reigns signed with WWE, he knew he wanted to be called Roman. However, his trainer, Deputy, told him he needed a last name. At the time, there was another WWE development wrestler named Calvin Raines who had just been released from his contract. This gave Roman the idea to call himself Roman Raines. Before he made it official, Corey Grief suggested that Raines spell his name as “Reigns” like how Kane reigns over his kingdom. Roman took the advice and never looked back.
The Undertaker
The Undertaker is one of the most iconic wrestlers in WWE history, but his name has a rather unusual origin story. After leaving WCW and getting in contact with WWE, the future dead man had a meeting with the company, but they didn’t agree to hire him. A few months later, the Phenom got a call and the person on the other end asked, “Is this the Undertaker?” The dead man had no idea what this person was talking about, but he said yes, which was the correct answer. Vince McMahon later told the Phenom that he had the idea for the Undertaker character for a while but couldn’t find the right person to portray it. It’s safe to say that Mark Kallus was the right guy. Technically, The Undertaker’s original name was Kane the Undertaker, but it quickly got shortened. However, the name Kane would pop back into the Undertaker’s career years later.
Kane
Over six years after the Undertaker debuted, WWE needed an opponent for him. This led to a storyline where the Undertaker discovered he had a brother he thought was dead, a man named Glenn Jacobs, who had wrestled in Denver under a few different names. Originally, WWE wanted to call the Undertaker’s brother Inferno since the story was that the brother had been burned in a fire. Jacobs thought it sounded too cartoony, and a WWE writer named Bruce Pritchard agreed. They came up with the name Kane, which was inspired by the story of brothers Cain and Abel from the Bible.
Rey Mysterio
Did you know there are actually two Rey Mysterios? Long before coming to WWE, the master of the 619 went by a few different names, including Lazaricia Verde, which means “the green lizard,” and Calibri, or “hummingbird.” However, after proving himself, the masked Luchador was given the name Rey Mysterio Jr. by his uncle, who is the original Rey Mysterio. Rey kept this name until he debuted in WWE, and they dropped the “Jr.” and simply called him Rey Mysterio. Also, in case you’re wondering, Rey Mysterio means “mystery king.”
Edge
Before becoming the Rated-R Superstar Edge, Adam Copeland considered using his real name for his wrestling persona. However, at the time, the WWE did not allow wrestlers to use their real names. While driving through Albany, New York, he was listening to a local radio station called The Edge when he heard the name and thought it sounded good. He took the name and ran with it, eventually becoming one of the most recognizable wrestlers in the WWE.
Related FAQ
Who suggested the name Roman Reigns to him?
Roman Reigns came up with the first name himself, but the idea for the last name came from another wrestler who had just been released from his WWE contract named Calvin Raines.
How did The Undertaker get his name?
The name “The Undertaker” was actually suggested by Vince McMahon after he had been searching for the right person to embody the character for some time. The name “Kane the Undertaker” was originally used but was quickly shortened to just “The Undertaker.”
Why was Kane chosen as the name for The Undertaker’s storyline brother?
The name Kane was chosen because it was inspired by the story of Brothers Cain and Abel from the Bible.
What other names did Rey Mysterio go by before he was called Rey Mysterio?
Rey Mysterio went by the names Lazaricia Verde (which means “the green lizard”) and Calibri (which means “hummingbird”) before being given the name Rey Mysterio Jr by his uncle.
What was Chris Jericho’s original name idea before becoming Chris Jericho?
Chris Jericho wanted to call himself “Jack Action” before someone told him it sounded stupid and he decided to combine his real first name with “Jericho” to create his wrestling name.
Conclusion
Wrestling is a fascinating world filled with unique characters and larger-than-life personalities. The stories behind how these wrestlers got their names are just as interesting as the personas they embody in the ring. From Roman Reigns to The Undertaker, Kane to Rey Mysterio and Edge the stories of how these wrestlers got their names, show the creative and sometimes unusual ways that names are born. Each name has its own story, and each wrestler has their own journey that led them to where they are today.