Choosing one’s name as a wrestler requires a lot of effort and time to ensure that the right one is chosen from the start. Changing the character’s name, again and again, causes fans to either lose interest or forget past accomplishments of the wrestler. Hence, wrestling companies and wrestlers sit down together in order to pick the right one from the start.
Most wrestlers end up using fake names for entertainment, but the names must make the fans believe that they are that person. Wrestlers such as Goldust, The Undertaker, Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, and Stone-Cold Steve Austin are a few of the many wrestlers who have succeeded to do so.
On the other hand, many wrestlers get to keep half of their name and make up the other half. They use either their first of their last name and change the other half to make it click better with the fans. This remains true for wrestlers such as Bobby Roode, Kevin Owens, AJ Styles (with the AJ being his real initials), and Daniel Bryan to name a few.
However, so wrestlers are lucky enough to keep their real names and perform under the same by just moulding their character a bit. There are currently a few active wrestlers who have managed to bargain with the WWE and keep their real names while performing. Let’s take a look at ten such wrestlers who fight under their real names.
#10 Brian Kendrick
Currently wrestling on 205 live as one of WWE’s best cruiserweights, Brian Kendrick debuted in the WWE in 2003. Since then, he has been involved with the company on and off, with his most famous stint coming during his tag team partnership with Paul London.
Now performing under the stage name The Brian Kendrick, he is one of the few wrestlers who has managed to keep his real name throughout his career. This is quite an achievement for a wrestler fighting on the level he is.
#9 Shayna Baszler
The former NXT Women’s Champion is one of the hardest hitting lasses in the WWE. She has enjoyed a lot of success after leaving the UFC and joining the WWE’s developmental brand in 2017. “The Queen of Spades” has a birth name that is fitting for the business she’s in, and hence she has been successful in keeping her real name thus far.
#8-7 Matt and Jeff Hardy
Real life brothers and former tag team champions have also had the fortune of keeping their real-life names when performing. Matthew and Jeffery Hardy have had an illustrious and very successful career and won almost all past and present WWE Championships between themselves.
Keeping the real-life brother story active on television for over two decades has allowed them to become icons in the business, and their names have helped the Hardy Boyz stay in the fans hearts forever.
#6 Johnny Gargano
One of NXT’s finest recruits and former NXT tag team champion has also had the fortune of keeping his catchy name since the start. He got associated with the company in 2015 and signed with them soon after. Teaming up, and later feuding with, a former friend turned foe Tommaso Ciampa has helped him gain a lot of recognition even though he still battles on the yellow brand.
#5 Mickie James
A WWE veteran, Mickie James has had a long career marked with a lot of great moments and matches. This has ensured that she becomes a legend in the world of women’s wrestling. Currently, a partner of one of WWE’s top women’s wrestler Alexa Bliss, Mickie was born with the same name she wrestles under.
Even though Mickie has used other names while performing on the independent circuit, such as Alexis Laree, she has found most fame when wrestling under her real name. The most logical explanation could be that her real name sounds as good as a wrestling created name.
#4 Shinsuke Nakamura
The Japanese artist and the King of Strong Style have become one of the biggest names on the blue brand. Starting out from NXT, Nakamura was well-known for his persona, his entrance music, and his name. Every gimmick he’s sold has been bought by the fans.
The talented wrestler has worked with many different companies, such as New Japan Pro-Wrestling, under his real name and the name has had a great impact with fans all around the globe. Nakamura is still quite new to the WWE, and there’s no doubt that he’ll be even more successful than he is now in the years to come under his real name.
#3 Ronda Rousey
Even a company like the WWE couldn’t take The Baddest Woman on The Planet’s name away. Ronda has been UFC’s finest product, and she joined the WWE earlier this year as a fulltime wrestler. In no time, she’s enjoyed success very few have and has become one of the leaders of the women’s division.
Ronda Rousey was already extremely famous before she joined the WWE, and her name is more powerful for the company’s image than the company is for her. Therefore, it made no sense for Vince and his team to change anything about Ronda, and she continues to fight under her real name.
#2 Brock Lesnar
Many would believe that Lesnar’s parents saw a fighter in him the moment he was born. Born Brock Edward Lesnar, taking the middle name out seemed to do wonders as it sounds more like a wrestling name than a real name.
The Beast has held the WWE Universal Title for 504 days to become a title holder for the longest time in the modern era. Apart from that, he has numerous other WWE and UFC titles to his name and has also been active in the National Football League (NFL) for some time.
#1 John Cena
The man who needs no introduction. John Cena has led the WWE for over a decade and has become synonymous to the world of wrestling. Born John Felix Anthony Cena Jr., he has had the most success with the WWE and has won more titles than anyone else in the company.
He managed to change his stage name ‘The Prototype’ to his real name, and that move has worked wonders for him and the WWE. Who knows maybe a stage name would not have worked with the fans enough to make him the star he is today. Considered one of the best wrestlers in the industries’ long history, Cena is the most famous wrestler who has fought under his real name in the WWE.
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