When it comes to professional wrestlers, they tend to fully embrace an identity for as long as they can. Given that they want to resonate with the audience, wrestlers usually find a suitable appearance that works for them and stick with it for as long as they can. It wouldn't make sense for them to show up with a new look on weekly basis, especially if they are hoping to develop a fanbase. That's why some wrestlers stick for decades to the very same look that made them famous in the first place. Celebrities tend to aspire to be known by the general public, so not many are willing to drastically change their appearance after gaining fame.

But in the world of wrestling, appearance is extremely crucial as it can make or break a character. From time to time, some wrestlers choose to undergo some changes especially if they happen to be changing characters or turning heel. From hair dye to haircuts, many wrestlers have recently adapted a new look - although not all have been widely seen by fans thus far.

Fans tend to always picture wrestlers based on the look that got them famous in the first place, so it can quite the task to make a noticeable change and still manage to be over. Additionally, there are other wrestlers whos physique have changed plenty in recent times. Today, we look at 15 wrestlers who have recently gone a huge transformation.

15 Kane: Long Hair

After winning the primary election earlier this month, Kane is in a good position to accomplish his goal of becoming the next mayor of Knox County. With the elections set for August, Kane has been kept busy by his newest venture as he has been away from the WWE. For the past few years, his appearances have been sporadic throughout the year - depending on his schedule and what the creative team has booked for him. And while he hasn't been fully bald in many years, Kane's hair is the longest it has been in so long.

After having adapted a buzz cut during his Corporation days, his mayor days have him growing out his hair. It has made quite the difference in his appearance although his hair has gotten significantly thinner since his early days in the WWE. Even if he chooses to continue growing his hair whenever he returns to the WWE, that won't be a problem since his mask comes along with a wig (unless of course he were to come back as Corporate Kane). And while his current look may be best suited for his mayor run, it is highly doubtful that he will adapt it in the WWE.

14 Cody Rhodes: Blonde Hair

Last December, Cody Rhodes showed up at Ring of Honor's Final Battle with a new look that surprised fans in attendance. He revealed his bleached blonde hair under his hoodie - a sight that fans still cannot get over. Since his very first appearance in WWE, Rhodes has had the same haircut and hair color. His physique did change for the better over the years, and he has drastically improved as an all-around wrestler - but there haven't been any massive transformations.

In an interview, Cody indicated his past interest in testing the blonde hair, although he was hesitant due to the inevitable comparisons to his late father Dusty Rhodes.

There aren't many wrestlers who can pull off a hair dye the way Cody has. We have seen plenty of stars bleach their hair in the past, but not many have had a positive outcome with the change. For Cody Rhodes, one could argue that the blonde hair has given him a more interesting look. And while he doesn't like using his father's legacy to get over with the fans, The American Nightmare is certainly showing some flashes now that he has become a star on the independent circuit with the blonde hair.

13 Melina: New Year, New Hair

Melina has always experimented with different looks throughout her career, but 2018 brought yet another hairstyle. During her WWE run, she did go red for some time, although it was a much darker shade and it was still mixed with some blonde streaks. And now she has also embraced short hair which surprisingly she still pulls off. Melina hasn't been seen on WWE television in a number of years although she continued to be active on the independent circuit. And if you happen to catch her live soon, you may not even see her new hairstyle as she seems to change her appearance on weekly basis.

Some fans were hoping to see her at the first women's Royal Rumble, as she was one of the better female wrestlers of the Ruthless Aggression Era, but Melina didn't end up being one of the returning names. It seems like her relationship with the WWE hasn't recovered yet as she left on a sour note back in 2011. Melina had become one of the least popular Superstars behind the scenes before her release from the company. And while times does heal all wounds, WWE is no rush to bring her back anytime soon.

12 Aiden English: No Hair

Aiden English has had a receding hairline for as long as he has been in the WWE. With his hair loss getting more excessive by the day, it was only a matter of time before he joined the bald club. And he did so in spectacular fashion at WrestleMania 34 by shaving his hair backstage during the show. He appeared twice during the show with a cameo during the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, in which he still had his hair. But when he accompanied Rusev to the ring for the Four Way match, he had gotten rid if the hair.

It was a wise move on behalf of English as he certainly looks better this way.

It's a whole different story whether he also feels that way. He has had a huge year, playing a vital role in getting Rusev Day over. Knowing the importance of appearance in WWE, it may aid English in moving up some levels. We saw how Stone Cold's career took off after he shaved his head, even Kurt Angle went full on bald when he noticed his hairline receding - and while English is no Austin or Angle - he will likely benefit from the new look.

11 Buff Bagwell: Not So Buff Anymore

There is a reason why he was called 'Buff' Bagwell. These days, his name is no longer matching his look so much as Bagwell has lost ton of mass. He had done an impressive job in the past, remaining in top shape since the demise of WCW. But it may have been his new side career as a gigolo that inspired Bagwell to go lean. He once carried some of the most impressive biceps in the wrestling industry, but Buff's stuff is no longer as it was. There are fans who haven't seen Bagwell since he last main evented Raw along with Booker T in a match that led to his release.

That's why some may not immediately recognize him as he has considerably aged, and he hasn't exactly been relevant in the years he has been away from the WWE. It's unlikely that he will ever be able to get back to the same fitness level. While some of his peers have somehow managed to stay in top shape - and Bagwell doesn't necessarily look too shabby - it is unrealistic to expect him to have the same physique - especially since he has mostly been inactive. In fact, he's set to retire from wrestling for good this year.

10 Shawn Michaels: Short Hair

Fans were heartbroken when Shawn Michaels revealed his new haircut last month. After having rocked the signature long hair for decades, Michaels finally parted ways with it. At some point, he did trim his hair short upon his 2002 return - although never quite as short as it is today. There were some fans who thought Michaels should have cut the long hair back when he was still an active Superstar, as his hair loss had become very aggressive in the final years. Michaels actually said following his haircut that he had wanted to do away with his HBK mane, but his wife liked it, so he kept it.

But since Triple H previously went that same route by getting a haircut, it seems to have convinced Michaels to follow through (or maybe his wife finally relented). We may never get used to seeing Michaels without the long hair, as it truly played into his Heartbreak Kid character. After cutting his hair, Michaels revealed that he isn't necessarily interested in growing it back for the time being. It might help him in looking younger since he had been showing major ageing signs in recent years. The guy is in his 50s after all.

9 Carlito: Bulky And Still Cool

It's been a while since we last saw Carlito on WWE television. There have been rumors regarding a potential return for many years with nothing come to fruition at the end. And while the door does seem open for him, Carlito has always had issues with the booking and it seems like he wants to be compensated more than the WWE values him. He has chosen the lighter schedule away from the WWE, making appearances at different promotions in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Most fans probably still think of Carlito as the disrespectful baby faced newcomer who spits apples on everyone, but his appearance has changed.

And while he is ageing well thus far, Carlito's hairstyle and facial hair make him look like a different guy. On top of that, Carlito has transformed recently into the bulky man that you see above. He hasn't been lean in many years, opting to go for mass instead - but it has increased significantly in recent times. In his younger years, he used to always look much slimmer than his good ol' friend Chris Masters, but he now looks roughly the same size as him. Perhaps Vince will be interested in signing a bulky Carlito?

8 Batista: Hair Transplant?

In his prime years, Batista was known for being one of the best dressed Superstars along with his signature haircut. But as he got older and his hair began to noticeably get thinner, Batista had no choice but to adapt as he rocked a buzz cut. By the time he returned in 2014, most of his hair had been gone - which caught some fans off guard, especially once he started wearing blue tights. Needless to say, Batista's life has changed plenty since then now that he has broken into Hollywood.

And considering how much actors value their appearance, it wasn't surprising to see Batista back with a head full of hair. In the past two months, it seems like Batista's hair experienced major growth - which was likely due to a hair transplant. Many fellow wrestlers and actors have also had the procedure done in the past, so it was only a matter of time before Batista joined the list. At some point, it appeared as if he may join the bald club - but he doesn't seem quite ready to part with his hair just yet. There is also a possibility that Batista was only using a spray hair.

7 Rene Dupree: Tatted Up And Long Hair

Rene Dupree being 34 years old will always be shocking as most would have thought that he is older. Considering thathe debuted in the WWE back in 2003, it goes to show just how young he was when he initially found fame. Throughout his time in the WWE, Dupree always keep a similar baby faced look with a clean shave appearance. He also didn't have any tattoos at the time, but started adding ink after his exit from the company. Fast forward to 2018 and Dupree is now rocking a couple of tattoos all over his body.

And surely most fans would remember Dupree having medium length hair, but he has been growing it in recent times in hopes of finding a new look. He is still looking pretty young, so it's clear that Dupree has won the genetics lottery. But he could probably do without some of the uninspiring tattoos. If he were still a WWE Superstar, we wouldn't put it past Vince McMahon to make him cover up the designs. But luckily for him, he can continue getting booked on the independent circuit without having to face the headaches that come with being in the WWE.

6 AJ Lee: Haircut

AJ Lee is a name that's always brought up by the fans, as she managed to carry the women's division during some rough times. And now that it has made major strides, there are many who would love to see her back in the WWE. But considering her husband CM Punk's lawsuit against the WWE - which may be soon headed to trial - that seems unlikely. On top of that, AJ had previously called out Stephanie McMahon for her hypocrisy regarding the lack of support for women's wrestling.

Considering what the WWE has been attempting to sell fans, they probably wouldn't want such accusations to make it further to mainstream. And while AJ may be gone from the limelight at the time, she has kept herself busy with various ventures, including a newly released book. As such, she has held several meet and greet events for the fans in which she debuted her new look.

AJ also shared the photos on social media, and fans were digging the style change.

It's very suitable for her and a welcomed change, as she had been rocking a similar appearance for many years now. She looked good then and she still looks good now.

5 Mick Foley: Short Hair And Cleaned Up

If you happened to miss out on Mick Foley's last appearance on Raw when he debuted the short hair, then you will be shocked to see his new look. After having had the same look for decades, one would think that Foley would stick to it for the remainder of his life. But Foley showed what a haircut and grooming can do to one's appearance - transforming into a different person. His older look was perfect for his various gimmicks although it wasn't the most professional.

But now that Foley's attention is no longer solely shifted towards wrestling, it was probably a wise move to roll with a much cleaner look. He hasn't been apart of WWE television much for the past year, so some fans may have missed out on the new Foley - especially those who may not have seen him in quite a while. With his new appearance, Foley is looking younger than ever - showing a completely different side to him. After having gone with the very same look for so long, it is refreshing to see Foley embrace some new changes that have made a world of difference.

4 Vampiro: Bald

Vampiro is a name that is a rarely heard in the wrestling industry today. Since the demise of WCW, he has faded away as the years went by despite remaining active on the independent circuit. But his career certainly suffered from having never worked for the WWE. Not only did he miss out on the paychecks, but he could have certainly benefited from increasing his brand awareness. If you didn't happen to be a WCW fan in the late 90s and early 2000s, you probably have never even seen Vampiro.

To his credit, he has always landed a job in the industry with his most recent being a commentator for Lucha Underground. Vampiro is now becoming known in his new profession, as generations of fans may be unaware about his active days. When thinking of Vampiro, one can't help but picture the long hair and make up. He did keep his hair long - or perhaps he wore a wig - up until recent times. But Vampiro decided to embrace the new look, joining so many of his peers who are now not quite as young as we remember them. In any event, he can still provide something to the industry today.

3 Vladimir Kozlov: Ripped With A Beard

Vladimir Kozlov's main problem in the WWE was his bland character that never connected with the fans. At the time, he looked very bland from his haircut to attire. Add on the fact his music was terrible and booking was generic, that was always going to be a recipe for a flop. Kozlov wasn't in such good shape at the time, so it will surely shocking fans to see his incredible transformation. The facial hair has also made him look significantly better, and it is only too bad that he didn't have that same look when he had the full support of Vince McMahon.

Kozlov's impressive transformation has resulted in great career opportunities, including some movie and television roles.

Not many would have pictured Kozlov being a successful actor since he didn't exactly impress throughout his time in the WWE. If he had been a few years younger, then McMahon may have considered bringing him back to the company, but he's now close to 40 and his new career seems to be taking off. His improved appearance would have made him appear more legitimate than he did in his first stint, and we all know how much Vince loves Superstars with Kozlov's current physique.

2 Enzo Amore: Beard Shaved 

It was recently announced that Enzo Amore wasn't charged for assault by the authorities, which led to his re-introduction to the world. Enzo has been active on Instagram for the first time since the charges were brought forward to the press, and he was fired from the WWE. With Enzo preparing his return to his fanbase, he wanted to thank all the supporters by having a meet up in New York. Enzo has also given an update on his current self, and it looks like his look has changed since his last appearance on WWE television. He is dressed better than we are used to, and of course the beard is now gone.

While it's quite tough to tell from this angle, the looks appears suitable for him. It doesn't look like Enzo will be quitting his grind anytime soon, as he has been interested in exploring various opportunities from wrestling to the music industry. We'll see whether Enzo can go long without the beard, as some men find it difficult to adjust once they have grown one. It will be interesting to see how Enzo's plans unfold over the upcoming months. We'll also see what he has to offer wrestling promotions now.

1 John Cena: Facial Hair

Since his debut on the main roster, fans have always wondered whether John Cena can grow facial hair.

He has always been clean shaved to the point where it looks like he doesn't have any growing underneath his skin.

And since there have never been any photos to suggest otherwise, fans had accepted that as reality. But this newly leaked photo of Cena shows him testing out a new look, which got fans talking as usual. Some speculated that it was a sign of Cena's struggles to deal with the Nikki Bella split, as some men tend to be a little looser with their appearance in such situations.

But according to the man himself in a recent interview, he experimented with facial hair for two different reasons. The first one being that Cena is on a quest to try new things that he hasn't before, while the second is to test it out for a potential acting gig. Needless to say, Cena does look somewhat different with facial hair - although he did declare his intention to stick with the clean shaved appearance. But if you happened to be a fan of the new look, Cena did indicate that he may be open to give it a second try.