Choosing a wrestling name is not an easy situation for someone to make, but it is a crucial element of the business, with everybody looking to create something iconic that is easy to chant and will make them sound like a star. Sometimes wrestlers create the name themselves, while other times they are handed to them.
That is something that is down to the situation surrounding a specific wrestler, and every wrestler has their own individual story. Some are particularly interesting though, with backstories that a lot of fans would likely want to know about to learn more about the person.
10 Kane
Kane is one of the greatest WWE Superstars of all time, and considering that his character was so story-driven it makes sense that his name had a detailed background to go alongside it. For him, it was created from the Cain & Abel story in the Bible, with this being something that they decided upon.
The reason for that was because that story is about a good brother and a bad brother, and that is something that WWE tapped into to make it work with his angle. Another interesting fact was that originally, his name was going to be Inferno, which is something people don't know about.
9 Chyna
Chyna is another short name that was to the point, but it was something that fans have always remembered and been able to talk about, proving it was a good one. Interestingly, this was one that she took from the china doll, which is an ornament, which a lot of fans likely wouldn't have thought of.
Chyna is also someone who opted to take the name to the next level as well, because she ended up being legally known as that, showcasing the sheer commitment that she had to the gimmick.
8 The Big Show
Originally when The Big Show debuted in WWE he was using his real name, Paul Wight, which is something that he has reverted to now in AEW. But the name got switched up to the iconic Big Show, which people are well aware of at this point, proving that it was the right call.
However, this just came from a backstage conversation with Vince McMahon where he called him that, simply because he ticked a lot of boxes for living up to that billing. He didn't like the name at first and Big Show didn't want it to be his name, but it's something that worked out well.
7 Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens worked the majority of his career under the name of Kevin Steen, which is something that fans began to associate with him, but when signing for WWE a change was needed. He kept the same first name, but swapped the second for Owens, which he did as a tribute to his son.
KO is well known for being a big family man, and his son is called Owen, therefore the decision to put that as his second name was one that was done specifically for him. A lot of casual fans wouldn't know about that, but it does showcase a different side to him as a talent.
6 Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins is another wrestler that needed to change his name when he became part of WWE's system, changing from Tyler Black to the name that people are well-aware of to this day. Rollins is a name that works perfectly and has become a popular one overall.
His name was created as a tribute to a band that he likes, with this being for the band Black Flag, as the lead singer is called Henry Rollins. This was a clear nod to that, which people may not know because Seth's musical love is not something that people are aware of.
5 Jon Moxley
While Jon Moxley did have to change his name when he joined WWE as well, people do know him well as this one due to the popularity he has in AEW. Moxley was something he used beforehand and he went straight back to that, however, he randomly threw his name together at the last second before his first ever debut.
The story behind his name suits the personality that Moxley brings to the ring, which is ultimately what makes it such a perfect one for him. He was about to head out and didn't have a name, and the booker just threw Jon Moxley at him as they were wearing football uniforms, so it was a nod to "The Varsity Blues."
4 Kelly Kelly
So nice they named her twice was the catchphrase that often got brandished around with Kelly Kelly, but that isn't quite how things went in reality. Originally, she was only going to have one name, which doesn't seem like it would have stuck to the same level as what she ended up with.
But it was a Vince McMahon idea to throw the same name again to double it up. That caught his attention because it was something that the company had never done before, and firsts are what he always looks for in wrestling.
3 The Rock
The Rock is one of the biggest names in WWE history, and that is one that fans always remember, but it wasn't the original name that he was given, which was Rocky Maivia. That was something that paid tribute to his family lineage, but he didn't like it at the time, as he felt he'd already used his name to knock the door down.
He made it clear that he wanted the name to be changed, and it ended up being The Rock, which is what people know to this day. That was given to him by Pat Patterson, who The Rock considers to be a mentor, which makes it even more important.
2 Mankind
Mankind is a name that wrestling fans are aware of, but originally that wasn't the plan, with Vince McMahon having a different name in mind for him at first. The WWE Chairman wanted him to be Mason The Mutilator, which Mick Foley admitted to not being a fan of.
Because of that, he then requested that it could be changed to Mankind The Mutilator, and after some discussion with McMahon to persuade him, that is something that ended up happening.
1 Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin was a good name, but adding the 'Stone Cold' element to it is something that took the name to the next level and helped to make it even more memorable. However, the creation of that nickname is something that helped to define the character a little bit further.
This all came from his wife telling him to not leave a cup of tea to go stone cold, as he wasn't drinking it. Austin liked the name and thought the idea could work for him, which he decided to take to the wrestling world.