20 best ring names in WWE ranked
A cool, catchy ring name plays an important part in allowing a wrestler to convincingly portray a gimmick on the screen.
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best wwe ring names(image source WWE)
Ring names are the aliases by which WWE superstars are known throughout their careers in the company. They are an essential element of a wrestler’s career. A bad ring name might result in a wrestler not being liked by fans and subsequently not receiving a good enough push in the company.
Sometimes, people end up with bad or straight-up horrendous ring names (for instance, Bastion Booger). However, there are a lot of WWE superstars who are still iconic to this day because of their ring names. Take a look at the 20 best ring names in WWE.
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20. Bret “The Hitman” Hart
The Hitman got pretty lucky with having a great real name. He was known by his real name in WWE, Bret Hart. He later got the nickname, “The Hitman” which further elevated his status. On a side note, he was almost called “Cowboy” Bret Hart, and thankfully, that didn’t happen. His iconic name is still relevant in WWE Today.
19. Hulk Hogan
The Hulkster, also known as Hulk Hogan, is one of the most recognizable and gifted WWE legends. The person responsible for his name is none other than Vince McMahon’s father, Vincent J. McMahon, who noted that he had a similar physique to Lou Ferrigno, who played the “Incredible Hulk” at that time.
18. Chris Jericho
The Ayatollah of Rock N’ Rolla, Chris Jericho, debuted with a pretty catchy and iconic name. Jericho rose to fame in The Attitude Era, in his feuds with Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. Even after joining AEW, Y2J has kept his iconic name.
17. André the Giant
Although a simple name, André the Giant is regarded as one of WWE’s greatest. His nickname resonated with all fans, making him seem like a literal giant monster. His match with Hulk Hogan is still remembered by many. André the Giant was also the first WWE Hall of Fame inductee.
16. “Ravishing” Rick Rude
The nickname “Ravishing” perfectly fits Rick Rude. Earlier known as Ricky Wood, he struggled to find success despite being a crowd favourite. However, changing his name to Rick Rude and adding “Ravishing” before it might just be what the superstar needed.
15. CM Punk
The Best in The World got the inspiration for his name from a previous team he was a part of, called “The Chick Magnets”. To this day, if asked what CM stands for, he would answer “Cookie Master”. But what it really stands for, is Chick Magnet. As weird as it may sound, the name elevated his career to new heights.
14. Cactus Jack
Known by a lot of names in his career, including Dude Love, Mick Foley’s most famous ring name was Cactus Jack. He originally got the idea from a movie, where the bad guy is named Cactus Jack Slade. The name also has a “cowboy” feel to it.
13. The Rock
Also called The People’s Champ and The Most Electrifying Man in sports entertainment, Dwayne Johnson’s ring name was The Rock. It wasn’t until he adopted the name and acted like a full-blown heel that fans finally got behind him. To this day, The Rock is known as one of the greatest performers in WWE.
12. Triple H
Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H, is one of the most successful superstars in WWE. He was known for his hardcore matches and carrying around a sledgehammer. He later became a corporate figure and is now the Chief Content Officer of WWE.
11. Edge
The Rated-R Superstar has one of the best ring names in WWE. It’s short yet sounds dangerous. Edge was an integral part of The Ruthless Aggression and especially The Attitude Era, where he made full use of his “Rated-R” gimmick.
10. Sting
Steve Borden, also known as Sting for the majority of his career, was portrayed as one of the most dangerous wrestlers. Along with bizarre face paint, he also wore scorpion-themed tights and used a move called The Scorpion Deathlock. Many could argue that he could have just been called “The Scorpion”. However, firstly Sting sounds better in comparison, referring to a scorpion’s sting. Secondly, the name had already been taken by the famous Spider-Man villain, The Scorpion.
9. “Dr. Death” Steve Williams
Steve Williams definitely had one of the cooler nicknames. What’s even better is that he got it when he was a teenager. When competing in a wrestling match in high school, Williams wore a hockey goalie mask to protect his broken nose. He got the name jokingly from a local sportswriter and the name stuck with him even in his wrestling career.
8. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
The word “Rowdy” perfectly fitted this man. Roddy Piper was a truly wild man. To prove his “rowdy” nickname, the man would go to such lengths, even smashing a coconut on Jimmy Snuka’s head. He definitely knew how to stir the pot and be as wild as he could.
7. John Cena
Love him or hate him, almost everyone’s heard of the name John Cena. Although it isn’t as creative as the other names, the popularity, and power that the name contains earn it a spot among the top 10 ring names. The legendary John Cena has a series of achievements in WWE, the most notable being a 16-time world champion.
6. Kane
Earning the nickname “The Devil’s Favourite Demon” or “The Big Red Monster”, Kane played the part of The Undertaker’s kayfabe brother a bit too well. He was portrayed as Taker’s half-dead and half-psychotic brother. His name was inspired by the Bible’s first murderer, Cain, who murdered his own brother.
5. “The Animal” Batista
His name itself has an animalistic feeling to it, thereby suiting Batista. Furthermore, he earned the title of The Animal after brutalizing his opponents and mercilessly beating down whoever got in his way.
4. Abdullah the Butcher
The name itself is pretty intimidating and serves its purpose of establishing him as a dangerous man. His real name is Lawrence Robert Shreve, which might give off the image of a common everyday man who spends most of his time sitting in his lawn. However, Abdullah the Butcher from Sudan would probably do the job of filling the opponents with dread before the match even begins.
3. Bam Bam Bigelow
Scott Charles, known as Bam Bam Bigelow, is a scary blend of raw power and cruiserweight-like agility. His name “Bam Bam” perfectly captured the hard-hitting superstar who pounded his way through the competition in the company. He is known as one of the most intimidating superstars in WWE.
2. The Undertaker
Known by his nickname, The Deadman, The Undertaker is a force of nature. With a name like that, it would be obvious for anyone to think that they are up against an undead reaper of souls. Since his debut, The Undertaker has carried on this gimmick, and to this day, he is celebrated as one of the best wrestlers in the world of professional wrestling and a bona fide WWE legend.
1. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Probably the greatest thing to happen to WWE, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, was at the forefront of the company in the Attitude Era. Best known for drinking beer and his rivalry with Vince McMahon, The Texas Rattlesnake elevated WWE to new heights in his run with the company.
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Suteekshan Joshi
(312 Articles Published)