The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin and the best WWE name changes in history

WWE have made a habit of changing Superstars names more and more in recent times. 

Often down to WWE being able to copyright the characters, and other times through creative deciding that ‘evolving’ a persona means a change or dropping of a first name, it’s become a common practice in the company with Tomasso Ciampa the latest Superstar who’s ring name has been tweaked. 

Not all names are met with acceptation – take WALTER’s recent switch to Gunther – but not all WWE name changes have been for the detriment of the Superstar. GiveMeSport looks at some of the best WWE name changes in history.

Cain The Undertaker > The Undertaker 

How different the landscape of WWE would have been if ‘Cain’ hadn’t been dropped from The Undertaker’s name. It’s hard to suggest that Taker wouldn’t have gone on to have the legendry career that he did, but the full moniker certainly has a cheesy and more cartoony feel too it, that may not have stood the test of time. 

Then there’s little bro. Would there have been a brother of destruction for The Deadman? And if so, would his name worked as well as the Kane we’d first see in 1997. You can find one match on YouTube where Cain The Undertaker competes in WWE, but thankfully it was quickly dropped upon his famous debut at the 1990 Survivor Series. 

Isaac Yankem > Kane 

Talking of Kane, whereas dropping the ‘Cain’ for Undertaker was wise move, transitioning Glen Jacobs from Isaac Yankem into the Big Red Machine was also one of WWE’s most profitable decisions. WWE was going through an occupation obsession during the mid-nineties, and as frightening as a dentist is to some, the gimmick was never set to last. 

Repacking and renaming Jacobs into Kane and debuting him as Undertaker’s brother, remains one