Vince McMahon Makes New Rule About Talent Using Their Own Names

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon oversees everything that goes on in WWE, right to the very last detail. His word is the law and he has the final decision on everything in the company. McMahon also ordered the name changes for a few WWE superstars recently for a good reason.

During this week’s WWE programming, fans had to witness yet another series of name changes for talents. This included Austin Theory’s name being changed to just Theory. Even Raquel Gonzalez’s name was changed to Rodriguez.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Vince McMahon has a new rule in WWE, where he wants all talent on the roster to have new names that have never been used before. It was also said that they couldn’t have names that were part of their real-life names as well.

The actual story behind this is all the talent got a memo and Vince McMahon decreed he doesn’t want anyone new using their real names anymore, nor names they’ve used before on the indie scene. Walter became Gunther because Walter was both his real name and a name he used on the independent scene. Raquel Gonzalez kept Raquel (not her real name) but had to drop Gonzalez (her real name). Many thought Austin Theory dropped the Austin because of Steve Austin, but it’s actually because his real name is Austin White. Raul Mendoza is a WWE name, except Raul really is his first name so he had to ditch it.

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As it always the case, the memo only applies to people who are newer and who they decided it applies to. Randy Orton isn’t going to change to Frank Trevino and Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey don’t have this applied to them. It would be nutty if Riddle has to change his name because Riddle really is his last name, but it looks like this applies mostly to people just coming to the main roster and this doesn’t apply to Cody Rhodes. Humberto Carrillo isn’t a pushed name but his real first name is Humberto. Pete Dunne had to be Butch.

As for Marcel Barthel, who knows past somebody didn’t like the name since Marcel Barthel was a WWE owned name that he never used until WWE. But from this point forward, they don’t want anyone new using former names from elsewhere or real first or last names. Except if you’re Gable Steveson. And this will change soon enough like it always does.”

For better or for worse, WWE will keep on changing the names of their talent. This is simply something that will never change by the looks of it and fans will simply have to accept it.

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