Name that vanilla wrestler - Wrestling Forums : WWE, TNA, ECW, E-Fed, Wrestlemania, Live Wrestling Streams

bubble monkey · 03-30-2004, 03:45 AM

For the last two years or so every new wrestler WWE introduces ends up going by his real-life name. This sort of laziness on their part is going to make it harder for new guys to move up, in my opinion. Sure, they're pushing Shelton Benjamin now, but... "Shelton Benjamin"? Next to names like "The Rock", "Stone Cold", "Triple H", "Undertaker", and the like, "Shelton Benjamin" lacks a certain... oomph. Maybe he'll get past it... John Cena did... but there's no reason they couldn't have come up with a better name for either of them. Come to think of it, why didn't they have Cena keep the name "Prototype" he had in OVW? It sounds fitting for a hip-hop freak to me. It's easy for an audience to chant, too.

So how about you try to come up with some interesting nicknames for these new guys who are currently shouldering the burden of mediocre monikers?

Garrison Cade
John Heidenreich
Rob Conway
Shelton Benjamin
Sylvan Grenier
Charlie Haas
Mark Jindrack
Matt Morgan
Orlando Jordan
Paul London
Renee Dupree
Shannon Moore

03-30-2004, 05:28 AM

People like Bret Hart have done awful for not using their real name so I agree :roll:

Good Ol' JP · 03-30-2004, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyrus

People like Bret Hart have done awful for not using their real name so I agree :roll:

You mean the Hitman?

03-30-2004, 07:36 AM

He was still Bret Hart though. They did add Hitman but that doesn't mean the name isn't his real name. Also Bret "The Hitman" Hart isn't a name like The Rock, Undertaker or Triple H is it? It is a gimmick name added to his real name. You don't see people saying Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson or Paul "Triple H" Levesque do you? Also when most people talk about a wrestler they usually say something like did you hear Benoit won. They don't say did you here "The Crippler" Chris Benoit won.

If you want a better example though how about Kurt Angle? Doesn't look like he has done to bad in the WWE.

Also people like Shawn Michaels and Eddie Guerrero (Shouldn't really count this IMO. They just changed Eduardo to Eddie) don't use their real names but does it sound like The Rock or Triple H? No it sounds like a real name. Yes Shawn Michaels has the Heartbreak Kid added but like I said above that is an added gimmick name. Not a 100% gimmick name.

If you look at the champs right now......

Raw Tag Champs

Batista: David Bautista
Ric Flair: Richard Fliehr

World Champ

Chris Benoit: Chris Benoit

IC Champ

Randy Orton: Randy Orton

US Champ

John Cena: John Cena

WWE Champ

Eddie Guerrero: Eduardo Guererro

Smackdown Tag Champs

Rikishi: Solofa Fatu, Jr.
Scotty Too Hotty: Scott Garland

Womens Champ

Victoria: Lisa Marie Sole

Cruiserweight Champ

Chavo Guerrero: Salvador Guerrero III

Most of them have names that are either their real name or a very small change to their real name. And other than Scotty Too Hotty (maybe Rikishi) they all sound like real names. And yes some have added gimmick names but again what I said above applies here.

Anyway, the point is you are not going to get a push just because you add a gimmick to your name. Or are you trying to tell me Bret Hart would just be a jobber if he didn't add Hitman?

Mity1 · 03-30-2004, 09:19 AM

But I think that's the point, that the top names do have a little 'somthing' else added to their moniker. I know it's a made up name but even HHH tried to keep it sounding real by being Hunter Hearst Helmsly (sp?) They still have to sound like real names (for the most part). I think the question is what can be done to their names to make them stand out a little more. Not saying they can't do it on their own, let's just add to their success by giving them a nickname.

But on the other hand, they haven't had tons of experience yet or done anything overly spectacular to deserve a nickname. I just went through the list and must admit I can't think of anything to add to any of their names. But this topic gives me an idea for another topic...

Creature of the Night · 03-30-2004, 11:51 AM

If ur real name isnt enough to get you over, then a gimmicked name needs using.

Can you imagine Shawn Michaels having the success that hes had with the name Michael Hickenbottom? Or Undertaker being able to portray the gimmick that he had with the name Mark Calaway? Kane as Glen Jacob could actually work (obv not as 'Takers brother) with the bible connotation that Jacob has. Theyre just there to add a bit of spice to a wrestler if their real name doesnt quite do it for them. Wrestlers full stop arent as gimmicked anymore, so the reversion to real names stems from there id say.

AudioSavior · 03-30-2004, 11:59 AM

The people using their real names are working out just fine. Why change it if it is something that seems to fit or works as a stage name as well?

Good Ol' JP · 03-30-2004, 01:22 PM

I wasnt saying you need a gimick name to get over, i just thought that using bret wasnt a perfect example, when like you say, you have kurt angle. (basically i was being an arse)
On a tangent, I saw world of sport or somthing to that effect on the wrestling channel and it had 'CowBoy' Bret Hart wrestling. He had one of them long leather jackets and a cowboy hat. Owen was on the show as well and he got a much better reaction than Bret, but the guys calling the matches did make a point that owen had been several times before.

Dr. Giganto · 03-30-2004, 01:31 PM

I've been saying for months that the lack of nicknmaes, or at least more Hollywood-sounding names is the reason why a lot of young stars have had trouble getting over

John Cena, for example, was so boring it was ridiculous until he picked up the rapper gimmick. Even now, how many rappers use their real names? It would fit his gimmick to give him a nickname

A good example of someone simply spicing up their real name is Chris Jericho. His real name is Chris Irving, but Chris Jericho simply sounds better. Same with HBK, and how he spiced up his real name.

Sometimes, having a person use his real name fits the gimmick, so its ok. Kurt Angles gimmick (although its really not a gimmick since its true) is that he's an olympic wrestler. thus, it makes sense for him to use his real name, the name he used in the olympics

Brock Lesnar, Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas were all introduced as former amateur wrestling All-Americans. thus, it makes sense that they would use their real name. Plus, Brock Lesnar is a cool name as is

Also, Randy Orton was touted as a third-generation superstar, so it only makes sense that he uses the name of the preceeding generations.

Remember when they were calling Batista by his full name for a little while? If theres anyone who doesnt look like a "Dave", its him. Batista, however, is a cool-sounding name, so he just kept that, and it works a lot better

3D · 03-31-2004, 04:58 PM

Some people I can see a problem with.

Bret Hart and Eddie Guerrero should be nullified from this though - their names almost help them get over, because of who they are related to. The Harts and the Guerrero's are two of the biggest "wrestling families" around, so to deny that heritage and prestige would be stupid. Randy Orton has done the same.

The Rock didn't, but it came off to his advantage, it meant he could be a heel, and then get big.

I think it's down to the fact that not enough wrestlers have gimmicks anymore. You don't even need a gimmick, just a throw-away tag name, like Stone Cold or The Game will help you get noticed. You can get past it, but a noticable tag will get you noticed far more easily.