5 NXT Wrestlers Who Just Got New Names
Eric Bugenhagen & co. have just been rebranded.
WWE's name-changing department are at it again, with a number of lower-card NXT wrestlers receiving new monikers this week.
PW Insider's Mike Johnson came through with an exclusive report on the situation yesterday. The good news is that none of these competitors have lost their surnames, as has become habit. The bad news? Some of them sound considerably worse than their original ring names, though this is obviously subjective.
While some of these performers have made their televised debuts, none are featured wrestlers at the moment. Let's run through their new titles.
5. Eric Bugenhagen
New name: Rik Bugez.
This ripped beefcake made his NXT debut on the developmental brand's 6 February episode, popping the crowd (and the WhatCulture office) with his high-energy headbanging ring entrance. Bugez got over to such an extent that WWE uploaded an "encore" to YouTube. His sole televised match remains a squash loss to 205 Live's Drew Gulak, but it looks like he has the personality, charisma, and energy to succeed, and he's already one of Full Sail University's favourite sons.
Let's hope that 2019 brings a bigger role for Rik, who was last seen rocking out with Matt Riddle at Worlds Collide: Brands Collide over WrestleMania weekend.