10 Dumbest Wrestling Name Changes
6. Dean Ambrose
Jonathan Good went by 'Jon Moxley' as he lit up the North American indy scene en route to becoming, as no less an authority than CM Punk proclaimed, WWE's great hope.
It was a fine name, not that that mattered; prior to the arrival of Samoa Joe, WWE insisted that all incoming talents dropped the names with which they rose to prominence. 'Moxley' harkened to his gritty roots and how he overcame his turbulent upbringing. Jon suggested a no frills approach to the mat game. He wasn't there to entertain; he was there to thrive. It was also, obviously, his real first name shortened.
He became 'Dean Ambrose' in WWE. Dean has a scholarly connotation in America, which didn't reinforce his act. Ambrose operates instinctively, not intellectually. Besides which, wrestling should have permanently retired the name after the debacle that was Dean Douglas. 'Ambrose' recalled 'Ambrosia', the immortal sustenance of the Greek Gods. It just didn't fit him. The best wrestling gimmicks are extensions of the men who adopt them. Ambrose wasn't interested in immortality; he was an agent of destruction. Actually examined, and not just arbitrarily handed down from on high, the name captures the anti-essence of his character.
Much like Dolph Ziggler, Ambrose overcame a curious moniker to enjoy a not inconsiderable level of success in WWE. It still doesn't feel "right".