10 Very Bad WWE Ideas That Lasted For Years

5. Name Changes

Roman Reigns
WWE

Wrestling fans aren't stupid.

Well, some of them are - certain people think several million Attitude Era fans cryogenically froze themselves and are so disgusted with AEW that they refuse to melt - but the majority of fans have the capacity to remember things.

WWE renamed WALTER to GUNTHER in a bid to trademark it and prevent him from using his WWE fame to make money in the event of his leaving. This common, years-old practise is not a terrible idea in theory. If WWE were actually good at promoting talent, some woeful attempt at a post-WWE name change, like Will Wreckker or something, would scan as small-time desperation.

If anything, the old name of the über-f*cked WWE wrestler only deepens in its heft when its legend has been disgraced by the machine.

"How could WWE do this to WALTER?" is the prevailing take.

Trademarking some bobbins new name has the opposite of the intended effect. A wrestler reverting to their old handle feels like they are recovering their aura at the same time.

Jon Moxley sounded infinitely cooler than Dean Ambrose on May 1, 2019, and he hadn't even stepped back into the ring yet.

 
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Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!