12 WWE Superstars You Forgot Debuted Under Different Names

2. Dean Ambrose

Raven Johnny Polo
WWE.com

One of the more current superstars on this list, Dean Ambrose, made a name for himself through his association with The Shield and years of hard work on the indy scene, especially in some brutal hardcore matches. The Lunatic Fringe is the nickname given to his current character, but believe it or not, the first time Dean Ambrose wrestled for WWE, he was called something else.

Way back in 2006, Ambrose actually competed in a match taped for WWE's syndicated show Velocity under his independent circuit ring name, Jon Moxley.

Jon Moxley had wrestled for various independent promotions including places like Insanity Pro Wrestling (IPW) and Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) that featured some of his most violent matches. Despite numerous brutal and bloody contests, the Jon Moxley persona caught WWE's eye.

Eventually, Moxley signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2011 to compete in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), later NXT, and took on the ring name we know him as today.

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A former stuntman for Paramount Pictures, Matt enjoys sports, water skiing, driving fast, the beach, professional wrestling, technology, and scotch. At the same time, whenever possible. Having attended many famous (and infamous) shows including WrestleMania XV, In Your House: Mind Games, and the 1995 King of the Ring, Matt has been a lifelong professional sports and wrestling fan. Matt's been mentioned in numerous wrestling podcasts including the Steve Austin Show: Unleashed, Talk Is Jericho, and Something To Wrestle With Bruce Prichard. As a former countywide performer, Matt has been referred to as Mr. 300 for his amazing accomplishments in the world of amateur bowling. He is also the only man on record to have pitched back-to-back no hitters in the Veterans Stadium Wiffle Ball League of 2003.