Several of WWE’s top superstars have expressed their dislike for the ring names they were given upon joining the company. Becky Lynch, who debuted on the main roster in 2015 and has since become one of WWE’s greatest female wrestlers, revealed on the Viall Files podcast that she isn’t fond of the name “Becky Lynch.” She explained, “I hate my name, so I’m a big fan of nicknames. I love Rebecca Quinn. Rebecca Quinn rocks. What a great name. Becky Lynch. Lynch. It doesn’t roll off the tongue, does it?” Becky shared how her ring name was a compromise after WWE rejected other options, combining her real first name with an Irish surname. Despite her reservations, she accepted it, feeling she couldn’t push back against the decision.
Seth Rollins also opened up about his ring name, disclosing that when he signed with WWE, he was not allowed to use his previous ring name, Tyler Black. He attempted to sell that name to WWE since it was the identity he built before, but the company declined. He noted, “Fifteen years ago, the guys in charge said, ‘We need to own every aspect of this character forever, but you can’t own any of them.’” This strict policy meant that wrestlers had little control over their character names and personas.
Becky Lynch is set to compete in the upcoming Women’s Royal Rumble match, continuing her high-profile career in WWE.
Fan Take: It’s eye-opening to learn that some of WWE’s biggest stars feel disconnected from their ring names, highlighting the creative restrictions within the company. This insight sheds light on the behind-the-scenes challenges wrestlers face, which could influence future discussions about talent autonomy and character development in pro wrestling.
