We’re keeping track of every WWE name change of 2022 right here, because we all know WWE loves a good name change. Or a bad one.
This page will be updated every time WWE changes someone’s name.
Just to be clear – new names given to debuting talent don’t count. To qualify for this page, a wrestler has to have already wrestled on WWE TV under a different name before having it changed.
1. Gunther
Previous name: WALTER
Date of change: January 18
Reason for change: WWE wanted something it could own the rights to as Walter is his real first name, having trademarked Gunther Stark a few days earlier, before it surfaced that Gunther Stark was the name of someone who had ties to Nazi Germany in World War 2, so they decided on just Gunther
2. Sanga
Previous name: Saurav
Date of change: January 26
Reason for change: Repackaged as Grayson Waller’s “insurance policy” – was previously in the Indus-Sher tag team with Veer Mahaan/Rinku
3. Butch
Previous name: Pete Dunne
Date of change: March 11
Reason for change: Called up to SmackDown and aligned with Sheamus and Ridge Holland
4. Kiana James
Previous name: Kayla Inlay
Date of change: March 22
Reason for change: Her real name is Kayla Inlay Klink
5. Xavier Woods
Previous name: King Woods
Date of change: March 29
Reason for change: Returned on March 25 after being out since early January. Still had ‘king’ gimmick but was referred to as Xavier Woods rather than King Woods, and the change was made official on WWE.com on March 29.
6. Ezekiel
Previous name: Elias
Date of change: April 4
Reason for change: Returned to WWE TV for the first time since August, claimed to be Elias’ younger brother
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