Austin Theory asked to be called by a different name on the latest episode of Monday Night Raw.
The April 11th episode of Monday Night Raw saw Austin Theory approach authority figures Sonya DeVille and Adam Pearce backstage with a request to face Finn Balor for the United States Championship next week.
However, in the course of asking for the title match, he had another request for DeVille and Pearce; he said to them, “Actually, you can just call me Theory. Both of you,” indicating that he wanted to drop his first name and simply be known as Theory going forward.
Theory joins the ranks of many WWE Superstars who’ve had their names shortened in the past, including Cesaro, Rusev, Otis, and Big E.
"Actually … you can just call me THEORY."
@austintheory1 sets the record straight on #WWERaw. pic.twitter.com/tSca5Td2Gb
— WWE (@WWE) April 12, 2022
Theory and Finn Balor have faced off multiple times in recent months, with their most recent singles bout taking place on the March 21st episode of Raw. Finn Balor was victorious in that match after interference from Pat McAfee ahead of his match with Theory at WrestleMania 38.
The two also fought in six man tag team action on the Raw after WrestleMania as Finn teamed up with Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro to take on Theory and SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos. Austin Theory gained the pinfall victory for his team when he pinned Finn Balor, leading to him asking for his US Championship opportunity tonight.
Full results from the April 11th episode of Monday Night Raw can be found here.