In the world of professional wrestling both name and gimmick changes are common place, with most WWE Hall Of Famer’s experiencing one or both on multiple occasions during their career. Whilst most would find out about the change in person, one current WWE star has revealed that he learned of his most recent change via text message.
WWE Superstar Austin Theory learned of return to previous ring name via text message
WWE United States Champion Austin Theory is preparing for the biggest match of his career so far when he takes on 16 time World Champion John Cena at WrestleMania next weekend at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Following on from a high-profile WrestleMania angle involving Mr McMahon and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin last year, the rising Superstar quietly dropped his first name and was referred to as simply Theory. In a recent appearance on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast, the current United States Championship explained the circumstances behind the change:
“Yeah, so I remember walking into, this is the time you know, Mr McMahon was head of creative. And I remember the writer bringing my promo and the promo said, you know, don’t call me Austin, it’s just Theory. And I was like, what, like, the names gone? And, you know, I was wondering why.
And I spoke with Mr. McMahon about it, and he felt that, you know, Theory could be a name that stood alone, he felt it had enough power behind it. And also, I think he just wanted to get away from that comparison of Stone Cold because we just did the WrestleMania stuff. So I think maybe out of circumstance, that’s maybe why it happened.”
The change was short lived with the 25 year-old reverting back to his previous ring name just months later ahead of a Clash At The Castle pre-show match, where he teamed with Alpha Academy in a losing effort against The Street Profits and Madcap Moss.
Theory would go on to reveal that, surprisingly, he would learn of his return to his former ring name via text message:
“But the funny story about Austin Theory coming back, is I just got a text one day, or like that just pretty much said, like your Austin Theory.
And then I show up to the show and the, you know, the matches are on the wall, and there was my full name again. And I’m like, I guess I’m Austin Theory again, you know, so I thought it was kind of funny. Like, that’s how I find out, you know what I mean?
But, uh, I never, I never felt like, I guess like negative about it. Because Theory just meant the most to me, because I’ll always have my first name, people are always going to know me as Austin.”
With his in-ring name now firmly set, Theory is looking to make an even bigger name for himself with a successful defence of his United States Championship against John Cena at WrestleMania 39.
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