Report: Theory To Undergo WWE Name Change

With Vince McMahon gone from WWE, we are seeing a number of ‘Vinceisms’ starting to be phased out of the company - such as bans on specific terms such as ‘wrestler’ -  and it looks possible that another of Vince’s decisions could be set to be reversed in the case of Theory.

After wrestling in NXT as Austin Theory, WWE stripped the Money in the Bank holder of his first name for copyright reasons, as Theory’s real name first name is Austin. However, a report from PWInsider states that Theory was billed as ‘Austin Theory’ ahead of several recent WWE house shows, possibly hinting that he is set to regain his first name.

Theory lost his first name in April, with it explained on WWE TV that Vince McMahon and Adam Pearce decided on the name change in kayfabe, as part of Theory’s ‘tutelage’ under McMahon. Theory is still listed as just ‘Theory’ on WWE’s roster page, and it remains to be seen if the addition of Austin is an official change, or just a weird one-off slip up.

In the past, McMahon shortened Matt Riddle down to Riddle, and even shortened gimmick names from NXT, with Antonio Cesaro, Adrian Neville, and Alexander Rusev all losing their first names.