10 Wrestling Characters Who Got Their Name After Famous People
Ethan Hayes
Published Mar 27, 2026
When it comes to ring names, some wrestlers have incredibly good luck. In WWE, for instance, performers like John Cena, Randy Orton, and Kurt Angle all had given names that were perfect for WrestleMania posters. As for many other competitors, though, they've had to get really, really creative with their wrestling monikers.
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One place to find inspiration for in-ring personas would be names that are already renowned in a particular field. By evoking the names of real-life or imaginary person that have already gained popularity, wrestlers can set themselves up for success as they ascend the ranks of the industry.
10 Paul E. Dangerously
Inspired by Johnny Dangerously, 1984 film starring Michael Keaton.
Decades before he boisterously announced his name as an advocate and special counsel, Paul Heyman had no confidence in saying "My name is Paul Heyman" to a wrestling audience. Fearing that his given name wasn't quite impactful, Heyman opted for a fictitious name that was supposedly a better fit for his yuppie character.
During the early stages of his career as a pro wrestling personality, Heyman went by Paul E. Dangerously. This name was inspired by Johnny Dangerously, the protagonist of a 1984 film starring Michael Keaton. It certainly helped that Heyman had a striking resemblance to Keaton, the titular character of the film, when he assumed this moniker back in 1987.
9 Lex Luger
One of the driving forces behind the name was Lex Luthor from DC comics
During his heyday in the late '80s and early '90s, Luger wowed the wrestling community with his superhero-like physique. Though Luger would have looked great in a Superman suit, his in-ring name echoed a classic comic book villain instead.
In a 2022 A&E documentary, Luger talked about his thought process for coming up with his name. According to him, one of the driving forces behind the Lex Luger name was the Lex Luthor character from DC comics. As history can attest, it was smart of The Total Package to emulate the name recognition that the Lex Luthor name provided.
8 The Giant
The kayfabe son of Andre the Giant
In 1995, Paul Wight got the break of a lifetime when he signed with WCW. Though he would certainly command the attention of live crowds and the TV audience with his awe-inspiring size, Wight had to be packaged the right way so that he could enjoy long-lasting fame in the cutthroat wrestling business.
And so it was that Wight debuted at Slamboree 1995 as The Giant. This in-ring name was not merely stating the obvious; rather, it was part and parcel of Wight's gimmick as the kayfabe son of Andre the Giant. Though Wight's connections with the Eighth Wonder of the World would eventually be retconned, Wight has said that fans continue to acknowledge him as Andre's son many years after his WCW stint.
7 Kane
Homonym for Cain, the Biblical character
While Glenn Jacobs' time as Isaac Yankem and Fake Diesel was unremarkable, he hit pay dirt when he redebuted in 1997 as part of the Undertaker-Shawn Michaels angle. The persona that Jacobs assumed was absolutely perfect for his first angle, which involved the Phenom.
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With the blessing of Bruce Prichard and Vince McMahon, Jacobs went with Kane. It was a homonym for Cain, the Biblical character who slayed his brother Abel out of envy. This name, of course, was aligned with the brother vs. brother angle between Kane and the Undertaker—an angle that would go on to headline pay-per-views and stand the test of time.
6 Christian Cage
Inspired by actors Christian Slater & Nicolas Cage
Jay Reso first gained worldwide acclaim as Christian in the WWE, but did you know that this was a clipped version of an earlier in-ring name? At a certain point during Reso's time on the independent circuit, he wrestled as Christian Cage—a name that was inspired by not one, but two actors.
The first name is a callback to Christian Slater, who gained critical acclaim for his role in the 1989 comedy film Heathers. The last name, meanwhile, was inspired by ageless actor Nicolas Cage.
5 John Morrison
Bears resemblance to The Doors frontman Jim Morrison
Adapting his in-ring name to his current promotion has become John Hennigan's thing, but in WWE, his first major singles run coincided with his transformation into John Morrison. Winning titles such as the ECW Championship and the Intercontinental Championship, Morrison stood out as a supreme athlete with rock star charisma.
That charisma is all natural, as Morrison bears a resemblance to The Doors frontman Jim Morrison. This resemblance inspired the in-ring name that Hennigan and Vince McMahon would see eye-to-eye on in 2007. McMahon had ordered Hennigan to "have a champion's name" that would be better than his previous moniker Johnny Nitro. As it turned out, John Morrison was a better fit for a superstar with championship gold around their waist.
4 Jon Moxley
Jonathan Moxon, James Van Der Beek's character in the cult classic Varsity Blues
Sometimes, popular figures are evoked by accident. This was exactly what happened to Jonathan Good moments before he wrestled his first pro wrestling match ever in 2004. As the future All Elite star narrated in an episode of AEW Unrestricted, he had no wrestling name just as he was about to jerk the curtain.
RELATED: 10 Harsh Realities Fans Of Jon Moxley Need To Realize
Good's tag team partner had an idea. They were both wearing football jerseys, which made Good look like James Van Der Beek's character in the cult classic Varsity Blues. The name of this protagonist was Jonathan Moxon, but Good's partner recalled the name as Jonathan Moxley. Thus, the name of an indy darling—who would go on to win multiple world championships—was born.
3 Seth Rollins
Inspired by Henry Rollins, frontman of influential punk rock band Black Flag
In WWE's time-honored tradition, former ROH World Champion Tyler Black had to come up with a new identity upon entering the big leagues. When Black began his WWE journey in the developmental system of FCW, he rebranded himself as Seth Rollins. While this name screams "up-and-coming 21st century wrestler," it's actually an homage to an '80s rock star.
According to a 2020 Sports Illustrated article, the Seth Rollins name was inspired by Henry Rollins, who was once the frontman of influential punk rock band Black Flag.
2 Riddick Moss
Admiration for NFL wide receiver Randy Moss
While the name Madcap Moss was a cartoonish name at best, Michael Rallis had the better-sounding Riddick Moss during his time in NXT and first year and a half on the main roster. So where did Rallis get the Riddick Moss name to begin with?
Rallis' football background holds the key to this question. During a 2022 appearance on The Danny Bonaduce & Sarah Morning Show, the former outside linebacker professed his admiration for renowned NFL wide receiver Randy Moss, thus explaining the origin of his in-ring name.
1 Braun Strowman
Inspired by Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers player
All his life, Adam Scherr was immersed in various sports. He was a member of the football and wrestling teams when he was in high school, and his father happens to be a legendary softball player. After a prolific run in strongman events, Scherr entered the world of professional wrestling. Though his intimidating presence as a member of the Wyatt Family grabbed everyone's attention, there was actually a subtle sports reference in the wrestling name that he chose.
The name Braun Strowman is actually inspired by Ryan Braun, the Milwaukee Brewers lifer who was named MVP in 2011. Given Strowman's lifelong passion for sports, it's no surprise that his in-ring name takes its cue from a successful athlete.
