10 Iconic WWE Superstar Alter Egos

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In professional wrestling with the WWE, many wrestlers are typically known for a distinctive character or identity that stays consistent throughout their career. Remarkably, some stars may experience a breakthrough by adopting a fictional persona instead.

In the world of wrestling, alter egos can take on many shapes. They might help revitalize a well-known star by giving them a fresh persona, or they could serve as a launchpad for newcomers in the performance ring.

Often, these fresh innovations significantly shape a wrestler’s reputation, as many have scaled the peak of their careers assuming a new character. Remarkably, some have even clinched world championship titles while concealing their true identities.

As a gaming aficionado diving into the vibrant world of WWE, I’m ready to unveil my top 10 favorite alter egos that left an indelible mark on the WWE landscape. These characters were not just successful gimmicks, but also significantly contributed to the long-term lore of their respective wrestlers. Here we go!

To participate, only wrestlers who have an alternate persona within the storyline (kayfabe) will be considered eligible. Wrestlers who portray different characters, such as Papa Shango and The Godfather, with distinct gimmicks, will not be part of this discussion.

10.
The Hurricane

Stand Back…There’s A Hurricane Coming Through

In my view, one of the most overlooked wrestlers during the Ruthless Aggression era was Gregory Helms. Although he has achieved victories in both WCW and WWE using his real name, it’s his role as the superhero wrestler, The Hurricane, that stands out most in people’s minds.

In his distinctive green costume symbolizing a superhero, catchphrase, and signature tune, The Hurricane captivated fans on Raw from 2002 to 2005. He forged unforgettable partnerships with Kane, introduced female talents such as Molly Holly and Stacy Keibler as his super assistants, and even pulled off a surprising victory against Triple H.

As a devoted Hurricanes fan, I found myself disheartened when he transitioned to SmackDown and decided to drop his gimmick, working instead under his real name as a heel. Yet, this change didn’t hinder his progress; Helms continued to reign supreme over the cruiserweight division, maintaining his dominance until its dissolution in 2007.

2009 saw a return from retirement for the Hurricane character, orchestrated by Helms, even as the ECW brand was being rejuvenated. However, he departed from WWE the subsequent year, but still made occasional appearances and found his way into gaming platforms.

9.
King Booker

Can You Dig It?

After winning the WWE’s King of the Ring tournament, it is usually customary for winners to take on a wrestling monarch persona straight away. However, many of these character transitions prove temporary. In my opinion, Booker T stands out as one who effectively sustained this new image.

Following his victory at the 2006 tournament, the WCW legend transformed into King Booker, appearing in regal attire and adopting a faux British accent. Maintaining his love for British Royalty, he recruited William Regal, an Englishman, and Finlay from Northern Ireland as his allies, and called this group The King’s Court.

At the 2006 Great American Bash, Booker successfully claimed the World Heavyweight Championship from Rey Mysterio. Over the following months, he skillfully repelled challenges from Batista. A significant milestone came when he won a championship match against both WWE Champion John Cena and ECW’s Big Show at Cyber Sunday. However, his winning streak ended tragically at Survivor Series, where The Animal managed to pin him for the title.

In 2007, my success took a noticeable dip, and by the year’s end, I bid farewell to the WWE. For a few years, I found myself in TNA, using my regular stage name, Booker T. However, in 2011, I made a comeback to the WWE, primarily as a commentator and figure of authority. Two years later, I was honored with induction into the esteemed WWE Hall of Fame.

8.
American Bad Ass

Dead Man Walking

In 1999, when the Corporate Ministry fell, The Undertaker found himself at a critical juncture in his career. To remain significant in the new millennium, he required a transformation. Consequently, in the year 2000, the character of Deadman was reborn as the American Bad Ass, a biker-themed vigilante, reflecting the genuine passion of Mark Calaway for motorcycles.

At the arena, The Phenom would arrive in his own cars with Limp Bizkit or Kid Rock playing loudly as his theme song. During that time, he managed to win three more matches at WrestleMania without a loss and held the WWE Championship for two months in 2002.

In 2004, The Undertaker’s American Bad Ass persona was permanently retired during WrestleMania 20. Since then, fans have recognized him as the iconic Deadman character until his retirement in 2020. Nowadays, when he reappears on WWE television, he seems open to reintroducing his motorcycle again.

Initially, fans’ response to the stunt was rather indifferent, but it’s become more favorable in recent times, and I’ve never found it troublesome personally. As for my preference among Undertaker’s personas, the Deadman has always been my top pick, yet I retain a sentimental attachment to the American Bad Ass.

7.
Broken/Woken Matt Hardy

DELETE!

I struggled with deciding whether to include “Broken” Matt Hardy on this list, as although it was a highly successful character that enabled the older Hardy Brother to gain prominence individually, much of its success occurred during its time in TNA (Total Nonstop Action).

Since Matt introduced a version of it to WWE at a later point, and there’s a tight collaboration between WWE and TNA which led the brothers to come back, I chose to permit it.

Following an injury inflicted by his brother Jeff Hardy, Matt eventually reappeared under a new, disturbed persona, referring to Jeff as “Brother Nero” and chanting “DELETE!” The two clashed in a match known as Final Deletion, a unique cinematic battle that would serve as inspiration for others. In the end, it was Matt who emerged victorious.

In 2017, when they re-joined WWE, it was under their traditional tag team persona. After parting ways, Matt revived his Broken persona, now known as Woken Matt Hardy. He embarked on a rivalry with Bray Wyatt. Later, the two collaborated as The Deleters of Worlds.

6.
Mr. America

He Is A Real American

When discussing Hulk Hogan’s return to the WWE in the 2000s, fans frequently highlight his WrestleMania 18 clash with The Rock or his SummerSlam 2005 match against Shawn Michaels. Nevertheless, a less-discussed yet intriguing element that I believe merits more focus is the Mr. America storyline from 2003.

During WrestleMania 19, Hulk Hogan found himself embroiled in a heated rivalry with Vince McMahon. These two individuals played crucial roles in transforming wrestling into a popular televised spectacle, but Vince was resolute on claiming all the accolades for his own achievements.

Ultimately, Hogan emerged victorious in the match on the Greatest Stage of All, yet, true to his nature as a poor sport, McMahon dismissed the Hulkster right after the contest ended.

(Note: The terms “Hogan” refers to professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, “McMahon” refers to Vince McMahon, and “the Hulkster” is a nickname for Hulk Hogan.)

In a few months, a person resembling Hulk Hogan with a mask started showing up on SmackDown, which displeased the Chairman greatly. Over the following period, viewers watched as the Chairman unsuccessfully attempted to expose that the masked man, who went by Mr. America, was actually Hogan. This all led to an unforgettable lie-detector test where the Chairman admitted some unsavory truths about himself.

Sadly, Hogan’s departure from WWE that summer abruptly ended the story, with McMahon airing clips of Mr. America unmasking. From then on, whenever Hogan returned to WWE television, it was as himself, but the saga of Mr. America continues to stand out in the era of Ruthless Aggression.

5.
Ezekiel

Walk With Him

In the year 2017, a unique figure named Elias, known for both wrestling and playing the guitar, entered the WWE scene. Similar to The Rock during his time in Hollywood in 2003, Elias often performed acoustic shows right in the ring, singing songs that poked fun at his opponents and, when playing a villain, his fans as well.

In 2022, Elias is set to come back to WWE after an extended absence. There’s been a change in his appearance – he’s sporting a clean-shaven look – but the most striking difference is that he introduces himself as Ezekiel, a hitherto unseen younger brother of Elias.

One individual who resisted accepting this theory was Kevin Owens, asserting that Ezekiel was merely Elias masquerading under a different identity.

As a gamer, I was determined to prove Owens wrong and show him that we were more than just two brothers. We even collaborated on an edited backstage segment to make our point. Over the next few months, Owens got into feuds with both Elias and Ezekiel. At one point, he even hinted at a third brother named Elrod, adding another layer to the mystery.

By year’s end, Ezekiel was nowhere to be found, causing Elias to resume wrestling under his original character on a permanent basis. After departing from WWE, he transitioned to TNA and adopted the name Elijah, which could very well indicate another one of Elias’ “brothers.

4.
The Demon

Bloody Sunday

2015 marked a significant milestone for Finn Balor. Known earlier as Prince Devitt in New Japan Pro Wrestling and leading the Bullet Club, he subsequently shifted to WWE, where he became a dominant force on the NXT brand.

Among the notable wrestlers making their way into the company during that period, it was my personal impression that Bálor’s Demon character truly set him apart. Transforming into this persona, Bálor would adorn himself with black and red body paint, a white headpiece, and embody an intensified, aggressive wrestling style. Remarkably, as the Demon, he seldom tasted defeat in the ring.

Previously, he was known for donning body paint while in Japan. However, The Demon marked the debut of this as a distinct persona. At a certain moment, he creatively blended it with the infamous character Jack the Ripper for his grand ring entry.

Following his promotion to the main roster in 2016, Finn Balor rarely utilized his gimmick extensively; instead, he typically saved it for significant bouts like the initial WWE Universal Championship match against Seth Rollins at SummerSlam 2016. In my opinion, this decision added a sense of rarity and significance whenever he appeared in body paint.

Regrettably, it seems the 2020s haven’t been overly favorable for The Demon, Balor. My admiration for him hasn’t wavered, but I can’t help feeling that his time in WWE has left me yearning for more. His participation within the Judgment Day stable often makes me feel like he’s taking a backseat to other superstars, resulting in fewer high-profile matches where we get to witness his alter ego emerge. Yet, every now and then, I’m treated to glimpses of that dark side, such as when he faced off against Edge, the founder of Judgment Day, at WrestleMania 39.

As a passionate enthusiast, I’d like to share a fascinating connection I’ve uncovered about the character known as “The Demon.” It seems this character draws heavily on the rich tapestry of Celtic mythology, specifically the figure of Balor, who was a formidable demon king.

3.
The Fiend

Let Him In

Among all of Bray Wyatt’s captivating characters, The Fiend is nearly as compelling as his tenure with The Wyatt Family. After the dissolution of his family group in 2016, Wyatt’s career had been relatively slow-moving, and even though he held the WWE Championship in 2017, it seemed like a fresh twist was in order.

2019 saw a sequence of skits airing on WWE television, featuring Wyatt in the role of a children’s TV show host reminiscent of Pee-Wee Herman. This fictional setting, called “Firefly Fun House,” included Wyatt conversing with puppet characters symbolizing his past, such as Huskus the Pig (representing his time as Nexus enforcer Husky Harris) and Mercy the Buzzard, a tribute to Waylon Mercy, a character that inspired Wyatt.

In essence, those events paved the way for the emergence of The Fiend, an ominous character in a mask, representing the accumulated fury and gloom within Wyatt. This figure frequently ambushed with sudden attacks, seemingly materializing from nowhere, even out of the ring apron.

He frequently changed between his Firefly Funhouse and The Fiend characters, each with unique Universal Championship emblems when he secured the title. He also established a dynamic reminiscent of the Joker and Harley Quinn with Alexa Bliss.

In 2021, Wyatt departed from WWE. A year later, when he returned, it was as the iconic Bray Wyatt character. Fans anticipated seeing The Fiend perform one last time, but unfortunately, that never happened due to his passing in August 2023.

Today, the spirit of Wyatt continues through the Wyatt Stables, managed by his brother Bo Dallas. Various aspects of The Fiend and other Wyatt personas are still present.

2.
Goldust

A Shattered Dreams Production

In the late ’80s, Dusty Rhodes’ first son, Dustin, entered the wrestling world, but at first didn’t manage to distinguish himself as anything more than a slimmer, younger replica of his father. However, when he joined the WWF in 1995, his career underwent an unexpected transformation, and he morphed into the eccentric, film-obsessed character known as Goldust.

As Goldust, I’m recognized for my uncanny resemblance to an Oscar statue, my dry wit, and some quirky behaviors, like my signature inhales. Before long, I was the talk of the town, a can’t-miss spectacle that even claimed several Intercontinental titles.

Although some parts of Goldust’s persona seem outdated given shifts in society’s views on LGBTQ+ matters, it hasn’t lessened my appreciation for the character.

Goldust experimented with different versions of his character throughout his career, like The Artist Formally Known as Goldust during the Attitude Era, WCW’s Seven, and Black Reign in TNA. However, none of these iterations managed to recreate the enchantment of the original version.

It wasn’t unexpected that his greatest triumphs following his peak with New Generation were when he wore gold again in WWE, such as the unusual partnership with Booker T and wrestling matches alongside his sibling, Cody Rhodes.

Dustin Rhodes, also known as his brother’s creation Goldust, still grapples in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), a company founded by his sibling in 2019. His visage, half-painted, blends aspects from his personal wrestling style and the Goldust persona. The confrontation between Dustin Rhodes and Cody Rhodes at AEW’s debut Double or Nothing event was widely acclaimed as the highlight of the night, solidifying the newcomer’s reputation in the industry.

1.
Mankind

Have A Nice Day

Certainly, there’s no wrestler more known for multiple personas than Mick Foley. Among his various alter egos, I’ve opted to feature Mankind on this list.

Mick Foley is the wrestler most famous for having different characters. Out of all his personas, I chose Mankind for this particular list.

In the latter part of the 1990s, it was Mick Foley, often known as Mankind, who made a significant impact on WWE history and became a name synonymous with many unforgettable moments in the wrestling world.

Originally, humanity was depicted as a wrestler, portrayed as mentally unstable and fresh from an asylum, who sided with Paul Bearer after the Undertaker’s betrayal. Frequently, he would deliver his opponents their final blow using the Mandible Claw, a move that bore a chilling resemblance to a gruesome torture scene in a horror film.

Nevertheless, Mankind’s most enduring impact was his transformation into a lovable, gentle colossus during the Attitude era. His fresh good guy persona saw him don a white shirt and tie, and rebrand his Mandible Claw move as an attack involving his sock puppet companion, Mr. Socko.

Iconic events unfolded, ranging from his Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker to his groundbreaking championship victory during RAW’s first broadcast of 1999, progressing through collaborations with The Rock, climaxing with the unforgettable “This is Your Life” segment.

By the year 2000, Foley predominantly wrestled using his real name, abandoning his Three Faces gimmick. Occasionally, he would reappear with one of his well-known personas. In 2013, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, concluding a career that spanned almost two decades.

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2025-05-27 18:14