To me, the WWE name change process is usually a case of multiple things being true at once:
- It’s understandable that WWE wants a name they fully control.
- It’s also questionable or risky for someone who’s established themselves under another name, which is among the reasons why folks like Samoa Joe and AJ Styles didn’t change their name in WWE.
- It’s a tough spot for talent to be in, as presumably its non-negotiable. So if you want a shot at being under the biggest spotlight in the industry/genre/artform, you often have to do so while building a new brand for yourself, knowing there’s a high probability you’ll some day have to go back to your old brand or create another new one.
- Put in that spot, they work with WWE to come up with something that’s personally meaningful to them.
- Those names always sound odd at first, leading to groans and jokes.
- Once the performer reveals the reasons behind his name change, some of the groaners and jokes feel bad, and others say they all should.
- After all that, in most cases fans get used to them — and sometimes even like them. But sometimes the new names are just bad, and don’t fit the performer.
Which truths apply to Cruz Montana? The fifth certainly seems to have, based on the reaction to Mike Santana revealing it as his new name yesterday (July 28). And because the former AEW talent and TNA World champ is somewhat of a known commodity, including on WWE television, the second is also in play.
But while we wait for Montana to begin selling us on his new moniker with his first promo as a WWE Superstar
tonight on NXT, he explained that the fourth also is:
CRUZ MONTANA.
A name I put together as a tribute to honor my late father. Who I’ve always made sure to keep as close as possible to my journey. Losing him 6 years ago, is what sent me on the spiral that I’d eventually rise from, to become the man you see today. And today, that man ADDICTED TO GREATNESS.
Here’s to this next chapter. LETS GET IT!
Santana/Montana*’s been open about the impact losing his father’s had on him many times since his profile began to rise after he left AEW:
My dad was my biggest supporter/cheerleader, when it came to this wrestling thing. So when he passed, I told myself that I will always find a way to make him a part of everything I do, going forward. It’s also my way of keeping his name and memory alive.
Losing him is what sparked this journey of self discovery. And tho things got very dark for me, it eventually was used as motivation and drive to get me where I am today. As he used to say, “Use your PAIN to PAINT…”
Love you pops!
And so, we’re living in that sixth truth now.
How do you think the name Cruz Montana will grow on us?
* The rhyming still feels goofy, but that will certainly pass the less we think of him as Mike Santana.
