History LastNameBasis / ProfessionalWrestling

* [[Wrestling/{{Raven}} Raven's Flock]] in Wrestling/{{WCW}} were all over the map with this one. Wrestling/BillyKidman and Wrestling/ScottyRiggs were increasingly referred to by their {{Kayfabe}} last names after joining the group. Reese (Wrestling/RonReis, aka the Yeti of the Wrestling/DungeonOfDoom) used an altered version of his real last name. Horace Boulder, however, was referred to generally as "Horace" until he joined the [[Wrestling/NewWorldOrder nWo]] and started using the name Horace Hogan.[[note]]Horace, real name Mike Bollea, is Wrestling/HulkHogan's nephew.[[/note]]

* When he was in Wrestling/TheShield, Wrestling/RomanReigns was almost always called "Reigns" by everyone. After the group broke up, people are starting to gravitate towards "Roman" (possibly as people began to remember of Luther Reigns). The same things happened to his stablemates Wrestling/DeanAmbrose and Wrestling/SethRollins, although to a lesser extent (probably as they were less unique first names than "Roman").
* Colin Cassady is pretty much always called "Big Cass" (a nickname coming from his last name), and it later became his official name. His partner Enzo Amore (who introduced "Big Cass" nickname), however, is nearly always referred to by his first name, and nowadays his full name is starting to be dropped.

* Wrestling/MichaelCole zigzags this. While JBL and Saxton were both on FirstNameBasis with him, Corey Graves and Tazz almost exclusively called him Cole.

* Before he was JBL, Wrestling/JohnBradshawLayfield was known as Justin 'Hawk' Bradshaw. He dropped his first name and his nickname when he was paired up with [[Wrestling/RonSimmons Faarooq]] to form 'The Acolytes'.

** TNA's Kazarian is actually called Wrestling/FrankieKazarian, but dropped the first name officially while wrestling in TNA. Keeps it everywhere else, though.

* This is almost completely subverted with the Characters/WWEDivas. So infrequently does Last Name Basis occur, that many Divas don't even ''have'' last names. Sometimes it's a first and last that are rarely separated (Wrestling/GailKim, Wrestling/RosaMendes) or a last name that is [[CanonName only used extremely rarely]] (Wrestling/JillianHall, Wrestling/EveTorres) or simply only being known by their first name (Wrestling/{{Melina}}, Wrestling/{{Layla}}, Wrestling/{{Maryse}}). [[Wrestling/{{LayCool}} Michelle [=McCool=]]] seems to be the one exception to this, but in her case, it is a 50-50 basis.

** Wrestling/BrayWyatt is also usually called by his first name partially because "Bray" is a unique first name, but mainly to avoid confusion with the name of [[Wrestling/TheWyattFamily the faction he leads]]. Wrestling/LukeHarper and Wrestling/ErickRowan, however, are nearly always referred to by their last names. Braun Strowman, interestingly enough, is skewing towards the "first name" camp.

* [[Wrestling/{{Raven}} Raven's Flock]] in Wrestling/{{WCW}} were all over the map with this one. Wrestling/BillyKidman and Wrestling/ScottyRiggs were increasingly referred to by their {{Kayfabe}} last names after joining the group. Reese (Wrestling/RonReis, aka the Yeti of the Wrestling/DungeonOfDoom) used an altered version of his real last name. Horace Boulder, however, was referred to generally as "Horace" until he joined the [[Wrestling/NewWorldOrder NWO]] and started using the name Horace Hogan.[[note]]Horace, real name Mike Bollea, is Wrestling/HulkHogan's nephew.[[/note]]

* When he was in Wrestling/TheShield, Wrestling/RomanReigns was almost always called "Reigns" by everyone. After the group broke up, people are starting to gravitate towards "Roman" (possibly as people began to remember of Luther Reigns). The same things happened to his stablemates Wrestling/DeanAmbrose and Wrestling/SethRollins, although to a lesser extent (probably as they were less unique first names than "Roman".

* Wrestling/MichaelCole zig zags this. While JBL and Saxton we're both on FirstNameBasis with him, Corey Graves and Tazz almost exclusively called him Cole

* It's very common for wrestlers to refer to each other by last name, and for commentators to use surnames 90% of the time. This also applies to heel commentators when referring to their broadcast partners (e.g., Jesse "The Body" Ventura referring to Vince [=McMahon=] as "[=McMahon=]").

** Inexplicably, during his 2009-10 run with Wrestling/{{TNA}}, [[Wrestling/ChristopherDaniels "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels (aka 'Curry Man')]] was billed simply as 'Daniels'.

* [[Wrestling/{{Raven}} Raven's Flock]] in Wrestling/{{WCW}} were all over the map with this one. Wrestling/BillyKidman and Scotty Riggs were increasingly referred to by their {{Kayfabe}} last names after joining the group. Reese (Wrestling/RonReis, aka the Yeti of the Wrestling/DungeonOfDoom) used an altered version of his real last name. Horace Boulder, however, was referred to generally as "Horace" until he joined the [[Wrestling/NewWorldOrder NWO]] and started using the name Horace Hogan.[[note]]Horace, real name Mike Bollea, is Wrestling/HulkHogan's nephew.[[/note]]

* Fans tend to jump back and forth between referring to Wrestling/AJStyles between his first and last names. That being said, he's ''far'' more likely to be called by his last name than the other "AJ" in wrestling, Wrestling/AJLee.

* When a wrestler's last name is that of a major wrestling legacy, such as [=McMahon=], Hardy, Hart, Guerrero, [=DiBiase=], or Rhodes, they are often referred to by their first name, especially when two people are involved at once.

* When he was in Wrestling/TheShield, Wrestling/RomanReigns was almost always called "Reigns" by everyone. After the group broke up, people are starting to gravitate towards "Roman".
* Colin Cassady is pretty much always called "Big Cass" (a nickname coming from his last name), and it later became his official name. His partner Enzo Amore, however, is nearly always referred to by his first name, and nowadays his full name is starting to be dropped.

* Colin Cassady is pretty much always called "Big Cass" (a nickname coming from his last name), and it later became his official name. His partner Enzo Amore, however, is nearly always referred to by his first name, and nowadays his full name is starting to be dropped.

* When he was in Wrestling/TheShield, Wrestling/RomanReigns was almost always called "Reigns" by everyone. After the group broke up, people are starting to gravitate towards "Roman".

** [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]]'s name on the official WWE website and on most official WWE products such as WWE magazine is listed as simply "Mr. [=McMahon=]."

* Wrestling/BobbyLashley was often referred to as "Mr. Lashley" or simply "Lashley". Teddy Long always called him "Bobby," though. In TNA, this is particularly because he shares the roster with Wrestling/BobbyRoode, though in The Inoki Genome Federation he was called Bobby and paired up with Wrestling/BobSapp.

* This is almost completely subverted with the Characters/WWEDivas. So infrequently does Last Name Basis occur, that many Divas don't even ''have'' last names. Sometimes it's a first and last that are rarely separated (Wrestling/GailKim, Rosa Mendes) or a last name that is [[CanonName only used extremely rarely]] (Wrestling/JillianHall, Wrestling/EveTorres) or simply only being known by their first name (Wrestling/{{Melina}}, Wrestling/{{Layla}}, Wrestling/{{Maryse}}). [[Wrestling/{{LayCool}} Michelle [=McCool=]]] seems to be the one exception to this, but in her case, it is a 50-50 basis.

** Then there's Ken Anderson/Kennedy, who insisted on being referred to as "Mr. Kennedy" - and insisted on referring to himself as "Mister Kennedy....Kennedy!" Since his jump to TNA, he's gone by 'Mr. Anderson'.

** [[Wrestling/BrayWyatt is also usually called by his first name partially because "Bray" is a unique first name, but mainly to avoid confusion with the name of [[Wrestling/TheWyattFamily the faction he leads]]. Wrestling/LukeHarper and Wrestling/ErickRowan, however, are nearly always referred to by their last names. Braun Strowman, interestingly enough, is skewing towards the "first name" camp.

** [[Wrestling/TheWyattFamily Bray Wyatt]] is also usually called by his first name partially because "Bray" is a unique first name, but mainly to avoid confusion with the name of the faction he leads.

* East Asian wrestlers (Tajiri being the most notable) tend to be known by their last names due to Western confusion over Chinese and Japanese name order (i.e., the surname being first).

** TNA's Kazarian used to be called Frankie Kazarian, but dropped the first name.

* Wrestling/BobbyLashley was often referred to as "Mr. Lashley" or simply "Lashley". Teddy Long always called him "Bobby," though. In TNA, this is particularly because he shares the roster with Wrestling/BobbyRoode, though in The Inoki Genome Federation he was called Bobby and paired up with Bob Sapp.

* It's very common for wrestlers to refer to each other by last name, and for commentators to use surnames 90% of the time. This also applies to heel commentators when referring to their broadcast partners (e.g., Jesse "The Body" Ventura referring to Vince McMahon as "McMahon").

* Allison Danger would refer to Wrestling/MsChif just as "Chif", which makes one wonder just what her first name is.

* It's very common for wrestlers to refer to each other by last name, and for commentators to use surnames 90% of the time.

* Allison Danger would refer to Wrestling/MsChif just as "Chif".

* Wrestling/BobbyLashley was often referred to as "Mr. Lashley" or simply "Lashley". Teddy Long always called him "Bobby," though.

* This is almost completely subverted with the Characters/WWEDivas. So infrequently does Last Name Basis occur, that many Divas don't even ''have'' last names. Sometimes it's a first and last that are rarely separated (Wrestling/GailKim, Rosa Mendes) or a last name that is [[CanonName only used extremely rarely]] (Wrestling/JillianHall, Wrestling/EveTorres) or simply only being known by their first name (Melina, [[Wrestling/{{LayCool}} Layla]], Maryse). [[Wrestling/{{LayCool}} Michelle [=McCool=]]] seems to be the one exception to this, but in her case, it is a 50-50 basis.

* [[Wrestling/{{Raven}} Raven's Flock]] in Wrestling/{{WCW}} were all over the map with this one. Wrestling/BillyKidman and Scotty Riggs were increasingly referred to by their {{Kayfabe}} last names after joining the group. Reese (Wrestling/RonReis, aka the Yeti of the Wrestling/DungeonOfDoom) used an altered version of his real last name. Horace Boulder, however, was referred to generally as "Horace" until he joined the [[Wrestling/NewWorldOrder NWO]] and started using the name Horace Hogan.[[note]]Horace, real name Mike Bollea, is Wrestling/HulkHogan's nephew.[[/note]]

* This is almost completely subverted with the Characters/WWEDivas. So infrequently does Last Name Basis occur, that many Divas don't even ''have'' last names. Sometimes it's a first and last that are rarely separated (Wrestling/GailKim, Rosa Mendes) or a last name that is [[CanonName only used extremely rarely]] (Jillian Hall, Wrestling/EveTorres) or simply only being known by their first name (Melina, [[Wrestling/{{LayCool}} Layla]], Maryse). [[Wrestling/{{LayCool}} Michelle [=McCool=]]] seems to be the one exception to this, but in her case, it is a 50-50 basis.

* Bobby Lashley was often referred to as "Mr. Lashley" or simply "Lashley". Teddy Long always called him "Bobby," though.

* [[Wrestling/{{Raven}} Raven's Flock]] in Wrestling/{{WCW}} were all over the map with this one. Billy Kidman and Scotty Riggs were increasingly referred to by their {{Kayfabe}} last names after joining the group. Reese (Wrestling/RonReis, aka the Yeti of the Wrestling/DungeonOfDoom) used an altered version of his real last name. Horace Boulder, however, was referred to generally as "Horace" until he joined the [[Wrestling/NewWorldOrder NWO]] and started using the name Horace Hogan.[[note]]Horace, real name Mike Bollea, is Wrestling/HulkHogan's nephew.[[/note]]

* [[Wrestling/{{Raven}} Raven's Flock]] in Wrestling/{{WCW}} were all over the map with this one. Billy Kidman and Scotty Riggs were increasingly referred to by their {{Kayfabe}} last names after joining the group. Reese (Ron Reis, aka the Yeti of the Wrestling/DungeonOfDoom) used an altered version of his real last name. Horace Boulder, however, was referred to generally as "Horace" until he joined the [[Wrestling/NewWorldOrder NWO]] and started using the name Horace Hogan.[[note]]Horace, real name Mike Bollea, is Wrestling/HulkHogan's nephew.[[/note]]

* Wrestling/{{Ryback}} is this and OnlyOneName (or at least for now).