Wrestlers keeping/changing name when changing company

Some wrestlers change company and can keep the same name

eg: Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, Sting, Rob Van Dam

yet others have to change their names

eg: Bully Ray, Mr. Anderson, Hollywood Hogan, BG James

why is this?

Actually Bully Ray, changed his name while he was already in TNA. Not when he switched.

{i got some time bored at work so let's take this case by case.

Jeff Hardy and Kurt Angle are their real names so they can use it where ever they wish.

Mr Anderson, BG James and Brother/Bully Ray were changed because of wwe trademarks on Mr. Kennedy, Road Dogg and Bubba Dudley. and in the case of Anderson and Road Dogg, they changed to their real names so it's easier down the line.

Sting has had the name for too long and made it too famous to change it now. and it helps that he never crossed paths with vince and his legal team.

Rob Van Dam probably owns his ring name since he had it since ECW. or has a deal with WWE to use it. also, it's the only name he's famous under. no one would want to see Rob Szatkowski wrestle. it's just not catchy.

Hogan was a special case. WWE used the name Hulk Hogan with permission from Marvel comics (ya know, with Hulk being their superhero and all) and when he went to WCW, they didn't want to worry about Marvel hassling them over how they used the name so (after the heel turn) they usually only referred to him as Hollywood Hogan. if you remember, for a short period in the 2000s when Hogan was back in WWE (post Mr. America stuff), they ran into some sort of legal trouble from Marvel and for a few weeks had to refer to him as Hollywood Hogan (despite his yellow and red gimmick) and call his fandom "The Mania" instead of Hulkamania. apparently sometime after that, Hogan himself (or maybe Bischoff) got the full rights to the name since it hasn't been an issue.

boom.}

quote Shin Ra

It's interesting that RVD owns his name or has arranged a deal with WWE and that Bully Ray had to change his name though. Also look towards Tazz although I guess only the spelling matters in his case as with Rhino? I seem to remember Bubba Ray being called Buh Buh Ray at one point too.

I believe they were spelt Taz & Rhino is ECW, Tazz & Rhyno is WWE, and back to Taz & Rhino in TNA. Also yeah he's been Bubba Ray, Buh Buh Ray & Brother Ray. Devon has also been D-Von & Brother Devon

Just wondered why some used different names and some could keep the same, I suppose it comes down the invidual cases.

quote Shin Ra

It's interesting that RVD owns his name or has arranged a deal with WWE and that Bully Ray had to change his name though. Also look towards Tazz although I guess only the spelling matters in his case as with Rhino? I seem to remember Bubba Ray being called Buh Buh Ray at one point too.

He was called Buh Buh Ray Dudley when he first joined the WWE, then they changed it to Bubba for some reason.

quote spikerdude

I remember reading that too. Doesn't Christ Jericho own his name, or is it a situation like with The Rock where he has the rights to use it in some places but not all, regardless of if he's signed or not?

They do indeed, I know The Rock had to pay a fair bit for his since I was watching an interview with Vince McMahon quite recently, same with Steve Austin for the 'Stone Cold' name too.

quote Call_Me_God

Another fun fact Triple H filed a lawsuit against rapper The Game for using his alias The Game and won. If you notice now the rapper has shortened his name to simply Game

that's now why he changed it. Triple H sued him in like 2006 and he didn't change his name until late 2009.