In a recent interview on Busted Open Radio, ex-WWE wrestler Curtis Axel (Joe Hennig) opened up about various subjects, one of which was not being able to use his actual name while working for the company.
According to Axel, he had always desired to go by his real name. He said,
“I’ve always wanted my name. My last name means the world to me. The name Hennig. I fought it the whole time I was up there. I fought it when I became Curtis Axel. Even Heyman [Paul Heyman] tried helping me get that name, my name back. They just wouldn’t budge. I was fine with Curtis Axel, you take Curt, Curtis, and Axe is Larry ‘The Axe,’ so it was cool and that was fine with me, but I always wanted to be Joe Hennig. When I was in developmental in FCW, I was Joe Hennig. I won the world championship there as Joe Hennig, and once I got brought up, they changed my name, I thought it was some kind of rib. It wasn’t. When I comeback, that’s something I’m going to work out. I’m not doing anything except be Joe Hennig.”
Former WWE wrestler Curtis Axel, whose real name is Joe Hennig, recently spoke out about his frustration with not being able to use his actual name while working for the company. In an interview on Busted Open Radio, Axel revealed that he had always desired to go by his real name and expressed his disappointment at not being able to do so.
Axel explained that his last name, Hennig, meant a lot to him and that he had fought to use it throughout his time in WWE. Even Paul Heyman, a prominent figure in the wrestling industry who had worked with Axel, tried to help him reclaim his name, but the company wouldn’t allow it. Despite this, Axel accepted the name Curtis Axel, as it incorporated elements of his own name and paid homage to his father, Larry “The Axe” Hennig.
However, Axel emphasized that he always wanted to be known as Joe Hennig. He recalled his time in WWE’s developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he competed under his real name and even won the world championship. When he was called up to the main roster, his name was changed, and he initially thought it was a joke. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a reality he had to accept.
Now that Axel is no longer with WWE, he expressed his intention to reclaim his real name. He stated that he is not interested in doing anything else but being Joe Hennig. It remains to be seen how he will navigate this issue in the future, but it is clear that using his actual name holds great importance to him.
This situation sheds light on the complexities of intellectual property and branding within the professional wrestling industry. Wrestlers often develop characters and personas that become synonymous with their in-ring identities. These names and personas are carefully crafted and owned by the promotion they work for, which can limit their ability to use their real names.
In some cases, wrestlers are able to negotiate the use of their real names or variations of them. However, in other instances, they must accept the name given to them by the company. This can be frustrating for performers who have a personal connection to their real names or who have built a following under those names prior to joining a major promotion.
Curtis Axel’s desire to use his real name reflects the personal significance it holds for him. It also highlights the importance of identity and individuality for wrestlers, who often strive to connect with their audience on a personal level. As Axel moves forward in his career, it will be interesting to see how he navigates this issue and whether he is successful in reclaiming his real name.