I'm not tying to knock the thread, but I think you should pick one or let us choose both seperately in two seperate threads because a Ring Name or Stage Name is different from a Nickname
You listed a nickname for HHH, "The Game" and btw "The Cerebral Assassin" is also another nickname so yes he would be that without "The Game"
nicknames are acquired by a stage name being that the stage name is who we identify the wrestler as, although sometimes okay it can be a more linked nickname that thus becomes a stage name in the form of a Real name/Stage name cross over
ex: Bret "The Hitman" Hart. it's a real name with an embedded nickname so we could use that as his stage name here, but he technically doesnt have one and just has a primary defining nickname intertwined there.
See Bret Hart on its own doesnt apply because that's his name, but even with Hitman that's actually just a nickname. So... you cant really count him under ring name just as you cant count John Cena... it's his name.
Ric Flair's name is a stage name however, because it's spelled different.
Shawn Michaels by itself is a stage name because that's not his real name, but his nicknames would be HBK, The Showstopper etc
Stone Cold is a bit more complicated because I believe he did change his actual name from Steve Anderson to Steve Williams and I believe he changed it again to Steve Austin, but I'm not sure.
He would then have had his real name then a nickname, main one, in front that defines him. When it was his ring name before he changed it, it was that and then he had a nickname in front.
So I just think there should be that clearing up, you cant compare The Rock to "The Viper" because one's a ring name and The Viper is a nickname as is "The Legend Killer." Nicknames that define Randy Orton and you cant even use that as a ring name, it's his name.
Best ring name should be a unique name created not just a real name
So anyhow I'm going to say one for each.
The best stage name: Honestly it's way hard. I like The Rock because it's just so damn simple, but so perfect at the same time because it sounds like a star, doesnt need much oomph in the name, it's simple The Rock, but it has flavor.
Shawn Michaels is a favorite of mine because he took a name that sounds cooler than his actual name (although there's nothing wrong with Michael Hickenbottom) and that's appealing to me, the name itself. It's nice to have a stage name that's a real name that fans can relate to you as a real person in some cases I guess.
Chris Jericho has the same appeal as Shawn Michaels to me
The Undertaker: it's out there, I like that plus it's not like Crush or Tank or something stupid that's overplayed like Bruiser or something plain it's a name that is meaningful to the gimmick which is the greatest gimmick of all time, I'd definately have to have that in my choice range.
I am going to have to say I'm undecided for now, but it'd be between one of these. I dont think that it must be top stars only though that get recognition because Gangrel to me has always been a pretty badass name. It just sounds and looks cool.
Viscera is another. I think I find dark names like that appealing, they sound cool. I happen to love Kelly Kelly personally. It's nice to have a Diva with a first name and last name the same like that. It's appealing and fun to say.
CM Punk actually is another one. I really like cant pick because there are a good few I really like, but for multiple reasons similar and different. I am going to stick to saying it has to be from one of these above
The best nickname:
This is a hard one too
I'm thinking about "The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment" I mean I like names like that. "The Best There Was, The Best There Is, And The Best There Ever Will Be."
"Stone Cold" "Y2J" "HBK" "The Game" "The Viper" "The Big Red Machine"
these are some of the coolest, it'd be between these, but there are literally millions... AND MILLIONS, of nicknames, way more than ring names
So if I'm ultimately undecided there I say the same here
cheering for The Rock. So that's my pick.
