8 Wrestlers Who Had A Better Look Before Joining WWE

WWE is often considered to be the big league in professional wrestling, and with that in mind, a lot of wrestlers end up putting a lot of effort into their overall look when they join the company. Purchasing the best gear to make themselves look like a superstar often comes along with that.

Most wrestlers enhance their overall style when working for WWE, but that isn't the case with everybody. Certain wrestlers looked better when working on the independent scene or a different promotion before WWE. Sometimes this can be because of creativity and the characters they're playing, and other times it can be down to personal choice, with some wrestlers simply not looking as impressive.

8 Finn Balor Is Less Creative

He Uses Less Body Paint

Joined WWE in 2014
Worked for NJPW 2006 - 2014
Three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion

Finn Balor always looks good inside the ring, largely because he has a fantastic physique. However, his ring gear is rather simple nowadays, rather than pushing himself to the extremes as he did in the past. While he will occasionally bring out his Demon look, that is now few and far between.

In the past, Balor would come up with some incredibly creative ways to display his art and the vision he had in his head. It was something that felt larger than life, and while it might not be applicable every week in WWE, it certainly elevated him more than his current appearance.

7 Lexus King Still Needs Some Work

His Varsity Days Were Stronger

Joined WWE in 2023
Formerly worked as Brian Pillman Jr.
Worked for AEW from 2019 - 2023

Lexus King is one of WWE's newest signings, and he has come into the company with a completely different character than what fans had seen during his time in AEW. Gone is his Brian Pillman Jr. name, instead not focusing as heavily on the legacy of his father.

It has led to a completely new look for him, but it is still developing. The character doesn't feel quite as natural as his previous one, with the Varsity Blondes look being something that felt well suited to him.

6 Butch Ditches The Bruiserweight

He's Now A Brawling Brute

Signed for WWE in 2017
Former NXT UK Champion
Former Progress World Champion

Butch is a popular talent in WWE, and he is someone who brings a lot of passion and intensity to the ring whenever he appears. It's something that gets him over with the audience, but his look has drastically changed since he was brought to the main roster and given the name of Butch.

He has focused on wearing a vest and a cap, and while that look works as part of the Brawling Brutes faction his former look was a lot stronger. Seeing him with the big jacket and the slicked-back hair instantly caught attention, and that's something that WWE should consider reverting to.

5 Shinsuke Nakamura Is Less Of A Showman

He Used To Be Very Elaborate

Signed for WWE in 2016
Worked for NJPW from 2002 - 2016
Three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion

Shinsuke Nakamura has kept a rather similar look throughout his WWE career, having only mixed it up a few times throughout his run. Even though he looks perfectly fine nowadays, Nakamura would have had a much more detailed look before he joined the company.

He put a lot of effort into his overall presentation when working in Japan, as the King Of Strong Style would have some incredible outfits that made him feel like a giant star, which was especially exciting when it came to his entrances.

4 Asuka Isn't Quite As Eye Catching

Her Face Paint Has Been Toned Down

Signed for WWE in 2015
Women's Royal Rumble winner (2019)
Former NXT Women's Champion

Asuka always has a great look as she brings a lot of color into her overall presentation to ensure that she catches the eye whenever she appears on television. While she has added some more detailed face paint during her most recent gimmick, it doesn't hold up to what she used to do.

Asuka would go into incredible detail during her pre-WWE run with her face paint being genuinely creepy and scary. It was amazing to see and is something that a lot of her fans are hoping will come back one day in WWE.

3 Chelsea Green Was A Hot Mess

She Created A Crazy Appearance

Signed for WWE a second time in 2023
Current Women's Tag Team Champion
Braxton Sutter left her during a wedding segment to create the Hot Mess gimmick

Chelsea Green puts in a lot of effort when it comes to committing to her gimmicks, and that's something she is doing right now during her WWE run. She looks great and that works alongside her character, but when people think about her as a performer it is still the Hot Mess gimmick that comes up first.

That's because that particular run was such a success for her inside the ring, as well as when it came to being memorable from her look. She would act like a bride with makeup smeared all over her face, and it was easy to recall, which is a sign of a great look.

2 Joaquin Wilde Doesn't Bring The Lights

His Former Character Was Energetic

Signed for WWE in 2019
Member of LWO
Two-time TNA X-Division Champion

Joaquin Wilde has been doing well on the main roster as part of the LWO faction, but he doesn't stand out in that group due to the appearances of the other members. That wouldn't have been the case in the past because his previous look was extremely vibrant.

He worked under the name of DJZ, which was based on being a DJ and is something that he played into. He'd wear incredible light-up gear which instantly caught the attention of fans and looked very cool.

1 Ricochet Was Prince Puma

His Masked Gimmick Was Incredible

Signed for WWE in 2018
Worked for Lucha Underground from 2014-2017
Two-time Lucha Underground Champion

Ricochet is an impressive athlete who certainly allows his wrestling to do the talking for him, but he doesn't have a stand-out appearance right now. While he will put effort into wearing great ring gear, nothing comes close to the appearance that he provided during his Lucha Underground career.

He worked as Prince Puma during this stint of his career, where he would compete as a masked wrestler. It was a great look for him as combined with his in-ring style it brought a true superhero feel to him.