Ivar Explains Why He Didn’t Want To Be Called Erik In WWE :- The success and audience resonance of wrestlers in the world of professional wrestling are mostly dependent on their character and individuality. One wrestler who has lately offered explanations on the meaning of his ring name is Ivar, who is half of the WWE tag team The Viking Raiders. Real-name Todd Smith, Ivar talked about the significance of his chosen identity and why he would have rather not been nicknamed “Erik” during his WWE tenure.
Ivar Explains Why He Didn’t Want To Be Called Erik In WWE
Professional wrestling wrestlers’ character and identity have a big impact on their success and audience resonance. Ivar, a member of the WWE tag team The Viking Raiders, is one who has lately shared details about the meaning of his ring nickname. Ivar, real name Todd Smith, went on to explain the meaning of his chosen identity and why he had resisted being called “Erik” during his time in the WWE.
Also Read :- How To Compost Hanging Basket Soil & Plants – Recharge & Reuse Your Potting Soil!Â
Background and Profession
Todd Smith, professionally recognized as Ivar, has amassed a substantial fan base over the course of his career, having begun his career in multiple wrestling promotions prior to his affiliation with WWE. In the independent circuit and Ring of Honor (ROH), he initially competed as Hanson. In ROH, he established a prosperous tag team alongside Raymond Rowe, who would subsequently be recognized as Erik in WWE. Collectively referred to as War Machine, they garnered considerable recognition for their formidable and impactful approach.
The Shift towards WWE
In 2018, following Smith and Rowe’s signing with WWE, their tag team was rebranded to align with the organization’s artistic vision. Prior to resolving on the name The Viking Raiders, they were referred to as The Viking Experience; Smith assumed the persona of Ivar, while Rowe assumed the persona of Erik. WWE implemented this rebranding as a component of a larger strategy to develop marketable and distinctive characters that suit within their entertainment structure.
The Importance of the Given Name “Ivar”
Ivar elaborated in an interview on the rationale underlying his predilection for the given name Ivar as opposed to Erik. The decision was profoundly intimate and intrinsic to his performer identity. Ivar expressed that he did not identify with the name Erik in either a personal or professional capacity. It failed to convey the essence of his wrestling persona, which he had laboriously developed over the years, in his opinion.
Smith emphasized that names in wrestling serve a purpose beyond mere designations, as they play a crucial role in the narratives and progression of characters that captivate spectators. The name Ivar, which carries Norse connotations, was an ideal fit for the image of a Viking warrior that he and his tag team companion were attempting to project. He considered its historical significance, authenticity, and perception of power to be indispensable to The Viking Raiders’s credibility.
Identity and Fan Relationship
Another broader motif in wrestling is the significance of authenticity, which is highlighted by Ivar’s choice to avoid being referred to as Erik. Wrestlers frequently form profound emotional attachments to their ring names, as these monikers come to symbolize their in-ring personas and the narratives they recount. By adopting the name Ivar, Ivar was able to more completely embody his persona and establish a more profound rapport with the audience.
He was of the opinion that supporters could perceive the authentic enthusiasm and dedication embodied in a wrestler’s name with which he or she strongly identified. Through the selection of the name Ivar, he achieved a degree of genuineness in his performances that he had apprehensiones might be absent under the name Erik. In an industry where the audience’s engagement is predicated on the suspension of disbelief, this authenticity is of the utmost importance.
Conclusion:
The fact that Ivar chose his own ring name rather than the one WWE initially designated him demonstrates the significance of identity and genuineness in professional wrestling. Names are not capricious designations; rather, they are thoughtfully selected to embody the wrestler’s identity and establish a connection with the spectators. Ivar believed that the name Erik failed to adequately convey the essence of his persona as a performer. However, Ivar succeeded.
