The move from wrestling to Hollywood has become a pretty solid career path lately. Seems like the WWE has turned into this huge audition stage for roles in movies and TV shows. Sure, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena are the poster boys for this journey, but they’re not alone. A lot of wrestlers have taken a swing at acting, and some paved the way ages ago.
Take Hulk Hogan, for instance. He was a massive player in professional wrestling during the ’80s with his overly energetic style and those iconic 24-inch biceps. If it weren’t for him, Dwayne Johnson might never have hit it big. While Hogan didn’t quite become a Hollywood superstar himself—his films like Mr. Nanny and Suburban Commando didn’t quite do him any favors—he certainly opened the doors for the next generation of wrestlers.
Recently, The Hollywood Reporter dropped a list of the top 10 wrestlers who transitioned to acting, although a bunch of other famous names didn’t make the cut. Honorable mentions include snakes like Stacy Keibler, Randy Orton, CM Punk, and many others such as Mike ‘The Miz’ Mizanin, MJF, ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage, Sasha Banks (or Mercedes Moné), ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, and more. Wrestlers tend to be natural in front of the camera, knowing exactly how to perform and engage audiences.
Now let’s break down the list a bit:
- 1. Dave Bautista: Known as Batista back in the ring, he knocked it out of the park as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. Standing at 6’4″ and weighing 240 pounds (less than his wrestling days), he hit the movie scene like a pro and has shown he can tackle serious roles beyond just action.
- 2. Dwayne Johnson: A true success story from wrestling, he might not be known as the best actor, but his charm and dedication sure do make him popular. Critics believe he’s got room for growth in his acting, but his ability to connect with people keeps his projects profitable.
- 3. John Cena: He’s jumped into acting overall well, particularly with his role in Peacemaker. Cena has a knack for self-deprecating humor, building a noteworthy acting career following his wrestling days. Despite The Rock stealing some of the limelight, Cena’s impressive WWE journey adds weight to their rivalry.
- 4. ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper: Remember the classic cult film They Live? Piper gave us that iconic line, “I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass. And I’m all out of bubble gum.” Plus, he made some cool guest appearances on shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
- 5. Adam Copeland (Edge): Dbielde elfarge popular shows like Haven and Vikings, and even played Ares in Percy Jackson. His athletic frame lends itself well to a wide range of roles.
Moving down the list, Kevin Nash took the sixth spot, followed by Hulk Hogan in seventh, Paul Wight (The Big Show) at eighth, Jesse Ventura in ninth, and Andre the Giant rounding out the top ten. Each of these wrestlers brought their own special brand of charisma to the silver screen, making unique contributions to Hollywood. Some became action heroes, while others leaned into comedy, leaving their mark in various ways.
Got anything to say about this list? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
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