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Actors Who Began Their Careers as Wrestlers

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Professional wrestling has always been among the most theatrical sports and movie studios have long looked to put grapplers in their film. But while they once only appeared as thugs and bad guys, many wrestlers have now developed into true leading men and women.

Kevin Nash

Image via Warner Bros.

Kevin Nash is a huge guy with a really cool personality and that combo works well both in wrestling and the acting world. The wrestler who was once known as Diesel has appeared in The Longest Yard and John Wick and he played a stripper named Tarzan in Magic Mike XXL.

Adam ‘Edge’ Copeland

Via The History Channel

An incredible talker and one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, it seemed like Adam Copeland’s skill would easily translate to acting. But after appearing in shows like The Flash, Vikings and Haven, Edge is again wrestling, this time in AEW.

‘Diamond’ Dallas Page

Image via Lions Gate

Diamond Dallas Page started his working life as a club promoter before becoming a manager, then a World Champion wrestler. The yoga program creator has also also appeared in two films with Danny Trejo, The Devil’s Rejects and Vengeance.

Stacy Keibler

Image via Screenshot

Stacy Keiber was a cheerleader for the Baltimore Ravens, then WCW Nitro Girls before become a manager and wrestler. She soon transitioned to acting, popping up in shows like How I Met Your Mother, Chuck, Psych and Blue Mountain State.

Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage

Via Sony Pictures

Thanks to his gruff manner of speaking, Macho Man was in-demand as a voice actor, and was hired for the movie Bolt, and television shows like King of the Hill and Duck Dodgers. His most well remembered movie role was as Bonesaw in Spider-Man.

Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Few wrestlers have ever seems more destined for acting than Jesse Ventura, who had to retire from wrestling early due to injuries. Ventura appeared in several action movies in the 1980s and 1990s with Predator being the most prominent.

‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper

Despite his relatively unimpressive size and average athleticism, Rowdy Roddy Piper was so incredibly good at talking that he became a massive star. Part of that stardom extended into acting where he had memorable roles in They Live, Body Slam and Back in Action.

Nathan Jones

Via Roadshow Entertainment

A champion strongman, Nathan Jones became a wrestler in the early 2000’s, signing it the WWE and working with the Undertaker. He got into acting after his ring career didn’t work out and he’s bee seen in films like Mad Max: Fury Road, Hobbs & Shaw, Mortal Kombat and Conan the Barbarian.

Andre ‘The Giant’ Roussimoff

Via 20th Century Fox

Thanks to his monstrous fame and easy charm, Andre the Giant was hired to act on shows like BJ and the Bear, The Six Million Dollar Man and The Fall Guy. His most famous role came in the 1987’s beloved The Princess Bride, where he played a giant named Fezzik.

Chris Jericho

Image via Saban Films

While Chris Jericho is an all-time great wrestler, he was always interested in other endeavors like leading the rock band, Fozzy. Jericho is also an actor who has appearing on MacGruber, Terrifier 2 and 3 and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.

Paul ‘The Big Show’ Wight

Via Touchstone Pictures

Standing at well over seven feet tall and weighing almost 400 pounds, Paul Wight it a natural for movies. But Wight also has a funny sense of humor which he’s shown off in movies like The Waterboy, MacGruber and Vendetta.

Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan was appearing in movies even before he was a major wrestling star and had to mojo to get multiple films made where he was the star. Unlike many of the others on this list, though, Hogan never really made anything that was any good.

John Cena

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

For many years, Cena managed to remain a WWE Superstar while also appearing in TV and movies. But Cena’s career has taken off so big, thanks to appearances in Suicide Squad and the spin-off show Peacemaker, that he announced he retire from the squared circle in the next year.

Dave Bautista

Via Universal Pictures

Dave Bautista started as the big and muscular Drax the Destroyer, showing more and more charisma with each movie he appeared in. Today, the former World Champion has branched out to serious roles as well appearing in Glass Onion and Knock at the Cabin.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

© Cris Tiller / USA TODAY NETWORK

When ‘The Rock’ first began acting, he was given roles where he just needed to look good and not talk much. It didn’t take long for the same personality that made him a wrestling star made him an acting star and he’s now one of the highest paid figures in Hollywood.

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