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Summary
It ’s not uncommon to see professional wrestlersmake it as bighearted actors later in their life history , but some suffer out more than others . The art of playacting is unmanageable , but with grapple being so written and theatrical , it makes mother wit that many of its athletes would also succeed as performers . From bone - crush battles to silver - covert stardom , many wrestlers have left the variation behind to follow a Hollywood lifestyle .
Of course , it ’s worth note thatnot all wrestle superstars have been good actors . Being capable to bullshit injuries and bodyslams does n’t necessarily translate to act , compared to being able to cry on demand or build suspense , for example . However , for the few who are able to accommodate their performance to whatever is represent to them , further fame can be achieved . Even if they ’re known for their act chops nowadays , some of the best actors made their start in the wrestling ring .
10Chris Jericho
Best Known Role: Frank Korver In MacGruber
Chris Jericho , also known as Christopher Keith Irvine , is best remember for winning multiple world championship with WWE and WCW . While successful as an athlete , Jericho has also had quite the career as both an doer and musician . initiate off as a leg actor in 2006 , Jericho quickly made his room into picture , starring in the like ofKillRoy Was HereandJay and Silent Bob Reboot . However , he is best remembered for his role as Frank Korver inMacGruber , which , while legal brief , was still memorable .
9Stone Cold Steve Austin
Best Known Role: Tommy In Grown Ups 2
Easily one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time , Stone Cold Steve Austin took the wrestling world by storm with his rebellious persona . Now retired , Austin take up a career in dissemble in between and after his departure from wrestling . Although he ’s mainly exploit as a television and podcast innkeeper in recent days , he is commend for his portraiture of Tommy inGrown Ups 2,as well as Guard Dunham in the Adam Sandler filmThe Longest Yard , one of his earliest on - screen performances .
8André The Giant
Best Known Role: Fezzik In The Princess Bride
Remembered for being an incredible seven foot in height and his big social organisation , André the Giant caused a important impact in wrestling with his famous bodyslam of Hulk Hogan in 1987 . WhileAndré did n’t have the biggest acting career before his death in 1993,the few role he did undertake were very memorable . One of his early performances was in several episode ofThe Six Million Dollar Manas Sasquatch , but he is well remember for his portrayal of Fezzik in the phantasy comedyThe Princess Bride .
7Hulk Hogan
Best Known Role: Blake Thorn In Santa With Muscles
One of wrestling ’s biggest names , Hulk Hogan , also had an acting vocation . WhileHogan is remember for his catchphrases , such as " Whatcha gon na do , brother?“he is also remembered for his characterization of ego - made millionaire Blake Thorn in the farcical movieSanta with Musclesin 1996 . However , his other breakthrough role was also his first , back in 1982 , asRocky IIIantagonist Thunderlips .
6CM Punk
Best Known Role: Ricky In Heels
Before acting , CM Punk bulge as a wrestler in WWE but later made the move into MMA with the UFC . While he ’s credibly best known for his part in the YouTube seriesGracie Breakdown , as well as Ricky in thewrestling television showHeels , CM Punk has also appeared in several films . In 2019 , CM Punk starred in two horror films , miss on the Third FloorandRabid , and most of late , in 2021 , in the vampire flickJakob ’s Wife .
5Jesse Ventura
Best Known Role: Blain Cooper In Predator
Despite having retired , the controversial and outspoken Jesse Ventura is still a red-hot topic name in wrestling . After leaving the play behind , Ventura was the regulator of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003 , arriving with several notable acting credits already under his belt . His first film appearance came in 1987’sPredatoras Blain Cooper alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger , and in the next years , he star in the the likes of of 1990’sAbraxas , Guardian of the Universe , and 1997’sBatman & Robin .
4Edge
Best Known Role: Atom-Smasher In The Flash
Adam Joseph Copeland , also get it on asEdge , had multiple reigns as the WWE Champion , but his first time performing was inHighlander : Endgamein 2000 . This was impressive , count he was still actively wrestling at this point and did n’t draw back for the first fourth dimension until a neck trauma forced him to in 2011 . In late years , Edge has asterisk in the Syfy seriesHaven , joining in time of year 2 and continue a cast member until its end in 2015 , and also wager theiconic character Atom - Smasher inThe Flashseason 2 .
3John Cena
Best Known Role: Peacemaker
John Cena is well - remember in wrestle , especially for his legendary catchphrase " You ca n’t see me , " but the athlete has since made a huge name for himself as an thespian . In late years , Cena has starred in both TV and film that have seen critical acclaim , such as the movieBlockers . John Cena ’s pencil lead roleasPeacemakerin the show of the same name was also great , and again inThe Suicide Squad . Despite his sport background , this did n’t kibosh Cena from prepare his career as a performer .
Over the years , Cena has made his way up from his first uncredited role inReady to Rumbleall the way to the coming releaseGrand Death Lotto , which he also produced . It ’s worth noting that he is also connect to several massive Hollywood franchise outside of D.C , having also featured inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles : Mutant Mayhemand theTransformersmovieBumblebee . John Cena will always be recall as a wrestler for old age to come , but his career as an actor is starting to eclipse this .
2Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Best Known Role: Maui In Disney’s Moana
Dwayne " The Rock " Johnson latterly made areturn cameo to WWE , but that does n’t mean he ’s waving au revoir to his highly established motion-picture show life history . Although not the first , The Rock is easily the most recognisable wrestler - turn - actor , paving the route for others to follow . Even the Rock himself play up how wrestling helped set up his futurity on the Ag screen , and has star in several films as himself , include the 2019 wrestling filmFighting with My Family .
Johnson has portray so many iconic characters that it ’s hard to pick a define one , specially as he ’s such a versatile performing artist . Younger audiences are likely to recognize him as the voice of Maui inMoana , and is also due to recapitulate the role in the upcomingMoana 2,whereas superhero fiend will think of him as Black Adam inShazam!He is also a appendage of the revivedJumanjifranchise alongside monolithic Hollywood names Karen Gillan and Jack Black . There is one common element to his use , however : there ’s always dramatic play , with a sprinkling of comedy .
1Dave Bautista
Best Known Role: Drax In Guardians Of The Galaxy
If any wrestler has redefine the acting game , it is Dave Bautista . As a six - time world champion , Bautista could have walk away from wrestling and lived peacefully , but his vocation as a performer has prove that he ’s more than just a wrestler . Bautista kicked off his acting career Edgar Guest - star as alien Aldar inSmallville , but his first film show was inThe gentleman’s gentleman with the Iron Fists . In recent twelvemonth , Bautista ’s most memorable roleswere as Drax in theGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise , villain Glossu Rabban in 2021’sDune , and Duke inGlass Onion : A Knives Out Mystery .
While there have been multiple wrestler who turned to playacting , Bautista has see the most success . With sports personalities , it ’s easy for their further pursuits to be comedic or parodies of their retiring careers , but Bautista has show himself to be a serious actor . Whichever genre Bautista chooses to star in , whether that be repulsion with his appearance inKnock At The Cabinor a thriller likeSpectre , he brings a professional and strong performance .
