No other ancillary entertainment career lends itself to show business quite like professional wrestling. It’s a world populated by muscular, maudlin characters performing high drama through long-running narrative arcs for millions of adoring fans almost every night of the week. However artificial the winning or losing of wrestling matches may be, the performers work with real physical stakes. Some, however, manage to transcend the mat and become the most iconic wrestlers in show business.
Though professional wrestling started as more a carnival side-show act, thanks to the tireless work and promotion of the various wrestling organizations like the WCW or the WWF (now WWE thanks to a landmark lawsuit), it has grown into one of the largest sectors of the entertainment industry. As it is a fusion of theater and sports, wrestlers live hard, physically demanding lives that are often cut short. By the same token, however, a wrestling career is the perfect primer for the life of a Hollywood Actor. As evidenced by this list, those who manage to make the transition between wrestling and acting usually do so to the highest degree. In this article, we will explore the most iconic wrestlers in show business.
To compile a list of the most iconic wrestlers in show business, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of entertainment, television, and sports publications including TV Insider and Wrestling Inc. Next, we selected professional wrestlers who have made the biggest cultural impact in media outside of their wrestling careers. After that, we confirmed aspects of the wrestlers-turned-stars biographical information using sites like Biography, the WWE, and Britannica.com. (For scandals that compare to wrestling’s high drama, discover the 40 most shocking scandals that rocked the sports world.)
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
One of the most iconic wrestlers in show business is undoubtedly Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. As the son of former professional wrestler Rocky Johnson, The Rock seemed predestined for a life in the squared circle. Before he joined the ranks, however, he played college football at The University of Miami. From there, he joined the Canadian Football League as part of the Calgary Stampeders. After he was cut mid-season and a football career failed to materialize, the Rock secured tryouts with the WWF, and the rest is history.
During his time in the WWF, The Rock became one of the biggest names in the industry, widely lauded for his wrestling acumen and trash-talking abilities. After that, he scored his first movie role in “The Mummy Returns.” From there, the Rock slowly but surely became one of the biggest movie stars in the world, featured in movies like “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” “Moana,” and the Fast & Furious film franchise. Currently, The Rock is one of the highest-paid and highest-grossing actors in the world.
Andre the Giant
Another one of the most iconic wrestlers in show business is Andre the Giant. Born André René Roussimoff, weighing over 500 pounds and standing at seven feet, four inches, Andre the Giant was made for a wrestling career. He started wrestling in 1966, but was noticed by the WWF a few years later, and was hired as one of the organization’s roving “special attractions.” By the mid-1980s, Andre became a mainstay of the wrestling league. In 1988, he defeated Hulk Hogan to earn his only WWF World Heavyweight Championship.
A sizable force no matter how you cut it, Andre the Giant was noticed by Hollywood during this time. This led to roles in various television shows and movies, such as “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “Micki & Maude,” and most notably, the cult classic fantasy film “The Princess Bride.” Unfortunately, Andre the Giant died of congestive heart failure at the age of 46, eclipsing his chance to become an A-list movie star.
Hulk Hogan
Another one of the most iconic wrestlers in show business is Hulk Hogan. Born Terry Gene Bollea, Hogan started wrestling in 1977, before making it big with the WWF. Operating under a heroic, patriot persona, Hogan helped catapult the wrestling world to new heights in the mid-1980s. During this time, he earned five separate WWF Championships and was the first wrestler to win consecutive Royal Rumble matches.
From there, Hollywood came calling, and Hogan transitioned to a successful television and film career. Some of his notable roles were in “Rocky III,” “Gremlins 2: The New Batch,” “Spy Hard,” and “3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain.” After that, Hogan starred in a successful reality television show about his family called “Hogan Knows Best.” He also fronted the “Wrestling Boot Band,” which reached number 12 on the Billboard Top Kid Audio Chart for their album “Hulk Rules.”
John Cena
Another one of the most iconic wrestlers in show business is John Cena. Born John Felix Anthony Cena, he first tasted the wrestling life after moving to California to pursue a bodybuilding career. When that didn’t pan out, Cena transitioned to professional wrestling. As a member of the WWF, Cena became a 16-time world champion, including two WWE Tag Team Championships and two Royal Rumble Championships.
From there, Cena began appearing in movies, starting with “The Marine” in 2006. From there, he starred in successively more successful films such as “Trainwreck,” “Ferdinand,” and “The Suicide Squad.” Cena has also gained a reputation for his extensive charity work, including granting over 650 wishes to children with terminal illnesses as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Jessie Ventura
Another one of the most iconic wrestlers in show business is undoubtedly Jessie “The Body” Ventura. During the Vietnam War, Ventura was a member of the United States Navy Underwater Demolition Team. After that, Ventura became a professional wrestler, working in the WWF for over a decade as both a wrestler and color commentator. During that time, he starred in several hit movies like “The Running Man,” and “Predator.”
After that, Ventura decided to take politics for a swing. First, he was elected Mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. A few years later, Ventura made a bid for Governor in the 1998 Minnesota Gubernatorial Election as a Reform Party Candidate. In a surprising upset, he defeated both the Republican and Democrat candidates. As Governor of Minnesota, Ventura oversaw reforms to the state’s property tax as well as its sales tax rebate. Though he did not seek reelection, Ventura later returned to the media with three seasons of the television show “Conspiracy Theory with Jessie Ventura.” (For other great films starring former sports stars, discover the greatest revenge movies ever made.)
Dave Bautista
Another one of the most iconic wrestlers in show business is Dave Bautista. Wrestling under the name “Batista,” he was a six-time champion in the heavyweight division, with his reign as Heavyweight Champion being the longest in WWF history. During this time, he was also the three-time World Tag Team Champion and 2005 Royal Rumble Champion. Before retiring from wrestling, Bautista earned 11 different championships in the WWF.
After that, Bautista made a successful transition to film. After starring in “The Man with the Iron Fists,” Bautista scored roles in films like “Riddick,” “Spectre,” “Blade Runner 2049,” and “Knock at the Cabin.” Most notably, Bautista starred in both installments of the successful “Dune” film adaptation franchise. Besides movies, Bautista has appeared on various television shows like “Family Feud” and “Iron Chef America.”
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin
No doubt, one of the most iconic wrestlers in show business is “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Born Steven James Anderson, he first made a name as a college football player for the University of North Texas. After that, Austin joined the wrestling world with the WCW franchise, where he wrestled and won numerous championships. His breakout would come after joining the WWF, however. There, his brash “Stone Cold” character became one of the most popular wrestlers in history. During this time, he was a six-time WWF Champion and four-time WWF Tag Team Champion.
Due to increasingly severe injuries, however, Austin was forced to retire in 2003. After that, he transitioned to a successful television and film career. Besides appearances on shows like “Celebrity Deathmatch” and “Nash Bridges,” Austin starred in films like “The Longest Yard,” “The Expendables,” and “The Package.” Most recently, Austin created the successful podcast “The Steve Austin Show.”
“Rowdy Roddy” Piper
Another one of the most iconic wrestlers in show business is “Rowdy Roddy” Piper. Born Roderick George Toombs, he first tasted the wrestling life after he was expelled from middle school. Away from home and living in youth hostels, Piper began running errands for his professional wrestler neighbors. From there, he started wrestling with the NWA Hollywood Wrestling organization. After that, he was signed by the WWF and played a Scottish character with a short temper, “Rowdy Roddy.” There, he became one of the federation’s biggest stars, earning a whopping 34 championships in the process. Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 for his gifted wrestling work.
Before that, however, Piper successfully transitioned to film and television. Besides a string of notable roles in B-movies like “Hell Comes to Frogtown” and “The Bad Pack,” Piper most notably starred in John Carpenter’s cult classic “They Live.” His television career was equally successful, with roles in shows like “Highlander,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “Storage Wars,” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
Chyna
Another one of the most iconic wrestlers in show business, and perhaps the most notable female, is Chyna. Born Joan Marie Laurer, she joined the WWF in the mid-90s. There, she became one of the biggest names in wrestling and the most prominent female wrestler. Billed as “The Ninth Wonder of the World,” Chyna was a two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion and WWF Women’s Champion.
After leaving the WWF, Chyna pursued several successful media-related ventures. Besides appearing in Playboy Magazine twice, she scored roles in numerous television shows. Some of these include “3rd Rock from the Sun,” “Fear Factor,” “The Surreal Life,” and “Hollywood Squares.” Besides her brief foray into the adult entertainment world, Chyna was also a successful author. Her memoir “If They Only Knew” was a New York Times Bestseller.
Kevin Nash
Another one of the most iconic wrestlers in show business is Kevin Nash. He first rose to prominence as a wrestler while working for the World Championship Wrestling Organization (WCW). His breakout, however, came when he signed with the WWF under the stage name Diesel. There, Nash would become one of wrestling’s biggest stars, earning the rare WWF Triple Crown (WWF World Champion, Intercontinental Champion, and Tag Team Champion). Though Nash would later return to the WCW, he made select appearances in the WWF until retiring. Throughout his career, Nash won 20 major wrestling Championships including six World Championships. For his wrestling work, Nash was inducted twice into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Besides wrestling, however, Nash has had a deceptively enduring career in television and film. After making his acting debut in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze,” Nash pursued a successful character actor career in various projects. These include “Black Dog,” “The Punisher,” “The Longest Yard,” “Magic Mike,” and “John Wick.” He has also appeared in various television shows like “Sabrina, The Teenage Witch” and “The Wayne Brady Show.” A longtime fan of comic books, Nash also published a run of issues called “Nash” with Image Comics.” (For films that explore the world of sports, discover the 10 best sports documentaries of all time.)