The world of professional wrestling has long incorporated the cinematic qualities of Hollywood into its presentation, which explains why some of the biggest names in entertainment once wrestled in front of millions.There’s an inherent stage presence required to become a breakout star in professional wrestling, and the live performance aspect of the business gives each performer a nightly sink or swim moment, testing their ability to think on their feet.
One such actor who’s familiar with the high-pressure environment isJohn Cena, who not only has a second season ofPeacemakerpremiering, but is actively wrestling in theWWEin a final farewell to the place he called home for decades. While we wait for the first episodes ofPeacemakerto premiere,we’ll take a look at the best wrestlers to make the transition into acting. This ranking takes into account not only their performances but also the impact each wrestler had on their peers when making the leap.
10“Chris Jericho”
Chris Jerichohas enjoyed a lengthy tenure in the world of professional wrestling, building a resume with different promotions the world over. Jericho has excelled in constantly reinventing himself, eliciting cheers or boos from the audience while redefining his persona through a mixture of bravado and humor. Currently on the roster of All Elite Wrestling, Jericho splits his time as a wrestler, an actor, and as the vocalist for the rock band Fozzy.
Although his roles have varied in size, Jericho has appeared in some of the most talked-about horror movies in recent years, eventually getting on the bad side of Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) inTerrifier 2andTerrifier 3. An avid horror fan, Jericho also played the role of The Prophet in the 2024 wrestling-themed horror movieDark Match. His time with the genre looks to continue as Jericho is setto executive-produce and appearin the upcoming psychological thrillerSelf Storage.
9“Andre the Giant”
During the heyday of professional wrestling’s popularity in the 1980s, one of the easiest ways to sell out a show would be to addAndre the Giantto the card. Real name Andre Roussimoff,Andre the Giant was a larger-than-life personality who rightfully earned his nickname of “Eighth Wonder of the World.”The French wrestler was an attraction like no other in the business, leading him to make a few appearances in television shows and one beloved film.
On the small screen, Andre’s work was limited to a few television shows, such asB.J. and the Bear, and as Bigfoot in the famous fight between the mythical monster and Steve Austin (not that one,Lee Majors) inThe Six Million Dollar Man. However, it was Andre’s role in the fantasy filmThe Princess Brideas Fezzik that fans remember him fondly for. Sadly, health issues would continue to plague Andre, slowing down his ability to move comfortably, and he died at the far-too-soon age of 46. His intention was never to be an actor, but Andre nevertheless made the most of the work he did.
8“Kevin Nash”
Kevin Nashis one of the most recognizable faces in the world of professional wrestling, starting his career in 1990 for the Atlanta-based promotion World Championship Wrestling. His career started like many, with the wrestler assigned a few short-lived “gimmicks,” or ring personas, including coming to the ring in green robes and a fake beard as Oz, a wizard character based onThe Wizard of Oz.A change of scenery to the then-named WWF brought Nash success and a world championship as Diesel, and he later returned to WCW as a founding member of the iconic nWo, or New World Order faction.
Often noted for his laid-back, charismatic personality,Nash used his towering stature and screen presence to secure roles in a few high-profile Hollywood movies. Even though his face wasn’t seen, Nash’s first role actually went back to 1991 when he was Super Shredder inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. The early 2000s would see Nash land parts in theThomas Jane-ledThe Punisherand the football prison comedyThe Longest Yard. Nash remains active, having most recently appeared inMagic Mike’s Last Danceas Tarzan.
7Stone Cold Steve Austin
The sound of breaking glass made arenas full of fans jump to their feet, because it meantStone Cold Steve Austinwas making his way to the entrance ramp. Real name Steven Anderson, Stone Cold was a journeyman wrestler who appeared in multiple promotions under different aliases beforeskyrocketing to super stardom as the defiant and willful Stone Cold Steve Austinin the then still-named WWF. His storyline feud with the owner and performerVince McMahonmadeMonday Night Rawone of the hottest shows of the late 90s and led to a renaissance of the company’s popularity and cultural impact, opening the door for later entries on this list.
During the height of his popularity, Stone Cold could be seen as a referee on MTV’s claymation comedyCelebrity Deathmatch, and his recurring part as Jake Cage on the CBS police proceduralNash Bridgeswas so well-received that it almost led to a spin-off. His film work was sporadic, including a leading role in the 2007 action filmThe Condemned, a small part alongside Nash inThe Longest Yard, and as part of the muscular ensemble inThe Expendables. Austin’s time on screen with scripted work has slowed down in recent years, but he remains an active television personality, most recently starring in the reality seriesStone Cold Takes on America.
6Adam Copeland
Adam Copeland, known to wrestling fans as his WWE stage persona Edge, has long been a crowd favorite who has had success as a tag team champion along with a championship-collecting singles run. A lengthy in-ring career typically means a wrestler will spend time playing both a hero and a villain in storylines, and Copeland excelled at both until injuries forced an early retirement for the performer in 2011. Copeland shocked fans after receiving medical clearance to make a surprise return in 2020, but during that time away, he built an impressive career as an actor.
Copeland had a small part in the 2000sHighlander: Endgame, but it was his role as Dwight Hendrickson in the SyFy seriesHaventhat gave the wrestler consistent work as an actor when he was promoted to a series regular. His next major TV role would allow him to grow as a performer when joining the History Channel’s original seriesVikings, playing the ruthlessly cold-blooded Kjetill. Since returning to the ring, Copeland’s schedule doesn’t allow for as much acting, but he recently appeared as God Ares in the Disney+ seriesPercy Jackson and the Olympians.
5Hulk Hogan
For all the Hulkamaniacs that ran wild in the 80s,Hulk Hoganwasn’t a professional wrestler, he WAS wrestling.Hulk Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, was the face of the then-named WWF, carrying their championship while telling all the kids at home to take their vitamins and say their prayers. He was a phenomenon with no equal, the quintessential hero of an era. As Hogan’s good guy image ran its course, he helped change wrestling yet again when he “turned heel,” by becoming the dastardly third member of the nWo in 1996.
Hogan’s acting may not have been award-winning in films such as the deliriously campyNo Holds Barredor the family comedyMr. Nanny, but it’s his legacy as a crossover talent that deserves recognition. When the Hulkster left the ring to appear as Thunderlips inRocky III, wrestlers weren’t taking time off to film a new project. The legitimacy of the business needed to be protected at all costs, and acting in movies or television shows invited questions no one wanted. According to Hogan, he was fired for agreeing to do the film, butit was his appearance in Rocky III that helped gain popularity for Hogan and, in turn, professional wrestling as well. Someone would have conceivably left wrestling for Hollywood at some point, but they didn’t, and Hulk did, and every other WWE superstar who came after reaped the benefits of the door he opened.
4Roddy Piper
‘Rowdy Roddy’ Piper was the villain everyone loved to hate in the era of Hogan, possessing a menacing charm that made him stand apart with scathing rundowns of his opponents on the mic. The best wrestler in the ’80s to never wear the championship around his waist,Piper’s charisma guaranteed he would end up in front of the camera, and really, the only thing surprising about his acting career is that he didn’t find lengthy mainstream success.
Piper, real name Roderick Toombs, starred in a string of B movies such as the cult-favoriteHell Comes to Frogtown, with arguably his biggest role being as the lead inJohn Carpenter’sThey Live. Carpenter cast Piper because he was a legitimate tough guy, someone who could embody the strength and resilience of an ideal heroic everyman. And that’s who Piper was, on and off camera. It’s been a little over ten years now since Piper died at the age of 61, but it will be impossible to forget his rebellious spirit that made him a household name.
3Dave Bautista
Dave Bautistais a performer who has made a name for himself in the world of professional wrestling and acting with the same level of intense dedication to his craft. Wrestling under the name Batista, the future actor would debut in 2002 onWWE SmackDown!,where he was introduced asDeacon Batista, a stern-faced threat wearing a sleeveless blazer and dress shirt with a large donation box hanging around his neck by a chain. The gimmick would not make him famous, but Bautista quickly rose to headliner status with an impressive physique and a quiet intensity that audiences responded to.
Bautista made a couple of guest appearances on shows such as the spy comedyChuck, but it was the Marvel space adventureGuardians of the Galaxyas his scene-stealing role as Drax that gave his acting career a rocket-propelled boost. Bautista continues to challenge himself bycarefully selecting roles in filmssuch asM. Night Shyamalan’sKnock at the CabinandRian Johnson’s mystery sequel,Glass Onion. With a long list of projects lined up, Bautista’s time in Hollywood has no end in sight.
2John Cena
It would be difficult to find someone with a more stringent work ethic thanJohn Cena.During Cena’s time with WWE, he became the company’s star attraction, typically seen with a championship around his waist as the conquering hero with the mantra of never giving up. In many ways, Cena was the second coming of Hogan, a smiling and friendly face that kids in the audience could idolize before begging their parents for one of his shirts. Cena’s relationship with his younger audience would be the stuff of legend, wherethe wrestler granted more than 650 wishes through the Make-A-Wish Foundation,a Guinness World Record.
Cena’s acting career started modestly when he starred as John Triton in the action filmThe Marine. Cena would continue to pop up in the occasional TV show, but Cena garnered positive attention forhis small but memorable roleas Amy Schumer’s boyfriend in the comedyTrainwreck. Although he’s done some serious parts,Cena’s comedic timing has made him an unlikely go-to for comedies, where his egoless ability to make fun of himself has endeared the soon-to-be-retiring wrestler to audiences. If his upward trajectory continues, and it looks to be trending in that direction, it won’t be much longer before he’s in the number one spot on lists like this.
1Dwayne Johnson
Whether it’s measured by box office receipts or name recognition,Dwayne Johnsonis the most successful crossover star to trade the squared circle for Hollywood soundstages. He was prolifically successful when wrestling as the egotistical but undeniably charismatic anti-hero The Rock, becoming one ofthe youngest performers to headline WWE’s biggest show of the year, Wrestlemania, when he was 26. Johnson’s magnetic stage presence made it a question of if, not when, he would set his sights on the West Coast.
Johnson was a reliable Hollywood hit machine, whether it was by lending his voice to the Disney hitMoanaor trading punches intheFast and Furiousseries. Although the high-profile misfireBlack Adamis still lingering in the public’s general recent memory, it would be shortsighted to think he is unable to recover. Regardless of what’s in store for Johnson’s future,his bankability as a star warmed studios to the idea of what other untapped talent may be diving off the top rope somewhere, allowing countless opportunities for the wrestling pros lacing up their boots week after week.
Peacemaker
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