We’re still learning what the world of professional wrestling will be like without Vince McMahon Jr. But wrestling has long been part of popular culture, and many wrestlers have transitioned from sports entertainment to pure entertainment in movies. Check out the best actors among the top wrestling stars of all time.
1. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
The Rock is more than just the most successful wrestler-turned-actor. His films have grossed over $10.5 million worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing and highest-paid actors in the world. Now he has a filmography that includes blockbuster action, comedy, and animated movies like Central Intelligence, Jumanji, and Moana.
2. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
Roderick George Toombs was a classic heel from the territory era who had great mic skills and could get people interested. And he was so charismatic that he gained popularity outside the ring in the 1980s. His role in They Live (where graffiti artist Obey got his name) is still referenced in memes today, and his appearances as Da’ Maniac in Always Sunny in Philadelphia are legendary. His entire filmography is worth watching though, including his early music video appearances.
3. John Cena
John Cena is one of the most popular wrestlers of all time, and his run at the top of WWE outlasted both The Rock and Steve Austin. But it’s his acting career that is really taking off these days, with six movies currently in the pipeline. On top of that, his performance in The Suicide Squad was so good it led to his own Peacemaker series on HBO.
4. Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Jesse Ventura set the standard for what a professional wrestler can accomplish, as he went on to success in both Hollywood and politics as the Green Party Governor of Minnesota. The bulk of his acting roles are in the 1980s and 90s in movies like Predator, The Running Man, and Demolition Man. But he does have some classics in the 21st century too, mostly playing a governor-like character after delving deep into politics.
5. Dave Bautista
Although he was a main eventer in WWE, Bautista is now internationally famous on a whole other level, thanks to his role as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. Now he’s one of the busiest actors of the 2020s, with roles in TV shows like See and movie franchises like Dune.
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6. Sasha Banks
Mercedes Kaestner-Varnado is one of the most vibrant characters on the Smackdown roster as Sasha Banks. That means she has less experience in Hollywood, but Snoop Dogg’s cousin impressed audiences with her role as Koska Reeves in The Mandalorian series on Disney Plus. Here’s hoping we get to see her on screen more often now that she has her feet wet.
7. Andre the Giant
André René Roussimoff is one of the most iconic wrestlers of the Golden Era. The gentle-natured Frenchman was born with gigantism, famously lifted a car, and he’s the other half of the famous Obey Giant stencil from Shepard Fairey. He has a variety of roles in the 1980s, including The Princess Bride, Micki & Maude, and appearances on TV shows like The Six Million Dollar Man and B.J. and the Bear.
8. Stacy Keibler
Stacy Keibler is arguably the most popular and accomplished females in the wrestling biz, working as a Nitro Girl in WCW, manager of teams like the Dudley Boyz in WWE, and branching into a successful acting career. She started with cameos in movies like Pecker and Bubble Boy before doing guest spots on dozens of TV shows. And she placed third in the second season of Dancing With the Stars.
9. “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey was the first female UFC champion and spent four years pioneering the sport before transitioning into pro wrestling. Taking on the persona of Roddy Piper above, she also followed his footsteps into acting, with roles in movies like The Expendables 3, Furious 7, and Entourage, in which she plays herself. Coming off a SummerSlam loss at the age of 35, she’s still at the top of her game and one of the most dangerous women on the planet.
10. Kane
Glenn Jacobs struggled to find his place in professional wrestling until cast as the Undertaker’s brother Kane. That propelled him into the spotlight, and he transitioned into acting before following Jesse Ventura into politics, becoming the Republican Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee. Even before wrestling, he was a language instructor on The Last of the Mohicans, and he later starred in the See No Evil series, along with guest spots on shows like Smallville and MacGruber.
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11. The Miz
Michael Mizanin is one of the most hated wrestlers in the business, but he overcame the David Arquette problem to become one of the first big wrestling stars to come from TV (albeit reality TV). He continued his stints on reality TV while also picking up roles in TV shows like Psych and Supernatural, along with movies, famously taking The Marine series over and playing himself in movies like Fighting with My Family and The Main Event. And he’s still on Raw, helping get Logan Paul over with the crowd.
12. Terry Funk
Terrence Funk has done it all, from wrestling in the most infamous death matches of all time to holding championships in countless promotions, recording multiple albums, writing a book, and more. And he’s had roles in movies like Paradise Alley, Road House, and The Ringer. He’s also appeared in classic TV shows like Swamp Thing and Quantum Leap.
13. Bill Goldberg
Bill Goldberg is a former football player turned professional wrestler who held the World Heavyweight Championships in both WCW and WWE. Somehow he still found time to star in TV shows like NCIS: Los Angeles and The Goldbergs. And he had notable roles in movies like The Longest Yard, Ready to Rumble, and the must-see b-movie schlock Santa’s Slay.
14. Trish Stratus
Patricia Straigeas became one of the most popular wrestlers on the WWE roster after a stint as a model. She’s also a judge on the second season of Canada’s Got Talent. Although she only has two movies to her name (Bail Enforcers and Gridlocked), she does a great job in them.
15. CM Punk
Phillip Jack Brooks (CM Punk) was one of the most popular wrestlers on the indie circuit when recruited to WWE. After dropping the infamous Pipe Bomb speech, he attempted a short-lived MMA career, losing two fights before being released. But he’s slowly winning in Hollywood, with episodes of TV shows like Heels, Maron, and Mayans M.C. under his belt, along with movies like Girl on the Third Floor, Rabid, and Jakob’s Wife.
16. The Undertaker
Mark Calaway is arguably the most successful and popular professional wrestler of all time, with a career that includes 30 solid years of main eventing in the WWE. Although he focused almost entirely on wrestling, he also had a few notable roles in movies like Suburban Commando and TV shows like Poltergeist: The Legacy.
17. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Steven James Anderson (better known as Steve Austin) is the defining personality of WWE’s Attitude Era. A neck injury cut his career short, but he found a spot in movies and TV, often playing “himself” or a version of it. Some highlights include The Longest Yard, Grown Ups 2, and The Expendables on the big screen and Nash Bridges and Chuck on TV.
18. Diamond Dallas Page
Page Joseph Falkinburg Jr took on the moniker Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) and appeared in all the big federations: WWE, WCW, TNA, and AEW. He also has a DDP yoga series he promoted on Shark Tank. On top of this, he appeared in movies like Ready to Rumble, First Daughter, and The Devil’s Rejects.
19. “Macho Man” Randy Savage
Randall Mario Poffo is one of the most unique personalities in professional wrestling, and his Golden Age work with Miss Elizabeth is among the best anyone’s ever done. He had a rap album and lucrative Slim Jim sponsorship, and he famously played Bonesaw McGraw in the 2002 Spider-Man film. In addition, he did voicework on Bolt and its spinoff Super Rhino, along with appearances on TV shows like Mad About You and King of the Hill, among others.
20. “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan
Terry Eugene Bollea’s Hulk Hogan gimmick is synonymous with WWF in the 1980s, and his heel turn with the New World Order in WCW worked even better. His reality show is must-watch TV (ESPECIALLY in light of everything we know now that we didn’t back then), but his so-bad-they’re-good movies are where the magic happens. Hogan headlined the most notoriously bad movies, like No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, Santa with Muscles, and Mr. Nanny. His acting career is a guilty pleasure for any wrestling fan.