New Ranking Reveals the Top Wrestlers Who Transitioned to the Big Screen

In recent times, moving from wrestling to Hollywood has become a real career path. The WWE has been like one big audition for TV and movies. Big names like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena are the most obvious examples, but many wrestlers have tried their luck in acting, and some legends laid the groundwork long before them.

Hulk Hogan, for example, made professional wrestling huge in the 1980s with his big personality and 24-inch biceps.

Without him, there might not have been a Dwayne Johnson as a household name. Hogan’s Hollywood career never really took off, movies like Mr. Nanny and Suburban Commando flopped, but he opened the door for others.

The Hollywood Reporter recently ranked the top 10 wrestlers turned actors, though many other big names didn’t make the list. Honorable mentions include Stacy Keibler, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Mike “The Miz” Mizanin, MJF, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Sasha Banks (aka Mercedes Moné), “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Bill Goldberg, Triple H, Becky Lynch, Chris Jericho, and more. Wrestlers often make good cameos in TV shows or movies because they are camera-ready and know how to perform in front of an audience.

The number one spot goes to Dave Bautista. Bautista, who wrestled as Batista, became Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. He’s 6’4” and now weighs 240 pounds, a lot less than his wrestling days, but it helped him fit in on screen. Bautista proved he can handle serious acting and not just big action roles.

Dwayne Johnson comes in at number two. He is the most successful actor from wrestling, but maybe not the best actor. He’s very popular and works hard, but critics still think his acting hasn’t reached its full potential. Johnson has a strong presence, a great work ethic, and he knows his audience, which is why his movies make so much money.

Number three is John Cena. Cena has moved into acting with confidence, especially with his role in Peacemaker. He’s willing to make fun of himself and has built a solid acting career after wrestling. While Johnson made a bigger splash, Cena had the bigger WWE career, making their rivalry interesting beyond the ring.

At number four is “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, whose cult classic They Live gave us the line, “I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass. And I’m all out of bubble gum.” Piper started in wrestling interviews and parlayed that into acting, including roles on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Adam Copeland, also known as Edge, is number five. He appeared on shows like Haven and Vikings and played Ares in Percy Jackson. His acting looks natural, and his tall, athletic build helps him play a variety of roles.

Other notable rankings include Kevin Nash at six, Hulk Hogan at seven, Paul Wight (The Big Show) at eight, Jesse Ventura at nine, and Andre the Giant at ten. Each of these wrestlers brought their size, personality, and charisma to Hollywood in different ways. Some became action stars, others embraced comedy, and some just left a lasting impression.

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