WWE superstars have been playing different roles on the big screen for many years—and not just in WWE movie parodies like Seth Rollins as Joker to promote WrestleMania 39. From cameos to even leading roles, these wrestlers have shown that they have just as much - if not more - acting ability than some of Hollywood's A-listers. Not only do they make a good impression in feature films, but these entertainers must also routinely demonstrate their "acting" chops while wrestling in the ring too. Whether cutting promos or selling an injury, wrestlers are often demanding more from themselves on top of their physicality.
WWE superstars in movies face great challenges. Although WWE superstars are labeled as independent contractors and therefore could potentially take on other engagements, WWE normally attempts to limit their talent from appearing in anything outside of WWE-related projects. This limitation has made it more difficult for WWE superstars to appear in movies or television shows outside of WWE, however, certain names on the talent list have appeared in many WWE-related productions.
Since WrestleMania Goes Hollywood is the theme for this year's big event, you have a great opportunity to appreciate the acting skills of WWE superstars in films before The Showcase of the Immortals on April 1 and 2.
Here are some of the best and/or most interesting of them.
Dave Bautista in Knock at the Cabin, Guardians of the Galaxy, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Spectre
"The Animal" Batista has been on a tear lately with great performances in a variety of movies over the past few years.
His entirely silent role (outside of one word) in the James Bond film Spectre as Mr. Hinx—a dangerous brute henchman assassin—doesn't do justice to how much range he has shown in other movies beyond that.
He's arguably the funniest part of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, plays a sensitive but still intimidating antagonist in M. Night Shyamalan's Knock at the Cabin and of course, has stolen many scenes as Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has another installment coming up in just a few weeks!
John Cena in The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker TV Series and more
Not to be outdone, John Cena has leveled up considerably in his acting career since his days as The Marine. He's truly found a groove as a comedic actor in projects like Vacation Friends, but his biggest breakout roles most recently came in the Fast and Furious franchise (which also has Dwayne Johnson and even Roman Reigns, mind you!) and as Peacemaker in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad and the spin-off television series, which are certainly worth a watch if the superhero genre is something you're fond of.
Moana
WWE superstar Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is a success in Hollywood, having starred in multiple films from franchises including Fast and Furious and Jumanji. However, for his outstanding performance as the character Maui in Disney's Moana, he is in a league of his own. Amidst an ensemble of great WWE superstars who have found success in the cinema world, The Rock stands out for his role in this animated film. If you're a parent, it's likely you've watched this hit movie more than 100 times with your kids but even if you're not a parent, Moana is still far more enjoyable than Baywatch and even his most recent film, Black Adam!
See No Evil
This horror film stars WWE wrestler Kane (Glenn Jacobs) as Jacob Goodnight. Officer Frank Williams and his partner Blaine are examining an abandoned house. Little do they know, there is a gruesome discovery waiting for them inside. A young woman appears with her eyes pulled out. After further inspection of the house, seven bodies are found with all their eyes having been taken out as well. Four years pass and Frank and his new partner Hannah receive a request from the Blackwell Hotel's owner Margaret to take a group of delinquents - Christine, Kira, Michael, Tyson, Zoe, Melissa, Richie, and Russell - to clean up the abandoned site in order to turn it into a homeless shelter. Unbeknownst to the pair and delinquents working there, however, is that the reclusive psychopath Goodnight has made the hotel his residence causing unsuspecting terror for all involved.
Some of the movies may not be available in your region, but that's no reason not to watch them. All you need is an unlimited VPN for Firestick with many available servers. Fire TV with VPN allows you to watch movies regardless of regional blocking. It is enough to choose another country and everything that was not available in your home region can be viewed in high definition.
Bumblebee
Bumblee (2018) proved that a Transformers spin-off, even if it features a WWE wrestler, can be a commercial and critical success. The movie managed to garner an impressive 91 percent "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes and gross $468 million worldwide, while this might not have been enough for it to become the most financially successful installment of the franchise, the fact remains that Bumblebee is the only Transformers film that has been critically acclaimed. Its financial and critical successes prove that even in a world of increasingly complicated cinematic releases, there's no need for complicated plotlines in order for films to be successful.
Letting my hair down this weekend 🤪 this photo was taken on set of The Devils Rejects. I had such a blast playing Billy Ray Snapper 💥
— Diamond Dallas Page (@RealDDP) March 8, 2019
This weekend try to set new goals for the new week ahead to help you stay motivated. Stay #PositivelyUnstoppable #OwningIt DDP💎 pic.twitter.com/319jk9uZvB
The Devil's Rejects
WWE superstar Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) may have only gotten a small handful of chances to play himself in WWE-based films, including Ready to Rumble and Rat Race, but he was given a meatier role in Rob Zombie's 2005 horror movie The Devil's Rejects. In the film, he plays one of the Snapper Brothers alongside Danny Trejo as they go on a mission to hunt down the notorious Firefly family of killers which first made their debut in Zombie's 2003 House of 1000 Corpses. It was an opportunity for DDP to demonstrate his acting abilities, and it became a memorable role that WWE fans always look back fondly on.
The Scorpion King
The Scorpion King is a blockbuster in the WWE wrestler actor realm as it stars Michael Clarke Duncan, Grant Heslov, Kelly Hu, Steven Brand, and Dwayne Johnson. Set in the infamous city of Gomorrah and inspired by the legendary Egyptian warrior, "The Scorpion King” serves as both a prequel and spin-off of The Mummy franchise. In an attempt to prevent their own demise, remnants of rivaling desert nomad tribes come together with one proficient assassin - Mathayus (The Rock) - to eliminate their sorcerer adversary.
The CGI is notoriously terrible, but the franchise is a fun adventure romp.
Mad Max: Fury Road
2015's Mad Max: Fury Road, the latest installment of the post-apocalyptic Mad Max franchise, is a science-fiction/action film that stands out due to the memorable performance of former WWE wrestler Nathan Jones. Jones portrays Rictus Erectus, the son of the film's villain Immortan Joe, and he truly makes an impression with his size and strength; standing 6'11" tall and weighing over 300 pounds, his presence on screen is incredibly powerful. Not only does this actor provide an interesting foil to the other characters in Fury Road, but he also leaves a lasting impression on all those who view it.
Kevin Nash in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze / Punisher / John Wick
WWE superstars Triple H and Kevin Nash aren't just professional wrestlers, they're also actors! In 2004, fans saw both WWE stars in comic book movies.
While Triple H starred as the villainous vampire-flunkie in Blade: Trinity, Kevin Nash appeared as the intimidating gangster "The Russian" in The Punisher. Nash's take on a bad guy was much more convincing than Triple H's, backed up by his sheer size and matching physique. He even played a bodyguard once again in John Wick—one of the best films of this entire list.
Nash has actually been in quite a few movies, ranging from comedies like Dog, Grandma's Boy, and The Longest Yard to being Tarzan in Magic Mike and even Odin in Almighty Thor (note: a TV movie, not the Marvel Cinematic Universe role played by Anthony Hopkins). And this all started for him by playing Super Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze!
Final Words
Although wrestlers do not often appear in films, there are legendary films with their participation. This is a great opportunity to look at your favorite characters in a different light. From horror to cartoons and adventure, you can find something to suit your taste.
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