Read on to find out the greatest movies starring professional wrestlers. Former WWE wrestling star Hulk Hogan died at age 71. He was a cultural icon and one of the best-known wrestlers who transitioned to acting.
Although it feels like wrestlers transitioning into acting is more common than ever in big action film franchises and blockbuster comic book films, this is not a recent development. In fact, for decades now, brawlers and in-ring technicians have appeared in some form in some of the greatest science fiction.
You’ve come to the correct place if you’ve ever wanted to learn about movies that feature professional wrestlers, because we’re going to look at the careers of wrestlers and the movies they starred in.
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12. Tor Johnson in Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)
Tor Johnson plays Inspector Daniel Clay in the Ed Wood low-budget classic Plan 9 from Outer Space. He’s investigating a series of grave robberies. Unfortunately, he’s killed and turned into a murderous zombie by aliens.
Known by his stage name Tor Johnson, Karl Erik Tore Johansson was a Swedish professional wrestler and actor. As an actor, Johnson starred in numerous B-movies, some of which were renowned for being directed by Ed Wood. Johnson was billed as Super Swedish Angel and Thor Johnson in professional wrestling.
Buy or rent Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957) on Amazon
11. Hulk Hogan in Muppets from Space (1999)
While Hulk Hogan appeared in a few movies (looking at you, Suburban Commando), his greatest sci-fi role was a cameo. Hogan appeared as himself in Muppets from Space in 1999. American professional wrestler Terry Gene Bollea was more popularly known by his ring moniker, Hulk Hogan. His work with World Championship Wrestling and the WWE made him most famous. As the most well-known wrestler in the world, the most popular of the 1980s, and one of the best professional wrestlers of all time, Hogan was renowned for his flamboyance, huge body, and distinctive blond horseshoe moustache and bandanas.
Hogan plays a mysterious “Man in Black” working for K. Edgar Singer. At the time, he was known as Hollywood Hulk Hogan, a heel member of the nWo in World Championship Wrestling.
The cameo is brief, but his role is almost forgettable (I had to look it up). Unlike our next movie.
Buy or rent Muppets from Space (1999) on Amazon
10. Ox Baker in Escape from New York (1981)
Directed By John Carpenter
Ox Baker plays Slag, a prisoner of the New York Maximum Security Penitentiary in Escape from New York. S.D. “Snake” Plissken (Kurt Russell) is captured by the Duke of New York (Isaac Hayes), and he’s forced to fight Slag to the death.
Baker was a 6’5”, 342-pound American professional wrestler and actor known for his intimidating persona and signature “Heart Punch” finishing move, which inadvertently killed two men. He wrestled in various promotions from the 1960s to the 1980s, becoming a top attraction in the AWA, NWA, and WWWF.
The movie uses his brief performance to rise to cult status. The next wrestler doesn’t have many lines, but his presence alone makes his character come to life.
Buy or rent Escape from New York (1981) on Amazon
9. Pat Roach in A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Pat Roach plays a bouncer in Stanley Kubrick’s classic movie A Clockwork Orange. He’s big and physically intimidating, which is in line with his role of keeping the peace at the Korova Milk Bar, where Alex (Malcolm McDowell) and his group frequently congregate and consume milk drinks loaded with drugs.
Roach was an English professional wrestler, stuntman, and actor, best known for his imposing physique and villainous roles in film and television. He was a successful wrestler, holding both British and European heavyweight titles. He wrestled against legends like Giant Haystacks, Andre the Giant, and Dino Bravo.
He transitioned into acting with notable roles in A Clockwork Orange and the Indiana Jones movies. So did our next actor on the list.
Buy or rent A Clockwork Orange (1971) on Amazon
8. Tyler Mane in X-Men (2000)
Directed By Bryan Singer
Tyler Mane plays Victor Creed, aka Sabretooth, in X-Men (2000). He’s a psychopathic mutant with superhuman strength and reflexes, razor-sharp claws, increased senses, and the capacity to heal quickly.
Daryl Karolat, better known by his stage name Tyler Mane, is a Canadian actor and wrestler. From 1986 to 1999, he competed professionally as a wrestler under the titles Skywalker Nitron, Nitron, and Big Sky. Mane is well-known for his tenure in WCW and for being a member of the Nitrons, a tag team with Kevin Nash. He began his movie career with Sabretooth in X-Men but played other roles like Michael Myers in Halloween.
At 6’ 9”, he’s an imposing figure. Liev Schreiber was more believable as a more thoughtful version of the character. But it’s hard to argue that Mane is scarier. He later reprised his role for Deadpool & Wolverine.
Buy or rent X-Men (2000) on Amazon
7. Tommy Lister Jr. in The Fifth Element (1997)
Directed By Luc Besson
In The Fifth Element, the Federated Army and the Federated Territories are commanded by President Lindberg, played by Tommy Lister Jr. He is seen supervising Korben’s mission and giving military commanders advice throughout, especially in Fhloston Paradise.
He was played by American character actor and former professional wrestler Tommy “Tiny” Lister Jr. He’s best known for playing the part of Deebo, the local bully in the Friday trilogy film series. After playing Zeus in Hogan’s film No Holds Barred, he had a brief professional wrestling career, competing against Hulk Hogan in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
Everything about The Fifth Element was quirky, but hiring a professional wrestler to play the Galactic President takes the cake.
Buy or rent The Fifth Element (1997) on Amazon
6. Jesse Ventura in The Running Man (1987)
Directed By Paul Michael Glaser
Jesse “The Body” Ventura plays the patriotic “Captain Freedom.” The former 10-time national champion stalker in The Running Man. He’s brought out of retirement to hunt down the hero, Ben Richards. Powerful and brutal, he sees the sport as honorable and noble.
From 1975 to 1986, James George Janod had a successful professional wrestling career under the name Jasse “The Body” Ventura. He was mostly billed as a “heel” (villain). Before joining the WWF (now WWE), he competed in the AWA, the Pacific Northwest, and the Central States. Ventura was known for his flamboyant persona, physique, and commentary, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.
His patriotism led him to become Minnesota’s 38th governor from 1999 to 2003. The role is small, but Ventura brings his wrestling personality into the film. Kind of like our next wrestler.
Buy or rent The Running Man (1987) on Amazon
5. Randy Savage in Spider-Man (2002)
Randy Savage appeared in a few sci-fi movies, but his most notable film role was as the wrestler “Bonesaw” McGraw in the 2002 film Spider-Man. The character was created for the movie, but is based on the comics character Joseph “Crusher” Hogan, who wrestles Spider-Man.
American professional wrestler and baseball player Randy Mario Poffo, better known by his ring name Randy “Macho Man” Savage, is most remembered for his tenure in the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Federation (WWF, subsequently WWE).
Savage appeared in mid-to-late ’90s TV shows, but it’s his role in Spider-Man that movie fans remember. His distinctive voice and delivery (“I got you for three minutes…of playtime!”) elevated what should have been a forgettable cameo.
Unfortunately, a neck injury during a stunt on the film led to his retirement from professional wrestling.
Watch it on Disney+, FuboTV, YouTube TV
Buy or rent Spider-Man (2002) on Amazon
4. John Cena in The Suicide Squad (2021)
Directed By James Gunn
John Cena plays Christopher Smith, aka Peacemaker, a superhero in the DC Comics universe. He’s dedicated to peace, even if it means using violence to achieve it. He is a character who strives for peace at any cost, often employing extreme measures to achieve his goals.
Cena had a remarkable career in wrestling. He debuted in 2002 and quickly rose to prominence, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in professional wrestling and a pop culture icon. He’s a 16-time world champion (a record he shares with Ric Flair) in the WWE.
In the DCEU, Peacemaker starred in the feature film The Suicide Squad (2021) before his self-titled HBO Max streaming television series in 2022. The character will make a comeback in the second season, set for 2025, and was first introduced into the new DCU canon with a cameo in the movie Superman. Few wrestlers have had such a broad career, but the next wrestler instantly achieved pop culture stardom in one movie.
Watch it on HBO Max, TruTV, TBS, TNT
Buy or rent The Suicide Squad (2021) on Amazon
3. Jesse Ventura in Predator (1987)
Directed By John McTiernan
In 1987, Ventura returned to the movies as Sergeant Blain Cooper in Predator. He’s the cigar-chomping member of Alan “Dutch” Schaefer’s (Arnold Schwarzenegger) private military squad. When things go south, he’s quick to break out his favorite weapon.
Ventura’s character, Blain, is known for his large build, his Gatling gun, and his memorable catchphrase. “I ain’t got time to bleed” is so popular that he even used it as the title of his biography.
Despite the small role, Ventura’s performance contributes to the film’s iconic status.
Buy or rent Predator (1987) on Amazon
2. Roddy Piper in They Live (1988)
Directed By John Carpenter
A vagrant with no purpose in life, Nada (Roddy Piper), finds a set of sunglasses that may reveal the world as it really is. In They Live, he learns that the majority of the social elite are aliens using subliminal messages to keep the populace in check. He sets out to stop them on the streets of Los Angeles.
Known by his ring name “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Roderick George Toombs was a Canadian professional wrestler and actor best known for his work in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), WCW, and the WWF. In 2005, Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Piper was the first wrestler to star in a motion picture. Although several wrestlers had previously starred in motion pictures, this movie was the first time a wrestler played the lead in a top-grossing film. He also has the popular improvised line, “I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick a–…. and I’m all out of bubblegum.”
Buy or rent They Live (1988) on Amazon
1. Dave Bautista in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Directed By James Gunn
Drax the Destroyer is a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) character played by Dave Bautista. He’s physically imposing and a fierce warrior, but dumb as a rock. In Guardians of the Galaxy, he joined the Guardians seeking vengeance against Ronan the Accuser, who killed his family.
Dave Bautista had a successful wrestling career as a six-time world champion, winning both the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship. He was a dominant force in WWE, particularly known for his time as part of the Evolution stable, and won the Royal Rumble twice. He retired from wrestling in 2019, with his final match against Triple H at WrestleMania 35.
His acting career in the Marvel Cinematic Universe brought him seven films, $15-20 million, and delighted movie fans. While he acknowledged that Drax has become a significant part of his legacy, Bautista also wants to explore more dramatic roles. That’s an amazing turn for a pro wrestler and the greatest of all-time.
Buy or rent Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) on Amazon
Which is your favorite movie? Let us know in the comments!
