Top 10 Wrestlers in Movies & TV

• He debuted as part of The Suicide Squad
• The character then gained his own HBO television series

John Cena has been steadily building his name in Hollywood, proving himself in the comedy genre. However, he blended his humor with aggression and action to take on the role of Peacemaker, which has become his defining part at this stage in his acting career.

Cena's dedication to making the character memorable by wearing the full costume for press events has also helped this become something that audiences around the world instantly recognize.

Kane - Jacob Goodnight

• The horror movie See No Evil was released in 2006
• There was a sequel that didn't perform as well

See No Evil might not be the greatest movie a wrestler has been involved in, but when it comes to iconic and memorable roles, this is certainly up there. It was a perfect decision, given that Kane had always been seen as a demonic, horror-style gimmick, and leaning into that within this movie made sense.

WWE also linked its storylines at the time, which led to some amazing visuals featuring the WWE legend. Kane didn't pursue acting, which means that this role has stood the test of time even more.

Paul Wight - Captain Insano

• The Waterboy, starring Adam Sandler, was released in 1988
• AEW got the rights to the character

Paul Wight might've been a giant inside the ring who could be taken seriously as a threat against anyone, but he's always shown his comedic side. Throughout his career, he has been happy to entertain people by making them laugh, including his iconic role in The Waterboy.

He plays a professional wrestler with whom Adam Sandler's character rings to speak to, but he isn't Big Show here. Instead, he becomes Captain Insano, a hilarious role for him that AEW has previously tapped into.

Hulk Hogan - Thunderlips

• The Rocky III role only helped to increase how iconic Hogan's facial hair was
• Hogan and Sylvester Stallone became great friends

Hulk Hogan's acting career might not have been as successful as his wrestling one, but his appearance in Rocky III remains well-known. Seeing him go toe-to-toe with one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema, Rocky Balboa, instantly guaranteed that this was a role people would never forget.

It's a movie that will be talked about forever, being passed down from generation to generation, and that will only keep Hogan's legacy alive.

Jesse Ventura - Blain Cooper

• Predator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, was released in 1987
• Ventura went on to be part of numerous action films

Jesse Ventura is an outspoken individual known for many things, but he paved the way for wrestlers to step into Hollywood in a way for which he often goes uncredited. He was brilliant in Predator, and thrived working alongside some of the biggest stars in the industry at that time.

His machine-gun-loving character was wild, and seeing him in such a massive movie was a big deal at the time and remains so today.

The Rock - Luke Hobbs

• He has played this role in six Fast & Furious movies
• The Rock and Vin Diesel infamously fell out in real life

The Rock has been involved in many great movies, helping him to become a household name and one of the biggest actors in the industry. However, it's his role as Luke Hobbs that people know best, as he significantly impacted the Fast & Furious franchise when he joined for Fast Five.

While he played the character multiple times, everyone remembers it as the first performance. Seeing him and Vin Diesel going against each other was iconic, and The Rock was the perfect man to take on the role, showing him at his best in the action genre.

Andre The Giant - Fezzik

• The Princess Bride was released in 1987
• Andre got to work alongside a young Robin Wright

Andre the Giant was an iconic figure in the world of sports, and it made sense to see him branch out into the movie industry. Of course, he was limited in what characters he could play, but his role as Fezzik in The Princess Bride was perfect.

Andre was the lovable giant throughout this movie, showcasing all of his star power to the non-wrestling world. Given that the film has become so beloved over the years, it's no surprise that it has become a memorable role.

Roddy Piper - John Nada

• Piper gave an iconic performance in John Carpenter's They Live
• Piper's bubble gum quote is still talked about to this day

Roddy Piper didn't truly break into the Hollywood industry in the way that someone with his charisma should've done, but there's no doubt that his role as John Nada in They Live became iconic. This role isn't just memorable for wrestling fans; it's well known globally.

Piper looked incredibly cool throughout this performance, and he carried it with such charisma that he seemed a natural in that world. His "I came here to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of bubble gum" line is one that is etched in cinematic history, which is something that has made this role so memorable.

Randy Savage - Bonesaw McGraw

• This character was lifted from the Marvel comics
• Savage was able to fight Spider-Man

Before wrestlers were regularly brought in to be involved in superhero movies, Randy Savage delivered an iconic cameo role in Spider-Man. Most wrestling fans still discuss this role to this day, as he played an exaggerated fighter who took on and defeated all challengers inside a steel cage.

That was until he fought Peter Parker. It's early in the film, so he hasn't fully developed his Spider-Man powers, but he still wins the fight. It might've been a small role, but it's one that people remember due to Savage's charisma and his match against an iconic superhero.

Batista - Drax The Destroyer

• He played the role in three Guardians of the Galaxy movies
• He was also part of several Avengers films

Out of every wrestler who has taken on a role in cinema, Dave Bautista's performances as Drax the Destroyer stand out as the most memorable. He played the character multiple times, but it's hard to look past his original performance in Guardians of the Galaxy, simply because it was so surprising.

Wrestling fans had always seen him as an intense powerhouse, and based on his visual appearance, people anticipated that from this performance. Yet when he delivered the dry comedic work that he did, fans were opened up to a new side of him, and his acting career instantly took off.