13 Wrestlers in Movies: Superstars of the Silver Screen

Welcome back everybody to the number one countdown series on Cheap-Heat.com ! My name is Mark Adam Haggerty and this is THE LUCKY THIRTEEN! When other sites give you too few with ten, or too many with twenty—I’m bringing you the Top Thirteen of Pro Wrestling! Top what, you ask? In the past we’ve covered everything from face paint to mustaches, and today we’re going to the movies! Professional wrestlers have always maintained a pretty solid presence on the silver screen. Before Hulk Hogan was ever “Mr. Nanny,” El Santo was performing in Luchador Films, and paved the way for other performers north of the border and beyond. Who was the greatest actor to have also laced up a pair of wrestling boots? Let’s find out together, starting with number thirteen!

13. Ernest “The Cat” Miller
Noteworthy Films: The Wrestler
Ernest Miller might not have the resume of some of his contemporaries, but this former Karate Champion and WCW/WWE Superstar was featured in an Oscar-nominated movie! That's pretty cool for a guy that never wore a championship belt! Most fans will remember Ernest Miller for begging fans to "call his mama," but fans of the cinema will likely recall his groundbreaking performance opposite Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler."

12. Sgt. Slaughter
Noteworthy Films: GI Joe: The Movie
What movies featured Sgt. Slaughter? Okay you got me. This one is a bit of a cop out, but for good reason! Not only did Sgt. Slaughter star on the GI Joe animated series, but they based an all-original character on his likeness! Before they opted to reboot the franchise via live action, Hasbro released "GI Joe: The Movie." If you haven't seen it, then stop reading right now. In fact, don't ever come back to Cheap-Heat until you've seen it! I'm serious! The Joe's discover a hidden realm known as "Cobra-la," Cobra Commander becomes an actual snake, ROADBLOCK GOES BLIND, and there's an unstoppable super weapon known as "The BET." Oh, and Sgt. Slaughter is there! Definitely give this a watch the next time you're intoxicated, but not so fucked up that you can't find a copy of "GI Joe: The Movie."

11. Kane
Noteworthy Films: See No Evil, See No Evil 2,В MacGruber
The WWE has been helping to produce movies for years, going all the way back to "No Holds Barred." They also had a hand in developing "The Scorpion King" as well as "The Longest Yard," but it was "See No Evil" that put WWE Studios on the map. Kane stars as Jacob Goodnight, a deranged Jason Voorhees/Mike Myers amalgam—that kills people with a hook. I think it as a hook, I'll be honest, I haven't seen this movie since it was in theaters. Years later, Kane starred in the direct-to-DVD sequel directed by the Soska Twins, and even had a cameo alongside fellow WWE Superstars in the action-comedy "MacGruber."

10. Terry Funk
Noteworthy Films: Paradise Alley, Road House, The Ringer
Most people hear the name Terry Funk and think about barbed wire brawls and pile drivers through tables. In addition to being "middle aged and crazy," Terry Funk is an accomplished Hollywood star who has been featured in hit films, and has even served as the "stunt coordinator," in certain situations. Funk has been featured in a number of Sylvester Stallone films including the former NWA's first cinematic experience on the film "Paradise Alley." In later years, Funk began showing up in more comedic roles such as the box office flop "The Ringer," starring Johnny Knoxville.

9. Andre the Giant
Noteworthy Films: The Princess Bride, Conan the Destroyer
Andre the Giant is credited with breaking down walls for other wrestlers to star in mediums outside of the wrestling ring. Andre was not the first wrestler to appear on the silver screen however—Tor Johnson was making movies with Ed Wood in the 1950s, while Harold Sakata portrayed Oddjob in "Goldfinger." But Andre might have been the first wrestler-turned-actor that remained loyal to his roots. The aforementioned individuals all-but left their wrestling boots behind when Hollywood came calling, but Andre never turned his back on the industry that made him a star. Andre was given an uncredited role in the Conan sequel "Conan the Destroyer," alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grace Jones, and the even taller Wilt Chamberlain. Andre's most famous role came in 1987, when he was cast as Fezzik in the Rob Reiner cult-classic, "The Princess Bride."

8. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Noteworthy Films: The Condemned, The Expendables, Grown Ups 2В
He is one of the most iconic professional wrestlers in modern history. He has been featured in countless Wrestlemania moments, has worn an enormity of gold belts, and currently hosts a series of Texas-inspired reality competitions on cable television. Steve Austin has had unprecedented success in the wrestling ring and on the small screen; unfortunately his assent to the top of the sports entertainment charts never translated to box office success. Steve Austin has been acting since he was cast as a regular guest star on the CBS show "Nash Bridges," and has since appeared in a handful of cinematic releases and direct-to-DVD features. His most iconic appearances were perhaps as part of an ensemble cast; he appeared in "The Longest Yard" as an extremely racist prison guard, he was one of a dozen action heroes in the original "Expendables," and even stretched his comedic muscles in the Adam Sandler sequel "Grown Ups 2."

7. Kevin Nash
Noteworthy Films: TMNT 2: Secret of the Ooze, The Longest Yard, Magic Mike
Kevin Nash has had a long history of success in film, dating back to an uncredited appearance in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sequel "Secret of the Ooze," in which he played Super Shredder. Nash has been more noticeable in recent years, appearing in everything from comedy to tragedy, and everything in between. He was one of several wrestlers to appear in "The Longest Yard," playing a prison guard that mistakenly ingested Estrogen supplements. Nash appeared in the box office smash hit "Magic Mike" starring Channing Tatum, where both men played male strippers. Kevin Nash continues to act, and also has a part in the sequel to Magic Mike, reprising his original role.

6. John Cena
Noteworthy Films: The Marine, 12 Rounds, Legendary
Go ahead! Groan! Believe it or not, I had John Cena at number three until I started whittling-down my list. If this countdown is based on box office success, than John Cena belongs somewhere toward the bottom. If this countdown is based on the number of movies any one individual has starred in, then John truly deserves to be up around the top. John Cena has been to WWE Studios, as Leonardo DiCaprio is to Martin Scorsese. Cena starred as the very first "Marine," he was the lead in "12 Rounds," and was featured prominently in the heart-warming sports drama "Legendary." In addition to hard-nosed roles, Cena has a softer side that has been showcased in comedy-flops such as the "Fred" series, and can even been seen in animated form alongside both Scooby Doo and the Flintstones.

5. Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Noteworthy Films: Predator, The Running Man, Demolition Man
When I was kid, Jesse Ventura was the color commentator for the WWE, and that's really all I knew about him. I had never seen him in a movie, but when you look at his credits, you can probably tell why a 5-year old wasn't privy to "Predator." Jesse was always talking shit about how Hulk Hogan "followed in his footsteps" and copied what he did in Hollywood. I remember Wrestlemania 2, Jesse was located in Los Angeles, where he proceeded to talk about "being among the stars" and all of his "famous friends." I still had no idea that Jesse Venture was a movie star. Like—a LEGIT movie star. In addition to his iconic role in "Predator," Jesse was also in the dystopian classic "The Running Man" with Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as "Demolition Man" with Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes. N

4. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
Noteworthy Films: They Live, Hell Comes to Frogtown, Wrestlers versus Zombies
Now we're getting down to the nitty-gritty of pro wrestlers in film. If you gander at "Rowdy" Roddy Piper's filmography, there really isn't anything outstanding to recall. He just finished work on "Wrestlers Versus Zombies," and has had a recurring role as of recent on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Piper is most famous for the cult-hits "They Live" and "Hell Comes to Frogtown." But it's not the quality of work when it comes to the Rowdy One, it's the quantity. Since 1978 Roddy Piper has starred in more than 40 featured films, as well as countless appearances on television.

3. Dave Bautista
Noteworthy Films: Riddick, Guardians of the Galaxy, SpectreВ
If you would have told me in 2010 that I would rank Dave Bautista as the number three Wrestler/Actor in the world, I'd call you crazy. And if you told me that on Facebook, I might just block you from ever talking to me again. But Geeze Louise! The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion has been on a roll as of recent. He began his acting career playing tough streetwise thugs in kung fu flicks and action films, and slowly transitioned to more character-based work. He was featured in "Riddick" alongside Vin Diesel, and in 2014 was one of the stars of Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy." Since playing "Drax the Destroyer" in Guardians, Bautista's stock has been soaring; this December, Batista will follow in the footsteps of Harold Sakata when he steps into the world of James Bond. I for one, cannot wait, as James Bond is a close-third to Star Wars and Pro Wrestling in my personal fandom.

2. Hulk Hogan
Noteworthy Films: Rocky III, No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando
Hulk Hogan might not have been the first wrestler to appear on the silver screen, but he was among the first to star in his own films! Hogan was first featured in Rocky III as the audacious Thunderlips, and went on to star in a litany of movies—some good, some bad, some terrible, and some so bad that they're good. His most iconic portrayals have been in WWE produced films such as "No Holds Barred" and "Suburban Commando," both of which also starred various other professional wrestlers. Hulk Hogan went on to make a number of kid's movies, such as "Mr. Nanny" and "Three Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain," and even made a cameo appearance in "Gremlins 2." Most people might better recall the Hulkster for his role as Terry Bollea on the VH1 reality series "Hogan Knows Best," but Hulkamania might never have occurred, had Hogan never been cast in "Rocky III."

1. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Noteworthy Films: The Other Guys, Hercules, San Andreas and a LOT mores
Without question the number one wrestler-turned-actor in history is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. I couldn't even narrow his "Noteworthy Films" down to three! The Rock first appeared in "The Scorpion King," he starred in "Walking Tall," showed up in the "Get Shorty" sequel "Be Cool," and even played a TOOTH FAIRY! The Rock has proven time and again that he is equally competent in kicking ass, as he is showcasing his more gentle side. So as not to list every movie the guy has ever been in, I'll keep it to some of my personal favorites: "The Game Plan," "Get Smart," "The Other Guys," "GI Joe: Retaliation," "Pain and Gain," and three out of seven Fast and the Furious films. The Rock is currently starring on the brand new HBO series "Ballers," in which he plays a sports agent on a show described as "Entourage meets the NFL."

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