WWE superstars are known for their electrifying presence and jaw-dropping athleticism, but many of these wrestlers have taken their talent far beyond the ring. From action-packed thrillers to family comedies, WWE stars have been doing roles we never saw coming. Here are 20 times we were all caught off guard by a WWE star in a film or show.
1) John Cena — The Reunion
Before Peacemaker and Fast X made John Cena a household name in Hollywood, he appeared in The Reunion (2011). It is an action-comedy where Cena portrays Sam Cleary, an unwilling bounty hunter who has to team up with his estranged siblings to catch a con suspected of kidnapping one of the richest individuals in the country. Although reviews were mixed, Cena did show his comedy skills and charisma, which would become the hallmarks of his blockbuster career. The movie also highlighted how the actor could blend action with his warm family relationship which became a theme he returned to in later movies like Playing with Fire.
2) Eve Torres — The Scorpion King 4: Quest For Power
Eve Torres brought athleticism and screen presence to the fore in playing Chancara, a fierce warrior, in The Scorpion King 4: Quest For Power (2015). Eve Torres made a splash, as WWE fans will know when she was a three-time Divas Champion; her martial arts prowess underlined an impressive fight scene in this particular film, making it one of her earliest post-WWE moves to acting. The movie has been lauded for its addition of a strong female presence in Torres' portrayal, a tradition of the Scorpion King franchise that continues blending myth with high-energy combat.
3) Roddy Piper — Buy & Cell
WWE legend Roddy Piper is always remembered for his in-ring persona. But here in Buy & Cell, Piper portrays a different character, a small-time hustler in a drama-thriller. His rugged acting talent comes a long way from the play world of wrestling. His being in the movie surprised everyone because he had a typical wrestling career with funny, macho, or just about everything else but that kind of role in the film.
4) The Great Khali — The Longest Yard
Standing over 7 feet tall, The Great Khali was a formidable figure in Adam Sandler's The Longest Yard (2005). With his role as Turley, a soft-spoken giant with a fearsome presence on the field, he brought authenticity to the prison football team. The role focused on his uniqueness in physicality and comedic timing, making him a darling of the fans despite his limited time on screen. His Hollywood appearance gave way to other international wrestlers to make it into Hollywood.
5) Gail Kim — Ninja’s Creed
Former WWE and TNA diva Gail Kim showed fans she still can have a few surprises hidden within her. This has to be one of those. She appeared in action-thriller Ninja's Creed (2009) playing a deadly assassin using a lot of wrestling choreographed fight sequences. The role brought another dimension to how her fan base saw her after those wrestling rings. However, the movie was a box office failure with a rating of 11% on Rotten Tomatoes.
6) Santino Marella — Jingle All The Way 2
Santino Marella is known for making WWE fans laugh with his antic, and he took a lot of that humor from the ring to Jingle All The Way 2 (2014). Starring as Claude, Marella added a lot of merriment to this Christmas sequel. Although the film did little to impress the critics, his natural comedic timing made audiences forget that they were away from the ring. Such was his quirky personality to make even mundane scenes funny while entertaining the WWE fans during the holiday seasons.
7) Triple H — Blade: Trinity
Blade: Trinity featured Triple H and 'The Game' is a vampire. At first, his playing of the movie as one of the vampires' enforcers could be pretty interesting, proving his eligibility for the supernatural world and Blade franchise. However, his being there added an interesting unique aspect to the movie while not being that complex compared to the others. What made Triple H's appearance outshine was how easily he fit into the world of vampires and action, surprising quite a few with his knack of playing menacing characters, setting that wrestlers can dominate over genres outside their comfort zones.
8) Bill Goldberg — The Longest Yard
Bill Goldberg's part in The Longest Yard (2005) as Battle was a natural fit since he is a powerhouse character. The movie plot is football-centric, so he could mix his athleticism with comedic moments, especially when he had the infamous "Cheeseburger Eddy" scene. He meshed well with the rest of the cast, which included Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, making him one of the most memorable in this sports comedy. Goldberg's performance further cemented his transition from a wrestling icon to a Hollywood performer.
9) Steve Austin — The Condemned
Steve Austin entered the action movie arena with The Condemned, a brutal movie about a group of death row inmates who have to fight for survival. His character, Jack Conrad, fit him perfectly for the lead role, as he brought all his physicality and no-nonsense attitude to the screen. What made the movie so different was Austin being able to carry the entire film with so little use of dialogue, using his more intense screen presence and numerous action sequences.
10) Paige — Santa’s Little Helper
In Santa's Little Helper, WWE Diva Paige also acted in a family-oriented Christmas movie. It was certainly an unexpected role for her since she is known from the wrestling ring as such an edgy character, but she did star here alongside The Miz as that naughty elf in this comedy. Though her role was a light-hearted comedy, it showed fans a different side of Paige. She was seen only as an action-packed wrestler prior to that. Her career in acting was unexpected, but it proved that outside the squared circle, she could do great things for fans to see a fresh perspective of the young WWE star.
11) The Undertaker — Suburban Commando
The Undertaker in the film Suburban Commando is a jaw-dropping role for wrestling fans who accustomed themselves to seeing him in dark, brooding roles. In this lighthearted sci-fi comedy, he played a no-nonsense alien named "Terry," a role far and above his wrestling persona. He was understated with this performance yet effective while giving the film an undeniable quirky element. Although Suburban Commando did not receive rave reviews, it was fun to see the Undertaker do comedy and an opportunity to witness something different from the WWE icon.
12) Big Show — Knucklehead
Big Show was also at his comedic best in Knucklehead, a family comedy where he portrayed a lovable but dumb giant with a heart of gold. Known for his dominating presence in the ring, the Big Show surprised audiences with his hilarious performance. It centered its plot on him being made to enter a wrestling match to win money for orphans. Big Show's performance is sweet, proving he could play his role well in a family comedy that brings depth to his work outside WWE.
13) Roman Reigns — The Wrong Missy
Roman Reigns appeared in The Wrong Missy, an affair about a man who brought the wrong woman into a corporate retreat. Reigns plays the role of a heavy-duty security guard opposite David Spade and his ineptitude and delivers every line as usual with precision. It was very evident that the WWE superstar had a flair for comedy, and fans began to realize that he had the potential for future roles outside his wrestling career.
14) Seth Rollins — Sharknado 4
Seth Rollins appeared in a cameo role in Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens. This will be amusing to WWE and camp disaster movie fans, as well. In one of the over-the-top action-packed moments in this film, Rollins portrayed a character caught up in the shenanigans and brought a certain intensity that was distinctly his own to the on-screen action. Sharknado is never short of absurdity, but what Seth Rollins brought here added a unique twist to all that was WWE. His time in the ring helped him deliver an action-packed, yet lighthearted, performance that made his cameo one of the highlights of the film.
15) Randy Orton — That’s What I Am
Randy Orton played a role in That's What I Am that portrayed a side of the wrestler that few fans had seen before. He was a school bully, but this was a far cry from his on-screen personality in WWE. The movie itself is a heartwarming drama about self-acceptance. His transition from the ring to the screen might come as a surprise to everybody, but his ability to bring authenticity to one of the complex characters certainly proved that he is capable of doing much more than fighting in the ring.
16) Hulk Hogan — Gremlins 2
Hulk Hogan's cameo in Gremlins 2: The New Batch is the epitome of an iconic moment in 90s cinema. He surprised fans with his wrestling larger-than-life persona in a comical scene where he battles the Gremlins. His presence matched the chaotic and over-the-top tone of the film, and that brief but memorable role is a fan favorite. Still, Hogan's cameo remains the most shocking and delightful moment in the film, which simply combines his wrestling appeal with the movie's manic humor.
17) Dwayne Johnson — The Mummy Returns
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson did little more than make an appearance in The Mummy Returns, but that was certainly memorable. He played Scorpion King in the movie, and although his character manifested as a CGI creation on the screen, the Scorpion King was already bringing WWE superstar to action-star. His look has helped lay the ground for his future success in Hollywood, and The Mummy Returns was more of a springboard into blockbuster films.
18) Dave Bautista — Guardians of the Galaxy
Dave Bautista's Drax the Destroyer role in Guardians of the Galaxy was a surprise given his WWE powerhouse background. His literal-minded alien who seeks revenge for his family's death gives a mix of humor and depth to the character and sets him apart from a traditional action star. Unexpectedly, Bautista has great comedic timing and an emotional range; the success of the movie helped catapult his career into Hollywood. Such transitions, from wrestling to acting, showed that WWE stars could have diverse roles that were beyond their typical image of a tough guy; Bautista's performance remains one of his most memorable.
19) Ronda Rousey — Furious 7
Ronda Rousey stunned fans of both the UFC and the action-packed franchise Fast & Furious in the film Fast & Furious 7, as she came on board playing a fiercely aggressive security officer, handing out a series of heavy blows to Michelle Rodriguez's character, Letty. With a background as a UFC champion, she was exactly suited for the role that demanded a lot of physicality, and she even did quite well against more seasoned actors like Vin Diesel and Paul Walker.
20) CM Punk — Heels
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CM Punk's performance in the film Heels was quite an opposite departure from his origin in wrestling. In that film, Punk is given the role of a very complicated past tattoo artist who suffers through a lifestyle that takes its toll on his emotional and physical plane. His role was truly a surprise, as fans had known him and his rebellious character in the WWE.
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