Superstar Origins
18. The Olympian
This Olympic wrestler is none other than the man that Hogan defeated for his first WWF Championship. The Iron Sheik -- real name Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri -- competed for his home country of Iran at the 1968 Olympics. In the years following, the Iron Sheik became an assistant coach for the U.S. team before making the move to professional wrestling.
17. Here He Comes To Save The Day
One of wrestlings most patriotic superstars was a bit more hip in his early days. Sgt. Slaughter donning a knit hat and Mighty Mouse t-shirt is just too good to not be on this list.
16. Dirty Dutch
Today, this loudmouth patriot is a bit more portly. Zeb Colter wasnt always a rotund manager. In his early years, Dirty Dutch Mantel was one of the most feared competitors in the world of Southern wrestling.
15. Sumo King
John Tenta was best known to wrestling fans as the goliath Earthquake. However, prior to his career as a professional wrestler, Tenta had a brief but successful stint in the world of sumo wrestling. Known as Kototenta and the Canadian Comet, Tenta only competed for eight months from late 85 to mid 86. However, he won all 24 of his bouts in that time period.
14. Just A Stone Cold Fan
Before he was known as CM Punk, young Phil Brooks was a wrestling fan. In what appears to be sometime in 1997, Punk met the growingly popular Stone Cold Steve Austin.
13. Rock 'n' Roll Legend
Prior to carrying around a megaphone and dubbing himself The Mouth of the South, Jimmy Hart was one of the singers in the Gentrys -- a mildly popular group in the 1960s. Harts group scored a hit with
Keep On Dancing in 1965. Following a handful of moderately successful singles in subsequent years, Hart joined the world of wrestling upon the request of his friend Jerry Lawler.
12. Famous Friends
Mick Foley has spent much time and four books chronicling his life both inside the ring and out. Hes spoken numerous times about his younger years and many fans are well aware of the home video where he dives off of a roof. In high school, Mick was on the wrestling team, but he wasnt the only celebrity alumnus. Kevin James -- actor and star of the King of Queens television series -- is stood right beside Foley in the above photograph.
11. Basketball Star
The Undertaker is one of the most frightening and foreboding characters in the history of professional wrestling. However, at one time, Mark Calaway was just a tennager. The near 7 Calaway played basketball in both high school and at Texas Wesleyan University.
10. TMNT
In recent years, Kevin Nash has dipped his toes in the waters of movie acting with appearances in The Punisher, Rock of Ages, and Magic Mike, as well as its upcoming sequel. However, Big Daddy Cools first role went largely unnoticed. Nash donned a suit for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. He didnt play a turtle, but instead portrayed Super Shredder.