10 Most Radical Body Transformations In Wrestling
Some guys just get bored in the same weight division...
So much of the sport of pro wrestling is built upon perception and aesthetics. Wrestlers must choose characters and then live and learn in these personas, becoming forever associated with them - but likewise, wrestlers are also associated with their physical characteristics.
That often means that there's pressure for stars to look as good as possible, especially considering that most of them don't wear a whole lot in the ring. Still, it would be an oversimplification to say that everybody tries to be big and muscular - Yokozuna, for instance, played the role of a sumo wrestler due to his massive girth, while Rey Mysterio's diminutive stature allowed him to portray the ultimate underdog when he wrestled heavyweights.
Despite all that, there's no rule that says wrestlers have to finish the same way they started. Over the course of the years, tons of stars have gained or lost weight, often affecting what they were able to do in the ring. Typically, these changes have been rather tame, but some wrestlers have undergone such 180-degree switches that they almost look like different people. The results have often changed the trajectories of their careers.
Who are wrestling's most noticeable shape-shifters? Let's peer into the hall of mirrors...
10. Mick Foley
Even during his days as an active wrestler, Mick Foley was never famous for his physique or his athleticism - back in his WCW days, when he was in his 20s, he once said, "I can't jump high, so I jump from high places." For all his skill, his body probably kept him from joining WWE sooner, and when he finally became WWE Champion, it was only because of a groundswell of fan support.
Still, all the punishment that Mick Foley received in his active days took a toll after he retired, aged, and put on weight. In 2015, Foley had reached a lifetime high of 335 pounds, and he was determined to make a change.
Using a personal trainer, DDP Yoga, and major dietary alterations, Foley began losing weight, and by the time he made a special appearance at WrestleMania 32, he had lost more than 50 pounds. Still, he wasn't done - with his new job as Raw general manager, fans got to see him become slimmer and slimmer each week. By December, he announced that he had reached 235, losing a total of 100 pounds.
Though Foley still needs hip surgery, he's undoubtedly much healthier than he was before the weight loss.