10 Wrestlers Who Transcended The Business
Sometimes a wrestler's star is so bright that the squared circle cannot contain it.
From the olden days of kayfabe to the modern era, wrestling has always been seen as something different; something that you're either a part of or you're not. To non-wrestling fans, the world of singlets, steel chairs, and suplexes has always seemed like a strange place and, sometimes, a scary one too.
As a result of this, celebrities in the world of wrestling are about as well-known outside of the business as the concept of subtlety is to Elton John. Say a name like AJ Styles, Seth Rollins, or even Roman Reigns to an outsider and you'll get back a shrug at the best and intense judgement at the worst.
However, there have been a few occasions where the worlds of pro wrestling and mainstream culture meet, giving non-fans a rare glimpse at the stars of the squared-circle.
The following ten wrestlers are all names that non-wrestling fans would probably know under the right circumstances. Some have gone on to become feature film stars, some made a tent in the world of TV, and some have just entered pop culture in general through iconic looks, styles, or catchphrases.
Why not grab one of your non-wrestling friends and see how many of these names on this list they know. You can always laugh at them when they get someone's name wrong.
10. The Rock
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has been a success at pretty much everything he's set his mind to.
As a wrestler, The Rock was a sensation, helping to lead the World Wrestling Federation into its much lauded "Attitude Era" and capturing ten world championships with the promotion as one of its biggest ever stars.
The Rock laid the SmackDown on the world of Hollywood for the first time in 2001, appearing in The Mummy Returns as the Scorpion King. The following year, Johnson scored his first starring role in spin-off movie, The Scorpion King, and things have been going from strength to strength ever since.
Since The Scorpion King, The Rock has starred in a whole host of successful movies - from action thrillers like Skyscraper to family comedies like Tooth Fairy and even a Disney animated sing-a-long with Moana.
Johnson is also part of the wildly popular Fast and Furious franchise, playing the role of Luke Hobbs in four feature-length movies. He is set to star in Fast spin-off, Hobbs and Shaw, later this year. This franchise has grossed over $5 billion worldwide and is the ninth-highest-grossing film franchise of all time.
Not bad for a "fake" athlete.