10 Highest Grossing Movies Starring WWE Stars
8. The Expendables (2010) - $103,068,524
Featuring: Steve Austin
When Steve Austin left Safeco Field in Seattle after WrestleMania XIX, knowing hed probably never wrestle again, he had to figure out what else he was going to do with his life. Sure, hed come back and take on a GM role or a guest referee gig but that part of his life was effectively over, so The Texas Rattlesnake used one of his best skills going forward - acting.
Austins first feature role came in WWE Studios movie, The Condemned. What weve learned off the back of projects like that is that trying to get a wrestler over as an actor to the general population, isnt going to happen through a WWE Studios film. It's a cult gem, but few people actually saw it.
Luckily for Stone Cold, in 2008 Sylvester Stallone came calling and gave Steve the break hed been looking for with a role in The Expendables.
The role of Dan Paine was perfect for the toughest SOB in wrestling: he was a villain whose key scene in the movie was an elaborate fight sequence with Sylvester Stallones Barney Ross. Austin nailed the role and was heavily featured in the advertising along with Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, and Mickey Rourke, which elevated him to legend status by proximity. It also subsequently opened up a lot of opportunities for Austin when the box office figures came back strong.
While Stone Cold hasnt gone on to be the leading man or big movie star people had hoped he would be, hes starred in some pretty fun direct to DVD action movies, worked with Steven Seagal and has two successful reality shows on CMT. Not a bad career for a guy who started out wrestling in front of 100 people in Texas.