10 Greatest Fake Pro Wrestlers In Movies

Russia’s finest fictional wrestler made it to the silverscreen in the critically-caned but financially successful Street Fighter movie. As is so often the case for Zangief, he’s depicted as an astoundingly strong (but painfully simple-minded) lackey of chief villain M. Bison. Considerably nicer than his video game counterpart, Zangief ultimately sees through M. Bison’s propaganda and helps Ryu and Ken save the day. Portrayed by real-life bodybuilder and noughties Leatherface, Andrew Bryniarski, Zangief’s physical presence lives up nicely to the video game.

This would not be the final time Zangief would make his way into a motion picture. In 2012’s animated hit, Wreck-It Ralph, Zangief and M. Bison are among the members present at a meeting of Bad-Anon. A support group for characters prone to villainy, Zangief can be spotted elsewhere in the 2018 sequel Ralph Breaks the Internet. First, he pops up for an analysis of his rather curious body hair placement and then later at a book club of all places. Mostly used for laughs, Zangief gets little to no time to show off his strength and power but is a memorable cameo regardless.