10 Ways Wrestlers Proved Their Gimmicks Outside WWE

2. Mark Henry Is A Serious Strongman

Mark Henry
WWE.com

Mark Henry was on the outs by 2002.

He'd signed a lucrative deal with the then-WWF in 1996 after starring at the Olympics, but he'd failed to show any aptitude for pro wrestling. Runs in the Nation Of Domination and as the crass 'Sexual Chocolate' had come and gone - plus, WWE had tried to get Mark to shift some weight and get motivated.

Then, he won the Arnold Strongman Classic in 2002 and everything changed. That stunning show of power and strength revitalised fading interest from Vince McMahon and earned Henry another chance to show what he could do inside the ring. The "World's Strongest Man" took another while before eventually living up to his potential, but he got there.

WWE's patience paid off, and McMahon was swept off his feet once more by Mark's feats of strength. He could earnestly market Henry as a serious strongman who looked down on everyone else, and that was too good for the Vince to turn down.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.