10 Wrestlers Who Played Professional Sports

When you think of dominant world champions of the last 20 years, you have to start with Brock Lesnar. In the history of professional wrestling, no other competitor has had a aura of toughness and invincibility as Brock Lesnar. A human freak of nature who strikes fear into every sane man's heart, Lesnar looks like he belongs in the age of the Vikings, swinging a large ax at a cowering foe.

So naturally, he played football for the Minnesota Vikings.

After winning the a wrestling national championship at the the University of Minnesota, Lesnar attracted the attention of the WWF and debuted on their main roster at the age of 24. He was immediately dubbed "The Next Big Thing" and went on to defeat the Rock for the WWF title at Summerslam 2002. For a man of Lesnar's size, it was downright amazing how agile and smooth he was in the ring. He was able to perform a Shooting Star Press (except at Wrestlemania XIX), which is scary for man that big.

However, Lesnar hated the travel associated with WWE and quit to try to make it in the NFL despite not playing the sport since high school. Amazingly, Lesnar made it to the final cut with the Minnesota Vikings, nearly making the team.

Lesnar was much more successful when he signed a deal with the UFC in 2008, defeating the legendary Randy Couture for the World Heavyweight championship. Only illness could slow the man down, as a bout with diverticulitis and mono forced his return to professional wrestling.