8 Wrestlers Who Left WWE & Got JACKED

Coming from the world of Russian martial arts, standing at 6'8 and weighing over 300lbs, Vladimir Kozlov was always a giant of a man. WWE presented him in 2008 as a killer, giving him the very Vince McMahon nickname 'The Moscow Mauler,' and correctly booked him as a powerhouse because of his background in the judo-meets-wrestling discipline Sambo.

WWE tried to convince audiences of Kozlov's legitimacy, handing him victories over the likes of The Undertaker and Batista, but by late-2008 it felt as though the tired trope of "intimidating, large foreign enemy" had long past its sell-by date with fans. He was put into the failed WWE version of ECW before eventually being let go in 2011.

Since leaving WWE, Kozlov has decided to improve on his already impressive size by turning his mass into muscle. Leaner, more defined, and with a body that now looks like it is made of granite and chiseled by the Gods, Vladimir has gone full beast mode. He has worked his butt off to build a physique that makes his look from his WWE run seem soft by comparison.

Guy rocks a bowler hat too. Just saying.