5 Best WWE Stars Who Played College Football
By Mike Janela
Of all the former college football players who found success in WWE, these are the five who had the best careers in both.
For almost as long as professional wrestling has existed, athletes from other sports have crossed over to achieve great success inside the ring. The most well-stocked sport from which pro wrestling has fished superstars over the years is football. In particular, college football, which has seen players transition to WWE.
Predating the WWE, for example, Bronko Nagurski not only earned a College Football Hall of Fame induction for his All-American career at Minnesota. He also enjoyed a hall of fame career for the Chicago Bears, while wrestling in the offseason and twice winning the National Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship. Nagurski even beat the iconic Lou Thesz for his first world title.
The list of college football players who eventually found fame in various wrestling promotions goes on and on. It also includes some of the biggest names the industry has ever seen.
Steve Austin. John Cena. Ric Flair. Dusty Rhodes. “Superstar” Billy Graham. The Rock. They all played college football, and some even pursued professional playing careers, before finding fame inside the squared circle.
But someone like Cena played at a Division III school. The Rock – while a member of the 1991 national champion Miami Hurricanes – only made one start his entire career.
Which five WWE superstars had the best combination of college football and pro wrestling careers? Let’s huddle up the best.