WWE: We’re in the movies
John Hennigan — known as Johnny Impact for Impact Wrestling, Johnny Mundo for Lucha Underground and AAA and John Morrison for WWE — is starring in the recent VOD release “Never Leave Alive.” He isn’t the first pro wrestler to try his hand and fist in Hollywood.
Here is my Top 10 list of wrestlers who made some type of impact on the big screen outside WWE.
10. Terry Funk – (A tough guy role suited him well; not much talk but a mean look and plenty of fists) Paradise Alley, Over The Top, Road House, Friday Night Lights, The Ringer
Road House: “Mind your own business, dad.”
9. Hulk Hogan – (His popularity in wrestling created many movie opportunities and opened doors for others; his movies not so good, but he gave it a shot) Rocky III, No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, Mr. Nanny, Santa with Muscles, 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain
Rocky III: “The ultimate male versus… the ultimate meatball.”
8. Stone Cold Steve Austin – (Good in action movies and also funny) The Longest Yard, The Condemned, The Expendables, Grown Ups 2
Grown Ups 2: “Hold my hair, woman.”
7. Jesse Ventura – (This tough guy had that something that just resonated well on the big screen) Predator, The Running Man, Ricochet, Demolition Man, Batman & Robin, The Ringer
Predator: “I ain’t got time to bleed.”
6. John Cena – (He keeps getting better and better on the big screen, and that means bigger and better roles) Trainwreck, Sisters, Daddy’s Home, Ferdinand
Trainwreck: “Mark Wahlberg is like 150 pounds. I’m 250 lean – I look like Mark Wahlberg ‘ate’ Mark Wahlberg.”
5. Rowdy Roddy Piper – (They Live is a cult classic, and Piper is at his best in action films) The One and Only, They Live, Buy & Cell, Immortal Combat, No Contest, Hard Time, Three Wise Guys, Pizza Man, Fancypants, Black Dynamite
They Live: “I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass…and I’m all out of bubblegum.”
4. Kevin Nash – (This big man can do it all – action, comedy, drama – a renaissance movie star) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, The Punisher, The Longest Yard, Grandma’s Boy, Rock of Ages, Magic Mike, Magic Mike XXL
The Longest Yard: “If you have to cry, it’s okay. I’ll cry with you.”
3. Professor Toru Tanaka – (A ground-breaker, one of the first wrestlers to land roles in several major movies) An Eye for an Eye, Missing In Action 2: The Beginning, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Volunteers, The Running Man, Black Rain, Darkman, Last Action Hero
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure: “Francis is busy.”
2. Batista – (He has certainly come into his own. Who saw that coming? He found his niche in action acting, and he is funny. That means opportunity will continue to knock) My Son My Son What Have You Done?, Relative Strangers, House of the Rising Sun, The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption, The Man with the Iron Fists, Riddick, Guardians of the Galaxy, L.A. Slasher, Spectre, Heist, The Boss, Kickboxer Vengeance, Marauders, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Blade Runner 2049, Avengers: Infinity War
Guardians of the Galaxy: “NOTHING goes over my head! My reflexes are too fast, I would catch it.”
- The Rock Dwayne Johnson – (Legit, he is up there with the best of today’s Hollywood movie stars. He can do it all on the big screen and has. He gave pro wrestlers credibility in pro acting.) So, so many movies to list. Everyone is smelling what he’s cooking in Hollywood.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0425005/
Two of my favorites of his are “Gridiron Gang” and “The Rundown.”
The Rundown: “Option B? I make you.”
Others of note:
Big Show – Jingle All The Way, The Waterboy, MacGruber
Goldberg – Universal Soldier: The Return, The Longest Yard
Andre the Giant – The Princess Bride
Capt. Lou Albana – Wise Guys
Macho Man Randy Savage – Spider-Man
Next: Who Is The Greatest Superstar To Never Be World Champion?
Ox Baker – The Big Brawl, Escape from New York
George the Animal Steele – Ed Wood
Great Khali – The Longest Yard