For a business that entertains the public with action sequences, mic skills and pure charisma, It’s strange that wrestlers seem to have a hard time transitioning from the ring to the silver screen.
Only a select few, like Jesse Ventura, Roddy Piper, Dave Bautista, and Dwayne Johnson seem to have made that jump successfully in spite of Hollywood snobbery, with each one having at least one great movie under their belt. That doesn’t mean we haven’t had our fair share of lycra-clad cameos over the years though. Here are ten of the best.
Nathen Jones: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Nathen Jones didn’t have the lengthiest run in WWE, debuting on the main roster as The Undertaker’s protege. Think of him as Bucky Barns to The Deadman’s Captain America.
In the short time he was around he didn’t make to much of an impression, but his big moment came in the role of Rictus Erectus in 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road. The oldest son of Immortal Joe, Jone’s amazing stature made him a perfect antagonist to battle against Max and Furiosa.
Edge: Highlander: Endgame (2000)
Edge, real name Adam Copeland, has popped up in a few shows here and there such as Vikings and The Flash and has recently made his return to the ring after a nine-year break due to neck injury. Edge’s first appearance out of the ring came in the straight to DVD sequel Highlander: Endgame.
In a 1712 flashback, Copeland and his gang are swindled by Connor and Duncan Macloud. After a short fight, Duncan pins Copeland with his sword pressed to his never regions, whilst proclaiming he has “lost his edge.” Get it? Yeah, Highlander: Endgame didn’t have the best script in the world. Sadly its also the best the four sequels so take that for what its worth.
The Undertaker: Suburban Comando (1991)
Suburban Comando is one of Hulk Hogans’s many attempts to take over, and fail, the land of Hollywood. It tells the tale of a space adventure named Shep (Hogan) who crashes on Earth and of course, hilarity ensues. One of the evil bounty hunters sent to destroy Shep is The Undertaker himself, Mark Calloway.
Taker’s highlight is bending a metal bar, which Shep takes off him and twists into the shape of a bunny, Because no one goes over Hogan, brother. not even in the realm of cinema.
Terry Funk: Over The Top (1987)
Terry Funk can be seen in a number of high testosterone-fueled 80’s movies, like Roadhouse, usually playing a thug or a henchman, but always a badass, because that’s what the Funker is.
His most spectacular part is probably in 1987’s Sylvester Stallone vehicle Over The Top, which is basically Rocky with arm wrestling. After threatening Stallone’s Lincoln Hawk, Hawk retaliates by doing a Marty Janetty and pushes Funk through a glass window. Of course, if this was the real Funk he would have gotten straight back up, fought for another half hour whilst receiving unspeakable and bloody damage then later lament on how he should have taken the money.
Hulk Hogan: Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Joe Dante’s Gremlins 2: The New Batch is almost a parody on the concept of the sequel itself, taking the series to brilliant, wacky new heights. One such piece of excellent madness is the cameo from The Hulkster.
At some point during the middle of the film, the movie cuts out and splutters thanks to the mischievous little monsters breaking the fourth wall. Luckily for us, Hulk Hogan is in attendance during the theatre screening and after yelling at the pesky creatures, the film can finally continue in peace. Thank you, Hulk.
George “The Animal” Steel: Ed Wood (1994)
In the original Plan 9 From Outer Space, the awful film which helped make Ed Wood an infamous enough name for Tim Burton to direct this biopic, pro wrestler Tor Johnson plays the ill-fated Inspector Clay, so it makes sense for pro wrestler George “The Animal” Steele to play Johnson in this movie. With the same build and strikingly similar features, this may be one of the single best pieces of casting in movie history.
Chris Jericho: Jay And Silent Bob Reboot
2019 was a massive year for Chris Jericho, becoming the inaugural AEW world champion, proving that there is opportunity outside of WWE and having a little cameo in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, even if he did play the high wizard of the KKK. The role came about from director Kevin Smith and Jericho’s bromance over the last couple of years, appearing on each other’s podcasts.
Smith and his heterosexual life mate Jason Mewes even made a cameo themselves on AEW Dynamite to promote the movie. Of course, this mainly masked role is played for laughs, and defiantly not for the glorification of the horrible white supremacy faction.
Big Show: Jingle All The Way (1996)
Arnold Schwarzenegger has always had a friendly relationship with the wrestling world. Not only was the late great Andre The Giant cast as the big rubbery monster at the end of Conan The Destroyer, but he also gave a small part to his kayfabe (wrestling terminology for made up) son Paul “The Giant” Wright, later to be known as The Big Show, in his 1996 Christmas caper Jingle All The Way. Show pops up during the Santa rumble in the warehouse. He shouldn’t be too hard to spot being 7ft tall and all.
Kevin Nash: The Punisher (2004)
Before we were given the excellent Netflix TV series, 2004’s The Punisher movie was the best live-action adaptation of the character we had, with one of the highlights being Frank Castle’s brutal battle with The Russian, played by Kevin Nash.
Wrestling fans may have had a hard time recognizing big sexy at first with his lack of beard and short hairdo, but it went on to give Nash parts in other major movies, such as Magic Mike. he’s certainly come a long way since playing Super Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2!
Half The WWE Lockeroom: MacGruber (2010)
Finally, the 2010 comedy MacGruber adapted from the SNL Will Forte character of the same name, featured Chris Jericho, Big Show, Mark Henry, Kane, MVP, and The Great Khali turning up as members of the MacGuyver parody’s old team.
Unfortunately, thanks to the reckless actions of our titular hero, the reunion doesn’t last too long but the small amount of screentime this ragtag group of mercenaries and misfits is hysterical none the less.
