WWE wrestlers have tried their hand at acting since forever, sadly most of them are wrestlers for a reason, and the acting you see on the arena is quite different from the acting you see on screen. But who would be the most successful Wrestler turned actor? Who had the highest grossing movie in a lead role? Which wrestler is the most well paid actor? Who are the most successful WWE Wrestlers turned actors?

The title of this post obviously gives it away. But before we get to the most electrifying star in sports entertainment,  here’s a few big guys that tried to take on Hollywood with their acting skills:

Steve Austin:

Stone Cold Steve Austin, the rattlesnake. He started out with a few films that showed on the big screen, but seems to have ended up on the straight-to-DVD band-wagon. His most successful film was without a doubt the prison guard role he played in Adam Sandlers’ “The Longest Yard“. His filmography includes The Longest Yard (2005),  The Condemned (2007) , Damage (2009), The Stranger The Stranger (2010), The Expendables, Hunt to Kill, Knockout (2011), Tactical Force, Recoil Ryan, Maximum Conviction (2012),  The Package and Grown Ups 2 (2013).

Stone Cold Steve Austin – Box Office earnings:

1. The condemned ($8,642,858)

2. Damage ($10,000,000)

3. The Stranger (DVD-Release)

4. Hunt To Kill (DVD-Release)

5. Knockout ($1,000,000)

6. Tactical Force (DVD-Release)

 

Triple H aka Paul Levesque

Triple H A.K.A The Game. Known for putting together some of the toughest fights WWE has ever seen. He’s been around for a while, I remember seeing his first match as Hunter Hearst Helmsley against a one-time comeback by The Ultimate Warrior. In his movie career he is best known for his role in Blade: Trinity. His filmography includes:

Triple H – Box Office earnings:

 

1. Inside Out ($2,000,000)

2. The Chaperone ($3,000,000)

 

John Cena

One of the most popular wrestlers to ever hit WWE. That may be a bold statement given the size and history of the WWE. John Cena has won 20 championships in total, he is also a 13 time World Champion, having won the WWE Championship a record 11 times. He is best known for the Movie 12 Rounds. His movie career includes the following:

John Cena – Box Office earnings:

 

1. The Marine ($18,700,000)

2. 12 Rounds ($17,280,326)

 

The Rock aka Dwayne Johnson

Undoubtedly the most electrifying star in sports entertainment. His movie career by far outweighs any other WWE wrestlers filmography. He made his big-screen début in The Mummy Returns, which was so well received that it led to a prequel film centering around his character, The Scorpion King. For this movie he was listed in the 2007 Guinness Book of World Records as the highest-paid actor in his first starring role, receiving $5.5 million for the movie. Needless to say, this opportunity kick started his film career to the max. This is his filmography:

The Mummy Returns, The Scorpion King, The Rundown, Walking Tall, Be Cool, Doom, Gridiron Gang, Reno 911!: Miami, Southland Tales, The Game Plan, Get Smart, Race to Witch Mountain, Planet 51, Tooth Fairy, Why Did I Get Married Too?, The Other Guys, You Again, Faster Driver, Fast Five, 2012 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Snitch, Pain & Gain , G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Fast & Furious 6, Empire State, Hercules: The Thracian Wars (2014)

This list includes some massive films, his biggest ones are not in a leading role, such as Fast Five, and Get Smart. Three potentially big films still need to be released, Pain & Gain, G.I. Joe: Retaliation and Fast & Furious 6.

But nevertheless, here is:

Dwayne Johnson – Box Office earnings:

1. The Scorpion King (165,333,180)

2. The Rundown ($81,000,000)

3.  Walking Tall ($57,223,890)

4. Doom ($56,000,000)

5.  Gridiron Gang ($41,480,851)

6. Southland Tales ($374,743)

7. The Game Plan ($147,262,427)

8. Race to Which Mountain ($106,000,000)

9. Tooth Fairy ($111,877,020)

10. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island ($325,860,290)

 

We could have chosen so many other WWE stars. There is Goldberg who starred in the Universal Soldier reboot, Hulk Hogan who featured in a few movies made a name for himself as Thunderlips in Rocky III. There is Jesse Ventura who featured as the mini-gun freak with Arnold Swartzenegger in 1987’s Predator.

Did we miss anyone? Feel free to comment below.

[Sources, Wikipedia]