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It is quite well-known that many popular Superstars in WWE today used to be huge fans of the product before they became a part of the company.
Stars like Roman Reigns and Sasha Banks are one of the most featured talents in WWE's weekly programming schedule right now. However, it's quite easy to forget that these people idolised several WWE legends who were a part of this industry before them.
If this pattern is to be followed, it is possible that a huge pro wrestling fan reading this article may end up being the next big WWE Superstar in the future!
This list will include both current and former WWE talent. With that in mind, here are 10 rare photos you need to see of WWE Superstars as fans.
#10 WWE Champion Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre defeated Brock Lesnar to become the new WWE Champion at WrestleMania 36. A few days later, The Chosen One went on social media to acknowledge an old picture of him as a fan.
Yokozuna defeated Bret Hart to become the WWF World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania IX. Unfortunately, Yokozuna would lose that title on the same event against Hulk Hogan.
The above photo has more significance now more than ever. McIntyre wrestled in two title matches at WrestleMania as well. Yokozuna might have been proud of The Chosen One, as McIntyre won in both instances against heavyweights like Brock Lesnar and The Big Show.
#9 Former WWE Superstar Chris Jericho
The Demo God might be too busy attracting the 18-49 demographic on AEW Dynamite these days. However, just like many Superstars in this list, Chris Jericho was a huge wrestling fan back in the day.
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat probably had no idea that this young kid would end up becoming a WWE icon himself. Years later, Steamboat teamed up with Roddy Piper and Jimmy Snuka to fight Jericho in a Handicap Elimination Match at WrestleMania 25.
Jericho won at the Grandest Stage of Them All and would also defeat Steamboat in a singles match during the 2009 edition of Backlash.
#8 WWE Superstar Zelina Vega
Currently, both Zelina Vega and Jeff Hardy are a part of WWE on separate brands. While The Charismatic Enigma became the WWE Intercontinental Champion on Friday Night SmackDown, Vega recently challenged Asuka for the RAW Women's Championship.
Interestingly, Vega was in TNA around the same time Hardy reigned as the World Heavyweight Champion in the same promotion.
It is fascinating how both of their careers have slightly mirrored each other's paths and this picture encapsulates that connection in the best way possible.
#7 WWE Superstar Randy Orton
Randy Orton is a third-generation WWE star who has won 13 World Championships thus far. The Viper must have met a lot of Superstars while growing up as a kid.
Ironically, the small child in this picture grew up to align his WWE character's motives similar to that of Ric Flair. As everyone knows, Flair was the alternative star for people who weren't big fans of 'The Real American' in the 80s.
In an episode of RAW in 2020, Flair also went on record to say that he personally wants Orton to break his own 16-time world title record in WWE.
Hulk Hogan defeated Orton when they tussled against each other in a one-on-one match at SummerSlam 2006.
#6 NXT Superstar Johnny Gargano
It is hard to believe that the person in this picture is Johnny Gargano. The WWE NXT star wore a Kurt Angle shirt in this photo. A SummerSlam 2001 poster - featuring The Rock - can also be seen in the background.
Born in 1987, Gargano was just an early teenager when this photo was clicked.
The Rock replied to Gargano's tweet recently, but as a teenager and a WWE fan, Gargano would have wished to attain The Rock's popularity back in the day. It's only fair that 'Johnny Wrestling' gets featured on NXT banners these days.
#5 WWE Smackdown Women's Champion Bayley
It's no secret that Bayley was a huge WWE fan before she actually became a part of the company. There are various pictures of her posing with popular Superstars as a kid. This fact was mentioned several times when she was a clean babyface in WWE.
Bayley has cited Bret Hart, Ivory, Trish Stratus and Triple H as one of many Superstars that influenced her style of wrestling. Bayley has transformed from her 'hugger' persona into an effective heel today.
It's only fair that Bayley took a shot at Triple H as a heel in 2019, despite being inspired by The Game during her time in NXT.
#4 WWE Superstar Sunil Singh
The Singh Brothers are a WWE tag team which consists of two real-life brothers, Gurvinder Singh (Sunil Singh) and Harvinder Singh (Samir Singh). Both of them are often recognised from their time as Jinder Mahal's henchmen on the main roster.
Like many other superstars in this list, Eddie Guerrero was a huge inspiration for the current generation of WWE talent. The Singh Brothers have cited him as an influence on them as well. Sunil Singh can be seen in a picture with Eddie Guerrero above.
Interestingly, Sunil Singh (the eldest of the two) was born on 13th November 1984, the same date Eddie Guerrero died on in 2005.
#3 Former WWE Superstar Zack Ryder
Zack Ryder has been a life-long WWE fan and also attended many events before affiliating himself with the company. Nowadays, Ryder appears on AEW under his real name, Matt Cardona.
He can be seen in a picture with Ric Flair here. The only time both of them have fought against each other on WWE TV was at a SmackDown taping in 2008. Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, Chavo Guerrero and Edge faced Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels in a Handicap Steel Cage match.
Ric Flair and Zack Ryder were also featured in a Snickers commercial (shown above) which aired live during WrestleMania 32.
#2 WWE Superstar Sasha Banks
Sasha Banks can be seen in this picture with John Cena as a young WWE fan. Rapper Snoop Dogg is also featured in this photo. Sasha Banks and Snoop Dogg are first cousins, and the latter celebrity made an epic entrance with Banks during WrestleMania 32.
A few years ago in an interview with For The Win, Sasha even called John Cena "the best in the company" back when she was the WWE RAW Women's Champion.
Interestingly, Cena is a legitimate Hollywood star now. The Legit Boss also made news headlines after her cameo appearance in the trailer of The Mandalorian: Season 2.
#1 WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns
There are intriguing parallels between Roman Reigns and Hulk Hogan in WWE. Hogan was the ultimate mainstream wrestler for the company in the 80s, while The Big Dog is the most mainstream star from WWE's current generation of talent.
Reigns can be seen with Hogan as a child and as a grownup in the split photo posted above. At WWE Crown Jewel in October 2019, Team Hogan vs. Team Flair was a defining moment from the event.
Reigns was proud to represent Team Hogan in that match, and The Real American's team went on to defeat The Nature Boy's group of Superstars on this particular occasion.
