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WWE and entertainment go hand-in-hand. The wrestling business is a staging ground for some to enter the world of movies and TV shows. Look no further than The Rock, Batista, John Cena, and even Hulk Hogan to an extent. There have been quite a few stars who tried to cross over but didn't make it.
WWE Superstars have cameos in TV shows and movies that some fans have forgotten or don't know about
WWE Superstars have been guest stars over the years in several television and movie roles that some fans have probably forgotten that they were even in. Even more so, some of them were just downright strange, to begin with.
Of course, that implies what the definition of strange is. But it's safe to say that the content of that specific movie or TV show didn't set the box office on fire but seemed to be something out of the ordinary. Moreover, there have been times where it went against their usual character type that fans are used to seeing.
WWE Superstars they are or were, but translating into another medium didn't always go well. Here are the 11 Strangest WWE Superstar cameos in Movies and TV.
NOTE: The content in the article reflects the views of the author and not Sportskeeda.
#11 Bret Hart in The Immortal (2000)
Bret Hart will always be remembered as 'The Best There Is, The Best There Was, and The Best There Ever Will Be' specifically for his time in WWE. Bret Hart had a recurring role on the Lonesome Dove TV series in the mid-90s and had numerous guest appearances in other shows over the years.
It should be noted that Bret Hart was in WCW and not WWE at this time, but it still counts. On the short-lived TV show, The Immortal starring Lorenzo Lamas plays an immortal warrior named Raphael "Rafe" Cain, who hunts demons spreading evil. Bret Hart guest-starred on a couple of episodes as Randall, who is the polar-opposite of Lamas's character and "bats for the other team." Specifically, Randall hunts demons who are trying to turn over a new leaf.
Of course, Rafe and Randall will eventually battle it, and of course, Rafe wins. It's easy to understand why this show didn't last more than a season, and even Hart's accent in the episode is a cross between a typical southerner and the Bayou. Keep in mind, Bret Hart was from Calgary in Canada, and that accent was seeping through as he spoke.
If anything, this TV show will mark those rare appearances by a WWE Superstar on a television show that never saw the light of day unless someone searched for it on the internet.
#10 Goldberg in Law & Order: SVU (2007)
Goldberg was Da Man in WCW and is a bonafide legend in WWE. There is no doubt he made an undeniable impact in the pro wrestling industry. Like others, Goldberg constantly starred in movies like Universal Soldier: The Return, The Longest Yard, and even TV shows like CW's The Flash.
Goldberg was in an opening segment on the hit NBC series Law and Order: SVU in 2007. He plays a psychotic man who seems unstoppable and is high on PCP. Goldberg breaks free from his restraints and proceeds to wreak havoc while looking for a woman named Barbie. He throws Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) through a window. Even a stun gun cannot keep him down until Fin Tutuola (Ice-T) hits him with a chair and goes down.
Considering that this former WWE Champion didn't feature anywhere else in the episode, it seemed his main job was to put Stabler out of commission. Even more so, it seemed unclear who Goldberg was supposed to be other than start the episode with a literal bang. Interestingly, the writers used a wrestling trope to end his scene. If this were WWE, this would be a clear example of bad booking.
#9 Edge in Highlander: Endgame (2000)
Edge is now enjoying a comeback that many in the WWE Universe didn't think possible. He has defied the odds to be featured in two hard-hitting matches with Randy Orton. Over time, Edge has built quite a resume with his roles in Vikings and The Flash. But his foray to entertainment outside WWE wasn't the best start.
The film was an entry in the successful Highlander franchise, which spawned a hit TV-series, and this film featured the coming together of both the film and TV universe. Following the adventures of Immortal Duncan MacLeod, who teams up with his cousin, Connor MacLeod, as they battle a fellow immortal.
In a flashback scene, Edge plays a country thief in Ireland, who gets into a tussle with Duncan and Connor, as the pair stop Edge and his bandits from trying to rip off noblewoman. Edge probably has a couple of lines followed by groaning and growling. It should be known that the film was promoted on WWE SmackDown with the film's cast coming down to the show.
Suffice to say, Edge's film debut was a true cameo in the truest sense of the word.
# 7 Matt Hardy on Scare Tactics (2009)
Matt Hardy is another example of a WWE Superstar who has managed to stay relevant and keep changing his persona to suit the times. Hardy is both an innovator and is creatively sound to think on the spot and charisma to match it. Surprisingly, he hasn't been featured in more TV Show and Movie appearances considering that he can do so.
He managed to put his talents to the test on an episode of the SyFy channel Scare Tactics. At this point, Matt Hardy was in WWE's version of ECW as it's pointed out that he is an ECW Superstar. The show was a horror-themed prank show with people being set up by their friends and loved ones.
In this episode, Matt Hardy plays a patient named 'Matt' who has aggression issues. When being asked questions by the 'victim,' Hardy recounts the Edge-Lita storyline to the amazing effect that his crazed ventures at the end seem genuine. It's to Hardy's credit that he puts natural fear in the other man, bring his WWE learnings to good use.
#6 Jesse 'The Body' Ventura In Demolition Man (1993)
Jesse 'The Body' Ventura is perhaps one of the unsung heroes of professional wrestling. There was no doubting, his charisma, presence, or even his in-ring ability. Interestingly, he never won a WWE title in his time with the company but did become a WWE Hall of Famer in 2004.
Ventura probably achieved more fame when he became the Governor of Minnesota in 1998. He even officiated a WWE SummerSlam match in 1999 as a special guest referee for the main event featuring Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, and Mankind.
In other entertainment platforms, Jesse Ventura had success with a significant role in the sci-fi classic Predator and appearances in Small Wonder. In Demolition Man, he practically plays a hoodlum with no lines and shoots another character. The film starred the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, and Sandra Bullock.
Considering that Ventura was no novice to the acting scene, it's unfortunate that he's only listed as CryoCon and didn't have any lines in the movie. Perhaps, the silver lining is that Demolition Man is now considered a classic with its commentary on a future that in 2020 seems quite apt.
#5 and #4 Crush and "Fake Undertaker" in Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996)
In one of the more head-scratching appearances by WWE Superstars, both Crush and Undertaker were in a Bollywood movie back in 1996. Let's be clear; this was the Fake Undertaker played by Brian Lee. He featured in a match in The Undertaker vs. Undertaker match at WWE SummerSlam in 1994.
It's hard to describe this film as Bollywood films in those were still caught in Masala-Mix cinema, which would just be described as a mix of action, comedy, and tragedy. The film starred Akshay Kumar, Rekha, Raveena Tandon, and Gulshan Grover. The film depicts illegal wrestling matches being held in New York, complete with rings and entrances.
Of course, this is set in the crime world with Akshay Kumar having to rescue his brother from this underworld and eventually goes one-on-one with 'Undertaker.' Also, it should be mentioned that this Fake Undertaker murdered Crush at the beginning of the film while Akshay Kumar boldly kills Fake Undertaker at the end of the film.
To get into specifics would be like entering The Matrix. But for WWE fans who are interested, they will be treated to wrestlers dubbed over with Hindi, watch drama, heel turns, and double-crosses. In wrestling terms, it was like an episode from the WWE Attitude Era.
#3 Kevin Nash in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)
Former WWE Superstar Kevin Nash has had quite a career in both pro wrestling and entertainment. He has been seen in movies like The Punisher, John Wick, Magic Mike, Magic Mike XXL, Rock of Ages, and The Longest Yard. But before that and even his WWE and WCW stardom, he made his film debut in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.
At this point, Kevin Nash was languishing in the mid-card in WCW and was put into roles like Oz and Vinnie Vegas. It wasn't until going to WWE in 1993 and becoming Diesel did Nash see his star rise. But Nash's role in the film is limited. He plays the Super Shredder after Shredder has ingested the ooze for himself.
He's under a mask and destroying a boardwalk before being crushed underneath it. It's safe that Kevin Nash did move up in the world after that.
#2 Chris Jericho in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019)
Chris Jericho is probably the best heel in professional wrestling today. His time in WWE has made him a legend. His current status in AEW has only solidified that claim with his tenacity, charisma, and quick delivery and dedication to the craft.
While Jericho has starred in other films and even been on Dancing with the Stars, this role was a different one to all that he had done before. Jericho was cast in a small but essential role as a leader of the Ku Klux Klan in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.
Written and directed by Kevin Smith, the film is another entry from the franchise that started Smith's career. The film stars himself, Jason Mewes, and features cameos from several Hollywood stars like Ben Affleck.
In interviews, Kevin Smith had stated he had never really been a massive fan of wrestling and never actually saw Chris Jericho's work. He only knew of him vaguely through podcasting and a couple of other things. He said:
"I dug him and saw that he was a good dude so I wanted to put him in something. So when I put him in something, I kept casting him as a bad guy. In Kilroy he plays a real piece of sh*t and in the Jay and Silent Bob reboot, he was the klan leader. I hadn't seen Chris wrestle and didn't know his personality. So, I thought I was clever by casting this sweet kid as a bad guy as no one would ever think to do that."
Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes would eventually make their way to be on the premiere episode of AEW Dynamite to promote their film. In what could be best described as the first casualties in the wrestling war, both Smith and Mewes were scheduled to be on WWE SmackDown the same week, but the offer was pulled. He said:
"It's nice to know you're wanted by both camps. But the morning after we did AEW and were trending, my publicist said that WWE pulled their offer. They weren't sh*tty about it, but they said you guys were all over AEW last night and that would be weird for them if two days later you were all over WWE. They said that down the road we could revisit this, but it's not gonna happen Friday."
With that said, Jericho's film performance was highly praised playing a villainous character who gets his comeuppance at the end of the scene. So, in a sense, it's no different from his WWE days nor his current AEW role.
#1 The Rock in Star Trek: Voyager (2000)
The Rock. The Great One. The Brahma Bull. The Most Electrifying in Sports and Entertainment. Future WWE Hall of Famer. Hollywood Superstar and the list goes on. It's hard to fathom that The Rock has been a massive success in Hollywood and achieved more than anyone thought possible. He paved the way for Batista, John Cena, CM Punk, and so many others who will follow suit in the year to come.
The Rock in Star Trek may not seem like a natural fit for the charismatic multi-time WWE Champion. But considering that The Rock as an actor was still not taken seriously at the time. Most of his roles on Television were limited to brutes. His role in the episode titled 'Tsunkate' marked The Rock's entry into science fiction territory.
The Rock is fine in the episode as a Gladiator taking on Seven on Nine and even delivers a Rock Bottom at the end of the fight. With that said, the WWE Superstar's role is a glorified cameo limited to an extended fight scene.
It also highlighted the popularity The Rock was enjoying at this point in his career. At that time, WWE SmackDown was featured on UPN, which also broadcast Star Trek: Voyager. So, in essence, the guest appearance was a cross-promotional exercise. It was estimated the episode was the highest-rated of the season, which was Voyager's sixth.
In short, it was an interesting start to The Rock's acting career as he eventually became one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. He will go down as one of the greatest WWE Superstars of all time and also for his role in creating pathways for young WWE wrestlers to follow in his footsteps.
