5 lesser known pro-wrestling families you probably didn't know about

There are wrestling families that are well known among fans because of the commitment the performing members of those families have demonstrated, and the time they have invested to become a success in pro wrestling. From families such as the Anoa'is or the Harts, there has been more than one person who has blazed a trail and become legendary. Often, children from these families that have a great deal to live up to, as they try to live up to the expectations their parents created.

The likes of Charlotte Flair and Tamina will be faced with these great expectations for the duration of their careers. In a number cases, though, the children far exceeded the accomplishments of their parents, as was the case with Bret Hart, Randy Orton and The Rock.

However, there are some wrestling families that aren't given that much attention, and at times, fans may have forgotten they exist. Who are these families, and which members of them have carried forward their lineage? Here are five pro-wrestling families you probably didn't know about.

---

#5 The Blanchards

Through three generations, the Blanchards have quietly achieved greatness in the sport

Wrestling fans of the Four Horsemen, the wrestling faction enshrined within the WWE Hall of Fame, will always remember the names Anderson, Flair, and Blanchard. Blanchard, of course, refers to Tully, who made a name for himself while working alongside Arn Anderson and Ric Flair, not to mention on his own, being a former United States champion. His wrestling pedigree is without question among the best ever.

Tully's career came to an end early in the 1990s, but over the last few years, his daughter Tessa has made her father proud by following in his footsteps and making a name for herself as a wrestler.

Add on to that, while Tess is carrying on her father's name proudly, she is also carrying on her grandfather's name. Joe Blanchard, Tully's father, was a wrestler as well and created a wrestling lineage that would continue for decades to come.

However, despite multiple appearances in WWE, including a first-round classic match against Kairi Sane in the Mae Young Classic, Tessa Blanchard is rumoured to be signing with GFW Impact Wrestling over WWE.

#4 The DiBiase's

Three different generations of DiBiase have competed in the ring including a matriarch

It was once said that ‘Everyone has a price for the Million Dollar Man'. During the late 1970s and through the 1980s, Ted DiBiase carved a niche for himself, and fans still discuss him to this day. Whether it was his wrestling ability or his self-serving character, the man who created the Million Dollar Championship was memorable.

After DiBiase's career ended, his son, Ted DiBiase Jr., carried on the family name, and even took a little from his father's persona, acting as someone that was ‘born of privilege'.

What isn't as well known, is that Ted Sr.'s other sons Michael and Brett were also active wrestlers, though both retired even before their brother Ted Jr. did. However, what is little known is that Ted DiBiase's adoptive father was ‘Iron Mike' DiBiase, a professional wrestler who was also in the United States Navy, and wrestled as an amateur for the University of Nebraska.

And DiBiase's mother Helen Hild was also a wrestler, competing for promotions such as Mid-Atlantic Championship and NWA Mid-America, along with the World Wide Wrestling Federation.

#3 The Smith's

Through two different generations, the Smith family also were notable in the wrestling ring

The lineage of the Smith last name, at least as it applies to the family we're referring to, isn't well-known at all, perhaps because the children of former professional wrestler Grizzly Smith didn't want to promote their relationship with him.

One of the greatest personas and most technically refined wrestlers to ever lace up wrestling boots was Jake ‘The Snake' Roberts, a character that was ahead of his time in so many ways. He was so good at presenting his devious and dark character that the fact he didn't hold any championships during his time in WWE or WCW didn't matter.

What is not well-known about Roberts was that his brother and sister were active wrestlers as well. In fact, they were also in WWE but didn't use the ‘Roberts' name.

Roberts' brother competed under the name Sam Houston, a cowboy-influenced character that was about as clean cut a babyface as there was. His sister competed for the WWE women's championship under the name ‘Rockin Robin'.

#2 The Knights

With the rise in popularity of Paige, her family's wrestling lineage is more known to North American audiences

Just a few years ago, fans in North America knew very little about a certain English female wrestler, but after she came to North America they became much more familiar with Saraya-Jade Bevis. Given the name Paige in WWE, she is a former WWE Divas champion.

Paige has often said that her first match was in the womb, the reason for that being because she comes from a long lineage of wrestlers, including her mother and father; her mother actually had a match while being pregnant (a fact she was unaware of at the time).

The daughter of ‘Sweet' Saraya and Ricky Knight is building a career for herself in North America, while her family continues to compete and run their own promotion in the United Kingdom. And she isn't the only Knight offspring to be actively competing in the ring - Paige's brother's Zak Zodiac and Roy Bevis have been actively competing in the UK.

While a number of wrestling families have a great deal of fame, the Knights tend to fly under the radar.

#1 The Ellering's

After the Mae Young Classic, the wrestling world became more aware of Rachel Evers, the daughter of Paul Ellering

‘Precious' Paul Ellering is one of the most articulate and notable wrestling managers in history. He earned his greatest fame managing one of the greatest tag teams in wrestling history, the Legion of Doom, the Road Warriors.

Under Ellering's tutelage, Animal and Hawk captured the AWA, WCW and WWE championships during their time together. However, while he may be known as a manager, the role he has served over the last three decades, he began his career in the business as a wrestler.

Paul Ellering (C) currently manages the Authors of Pain in NXT

He first trained under Eddie Sharkey, in a camp that was organised and run by Verne Gagne and the American Wrestling Association. During that early part of Ellering's career, he feuded with the likes of Jerry ‘The King' Lawler, Jimmy Valiant, and Jesse ‘The Body' Ventura. However, he was injured while doing workout segments for Mid-South Wrestling, and that ultimately ended his in-ring career.

However, his strong ability to carry a promo earned him his place in history. Ellering's daughter Rachel currently wrestles under the name Rachel Evers, taking her last name from her trainer Lance Evers, a.k.a Lance Storm, and she was an active participant in the recent Mae Young Classic.