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Mark Henry shocked the wrestling world this past weekend when he followed in the footsteps of many other WWE legends by debuting in AEW.
The former world champion debuted as part of All Elite Wrestling's Double or Nothing pay-per-view alongside fellow former WWE star Lio Rush.
Mark Henry joins the likes of The Big Show, Jon Moxley and Chris Jericho as part of the company as well as WWE Hall of Famers Billy Gunn and Tully Blanchard.
Henry is set to join the commentary team and help with coaching duties in AEW after quietly retiring from the business back in 2017. That being said, the World's Strongest Man has recently been working on an in-ring return.
Ahead of what could be an eventful year for the WWE Hall of Famer, here are just five facts every fan needs to know.
#5. Mark Henry was a huge part of the reason several WWE stars were signed
Mark Henry quietly retired from the wrestling business back in 2017 and then transitioned into a full-time backstage role with WWE. Ahead of this, Henry was already working as a scout for the company and went on to become a backstage mentor.
Whilst Henry's 25 year run with WWE saw him become a successful star on-screen, he was also able to help several other wrestlers live their dreams off-screen.
Many wrestling fans may be unaware that Mark Henry played a huge role in recruiting the likes of Bianca Belair and Braun Strowman to WWE.
Belair revealed that Henry was the man behind her switch over to wrestling on her recent Chronicle on the WWE Network:
"You know, I'm starting a new chapter of my life, I want to find the kid in me again. I want to go back to who I was before the world told me who I was supposed to be. I went out there in a pink tutu, literally, glitter's flying everywhere, and it was so much fun. There was video footage of all this stuff online. My sister-in-law texted me, she was just like, 'Oh my god, your nephew just was going crazy right now because Mark Henry commented on your photo'. I was like, that's fake. So I ignored it. Then he actually ended up DMing me, 'I want to invite you out to one of our camps."
AEW star Jade Cargill was also recruited by Mark Henry and he will be able to work closely with the star following his recent switch.
#4. WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry still drives the Hummer that he won in 2002
Whilst Mark Henry has enjoyed a 25-year career with WWE, the company gave him some time off back in 2002 so that he could compete in the first annual Arnold Strongman Classic.
Henry competed against some of the biggest names in the business and was able to come out on top and win the $10,000 grand prize. The WWE Hall of Famer also won a Hummer which he still drives to this day.
This competition took place almost two decades ago and allowed Henry to set several records. One of the biggest talking points was the fact that the former world champion became the first man to cleanly lift the 172-plus pound Thomas Inch Dumbbell over his head.
Henry has excelled in both powerlifting and Olympic lifting, which has added to his on-screen character throughout his WWE career. While the former WWE star failed to win a medal in either the 1992 or 1996 Summer Olympics, he did win a silver medal in the 1995 Pan American Games before joining WWE after the 1996 Olympics.
#3. Mark Henry was trained by fellow WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart
Mark Henry was signed to WWE back in 1996 and was handed a 10- year deal which was unprecedented at the time.
Henry was just 24-years-old and didn't have a lot of experience in the wrestling ring since he was signed off the back of his successful Olympic lifting career. This meant that after Henry was signed, he was sent to train with WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart and Leo Burke.
At the time, Hart had a wrestling ring at his home so WWE sent Henry to Calgary, Canada to learn from one of the best of all time.
Henry must have been a quick learner since he was able to make his in-ring debut at In Your House just a few months later where he defeated Jerry Lawler. Despite being trained by Hart, the two stars have never been able to cross paths in a WWE ring, since Hart retired just a few years after Henry debuted.
#2. Mark Henry is one of the very few WWE stars to wrestle under their real name
Very few WWE Superstars are able to retain their real name throughout their career, but Mark Henry did.
WWE often trademarks the names of new Superstars in order to create merchandise and own the rights to their likeness. Several stars in recent years, including John Cena and Randy Orton, have been able to retain their real names whilst others have been forced to change them.
Mark Henry was signed to WWE off the back of his Olympic career and at the time was already known under his real name, much like Kurt Angle when he was signed to the company. This is why it made sense for the company to allow Henry to retain his real name back in 1996.
Now that Henry has made the move over to AEW, he has been able to retain his real name and will continue to be known as Mark Henry whilst working for WWE's competition. When The Big Show announced his move earlier in the year, he was forced to use his real name, Paul Wight.
#1. Former WWE star Mark Henry's children are looking to follow in his footsteps
WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry may not be the only Olympian at home anymore, since his two young children are now looking to follow in his footsteps.
Back in 2018, his 12-year-old son Jacob and 8-year-old daughter Joanna both qualified for the Junior Olympics.
Unlike their father, the two youngsters are not looking to become Olympic lifters and are instead dominating in track and field.
The former WWE star told TMZ that his son is working his way up and is already one of the best throwers in the country when it comes to discus:
"My son Jacob qualified in the shot put and the discus. He's one of the top 20 throwers in the country. He's working his way up. He's only 12. But he wants to be great. I told him don't follow my path, create your own."
Henry's daughter is a track star who has qualified for the Junior Olympics several times.
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