While it’s true that you don’t need any sort of college education in order to become successful in the pro-wrestling industry, it certainly doesn’t harm your chances if you have at least a bachelor’s degree and it also gives you something to fall back on if you decide to quit wrestling forever.
But, that isn’t the path everyone wishes to take. For some people, pro-wrestling runs so deeply in their blood that they will not settle for anything else. These men and women dedicate their whole lives to their crafts even if it means they forgo any sort of higher education.
While there are people who have made their marks in the WWE after earning a college degree, there are some who view college life as a hindrance to their careers rather than an aid. These Superstars left pro-wrestling as their only path to success and took it when the opportunity arose.
So, without any further ado, here are 5 WWE Superstars who don’t have a college degree:
#5 AJ Styles
AJ Styles is perhaps the best wrestler in the world today. The man who made a name for himself in wrestling promotions all around the world has hit the ground running in the WWE and had one of the best possible debut years, capturing the WWE Championship and holding onto it for the last quarter of 2016.
Despite losing the belt at The Royal Rumble, Styles has still consistently put on great matches and looks set to be part of the main event picture for years to come. But, things might have been very different for The Phenomenal One.
Also read: 5 wrestlers who have college degrees
He actually found his initial calling in amateur wrestling and went to college on a wrestling scholarship before he was persuaded to try pro-wrestling by some of his friends. It turned out to be an inspired decision, with Styles even dropping out of college in order to dedicate his life to professional wrestling.
Nearly two decades later, he sits on top of the world. Thank the stars that Styles gave into his friends’ pressure and decided to give pro-wrestling a chance. If not, we would be one phenomenal wrestler poorer today.
#4 Bray Wyatt
The current WWE Champion, Bray Wyatt, has endured a difficult professional wrestling career. He finally reached the promised land at the Elimination Chamber PPV where he got his first taste of the World Title.
Initially debuting as Husky Harris, Bray was uncomfortable in the gimmick and was soon sent back to developmental where he concocted the idea for the enigmatic persona known as The Eater of Worlds.
Despite being over with the WWE Universe as Bray Wyatt, bad booking ensured that he never reached his true potential until this year. During his darkest days, he must really have wondered if he made the right decision by dropping out of college.
Studying for a bachelor’s degree, Wyatt was just 27 credits away from graduating when he decided to drop out and pursue a career with the WWE. Talk about a bold decision. Luckily – for both Bray and us – things have finally fallen into place.
#3 Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels is amongst the most gifted professional wrestlers to have ever stepped foot inside a WWE ring, having enjoyed the most storied of careers starting back in the late 1980s.
Today, his career is the benchmark for how to progress from a young prospect to a tag team hotshot to the biggest draw in the business. But when Shawn’s back injury forced him out of the game for years, he must’ve wondered if he should have stayed in college.
Michaels went to college on the back of an extremely successful American Football career in high school but soon dropped out when he realised that he didn’t fit into life at college. Soon after, he made his foray into pro-wrestling.
Despite the terrible back problems, Michaels was able to make a comeback and had one of the best second runs ever in the WWE.
#2 Ric Flair
When Ric Flair retired from the WWE in 2012, he went out as the most decorated World Champion in the history of sports entertainment with a staggering 16 World Titles to his name. The Nature Boy is the prototype of what it means to be one of the most gifted all-around performers of all-time.
Except, we might never have seen him compete inside the squared circle if he didn’t hate studying so much.
Having gone on to college on a football scholarship, Flair was so disinterested in studies that he dropped out to become a bouncer. This is where he met a pro-wrestler who encouraged Flair to come to his training centre and to give professional wrestling a shot.
That’s exactly what Flair did and there was no looking back for the great man.
#1 Hulk Hogan
Can you imagine Hulk Hogan not being a pro-wrestler? Well, it was a very real possibility indeed. A gifted musician who played the bass guitar, Hogan's band from when he was in college was getting a lot of interest and hence the Hulkster quit college to pursue a music career.
Despite his interest in the world of rock n roll, Hogan was a childhood pro-wrestling fan and decided to give it a shot when he was given a chance to attend a pro-wrestling school.
He found that he loved it more than music and joined Vincent Kennedy McMahon and the WWF, going on to become the biggest name in the industry for over two decades.
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