Pro-Wrestling business demands the wrestlers to possess certain qualities like athleticism, strength, high fitness and a certain charisma. Though innate, these qualities are found in most people associated with any competitive sport. WWE’s roster has always had superstars who played other sports like American Football, Basketball, Wrestling etc.
WWE fans will always remember the association off superstars like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Goldberg and Roman Reigns with Football or Kevin Nash, Big Show and Giant Gonzalez with Basketball.
But, most of these superstars were unable to achieve the amount of success and fame that they achieved in the WWE. However, there are exceptions to this scenario too. Let’s have a look at those some superstars who excelled in other sports as well:
#5 Vader
Big Van Vader or simply Vader, was a decorated superstar in the WCW and NJPW, though, he never won any championship gold, he was a challenger for almost all the titles in the WWF during his run in the Company.
But, this super heavyweight did not start wanting to be a pro-wrestler. He began his sporting journey with American Football. Leon White (Vader’s real name) was a nationally ranked offensive centre during his school days. He also played the offensive line for the University of Colorado.
White became a 2-time All-American at the University of Colorado and was later picked as the 80th pick of the 1978 NFL draft by his home team Los Angeles Rams.
He was even a part of the Super Bowl XIV against the Pittsburg Steelers, however, a knee injury (ruptured patella) cut short his career and he had to retire after a couple of seasons.
#4 Brock Lesnar
Since his debut in the WWE June 2002, people knew that Lesnar was the future. He was always a force to be reckoned with. But, when he left the WWE in 2004 many people believed that it would be the end of the road for Lesnar.
He made it to the practice team of the Minnesota Vikings after a great showing at NFL Combine. However, he could not progress further in his Football career as he was not included in the Viking’s team for the season.
But, Lesnar is one of those people who never back down from a fight, in the ring or in his life/career; he has always fought to achieve whatever he has today. Later, in 2006 it was announced that Lesnar has joined K-1 Martial Arts League.
Later in 2008, Lesnar made his debut in UFC in losing effort against Frank Mir. Lesnar would later go on to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 91 which he would hold for nearly 2 years. He hung his MMA boots in 2011, but, would be returning for UFC 200 against Mark Hunt.
#3 Bobby Lashley
3-time NAIA champion, 4-time NAIA All-American, 3-time International Military Sports Council champion and multiple championships in ECW and MMA promotions, need we say more about this powerhouse.
Lashley won 3 amateur wrestling championships between 1996 and 1998 while attending Missouri Valley College. He even won wrestling championships during his time in the US Army. However, his dream to represent his country in the Olympics was squashed when he was injured in a bank robbery.
After the injury, Lashley turned to pro-wrestling and competed in WWE and the TNA. He took a break from pro-wrestling to concentrate on his MMA career.
Lashley started his MMA career with relatively smaller promotions like Mixed Alliance Fighting, Strikeforce, Shark Fight etc. Currently, Lashley is the reigning heavyweight champion in TNA, his third reign as the TNA Heavyweight Champion. He also competes for Bellator MMA and has 14 – 2 win-loss record during his MMA career.
#2 Kurt Angle
Before joining the WWE, Kurt Angle won numerous accolades during in his amateur wrestling career. Angle is a 2-time NCAA Division-1 Heavyweight Wresting Champion, Gold medalist in freestyle wrestling at 1995 World Wrestling Championships and most notably Gold medalist in freestyle wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
His exploits outside the world of wrestling are not limited to the aforementioned achievements. In 2006, Angle was named as the greatest shoot wrestler ever by USA wrestling. Also, he was inducted to the International Sports Hall of Fame for his amateur accomplishments.
If you add his 21 pro-wrestling championships, we have a true sporting legend.
#1 Mark Henry
Mark Henry’s power is not a secret. His size combined with his strength make him even more intimidating in the ring. But, before setting his foot in the pro-wrestling world, Henry was a professional power lifter (3-time US National Champion) and an Olympic weight-lifter. Henry has represented the USA in 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, though he was unable to win a medal. But, if we start listing the accomplishments of Henry in the field of weightlifting we would require another article.
Since his teenage years, Henry has shattered and created many records. He still holds the WDFPF world records in the squat, deadlift and total and the USAPL American record in the deadlift since 1995. Also, he was also the first ever winner of the Arnold Strongman classic.
Henry is the first man in the history to one-hand clean and push press the "unliftable" Thomas Inch dumbbell (172 lbs; 2.47" diameter handle). Due to many such feats, Mark Henry was inducted to the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
If anybody was under the impression that all the wrestling monikers were fake and just to create hype, well, “World’s Strongest Man” is here to prove you wrong with his long list of achievement.
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