5 WWE Superstars who were once homeless

Both Cena and The Rock were once without a home before becoming some of wrestling's biggest stars.
Both Cena and The Rock were once without a home before becoming some of wrestling's biggest stars.

Having a home is one of the great necessities in life.

Not just a place to rest your head, a home for many people represent a sense of identity, self-worth and belonging in the world. Unfortunately, a home is not a guaranteed right.

Even some WWE Superstars (many of whom now live in mansions), have at some point in their career, been forced out of their homes and have had to rest their head wherever they are able.

Also read: 10 Mega Superstars who quit WWE in their prime

Whether it be to cut costs, a troubled background or a multitude of other reasons, these WWE Superstars struggled to find a bed for the night.

Here are five WWE Superstars who found themselves without a home before making it big in the wrestling world.


#5: Mick Foley

Mick Foley may be a bestselling author, but was once forced to live in his car to save money.
Mick Foley may be a bestselling author, but was once forced to live in his car to save money.

Mick Foley may be a three-time WWE Champion and bestselling author, but many of his most fervent detractors have argued that the Hall of Famer didn't have the right look.

To be fair, Foley wasn't known for being 6'8'' and bulging with muscles, instead wearing loose cheap clothes during matches. Perhaps this frugality during his WWE career was ingrained in him in his early career when he started wrestling in the 1980s.

Early in his career, Foley was someone who would save his money by sleeping in his car or on donated cots instead of investing in a home, something covered in great detail in his first autobiography 'Have a Nice Day'.

As a family man, Foley now has an incredible home for his wife and children, as it's clear the Hardcore Legend has the funds to truly enjoy life post-wrestling.

#4: Chyna

Chyna was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.
Chyna was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.

Chyna's induction into the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame led to a lot of talk about the Ninth Wonder of the World.

As fans shared stories of their favourite matches and moments featuring Chyna, few will know that there was a point when the Hall of Famer was homeless.

Coming from a rough childhood, Chyna faced problems at an early age, including her father reportedly taking out student loans in her name and pocketing the cash, leaving the young woman several thousand in debt, according to her autobiography.

At age 16, Chyna would be kicked out of her home by her mother and after fending for herself on the streets, began weight lifting. Building an incredible physique, Chyna would soon grab the attention of the World Wrestling Federation and would debut as the enforcer for Triple H in February 1997.

#3: Daniel Bryan

Bryan and Rowan won the SmackDown Tag titles this week.
Bryan and Rowan won the SmackDown Tag titles this week.

Like many Superstars before making it to WWE, Daniel Bryan cut as many expenses as he could to save money in order to pursue his dream.

When he first decided to become a wrestling student through Shawn Michaels’ Academy in Texas, Bryan had to make the decision to sleep in his car.

If that wasn't bad enough, there were other times he would spend the night at the wrestling school, which may have been a unique opportunity to focus on his craft, but probably didn't allow him a good night's sleep.

This money-saving measure did pay off in the long-run, as it allowed Bryan the funds to travel to Japan, where he would use the same tactics to save money there. Now as one of WWE's biggest stars in recent history, the former WWE Champion finally has somewhere good to sleep.

#2: The Rock

The Rock as WWE Champion in 2013 after defeating CM Punk.
The Rock as WWE Champion in 2013 after defeating CM Punk.

As a leading man in Hollywood and multiple time WWE Champion, it's safe to say that Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is worth a pretty penny. But before making it big, the Brahma Bull faced struggles at home, as with his father touring around wrestling, he and his mother were often left with financial worries.

As a teenager, Rock and his mother were once unable to afford their $120 a week rent, and thus were ejected from their home. A cruel twist of fate, this loss of stability did motivate The Rock to work hard, which eventually led to a scholarship to play football with the University of Miami.

When football didn't work out, The Rock turned to wrestling, and has since been able to earn millions (and millions!), and has showered his hardworking mother with thoughtful gifts.

#1: John Cena

Cena now has a huge mansion after becoming one of WWE's biggest stars
Cena now has a huge mansion after becoming one of WWE's biggest stars

Arguably the biggest name in wrestling today, John Cena is a proven success.

A multiple-time World Champion, fans just need to tune in to certain episodes of Total Divas to see Cena's incredible mansion. However, things were not always so easy for Big Match John.

During a 2011 visit to Baker High School in Syracuse, N.Y., Cena told students that he was once homeless early in his career. It's unclear what was the factor behind Cena becoming homeless, though we know it couldn't have been easy for the young Superstar.

Fortunately, Cena's hard-work and 'never give up' attitude would motivate the young man, who would sign with the WWE in 2001. Debuting on SmackDown in 2002, Cena would lose his first match against Kurt Angle but would go on to have one of the greatest careers in wrestling history.

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