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The WWE Universe has seen wrestlers from different walks of life make it big in the company. Over the years, several athletes and stars belonging to other fields have made their way to WWE.
Roman Reigns, Baron Corbin and Goldberg are a few of the top names who once tried their hands at a football career. Ronda Rousey and Pat McAfee made a name for themselves in other sports before entering the wrestling ring as well.
Former WWE Superstar Mickie James’ award-winning music career has also helped her make it big outside the wrestling world.
Currently, several versatile superstars in WWE have won awards for their work outside the ring. These individuals have shone above the rest in different fields thanks to their hard work and charisma.
Take a look at eight WWE Superstars who have won awards outside of the wrestling industry.
#8 Former WWE NXT Superstar Pat McAfee
In April 2021, Pat McAfee became a color commentator on WWE SmackDown to add a new dimension to the commentary team. Before his move to SmackDown, McAfee competed in a couple of matches on WWE NXT.
McAfee is best known for his career in American football outside the wrestling industry. Before joining the WWE, McAfee earned two Pro Bowls (2014, 2016) and an All-Pro in 2014. McAfee was awarded the Pro Football Focus (PFF) Punter of the Decade for his achievements in pro-football.
In 2020, the WWE commentator also won the Tony Bruno Award at the Barrett Sports Media Summit. Tony Bruno was all praise for the football punter who has made a big name for himself on the field:
“I don’t really know Pat all that well, we go back-and-forth on Twitter, but I’ve admired him since he was a player. He’s one of those guys that everyone went to after the game to get comments from. A lot of players don’t like to talk and I think Pat, as a punter especially, pretty much showed the world the punters are football players too. Pat has emerged, and you kind of knew right away, that his future after football was going to be in broadcasting. Now that we’ve seen him in broadcasting, we’re starting to see just how bright he’s going to be.”
While McAfee is currently away from the wrestling ring, his talent could bring him back to it very soon. He could reignite his rivalry with Adam Cole or compete against Baron Corbin and Drew McIntyre on the main roster.
#7 Daniel Bryan is an Eco-Friendly WWE Superstar
Roman Reigns ended Daniel Bryan’s WWE SmackDown career not too long ago. Bryan’s dreams of winning the Universal Championship were shattered on the April 30th, 2021 episode of SmackDown.
However, Bryan will forever be known in his fans’ books as The Planet’s Champion. He has earned that title by changing his eating habits and being eco-friendly.
In 2012, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) recognized Bryan for his choices and presented him with the peta2 Libby Award for Most Animal-Friendly Athlete.
Bryan spoke to WWE.com following his win and hoped that his fans would follow in his footsteps:
“I can only hope the WWE Universe, or even a small percentage of them, can man up and realize that eating all these animals – all these farm-factory animals that are treated so poorly, pumped full of antibiotics – is not the way to a sustainable, healthy world, and that's not the way you get in great shape like the World Heavyweight Champion.”
Fans can’t wait to see what’s next for Bryan, who is currently on hiatus. Will he return to the ring on WWE RAW or NXT? Or will The Planet’s Champion begin a new chapter behind the scenes?
#6 Baron Corbin has won a few awards outside WWE
Baron Corbin is one of the safest workers in the WWE ring. Even though he hasn’t had a world of success in WWE, he has enjoyed a good career filled with some big rivalries.
Many fans were familiar with Corbin’s work in the NFL before he joined WWE. However, not many are aware of the fact that the superstar is a three-time Golden Gloves champion and former grappling champion.
The superstar responsible for retiring the legendary Kurt Angle won several boxing awards before stepping into the wrestling ring. Speaking to New Press Now, Corbin revealed that amateur boxing was a lot like being a footballer:
"The footwork is all the same as being an offensive lineman, so it really helps me there. The same rules apply: don't get your feet close together and all that."
Corbin recently lost his King of the Ring crown to Shinsuke Nakamura. That could turn out to be a good thing for the WWE Superstar who is desperately in need of a new gimmick that can help him reach the top again.
#5 16-time WWE World Champion John Cena
John Cena has been away from the WWE ring for quite some time now. However, he is still one of the most well-known superstars the company has ever produced.
The 16-time WWE world champion has made a name for himself outside the wrestling industry. He is currently one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. Cena has received a lot of praise for his acting, and has even won the CinemaCon 'Action Star of the Year' Award in 2017.
CinemaCon’s Managing Director Mitch Neuhauser had a lot to say about the special honor bestowed upon The Doctor of Thugonomics:
“Already a global superstar, entertainer and athlete John Cena has put audiences around the globe on notice with his standout performances in films such as the hit comedy ‘Trainwreck’ and ‘Sisters’. With his undeniable work-ethic, genuine and charismatic personality and his already proven ability to entertain, Cena’s upcoming role in ‘The Wall’, will solidify his place in Hollywood. We are thrilled to be able to honor him with this year's ‘CinemaCon Action Star Of The Year’ award’.”
Cena has also won Sports Illustrated's Muhammad Ali Legacy Award.
The WWE Superstar is currently focusing on his acting career. However, he could return to the wrestling ring very soon for a final run. Who would you like to see Cena take on once he returns to WWE?
#4 WWE Superstar Asuka has an interesting YouTube channel
Former WWE RAW Women’s Champion Asuka is one of the finest wrestlers in the industry. She has proven herself on all three brands of the company and continues to push ahead as a top performer.
Outside the wrestling ring, Asuka runs a YouTube channel by the name of KanaChanTV. The channel was set up on September 1, 2019, and focuses on gaming and cooking.
The Empress’s popularity in the ring has allowed her to amass over 450,000 subscribers on her channel. This has earned her the Silver Creator Award of the YouTube Creator Awards program.
Asuka shares some hilarious lifestyle content on her YouTube channel along with playthrough videos with her own bilingual commentary in English and Japanese.
#3 The Undertaker
The Undertaker won several championships and awards in WWE as a wrestler. He became a pop culture icon during the 1990s and 2000s and influenced an entire generation of performers.
The Phenom’s character and work in the ring earned him the Eyegore Award in 2000.
The Eyegore Awards are held annually at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. According to IMDb:
“The event aims at honoring excellence and achievement in the horror and sci-fi genre and coincides with the opening night of the annual special event at the theme park Halloween Horror Nights in October.”
Undertaker’s dark character helped him bag the award outside WWE. He is one of the only WWE Superstars who’s won an award for his wrestling character outside the industry.
#2 Titus O'Neil is a WWE Global Ambassador
Titus O’Neil’s big heart has allowed him to become a Global Ambassador of WWE. He hasn’t had too much success in the wrestling ring but is still one of the most beloved characters in the company.
O’Neil’s philanthropic work has earned him a lot of praise and love from the WWE Universe. Furthermore, he is also a great dad who looks after his children. In 2015, O’Neil was awarded as the Dad of the Year by Every Thing For Dads at the MEGA Dad Awards:
“The second annual MEGA Dad Awards 2015 are being presented by Every Thing For Dads to honor the amazing work we see dads carry out that often goes unacknowledged. These awards are given to dads who are determined to change the landscape of fatherhood for the better and for the good of all. O’Neil was up against actors Stephen Amell, Ashton Kutcher, and Vin Diesel, and soccer stars David Beckham and Kaká. Last year, O’Neil and his sons participated in WWE’s “Take Time to Be a Dad” public service announcements, and he is a regular fixture in WWE’s Community events, from Reading Celebrations to Be a STAR rallies.”
O’Neil’s community work also earned him the City of Tampa Citizen of the Year Award in 2020. He is a superstar who will likely remain with WWE for a very long time to come.
#1 WWE Superstar Xavier Woods has won multiple awards for his YouTube channel
Xavier Woods' idea to create The New Day helped the WWE build one of the biggest and best wrestling factions in the industry.
Woods is also known for his love of video games and his YouTube gaming channel UpUpDownDown. The multi-time WWE tag team champion invites his fellow superstars, gaming personalities, friends, and guests to play games on his channel:
“UpUpDownDown is your cheat code to the best gaming content around! Join lifelong video game aficionado Austin Creed (a.k.a. WWE Superstar Xavier Woods) as he explores the worlds of video gaming and nerdom on UpUpDownDown! Check out all of the excitement right here on the channel, featuring in-depth WWE Superstar interviews to awesome, edge-of-your-seat virtual battles over the prestigious UpUpDownDown Championship!”
With over 2.2 million subscribers on UpUpDownDown, Woods has won the Creator Award from YouTube. That’s not all, as he has also won a Guinness World Record for his channel as it is the most subscribed-to celebrity video gaming channel.
In 2020, Xavier Woods’ YouTube channel also won the Content Creator of the Year Esports Award.
