Top 5 WWE Superstars Who Came From Other Sports
1. Kurt Angle - Amateur Wrestling
Kurt Angle became an over-night national hero in 1996
when he scooped a home-soil gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics (with a broken
freakin' neck, mind you). Having reached the top of the amateur ranks, it would
have been easy for the Pittsburgh-native to then seek his fortune as a trainer
or commentator, but Vince McMahon came calling in 1998, and Angle was talked
into getting back in the singlet.
when he scooped a home-soil gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics (with a broken
freakin' neck, mind you). Having reached the top of the amateur ranks, it would
have been easy for the Pittsburgh-native to then seek his fortune as a trainer
or commentator, but Vince McMahon came calling in 1998, and Angle was talked
into getting back in the singlet.
Within two years, the Olympian was one of WWE's most
valuable players, having skipped through the sort of lengthy acclimation period
usually associated with those who get into pro-wrestling on the off-chance
(Angle has made no secret of the fact that WWE wasn't exactly in his career
plan). And whilst few amateur wrestlers have reached the same heights, the
likes of American Alpha's Chad Gable and Jason Jordan owe a debt of gratitude
to the Raw GM for paving the way.
valuable players, having skipped through the sort of lengthy acclimation period
usually associated with those who get into pro-wrestling on the off-chance
(Angle has made no secret of the fact that WWE wasn't exactly in his career
plan). And whilst few amateur wrestlers have reached the same heights, the
likes of American Alpha's Chad Gable and Jason Jordan owe a debt of gratitude
to the Raw GM for paving the way.
2. Goldberg – Football
Whilst he is now better known for his subsequent career
in sports entertainment - which, beginning in Ted Turner's WCW, saw him become
one of the protagonists of the Monday Night Wars - Goldberg had a better
football run than many of his fellow professional wrestlers. And remains, to
this day, a respected voice in the world of MMA - a sport he also considered
taking up after leaving the NFL.
in sports entertainment - which, beginning in Ted Turner's WCW, saw him become
one of the protagonists of the Monday Night Wars - Goldberg had a better
football run than many of his fellow professional wrestlers. And remains, to
this day, a respected voice in the world of MMA - a sport he also considered
taking up after leaving the NFL.
3. Mark Henry – Weightlifting
Despite what WWE may say, Mark Henry has never officially
held the title of "World's Strongest Man". He was pretty close
though: before turning his hand to professional wrestling, the Texan earned his
keep as one of America's most accomplished weightlifters, representing the US
in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, while claiming gold in the
Pan-American games in 1995.
held the title of "World's Strongest Man". He was pretty close
though: before turning his hand to professional wrestling, the Texan earned his
keep as one of America's most accomplished weightlifters, representing the US
in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, while claiming gold in the
Pan-American games in 1995.
With a host of dead-lift records to his name, Henry is
one of few wrestlers who can genuinely claim to have reached the top of both
his chosen fields - although, in the case of wrestling, it took him
considerably longer to do it. WWE didn't begin pushing the Olympian as a
legitimate force until the mid-2000s, prior to which he was burdened with the
unfortunate 'Sexual Chocolate' gimmick.
one of few wrestlers who can genuinely claim to have reached the top of both
his chosen fields - although, in the case of wrestling, it took him
considerably longer to do it. WWE didn't begin pushing the Olympian as a
legitimate force until the mid-2000s, prior to which he was burdened with the
unfortunate 'Sexual Chocolate' gimmick.
4. Brock Lesnar - Amateur Wrestling
You know you're a freak of nature when you reach the
elite level in three different sports. And while Lesnar's turn in the NFL after
parting ways with WWE the first time in 2004 may have been short-lived, no-one
can accuse him of faking it in the world of amateur wrestling. The Next Big
Thing, as his employers were only too keen to remind us, was twice an NCAA
All-American before joining up with Vince and co.
elite level in three different sports. And while Lesnar's turn in the NFL after
parting ways with WWE the first time in 2004 may have been short-lived, no-one
can accuse him of faking it in the world of amateur wrestling. The Next Big
Thing, as his employers were only too keen to remind us, was twice an NCAA
All-American before joining up with Vince and co.
Lesnar's insatiable appetite for competition meant that
tying him down to an exclusive, long-term deal was never likely, and - after
becoming the company's youngest ever world champion then headlining
WrestleMania alongside Kurt Angle - the Beast Incarnate said his goodbyes. By
the time he came back eight years later, he had conquered UFC.
tying him down to an exclusive, long-term deal was never likely, and - after
becoming the company's youngest ever world champion then headlining
WrestleMania alongside Kurt Angle - the Beast Incarnate said his goodbyes. By
the time he came back eight years later, he had conquered UFC.
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