15 Pro Wrestlers Who Crushed It in Other Sports Too
WWE’s roster is packed with talent. Some of that talent, however, arrived after chasing down quarterbacks, throwing heat from the pitcher’s mound, or racking up medals on the mat or track. Their backgrounds in everything from NCAA wrestling to pro football gave them a unique edge and, in more than a few cases, a story that was already worth headlines before they ever made a WWE entrance.
The Rock
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Did you know that long before WWE fame, Dwayne Johnson was grinding on the football field? He suited up for the Miami Hurricanes and was part of their 1991 national title squad. He later signed with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders. He wore number 94 and shared the locker room with future NFL stars.
Brock Lesnar
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Brock Lesnar walked into WWE and earned the hype. At the University of Minnesota, he won the NCAA Division I Heavyweight title in 2000. With a ridiculous 106-5 record, Lesnar bulldozed his opponents—no surprise he later dominated in the UFC, too.
Veer
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We know Veer as a wrestler, but he was throwing fastballs before that. His real name is Rinku Singh, and he won the 2008 “The Million Dollar Arm” pitching contest. He then signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and played for their farm teams for seven years. It turned him into a national hero in India.
Roman Reigns
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Prior to becoming “The Tribal Chief,” Roman Reigns was stuffing quarterbacks at Georgia Tech. He played defensive tackle and signed with both the Vikings and Jaguars in 2007. Reigns also made the All-ACC first team in college. He wore number 96 and brought that same grit into WWE.
Dolph Ziggler
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Dolph Ziggler, who once considered law school, knew how to win before he ever showed up in WWE. At Kent State, he racked up 121 career wrestling wins and grabbed three Mid-American Conference titles. He was also the team captain, and his amateur background gave him that signature mat-based flair.
Bianca Belair
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Bianca Belair was once flying over hurdles and sprinting her way through college track meets. At the University of Tennessee, she earned All-American honors in track and field. She also competed in CrossFit and was featured in ESPN’s “Body Issue” for her incredible athletic build and performance.
Shelton Benjamin
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While at the University of Minnesota, Shelton Benjamin dominated both track and wrestling. He was already sprinting past the competition ahead of WWE, and qualified for the NCAA National by running a 100-meter dash in just 10.3 seconds.
Titus O’Neil
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Titus O’Neil used to bring the heat as a defensive lineman for the Florida Gators. He also played in the Arena Football League for the Utah Blaze and Tampa Bay Storm. He has since become a WWE ambassador and was even named the 2020 recipient of the Warrior Award.
Mojo Rawley
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“Stay hyped!” is Mojo Rawley’s signature phrase. He must have brought that mindset when he was trying to sack quarterbacks after being signed by the Packers in 2009. Rawley also had a stint with the Cardinals. He studied finance and played for the Maryland Terrapins, where he turned heads with raw energy.
Sonya Deville
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Sonya Deville went 2-1 in professional MMA with solid striking and a strong ground game. She was trained in both Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu, and brought that shoot-style edge to WWE. Before being a wrestler, she also competed on “Tough Enough” in 2015, so she was already trained to throw hands.
Chad Gable
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Don’t let the size fool you—Chad Gable is an Olympic-level beast. He wrestled Greco-Roman style at the 2012 London Olympics in the 84kg category. Gable is also a two-time NCAA Division I national champion, and he brings that technical excellence to every match, down to the smallest detail.
Tamina Snuka
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It’s hard to believe that Tamina could have gone pro in basketball. She played in high school and has referenced her athleticism in that regard. Eventually, that athleticism helped her leap to WWE, where she’s added power to the women’s division for over a decade.
Otis
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Yeah, Otis slams for fun, but he’s got the background to back it up. He won the 2009 Greco-Roman Junior Nationals and trained at the Olympic Training Center. He was even named Minnesota’s Mr. Wrestling in high school.
Charlotte Flair
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Athleticism runs deep in the Flair bloodline. Charlotte earned her spotlight on the volleyball court. She captained her high school team and played Division I at Appalachian State. Later, she traded her kneepads for title belts and became a 14-time Women’s Champion.
Baron Corbin
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Baron Corbin threw blocks long before he was throwing punches. He played offensive line for the Colts and Cardinals and boxed on the side while winning Golden Gloves championships in Kansas. Later in WWE, he won the Andre the Giant Battle Royal and has stayed on-screen ever since.