Last week the movie posters were released for this summer’s G.I. Joe Retaliation. One of the posters featured was of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Roadblock.
Dwayne Johnson also had a recent successful appearance at Wrestlemania, which proved he is a huge action movie star and still the “most electrifying man in sports entertainment”.
The Rock is not the only wrestler to appear in a comic book movie. Here is a Pick 5 of wrestling Superstars, who made it onto the big screen in comic book movies.
#5 Jesse Ventura (Batman and Robin)
Jesse “The Body” Ventura appeared as a guard in Batman and Robin. It was a small cameo appearance, and he was quickly dispatched by Poison Ivy. The also marked Jesse Ventura’s third big screen appearance with Arnold Schwarzenegger (the other two being The Running Man and Predator).
#4 Triple H (Blade Trinity)
Vince McMahon’s son-in-law’s appearance in Blade Trinity is virtually forgettable (the vampire pomeranian was more memorable on screen than Triple H). Considering the success of wrestlers in film, you would think that Triple H would make more movies. But since he is part of the “first family of wrestling”, he is set for life with WWE and will be running things there some day.
#3 Randy Savage (Spider-Man)
Randy “Macho Man” Savage appeared as wrestler “Bonesaw McGraw” in Spider-Man. I guess they had to change the character’s name in the movie because I don’t think they could get Macho Man to play a character named Crusher “Hogan” (if you remember the Mega-Powers did collide). Sadly Randy Savage passed away in 2011 of a heart attack while driving. He was one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and hopefully will be in the WWE Hall of Fame some day.
#2 Kevin Nash (Punisher)
“Big Sexy” Kevin Nash played the Russian in The Punisher starring Tom Jane. The fight scene between Castle and the Russian was awesome. Frank was able to hold his own against the Russian’s imposing size. One of the big differences between the movie and the “Welcome Back Frank” story line is the Russian talked a lot in the comic book.
Kevin Nash was in another comic book movie; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, as Super Shredder.
#1 Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (G.I. Joe Retaliation)
Ok. Everybody knows that the Rock is going to be in G.I. Joe 2. I think it’s going to be the biggest movie of the summer. I can’t wait. If you look closely at the poster at Roadblock’s belt, you’ll see “brass knuckles” that look like gun grips. Check out the G.I. Joe Retaliation Prelude comic book from IDW for an explanation on those. It’s pretty cool.
Even though it is not a comic book movie, when talking about wrestlers in movies one must always mention Andre the Giant in The Princess Bride. Because we must never forget.
Wrestlers in other movies is a completely other (awesome) column. Of course as you said Andre in Princess Bride.
Terry Funk (Roadhouse). Stone Cold in Expendables (that’s considering you forget his straight to DVD projects). Tony Lister as the President in Fifth Element (he wasn’t a pro-wrestler, but he was Zeus at Summer Slam). Edge in Highlander Endgame. The Rock’s first appearance as the Scorpion King.
The list just goes on.
Actually there’s another wrestler in Spider-Man as well. The wrestling stunts for Peter Parker were mostly done by current TNA guy Chris Daniels.
I totally forgot about Tyler Mane (Sabretooth in X-Men). He was a tag team partner to Kevin Nash before Nash went over to WWF in the early 90’s. Shortly after Nash left Tyler Mane retired from wrestling.
Wrestlers are such good picks for comic book movies because who else in the world is that beefy? Seriously, they draw the men so muscular these are the only people in the world who could ever fit those roles. Them and body builders, but body builders can’t do their own stunts.
I agree wholeheartedly. They fill the role of the beefed up guy well. They can do stunts, they’ve trained already for the kind of physical activity needed, and know how to ham it up for the camera.