2. Batista
Man-mountain Dave Bautista easily makes it to number two on this list of the best wrestlers turned actors, mainly due to two roles. First, his breakthrough star-making turn in Guardians Of The Galaxy as the hilariously deadpan Drax. Bautista displayed a well-honed talent for comic timing in the movie, sparking well off co-stars Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana. Fans knew he would pull off the physical side of the role, but the fact he made everyone laugh so much took some people off-guard. He was then able to parlay this success into a role as Bond villain Mr Hinx in 2015's Spectre.
In the coming years, we will also see 'The Animal' in the Guardians sequel and Blade Runner 2. His success shows no signs of slowing down. Rumour has it that, when Batista returned to WWE for an ill-fated run in 2014, he was speaking to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon about extending his contract. He told them he was saying no, as he believed Guardians was going to be his ticket to Hollywood stardom. Apparently, Steph and Hunter sniggered at this, which annoyed Big Dave. But, after Guardians became the biggest domestic hit of 2014, we bet he was the one having the last laugh!
And so, we reach the number one spot for both our Worst and Best lists!
Dave Bautista
Lets start with our number one pick for the WORST wrestler turned actor...
1. Rob Van Dam
We'll be honest with this one. Rob Van Dam, better known as RVD, is a true legend in the wrestling business. His popularity with promotions like ECW and WWE cannot be questioned, and the list of accolades he has achieved during his career is extensive. He is the only wrestler in history to have held the WWE, ECW and TNA World Championships (and even held the WWE and ECW belts simultaneously, at one point). But, RVD always expressed himself in the ring. He was never exactly known for his promo abilities or charisma on the microphone. Which we always felt made him an odd choice for acting.
His leading role in 2010 direct-to-DVD action film Wrong Side Of Town is the single most perfect example of why RVD shouldn't have attempted acting. He is incredibly wooden and devoid of anything approaching a relatable human emotion. In fact, his performance is painful to watch. The film is only truly notable for featuring Batista in an early acting role, and it's safe to say his on-screen abiity has improved significantly after this dud.
Sorry RVD, but you're just no actor. Unlike our pick for the BEST wrestler turned actor...
1. The Rock
Was there ever any doubt?
Given that Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is a bona fide global acting megastar at this point, it really should have been obvious that he would be our number one on this list. Batista is showing promise, but there has never been another wrestler who has transitioned so well into the acting realm. In fact, these days Johnson is primarily thought of as a movie star, rather than a wrestler trying to act. And that's a pretty big achievement when you consider all the other wrestling stars that have attempted to crack Hollywood over the years.
His roles in the Fast & Furious franchise, San Andreas and Central Intelligence helped make him the highest paid actor in Hollywood in 2016. He has made a cool $64.5 million dollars this year. Which is very nice work if you can get it! Aside from his financial success, Johnson has also proven himself as a very good actor. He is equally comfortable with action blockbuster roles as he is with light comedy. He has even shown an aptitude for drama in his HBO TV series Ballers, which we hope he expands upon in future movie roles.
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