Best Wrestler Actor in Hollywood? A New List Sparks Debate

The Hollywood Reporter recently sparked a debate among wrestling and movie fans with its list of the best wrestlers who became actors. While the list features many iconic names, some of the rankings and omissions are certainly up for discussion.

According to their rankings, Dave Bautista has claimed the top spot as the best wrestler-turned-actor, with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson coming in a close second. John Cena rounds out the top three, solidifying a trio of modern WWE superstars who have successfully transitioned to Hollywood.

Here is the full top ten list from The Hollywood Reporter:

1. Dave Bautista
2. Dwayne Johnson
3. John Cena
4. Roddy Piper
5. Adam Copeland
6. Kevin Nash
7. Hulk Hogan
8. Paul Wight
9. Jesse Ventura
10. Andre The Giant

Notable Omissions and Rankings

One of the biggest oversights is the absence of the most famous luchador in Mexican history, El Santo. A cultural icon, El Santo was a massive film star, appearing in over 50 movies. His exclusion is a significant miss for any list discussing wrestlers in cinema. You can see his extensive filmography on his IMDb page.

Questionable Rankings

While I wouldn't argue Batista being ranked over The Rock, in terms of quality of movies (certainly not box office), some of the rankings themselves are debatable. For instance, Jesse "The Body" Ventura at number nine feels far too low. With memorable roles in major films like Predator and The Running Man, Ventura made a significant impact in Hollywood and certainly has a case for a much higher position on the list. The same could be said for "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, whose leading role in the cult classic They Live is iconic. While the top four are strong contenders, there's a compelling argument for both Ventura and Piper to be ranked higher.

Another point of contention is Andre The Giant's placement at number ten, below Hulk Hogan who is ranked at seven. The original article credits Hogan as being the first wrestler to break into movies, which is inaccurate. Wrestlers had been appearing in films for decades before Hogan's first role. While Hogan had a run of films, Andre's role as Fezzik in The Princess Bride is beloved and has immense repeat value, a quality that many of Hogan's films lack. For that reason alone, Andre The Giant deserves to be ranked higher.

Ultimately, ranking artistic careers is a subjective exercise. While The Hollywood Reporter placed Bautista at the pinnacle, the list serves more as a conversation starter than a definitive final word. The debates over the placements of beloved figures like Ventura and Piper, and the complete omission of international stars like El Santo, show that every fan has their own unique top ten.