If wrestling is purely scripted, then it only makes these ripped superstars the best actors in the ring. That’s why it’s hardly surprising that most of our favorite World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstars have also ventured into acting—taking on roles both in films and television shows. However, whenever we talk about wrestlers-turned-actors, our top of mind personalities would always be John Cena and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson—especially now that Cena’s Playing with Fire and Johnson’s Jumanji: The Next Level just hit the cinemas.
Thankfully, iflix has a list of movies that starred wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan, Adam “Edge” Copeland, and Paul “Triple H” Levesque, to name a few! And to give you an idea of what to binge-watch with your family during New Year’s Eve, we have listed down some of our personal favorites:
The Reunion (2011)
Directed and written by Michael Pavone, we can testify that The Reunion is not just your typical family movie. After her father’s death, Nina (Amy Smart) is left to fulfill her dad’s last wish: to find and reunite with her estranged brothers. If they manage to stay together for 2 years, each of the half-siblings will each receive a sum of 3 million dollars. However, this will turn out to be a greater challenge for Nina than expected, as her brothers, Sam (John Cena), a tough cop on suspension; Leo (Ethan Emry) an overbearing bail bondsman; and Douglas (Boyd Holbrook), a thief fresh out of jail, seem to have different plans. And when Leo manages to get involved in the rumored kidnapping of one of the richest people in the country, he asks his newfound brothers to join him in what can only be described as an exciting adventure.
No Holds Barred (1989)
Truly an icon and the first face of WWE, Hulk Hogan is one of the most well-known wrestlers in the 80s who made a full-time transition from wrestling to acting. As an actor, Hogan starred in a lot of movies such as Rocky III (1982), Suburban Commando (1991), and 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998) but for us, No Holds Barred (1989) is his famous movie to date. Produced by the WWF and Vince McMahon under the Shane Distribution Company, the 1989 feature film follows the story of Rip, a professional wrestler who is very loyal to his fans and network. When Rip refuses to accept the rival company’s offer, conflicts will arise between him and the network he wrestles for.
Fans can also expect cameos from Jesse Ventura and Mean Gene Okerlund as commentators and Howard Finkel as the ring announcer.
Bending the Rules (2012)
Known for his ring name “Edge,” retired professional wrestler Adam Copeland also appeared in some movies—and one of which is Bending the Rules in 2012. Directed by Artie Mandelberg, the story revolves around Theo Gold (Jamie Kennedy), an Assistant District Attorney who finds himself trapped in a series of unfortunate events.
His love life is on shaky ground, his job is at stake if he loses his high-profile case against Harry Blades (Adam Copeland) and his father’s car (a 1956 Studebaker Goldenhawk, by the way) is missing. With all the things that have been happening to Gold, he ironically finds a partner-in-crime in Blades, an edgy detective who is currently on trial for corruption. As the movie progresses, the two lead characters will eventually realize that their search for the stolen car is just the start of a much bigger adventure!
The Chaperone (2011)
Starring Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Yeardley Smith, Annabeth Gish, Ariel Winter, and Kevin Corrigan, The Chaperone is a 2011 American crime comedy film directed by Stephen Herek and produced by WWE Studios. In the movie, Triple H plays the role of Raymond “Ray” Bradstone, a former robber who quits his job to be a good father to his daughter Sally (Winter) and make amends with his ex-wife Lynne (Gish). While serving as a chaperone for Sally’s school field trip, Bradstone will once again encounter his old bank-robbing crew, asking him to be part of their last heist. Viewers who have a strong or loving father-daughter relationship will surely enjoy this action-packed movie.
To see the selection of shows you can watch today, visit iflix.com or download the app via Google Play or App Store.
