What does the NFL and WWE have in common? Quite a lot it would seem, given the powerful giants that have graced both America’s No 1 sport and wrestling entertainment.
Indeed, many of Vince McMahon’s biggest stars have a history in playing college football, or in unique cases, the NFL. Some of them are among the most famous names in wrestling, who have gained legions of fans along the way.
Here Star Sport looks at six household names that were as captivating on a field as they were between the ropes.
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Brock Lesnar
(Image: WWE)
Anyone who thinks wrestlers are one dimensional athletes indulging in fake combat, probably should avoid Brock Lesnar. ‘The Beast Incarnate’ took a break from WWE following Wrestlemania XX in 2004, and after announcing his intention to return to the sport he excelled in during college, signed with the Minnesota Vikings. He played several pre-season games for them as a defensive tackle, but a serious groin injury curtailed his time there.
He would later return to WWE, but also graced MMA and became the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion. The 45-year-old continued to flick between the two industries, with stunning success.
Goldberg
(Image: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
One of the few to have held the world heavyweight title in both WCW and WWE, it could all have been different for Bill Goldberg were it not for a serious injury. Picked by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1990 NFL draft, he played that season before further stints with Sacramento Gold Miners in Canada and the Atlanta Falcons.
His NFL career seemed reignited when he was selected by the newly-formed Carolina Panthers in 1995, but never played an NFL game for his new side before the defensive tackle tore his lower abdomen off his pelvis. He never forgot what he learnt though, with his ‘spear’ finishing move becoming renowned in wrestling circles.
Ron Simmons aka Farooq
(Image: George Napolitano/MediaPunch/IPx)
Simmons is best known for becoming the first Afro-American star to win the WCW World Heavyweight title. He followed that with an iconic WWE career, teaming up with Bradshaw to form the Acolytes and become one of the most highly regarded tag-teams in wrestling history.
Before all that though, came a great college football career before he represented the Cleveland Browns in 1981 and 1982. The defensive nose guard then played for the Tampa Bay Bandits in the USFL for three years, where he was teammate of Lex Luger’s. But whatever happened to him?
Lex Luger
(Image: WWE)
NFL player or WWE star – what’s the better career? Let us know in the comments section.
As it happens, the 1994 co-Royal Rumble winner ended up following the same path as his old friend, winning titles in WCW before joining WWE. His early football pro-football career had been plagued by ill-discipline. but the linebacker signed with NFL outfit the Green Bay Packers in 1982.
Fate was not on his side though. He spent his debut season on the team’s injured reserve list with a groin problem. He returned the following campaign but was soon released, and duly dropped down a level before opting for tights and elbow pads.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan
(Image: WWE)
An NFL career ruined by injury before becoming a household name in WWE. Becoming a familiar theme isn’t it? And sure enough, Jim Duggan continues it, signing for the Atlanta Falcons in the late 70s, only for his time in NFL to be plagued by a knee injury.
All wasn’t lost though. Portrayed as an American patriot, he became famed in wrestling circles for carrying around a 2×4 plank of wood. It did the trick, later becoming a WWE Hall of Fame entry and remains tied to the company with a legends contract.
Big Van Vader
(Image: WWE)
We saved the best till last. As if earning the ring alias Big Van Vader wasn’t iconic enough, Leon Allen White earned a Super Bowl ring before becoming a scary title-winning monster in wrestling. In 1978, he was drafted as a centre by the Los Angeles Rams.
The franchise duly tasted glory that same season, although Vader’s contribution was, well, limited. He spent the campaign on the injured reserve list due to a ruptured patella and a year later, had to retire from the sport.
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