The 411 Wrestling Top 5 06.10.13: Week 222 – Top 5 Appearances By Wrestlers in Movies

Ryan Byers
5. Fred Blassie in My Breakfast with Blassie – I excluded this film from my list when we did “Top 5 Wrestling Movies” a couple of weeks back, because, even though one of the main characters is “Classy” Freddie Blassie, it’s not exactly a professional wrestling movie. It’s a surreal comedy in which Blassie and comedian Andy Kaufman engage in a partially scripted, partially improvised conversation that parodied the critically acclaimed film My Dinner with Andre. The fact that Blassie was able to keep up with Kaufman, who was a brilliant comedic mind, says a lot for his wit and ability to improvise, two qualities that the best pro wrestlers have always had, even if the mainstream does not necessarily acknowledge them for it.

4. George Steele in Ed Wood – Ed Wood, noted as one of the worst filmmakers of all time, had a stable of odd actors who would regularly be cast in his movies, and one of them was the “Swedish Angel” Tor Johnson, a wrestler in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Johnson was a large man with a hardened appearance that made him perfect for playing a heavy or a monster in low-grade sci fi fair, and, when it came time to cast somebody to play him in Tim Burton’s biopic Ed Wood, George “The Animal” Steele landed the role of the Swedish Angel. Steele doesn’t have much of a non-wrestling filmography outside of Ed Wood, but he captured Tor Johnson’s performances in movies such as Plan 9 from Outer Space very well, even if he wouldn’t necessarily do well in other roles.

3. Roddy Piper in The Live – They Live is a bit of a cult classic and has held that title for a couple of decades. I think that a big part of the reason it has endured so well is the performance of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. If you’ve watched many films with Piper, you know that he doesn’t exactly have a huge acting range. Basically, in every movie that he’s ever done, he plays a somewhat toned down version of his professional wrestling character. However, at the time of They Live, Piper hadn’t done that many motion pictures yet, so his limitations hadn’t been exposed. Instead, he was a cool action hero with good dry wit, ready to kick ass and chew bubblegum . . . though he was all out of bubblegum.

2. Andre the Giant in The Princess Bride – I loved this movie for the fantasy and action elements when I was a kid, and, as an adult, I love it even more due in part to the nostalgia factor and the wit that I didn’t necessarily appreciate when I was younger. Being a young wrestling fan, Andre was a big part of what attracted me to the picture in the first place, and he did a great job of putting across a “gentle giant” persona that made him remarkably likable, despite the fact that his freakish appearance and his role as a heel made me fear him when I first saw the guy. Unfortunately, as time has progressed, watching Andre’s performance in The Princess Bride has become a little bittersweet for me, because, as much as I may enjoy it, I now know just how much pain he was in during the filming as a result of his body turning against him. Reports from backstage are that he was so weakened that he couldn’t even lift Robin Wright when the script called for it.

1. Hulk Hogan in Rocky III – Hogan’s role in the film is relatively minor, but he does well enough playing the part he was asked to play, and you almost HAVE to put this at the top of your list simply because, without it, pro wrestling history might be radically different. It is the mainstream exposure that the Hulkster received from appearing in the red-hot Rocky franchise that turned him into one of the hottest commodities in pro wrestling in the United States. (Not many people realize it, but he was already a main event act in Japan before this point.) This made him insanely popular in the AWA, to the point that he was a no-brainer for the WWF to pick up once Vince McMahon Jr. took over the promotion, and we all know what the younger McMahon and the WWF did with Hulk Hogan. The Hulkster probably would’ve been a star in wrestling even without Rocky, but it went a long way into making him more of a household name than just a pro wrestling star.

Michael Weyer
5. Tyler Mane, X-Men A bit overlooked, I believe. Mane’s wrestling career wasn’t major but he was big and had a nasty look so it made sense for him to be cast as heavy Sabretooth, a character not really known as a deep thinker. You needed someone big to smash up Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Mane did a good job of it, really selling a feral being and doing well with the big fight scenes. Not a major role but still a highlight of the first truly great Marvel movie and how wrestlers can be used well for these type of roles.

4. Harold Sakata, Goldfinger: In what is generally recognized as the greatest James Bond of all time, the Japanese wrestler had what is believed the role of the greatest henchmen ever: Oddjob. He never said a word but stole every moment he was on screen with his sinister manner, his tuxedo off-setting his brutal ways and, of course, that razor-rimmed bowler hat. His final fight with Bond is great and he goes out with a spectacular finish fitting for such a great character that Sakata sells beautifully.

3. The Rock, Fast Five There’s a reason the Fast and Furious franchise has lasted so long and been a hit: They’re just so damn fun, mindless entertainment in a good way. For the fifth movie, they went all out with all the characters of previous movies teaming together but needed a nemesis. Enter Dwayne Johnson as a tough FBI agent out to take the gang down. The Rock was totally believable in the role, tough but cool and his throw-down with Vin Diesel was a major highlight. Of course, he ends up teaming with the gang, leading to a great action mix that brings the movie to its wild conclusion and shows once more the star power the Rock has.

2. Andre the Giant, The Princess Bride I saw this movie in its original theatrical run, long before it became a beloved cult classic. At the time, Andre was clearly not long for the ring but got some new life thanks to his fame for this movie. He’s great using his size, the good-hearted giant, a bit dim but still funny as when he fights Wesley and just shrugs at his size but still getting funny bits. It reminds you why Andre was able to win over fans for so many years and grounds an already great film with warmth.

1. Hulk Hogan in Rocky III This was the moment Hogan went from just a wrestler to, you know HULK HOGAN. The casting makes sense as he’s Thunderlips, meant to be the ultimate wrestler to go against Rocky, an obvious homage to the infamous Andre/Inoki fight. Hogan is great pushing his ego, tossing Rocky like a rag doll and then brawling with cops, turning a charity match into a war. Then, he drops the act to shake Rocky’s hand and explain he just wanted to give the fans a good show. It’s not only fun but important to the movie to show how, as a serious fighter, Rocky is a shadow of himself. Of course, Hogan was the winner, boosted to the limelight he’d use to be the biggest star in the business so it’s not just a cameo but an important part of wrestling history.

Francisco Ramirez
5. Kevin Nash in “Grandmas Boy” – “YOU’RE A HOOKER!” Obscure, not exactly a Hollywood classic, but a guilty pleasure of mine. Kevin Nash appeared towards the beginning of the film as one of the movers brought in by Rob Schnieder’s landlord character. Nash’s lines consist of a couple of sentences, the main one being “that will massage your cock for money”. Hollywood at it’s finest.

4. The Big Show in “The Waterboy” – The last WWE house show I attended I still saw a couple of Captain Insane-O signs. Yeah, it was a bit part, in was about five minutes of screen time, but Big Show showed he had the capabilities to actually be more than just the Giant. Hey it’s Big Show laughing at a man-child, how can that not be entertaining?

3. Silver King in “Nacho Libre” – Ramses, the “villain” of sorts in Nacho Libre. Played by former WCW wrestler and Lucha star Silver King. He portrayed the flamboyant golden masked superstar extremely well, and added some flavor and credibility to the film that was very loosely based on Priest turned Luchador Fray Tormenta.

2. Terry Funk in “Over the Top” – “Mr. Cutler is talking to you!” That’s the line that set off Lincoln Hawke, badass name by the way, played by Silvester Stallone in the gem from the 80’s Over the Top. Funk played a security guard/ bodyguard for antagonist and former father in law Jason Cutler. Scott Norton also had himself a nice little cameo during the arm wrestling tournament.

1. Hulk Hogan in “Rocky III” – “The Ultimate Male versus the Ultimate Meatball!” The scene that pushed Hulk Hogan to become the star that he became. I ask myself though, or maybe I should ask Sforcina, why oh why didn’t Hogan wrestle at least once in the pimptastic Thunderlips gear. Fun little trivia fact, the original Rocky was based loosely on the Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner fight, and the Wrestler Vs. Boxer portion of Rocky 3 was based on Chuck Wepner’s fight with Andre the Giant.

Jack McGee
I am trying not to use people already listed to try and make the lists a bit different.

5. Antonio Inoki – The Bad News Bears Go to Japan – My little nephews love the Bad News Bears movies, and always love the wrestling scene with Inoki. For that alone it makes my list, because it is a fun family thing for us.

4. Steve Austin, Goldberg, Kevin Nash, Bob Sapp and the Great Khali – The Longest Yard – The remake of The Longest Yard was a movie that did not need to be made. It didn’t capture the tone of the first film, instead, it was an Adam Sandler film. Some liked it, some hated it; but the one thing I loved about the movie was the roles of the wrestlers. Steve Austin, Goldberg, Kevin Nash, Bob Sapp and even the Great Khali all are great in the film, and were the only reason to watch.

3. Jerry Lawler – Man on the Moon – While jerry Lawler is simply paying himself in the film, the addition of Lawler does a lot to make that segment of the film one of the best. The fact that they had Lawler there to play himself, recount the whole thing to the writers and also do his own work added a lot to the movie, which while some do not like, I do.

2. Roddy Piper – They Live – They Live is considered a cult classic, and while in many ways not a particularly great movie, people still find it and love it. The film stars Roddy Piper, essentially playing Roddy Piper in many ways. No one accused him of being a great actor, but it fits here. Besides, this is the only reason that people watch the movie…

1. Randy Savage – Spider-Man – “Bonesaw is ready!” I will not lie, I am a huge wrestling geek, and Randy Savage as Bonesaw in Spider-Man is my favorite part of the movie. Part of it is that I liked the fact that they got a wrestler to play the role but the big part of it is that I am a huge Randy Savage mark. The guy is great, and also did some very fun voice over work. Like Grandpa Space Ghost on Space Ghost Coast to Coast.