Wrestler's Previous Jobs

Steve Austin

Before he became Stone Cold, Steve Austin used to work at a loading dock.

Batista

Before Batista became a professional wrestler he was a professional bodybuilder and a bouncer.

Jonathon Coachman

Before "Coach" became a broadcaster for the World Wrestling Federation, he was a sportscaster for a local news program.

Daffney

Before WCW's "Scream Queen" broke into wrestling, she was into soccer and considered being a professional soccer star.  She also had a bit part in "Santa Claus: the Movie."

Nitro Girl Chae

Before Chae became a Nitro Girl, she was a cheerleader for the Atlanta Falcons (NFL) Football team and she also ran the family business.

Johnny Fairplay

Before he joined TNA Wrestling, he starred on the hit CBS TV show Survivor: Pearl Islands.  He didn't win, but made it to the final three contestants.  On the TV show his job was credited as grocery store clerk.

Goldberg

Before becoming one of WCW's main stars he played football for the Atlanta Falcons. He injured himself and decided on a career in wrestling.

Orlando Jordan

One job that Jordan held was being a member of the U.S. Forest Service, a group that is responsible to help put out forest fires.

Maven

Before winning Tough Enough 1 and competing in the WWE, Maven was a sixth grade teacher at Twality Middle School in suburban Portland, Oregon.

Leia Meow

Before she became a star in ECW and WCW, she danced in bar, where one day Raven came across her and introduced her into the sport of wrestling.  his jobs included working at dozens of restaurants as bus boys, limo driver, water deliverer, police officer and body guard. He said that he excelled

The Miz

Before joining the WWE, he appeared on MTV's The Real World in 2001, The Real World/Road Rules Challenge, Fear Factor, and WWE's Tough Enough.

Elix Skipper

Elix used to be a manager for a McDonald's in New York state.  He saw a commercial for the WCW Power Plant and applied.

Rico

Rico had many different jobs before becoming a wrestler. He appeared on episodes of "American Gladiators" in the 1990's as a competitor.

Steve Romero

Before he became a commentator for the WWE, he worked at the local NBC affiliates in Denver, Colorado and Kansas City, Missouri doing sports reporting.

Sgt. Slaughter

Sgt Slaughter was in the Marine Corps before he became a wrestler, and that is where he got his wrestling name from: it was his nickname in the Marine Corps.

Nitro Girl Syren

Before Allison became a Nitro Girl, she was a dancer for the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) basketball team, worked in a clothing store, and had a few small dancing jobs.

Tatanka

Before becoming a wrestler, Tatanka was a Divisional Manager for Bally's Health and Tennis Corp.  He almost received a contract to play football for the Miami Dolphins, but turned it down. 

Tygress

Before she became a Nitro Girl, Vanessa Sanchez was a dancer and actor while she was a CPA for a large accounting firm.

Victoria

Before she became a wrestler and after she graduated college, she worked in a tissue bank where she would remove organs from recently deceased people for transplantation.

Wrestlers Who Played Professional Sports

Kurt Angle

Appeared in the 1996 Summer Olympics from Atlanta, US for the United States in freestyle wrestling. He won the gold medal in his weight class: 220 lbs.

Droz

Played for the Denver Broncos in the NFL.

Goldberg

Played for the Atlanta Falcons for three years in the NFL.

Kevin Greene

Played for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL.

John Heidenrich

Played for the NFL's Washington Redskins, the New Orleans Saints, and the Atlanta Falcons.

Mark Henry

Appeared in the 1996 Summer Olympics from Atlanta, US for the United States in weightlifting.

Junk Yard Dog

He played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers.

Lex Luger

Played in the CFL for the Montreal Alouettes, the Green Bay Packers in the NFL and Tampa Bay Bandits and Memphis Showboats  in the USFL.

Steve McMichael

Played for the Chicago Bears in the NFL.

Ernie Ladd

He played for the San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers and the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL.

Ken Patera

He appeared in the Olympics as a power weight lifter, winning a gold medal.

Tito Santana

He played professional football as a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL and the British Columbia Lions of the CFL

Randy Savage

Played for the Minor League Cincinnati Reds affiliate in baseball.

Ron Simmons

Played for the NFL Cleveland Browns and USFL Tampa Bay Bandits

 Wrestlers Without Previous Jobs

René Duprée

Since René was signed to the WWE at age 19, he didn't have any other jobs. He wrestled for his father's promotion in Quebec, Canada while in high school and the moth after he graduated, he signed with the WWE

Rey Mysterio, Jr.

He started in the wrestling business in Mexico around the age of 14 while still in high school.  He would take his homework with him to the arena to do while he wasn't in the ring.

Yang of the Jung Dragons (WCW)

Yang graduated high school the same year that he stared for World Championship Wrestling, 1999.

Don't forget to check out pWw's list of wrestlers that have become politicians