Dave Bautista ranked No. 1 among wrestler-actors by The Hollywood Reporter
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Dave Bautista has been named the best actor to transition from professional wrestling (WWE) to Hollywood by The Hollywood Reporter. Known as “The Animal” during his wrestling career, Bautista gained even more popularity in film and television thanks to his wider range of roles compared to fellow wrestlers-turned-actors such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena.
Bautista topped the list, ahead of John Cena and The Rock. His peak wrestling years included his rivalry with Cena, highlighted at WrestleMania 21 in 2005. Both men began pursuing Hollywood careers in the early 2010s, appearing in multiple action and comedy films.
Following Bautista, The Rock, and John Cena, the ranking continues with Roddy Piper, Adam Copeland, Kevin Nash, Hulk Hogan, Paul Wight, Jesse Ventura, and André the Giant in fourth through tenth place.
Bautista achieved blockbuster success as Drax in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, directed by James Gunn, and in Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, among other major studio films. He made his last WWE appearance in 2019, facing Triple H before retiring the day after his loss to “The Game.”
Bautista has previously stated that stardom does not matter to him: “Honestly, I don’t care about being a movie star. I don’t live a big, glamorous life. I live in Tampa. I don’t care about being in the spotlight. Fame doesn’t matter. I just want to be a better actor. I want to be respected by my peers as an actor. I don’t need awards—I really don’t, man. What matters is the experience, knowing you achieved something. I never wanted to be the next Rock. I just want to be a damn good actor.”
In an interview with Gizmodo, he recalled how Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve encouraged him: “I didn’t feel confident in myself. But he came up to me and said: ‘I feel like you’re holding back. You’re a really good actor, my friend. Just trust your instincts.’”
