10 WWE Wrestlers Who Started as Bodybuilders [Video]

Professional wrestling is, notoriously, a “body business.” A performer has to be more than simply athletic to “get over” — they have to look the part, too. One way to do that is by crafting a larger-than-life physique that looks ripped straight from the pages of a comic book.

It should come as no surprise, then, that some of history’s top pro wrestlers emerged from the bodybuilding world. Also a mix of sport and spectacle, bodybuilding is a natural starting point for denizens of the squared circle. Luckily, wrestling tights are a little more forgiving than posing trunks.

With that in mind, here are 10 wrestlers who started on the bodybuilding stage.

One of the original high-flying wrestlers, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, was famed for his iconic dives from the top turnbuckle (or top of a steel cage) onto his opponents. Many credit him for innovating and popularising the risk-taking style that still dominates modern …