BROWN'S FIVE AT 5 / Vol.3, Issue 2: Wrestlers in Hollywood
- The Great Brown Hope
- Mar 4
- 7 min read
"Why you gotta hate? Steady hating mine. Smiling in my face, faking on the side. They don't wanna see me shine."
Yo yo yo, waddup with thee! It's The Great Brown Hope right chea, and The Great Brown Hope truly hopes this finds you in great spirits. If not, well, pour up your favorite spirit, just be careful how you use it and dont abuse it when you do it. Be good to yourself pimp juice. We Ouchea. Believe that.
We back with another one. Just a few days ago The Great Brown Hope took and broke down Five, count em, FIVE wrestling based characters in movies and TV shows. This time around we talking FIVE wrestlers in movies and TV shows. Now, dont get it twisted, this won't be about wrestlers wrestling, nah broseph. Otherwise I would have included Percy Watson's appearance in The Walking Dead.
Some of our favorite wrestlers have been able to crossover into film and television. Some have been able to become more than just movie stars. Some have either become focal points or mainstays in succesful franchises. Some in more franchises than one. Former wrestling superstars became superstars in Hollywood, staring in multiple films and television shows. And with a core, loyal fanbase, these stars have continued to succeed in the film industry.
And while continued appearances for the Fed have become few, it's still good to see em pop up on the big screen doing their thang. Are they the best movies in the world? I dont know, you tell me if I cant tell you. I wouldnt say they're the best ever, but some of em are up in the sense of not only entertainment, but sentimental value as well. Some of these movies happened during my childhood/teenagehood, around the same time I had already grown to love a couple of these characters in the squared circle.
LETS GET TO IT YALL!!
BROWN'S FIVE AT 5
VOLUME 3 / ISSUE 2
FIVE WRESTLING STARS IN MOVIES AND TV SHOWS
HONORABLE MENTION
Luther Reigns in Girl Next Door
Had to do this one cause I figured y'all wouldn't remember this movie, Luther Reigns, or that Luther Reigns was in this movie. Roman Reigns' cousin Luther has a small role in this film as the boyfriend/personal security to an adult film star. Girl Next Door isn't a terrible movie, it's actually funny, but that's not what this storee is about. Anyway, Luther Reigns gets to growl and throw stuff here, big scary wrestler in movie thangs.
5.EDGE as "Flatnose"
(Vikings)
This is the second time I mention Vikings. Truly an awesome show to binge watch so do the deed if you haven't already.
Edge plays the character of Flatnose whom arrives in Kattegat with his family. Edge would be a recurring character with long stints and important storeelines throughout Season 5 and Season 6. This was after Edge had been gone from wrestling a few years during the time he was forced to retire so it was great to see him kick ass on TV again. Flatnose would be one of the more interesting characters that eventually falls into madness, a character Edge can play, and does play, very very well. This show ends up splitting into multiple storeelines to keep up with all of the Sons of Ragnar Lothbrok and other characters tied directly to his legacy. Flatnose is one of the characters that belongs and ties storeelines together in the process as we witness his slow, tragic, and violent evolution of a truly mad man. Lust for power consumes Flatnose completely in the end, revealing the true nature of his intentions that cost him not only his family, but his humanity as well.
4.BATISTA as "Drax The Destroyer"
(Guardians of the Galaxy/MCU)
At the height of his career, Batista was a focal point of the Ruthless Aggression era. A former WWE and World Heavyweight Champion, Batista would take his natural abilities and charisma to the big screen. Batista would land the gig of a lifetime, landing the role of Drax in Guardian's of the Galaxy. Introduced to us in the jail scene of the film, Drax would join our new heroes on a quest to sell the orb to The Collector, and the rest is historee. Drax and this new band of galactic heroes would become a staple in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Batista appearing in FOUR Guardian films, ONE Thor film, and TWO Avenger films. This character would grow from his beaten, broken, and vengeful beginnings and become the fun loving, hilarious, and extremely humble Drax we have come to adore. Batista would continue to star and appear in other films, but it's no secret that Batista's film career will always be remembered for his portrayal of Drax the Destroyer.
3.KANE as Jacob Goodnight
(See No Evil and See No Evil 2)
The Big Red Machine, to me, always seemed like he was built to be the star of a horror series. I still remember the day the movie was announced and I was more than anxious for said movie to drop in theaters. Kane plays the role of Jacob Goodknight, a character whose only purpole was to destroy. With no need for costume or makeup, Kane's scary presence added to the aura and realness of the film as he stalked, tortured, and seemingly ended the lives of many supporting characters of the film. A cult classic, See No Evil's rewatch value is to be reviewed, as I can surely watch this again and again...and again. Plus I'll never get over Kane showing up to the premiere in his ring attire.
See No Evil would prove to be a box office success, generating more revenue than their initial budget. And although a success, it would be years before we would get a follow up film in the form of See No Evil 2. Kane will not only go down as one of the greatest wrestlers of his time, but will also go down as one of the greater horror villains of the genre.
2.JOHN CENA as Jakob Toretto
(F9 and Fast X)
John Cena has been everywhere. Literally. As soon as the man that cannot be seen made himself visible to the masses, there was no slowing him down. First appearing in WWE Films, Cena would transition into appearing in numerous TV shows whilst also making cameos in films. Cena would eventually make his way into not one, but THREE different popular franchises. And after landing the role of Peacemaker in the second Suicide Squad movie, Cena would also get his own Peacemaker show on HBO. But his biggest role to date will be his involvement with the Fast and Furious franchise. Cena would portray the banished brother of Dom Toretto, a heel character working for the same "bad guys" that were intent on taking out Dom and his crew. Of course Jakob would eventually join his brother and the "good guys" to fight the "good fight", cementing his place in not just the core Fast crew, but etch his place in Fast's legacy. And although being written off after a noble sacrifice to save his brother and his nephew, the sky knows no limits in the ever expanding Fast Saga and can honestly say we just may see him pop up again in one of, if not both, of the "last" Fast Saga films. Cena's success in Hollywood continues, as he is currently not only on his last WWE run, but filming a new film as well. John Cena has become a household name in film and sports, and perhaps if he drops another album he can be a household name in hip hop as well.
1.THE ROCK as Mathayus, The Scorpion King
(The Scorpion King and The Mummy Returns)
Look, pump the brakes before you hit the gas cause this is NOT about The Rock's film debut in The Mummy Returns. And now because I can't get that image of Rocky in that movie out of my head, neither will you.
However, after The Great One's Hollywood debut in The Mummy Returns, the rest was historee.
The Scorpion King, prequel to The Mummy series, tells the storee of Mathayus and what led to the fulfillment of his destiny. Rocky would play a ruthless mercenary hired to take out the sorceress of Memnon, the film's main antagonist. After failing said mission, Mathayus' brother and friend would fall to Memnon and his soldiers and Mathayus would become the last of their people. Without spoiling too much in case y'all haven't seen it, this film is a standout from it's time and never takes itself too seriously. And by that I mean The Rock resorts to not only busting out his signature moves in the film, but would also utilize his patented People's Eyebrow.
Whilst not the greatest film ever made, this film would not have been as great without Rocky's natural charisma. No one, AND THE GREAT BROWN HOPE MEANS NO ONE, could ever replace Rocky as Mathayus, evidenced by the two follow up films that starred two different actors in the staring role. Dwayne Johnson is now quite possibly the biggest star in AAAAAAAAALL of entertainment. Sure he may not be in any five star films and what not, but his resume truly speaks for itself. And while still making appearances for the Fed, Rocky will always be a staple in Hollywood year in and year out, then, now, and forever.
Thanks for reading y'all. Dont forget to follow The Great Brown Hope on all his socials. And follow us on our Main Event Wrestling Network socials as well at our linktree below.
Dont forget to hit that heart button at the bottom. And dont forget to brush your teeth. See y'all again soon.
(this chapter of Storee Time with The Great Brown Hope has been brought to you by Four Loko. Drink Four Loko.)
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Playlist
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony "Waves"
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony ft. J Rush "See Me Shine"
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony "Wind Blow"
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony "Fire"
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony "Hustla"
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony "Hip Hop Baby"
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony "Everyday Thugs"
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony ft. Phil Bone Collins "Home"
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony "Can't Give It Up"
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony "How Many of Us Have Them"
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony ft. Poetic Hustlaz and GraveYard Shift "Shotz to Tha Double Glock"
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony "Down Foe My Thang"
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