HeelByNature.com is reader-supported. When you click on links or make purchases through our site, we or our affiliated partners may earn a commission. Additionally, our site features Sponsored Content, which helps us maintain and operate the website.
If you think that the wrestlers you see on TV are a bunch of uneducated barbarians, then think again. There are a couple of them who are quite the academics. Why they decided to get into the rink instead of behind a desk is anyone’s guess, but one would think that the money that these guys make is a fairly safe bet.
It is hard to imagine that while they were studying at university, they were secretly also craving the limelight. Here are ten wrestlers that might surprise you with their qualifications
Dolph Ziggler
Here is a character that no one would have thought was once a law student. Before being known as Dolph Ziggler, Nicholas Nemeth studied political science and pre-law at Kent State University. It looks like the excitement of the rink was much better than the excitement of the courtroom.
David Otunga
Another wrestler who decided to trade the courtroom for the rink is David Otunga. Fighting opponents in the rink made much more sense to him than fighting crime out there. Before he was ever part of the NXT season, he was a practicing attorney and gave it all up for a spot on Raw and Smackdown.
Law has always been a top choice when it comes to college or university education and you’ll find many politicians and movie stars also on the list of people with law degrees. If you are already studying law or plan to enter a law college, it’s important to know about an academic service that writes essays for law students. EduBirdie leads the pack with a long margin as it’s the top choice for students from the best law colleges worldwide and you mist also try it for your law assignments.
Michelle McCool
One of the members of the LayCool team used to be a legit teacher. Michelle McCool received her Master’s in education before stepping into the rink. Instead of taking her frustrations out on the students in front of her, she opted for a bit more physical outlet in the form of wrestling.
Eve Torres
Another belle of the wrestling ball is Eve Torres. She is not just a pretty face as she received a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California. It was here where she was a member of the school’s dance squad and later joined the WWE.
Chris Jericho
Before the days of being the first Undisputed Champion in the history of the WWE, Chris Jericho was well on his way to become a journalist. He received his degree in journalism from Red River Community College in Winnipeg but found his calling in entertaining the crowds while he bashed in heads and rendered his opponents immobile.
The Rock
Before The Rock became one of the most successful wrestlers of all time, he was an academic man. He received a degree in General studies while pursuing a career in football. However, he soon found that wrestling held much more promise. After his wrestling days, he took to acting and we all know how well that turned out for him.
Kane
It all makes sense now. If Kane had pursued his academic career, he would have turned into a mad scientist or horror novelist. His wrestling personality is something of a paradox as he received a degree in English literature from Northeast Missouri State University. One can only imagine what fiction this mind can produce when given a chance.
John Cena
Another well-known wrestler who made his name in the rink is John Cena. It is hard to think that the likes of Cena once graced the halls of a college while he obtained a degree in Exercise Physiology and Movement Studies. Apart from being a talented wrestler, it would also explain his great physique. But his talents do not stop in the rink. Cena is also an accomplished actor and it seems that anything he touches turns to gold.
Maria Kanellis
One of the former WWE Divas was well on her way to earning her degree. One can imagine that the wrestling scene was her inspiration as she decided to enroll for a Sports Entertainment and Event Management degree. While still being part of the
scene, she enrolled and took her studies seriously. So much so that she quit the industry and finished her degree in 2017. Today she is a mother of two and loving her career.
Vince McMahon
The man, the legend, Vice McMahon, the man that started it all, is quite smart after all. Not only did he know what the people wanted in entertainment, but he also turned the industry into a multi-million dollar industry. Vince was not always destined for the rink, as his dad was opposed to the idea. Instead, he finished his degree in Business Administration in 1968. This degree served him well when he started out on his quest to establish WWE.
Although they might seem like a couple of gym fanatics and entertainers, there are a number of them who are more than the wrestlers we see on screen. When you look at who the successful wrestlers are, it makes you think that there is a case to made for mixing brains with brawn. One thing is certain, we are all glad they chose the rink instead of the books.