Over the years plenty of people from the Olympic world have been able to translate into professional wrestling, no matter what sport they were involved in previously. Some of those athletes have gone on to become major names in the business, making an impact across major promotions like WWE that will never be forgotten.
However, some simply weren't able to translate in the same manner, whether it be because of their promo skills or not being able to adapt inside the ring in the same manner. It proves that being a successful athlete in another sport doesn't always guarantee success in another, particularly in the tough world of wrestling.
10 Succeeded In Wrestling: Mark Henry
Earning a Hall Of Fame ring is not something that comes with ease in professional wrestling, and the fact that Mark Henry earned that showcases the fact that he had an amazing career in the business. While he may not have always been working in the main event scene, Henry always had a significant role to play.
He also got plenty of chances to shine in major storylines, whether it was feuding with The Undertaker at WrestleMania or his Hall Of Pain storyline, he more than proved himself as one of the all-time greats.
9 Failed In Wrestling: Giant Gonzalez
A lot of fans may not know that Giant Gonzalez competed in the Olympic Games, but that is something he was able to achieve in 1988 when representing Argentina in the sport of basketball, which is what he played before becoming a professional wrestler, and it is clear to see why.
Gonzalez was a huge man, which worked perfectly for him in basketball, but it was ultimately a hindrance as he wasn't athletic enough to get around the ring in an entertaining manner. Fans remember him for his dreadful match with The Undertaker, and that's about it.
8 Succeeded In Wrestling: Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey became a household name via her work in the MMA world, but before that, she was able to compete at the Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal for her efforts. While her promo skills may not be perfect, there is no doubt that she has been a success in professional wrestling.
She is a one-time Raw and SmackDown Women's Champion, has won the Royal Rumble, and headlined WrestleMania. There is no doubt she has made a big impact on the business, and that is something that has been largely down to her star power.
7 Failed In Wrestling: Ken Patera
Ken Patera was a brilliant Olympic athlete and someone that was genuinely well-known, which made his decision to get into the professional wrestling world an exciting one for most people. While he had some memorable moments inside the ring, his career didn't quite reach the levels it should have.
He could easily have been an incredible athlete in professional wrestling with a slightly stronger push at times, and while he certainly had a good career, it wasn't quite at the same level as other former Olympians.
6 Succeeded In Wrestling: 'Mad Dog' Vachon
During his era, there were few wrestlers more entertaining or as physically imposing as 'Mad Dog' Vachon, who had a brilliant career in the business. He was a hard-hitting star who knew how to use his physical presence to be an entertaining and threatening on-screen character.
He is someone that remains memorable to this day, and that is a credit to the work that he put in during his time in the ring. His amateur background is something that certainly helped him out at times, but he transitioned into the professional world just as well.
5 Failed In Wrestling: Anthony Ogogo
Anthony Ogogo is still in the early stages of his professional wrestling career, and there is time for things to be turned around, but so far it hasn't been a strong start. His major feud in wrestling came against Cody Rhodes, and that proved to be a disaster in the eyes of most fans.
It is something he has yet to recover from in the business, and until that happens he is always going to fall into the failed category due to the poor reception that the entire angle was given.
4 Succeeded In Wrestling: Iron Sheik
The Iron Sheik is one of the most iconic names in the history of the wrestling business, which proves he more than thrived in the professional side of the sport. He is a former Olympian, but when people think about him, it is his success from inside the squared circle that people remember.
He always brought tons of personality to the ring, and his ability to get over as a character is ultimately what has made him such an iconic name over the years and is why he is one of the biggest stars of all time.
3 Failed In Wrestling: Erica Wiebe
Erica Wiebe is a name that a lot of wrestling fans likely aren't familiar with, and that is purely down to the fact that her journey into that sport was a failure. At one point WWE had high hopes for her as a performer, which is why she was given a tryout and shown at the Mae Young Classic.
However, things didn't end up working out in the manner that everybody had intended, despite her working at the WWE Performance Center, which ultimately led to her attempted career failing.
2 Succeeded In Wrestling: Kurt Angle
No other Olympian has made a bigger impact in the professional wrestling world than Kurt Angle, with the Gold medalist being one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of the business. While he was a legitimate amateur athlete, Angle had even more success in the professional world.
Inside the ring, he could hold his own with anybody, putting on high-quality matches regularly, but he also grasped the entertainment side of things. Angle was able to entertain with his promos, making people laugh, yet also believe he could be a main event player at the same time.
1 Failed In Wrestling: Giant Silva
Giant Silva is the type of attraction that Vince McMahon was always going to try and sign simply due to his size, but that didn't lead to him having a fantastic in-ring career. He was too large and didn't move around the ring well, with his performances often being very underwhelming.
His career was a flat one in professional wrestling, and he didn't last too long on the WWE roster. Even though he continued to work after that, he never made the impact needed to succeed in the business.