A wrestler’s look is more than half of what they sell while in the business. And if anyone looks deep into the annals of time, there have been some interesting “looks” to say the least. Some great and spectacular and some leaving a little to be desired. Think back to Jesse “The Body” Ventura and “Superstar” Billy Graham. Their looks and gimmicks were legendary, but if you’ve seen either of them today, they both changed considerably over the long, long years passed.

Now of course we understand that everybody gets old, but it seems that certain wrestlers seem to change quite a bit more than say… a regular Joe. Maybe it’s the hard life they’ve led, i.e.: time on the road, bad diet, maybe one too many beers and hoagies after a long, hard night. Really, who’s to say? But as it turns out, many wrestlers from the past few decades have indeed changed and most of them don’t look like themselves. For wrestling fans, searching the internet can at times be shocking, especially when checking up on old favourites that thrilled us with their work in the squared circle. Perhaps this is why it affects us so much in the end.

Regardless, here’s a list of 20 wrestlers that have changed quite a bit and both from WWE and WCW. Hold onto your hats. Some of these may surprise you.

20 WWE: The Undertaker

The Undertaker is still making appearances, but his look is a stretch. The flowing black hair is a serious dye job as he went grey a few years back. If you were to see him on his down time, he presents a very different look and in most circumstances looks nothing like the character he’s played for years as he strides to the ring to defeat many an unfortunate wrestler.

This year, he collected yet another win against John Cena at WrestleMania and looked quite trim and toned, but the actual match was kept extremely short.

It was kept to about 3 minutes as there was surely no way he would have been able to keep up with Cena for over a certain amount of time. We respect the years that Taker put in, but these are the circumstances that remind us that the WWE is the big screen of wrestling companies and they can have the fans believing anything with enough “movie magic.”

19 WCW: Scott Steiner

Big Poppa Pump! His physique was renowned, and especially in his time with WCW. He was always in great shape, but when he was in WCW and at the height of the NWO faction, nobody was bigger… in size of course.

His biceps were huge and he made a point of showing them off on his slow walk to the ring, often kissing his body of work… literally.

We can’t forget that he wasn’t all about the muscle, although it is sometimes easy to forget, but he was an amateur wrestler at one time and his claim to fame was indeed legitimate. Although he looks different now and the only way to recognize him is with that goatee of his, he doesn’t look all that bad for someone who was as huge as him. He looks rather lean at that. He’s probably still packing a decent set of biceps under all those sensible clothes… now, “Holla, if ya hear me!”

18 WWE: Shawn Michaels

“The Heartbreak Kid” was a wrestler that was most certainly known for his looks. After all, the nickname had to come from somewhere. And quite the handsome devil he was, his looks going along quite well with his devilish nature and incredible skills in the ring. Over the years, he wowed us with his athleticism and he became known as “Mr. WrestleMania,” having had quite the number of awesome matches at the biggest night of the year quite a few years over.

In 1998, he went a way for a while, due to injury, but came back in 2002 and was quite slimmer than he was when he left. Regardless, he didn’t miss a step and he continued to wrestle, but as the years draw on, so did his face change and his body seemingly deteriorate, as his back was a constant issue. To see him now, his face isn’t in the best shape it's ever been, but his body is still athletic. He also got a new haircut!

17 WCW: Vampiro

Yup… that’s the dude from WCW that had the “misfits” style face paint and had that infamous Human Torch Match with Sting. If you’ve never seen the match, we suggest you do. It wasn’t the best idea at the time, but it definitely is entertaining now, trust us.

Vampiro’s career in WCW wasn’t very long and was mysterious to say the least.

He wasn’t exactly a fan favorite, but he sure had a following. He can’t be called a bad wrestler and he definitely put his time in at the gym. These days, he still makes appearances and has quite a few interviews online where he divulges a lot of info and tall tales from back in the day, but he sure doesn’t look the same as the photograph can attest.

16 WWE: Triple H

“Hunter Hearst Helmsley,” “Triple H,” “The Game,” and “The King of Kings.” He sure as heck had enough nicknames and monikers, and that’s not counting his time in WCW. Triple H can indeed be considered one of the best and most dedicated when looking back over the years and considering his current position with the company, he has definitely made it the furthest up the ladder.

But back in the attitude era, fans would never have thought that the leader of DX, who had the flowing long blond hair would ever shave it off and grow out an epic beard.

But that’s exactly what happened, and his image couldn’t be more “night and day.” He sure doesn’t look the same, but he doesn’t look bad, that’s for sure.

15 WCW: Lex Luger

Lex Lugar was the epitome of a fit existence. Not only that, in his heyday in WWE, he could have most certainly been considered to be the fittest and most muscular wrestler in the locker room. Although he did have a good run with WWE, he predominantly wrestled for good old Ted Turner and company at WCW, both before and after his run in WWE. In WCW, he seemed only bigger; with a lighter schedule, he had more time to lift weights and eat right.

Unfortunately he struggle with addiction issues and after his retirement he fell harder than ever and a load of health problems and his history led to his downfall.

But the great news is that he kicked his habits and found God and he is doing well today … only he lost all his muscular gains and looks very different from his former self.

14 WWE: Joey Mercury

Back in December of 2006, Joey Mercury would suffer a terrible accident in the ring when he competed in a fatal four-way ladder match at the Armageddon pay-per-view. The incident was gruesome indeed and a distinct gasp can be heard in the audience when he was hit in the face with one of the ladders, which broke his orbital bone and nose. He was unable to continue the match.

Many have wondered if the injury itself hasn’t led to the difference seen in his face and features over the years, as facial injuries of that nature have been heard to cause serious changes, especially when the nose or orbital bone have been affected. He left the company shortly after but returned in 2010, yet has left again to wrestle in the independent circuit.

13 WCW: Billy Kidman

We can still see it now … white tank top, cut-off jeans and a slow but deliberate walk to the ring. Kidman was at one time the promise of the WCW brand. And although we did see many be described as such, Kidman delivered time and time again. His matches were pretty much picture perfect and many fans across the globe had nothing but great things to say about the young star, some even said he was the next Bret Hart and that’s high praise indeed.

But as many wrestling fans know, management at the end of WCW’s run under-utilized a lot of talent and Kidman was one such unfortunate soul.

He too made the transition to WWE but injuries left him sidelined and ultimately ended his promising career. He too looks way different now.

12 WWE: Bradshaw (JBL)

For some, it was hard to believe that Bradshaw, the aggressive, take no bull, wrestler from the APA tag team and JBL were one in the same. The two characters are night and day both physically and in character.

During the attitude era, Bradshaw, along with Farooq were the toughest tag team around and their violent matches were memorable and their antics even bordered on funny. But make no mistake, Bradshaw was fearsome even when he smiled. But JBL was the exact opposite. The perfect heel, he ran when scared and wasn’t very good at stare downs. But most shocking was his appearance. The short blond hair and power suits were anough to make fans perform double-takes in unison.

11 WCW: Raven

Raven sure worked a lot of the wrestling companies we had in the 90s, having passed through the WWE (who can forget Johnny Polo?), and having epic feuds and matches at ECW (who can forget his epic battles with Tommy Dreamer?), but he spent the greater part of the era at WCW and his look was one of the most popular among the teen demographic of the time.

He had a decent physique and his style was almost grunge and metal infused with occasional face paint.

The way he carried himself only added to his allure, with a “who cares” kind of attitude. He was leader of Raven’s Flock and that made for many memorable moments in the WCW days. But to see him now, he looks almost nothing like he used to.

10 WWE: Ahmed Johnson

Just like Luger, Ahmed Johnson was yet another of the big men on campus. And by big, we surely don’t mean, obese. Back in the 90s, Johnson was almost almost as muscular as Terry Crews of Expendables fame. He walked to the ring with a chiseled frame and biceps that rivalled Hulk Hogan’s 24 inch pythons. He was definitely a force to be reckoned with and a sight of epic muscular proportions.

Unfortunately, anyone who’s seen shots of him at recent appearances can tell you that he has indeed lost most, if not all of his previous muscular perfection.

This could be because of inactivity, injury or all of the above, but it sure is said to see whatever the cause.

9 WCW: Steve McMichael

Steve McMichael, former football player for such NFL teams as The New England Patriots, The Chicago Bears and The Green Bay Packers. He even won a Superbowl with The Bears back in 1986. In his professional wrestling career, he even had a spot in the epic faction The Four Horsemen and spent a great deal of his career as a commentator back in WCW. He never had a fantastic physique, but he exuded both strength and stamina in the ring.

He’s also pretty famous for having been married to Debra McMichael, a former WWE Diva and ex-wife of Stone Cold Steve Austin himself.

These days, he looks more like a politician than a retired pro football star and wrestler though, eh?

8 WWE: Melina

She was once called "one of the best wrestlers in the world" by none other than Bret Hart. Melina holds a special spot in the hearts of many wrestling fans. If not for her athleticism and her great looks, then for her heart and obvious kindness that fans were made aware of by none other than John Morrison himself.

Morrison who traveled and worked extensively with Melina once stated that it was she that was the driving force behind him and if it wasn’t for her, he never would have survived his time on the road. These statements were proven to the multitude of unbelievers when after she and he were separated, his decline and inability to handle his schedule was made even more apparent ultimately leading to his own release from the company. Over the years, Melina has continued to make appearances in the independent circuit, and although she still looks and is awesome, she sure looks a lot different.

7 WCW: Kevin Sullivan

The one-time booker for WCW and the mini clone of Hulk Hogan sure has changed over the years. There was a time when he came to the ring in Hogan’s colours and same hair style. He and the rest of The Three Faces of Fear faction battled against Hogan, the ultimate babyface, way back in 94-95 and he played the perfect heel to Hogan’s then babyface.

Sullivan was never in great shape and he’s since shaved what was left of his hair, and if you were to put both versions of him side by side, you’d have a vague inkling that it was the same person, but it sure wouldn’t be easy. He no doubt paid his dues, but his career was rather lacklustre all in all.

6 WWE: Bret Hart

For most wrestling fans around the world, this man is untouchable and is wrestling royalty no matter what, and for us here at The Sportster we must say that is definitely the case as well. That doesn’t go to say that he hasn’t changed quite a lot over the long years since he last wrestled. And for him, more than any other wrestler on this list, there are certainly a lot of valid reasons for it.

If it wasn’t the stressful end he suffered at the end of his time at WWE, the loss of his brother Owen, the loss of his parents, the stress he found at WCW, the career ending concussion he suffered at the hands of the inexperienced Goldberg, the loss of his brother-in-law, The British Bulldog, the stroke he suffered, the many divorces he’s suffered and his recent battle with prostate cancer, is it any wonder that the man looks a little on in years? Not at all, and no matter what he’ll always look great to us.

5 WCW: Tully Blanchard

No, that’s not a democrat or a republican running for office in 2020. Look closer … that’s a former member of The Four Horsemen, themselves. That’s right, you guessed right. It’s Tully Blanchard. The only thing that could have ever given him away were those icy blue eyes of his and that same prison yard stare fans saw him perform countless times in the ring. He never lost it and we’re sure he can still stare down the best of them.

He was an original member of The Four Horsemen, a faction that defined the word “rebellious” and set the standards for all successful factions that would follow. Tully, who never really was a great physical specimen, always exuded strength and agility in the ring and he has most certainly changed. Good old father time sure pinned him to the mat on that front.

4 WWE: CM Punk

When you think back to what Steve Austin once called “the straight edge rascal,” used to look like when he first showed up in ROH wrestling to what he looks like now, a transition of sorts most definitely occurred.

It most definitely didn’t happen overnight, but since he left the company and went on to compete in the MMA, he has changed even more.

Never one for training too hard during his professional wrestling career—he stuck mostly to rubber band exercises and jogging—he was rather doughy in the mid-section, especially for a main event star like he became. That was indeed rare for the WWE, as they often preferred to push physically gifted stars a la John Cena and Dave Batista. But, Punk has most definitely changed as we can see, ripping up his physique and gaining a little wisdom in those eyes of his, he looks like a new man, indeed.

3 WCW: Mikey Whipwreck

“Give it to Mikey … he’ll eat anything … He likes it, he really likes it!” The famous Life cereal commercial words re-iterated by the great Mick Foley back in his ECW days, referencing the fact that Mikey Whipwreck could take a bump and didn’t mind. Of course, it was true. Back in his ECW days, nobody could take a bump like Mikey, and he took a lot, and when we say a lot, we’re all still wondering how the little bugger can still walk upright.

In his day, he made a lot of ECW wrestlers shine. Of course like many wrestlers before and after him, when Eric Bischoff was raiding the ECW locker room, he went to what seemed like greener pastures for a little more money as is understandable. Yet, unfortunately, he has not been able to stand the test of time either … but we still love him.

2 WWE: The Big Show

The Big Show has definitely had a problem regarding his weight over the years. Especially since joining the ranks at WWE back in 1999. Who can forget when he premiered at that year’s St Valentine’s Day Massacre pay-per-view? Talk about making an entrance! But as he moved up the roster over the years and dealt with the hectic schedule, his once fitter frame slowly started to dissipate.

But in recent years, he has begun to lose an immense e amount of weight, and as photos prove he has even started to gain slabs of muscle he only dreamed of in the past.

When comparing this version of The Big Show to the one that came in almost 20 years ago to throw Steve Austin out of that steel cage, he sure looks a lot different now doesn’t he?

1 WCW: Van Hammer

Back in the WCW days, especially during the reign of the NWO, if you ever watched Hogan make one of his speeches in the middle of the ring, you were most likely due to see a blond dude tanned so orange he rivaled Hogan’s look almost equally. This dude in question was also a lot more ripped and jacked than even The Hulkster himself. Well, the dude in question was none other than Van Hammer. He had an impressive physique, but unfortunately his career peaked only slightly, eventually waning into nowheresville shortly after the fall of WCW.

He performed a decent Cobra Clutch Slam and definitely had “the look.” These days, he sure doesn’t look all that much like he once did, and when we think of him in those black jeans, leather vest and his teased blond hair, we can’t help but think: maybe that’s a good thing after all.