Can you imagine being gifted with the athleticism to get into the sport of wrestling? Yeah, neither can I. So when we see our favorites within the square circle, there's a level of respect that we give to those who indulge us in that type of entertainment. What we tend to forget is that the person who engages in the sport typically has a life outside of it. Whether it's an athlete in wrestling, basketball or football, those individuals may only be remembered for the talents they had in the sport they played, rather than what activities and achievements they've achieved outside the court or ring. While we're in the age of promoters peeling back the curtain and allowing fans to see what goes on backstage, we're also getting a look into how our favorite wrestlers like to spend their free time. This is why athletes are interesting people to follow, especially wrestlers. It already takes a certain amount of skills and discipline to be great at this sport, but as a fan when you find out about the levels of talent one may possess you start to question your own mediocrity.
The stigma surrounding athletes today usually have to do with the reputation of being ‘big ol meatheads’ who have nothing to attribute into society other than entertainment. What folks tend to do is take for granted what these so called ‘meatheads’ have to do in order to prosper in the position that they’re in. The amount of knowledge some of the stars have that have the sense to apply it in their craft superseded what any naysayer would have to say about their intellect or creative talents.
With that being said, we've come to find that some of these guys also work on talents that have nothing to do with wrestling. Don't believe me? Well then, go on and take a look for yourself!
14 14. Wade Barrett (Bare Knuckle Brawling)
It's not that uncommon for a mixed martial artist to make the transition from The Octagon to The Squared Circle. It's not even that unusual for it to go the other way around as we've seen the likes of Brock Lesnar and CM Punk make the switch to MMA. Wade Barrett is certainly a unique case because he was not a mixed martial artist that competed in sanctioned events. Barrett was a freaking bare knuckle brawler! He'd partake in these brawls back in Liverpool in order to pay bills and he claims to have been pretty good at it. I guess his crooked nose had to come from somewhere.
13 13. Mick Foley (Author)
There haven't been too many wrestlers that have able to come out of the industry and create another business venture for themselves like Mick Foley. Not only is the hardcore legend known for putting his body on the line for pure entertainment, he's also a great writer. Foley is the author of many children books, as well as being a New York Times best seller. Though it's likely you already know he's a best seller of novels, it's his ability to write children's novel that stuck out to us. Translating his creativity from the ring into his writing has clearly worked out for him.
12 12. Finn Balor (Lego Collection)
Okay, some of you are probably a little confused by this entry. But, trust me, you need to be talented to have the patience to deal with that many Legos. NXT champion Finn Balor has a collection that's quite something. When he's not on the road, he unwinds by taking out his vintage set and building all sorts of boats, planes, or other modes of transportation. It may not be a talent to some, but it's very intriguing to say the least.
11 11. Xavier Woods (Actually Good at Playing the Trombone)
If you're a fan of The New Day, then you're aware of Xavier Woods' antics everytime he's on television. One particular item helps him do that and it's 'Francesca'. Yes, we're talking about the trombone. Woods stated on "Talk is Jericho" how wanting to play an instrument pushed him to want to join a band and it led him to actually be a decent trombone player. It's worked out quite well for him, especially since that one talent adds extra heat for The New Day.
10 10. Seth Rollins (CrossFit)
Although CrossFit has been getting a bad rap from many in the fitness community, there are people who engage in it and swear by it. One individual in particular would be former WWE champion, Seth Rollins. If you read or watch his interviews, he never once forgets to credit CrossFit for the physique that he's worked hard to get. Take a look at his Instagram page and you'll see some amazing feats he's able to do because of it. The newly discovered sport, exercise or whatever you want to call it may not be for everyone, but it does explain why his athleticism is off the charts in the ring.
9 9. RVD (Graffiti)
RVD is incredibly athletic, as he has a knack for not only showing fans how flexible he is, but also how creative he can be with his offense in the ring. For instance, check out his ring attire. He was the one who created the art design for each one. RVD is huge on painting and allowing his creative juices to fly. It must be nice to create something and be able to share it on such a global scale.
8 8. Dolph Ziggler (Comedy)
When let loose, Dolph Ziggler can be quite the comedian. Who would've thought he had the passion to pursue comedy on a bigger stage as well? Before re-signing his WWE contact last summer, one of the stipulations was to allow him more days off in order for him on his stand-up. His comedy routine is actually pretty good and we advise everyone to check it out sometime. On a side note, why hasn't WWE used his comedic talent as an advantage more often?
7 7. John Morrison (Parkour)
Back when the sport was still foreign to much of the audience, John Morrison brought a type of athleticism that couldn't be duplicated. Moves like The Starship Pain and Moon Light Drive were all done with ease because of Parkour. Parkour is a type of training where an individual maneuvers from one point to another through complex obstacles. Running, climbing and swinging are examples of movements one would use to get from point A to B. Morrison brought that to television by doing stunts backstage or avoiding Royal Rumble elimination by jumping off turnbuckles. He even talked about entering a real life parkour tournament with competitors from all over the world. So this explains why the self proclaimed "Guru of Greatness" has a physique that is out of this world.
6 6. Shawn Michaels (Hunting)
Ever since Shawn Michaels retired in 2010, he's been spending most of his time at his ranch in Texas with his family. And his hunting rifle. Michaels is a host for a television show called Shawn Michaels MacMillan River Adventures. Where he and his co-host go into the wild and hunt big game animals. Michaels has gotten so passionate about this sport that even when he returns to Raw, he's geared up in hunting wear. Michaels even has his own commercials down in Texas!
5 5. Jeff Hardy (Dirt Bikes)
Have you ever watched videos of Jeff Hardy on his dirt bike? He's absolutely talented on that bad boy. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean he's impervious to injury as he came to find in April of last year when he got into an accident. At his North Carolina residence, Hardy has created his own motocross obstacle course where he can perform all sorts of tricks. The former TNA world champion is also quite the artist, meaning he could've had two entries on this list.
4 4. Alexa Bliss (Gymnast)
Not only are we huge fans of Alexa Bliss because of her ring presence, but it's also because of her athleticism. Not only was Bliss a professional bodybuilder, but she also was a gymnast since she was a kid. She's done so well and it's especially impressive since she had no experience whatsoever in wrestling prior to joining the WWE in 2013. We're patiently awaiting her arrival on the main roster in the future!
3 3. R-Truth (Rapping)
We're reminded of this every single time, Truth walks down the isle. It was refreshing when he first came out with the rap gimmick, but now it's a cry on deaf ears. Regardless of how we feel though, Truth is actually pretty good rapper. He's made songs with John Cena (not that impressive) and is allegedly working on a song with Wiz Khalifa. So whether you're a fan of his or not, he's better at rap than you probably assume he is
2 2. Jerry "The King" Lawler (Paintings)
The King is not only the loud mouth color commentator we've all grown to love over the years, but he's also a talented painter. In recent documentariesm he's showed fans his obsession over vintage collectibles, his love for Coca-Cola and superheroes. However, Jerry Lawler is also quite the creative individual when it comes to painting as his limits range from Batman to Santa Claus.
1 1. CM Punk (Comic Book Writer)
It was a little big shocking when news came out that CM Punk was going to be a writer for Marvel. Not only will the former WWE Champion have his hands tied with the UFC, but he also wrote an issue for Thor, will contribute to the Drax on-going series and will work on other comics in the future. How often are you able to live out several of your childhood dream in a lifetime? Good for him!