One of the prerequisites for success in the professional wrestling business is being able to entertain a crowd. This is why the industry attracts so many diverse and talented entertainers – many of whom have talents beyond what they show inside the squared circle.
Over the years we have seen plenty of wrestlers dabble in other forms of entertainment. Heck, The Rock has transitioned from being a WWE Superstar to becoming one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.
Music is another industry were sports entertainers have made their mark. In fact, so many wrestlers have created albums over the years that some have flown under the radar a bit – at least until now.
10 10. Maria Kanellis
Maria Kanellis started her wrestling journey as a contestant of WWE Diva Search back in 2004. Since that time, the former TNA Knockouts Champion has had success with several major promotions. At present, the 37-year-old can be seen performing on WWE 205 Live, managing her real-life husband, Mike Kanellis (Bennett).
Back in 2010, Kanellis released a pop album called Sevin Sins. The recording featured 4 tracks in all. “Alice in Wonderland,” “Fantasy,” “Change Your Mind,” and the title track “Sevin Sins” were all part of the lineup. The album received decent reviews and was even given a C+ by Dropkick Divas Media.
9 9. Jimmy Hart
“The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart has managed some of the biggest names in professional wrestling. Bret “The Hitman” Hart, Hulk Hogan, and The Honky Tonk Man are just a few of his former clients. The 76-year-old would easily make the Mount Rushmore of wrestling managers – if such a thing existed.
In terms of musical accomplishments, Hart probably has the most impressive resume on our list. He was a member of the 1960s group The Gentrys – a band that released several successful singles. The Gentrys are best known for the song “Keep on Dancing” which made it all the way to the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 back in the day.
8 8. Lita
Lita is a WWE Hall of Famer who made a name for herself as a member of Team Xtreme, alongside The Hardy Boyz. She would go on to have an outstanding singles career that included four reigns as WWE Women’s Champion. The trailblazing starlet would make history by (along with Trish Stratus) becoming the first female star to main event Monday Night Raw.
In 2006, Lita formed in a punk rock band known as The Luchagors and served as the lead vocalist. The group released their first (and only) self-titled album the following year. After an unsuccessful tour of the UK, the band played their last gig together in 2014.
7 7. Mickie James
Between TNA and WWE, Mickie James has been a 9-time women’s champ. Now 39; James is still going strong as a member of the SmackDown roster. The future WWE Hall of Famer is perhaps best known for her legendary feud with Trish Stratus.
Unlike many of the stars on our list, James didn’t call it quits after making her first album. In total, she has released two country records Strangers & Angels (2010) along with Somebody’s Gonna Pay (2013). More recently, the former champ has released several singles like “Shooting Blanks” and “Get Down.” James continues to make music to this day.
6 6. 'Macho Man' Randy Savage
A conversation about the greatest performers of all time wouldn’t be complete without mentioning ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage. The former champ’s legendary feud with Hulk Hogan, and WrestleMania III matchup with Ricky Steamboat are two of the most memorable event in WWE history. Savage’s natural charisma and in-ring ability helped make him a WWE Hall of Famer.
Not many fans remember that Savage actually released his own album in 2003. The album was called Be A Man, which was also a song in which ‘Macho Man’ called out his old rival, Hulk Hogan. Be A Man was his first and only foray into hip hop.
5 5. Lou Albano
Sadly, WWE doesn’t mention Captain Lou Albano very often these days. The wrestler-turned-manager was a major player in the 1980s and helped usher in the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling era that took WWE to the next level. His work with singer Cyndi Lauper helped professional wrestling gain mainstream notoriety. He managed several legends including Greg Valentine and Don Muraco.
Rock band NRBQ decided to pay tribute to the colorful wrestling managers by writing a song about him in 1983 called “Captain Lou.” Albano ended being featured as the singer for the song. He also performed another single with the group called “Boardin’ House Pie.”
4 4. Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho has provided fans with many memorable moments inside the squared circle. He is a well-rounded performer who is good on the mic and can get it done in the ring – which has helped him capture more than his share of world titles over the years. He’s one of the few wrestlers who is popular amongst internet fans and casual audiences alike.
Since 1999, Chris Jericho has been the lead singer of the heavy metal band Fozzy. In total, the group has released seven albums and shows no signs of slowing down any time in the near future.
3 3. Hulk Hogan
Simply put, Hulk Hogan is the biggest star professional wrestling has ever seen. He’s headlined some of the most significant WrestleManias ever, and is a major reason wrestling is as popular as it is today. Hogan is not only an all-time great wrestler, but he is also one of the most recognized entertainers of his generation.
Most fans know Hulk Hogan has been in a few movies over the years, but not everyone realizes that he also had his own band. In 1995, Hulk Hogan And The Wrestling Boot Band (which also featured his ex-wife Linda and Jimmy Hart) released a rock album called Hulk Rules – a record that featured wrestling-themed songs.
2 2. Brooke Hogan
Brooke Hogan is the daughter of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan. Fans will no doubt remember her stint in Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling from 2012-2013. During her time in TNA Hogan portrayed an on-air authority figure. She is also a reality television star who best known for her appearance on the series Hogan Knows Best.
Several years back, Brooke Hogan tried to make it big in the music industry and continues to release singles from time to time. She is credited with two full-length albums Undiscovered (2006) and The Redemption (2009). Her 2006 song “About Us” even made an appearance on the U.S. Billboard charts.
1 1. Fred Blassie
While ‘Classy’ Freddie Blassie had a noteworthy in-ring career, he is best remembered as a manager. He cornered many performers over the years including the tag team of Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik. He has also been a member of the prestigious WWE Hall of Fame since 1994.
During his career, Blassie never came across as the musical type. However, he recorded several songs and even released an album in 1983 called I Bite the Songs. In the mid-70s, the classy one also did voice-over work for songs like “Pencil Neck Geek” and “Blassie, King of Men” – tracks that were performed by rockabilly musician Johnny Legend (not to be confused with John Legend).