In wrestling, the talent involved end up playing a whole range of different gimmicks and characters to get over. While some people might play an intelligent character, such as Damien Sandow, a lot of the time wrestlers are made to be quite silly, as that can be entertaining.
Whether it's dancing around the ring, coming out with great one-liners, or playing a totally absurd character, there are some wrestlers who fans end up thinking aren't that intelligent. However, that's not always the case, as some of the silliest characters in wrestling history have actually been played by some of the smartest of wrestlers, which is often why it works so well.
10 Maria Kanellis
Maria was a talented wrestler and someone who really excelled at the character element of the industry. However, she was always presented in a silly manner, or as someone who wasn't that smart, which isn't the case at all.
In reality, she actually has a degree in events management and even runs her own company putting together different events for clients, which she's achieved all while remaining in the industry and being a mother, making it even more impressive.
9 Bella Twins
Speaking of female wrestlers who weren't portrayed as being intelligent, Nikki and Brie Bella were never pushed in that way either. They often were taken down the ditzy path, simply to make them more entertaining, which wasn't the case as they were at their best as serious workers later in their careers.
However, both of them are smart. They've been able to build their brand, running their own wine company, a podcast, and their own clothing company which is something that few wrestlers can match.
8 Santino Marella
Santino Marella always played the comedic goofball in his career, and it's a role that he was amazing at. Santino will go down as one of the funniest characters in WWE history, but that doesn't mean he's not intelligent.
He's gone on to do great things after WWE, including running his own wrestling and MMA school alongside a few other people, known as Battle Arts Academy.
7 Mick Foley
While Mick Foley could be serious, he was also shown as being very silly at points too. Whether it was dancing around as Dude Love or using Mr. Socko, plus, taking the number of insane bumps he did might also be seen as an intelligent decision.
However, the Hardcore Legend is one of the smarter men to have laced up a pair of boots. His best-selling books are a great sign of that, with his ability to smartly put his point across showcasing great intelligence.
6 Festus
As Festus, Luke Gallows was made to look very silly, but as everybody knows, that's not what he's really like. Even now as a heightened version of himself, Gallows can often be seen as a comedic talent at times.
However, his ability to build a brand with Karl Anderson that has included his own shows and a major podcast showcases how smart he is in reality.
5 Leva Bates
Leva Bates as The Librarian in AEW doesn't exactly scream a serious wrestler, as the character is over the top and silly. However, it's a role she's thrived in and there's no denying her commitment to making it entertaining.
Leva is an intelligent wrestler behind the scenes, and she's someone who actually has a degree in theatre, radio, and television production.
4 Wade Barrett
While Wade Barrett was shown as a serious competitor at points, he was also seen as King Barrett and Bad News Barrett, which were both quite comedic and goofy characters at points in his career.
One thing a lot of fans likely don't know about the now NXT commentator is that he's smart. Barrett actually has a degree in Marine Biology, showing a totally different side of him.
3 Xavier Woods
He might spend his time in WWE twerking and playing different musical instruments, running around with unicorn horns, and throwing cereal about the place, but that doesn't mean that Xavier Woods isn't smart.
Woods is an intelligent man, as has been seen by how he's made his own YouTube channel thrive, like a real business. But Woods also has a Masters in Psychology and a Bachelors in Philosophy, showcasing how smart he is as well as being an entertaining WWE star.
2 Kane
The character of Kane was either a monster, or he was comedic. There have been times when he's looked very silly, whether it's handing out hot dogs or dancing in the ring, and even in his serious mode, the character can still be quite hard to take that way.
However, the man behind the mask, Glenn Jacobs is actually one of the smartest people in the wrestling business. He's had a serious career in politics and currently finds himself as the Mayor of Knox County, proving just how smart he is.
1 Eugene
The character of Eugene was purposefully done to be seen as someone who wasn't intelligent. The gimmick was about a wrestler with mental health difficulties, and while it is wildly inappropriate to look back on, the man behind it, Nick Dinsmore, always did his best with it.
In reality, Dinsmore is actually very smart. He's considered one of the best wrestling minds in the business and now trains future wrestlers, having worked at the Performance Center, and now with his own independent work.