Over the years WWE has had an excellent relationship with the United States Armed Forces. WWE CEO (and owner) Vince McMahon is an outspoken supporter of the military. In fact, every year the company holds its annual Tribute to the Troops, in an effort to show appreciation for the fighting men and women who serve. WWE has also employed several veterans, many of whom have gone on to have outstanding careers with the organization. To further illustrate this point, it’s time to take a look at some high-profile wrestlers who were in the military.

RELATED: 10 WWE Champions With The Least Matches In The Company

UPDATE: 2023/11/17 14:30 EST BY SHAWN S. LEALOS

WWE has always prided itself on honoring the United States military, and that is through promos, the Tribute to the Troops, and bringing in wrestlers with military backgrounds to become stars in the company. While Lacey Evans recently departed the company as the only wrestler still promoting her military background, two of the biggest stars in WWE with military backgrounds just started working together with Bobby Lashley (Army) and Montez Ford (The Marines). While the most popular man to use a military gimmick remains Sgt. Slaughter, he never really served in any military branch. However, there are many more who have represented the United States of America proudly throughout their career.

14 Montez Ford Was In The Marines

Served In United States Marines Corps For 4 Years

It might seem hard to believe a character with a gimmick like Montez Ford was a former member of the U.S. military. In WWE, he is part of the Street Profits, using catchphrases like "we want the smoke" and bringing out red drink cups when they enter the arena for their matches. Before his WWE career, Montez Ford was part of his high school's JROTC program and when he graduated, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. Ford served his country from 2008 to 2012. His job included handling Defense Travel System plans for his battalion.

13 Corporal Kirchner Was A Paratrooper In The U.S. Army

United States Army

Corporal Kirchner was another WWE superstar whose gimmick included plenty of references to his military career. Kirshner worked in WWE in the '80s and worked originally as RT Reynolds until 1986 when he took on the military persona of Corporal Kirchner. Kirchner ended up winning a Flag Match against Nikolai Volkoff at WrestleMania 2. Corporal Kirchner was a paratrooper with the elite 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He never went into battle before leaving the military and joining WWE (via WWE).

12 Jaxson Ryker Was A Machine-Gunner In The Marines In Iraq

United States Marine Corps

Jaxson Ryker originally made his name in TNA, where he worked as Gunner and was part of Immortal, winning the TV title and tag team title before leaving for WWE NXT. On NXT, he ended up forming The Forgotten Sons faction. Their gimmick was former military veterans whose country turned its back on them. Some controversy caused WWE to drop the gimmick, but Ryker returned in 2021 as a lackey for Elias before moving back into singles action and relying on his military past again. He would be released shortly after this. Before his wrestling career, Ryker served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a machine gunner during the war in Iraq.

11 Steven Cutler Was A Marine Infantryman In The War In Afghanistan

United States Marine Corps

Steven Cutler started his in-ring career with WWE in the NXT brand. He worked a lot with a young Baron Corbin, losing almost every time before he got a chance to shine as the Forgotten Sons in 2018 with Wesley Blake and Jackson Ryker. The Forgotten Sons' gimmick was that they were veterans who came back home and society overlooked them. Cutler brought experience to the gimmick, as he served as a Machine Gunner/0331 Infantry with Second Battalion 8th Marines Weapons Company. He enlisted from 2007 to 2011 and did two tours of Afghanistan.

10 Zeb Colter Won A Service Medal In The Vietnam War

Served In United States Army

Dirty Dutch Mantel worked as a star in the territories before he came to WWE as Zeb Colter and served as a manager for men like Cesaro and Jack Swagger. However, before he showed up in professional wrestling, Colter was a member of the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division. Colter is a Vietnam War veteran. Colter served in Vietnam for a year before he came back home and started his wrestling career. While most of his career was as a rough Southern brawler, WWE used his military experience as part of his gimmick with the Real Americans.

9 Lacey Evans Was A Marine Military Police Officer

United States Marines

Lacey Evans only wrestled from 2014 until 2023, but in that time she headlined a couple of pay-per-views. WWE’s “Sassy Southern belle" feuded with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, two of WWE’s top stars, and seemed on her way to the top. The Georgia native was an intimidating presence in the ring and is known for her deadly right hand. At 19 years of age, Evans joined the United States Marine Corps. The 5-foot-8 WWE star was a military police officer who served for five years. It was during this time that she discovered pro wrestling. A fellow Marine, who was a promoter on the side, booked her in a match for an indy show giving her a start.

8 Perry Saturn Was A United States Army Ranger

United States Army

Perry Saturn is one of only a handful of wrestlers who have had success in the original ECW, WCW, and WWE. He is probably best remembered as a member of Raven’s Flock in WCW and for his storyline in WWE where he fell in love with a mop named Moppy. There is no question that the 52-year-old Cleveland, Ohio product is a legit tough guy. When he was just 17, Saturn enlisted in the United States Army and went on to attend (and graduate from) U.S. Army Ranger School. For those unfamiliar, the school is essentially 61 days of intense leadership training.

7 Randy Orton Was In The Marines

Dishonorably Discharged From United States Marine Corps

Knoxville, Tennessee’s Randy Orton began his career in 2000. Since that time, he has gone on to become one of professional wrestling’s biggest attractions. Orton has held a version of the WWE World Championship an impressive 14 times and counting. After high school, Orton enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. However, the former WWE champ had a rough go of it in the military. He had a couple of unauthorized absences (UA) on his record and disobeyed an order. His conduct eventually led to his premature dismissal, receiving a bad conduct discharge in 1999 (via WWE.com).

6 Freddie Blassie Served In World War II

United States Navy

The late, great Freddie Blassie had a successful career as both a wrestler and a manager. The WWE Hall of Fame star out of St. Louis, Missouri began his wrestling career in 1952. As a wrestler, “The Hollywood Fashion Plate” captured the prestigious NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. However, most fans today remember him as a WWE (then WWF) manager in the 1980s – representing stars like The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff. Blassie served in the Navy during World War II. He would eventually earn the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and Blassie spent over three years in the Pacific Theater.

5 Kevin Nash Was In The United States Army

United States Army

At 6-foot-10, Detroit, Michigan’s Kevin Nash was one of wrestling's biggest stars in the 1990s – both literally and figuratively. Big Sexy originally got his big break in WWE using the ring name Diesel. As Diesel, Nash was even able to capture the WWE (then WWF) Championship. He would later sign with WCW and become a founding member of the New World Order (nWo) – one of the most successful factions of all time. Before the big man became wrestling royalty, he served in the 202nd Military Police Company. Nash had some success during his enlistment and worked his way up to the rank of specialist.

4 Konnan Served In The United States Navy

United States Navy

Konnan is a professional wrestler who was born in Santiago de Cuba. In the early-90s he wrestled for WWE under the ring name Max Moon. He had little success during his stint with WWE but went on to make a name for himself in WCW and was an even bigger star in Mexico. These days, the veteran works behind the scenes, forced to retire due to longstanding injuries. The wrestling star ran into some legal trouble in his youth and was forced to choose between either the military or prison. He opted to join the United States Navy and even served on one of the ships that was bombed in Beruit in 1983.

3 Bobbly Lashley Was A Sergeant In The U.S. Army

United States Army

Bobby Lashley has had success as both a professional wrestler and a mixed martial artist. The powerhouse out of Junction City, Kansas has had plenty of good fortune during his stints with WWE. He is a two-time ECW World Champion, a three-time United States Champion, and a two-time Intercontinental Champ as well. He finally won the WWE Championship in 2021 and again in 2022. The WWE star comes from a military background. His father was a former US Army Drill Sergeant. Lashley would follow in his dad's footsteps and enlist in the Army. During his tour, he even won a gold medal in freestyle (amateur) wrestling.

2 Road Dogg Was A Platoon Sergeant In The Gulf War For The Marines

United States Marine Corps

The “Road Dogg” Jesse James is a Hall of Fame star who rose to prominence during WWE’s Attitude Era. He began his run with the company back in 1994, managing Jeff Jarrett. He would go on to become a star in his own right after teaming up with Billy Gunn and forming The New Age Outlaws. The Outlaws would join the legendary stable D-Generation X and capture the WWE World Tag Team Championship six times. Back in 1986, James enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He had already begun wrestling at the time but decided to put his in-ring career on hold.

1 Jesse Ventura Was In The Navy During The Vietnam War

United States Navy

Jessie “The Body” Ventura is a retired pro wrestler out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. While he had a noteworthy career as an in-ring competitor, he is arguably best to remember for his work as a commentator for WWE in the 1980s. Venuta would later enter the world of politics and become the governor of his home state, Minnesota. Ventura was a member of the United States Navy from 1969 to 1975. During that period, he served as a member of the Underwater Demolition Team. He was in the military service during the Vietnam War but never saw combat during the conflict.