Top 10 WWE Superstar performances in horror movies
A countdown of smackdown spookiness!
Lionsgate/The Everett Collection
Ever since Tor Johnson's baffling turn in Plan 9 From Outer Space (and probably before that, too), wrestlers have been a mainstay in horror movies. Whether it's because of their hulking statures or larger-than-life personas, those who layeth the smacketh down are a perfect fit for spooky movies.
So, let's look back at the best of the best, as we count down the top 10 WWE wrestlers in horror movies!
#10. Hornswoggle - "Leprechaun: Origins"
Look, it's not Dylan "Hornswoggle" Postl's fault that Leprechaun: Origins stinks. But that doesn't take away from the fact that the movie totally stinks. It's so disconnected from the rest of the franchise, and is all but unrecognizable as a Leprechaun movie. Worse, it's not even an origin story! Hornswoggle had big shoes to fill, as Warwick Davis' iconic portrayal of the title character was the only thing that made those movies any good to begin with.
#9. The Rock - "Doom"
Doom is a fairly typical video game adaptation from the 2000s (derogatory). As such, it somehow neither caters to the built-in audience of video game fans nor does it appeal broadly to a general audience of filmgoers. Instead, it's a mess of clichés with one jarringly bad performance from Dwayne Johnson.
#8. Chris Jericho - "Terrifier 2/3"
Here's one for all the Jerichoholics out there: Chris Jericho has an extended cameo that stretches across the end of Terrifier 2 and the beginning of Terrifier 3! Warning: These movies are not for the faint of heart. While he may not show up for very long, Y2J's time onscreen with Art the Clown is certainly memorable. Just try to scrub your eyeballs of that memory!
#7. CM Punk - "The Girl on the Third Floor"
So this is what the Best in the World was up to during his long stint away from the ring. CM Punk and horror movies go together like peanut butter and jelly, and he seems like an obvious choice as a leading man. More importantly, this is a movie that tries to say something. It might not all connect, but the film deserves props for taking a swing!
#6. Goldberg - "Santa's Slay"
This movie is absolutely awesome. We're not sure if it's "good", but it's definitely awesome. In the ring, Goldberg is at his best when he shows up, destroys his opponent, and leaves lickety split. Who knew he'd be just as captivating with a little more screen time?!
#5. Triple H - "Blade Trinity"
Blade: Trinity ends the trilogy on a down note. But, really, how could it not? The first Blade was iconic, and the Guillermo del Toro-helmed Blade II is one of the greatest sequels in cinema history. By the third movie, title star Wesley Snipes was uncooperative, making for a tumultuous production process, and all of that shows up onscreen for an underwhelming outing. However, The Game stars as Jarko Grimwood, and is one of the bright spots in the movie, surprising fans with his comedic timing!
#4. Diamond Dallas Page - "The Devil's Rejects"
Ok, ok... DDP is mostly remembered as a wrestler for WCW, where he was a three-time World Heavyweight Champion. But he also had a stint in WWE, and he's currently signed under a "Legends" contract. Dallas was great in this Rob Zombie film, and it's funny seeing the always-positive yoga instructor as a bounty hunter alongside acting legend Danny Trejo.
#3. Batista - "Knock at the Cabin"
Dave Bautista delivers an "A+" performance in this "B-" adaptation of Paul Tremblay's Cabin at the End of the World. M. Night Shyamalan may not have captured everything that makes the novel great, but he gave us this stellar turn from the 4-time World Heavyweight Champion and Guardians of the Galaxy alum.
#2. Kane - "See No Evil"
The Big Red Machine was scaring folks long before he stepped foot on the set of See No Evil, but the big screen brought out an even more terrifying side. Kane (real name Glenn Jacobs) is super compelling here as Jacob Goodnight. Just... Don't bother with the sequel.
#1. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - "They Live"
This is unarguably the best one. While Hot Rod's career dates back to the territory days, his most famous work was done within the WWE. But even if that wasn't true, we'd have to include him on this list, as this is the best performance by any wrestler in a horror film (or sci-fi/action/horror hybrid, we guess).
