Big Show – $20 Million
Big Show started out just going by “The Giant” before switching to the name most fans know him by. Over his career he’s been a world champion seven times, and he’s also done a fair bit of acting, including a starring role in the 2010 comedy Knucklehead. His career earnings are estimated at around $20 million.
Tugboat – Unknown
Back in 2001, he walked away from wrestling completely and took a pretty regular job as a safety manager in Florida. He also coached his two sons’ little league teams. His net worth isn’t really known, but Fred is likely enjoying retirement after both his normal career and his time in wrestling. He was a massive presence in the WWE, starting out as Tugboat and serving as Hulk Hogan’s ally before eventually joining The Natural Disasters, where he picked up his other nickname, Typhoon.
Kane – $9 Million
Glenn Thomas Jacobs, better known as Kane, is 51 and still shows up on SmackDown every now and then. He’s built quite a life outside the ring too, getting into acting, business, and politics. He had a role in the 2016 film See No Evil, won the Knox County mayoral race in 2018, and runs an insurance business on top of all that. It all adds up, with his net worth sitting at $9 million.
The Ultimate Warrior- Deceased
James Brian Hellwig was so committed to his persona that he legally changed his name to Warrior back in 1993. Most people knew him as The Ultimate Warrior, though he also went by The Warrior and the Dingo Warrior at different points. There were wild rumors floating around that he had actually died years earlier and someone else was performing under his name, but he was very much alive until 2014, when he passed away from a heart attack at just 54 years old.
Ric Flair – $3 Million
Ric Flair had one of the most impressive runs in wrestling history, spanning 40 years. He’s officially recognized as a 16-time world champion, though Flair himself has always said the real number is 21. On top of his in-ring career, he made plenty of TV appearances along the way. Sadly, his personal life took a devastating hit when his son, who was also a pro wrestler, died from a heroin overdose.
Macho Man- Deceased
Even if you’re not a wrestling fan, you’ve probably heard of Macho Man Randy Savage. He had a 32-year career and won 29 titles, which is pretty incredible. He also showed up in movies and TV shows like Ready to Rumble, Baywatch, and Spider-Man. He died in a car crash in 2011, and the autopsy found he had heart disease he never even knew about. He’s still considered one of the greatest wrestlers to ever step in the ring.
Rey Mysterio – Estimated $10m
Rey Mysterio, born Oscar Gutierrez, is one of wrestling’s most recognizable masked men. His masks are inspired by Lucha Libre style, and over his ten-year career he picked up some massive titles including the World Heavyweight Championship, WWE Championship, and WWE Cruiserweight Championship, which earned him the name King of Mystery. He blew up in the ’90s and 2000s thanks to his unique wrestling style.
He’s still active today, competing in Lucha Underground and on independent shows like House of Glory, QPW, and Black Destiny Wrestling. And honestly, the guy looks exactly the same as he did ten years ago, so something is definitely going on there.
Sunny – Estimated $300k
Tammy Lynn Sytch, better known as Sunny, is someone whose fame really got the better of her. She already had a few DUIs on her record, so while people were shocked, the arrest wasn’t exactly out of nowhere. WWE dropped her contract right away, though there are rumors she’s been trying to turn things around and has gone back to rehab. She battled alcohol and drug problems for years, and in 2017 it all caught up with her when she was arrested and imprisoned.
Razor Ramon – $3 Million
Scott Hall has won the WWF Intercontinental Championship four times since then. Unfortunately his health has taken a real hit in recent years, landing him in the hospital multiple times with issues like double pneumonia, low blood pressure, and seizures. He went pro back in the ’80s under his real name Scott Oliver Hall, but it wasn’t until the ’90s that he really broke through, debuting in both the WWF and WCW during that time as Razor Ramon.
Lou Ferrigno – $12 million
Lou Ferrigno is an American actor, fitness trainer, and retired professional bodybuilder. He won an IFBB Mr. America title and two consecutive Mr. Universe titles. You probably know him best from The Incredible Hulk TV series, but he’s also been in Sinbad of the Seven Seas, Hercules, and played himself in both The King of Queens and the 2009 comedy I Love You, Man.
Chyna- Deceased
Joan Marie Laurer, known as Chyna, debuted with the WWF in the ’90s and made history as the first woman to compete in the Royal Rumble and King of the Ring matches. She was also one of the first women in wrestling to take bodybuilding seriously, which helped open doors for women who came after her.
After her wrestling career ended, she wrote an autobiography and later attempted to break into the adult industry. She passed away in 2016 from a drug overdose.
Sable – $1.5 Million
Rena Marlette Lesnar, better known as Sable, was one of WWE’s first divas and made a name for herself through wrestling, modeling, and acting, with appearances in shows and films like Pacific Blue and Corky Romano. In 2006 she married Brock Lesnar, and by all accounts they’re a great match. Before that, her first husband died in a car accident, and her second marriage ended in a quick divorce.
Sid Vicious – $5 Million
Sid Eudy, better known as Sid Vicious, has been a pro wrestler since the 80s, starting out in World Championship Wrestling before moving on to WWF and WWE. He picked up plenty of championship belts along the way, so the career was far from a failure. He’s 57 and retired now, but at 51 he was still in good enough shape to enter a competition, even if it was mostly just for fun.
The Coach – $2 Million
At 45, Jonathan Coachman looks as young as ever, is happily married with two children, and is still working as a Raw brand color commentator. He re-signed with WWE in 2018, has an estimated net worth of $2 million, and never really left the spotlight even after his wrestling career ended.
Mideon – Unknown
Dennis Knight, better known as Mideon, traded in professional wrestling for a career in the kitchen after he retired. He’s now living a pretty normal life as a chef in Clearwater, Florida, so you can actually go try his food there. Before the Mideon days, he also went by Phineas I. Godwin and Tex Slazenger.
Kelly Kelly – $1 Million
Barbara Jean Blank, better known as Kelly Kelly, is a pro wrestler, model, and TV personality. She left the WWE in 2012 but never really disappeared from public life. She’s popped up on TV plenty of times since then, including making her debut on Days of Our Lives in 2017 and joining the cast of WAGS on E!.
Mr. Mcmahon – $1.7 Billion
Pretty much everyone knows Vincent Kennedy McMahon, better known as Mr. McMahon. He’s the majority owner, chairman, and CEO of WWE, and also founded Alpha Entertainment. On top of that, he’s a businessman, actor, and film producer. Forbes has him on their annual billionaires list with a net worth of $1.7 billion. Some of the things he’s spent that money on include seven mansions and a yacht.
Yokozuna
He’s also the only Samoan wrestler to have won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. In 2000, while on a European tour, he died unexpectedly at 34. He was found unresponsive in his hotel room, and while some suspected a heart attack due to his size, the official cause of death was pulmonary edema. Born Rodney Agatupa Anoaʻi, Yokozuna was the first wrestler of Samoan descent in history.
The Great Khali – $16 Million
At 7 feet 1 inch, the Great Khali is one of the tallest pro wrestlers ever and has always dominated in terms of sheer size. Outside the ring, he’s also a TV celebrity in both the U.S. and India, and in 2015 he opened his own wrestling school called Continental Wrestling Entertainment. He’s not fully done competing though, as he came back to WWE in 2017 to help his friend Jinder Mahal at Battleground. Before all of this, Dalip Singh Rana actually worked in the Punjab State Police before deciding to pursue wrestling.
Nataliya Kuznetsova – Unknown
Nataliya Kuznetsova is a Russian professional bodybuilder who’s basically the face of women’s bodybuilding in Russia. She’s also the heaviest known female bodybuilder in the world, and she holds European titles in bench press and deadlift, plus world titles in arm lifting, bench press, and deadlift. Nobody knows her exact net worth, but she pulls in solid money through sponsored posts on Instagram.
Lex Luger – $3 Million
Lex Luger is one of the best wrestlers ever, winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and the United States Championship five times. He competed in the WWF as well, though he never won a title there. In 2007 he was paralyzed due to a nerve impingement, but he recovered and was healthy again by 2010. He now works with WWE as part of their wellness policy.
Skinner – $1.5 Million
Steve Keirn, known in the ring as Skinner and a member of The Fabulous team, is now 66 years old and still in good shape thanks to having his own gym. He stepped away from competing but never really left wrestling since he opened his own wrestling school back in the ’80s and still trains people today. He lives in Florida with his wife and has made quite a few appearances in the World Wrestling Federation throughout his career.
Scotty 2 Hotty – Unknown
Scott Taylor, also known as Scotty 2 Hotty, can be spotted at the WWE Performance Center these days where he works as a coach after his in-ring career wrapped up. He actually tried a different path for a while, going through firefighter training in 2013, but came back to WWE in 2016. In a 2015 interview, he said he’s taking way better care of himself than he used to and that he’s in the best shape of his life.
Goldberg – $14 Million
Bill Goldberg, now 51, made a huge name for himself in wrestling during the 90s. His undefeated streak from 1997 to 1998 shot him to fame fast. These days he’s living well with his wife and son, and he runs a gym out in California that includes an amateur boxing facility.
Jacqueline – Unknown
Jacqueline DeLois Moore is a professional wrestler and manager who’s done a lot more than just wrestling. She’s appeared in video games, worked in entertainment, and even showed up on MTV’s Tough Enough as a trainer. In 2016, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and she made history as only the third woman to win the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Now close to 60, she still looks great, which is pretty clearly down to keeping up with regular exercise.
Stone Cold Steve Austin – $45 Million
Steve Austin, better known as Stone Cold Steve Austin, retired from wrestling when his body just couldn’t handle the injuries anymore. The six-time WWF Champion has an estimated net worth of $45 million, which makes sense given how successfully he moved into acting after hanging up his boots. He’s had roles in plenty of films and TV shows, including playing Inspector Jake Cage in Nash Bridges and showing up in The Expendables.
The Rock – $220 Million
Dwayne Douglas Johnson, better known as The Rock, is honestly one of the greatest wrestlers ever, though a lot of people overlook that side of his career. Most know him from his acting, which has made him a total household name. Whatever he sets his mind to, the guy just wins, and his $220 million net worth backs that up. Time has even named him one of the most influential people in the world. On top of all that, he founded the Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation to help terminally ill children, so the talent and the big heart come as a package deal.
Mick Foley – $15 Million
Mick Foley, whose real name is Michael Francis, wrestled under a few different names including Dude Love, Mankind, and Cactus Jack before retiring from professional wrestling fairly early. He bridged his wrestling and acting careers with an appearance on Boy Meets World, where he played Mankind. He also picked up work in film, TV, and radio along the way. Outside of work, he lives with his wife Colette and their four children, and he does a lot of charity work focused on helping kids.
Batista – $13 Million
Dave Bautista is a bodybuilder and MMA fighter who moved into acting after his wrestling career wrapped up. He’s appeared in movies like Spectre, The Man with the Iron Fists, and Riddick, and plays Drax in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. People accused him of steroid use but never proved anything, and he denied it. There was even a company under investigation for prescription drugs that apparently tried to frame him.
Hulk Hogan – $25 Million
Outside of wrestling, Hulk Hogan tried his hand at acting, music, entrepreneurship, and TV. He had a lot of success along the way, including launching his own energy drink and starting Hogan Nutrition, a website focused on supplements and diet advice. He went through a rough patch with a messy divorce in 2007 and nearly lost everything, but he bounced back. Even now, he stays in good shape and keeps up with regular exercise. Terre Gene Bollea, known to the world as Hulk Hogan, is easily one of the most recognizable wrestlers of all time and someone who genuinely helped shape the wrestling industry into what it is today.
Randy Orton – $11 Million
Randy Keith Orton is one of the few wrestlers on this list who still competes today. He’s also made TV appearances on Deal or No Deal and Jimmy Kimmel Live! Back in 2007 he was exposed for steroid use, though he never officially addressed it. On the personal side, he and Samantha Speno divorced in 2013, and he married Kimberly Kessler in 2015. Outside of SmackDown, he’s also done some acting and appeared in That’s What I Am.
Edge – $14 Million
Edge, real name Adam Joseph Copeland, stepped away from wrestling and moved into acting, but his legacy in the ring is untouchable. He’s a Hall of Famer with 31 championships and even wrote his own autobiography called “Adam Copeland on Edge” back in 2004. As for cigarettes, he reportedly tried them as a teenager but can’t stand them now.
Lita – $4 Million
Amy Dumas, better known as Lita, had a career that went beyond wrestling. She retired from WWE in 2006 but still works with them as an analyst. Right after stepping away from the ring, she started the punk band The Luchagors and they put out their first record the very next year. On the personal side, she’s had relationships with Joseph Copeland and Matt Hardy, but hasn’t married anyone.
The Undertaker – $17 Million
Not many teams seem to want to sign him though, so he’s still a free agent. He’s a 17-time champion and was known for being a seriously tough opponent. He figured wrestling couldn’t last forever, so he got into real estate and has done well there. He and his wife both love animals and started a fund together to help save them. Another big name in wrestling is the Undertaker, real name Mark William Calaway, who is 53 years old and still looking to compete.
Shawn Michaels – $17 Million
Shawn Michaels, whose real name is Michael Shawn Hickenbottom, is a four-time world champion who also moved into acting and TV presenting like a lot of wrestlers do. He hosts an outdoor hunting show called Shawn Michaels’ MacMillan River Adventures and serves as the main ambassador for WWE. His first marriage didn’t work out, but he met his wife Rebecca in 1999 and they’ve been together since, raising two kids together.
Alundra Blayze – Unknown
Madusa has been driving monster trucks for years and still does it. After retiring from wrestling she got into acting, with roles in movies like Death Match and Shootfighter II. She’s still got a big following too, her wedding to her second husband Alan Jonason even got a ton of views when it was streamed online. Back in 1988, Pro Wrestling Illustrated named her Rookie of the Year, making her the first woman to ever win that title.
Booker T – $5 Million
Robert Booker Tio Huffman, known as Booker T in the ring, won the world championship six times and held 21 other titles during his wrestling career. Since retiring, he’s worked as a promoter and color commentator, and still does both today. His net worth sits at around $5 million, and that could grow given he’s published two books, appeared in 27 video games, and acted in several movies, including one episode of Charmed and Ready to Rumble.
Triple H – $40 Million
Triple H, real name Paul Michael Levesque, is a wrestler turned actor and WWE executive. He serves as Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events, and Creative, pulling in a $1.5 million salary per year. He and his wife Stephanie McMahon, who he married in 2003, started a cancer charity called Connor’s Cure together, and he puts a lot of his money toward it. One thing most people don’t know is that he never touches alcohol, not even to celebrate. Marrying Stephanie essentially brought him into the McMahon family circle, which opened the door to him taking on bigger roles within WWE.
Stacy Keibler – $4.5 Million
Stacy Kiebler is probably familiar to a lot of people since she’s been a professional wrestler, a cheerleader, and an actress. She made appearances on some pretty well-known TV shows like How I Met Your Mother, George Lopez, and What About Brian, and she also dated George Clooney for a while. In 2013 she hosted Supermarket Superstar and walked the runway too. She married Jared Pobre in 2014 and they have two kids together.
Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit, a professional wrestler, killed his wife and son on June 22nd, 2007, then hanged himself two days later. It’s a deeply tragic story, and many questions still haven’t been answered. Some people believe depression and brain damage from his career may have played a role. The murders were so brutal that once WWE found out what he had done, they wiped his name and any reference to him from their website and statistics entirely.
Trish Stratus – $6 Million
Patricia Anne Stratigeas, known as Trish Stratus in the ring, was the youngest person ever inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Outside of wrestling, she built a pretty full career as a fitness model, actress, and TV personality, and she’s shown up on plenty of magazine covers over the years. She opened her own yoga studio in 2008, and in 2013 it took home a Top Choice Award for Best Yoga Studio.
Road Dogg – $1.2 Million
Road Dogg, also known as The Roadie and born Brian James, was one of the guys who really made a name for himself in wrestling during the ’90s. A former US Marine, he had a great physique and pushed himself harder in the gym than most of his peers. He’s retired from actually competing but still works with WWE as a producer behind the scenes.
Brian “Crush” Adams
Brian Adams, better known as Crush, made his name competing in both the WCW and WWF. After retiring from wrestling he tried to get into boxing, but injuries got in the way. He passed away in 2007 at 43 years old from respiratory failure. One thing worth mentioning is that when he competed in World Championship Wrestling, he actually preferred to go by his real name rather than his Crush alias.
Big Boss Man
Ray Traylor, better known as Big Boss Man, was an incredible wrestler who got inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016. Sadly, he wasn’t there to see it, having passed away in 2004 at just 41 years old from a heart attack. He left behind his wife and childhood sweetheart Angela, and their two kids, Megan Chyanne and Lacy Abilene.
Mark Henry – $4.5 Million
Mark Henry was already a record-breaking weightlifter and powerlifter before he ever stepped into a wrestling ring, so the transition came naturally to him. He won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in 2011 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
Paul Bearer
He once weighed 500 pounds, and managed to lose 200 of them after getting gastric bypass surgery. He ended up dying from a heart attack. Paul Bearer made his money as a manager rather than a wrestler, working with big names like The Undertaker and Kane.
Jeff Hardy – $12 Million
Jeff won two World Heavyweight Championships and the WWE Championship. He’s a big music lover, and when he stepped away from wrestling, that’s exactly where he turned next. He’s now part of the band PeroxWhy? Even though he’s done competing, he clearly never quit training, which is why he still looks fit and strong. Jeff Hardy also teamed up with his brother, who was a pro wrestler too, along with Lita, and together they were known as Team Xtreme.
Matt Hardy – $5 Million
Matt Hardy is Jeff’s older brother, who we mentioned on the previous slide. He had a long relationship with fellow wrestler Lita, but it fell apart when he found out she was cheating on him with Edge. Matt has had a lot of success in the ring, winning multiple tag team championship belts, and unlike a lot of guys his age, he’s still competing in pro wrestling today.
X-Pac – $500k
Sean Waltman, better known as X-Pac, was born and made a name for himself as one of the most well-known wrestlers of the ’90s. He started out in the WWF and is now part of the WWE legend program, where he picked up a ton of championship belts in both the cruiserweight and tag team divisions. At 46, he still looks seriously athletic and buff, so he’s clearly still putting in work at the gym.
Kurt Angle – $25 Million
Kurt Angle wrestled in college before getting into professional wrestling in the ’90s. He made a move to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2006 and found plenty of success there too. On the health side, he had a rough 2015, getting rushed to the hospital multiple times for things like removing a benign tumor and draining fluid from his spine. Throughout his career he racked up some big titles, including the WWE Heavyweight Championship, the WCW Championship, and the WWE Championship.
Chris Jericho – $18 Million
If you want to watch him wrestle now, he’s competing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. During his WWE run, he won the World Heavyweight Championship three times and still has a strong fanbase even after moving on. Outside the ring, he’s put money into D1 Sports Training and Therapy and became a co-owner of one of its locations. Chris Jericho is another wrestler who got his start in WWE in the ’90s and went on to continue his career elsewhere.
Ken Shamrock – $1.5 Million
Ken Shamrock made history as the first fighter to ever win a UFC Superfight Championship. Both of his sons, Ryan and Sean, tried their hand at MMA too, though neither had much luck. Ryan never really found success, and Sean’s career was cut short after he was diagnosed with cancer and had to have one of his kidneys removed. Outside of MMA, Ken also wrestled in both TNA and WWF, but fighting was always where he truly shined.
Owen Hart
Owen Hart came from a wrestling family and had a seriously impressive career, winning the WWF Intercontinental Championship, WWF European Championship, and WWF World Tag Team Championship. He died during his last performance when the harness lowering him into the ring failed, killing him instantly, and some people believe his ghost still haunts the spot where it happened.
Rick Steiner – $2 Million
Rick Steiner, real name Robert Rechsteiner, got his professional start in WCW before figuring out that tag team wrestling was where he really shined. He went on to win the World Tag Team Championship eight times total, including two of those runs while competing in the WWF. After hanging up his boots, he moved into real estate and now works as a broker, so money is probably the last thing he’s worried about.
Billy Kidman – $22 Million
Billy Kidman made his name in the ’90s competing in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. He was a solid wrestler who ran with groups like The New Blood, The Filthy Animals, and Raven’s Flock, and picked up titles along the way including three WCW Cruiserweight Championships and two World Tag Team Championships. These days he’s still around WWE, working as a producer like a handful of other retired wrestlers.
Tito Santana – Unknown
Tito Santana made his name in wrestling back in the 1970s and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. After retiring from the ring, he took a pretty different path and now works as a Spanish teacher at Eisenhower Middle School, where he also coaches basketball. He’s in his 60s but can still wrestle. During his career he won the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship twice and the Tag Team Championship twice.
Damien Sandow – $2 Million
Damien Sandow, born Aron Steven Haddad, also wrestled under the names Aaron Stevens and Idol Stevens. He got his start in pro wrestling in 2002 and won the WWE Tag Team Championship once during his career. After about a decade in the ring, he retired and has been taking acting classes to pursue a career in Hollywood. He’s also pretty well known for his impersonation work.
Diamond Dallas Page – $8 Million
Diamond Dallas Page had a career spanning two decades, competing in WCW, WWF, and TNA. He’s a four-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, three-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and two-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion. Outside the ring, he created the yoga program “Yoga for Regular Guys Workout” and hosts DDP Radio.
Kamala – Unknown
Most people remember Kamala as the ’80s wrestler who wore face paint, carried a spear and shield, and wrestled barefoot. Sadly, he was diagnosed with diabetes in 1992 and refused treatment, which ended up costing him both his legs.
The Russian Bear
Ivan Koloff, known as The Russian Bear, was someone who genuinely scared his opponents in the ring. He competed in the WWWF in the ’60s and won the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship. After his wrestling career wrapped up, he wrote two books and became an ordained minister. He passed away in 2017 at 74 years old from liver cancer.
John Nord – $1 Million
John Nord went by quite a few nicknames over the years, like The Berzerker and Nord The Barbarian, before eventually just wrestling under his own name. He got his start in the ’80s, debuting in World Class Championship Wrestling and also appearing in the American Wrestling Association. After hanging up his boots in 2002, he took a pretty regular job at a car dealership called Nord East Motors, which was owned by his brother.
Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts – $500k
Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts competed in the TNA, NWA, WCW, ECW, and WWF, and was known for bringing his snakes to the ring, which is how he got his nickname. His most famous snake was a python named Damien. Since retiring, he’s dealt with some serious health problems, including a muscular cancer diagnosis in 2014. He recovered from that, but was back in the hospital later that same year with double pneumonia.
Rowdy Roddy Piper
Rowdy Roddy Piper, born Roderick George Toombs, spent over thirty years as a pro wrestler and always played the villain, which the crowds absolutely ate up. He got inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, but just a year later revealed he had Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He fought it hard, just like he did everything else in his career, but sadly passed away from cardiac arrest in 2015.
Marc Mero – $3 Million
Marc Mero started out in pro wrestling just using his real name, then later picked up the nickname Johnny B. Badd while competing in WCW and TNA. After retiring, he had some health problems, including an enlarged heart. Doctors pushed him to get surgery, but he kept putting it off and eventually the condition resolved on its own. These days he works as a motivational speaker.
Debra – $667k
Debra Marshall, also known as Queen Debra, got her start in World Championship Wrestling back in 1995. By 1998 she was signed to the WWF going by just Debra, and the next year she won the WWF Women’s Championship. A lot of people know her from her marriage to Steve Austin, who was arrested while they were still together, and who assaulted her leaving her with bruises and a bleeding nose.
Big Van Vader
Vader competed in WWF, WCW, and New Japan Pro Wrestling, picking up a ton of titles along the way. He won the WCW Heavyweight championship three times, the IWGP Heavyweight championship three times, and the United States Heavyweight championship once. He’d been dealing with heart problems since 2016, and two years later he passed away from pneumonia after complications from heart surgery. In the superheavyweight division, Big Van Vader was the guy everyone had to get through to prove themselves.
Kevin Nash – $8 Million
Kevin Nash is still semi-retired from WWE and pops up for appearances every now and then despite his age. He’s had some notable movie roles too, including Magic Mike and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. His wrestling career took a different path than most since he started in WWE, then moved to WCW where he helped create the New World Order.
The Honky Tonk Man – $4 Million
Wayne Farris, better known as The Honky Tonk Man, basically grew up with wrestling in the family since his cousin is Jerry Lawler, the wrestler and color commentator. He worked in WWC and WWE, and even though he’s retired now, he still hits the gym regularly. He was known for being a great in-ring impersonator, especially of Elvis Presley, and he even showed up on Judge Jeanine Pirro as a witness for the defense.
Jimmy Snuka
Jimmy Snuka, who was Fijian, invented the “Superfly Splash” move. He had a solid WWE career in the 1980s and did some acting too, but things took a dark turn when he became the prime suspect in the murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Argentino. He pleaded not guilty, and it was hard to know what to make of it since he had dementia, making it nearly impossible to tell if he was lying or just couldn’t remember. The charges were eventually dismissed, but he died shortly after.
Stephanie Mcmahon – $25 Million
She ended up marrying Triple H, as mentioned earlier. After retiring from competition, she became a CBO promoter and has been on-air since 1999 as part of The Undertaker storyline. She also became WWE’s creative director and reportedly still found time to write a book set to release in 2020. The McMahon family’s connection to WWE runs deep, with Stephanie being the fourth generation in a row to compete.
Rico – Estimated $500k
Rico Constantino got his start in the Empire Wrestling Federation before making it big as a WWE villain. A SmackDown! episode actually helped land him that heel role that fans loved, but by 2004 he walked away from wrestling entirely to go into law enforcement. Safe to say he’s a Sergeant Officer you don’t want to mess with.
Garbage Man – $100k
Duke Droese picked up the nickname “Garbage Man” in the WWF because he actually brought a garbage can to the ring before his matches. He got his start in the 1990s, trained by Bobby Wales, but since retiring he’s clearly let himself go and looks pretty out of shape these days.
Gigantic Kurrgan – $2 Million
Robert Maillet is a Canadian actor you might recognize from movies like 300 and Deadpool 2, but before all that he was actually a professional wrestler. He teamed up with The Rock in The Truth Commission and The Oddities during his two years in the sport. After hanging up the boots he moved into acting, and he’s still in incredible shape to this day, actually getting bigger every year, which makes sense given the kinds of roles he takes on.
Gangrel – $500k
David Heath, better known as Gangrel, was one of WWE’s most feared guys in the 1990s, and his look definitely played a big part in that. He’s still wrestling today, now working with the independent promotion New Era Pro Wrestling. There are rumors floating around that he’s also getting into directing adult films, but nothing has been confirmed.
Joey Mercury – $600k
Joey Mercury has had one of the most extreme makeovers in wrestling history. He genuinely looks like a completely different person, which is a good thing. He’s not wrestling anymore but he hasn’t walked away from the business either, working as a trainer at the Ring Of Honor Dojo. The braids are gone, his head is shaved, and he’s trading the old look for a much more formal style.
Justin Credible – $200k
Peter Joseph “PJ” Polaco, who wrestled under the name Justin Credible, is basically semi-retired but still shows up when needed, including a few TV appearances here and there. Wrestling and bodybuilding were such a big part of his life that staying retired just didn’t stick. He only had one championship win in WWE, but honestly, getting that far is something most people never pull off.
Brutus Beefcake – $100k
Brutus Beefcake idolized Hulk Hogan, but he never came close to reaching that level. These days he works at a public transit system and is pretty out of shape, which is a far cry from his wrestling days. Despite being popular in both the WCW and WWF, he’s one of those guys whose fame just didn’t translate into real success in the ring.
Adam Rose – $500k
Adam Rose struggled to know when to call it quits, but by 2017 he made it official after announcing his retirement multiple times. He picked up a suspension for violating the WWE Wellness Policy and also faced a domestic battery charge. He took his bad-guy reputation in stride though, selling T-shirts printed with his own mugshot. He’s not exactly rolling in money, and without his fairly long pro wrestling career behind him, it’s hard to say where he’d be today.
Maven – $100k
Maven got into bouncing at NYC clubs after retiring pretty early from wrestling. On top of his career not taking off, he also dealt with drug abuse, but WWE stepped in and helped him get clean. He got his moment in the spotlight through the reality show WWE Tough Enough, but despite that, he never really made it big in WWE.
One Man Gang – $50k
George Gray, also known as One Man Gang, has had a pretty rough go of things. His house was completely destroyed in the 2016 Louisiana floods, and a GoFundMe he set up didn’t raise nearly enough to rebuild. After retiring from pro wrestling he worked as a prison guard, but his bad luck continued and he ran into health problems on top of everything else.
Rip Rogers – Unknown
Some of his old fans stepped up to help him out for old time’s sake. He won the NWA Mid-American Heavyweight Championship once, but everything he built over his career is gone and he has no money left. Like One Man Gang, Rip Rogers set up a GoFundMe page, but it didn’t get much support since a lot of people feel he brought his situation on himself. Younger fans probably won’t know who he is, but older fans will be glad to know Rip Rogers is still around.
The Hitman – $14 Million
Bret “The Hitman” Hart had quite the career after wrestling, moving into acting and writing. You may have heard his voice on The Simpsons, and he’s been writing a column for the Calgary Sun for years. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016 but beat it and is now cancer-free. He really changed how people look at wrestling today, and he held championships across five decades.
Virgil – Unknown
He set up a GoFundMe page and tried going to wrestling conventions to get out of poverty, but neither really worked out. People at the conventions just mocked him, and it seems like his reputation is pretty much stuck at this point. Virgil is the last person you’d ask about fitness or money, but if you want to know how to make it as a wrestler and then throw it all away, he’s got that covered.
Dynamite Kid – Unknown
Tom Billington, better known as the Dynamite Kid, had a rough go of things after he retired in 1996. His health really fell apart, including a serious stroke in 2013 that left him largely housebound. On top of that, all the wear and tear from his wrestling career started catching up with him too. It’s a tough situation for someone who was one of the most popular wrestlers of the 1990s and a genuine hero to a lot of kids growing up back then.
Matt Cappotelli
Matt Cappotelli, a former OVW Heavyweight Champion who rose to fame through WWE Tough Enough, was diagnosed with cancer. He had a brain tumor that kept growing, which led to a two-hour operation that was only partly successful because doctors had to leave part of the tumor in place due to the risk involved. He passed away in 2018.
Perry Saturn – Unknown
Perry Saturn, born Perry Satullo, got his start in the military before moving into pro wrestling, but his WWE run was cut short when he disappeared pretty suddenly. Since then, rumors have circulated that he’s been dealing with bankruptcy, homelessness, drug addiction including methamphetamine and painkillers, and serious health problems. A brain injury has left him with daily headaches and difficulty staying stable day to day.
Jimmy Wang Yang – $8 Million
You can also try Googling his “redneck party bus business.” He had a pretty long career competing in the WWF and WWE, and even gave WCW and Ring of Honor a shot on the independent circuit. These days he runs his own wrestling school called Pro Training and has put out some solid wrestlers. Jimmy Wang Yang is just the type of guy who takes whatever life throws at him and finds a way to make it work.
Harvey Wippleman – Unknown
Bruno Lauer, better known as Harvey Wippleman, had a rocky road after his wrestling career ended, including a stint in prison, but he stuck with the business and moved into managing. He ended up pulling off things people thought were impossible, like beating Giant Gonzales and Big Bully Busick, two guys nobody thought he had a chance against.
Spike Dudley – $300k
Matthew also trains pro fighters and works as a third-grade teacher’s assistant. He had already earned a Bachelor of Arts degree before his wrestling career, which made it easier to move into other fields after retiring. Matthew Hyson, better known as Spike Dudley or Brother Runt, may not have made a ton of money in wrestling, but he found his footing elsewhere.
Lance Storm – Unknown
When Lance Storm retired, he didn’t walk away from wrestling entirely. He opened the Storm Wrestling Academy, which trains people who want to break into the business. He had a solid career as a pro wrestler, winning multiple titles along the way, so he clearly knows what he’s talking about. His net worth isn’t public, but running an academy built around something he’s genuinely passionate about probably keeps him doing just fine financially.
Beulah Mcgillicutty – Unknown
A lot of guys were after her, but Tommy Dreamer was the one who won her over. When her kids joined The Sopranos, they were put in the spotlight right away. Beulah McGillicutty had a tough time as a professional wrestler, though probably not for the reasons you’d expect.
Hardcore Holly – $200k
Bob Holly wrote an autobiography called “The Hardcore Truth” covering his life story. His face might be showing some age, but the charm is still there. Over his 16-year career in the WWF and WWE, he was one of the most feared guys you could end up across the ring from.
Glacier – Unknown
Ray Lloyd, who played Glacier in WCW, moved on to acting after wrestling but it never really took off for him. These days he stays busy working full time at a marketing company in Florida and has become an activist focused on raising cancer awareness. If you remember him in that metal looking suit, his recent photos will probably catch you off guard because he looks pretty different now.
Dean Malenko – Unknown
Dean Malenko built a reputation as one of the best submission wrestlers around, winning titles and putting on great matches in ECW along the way. He never captured a world championship, but he held other titles throughout his career. He’s still part of the WWE today, working as a road agent. In 2010 he had a heart attack, but that hasn’t kept him away entirely and he still makes occasional ring appearances. Outside of wrestling, he’s doing well at home with his wife and three kids.
Doink The Clown
Matt Osborne, who played Doink the Clown, first showed up in the WWF in 1992 and kept that clown character going until the end of his career. Wrestling ran in his family since his dad was pro wrestler Tony Borne. Sadly, Matt passed away in 2013 from a drug overdose combined with heart problems, and after his death other wrestlers carried on the Doink the Clown character to honor him.
Molly Holly – Unknown
She still pops up in wrestling from time to time, but these days she’s mainly focused on her role as head coach at The Academy: School of Professional Wrestling. She’s kept herself in great shape and looks just as good as ever, even in her 40s. After everything she tore through during her time in the WWF and WWE, it’s no surprise she ended up in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Trevor Murdoch – Unknown
Trevor Murdoch closes out this list, and honestly he was a genuinely talented singer who loved grabbing the mic to perform for the crowd. He’s still around these days, though the years are catching up with him. He owns a heavy equipment company now and focuses more on family than the gym. During his WWE run he was known as one of the funniest guys on the roster, and he also had a solid background in fighting and bodybuilding.