10 WWE Superstars who started their pro-wrestling career late 

Sports, much like any physical activity, favour the younger athletes. Athletes often hit their peak in mid 20’s, which is why they start very young. Professional wrestling isn’t much different; we’ve heard about performers who started competing in either their backyards or in independent promotions, as early as in their teenage years.

It is also no secret that WWE often brings in performers who are still hitting their peak so that their best years are spent in the organisation. It is often said that nothing can beat the power of youth and exuberance, and with Triple H ready to take over the reins after Vince McMahon, it is only expected to become a norm in the company.

However, like in any other sport, there are a few exceptions. The human body is remarkable, and the recovery period is different for different performers. Vince has always been successful in scouting talent, and as such, the man who built wrestling’s greatest empire has used better judgment, when it comes to recruiting talent.

Today, we take a look at ten such WWE Superstars, who started their professional wrestling careers late.

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#10 Gene Snitsky - 32

Snitsky will mostly be remembered for kicking a make-believe baby into the crowd, and his catchphrase, vehemently denying his involvement in Lita’s miscarriage. Yes, professional wrestling can be weird at times.

However, Snitsky did not get into the business until his early 30’s, initially competing for Ohio Valley Wrestling. Gene played college football and was on the preseason roster for the Birmingham Barracudas in the CFL.

Snitsky’s first match on the main roster, as the Superstar would later go on to reveal, was supposed to be a one-off match. However, with Lita’s (kayfabe) miscarriage, and the fans enjoying the angle, Snitksy was brought to RAW on a full-time basis. Snitsky asked for and was granted his release in 2008.

#9 Rico Constantino - 40

Talking about WWE pushing the envelope with the characters, it is quite difficult to forget the storyline involving Rico, Billy and Chuck. The trio infamously played the characters of three gay men on television, which earned them praises from the LGBTQ community, only for them to reveal it was a plan all along, forcing the admirers and supporters to make a U-turn.

Rico’s WWE debut was as stereotypical as it can get. The former OVW Heavyweight Champion made his debut as the stylist of Billy and Chuck, at the not-so-tender age of 40.

The former WWE Superstar has since suffered some setbacks health-wise, struggling with heart-related issues, and suffered immensely due to a series of concussions.

#8 Bad News Brown - 34

Recounting the few legitimate tough guys we’ve seen in the business, one would be remiss if they did not include the name of Bad News Brown. True to his ring name, Allen Coage was an imposing figure, and the fact that Allen challenged Andre to a shoot fight — a challenge Andre politely declined, speaks volumes about his reputation in the industry.

Bad News Brown was a judoka before he transitioned to professional wrestling, and even represented his country in the 1976 Summer Olympics, bagging the bronze medal in the heavyweight division! Allen stepped into a professional wrestling ring for the first time in 1977, while working for Inoki’s New Japan Pro Wrestling, at the age of 34.

He also made a brief appearance in the WWWF, before returning to the organisation a decade later, at the age of 45.

#7 Brodus Clay - 33

Being “The Funkasaurus” might not exactly be a career highlight for Brodus Clay, but the big man made an impressive debut on the main roster, siding with Alberto Del Rio. As one could guess by looking at his daunting physical attributes, Brodus played football during his college days, and later served as Snoop Dogg’s bodyguard before trying his hand in the wrestling business.

Clay signed a contract with WWE in 2006 and was sent to WWE’s developmental territory, Deep South Wrestling. What made his transition that much more impressive was the fact that he dove head - first into the wrestling business at the age of 33!

Brodus left WWE in 2014 and signed up with Global Force Wrestling/Impact Wrestling. He competed in the promotion until August 2017, when he was granted his release.

#6 The Boogeyman - 40

There are very few Superstars in history that evoke a squeamish reaction from the fans, quite like The Boogeyman. Known for his elaborate, theatrical entrance, and his appetite for worms (quite literally), The Boogeyman made quite an impression during his brief stint on WWE’s main roster.

Martin Wright competed on the fourth season of Tough Enough in 2004 but was eliminated from the show for lying about his age. Wright entered the competition, by falsely claiming that he was 30 years old when he was in fact 40. Tough Enough’s cut-off age at the time was 35, which forced the company to disqualify Wright from the competition.

However, he made his OVW debut in 2005, and made his main roster debut by the end of the year!

#5 Titus O’Neil - 32

The Titus Brand might be having some issues taking off in the company, but Titus O’Neil didn’t have too many issues while signing up with the leading sports entertainment promotion in the world. However, professional wrestling wasn’t Titus’s first love, as he played football in high school. In fact, O’Neil was a standout player for his high school team and was scouted by major varsity teams.

Titus played for the Florida Gators team in college and later played in the Arena Football League from 2003 to 2007. “The Gator” signed a developmental deal with WWE in 2009 at the age of 32 and was sent to Florida Championship Wrestling.

Titus competed on the second season of NXT, before moving to the main roster in 2012, along with Darren Young.

#4 Kevin Nash - 31

“Big Sexy” wound up as one of the key catalysts to have transformed the wrestling business when he and Scott Hall ‘invaded’ WCW. The New World Order changed the dynamics of the business, and Kevin Nash was at the centre of this transformation.

But before he jumped to WCW and became a part of one of the greatest factions in wrestling history, he won the WWE Championship and proceeded to become one of the longest reigning champions in the company’s history.

Ironically enough, Nash began his wrestling career in WCW, at the age of 31. Kevin played basketball in high school and in university, before moving to Europe to play basketball professionally. However, Nash suffered a career-ending ACL injury and later worked other jobs — including as the floor manager of a strip club, before deciding to try his luck in the professional wrestling business.

The rest, as they say, is history.

#3 Diamond Dallas Page - 35

From winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship to being reduced to the role of a stalker in WWE, DDP had quite the fall from grace once WCW folded. Page was considered to be one of the better workers in WCW and was only the fourth WCW Triple Crown Champion in the promotion’s history.

While DDP left WWE as a result of multiple injuries, he competed in TNA/Impact Wrestling between 2004-05. Page’s start in the business was rather interesting; he ran a nightclub in Florida and started managing the likes of Pat Tanaka and Curt Hennig, and later managed The Fabulous Freebirds after signing with WCW in ’91.

It was at that time that DDP started going to the WCW Power Plant, where he learnt the nuances of the business. He began his in-ring career at the age of 35 while continuing to improve his in-ring skills and developing his character. He was released in ’92 after DDP suffered a torn rotator cuff but returned to the company in ’94.

#2 Batista - 31

The former WWE Champion was destined for greatness, ever since Triple H took him under his wing. Under the tutelage of ‘The King of Kings’ and The Nature Boy, Batista understood what the business was all about, and how to climb the ranks quickly in WWE. After all, there were multiple other Superstars who had started ahead of him.

Batista, similar to Diamond Dallas Page, wanted to learn the tricks of the trade at the WCW Power Plant. However, his request was turned down, after being told he would never make it in the business. Batista then signed with WWE and was sent to OVW to polish his skills at the age of 31.

It took ‘The Animal’ three years to make any notable inroads before Triple H handpicked him to be a part of his Evolution stable. Two years later, Batista found himself main eventing WrestleMania for the World Heavyweight Championship!

Not too shabby for someone who was told he could never cut it as a wrestler.

#1 Goldberg - 30

While many claim professional wrestling to be a young man’s ‘sport’, the number one pick on this list would be living proof of that being a misconception. Goldberg will go down as one of the most iconic wrestlers in the history of the business, and he only harboured thoughts about getting into the business at the age of 30!

Goldberg played in the NFL and the CFL, before suffering a serious injury that cut his footballing career short. Goldberg then took to weightlifting and dabbling in mixed martial arts, before deciding to head down to the WCW Power Plant to see if he could make something of himself in the professional wrestling business.

What followed was the historic undefeated streak, leading up to his highly anticipated showdown with “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, during which he won his first WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Nearly two decades after breaking into the business, Goldberg returned to WWE at the age of 50, winning the Universal Championship and headlining WrestleMania!