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Before becoming famous pro wrestlers, several WWE Superstars were ordinary people who worked ordinary jobs.
The WWE Universe might know almost everything about the superstars' in-ring careers, but not as much about their lives before wrestling. However, many WWE Superstars spoke about their lives before fame and fortune, revealing their previous jobs.
While some worked in sports-related occupations like Trish Stratus, who worked in a gym as a receptionist, others had office jobs. A few had even more exciting professions like fighting crime.
Here are five current WWE Superstars and their jobs before wrestling.
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#5. WWE Superstar Asuka
Asuka is one of the most accomplished WWE Superstars on the roster today. Before she became a wrestler, The Empress of Tomorrow was a graphic designer:
"I never was a fan of women’s professional wrestling, and even now I’m still not a fan. I wanted to become a wrestler because I was a fan of men’s professional wrestling. I found a job as a graphic designer, but then I decided to take the path of a wrestler," Asuka told dirtydirtysheets.com.
The 39-year-old started her pro wrestling career competing in an all-female promotion called Ato in 2004. Two years later, The Empress of Tomorrow had to retire due to health issues. She spent nearly a year and a half away from the squared circle. During that time, she established her own graphic designing agency.
In late 2007, Asuka returned to the ring and performed in different promotions. Despite being occupied with wrestling, the Japanese superstar did not give up on her agency:
"I’m a professional wrestler. And I run a design office and a beauty salon. By design, there are things you have to design, like the characters of two software titles (Nintendo DS). And I produced this 30 mobile software," she introduced herself in an interview with gordmansgametreasure.com.
In 2015, The Empress of Tomorrow joined WWE. She is now a Grand Slam Champion, having won the RAW Women's Championship, SmackDown Women's Championship and the Women's Tag Team Titles.
Asuka's achievements include winning the NXT Championship, the 2018 Women's Royal Rumble, and the 2020 Women's Money in the Banks Ladder Match, too. She is currently active on Monday Night RAW.
#4. WWE Superstar Samoa Joe
WWE Superstar Samoa Joe has made a big name for himself in the pro wrestling industry. He kicked off his wrestling career over two decades ago and competed in several promotions before making it to WWE in 2015. Although Joe has suffered several injuries in the past few years, he successfully held the NXT Championship and the United States Championship twice each.
Before chasing a wrestling career, Joe had other jobs. The WWE Superstar's parents were the owners and operators of the largest Polynesian dance troop in the United States. Joe started performing at the age of five and participated in dance competitions:
"I danced, played drums, sang....toured the world with my family three times - China, Japan, Europe, across the US, everywhere," he revealed in an old interview with tnawrestling.com.
The 42-year-old also played several sports growing up, but football and judo were his primary interests. During college, the former United States Champion suffered a career-ending knee injury. He then landed a job as a mortgage broker for a short amount of time.
Joe recently returned to WWE after only two months of being released from his contract. The Destroyer is now active on NXT and will have his first match in nearly a year and a half against Karrion Kross for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver 36.
#3. WWE Superstar Shanky
WWE Superstar Shanky has only been a pro wrestler for six years. Before that, he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and worked as an accountant at a university in Mullana, India.
While working as an accountant, Shanky started going to the gym. He then watched WWE Hall of Famer The Great Khali speak about his wrestling academy, CWE, on TV and decided to join it. There, he learned the ropes and won the CWE Heavyweight Championship twice.
The 30-year-old spoke about the difficulties of training at The Great Khali's academy in an interview with the Hindustan Times. Shanky revealed that he cried every night in the bathroom.
Shanky's tough training led him to WWE. He joined the company in January 2020. A year later, the former accountant made his in-ring debut at Superstar Spectacle. He teamed up with Giant Zanjeer, Rey Mysterio and Ricochet to defeat Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler, King Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura.
The Indian Superstar debuted on Monday Night RAW last May, joining forces with Jinder Mahal. The 30-year-old is now Jinder Mahal's protégé alongside Veer.
#2. WWE United States Champion Sheamus
United States Champion Sheamus is one of the most successful wrestlers in WWE today. He has many accomplishments, including becoming a four-time World Champion, three-time United States Champion, and five-time Tag Team Champion.
Sheamus' life before becoming a pro wrestler was full of achievements as well. During his school days, Sheamus sang in the Palestrina Choir and appeared on a few TV Shows. He was also a successful Gaelic football and rugby player growing up.
The Celtic Warrior holds a National Diploma. Before becoming a WWE Superstar, he worked as an IT technician and a nightclub bouncer. However, he decided to chase his dream of learning the ropes and competing inside the squared circle in 2002:
"I just finished college with a Diploma that I had no interest in using. Once I had completed my studies and had something to fall back on I took a chance and I went for it and followed my passion... wrestling. I had no ties, no responsibilities and nothing to lose. It was now or never for me, and it still is," Sheamus told Fighting Spirit Magazine.
After performing for a few years in different promotions, Sheamus joined WWE in 2006. Fifteen years later, he is still going strong on Monday Night RAW. The Celtic Warrior will defend his United States title at SummerSlam against Damian Priest.
#1. WWE Superstar Mustafa Ali
Mustafa Ali's job as a WWE Superstar is an exciting one. However, his previous occupation was equally exciting in its own right.
Before becoming a pro wrestler, Ali had to work in different jobs to provide for his family after his father passed away. The 35-year-old had just graduated from college when his dad died. He began searching for a job and landed a few marketing ones. However, a friend of his soon provided him with a better option:
"One of my buddies told me he was becoming a cop, he also told me everything about it and then asked me if I wanted to join him. I was fascinated by the profession and how one can give back to the society, which was more intriguing for me than doing a desk job hidden behind a computer, also it was more than just collecting a paycheque but also about bringing a change. Thus I became a police officer," Ali told mid-day.com.
Ali worked as a police officer for four years. During that time, the 35-year-old chased his pro wrestling dream too. Sometimes, he would wrestle at events before rushing to his duties as a policeman minutes later:
"There were days I'd wrestle at 9 o'clock, and afterward, I often didn't shower and would just throw on sweatpants. I had my police gear in the car and would rush to get to the station by 10:30, clean myself off as best I could and be ready for my shift by 10:59," Ali said in an interview with ESPN.
Mustafa Ali performed on the independent circuit for nearly 13 years before joining WWE in 2016. Despite some questionable booking, Ali has proven himself as one of the most talented Superstars on the WWE roster. He is currently active on Monday Night RAW.
