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WWE has had its fair share of wrestling families over the decades. The McMahons, The Flairs and The Ortons are a few examples. WWE has had fathers, sons, siblings and cousins compete in its ring.
WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and The Usos are currently the most famous cousins in WWE. Reigns and The Usos have accomplished a lot in the squared circle. They are now working together on SmackDown.
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Unlike Reigns and The Usos, other WWE Superstars did not get the chance to work in the WWE ring with their cousins despite them being wrestlers. These WWE Superstars became legends and Hall of Famers, but their cousins could not accomplish similar success, even those who made it to WWE.
Former WWE writer buries Judgment Day HERE
Here are five WWE Legends you didn't know have wrestling cousins.
#5. WWE Legend The Undertaker - Brian Lee
The Undertaker is a legend and an Icon in WWE and the whole pro wrestling industry. He has had a career like no other, which he ended on his terms last year at WrestleMania. In his retirement match, The Deadman defeated AJ Styles in a Boneyard match.
WWE presented Kane as The Undertaker's brother despite not being related in real life. However, The Phenom did have a cousin in the wrestling business at the same time. He even shared the WWE ring with him for a few minutes.
Brian Lee is the Undertaker's real-life cousin. He started his wrestling career with the Continental Wrestling Association in 1989. In 1990, he made the jump to WCW, where he had a short stint that lasted for nearly a year.
Lee then tried his luck with WWE. He participated in the Wrestling Challenge show but lost two tryout matches against Kevin Von Erich and Jim Powers.
The Undertaker's cousin competed in lesser-known promotions until 1994. He then returned to WWE to play the imposter Undertaker during the storyline between The Undertaker and The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase. Lee faced off against his cousin, both dressed as The Undertaker, at SummerSlam 1994. The match ended with the real Undertaker achieving victory.
Following SummerSlam, Lee left WWE. He competed again in lesser-known promotions before having another short stint with ECW.
In 1997, The Undertaker's cousin returned for a third time to WWE but again without much luck. He played the gimmick Chainz, a member of the Disciples of Apocalypse. His third attempt was also short and lasted for nearly a year before WWE decided to release him once and for all.
Lee continued his wrestling career on the independent circuit. He also spent nearly a year in TNA, where he won the NWA Tag Team Titles.
Lee spent nearly 26 years in the wrestling business before retiring in 2014. Despite all these years in the wrestling business, he never achieved his cousin's fame and status.
#4. WWE Legend Batista - Jay Batista
Dave Batista is a legend in the WWE. The promotion announced his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame this year before removing him from the list.
The former World Heavyweight Champion addressed his absence in a tweet:
"To the @WWEUniverse Unfortunately due to previous obligations I am unable to be a part of the @WWE #HOF this year. By my request, they have agreed to induct me at a future ceremony where I’ll be able to properly thank the fans and people who made my career possible."
Batista is a guaranteed future Hall of Famer. He is a six-time World Champion, four-time Tag Team Champion and a two-time Royal Rumble winner. His cousin Jay Batista is nowhere near The Animal's status.
Jay Batista is a former wrestler who started his professional wrestling career in 2008. Jay revealed his relationship with Dave and whether the former WWE Superstar helped him get into the wrestling business in an interview with Squared Circle News:
"I am his first cousin. No, Dave did not help me get into the business. I want to earn my own way."
Jay Batista won the Eastern State Heavyweight Championship, FCWA Heavyweight Championship and the NWA Carolina Heavyweight Championship during his wrestling career.
#3. WWE Legend Rey Mysterio - El Hijo de Rey Misterio
Rey Mysterio is one a WWE Legend who is still active on the main roster. He now competes alongside his son Dominik, who has become a WWE Superstar himself, on SmackDown.
Mysterio is a future WWE Hall of Famer. Despite Mysterio's success in the business, his cousin El Hijo de Rey Misterio could not follow the same path.
El Hijo de Rey Misterio could not make it to WWE like his cousin despite debuting in the wrestling business 15 years ago. He competes on the independent circuit.
Rey Mysterio's cousin was confused for the WWE Superstar on several occasions. He addressed this issue in an interview with Red UNO TV:
"I'm not the one in WWE, my father is Rey Misterio Sr. (Original), my father gave the name to my cousin, who has had a great career for years".
According to Cage Match, El Hijo de Rey Misterio is a former PWR Tag Team Champion alongside Rey Misterio Sr.
El Hijo de Rey Misterio retired in early 2011 but returned to the ring a few months later. He is now a freelancer.
#2. WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels - Matt Bentley
Shawn Michaels is one of the most successful WWE Superstars in history. He is a two-time WWE Hall of Famer. However, his cousin, Matt Bentley, was not as successful.
Bentley was trained by his cousin Shawn Michaels at Texas Wrestling Academy. He then went to wrestle in Japan before joining ECW. Bentley's ECW journey was cut short after a few months after the promotion went out of business in 2001.
Over the next two years, Bentley wrestled for different promotions, including dark matches in WCW and WWE. In 2003, Shawn Michaels's cousin joined TNA. Bentley's TNA stint was the best of his wrestling career. He competed in the X-Division and won the TNA X-Division Championship twice. He was also crowned X-Division Star of the Year in 2003.
Bentley left TNA in August 2007 after his contract expired. He made an appearance in WWE nearly eight months later, losing to Vladimir Kozlov on SmackDown in a squash match that lasted a little over a minute. It was the last time Bentley wrestled in a WWE ring.
In the following years, Bentley made a few appearances for different promotions, although he took a break from wrestling to focus on his music band. He never reached his cousin's legendary status in the wrestling business.
#1. WWE Legend CM Punk - Nick Brooks
CM Punk is one of the most controversial WWE Superstars of all time. Although he might not go into the Hall of Fame due to his troubled relationship with WWE management, there is no denial that he is a legend.
Punk has a cousin who tried his luck in the wrestling business. According to wrestlingdata.com, Punk has a cousin named Nick Brooks. He made his debut in the wrestling business in July 2009.
Brooks wrestled under the name Merlin Dean Banks and his real name. He was given the nickname Northwest when he joined the FCW training facility, which served as the official developmental territory for WWE at the time.
CM Punk's cousin did not make it to WWE. He wrestled for smaller promotions like Pro Wrestling Phoenix, Adrenaline Pro Wrestling and Missouri Wrestling Revival.
Despite debuting 11 years ago, the 35-year-old could not make it big in the pro wrestling business. Brooks remains the unknown cousin of the former five-time World Champion and WWE Legend CM Punk.
