WWE Wrestlers who participated in Olympics

WWE Wrestlers often intersect with another dimension of sports. Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey have also competed in UFC, Baron Corbin and Roman Reigns were footballers before joining WWE, Logan Paul is a celebrity boxer, Kevin Nash also played basketball, and so on. However, the world of professional wrestling has also often intersected with the grand stage of the Olympics, where athletic determination shines the brightest. Several WWE superstars have come from an Olympic background, including some who stood at the podium in their competitions.

Also Read: WWE Wrestlers Who Played in the NFL

List of WWE Wrestlers who participated in the Olympics

Kurt Angle, Ronda Rousey, Chad Gable, Gable Steveson, Mark Henry, Bad News Brown, Mad Dog Vachon, Karl Gotch, and Tyra Mae Steele are among the WWE wrestlers who have competed in the Olympics.

As per The Sportster, these are all the WWE wrestlers who have also competed in the Olympics,

Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle is perhaps the most famous wrestler transitioning from Olympic glory to professional wrestling. He represented the United States in the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, where he won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling. Remarkably, Angle achieved this feat with a broken neck. His Olympic success laid the groundwork for a legendary career in WWE, where he became one of the most popular superstars of all time. He is also one of the most decorated wrestlers in WWE and TNA and a Hall of Famer in both promotions.

Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey is the only athlete to win titles in WWE, UFC, and also the Olympics. Beyond pro wrestling and mixed martial arts, Rousey competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a judoka, where she won a bronze medal in judo. She was the first American woman to earn an Olympic medal in this discipline. After her Olympic success, Rousey transitioned to mixed martial arts (MMA), where she became a pioneer and one of the biggest stars in UFC history. She became the first female UFC Hall of Famer in 2018 and then moved to WWE, where she was a part of the first-ever female WrestleMania main event.

Gable Steveson

Gable Steveson is a former WWE star who made headlines during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling. His victory was a noteworthy one, as he secured the win with a last-second takedown in the finals. After his Olympic triumph, Steveson signed with WWE and was seen as a future superstar within the organization. He was, however, soon released from the company.

Chad Gable

Chad Gable represented the United States at the 2012 London Olympics but did not medal. Despite this setback, Gable has carved out a successful career in WWE, known for his technical wrestling skills and tag team accomplishments. He has been part of several championship-winning teams.

Mark Henry

Mark Henry competed in weightlifting at the 1992 and then again at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics but faced challenges that prevented him from medaling due to injuries. However, his Olympic journey caught the attention of WWE executives, leading to a successful career as "The World's Strongest Man." Henry went on to become one of WWE's most recognizable figures, known for his strength and charisma.

Bad News Brown

Bad News Brown was another notable figure who excelled both as an athlete and a professional wrestler. He won a bronze medal in judo at the 1976 Montreal Olympics before embarking on a successful wrestling career that spanned several decades. He had multiple brief stints with WWE and other wrestling promotions such as International Wrestling Alliance, Stampede Wrestling, and NWA Hollywood Wrestling.

Mad Dog Vachon

Mad Dog Vachon or Maurice Vachon is one of the early pioneers in professional wrestling. He started his career as an amateur wrestler and competed in the 1948 Olympic Games. He would soon transition to pro-wrestling, where he had a thirty-year-long career across numerous promotions. However, it wasn’t until 1986 that he had a stint in WWE, following which he announced his retirement.

Tyra Mae Steele

Tyra Mae Steele is the third Olympic gold medalist after Kurt Angle and Gable Steveson to sign with WWE. Her real name is Tamyra Mariama Mensah-Stock and she was born on October 11, 1992. She won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and became the first black woman to win gold in the category. She was signed to WWE in May 2023 and made her debut the next year on NXT Level Up.