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Before They Battled it Out in the Ring, Here's What WWE Stars Were Doing in Their Previous Jobs

From humble beginnings to unusual career choices, these Superstars' pre-wrestling jobs shed light on their diverse journeys
PUBLISHED OCT 23, 2023
Cover Image Source: GettyImages/ Photo by: (L) Alex Bierens de Haan (M) Horacio Villalobos (R)  Santiago Felipe
Cover Image Source: GettyImages/ Photo by: (L) Alex Bierens de Haan (M) Horacio Villalobos (R) Santiago Felipe
 WWE | Getty Images | Ethan Miller
WWE | Getty Images | Ethan Miller

WWE Superstars are known for their larger-than-life personas, but many of them had entirely different lives before entering the ring. From humble beginnings to unusual career choices, the pre-wrestling jobs of these superstars include manning a gas station and patrolling the streets as a police officer, while one of them drove a Limo. These intriguing career paths reveal the intriguing stories behind the Superstars battling it out in the arena.

Kevin Owens celebrates his victory over Cesaro at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City/ Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images
Kevin Owens celebrates his victory over Cesaro at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City/ Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images

Kevin Owens, the arrogant and boisterous WWE Superstar, has been a force to reckon with in the wrestling world. But before adopting this persona, he was Kevin Steen, a young wrestler striving to make a name for himself. Like many aspiring performers, his early wrestling career didn't provide substantial income. To make ends meet, Kevin Owens worked as a gas station attendant, handling customers and fuel pumps.

 WWE superstar Carmella poses for photographs during her visit to One World Observatory in advance of SummerSlam on August 20, 2016 in New York City/ Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images
WWE superstar Carmella poses for photographs during her visit to One World Observatory in advance of SummerSlam on August 20, 2016 in New York City/ Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images

Carmella, known as "The Princess of Staten Island" in WWE, had a rather glamorous career as a cheerleader before stepping into the arena as an athlete. In her pre-WWE days, Carmella, whose real name is Leah Van Dale, cheered for the New England Patriots from 2007 to 2010 and the Los Angeles Lakers from 2010 to 2011. Her background in gymnastics and qualifications as a personal trainer certainly played a role.

WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan Celebrate's Wrestlemania 35 at The Empire State Building on April 05, 2019 in New York City/ Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images
WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan Celebrate's Wrestlemania 35 at The Empire State Building on April 05, 2019 in New York City/ Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images

Daniel Bryan's path to wrestling stardom was paved by hard work even for odd jobs. In his 2015 autobiography, 'Yes!: My Improbable Journey to the Main Event of WrestleMania,' Bryan revealed his eclectic work history while saving up for wrestling school. His experiences included stints at McDonald's, KB Toys, and even a potential job at Victoria's Secret, which he almost accepted, but a change in the start date made him miss the opportunity. This diverse work background highlights the determination that eventually helped him get WWE glory.

Cedric Alexander (L) in action vs Mustafa Ali during WWE Live AccorHotels Arena Popb Paris Bercy on May 19, 2018 in Paris, France/ Photo by Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images
Cedric Alexander (L) in action vs Mustafa Ali during WWE Live AccorHotels Arena Popb Paris Bercy on May 19, 2018 in Paris, France/ Photo by Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images

Before Mustafa Ali appeared on the 205 Live roster to live his dream as a WWE Superstar, he was a police officer in the streets of Chicago. In a fascinating twist, he once posted a picture of himself apprehending a 'criminal' during his law enforcement days on social media. This real-life experience adds a unique layer to his character in the wrestling ring.

 Kurt Angle of the United States holds the American flag at the free-style wrestling competition during the Summer Olympics at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia
Kurt Angle of the United States holds the American flag at the free-style wrestling competition during the Summer Olympics at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia/GettyImages/ Photo by: Jed Jacobsohn

Kurt Angle's journey to WWE stardom took an unusual detour through the world of sports broadcasting. After winning a gold medal in wrestling at the 1996 Olympic Games, Angle became a sportscaster for Pittsburgh's local Fox affiliate, WPGH-TV. In a comical twist, he revealed an incident from his initial days, when his script flew off the desk, and the teleprompter went blank, leaving him speechless on screen for over 30 seconds.

John Cena | Getty Images
John Cena | Getty Images

John Cena, regarded as one of WWE's greatest superstars, who has also made it big in Hollywood, had some intriguing career aspirations before he entered the world of professional wrestling. At the age of 21, Cena attempted to become a police officer in Santa Monica but couldn't make the cut. In the interim, he worked as a limo driver, a job that posed its challenges before the era of GPS. Cena humorously noted, "I was not good at all," reflecting on his navigation skills during those early days.

Becky Lynch, WWE Superstar, WWE, speaks on
Becky Lynch, WWE Superstar, WWE, speaks on "She’s 'The Man': How superstar Becky Lynch came to dominate the WWE"/ Photo by Horacio Villalobos/Corbis via Getty Images

Before her return to wrestling after a hiatus in 2013, Becky Lynch tried her hand at diverse career options for five years. Her experiences included working as a flight attendant, an actress, a stuntwoman, and a personal trainer. The most unexpected twist in her career came when she dedicated time to studying how to be a clown.

 Sheamus looks on during the WWE Royal Rumble at the Alamodome on January 28, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas/ Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images
Sheamus looks on during the WWE Royal Rumble at the Alamodome on January 28, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas/ Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images

Before emulating the "Celtic Warrior" in WWE, Sheamus worked as a bouncer in a Dublin bar. His skills in this role earned him the privilege of being the personal bodyguard for U2's lead singer, Bono, whenever the band visited the bar. Alongside his bouncer duties, Sheamus also had a stint as an IT technician.

(L-R) Roman Reigns wrestles Cody Rhodes for Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium on April 02, 2023 in Inglewood, California/ Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
(L-R) Roman Reigns wrestles Cody Rhodes for Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium on April 02, 2023 in Inglewood, California/ Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Roman Reigns' transition from professional football to WWE Superstar is well-documented. However, there's an intriguing chapter in his life that often goes unnoticed. Between the end of his football career and the beginning of his WWE journey, Reigns worked alongside his cousins, Jimmy and Jey Uso, assembling office furniture for a company owned by his sister.

The Undertaker | Getty Images
The Undertaker | Getty Images

The Undertaker's menacing presence in WWE is legendary, but his previous job might surprise you. During an appearance on The Jimmy Kimmel Show in 2003, The Undertaker humorously mentioned that he used to work as a waiter at Hooters, a statement that's quite hard to believe given his grim personality. He then revealed a more plausible earlier career collecting people's debts at the end of the month.

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