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

Unique past lives and careers of WWE superstars

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.

10. Kevin Owens

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.

9. Carmella

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.

8. Daniel Bryan 

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.

7. Mustafa Ali

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.

6. Kurt Angle

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.

5. John Cena 

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.

4. Becky Lynch

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.

3. Sheamus 

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.

2. Roman Reigns

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.

1. The Undertaker 

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.