At the end of the day, famous wrestling personalities aren’t that different from other members of society: they work and then they have down time. While their ‘work’ may involve traveling around the world to battle opponents in grueling face offs that require the execution of elite athleticism, afterwards they rest and enjoy their free time just like the rest of us. Let’s take a look at what five wrestling superstars do when they are not engaged in high-intensity ring duels. Who knows — you may be surprised to find out that you have shared interests with some of wrestling’s most iconic performers.
William Regal frequently poses with his giant lizard pets on Twitter, giving fans insight into his unique passion for reptiles
William Regal — Pet Reptiles
Former professional wrestling powerhouse William Regal retired from the sport in 2017 after a prolific career that saw him become a four-time European Champion and two-time Intercontinental Champion, among many other awards. The England-born legend now works as WWE’s Head of Talent and is also the GM for the NXT brand. However, when he isn’t wrapped up in his post-career management duties, Regal enjoys tending to his bountiful collection of pet reptiles, which include two snakes and eight lizards. A few of them, such as Tommy and Bobbi, are commonly featured on his Twitter feed for all to see.
John Cena — Poker
Moving away from pets and towards the casino, the iconic former wrestling champion John Cena enjoys a different type of hobby in his down time: strategic poker game play. Arguably the best pro wrestler to ever grace the ring, ‘Mr. P’, as he was known during matches, started to play poker while on the road with fellow WWE performers at the time of the early 2000s poker boom. In addition to playing both online and at the tables, Cena also enjoys watching the World Series of Poker on television. This is one of poker’s biggest tournaments which started in 1970 with only 7 participants and now consists of over 100 different events. His favorite variant is the most classic form of poker: Texas Hold ‘em. Cena is also a man of many other talents, as he has been featured outside the ring in numerous films, commercials, and televised guest appearances, just to name a few.
Ronda Rousey — World of Warcraft
Ronda Rousey is well-known in the world of professional wrestling, specifically for her time the UFC and WWE circles. Aside from being a Raw Women’s Champion and UFC Bantamweight Champion, ‘Rowdy’ also won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, an accomplishment that further cemented her as one of the sport’s best female athletes. When she isn’t dominating inside the ring, Rousey enjoys entering another world- the virtual universe of World of Warcraft. The star wrestler is proud to be an avid gamer, discussing her passion for the popular gaming title and others like Zelda and Pokémon during an interview with Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show.
Ronda Rousey enjoys a good gaming session every now and then
Jeff Hardy — Painting, Music, Writing
Pro wrestler Jeff Hardy currently performs with the SmackDown brand, but when he isn’t taking down opponents, he is engaged in multiple artistic endeavors such as painting, writing, and even music production. In 2003 he co-authored a book with his brother entitled The Hardy Boyz that actually went on to become a New York Times Bestseller. Additionally, Hardy taught himself to play the guitar and enjoys rocking out with his band, PeroxWhy?Gen in his free time. Despite his busy traveling schedule and constant match fixtures, ‘The Charismatic Enigma’ also finds the time to express himself through art, producing abstract works that involve the use of spray paints. He clearly already has talent in the creative field, as he is known for donning impressive face paint art and portraying characters like the famous Willow persona that is well-known amongst wrestling fans.
Sasha Banks — Anime
Last but not least, female wrestling champion Sasha Banks is another performer signed to the SmackDown brand. When she isn’t racking up major titles, Banks or ‘The Boss’ as she is known by her fans, loves watching and reading anime series. Dragon Ball and Naruto Shippuden are some of her favorites.
