Let's face it, there's a certain stigma that surrounds pro athletes in general, and that includes WWE wrestlers. While athletes are regarded for their physical abilities and their mental resilience, they aren't often lauded for their intellect. It's an unfair and inaccurate stereotype for sure, but it not entirely non-existent.
In wrestling, we see some of the wildest and most unhinged personalities, that seem to operate on pure adrenaline, without much foresight. However, as this list will argue, it's not always wise to judge a book by its cover. Here are 10 wrestlers who are more intelligent than most people might expect them to be.
10 Carmella
Carmella's television personality, would lead you to assume that she's more concerned with high fashion, than higher learning. By several accounts though, Carmella is a calculating and instinctive person. Out of the other wrestlers that she started out in NXT with, she is the only one left that is still contracted by WWE. For what it's worth, no pun intended, James Ellsworth credited her with pitching the idea for him to become her male valet of sorts. It worked wonders, and allowed her to capture the Money In The Bank briefcase, and subsequently, the Smackdown Women's Championship.
9 Mike Awesome
Mike Awesome was never known for his promo abilities, as he often had a manager do his talking for him. This was painfully obvious in WCW, when he was forced to play outlandish characters, far out of his range. But that would not suggest that he was a philistine of any sort. According to Lance Storm, Mike Awesome was actually something of a bookworm, and an introvert. He loved discussing history and philosophy, and had a more thoughful personality than his wrestling gimmick may have suggested.
8 Bruiser Brody
To see Bruiser Brody was to believe that time machines existed, and he had been transported from Norway by way of the 1400's. He even used Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song," as his entrance theme, a famed piece about viking culture. But there was more to Bruiser than meets the eye. Virtually everyone of his peers recalls how business savvy he was, and how he never allowed himself to be devalued. He was a man who got the big picture, but didn't ignore the details either.
7 Big Show/Paul Wight
Big Show/Paul Wight is an Aquarius, which is considered to be the most intellectual of all the zodiac signs. Most probably just presume that he is a bit oafish and clumsy, but that is not the case. Just check out his appearance on Steve Austin's Broken Skull podcast, and you will hear how well-spoken, insightful, and even funny he is. His wit is well-developed, and he is as versatile as they come. We may not see much of him these days, but rest assured, his brain is as big as his gigantic frame.
6 Mick Foley
For the hardcore wrestling fans, pardon the pun, the cat is sort of out of the bag on Mick Foley and his superior intellect. But for the uninitiated, Foley might come across as someone lacking in common knowledge, especially as it relates to regards for his physical wellbeing.
However, Mick is as talented as a writer as he is a wrestler. He has proven this by writing bestseller after bestseller, and opening the doors for wrestlers to pen their memoirs and profit in the process. Much like Bruiser Brody, Foley was a madman on the surface, but a calculating and level-headed man behind the persona.
5 Erick Rowan
When the former Wyatt family member, suddenly began assisting "The New" Daniel Bryan in WWE, many were probably confused as to why the latter was referring to him as his "intellectual equal." Erick Rowan, or just Rowan for short, has tested to have a high IQ, which would explain why he was otherwise inexplicably being marketed as such. An intimidating man, there seems to be more to Rowan than meets the eye. We've seen him sparingly on AEW over the last couple years, and he has also dabbled in some acting. With his accumen, it seems the sky may be the limit for this big man.
4 Brock Lesnar
There are all types of intelligence, and while Brock Lesnar probably couldn't carry on a conversation about 16th century French Impressionism, he is erudite in his own way. Firstly, Brock is a savvy businessman, who has used his given abilities to provide the best life for him and his family. Brock has also proven how psychological sound he has become as a pro wrestler. Everyone from Drew McIntyre to Triple H have cited how Brock is much more intelligent than he is generally given credit for. His recent extemperaneous decision to embrace Cody after their SummerSlam match, just proves how instictual and intuitive he is as well.
3 Mil Mascaras
Before we dive in too deeply, let's start by establishing that Mil Mascaras is an absolute legend in this sport. He is an innovator and a trendsetter, wildly popular and revered in his native Mexico. He also has a reputation for being selfish and unprofessional. According to Konnan, he is a man of knowledge as well. On a recent edition of Konnan's podcast, he recalled spending time with Mil at his home, and how well-versed he was in literally every subject you could imagine. It would seem that you don't achieve the heights that Mil has without being a mental giant of sorts.
2 Goldberg
Goldberg is the definition of what most people would consider to be a neanderthal. His hulking frame, and snorting, smoke-bellowing presentation, would typically suggest that he is heavy on brawn, but short on brains. Well, that is actually not the case at all.
During his appearance on Steve Austin's podcast, Austin was quick to point out how well-spoken and thoughtful Goldberg was, in contrast to how he may be perceived by some. Goldberg responded by saying that there is more to him than meets the eye, and that is certainly hard to argue after hearing the man behind the persona.
1 Mark Briscoe
Mark Briscoe is another entry on this list who is often judged, solely by his appearance. He has a wild and primitve look, that rumor has it kept he and his brother from getting signed by WWE. But there is much more to Mark than meets the eye. According to Jim Cornette, another personality noted for his brilliant mind, Mark Briscoe has a genius level IQ. What's so great about Mark, is that someone else had to actually boast about his intelligence. He's simply a phenomenal wrestler, who does his job to the best of his ability, night in and night out.
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