The WWE is a brand linked to the sports-entertainment market, suggesting that it is partially scripted involoving actor-athletes so to speak.  These performers are multi-talented in their art, having to endure a sustantial amount of pain while at the same time, having to inflict even more pain on an opponent.  WWE Superstars are often forced to continue on with a match with broken limbs or serious bloodful injuries.  For example, Mick Foley, the modern-day king of hardcore, highly tolerant for pain, has spit out teeth like chicklets during matches.  He has suffered concussions, a broken jaw, broken nose, broken cheekbone, dislocated shoulder, many stitches, an ear ripped off his head and broken ribs while performing for a crowd, and yet still managed to stay as his character, whether it be Mankind, Cactus Jack, or Dude Love.  Yet, outside of the ropes, Mick Foley is an acclaimed author for both children and adults, writing stories like Halloween Hijinx and Christmas Chaos for kids and Tietam Brown and Scooter for the older crowd. 

Wrestlers have found a way to use their skills of acting and improvising in other areas of entertainment.  The transition to Hollywood may come few and far between, however when it hits, another product is made out of the wrestler.  He (or she) is not only a destructive force in a ring, but also a talented role model that other entertainers (and/or fans) aspire to be like.  For example, John Cena took his role very seriously, starring in The Marine.  He endured a USMC boot camp training prior to filming, and claims to have acrued an even greater respect for the marines of today.  With his wrestling strength and his acquired marine training, John Cena was able to accurately embody the totality of a marine.  He even uses what he has learned as a marine in the ring as part of his character.  The marines have proven to be role models to Cena, and I'm sure that WWE fans of his will praise him for what he has brought to the screen and ring alike.

Wrestling can also prove to be a stepping stone for greater feats on the market.  Duane "The Rock" Johnson gained much of his early success between the ropes of a wrestling ring.  "If you smellllllllllllllllllllllllll, what The Rock...is cookin" and "Finally, The Rock...has come back to...(enter city)" are some of the statements he is famous for saying.  His renown "eyebrow" simply adds to his talents as an actor.  After taking part in some of the most memorable matches (vs. Hogan/vs. Austin, etc.) and feuds (Austin, McMahon, etc) in WWE history, he decided to use his fame and tackle movies.  The Rock juggled wrestling with acting in his first roles, which include television appearances in That 70s Show and The Net, and his first movie role as the Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns.  After a string a successful movie roles, it seems that The Rock realized that money can be made in entertainment without destructing the body.  Slowly, the Rock phased out the "wrestler" title from his reportoire, and replaced it with "full time" actor.  He appeared at the Oscars, and began starring in leading roles for major movie companies, including Disney's The Game Plan  and Sony Pictures Gridiron Gang  to name a few.  The Rock no longer wrestles, and some may say that he chooses not to so that he can uphold his image as a non-violent moviestar.  Whichever way you look at it, The Rock got his push from the WWE, as it posed as a stepping stone for future endeavors.

The women of the WWE are glorified sex symbols who occasionally wrestler or perform in watergun, pillowfight, or bra and panties matches.  Their ticket to Hollywood comes from the man who created sexy in and of its own...Hugh Hefner.  Each year, one diva is chosen to be the Playboy Covergirl for the magazine just before WrestleMania, and the honors have been bestowed upon Torrie Wilson, Sable, Chyna, Candice, Ashley, Christy Hemme, and most recently Maria.  The divas also have a WWE line of videos establishing just how sexy they really are.  Their appeal has even caught the eyes of Timbaland, and in his video "Throw in On Me," Ashley, Torrie, Maryse, Brooke, Layla and Kelly Kelly all appeared as the sexy women video vixens.  Candice takes part every year in the "Go Daddy" commercial that airs during the SuperBowl.  Slowly but surely, these divas are going Hollywood, and have the WWE to thank for it.      

Nowadays, you can see Stone Cold Steve Austin and Kane in the privacy of your own homes on DVD (The Condemned and See No evil, respectively).  If you want to see Batista, turn on Smallville or Family Feud (you can also see some Divas and other WWE Superstars here as well).  We are not only limited to watching the Superstars we love on RAW, SmackDown, and ECW.  The Hollywood fever is taking over, and it may not be long until we can go to a restaurant that Vince McMahon owns (WWE TimeSquare, no longer in existence).  Some Superstars may even develop their own clothing lines.  John Cena and Lilian Garcia both have hit records. 

As an extreme fan of Randy Orton, I hope that he soon takes on a movie role, preferably in a romantic comedy (I must be dreaming).  I heard the Mr. Kennedy is filming a new movie called Behind Enemy Lines 3 which will go straight to DVD.  WWE even has its own production company so that their marketed wrestlers can gain movie-stardom without really leaving the backyard.  So, with books and movies, TV shows and magazine spreads, the Superstars of the WWE are well-rounded and multi-talented, whether they are taking a beating in the ring, or making love on the screen.  As a female fan of the WWE, I like to track the transition to Hollywood, and can't wait to see what's to come.