David William Heath went by “Gangrel” in the ring, and was known for his rock-and-roll vampire style, with his signature fangs and long blonde hair. He made his WWE debut in the early ’90s, after being trained in Florida by Boris Malenko himself. On both his initial televised match in ’94 and his last in ’95, he was defeated by the 1-2-3 Kid (Syxx).
Heath returned to the WWE in ’98, during the height of the vampire craze in pop culture. Officials believed that his gimmick would sell more tickets and bring in more viewers. His entrance included drinking “blood” from a grail and spitting it into the air before jumping into the ring. These days, he’s still wrestling sporadically on the independent circuit. He’s also made a few appearances in film and on television, like his disturbing role as a prisoner in ‘The Human Centipede 3’.
Stacy Keibler Maintains a Family and a Career
Stacy Keibler is fairly well known in the entertainment world, even to those who don’t follow professional wrestling. She started out as a model and actress before she found her place as a “Nitro Girl” for the WWF. The Nitro Girls were basically a cheerleading/dance team that would entertain the crowd at live televised events. Once she found her footing in the federation, she became known as “the Legs” of the WWE.
Stacy has been featured in several television shows and even hosted her own at one point, a show called Supermarket Superstar. She has appeared on hits such as How I Met Your Mother and Psych over the years, before marrying her current husband and raising a family with him. Before the couple met, she was actually known to have dated A-lister George Clooney for a bit. She has also been made into a character in several video games, including Dancing with the Stars.
Randy Orton Uses His Background for Acting
Unlike almost all of the other (former) pro wrestlers on this list, Randy Orton is still currently signed with the WWE and going strong in his career. Orton is a 13-time WWE World Champion and has headlined several pay-per-view events. In 2011, Orton suffered a neck injury, which went untreated for years and nearly ended his career. After finally treating it, he came back to the ring in early 2020.
Before Orton got into professional wrestling, he was fighting a different kind of opponent as a U.S Marine. Because of his credentials, he was initially cast to play the title role in The Marine 2, but his injuries caused him to be replaced before filming. He has appeared on screen a few times since, including in the WWE Studios own The Condemned 2. Orton is now married to his 2nd wife, with whom he had a daughter in 2016.
The Snake Has a Way With Words
Jake “The Snake” Roberts popped up on the WWE scene in the mid-1980s. He was best known for using dark psychological antics in the ring, hence his slithering nickname. Roberts also used to bring actual snakes into the ring with him, usually a python named Damien. The former wrestler was part of a group who became the subject of 'Beyond the Mat', a documentary film released in 1999.
Roberts has been with the WWE ever since he first signed with them in 1986. In 2014, he appeared in an episode of 'Raw', with his python in tow. Later that same year, he was inducted into the WWE’s Hall of Fame. The former wrestler has dealt with a number of personal issues, including substance abuse, for which he has completed several rehab programs. In 2014, it was reported that he was suffering from muscular cancer. In 2018, he started a series of spoken word shows called 'Tales From the Pit'.
Brutus Beefcake Is Maintaining a Legacy
Brutus Beefcake, born Edward Harrison Leslie, is a 9-time champion and pay-per-view headliner that began his pro-wrestling career in the 1970s. He debuted with the WWE in 1984 and became a part of The Dream Team, along with Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. Beefcake stuck around the industry for decades, and most recently wrestled for Big Time Wrestling in 2010.
In 2013, Leslie received some odd press when he showed up to City Hall in Toronto, toting a sub sandwich and scissors, claiming that Rob Ford, the mayor, needed an “intervention.” The mayor was in the midst of a substance abuse scandal, but security still was not having any of it and they removed him from the premises. Beefcake himself had been in rehab years earlier. Leslie still makes an appearance here and there, but he’s largely retired. In 2007, he opened a wrestling school and started passing his knowledge on to younger generations.