However, the amount of intelligent and educated talent in the WWE would surprise you. And I’m not just talking about creating intelligent and interesting storylines involving different wrestlers. I’m talking about actual high IQ performers. Vince McMahon not only hires people with well developed bodies, he also likes to hire charismatic personalities with well developed minds. Some of these smart and intelligent wrestlers have impressive resumes that can impress them elsewhere as well.

Also, considering the amount of competition and talent pool, it’s no easy task to make the WWE’s main roster. You must be perfectly physically and mentally fit to gain entry into the exclusive club, where annual salaries can soar into the millions. This makes it foolish of people to dismiss wrestlers as burly maniacs dieting off steroids. Here are ten wrestlers who, in addition to impressive physical ability, possess the skill, intellect, and charisma that have helped them become famous in their fields.

• Dolph Ziggler

Dolph Ziggler, real name Nick Nemetheiner of the hottest male wrestlers. He has won over many fans with his charisma, ring prowess and ability to wow audiences with his fine oratory skills. Last year, he was named Rolling Stone’s “WWE Wrestler of the Year” in recognition of his growing popularity and immense accomplishments. However, Nemeth, who has won the World Heavyweight Championship twice and the WWE Intercontinental Championship four times, has dreamed of becoming a professional wrestler since the age of five, he still thought going to college was a good idea. He attended Kent State UniversityFrom there he studied political science with a pre-law minor. In fact, prior to his WWE Trial, he had been accepted into law school at the University of Arizona . Eventually, however, he broke through, being signed by the WWE and subsequently assigned to their development territory. Ohio Valley Wrestling .

• Michelle McCool

Previously, she decided to end her wrestling career after marrying wrestling legend Undertaker . She has had an eventful time with WWE. In 2009, she became the first wrestling diva to hold both the WWE Divas Champion and WWE Women’s Championship titles simultaneously. Then, in 2010, she unified both titles and became the first WWE Unified Divas Champion. During her seven years with WWE, she won both titles twice, making her a four-time overall champion. You remember we talked about the misconception that wrestlers can’t find a job where they don’t use their physical skills. McCool actually had a job prior to joining WWE that was unrelated to the wrestling industry. She taught science in Palatka, Florida for four years. She also has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Florida State University. The undertaker doesn’t seem to do anything wrong in his private life either.

• Sheamus

Sheamus, the Irish piling machine, is another wrestler who doesn’t fit into any stereotype. Indeed, he is far from the two stereotypes that could be associated with him. First, he’s not just a big, burly wrestler who often gets angry due to his anger. In fact, he used to sing in the Palestrina Choir during his school days. Before becoming a professional wrestler, Sheamus, real name Stephen Farrelly, worked as a technician for various IT companies including Symantec and Hartford Life in Dublin. And back then there was no turning back, he would have looked like a skinny and lanky, like a conceptual geek. Farrelly holds a national diploma from the National College of Ireland, where he also played rugby.

Fun and interesting fact – Prior to his WWE hiatus, Farrelly also occasionally worked as a bodyguard for U2’s Bono and Larry Mullen Jr., as well as Denise van Outen.

• Wade Barrett

Wade Barrett, the English wrestler, tried to become a full-time wrestler alongside some interesting jobs. Barrett, who decided to become a professional wrestler at the age of 21, worked as a recruitment consultant while training to be a wrestler. In his early twenties he was also a champion of the bare knuckle boxer (which was included as an act) and fought in various places in Europe. He was even stabbed after fighting a well-known fighter with high prizes. He was stabbed in the alley to steal the cash he won. These jobs suit his tough man personality. But there was one job he did that is completely contrary to his image. While studying marine biology he worked in a science laboratory in Liverpool. It would be interesting if WWE used his scientific background for a storyline.

• Jack Swagger

“A Real American” began at the age of five. During his high school he was the No. 5 Wrestling USA 215-pounder. As a junior, he won the 215-pound division of the state wrestling championship and was a runner-up as a sophomore. He was even selected to the Junior National USA Wrestling team as a heavyweight in the summer of 2000. However, it wasn’t just wrestling that he was good at, he was also a good football player at the University of Oklahoma as a dual athlete. During his junior year, he was introduced to Jim Ross, then World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) Head of Talent Relations. He graduated from the University of Oklahomawith a bachelor’s degree in finance. After his recognition, he had a job in Dallas, but his last meeting with Ross proved beneficial and he was offered a contract with WWE on the day he was due to start his new job.

• Xavier Woods

Xavier Woods may not be one of the most popular wrestlers, but he certainly is one of the most highly trained. Woods, who shares the third place in WWE Tag Team Champion “The New Day” with Big E and Kofi Kingston, has not one, but two degrees. On May 29, 2008, he graduated from Furman Universitywith a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Philosophy. Even after receiving a developmental contract from WWE, Woods did not drop out of school and completed his master’s degree in psychology. And he still has no plans to stop his learning process as he is working on his dissertation for PhD and plans to study film after that. In an interview with the Charlotte Observer, Woods credited his parents for instilling in him the importance of parenting. He feels his education is his insurance policy in case he gets injured and can’t wrestle anymore. He also states that so many people, including his grandparents, have died that he could read and he doesn’t want to waste their efforts.

• Matt Striker

It seems like Matt Striker used to roll out his green board on episodes of Raw to take classes and impart some intelligence, he actually drew from his real-life experience. Before becoming a full-time wrestler, Matthew Kaye, who holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in educational psychology, was a college professor. He initially worked as a deputy, filling in for teachers on leave. He was later hired full-time as a social studies teacher at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Queens, New York. During the holidays and weekends he continued to wrestle. In fact, he had to resign from teaching after it was revealed that he had falsely claimed 11 sick days in December 2004 and February 2005, to wrestle in Japan for Pro Wrestling Zero1. He currently works with Lucha Underground as lead announcer.

• Kane

Glenn Thomas Jacobs, better known as “Big RedMachine has been one of the most enduring and popular wrestlers of the last two decades. Since his debut as Kane, Undertaker’s half-brother has won over many fans with his dark alter ego. He has won a total of 18 championships and 12 world titles in his WWF/E career. However, when he’s not gifting his rivals with chokeslams, tombstones, and power bombs, he runs a political blog, The Adventures of Citizen X, and a podcast, The Tiny Political Show. He is an outspoken supporter of the Republican Tea Party. He was recruited by the Tea Party to serve in the US Republican Senate in Tennessee in 2014. He is also a regular contributor to LewRockwell.com, a libertarian website themed “anti-war, anti-state, and pro-market.”

• David Otunga

David Otunga is one of the few wrestlers who are better known for their life outside of the ring. He is married to R&B singer Jennifer Hudson, who dwarfs her husband in terms of popularity. But he deserves a pat on the back for marrying such a beautiful and talented girl. Ok, now back on topic. The two-time tag team champion, Otunga has minds that could cost his muscles money. He graduated from Larkin High School in 1999 with a perfect 4.0 GPA. He then worked briefly as a laboratory director at Columbia University’s Cognitive Neuroscience Center before attending Harvard Law School. He then passed the Illinois bar exam. After graduating, he joined the well-established and respected law firm of Sidley Austin , which he would eventually leave in pursuit of a wrestling career.

• Chris Nowinski

This was followed by Chris Nowinski’s brief but promising career end when he retired from wrestling due to symptoms following a concussion. Nowinski, who earned a BA in sociology, was WWE’s first Harvard graduate. He is also the youngest hardcore champion in WWE history. After retiring from wrestling, he is a leading advocate for concussion-related issues. In his book, Head Games: Football’s Concussion Crisis, he examines the long-term effects of head injuries in athletes. He is also president of the board of directors of the Sports Legacy Institute , which raises awareness of concussion and helps athletes deal with it. In addition, he works as a consultant forTrinity Partners , a global life sciences consulting firm.