PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

THE SECRET LIVES OF WWE WRESTLERS - FIVE THINGS YOUR FAVORITE STARS GET UP TO OUTSIDE OF THE RING

When wrestling superstars step into the ring, they assume a persona that’s designed to stir fans' emotions – whether it’s to make them cheer, boo, laugh or cry, their target is to use their theatrics to get a reaction from fans.

Yet away from the squared circle, many wrestlers prefer to do something different – to break out of their character and indulge in something that they’re passionate about: a hobby perhaps, or a different way of life altogether.

Here are five more peaceful activities that superstar wrestlers get up to when they’re not wowing thousands of people in a wrestling ring. 

Finn Balor – Lego

Some people would take the heartbreak of losing the WWE Universal Championship to injury badly and wallow in self-pity. Not Finn Balor. The NXT Champion spent his downtime indulging in his passion — Lego. 

But it wasn’t just the odd set here and there that he was interested in. Balor created complex Lego displays that he showed off during a special documentary that followed his life outside of the ring. You might be tempted to draw parallels between constructing Lego and the building blocks of recovery, but for the star it was just a way to take his mind off the stresses of the job.

Let’s hope he doesn’t step on one and cause himself a foot injury – we all know how painful those rogue pieces can be when we’re not careful.

Xavier Woods – Cosplay

Online gaming has boomed during the pandemic. It’s hardly a surprise, playing games allows us to detach from reality in stressful times, whether it’s by trying to land the jackpot on online slots or increasing your rank in Call of Duty.

WWE star Xavier Woods takes it one step further than that, though. He likes to immerse himself into a virtual world completely by dressing up as his favorite video game characters and adopting their persona: the star has even attended Cosplay conventions in the past.

Some fans might say it’s simply an extension of his job, to act up in front of a crowd, but how many wrestlers do you know who host a YouTube channel dedicated to Cosplay and video games in general?

Daniel Bryan – Clams

We are often a product of where we come from and for Daniel Bryan that means embracing the rural activities of his native Aberdeen, Washington. The town is a long way from the bright lights of big American cities and digging for clams is a popular pastime there. Enthusiasts use a fork or shovel to find the creatures, making it tough work which can sometimes get messy, but the end product is worth it. A bit like wrestling, you could say. 

Now we know why Nigel McGuiness referred to Bryan as ‘Clam Digger Danielson’ during their biggest feud, making fun of a hobby that many people might consider nerdy. 

Still, you’d be a brave person to say it to Bryan’s face – he might find another use for that clam shovel if you’re not careful.

Sasha Banks – K-Pop and Anime

Sasha Banks’ love of Asian culture almost eclipses her passion for wrestling. The Boss loves K-Pop's superstars, to the point that there were rumors of one of them providing the vocal for her new theme tune, but it’s doubtful Banks herself is going to sing a K-Pop song herself any time soon.

Her Far East interests extends to anime, too, with School Rumble and Death Note two of her favorite shows. The anime series are a huge hit across the world, so it’s no surprise to see a WWE star announce a love for it. 

Such hobbies are bound to endear Banks to the legions of Asian wrestling fans, who already watch US shows in huge numbers every week. Maybe the star will be able to see some live shows and real-life anime artwork when she tours the continent with the WWE in the future.

Sami Zayn – Cats and Ska

What do cats and ska have in common? No, it’s not a joke – they’re both loves of WWE star Sami Zayn, of course. 

Zayn’s route from the independent wrestling scene has meant he’s needed to stand out on the roster, and his unique personality makes sure of that. His ska-based entrance tune gets fans out of their seats and his skanking dance is a sure-fire way of making people remember him.

The star might have reached the top of the WWE bill, but that doesn’t mean he’s forgotten his roots. His love of cats has been with him since he was a kid and he posted his visit to a New York ‘cat café’ on Instagram recently, much to the delight of fellow feline-loving fans. 

Whether Zayn will combine the two and start a trend of cats dancing to ska remains to seen, though.

 

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet