Former WWE Star On Transitioning Into Acting After Release

WWE

While being released is always an incredibly challenging time for any active competitor, often times it can open up new opportunities and avenues for talent to pursue.

For Erick Redbeard (FKA Erick Rowan in WWE) this is exactly what has happened, with the new venture being one many former wrestlers seek to pursue – the world of acting.

Since his April 2020 release from WWE Redbeard has continued to compete on the independent scene, most recently wrestling for JCW on May 6, however, in a recent appearance on the Heated Shenanigans Podcast Redbeard revealed his greater focus has been on acting.

Redbeard discussed the reasoning behind this while detailing some of the roles he’s taken up:

“A little of everything. I’ve been transitioning, trying to take acting a little bit more seriously.

“I went a little bit away from wrestling, so working on acting classes, auditioning, just spreading my wings there.

“It’s different. It’s vulnerable, emotionally, putting myself out there, which is something you don’t normally see in wrestling.

You don’t see guys my size, let alone on film, being emotional. It’s been fun. It’s an interesting journey, that’s for sure.

“It’s funny, we just did a skit that came out last year for ‘I Think You Should Leave,’ and they had a wrestling skit involved which is pretty funny because it’s a wrestling skit but we’re all — It’s on Netflix and you can check that out. But that was a fun experience, just the comedic improv side.”

While wrestling was how Redbeard made his name, he has always been interested in the performing arts throughout his high school years.

Despite obviously pursuing wrestling, Redbeard revealed that in a strange twist of fate straight after his WWE release a movie role would immediately open up.

Redbeard said:

“You know, I thought about it long and hard, and when I was a kid I loved being in theatre.

“Then I switched to sports and it was always a fight between my football coach in high school and my singing coach as far as I was in a small ensemble group for singing.

“Fast forward and I concentrate on wrestling. Did it for years and I’ve always wanted to act and got my chance to have a good part in a movie, it was Ghosts of The Ozarks, right after my release.

“Basically got released and got a phone call the next day asking to be part of this film. Pretty much changed my outlook on what I want to do with my life moving forward.”

While Redbeard is focused more on acting he is not done in the ring just yet, however, remains happier having the freedom of not being signed to a particular company, saying:

“But I still wrestle because it’s fun and I still love wrestling.

“I love that wrestling incorporates both acting and sports and action and movement and stunts.

It’s a weird melding of the worlds and it’s a lot easier for me to separate them now that I’m not signed to a particular company,”

While mostly competing on the indies Rowan has made a handful of appearances for AEW, wrestling two tag matches in 2022 as well as  a memorable cameo on the Brodie Lee tribute show on December 30, 2020.

Transcript courtesy of Fightful

If you want to stay fully updated on all the latest wrestling news, click the red bell in the bottom right of your screen to receive notifications from WrestleTalk.com straight to your device!

• Acting
• Erick RedBeard
• erick rowan
• wwe

Share this article with friends