John Cena Picks Dave Bautista Over The Rock As Best Wrestler-Turned-Actor

John Cena may have carved out a strong career in Hollywood, but when asked who the greatest wrestler-turned-actor of all time is, the 17-time WWE World Champion gave the nod to a familiar face โ€” his former in-ring rival, Dave Bautista.

While promoting his new film Heads of State on Complexโ€™s GOAT Talk, Cena joined the age-old debate over who has made the most successful leap from wrestling to the big screen. Despite his own success with blockbuster hits like F9, Blockers, and Peacemaker, Cena humbly stepped aside in favor of Bautista.

โ€œIโ€™m gonna give respect where respect is earned,โ€ Cena said. โ€œDave Bautista โ€” the dude has range and has transformed his whole body. The stuff heโ€™s about to do โ€” look out for Dave Bautista. The stuff heโ€™s already done is incredible.โ€

Cena highlighted Bautistaโ€™s standout performances in critically acclaimed films like Blade Runner 2049, Dune, and Knock at the Cabin, pointing to his dramatic depth and versatility as an actor.

โ€œAs far as, like, wrestler-turned-actor with, like, the rangeโ€ฆ you know me, Iโ€™m just d**k jokes, thatโ€™s it. Daveโ€™s got range,โ€ Cena joked.

While The Rock often gets the mainstream spotlight for his Hollywood success, Cenaโ€™s comments emphasize a growing recognition of Bautistaโ€™s unique achievements and acting credibility.

Heads of State, co-starring Idris Elba, is now streaming on Prime Video.