Steve Carrier on June 11, 2023
Since his release from WWE in April 2020, Erick Redbeard (formerly known as Erick Rowan) has been exploring new avenues, particularly in the world of acting. While he has continued to compete on the independent wrestling scene, Redbeard recently revealed during an appearance on the Heated Shenanigans Podcast that his focus has shifted towards acting.
Redbeard explained that he has been taking acting classes, auditioning for roles, and immersing himself in the craft. He acknowledged that acting requires a different kind of vulnerability and emotional expression compared to wrestling. Redbeard finds it interesting to challenge the perception of a wrestler, particularly someone of his size, and showcase emotional depth in his acting work.
He mentioned his involvement in a wrestling skit for the Netflix show “I Think You Should Leave,” describing it as a fun experience that allowed him to explore the comedic and improvisational side of acting.
“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.”
Interestingly, Redbeard had always been interested in the performing arts, even during his high school years. While he ultimately pursued wrestling, an opportunity to act presented itself immediately after his WWE release, when he received a phone call asking him to be a part of the movie “Ghosts of The Ozarks.” This experience reshaped his perspective and solidified his desire to pursue acting.
Despite focusing more on acting, Redbeard still enjoys wrestling. He appreciates how wrestling combines elements of acting, sports, action, movement, and stunts. Being independent and not tied to a specific company allows him the freedom to balance both pursuits.
“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,”
Although Redbeard primarily competes on the independent circuit, he has made appearances in AEW. Notably, he participated in two tag matches in 2022 and made a memorable cameo on the Brodie Lee tribute show on December 30, 2020.
As Erick Redbeard continues to explore his passion for acting, wrestling fans can anticipate seeing him grace the screen with his talent and charisma while still occasionally stepping back into the squared circle to showcase his skills.
How do you feel about Erick Redbeard’s transition into the world of acting and his pursuit of new opportunities outside of wrestling? Leave a comment below.
June 11, 2023 9:30 am
Disqus Comments Loading...
