These behind-the-scenes wrestling tag teams make you go "huh?!"
Last week Daniel Bryan and his wife, Brie Bella, announced they’re expecting their first child. We’re pretty sure it’s on the up and up and not a wrestling angle, so congrats go out to the couple. The news perfectly coincided with the Bellas (twins Brie & Nikki) doing press for their new reality TV series, Total Bellas, which is the spinoff of Total Divas. As WWE tries to push the Bellas as their version of the toxic joke known as the Kardashians, fans have discovered real-life wrestling couples on the show like Daniel and Brie, Nikki and John Cena and Natalya Neidhart and Tyson Kidd, amongst many others.
Wrestlers dating or getting married isn’t new or surprising to fans. Considering professional wrestlers are on the road over 300 days a year, their lifestyles make it difficult to find people to date and actually be in a relationship with. The wrestling business is strange to begin with, but when you add the element of love, things go plain nutty. Just look at the face of WWE, headed by Stephanie McMahon and her husband, Triple H, which is a shining example of cupid’s drop-kick and where these relationships can go.
While some pairings make sense, others have us wondering if these men and women had one too many concussions. You’ll get people searching for whys and hows when it comes to some of the weirdest and oddest couples in wrestling. Here are 7 of the biggest head scratchers.
Alberto Del Rio & Paige
The current controversial couple that the internet can’t get enough of is former WWE Superstar Alberto Del Rio and current WWE women’s wrestler, Paige. Whether it’s the age difference (Del Rio is 39, Paige is 24), the Wellness Policy suspensions, or the opposites attract element, gossip about these two is constantly swirling.
Outside of both wrestlers coming from wrestling families, it wouldn’t appear they have much in common — she’s the rebellious goth princess, while he’s the low-key, grizzled veteran. Alberto Del Rio is now most talked about as being the source of Paige’s WWE downfall. Whether it’s deserved or not, ever since the couple started dating earlier this year, Paige’s career has been in a nose-dive. Just this week, the once shining star of the WWE women’s division was suspended for 60 days for breaking WWE’s Wellness Policy, her second violation.
Alberto just left WWE (the second time in three years) after being misused by the company in storylines. Signs point that Paige might be joining him out the door. The couple’s soap opera drama has also included an altercation on the Vegas strip this past summer and just last week, Del Rio was involved in a weird knife-attack that resulted in him receiving several lacerations. Where this TMZ-made pairing will go no one knows, but boring it most definitely isn’t!
Rusev and Lana
When they aren’t crushing opponents, this couple is crushing each other. WWE’s version of Beauty and the Beast, “The Bulgarian Brute” and his manager, Lana, got married this past summer. WWE naturally incorporated the celebration into the ongoing feud between Rusev and Roman Reigns. As their careers have grown, so has their relationship. Meeting in NXT, the giant and the beauty were put together in a knock-off gimmick of Ivan and Ludmilla Drago from Rocky IV.
Last year Lana got in hot water when she announced on social media that she and Rusev were engaged. The story got play on TMZ and normally WWE would love that attention. The big issue, however, was that at the time Lana was paired with Dolph Ziggler in a feud against Rusev, which completely killed the TV storyline.
Even though physically they don’t seem compatible, the social media friendly couple are having a blast. All of us jealous men can damn Rusev’s name as much as we want, but the guy is still winning in the game of life with Lana by his side.
Brock Lesnar and Sable
In fear of Brock Lesnar reading this and hunting me down to inflict lots and lots pain, I’ll keep it civil.
Most people see Brock Lesnar as a monster and rightfully so, considering the destruction he’s caused in a wrestling ring and inside the UFC Octagon. Brock and his lovely wife of 10 years, former WWE Diva Sable, seem like an “out of left field” pairing. Something along the lines of Donkey Kong and Pauline, or Katy Perry and Russell Brand. Formerly married to another wrestler, Marc Mero, Sable was one of the most successful Divas during the Attitude Era, including being featured in Playboy three times. Looking past the 10-year age difference (she’s 49, he’s 39), the buxom blonde has stepped out of the spotlight and transitioned to the role of wife and mother.
Brock is known for being an extremely private person and as he continues to build on his legacy, Sable will be right next to him supporting her monster…err…partner.
Dean Ambrose and Renee Young
Turns out that “The Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose is a sweet and adorable guy outside of the ring. Well, that’s according to his girlfriend, Renee Young, a WWE broadcaster and on-air personality. Not much is known about their relationship, as these two have been private and low key about their time together. Though that all looks to be changing soon, with Renee joining the upcoming season of E!’s Total Divas. Since that show plays like the WWE’s version of Real Housewives, fans will surely get more information on this couple with behind the scenes moments.
Even though these two have kept their romance almost social media free, it hasn’t stopped fans from “heartening” them as a couple, creating appreciation pages and fan fiction.
John Cena and Nikki Bella
When he’s not playing the role of Superman in a WWE ring or taking on a new acting or hosting role, John Cena is spending time with his girlfriend, Nikki Bella. On the opposite spectrum of private, this couple’s union almost feels scripted and very much a WWE creation. Why would we say that? Well, for starters their relationship has been one of the major storylines driving the success of Total Divas, so much so, that its helped propel the spinoff Total Bellas.
On Total Divas, John comes off as smart, well-spoken and cultured. Nikki on the other hand, not so much. Since the couple is an open book when it comes to their lives, fans have learned that Mr. Cena has no intentions of getting married or having kids due to his hectic lifestyle. Nikki, the longest reigning Diva’s world champion, is in it for the long haul, hoping to change his mind. Oh the anticipation!
The Undertaker and Michelle McCool
Elvira, Lily Munster or Vampira would make logical picks when choosing a bride for The Undertaker. But apparently the Deadman has a taste for blondes over raven-haired beauties, as he married former WWE Diva Michelle McCool back in 2010.
Side by side, you probably won’t find a more unusual pairing than these two. He’s 51, covered in tats and stands at about seven feet tall. She’s 36, clean cut and a blonde pinup type. We know why he likes her, but still unsure of what her interest is. Life in the circus known as professional wrestling can create head scratching pairings like this “unholy” union. If The Undertaker decides to drag his carcass to another WrestleMania, Michelle should dye her hair black and go full Morticia Addams to stand by her man.
The Miz and Maryse
The WTF pick on this list is easily The Miz and Maryse. We can hate The Miz as much as we want (and we do), but somehow this guy has been able to flip a stint on the Real World — and its crappy spinoffs — into a WWE career and a stunning wife in Maryse. The guy must have been a virtuous holy person in a past life or knows his way around some highly effective black magic.
Married in 2014, Miz and Maryse have enjoyed a successful 2016. After taking a few years off from WWE, Maryse returned to become her husband’s manager, helping him win the Intercontinental Championship for the fifth time. While Miz keeps benefitting from this relationship, what is Maryse getting out of it? They say love is blind, and we find it hard to argue that point!