WWE and pro wrestling as a whole bear a striking resemblance to the comic book realm in more ways than one.
The simple story of good versus evil, compelling character arcs and exciting action make both mediums supremely popular. There's also a large overlap between the fanbases. The average wrestling fan who was either in attendance for or merely tuned into WrestleMania 41 will likely see Superman once it hits theaters July 11.
The Man of Steel's return to the big screen will be as anticipated—and potentially even more so—as the upcoming John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes rematch for the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam on Aug. 3. The Cena vs. Rhodes rivalry isn't quite as heated as Superman vs. Lex Luthor, but the similarities in the stories are too obvious to ignore.
Cena himself has had a presence in the DC's cinematic universe with his portrayal of Peacemaker in both the eponymous series and 2021's The Suicide Squad. Multi-time WWE champ Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson also portrayed Black Adam in the 2022 self-titled film.
Ahead of Superman's theatrical release, let's look at 10 current WWE Superstars and their best DC counterparts.
Cody Rhodes as Superman
In the clearest of comparisons, Cody Rhodes is the modern-day Superman.
Once upon a time, Hulk Hogan would have been the most logical fit for that role when Hulkamania was running wild in the '80s and “Real American” blasted in every arena he walked into. John Cena could've then carried the torch at the peak of his popularity, buoyed by his “hustle, loyalty and respect” attitude.
Rhodes has since taken up that mantle, going so far as to call himself The American Nightmare—a nickname derived from his late, great, father Dusty Rhodes' moniker as wrestling's original American Dream.
Rhodes refuses to give up and always stands by his morals—no different than Superman. They'll both go to the ends of time to save the ones they love from their most ruthless rivals and inspire people of all ages across the globe in the process.
Rhodes has his Lois Lane in Brandi Rhodes, though he doesn't need an alter-ego (a la Superman as Clark Kent) to hide his true identity from the world. They've had their run-ins with darkness but emerge stronger every time.
Superman is the flag bearer of DC Comics, much in the same way Rhodes represents WWE to the highest degree, hopefully soon once again as its top champion.
Randy Orton as Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter doesn't often come up in the conversation of DC's most popular superheroes, but he's a crucial character in that universe, nonetheless.
Randy Orton is relatively overlooked as well despite being one of WWE's most popular performers. Similar to Manhunter, he's a five-tool player, most notably when it comes to adapting to his environment with relative ease and changing his stripes when needed.
Strength is one of Manhunter's main abilities, but while he is believed to be stronger than Superman, he finds himself in The Man of Steel's shadow. Orton, meanwhile, had a hand in elevating Rhodes to the next level and has beaten him on countless occasions over the years yet wasn't able to beat him in his greatest form when they went one-on-one at Night of Champions 2025.
Although Orton doesn't have literal invisibility like Manhunter does, he can blend into virtually any scenario thanks to the decorated and celebrated career he's had. Both are the apex predators of their respective worlds.
Seth Rollins would be considered a good fit for WWE's Martian Manhunter if he weren't a heel at the moment, making him the WWE equivalent of The Joker instead.
Jacob Fatu as Cyborg
If Brock Lesnar were still active inside the squared circle, he would have been perfect as WWE's Cyborg, but from today's roster, Jacob Fatu works just as well in that role.
Fatu has been an absolute force since arriving on the WWE scene just over a year ago and has already become a massive fan favorite. His incredibly impressive skill set has helped him hold his own against the company's finest and score his first taste of singles gold in the form of the United States Championship at WrestleMania 41.
As a member of the famed Justice League, Cyborg is significantly more established in the DC universe than Fatu is at this point in his WWE run, but Fatu possesses all the tools necessary to occupy that spot some day.
Perhaps the biggest similarity between Cyborg and Fatu is their unforeseen speed. Both are as surprisingly fast, as they are agile and simply have an aura about them that few others in their respective realms do.
Fatu may not be as physically enhanced as Cyborg, but he is naturally gifted and matches Victor Stone in durability. Furthermore, Fatu's recent decision to break away from The Bloodline and carve his own path toward greatness is a testament to his underrated intellect—another trait Cyborg can relate to.
Bianca Belair as Wonder Woman
WWE's women's division is as deep and talented as it's ever been, and thus there are a number of strong candidates for who would work best as Wonder Woman.
While she might be injured at the moment, Bianca Belair is arguably WWE's most wholesome competitor and the personification of passion, determination and hard work. She has spent the last five years ascending the ranks, winning titles and cementing her status as one of WWE's biggest and brightest stars, all while never turning her back on the audience.
Wonder Woman shares many of those same attributes and never looks out of place among the rest of The Justice League. She's perhaps the most powerful female in all of DC and is known for her array of weapons from her indestructible bracelets to the Lasso of Truth.
Belair rarely needs a weapon to put her opponents away, but she is extraordinarily powerful in the literal sense and has been involved in many memorable moments where her feats of strength were on full display, most notably anytime she's lifted the likes of Piper Niven or Nia Jax on her shoulders for her patented K.O.D. finishing maneuver.
Both have had the tendency to be overexposed at times, but take nothing away from their accomplishments and capabilities.
Roman Reigns as Aquaman
Roman Reigns barely cracks the list after spending the better part of the past five years as WWE's ultimate supervillain, having held the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship hostage like it was Marvel's Infinity Gauntlet for an astounding 1,316 days.
Now that he's returned to his roots as a babyface, he's eligible to join the WWE-DC crossover, with Aquaman arguably being his most appropriate equivalent.
Jason Momoa's Aquaman bears a striking resemblance to WWE's Reigns, but the similarities that the characters share run deeper than that.
Being the king of the sea and having the ability to connect with all marine life, Aquaman's role as a leader comes naturally to him. Reigns also developed into an excellent leader upon turning heel and forming The Bloodline in 2020, ruling SmackDown (and later all of WWE) with an iron fist just as Aquaman conquered the citizens of the sea.
Above all else, Reigns and Aquaman are survivors, whether they're backed by an entire nation—on land or at sea—or on their own. They've weathered the storm and are both beloved and respected characters because of it.
Jey Uso as Green Lantern
Jey Uso wouldn't have been anywhere near a list depicting WWE's top talents as DC superheroes even a few years ago when he was still finding his footing and was primarily a midcard competitor and tag team specialist.
It wasn't until he cultivated an unbreakable bond with the audience upon branching off from The Bloodline that he entered that next level of superstardom. Now, he's a former Intercontinental champion and, more impressively, a former World Heavyweight champion.
He's far more popular in WWE than DC's Green Lantern has been on the big screen over the years, but Green Lantern's abilities speak for themselves, specifically with how he can create illusions and “energy constructs” based entirely on willpower.
Uso doesn't lack willpower in the slightest, using his own determination and courage to rise above his detractors and win when it has mattered most this year both in the men's Royal Rumble match and at WrestleMania 41 by clinching the world title.
Since achieving main-event glory, Uso has become a “main character” of sorts on the Raw roster and has tied into several stories similar to Green Lantern, even when their fear of falling short has resulted in their most significant setbacks on occasion.
Sami Zayn as the Flash
Logically, the WWE Superstar most known for their speed would be an easy choice for the Flash, but there isn't anyone toward the top of the card that best matches that description.
Sami Zayn isn't quite as quick as he once was, but his in-ring agility along with his versatility and sharpness remain unmatched. The Flash is, of course, DC's resident speedster and can exceed the speed of light, allowing him to travel through time when necessary.
Moreover, Zayn is an exceptional storyteller, both in his matches and promos. Fans want to root for him and Flash because of their positive personalities and relatability.
Many consider the Flash to be the heart and soul of DC, akin to Zayn in WWE. They're fun, complicated characters to follow because whatever they're involved in is guaranteed to be gripping.
The Flash's speed specialties grant him access to DC's multiverse, meaning he can be a part of several stories at any given time. Zayn has also been known to float between Raw and SmackDown because of his history with so many stars on the show.
They're influential figures that thrive when positioned as the underdogs.
LA Knight as Nightwing
LA Knight is to Nightwing what Sami Zayn is to the Flash—it’s not their core abilities that make them similar but what lies beneath the ring attire and superhero costumes.
On the surface, Nightwing can seemingly do it all. Specializing in acrobatics, he's quick on his feet as well as a fantastic fighter. Knight isn't known for either of those things, but his trash-talking is his strong suit and he has that in common with Nightwing.
They don't let the seriousness of any situation prevent them from entertaining their audience and subsequently backing it up. They might be perceived as “sidekicks” by some, but their respective ceilings are much higher than that.
Their charisma alone makes them stand out from the rest of the WWE and DC rosters. Knight was never supposed to be the breakout babyface he's become, but brash attitude and resiliency have resonated with fans in a major way, much like it has for Nightwing.
Ideally, they'll eventually reach even greater heights, but for now, the success they've experienced right below the heavy hitters deserves to be commended.
Rhea Ripley as Black Canary
Black Canary isn't as much of a world-renowned superhero as Wonder Woman is and hasn't broken through the proverbial glass ceiling like Rhea Ripley has, but she's a unique character with a devoted fanbase and a skill set that makes her every bit as dangerous as she is stunning.
As intimidating as Ripley's sheer strength is, it's not even her greatest attribute. She first established an identity for herself upon joining The Judgment Day and she's been building upon that ever since: a no-nonsense powerhouse with a captivating presence and an edge.
She even quietly slid into the role of leader of Judgment Day before being exiled by the other members out of jealousy. Black Canary has also shown she can operate well with others as evidenced by her alliances with The Birds of Prey and The Justice League, but she can be equally intriguing while wreaking havoc by her lonesome.
They value brutality and domination more than anything—and it's paid dividends.
Their shared toughness makes them threats to just about anyone who stands in their path of destruction, male or female. Whether it's the Riptide or the Canary Cry, they know exactly when to finish off their opponents and be the last woman standing.
CM Punk as The Batman
The Batman of WWE can't be anyone but CM Punk. Both are brooding loners likely to do what's right by playing by their own rules.
Punk has never been one to conform to the idea of what a babyface or superhero should be. He embraces those who admire him and rejects those who are opposed to his unconventional approach.
While not remotely as polarizing as Punk, Batman does act more out of emotion and anger than Superman would, even when fighting for the same cause. Neither of them is technically superpowered, nor are they the strongest of their contemporaries, but that doesn't make their similar fighting styles any less effective.
They go against the grain and would rather wage war alone, but they aren't completely against the idea of seeking help when needed. Batman is a founding member of The Justice League, while Punk was willing to join forces with his archrival Roman Reigns in WarGames last November—even if only so his former manager, Paul Heyman, would owe him a favor.
Their principles and morals can't be questioned, and they can oftentimes be their own worst enemies. However, their weaknesses and flaws are part of what make them one-of-a-kind icons in the worlds of WWE and DC.
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