“You Asked Me How Much I Lifted, and You Said It Wasn’t Enough”: WWE Legend Recalled Awkward Encounter With Arnold Schwarzenegger That He Took Personally

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a name that holds high regard in the world of bodybuilding and beyond. He put the sport of bodybuilding on the map and his popularity made him a cultural icon.

Not only the Austrian Oak inspired his fans worldwide to take up bodybuilding, but many stars from other sports also look up to him as a benchmark.

A star as big as Schwarzenegger has often left fans as well as many celebrities in awe. This was the case when a former WWE World Heavyweight Champion visited the Arnold Museum, located in the hometown of the bodybuilding icon.

Schwarzenegger’s rise as a bodybuilder led him to Hollywood and pop culture. It also brought him to WWE. The Terminator has inspired a lot of WWE stars as well.

Almost 10 years ago, WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry got the chance to visit the Arnold Museum in Austria and was starstruck.

The World’s Strongest Man shared his opinion on Arnold and even recalled a conversation he had with him before his WWE days.

Mark Henry recalled the conversation with Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s immense popularity in the 90s meant a WWE appearance was only a matter of time.  He made his first appearance for WWE on an episode of SmackDown in 1999 and knocked out Triple H.

The Hollywood action star has since also become a part of WWE’s Hall of Fame. Moreover, he also inducted the wrestling legend, Bruno Sammartino, into the Hall in 2013.

An absolutely legendary figure in the world of bodybuilding, he motivated a lot of WWE stars to take up the sport. This has also meant that over the years, many bodybuilders have transitioned into pro wrestling as a career.

Former WWE star Mark Henry is one such star. Henry was an Olympic weightlifter, and strongman and regularly participated in powerlifting contests. 10 years ago, Henry had the chance to visit the Arnold Museum in Thal, Austria, and have a look around.

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All the accolades, photographs, and memorabilia from the career of the bodybuilding great seemed to overwhelm Mark Henry. The museum, which was Arnold’s home during his childhood, housed a lot of his achievements throughout his career.

Speaking to WWE, Mark Henry recalled a conversation he had with Arnold when he was younger. Henry said “Arnold, in 1991 you presented me with an award at the Olympic festival when I was 18. I asked you if I could be in a movie. You asked me how much I lifted, and you said that wasn’t enough.”

Despite being one of the top weightlifters and winning an award, the 7x Mr. Olympia winner seemingly turned away Henry from pursuing an acting career.

The former World Champion then added that he met Arnold again after winning the 2002 Arnold Classic and asked the same question.

He stated, “In 2002, I won the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic and I asked you again. And you said, ‘Mark, you can do whatever you like. Arnold, the time is upon us and I am ready.” 

It seems despite making a career in powerlifting and WWE, Henry wished to star in movies and hence his awkward encounter with Schwarzenegger over two decades ago. Henry perhaps wanted to follow in the footsteps of the Governator as a top movie star.

Although Henry couldn’t forge a successful movie career, Arnold’s words in 1991 inspired him. It resulted in Mark Henry becoming an accomplished athlete as he excelled in powerlifting, Olympic lifting, and strongman competitions.

This was even before he began his WWE career, where he forged a legacy for himself. A WWE Hall of Famer, Mark Henry became part of the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

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