Before entering the world of professional wrestling, Nathan Jones had an eventful past, which included time spent in an Australian prison. Ex-convict gimmicks have been used in the wrestling business, and they make for an intriguing character. But in his case, it's fact instead of fiction. Jones was jailed in the infamous maximum security Boggo Road prison for committing eight armed robberies.
While in prison, Nathan Jones spent time powerlifting, which led to him becoming National Powerlifting Champion of Australia. After being released from prison, Jones went on to compete in strongman contests. As Australia's Strongest Man, he entered the World Strength Championship in 1995, taking first place. In 1996, Jones won the World Strongman Challenge.
After working as a bodyguard as well as participating in MMA, Nathan Jones began his pro-wrestling career in 2001. He experienced championship success in 2002, winning the WWA World Heavyweight Championship in Australia, and the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship while in the Japan-based ZERO1. Jones' career progressed quickly, he was in WWE later that year, wrestling in non-televised matches.
When WWE was ready to make Nathan Jones a part of their programming, WWE capitalized on the dangerous aura that Jones' size and prison background had, presenting a series of vignettes featuring him, with most of them taking place in a prison while Jones could be heard in a voice-over, talking about his time in prison in the most threatening, yet calm voice possible. This conveyed a cold and calculated personality.
Nathan Jones' debut was highly anticipated, and fans were eager to see what he was going to do in WWE. During Jones' first interview, he made it known that he had unfinished business with, "the biggest dog in the yard"- The Undertaker, Jones’ demeanor giving the impression that a feud between the two would take place in the near future.
However, it turned out that the "unfinished business" was that The Undertaker had promised to train Nathan Jones after he was released from prison.
The Nathan Jones/Undertaker storyline was planned to be a "slow burn", meaning that tension was going to gradually build over time, leading to Jones turning on The Undertaker and, reportedly, a match taking place between the two of them at a WrestleMania. However, this never happened. Instead, Jones was eventually removed from WWE-TV and finally returned seven months later, now with no connection to The Undertaker, and as a monster heel. It appeared that Jones was going to be the newest dominant heel giant in WWE.
However, 11 months after Nathan Jones' WWE debut, he cut his run short due to the demands of the travel schedule, which Jones described in an interview as a "rock star's lifestyle" when explaining that he's a homebody by nature. The schedule involved constant travel with very little downtime, and for someone who is not used to that lifestyle, it can be very draining, both physically and mentally, wearing down even the most durable individuals. For Jones, being that he's a self-described homebody, these demands likely decreased the level of enthusiasm for the pro-wrestling business that he originally had.
Nathan Jones clearly had great potential. His size and presence made him stand out, which is an asset in professional wrestling, and his promo style was unique. However, the passion required to endure and overcome the constant travel and the specific lifestyle of a WWE Superstar wasn't fully present. Working for WWE is demanding, and not everyone is suited for its distinctive way of life, regardless of their talent and physical abilities. Jones' situation highlights how even with sizable potential, a lack of passion for the specific demands of something (career as a WWE Superstar in his case), can lead to its end.
Back at home in Australia, Nathan Jones returned to the ring in October 2005 to wrestle in WSW, retiring that same month. Much time has passed since his days in a pro-wrestling ring, yet it still remains interesting to ponder how things would have turned out if traveling had been an easier situation for Jones or he had at least found ways to adapt to it, and if Jones had continued his career in WWE, even with him still retiring in 2005. If the originally planned Nathan Jones/Undertaker feud eventually took place, it would have been student vs. teacher- would Jones have been the wrestler who ended The Undertaker's WrestleMania Streak? How would Jones have fared in a Royal Rumble? He likely would have eventually faced the high-flying Rob Van Dam, the highly athletically gifted Booker T, and perhaps even fellow powerhouse Kane- what would those matches have been like? Also, the final year of Jones' wrestling career was the same year that The Boogeyman made his WWE debut and Hulk Hogan returned to the company. Nathan Jones vs. The Boogeyman would have been a clash between two of WWE's most unique characters, and it was commonplace to see Hogan wrestle monster heels like Jones- what would have been the fan reactions to these matchups? The fact that these questions will remain unanswered proves the power of passion in shaping a career.
With Nathan Jones' pro-wrestling career behind him, there was room in Jones' life for something more fitting for him- acting. It is worth noting that Jones had done some acting in the past, appearing in, "First Strike" (1996) and, "Doom Runners" (1997). He also appeared in, "Troy" while working for WWE.
In the acting industry, Nathan Jones' look and performing ability can be utilized without him having to experience the frequent travel that a full-time pro-wrestler often does. While actors also travel, it's project-based. When an actor is cast in a film, they may travel to a location and stay there for the duration of the shoot. This could range from a few weeks to several months. Once filming is complete, actors commonly return home. Along with being able to live a more agreeable lifestyle, working as an actor has given Jones the opportunity to appear in well-known films such as "Mad Max: Fury Road", and "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" as Rictus Erectus, and "Mortal Kombat", as Reiko.
Even though Nathan Jones had transitioned from wrestling to acting, he maintained a connection to the WWE brand. In 2007, Jones appeared in "The Condemned", which was produced by WWE Films (today known as WWE Studios Inc.), the film studio that is owned by WWE. The picture below is from when a scene featuring Jones was being filmed in Boggo Road, the same prison that he had been in for nearly a decade. Being there again was a heavy experience for Jones.
Nathan Jones' pro-wrestling career serves as a lesson that someone having the potential to be successful at something doesn't necessarily mean that it's the right path for them. His story is not one of failure. Even if Jones had become a main eventer in WWE and held many championships, he still wouldn't have enjoyed the lifestyle, which likely would have made the path feel unrewarding. A fulfilling life requires considering passion, as well as overall well-being. While only Jones knows for sure whether his life became fulfilling after Jones transitioned from pro-wrestling to acting, it's clear that his transition has been a successful and significant part of Jones' life. Acting has allowed him to utilize his talents in a way that brought Jones greater satisfaction and well-being, which is more success than anyone could ask for.
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