John Cena and Mark Wahlberg: 10 WWE-Meets-Hollywood Buddy-Cop Duos We'd Love

WWE Films isn't shy about making formulaic movies.  Why not tap into a genre that, despite many a clunker, lives on "strong" today?   

Buddy-cop movies have long made the lives of screenwriters easier while also providing that stimulating feeling of déjà vu for moviegoers. 

The movies pitched in this slideshow could not only propel WWE superstars into the mainstream, they could also force the actors involved to suffer through the humbling effects of regret.  The next time Mark Wahlberg thinks he's hot stuff and in danger of growing a big head, he can think back on the clunker he made opposite John Cena.   

Two cops with very different personalities are thrown into a dangerous situation where they have to work together and make borderline funny jokes.  All we have to do is plug in the right performers. 

John Cena and Mark Wahlberg

Two estranged brothers, one is a by-the-book, career-minded cop (Wahlberg) and the other an uneducated, street-wise wanna-be thug (Cena), are forced to work together when the younger brother witnesses a murder. 

Despite their differences, they find a way to learn from each other and repair their broken bonds.

Their eerily look-alike status aids the believability that they are brothers.  For the Cena fans, the movie will feature him rapping.  For the Cena haters, the movie will feature him getting pistol-whipped and kicked in the face.  Everybody wins.

Comparable Movies: We Own the Night meets Starsky and Hutch.

CM Punk and Jon Hamm

A hard-nosed cop (Hamm) is forced to team up with a wise-cracking tattooed criminal (Punk) temporarily paroled to him, in order to track down a killer. They trade biting insults as they trade gunshots with the bad guys.

Punk's well-documented verbal skills are put to good use in this action-packed film. 

Some women will love staring at Jon Hamm's chiseled features while some prefer the more rough-around-the-edges, bad-boy look of Punk.  Guys will enjoy watching them kick tail and litter the movie with witty retorts. 

Comparable Movies: 48 Hours meets American Gangster.

Hornswoggle and Jonah Hill

Both spoofing and paying homage to the buddy-cop genre, this ridiculous movie sees a police captain partner up the department’s smallest (Hornswoggle) and most inept (Hill) cops.  The two are assigned a case that no one wants solved because it would implicate many police officers and politicians. 

Though no one believes they can do it, the two underdog cops break the biggest case of their careers while becoming the best of friends.

Physical humor will be almost as prominent in this action comedy as short jokes and fat jokes.

Comparable Movies: Hot Fuzz meets Cop Out.

Great Khali and Chris Tucker

An Indian diplomat is murdered in New York.  The Indian government has sent one of their best detectives to assist with the case—a gigantic, stone-faced grizzled veteran played by Khali.  His partner is a wise-cracking cop (Tucker) who plays by his own rules. 

East meets west as the two officers struggle to understand each other’s cultures and their personalities clash. 

And audiences will hear all the racist jokes they can handle.

While Khali has appeared in a few movies in India and was actually a police officer before becoming a substandard wrestler, I think he needs a co-star who can carry him on screen.  Tucker's energy, humor and improv skills will help him do just that.

Comparable Movies: Rush Hour meets Collision Course.

Triple H and Larry David

A quiet, anal, neat-freak cop (David) is nearing retirement and is suddenly paired with a gruff, messy bachelor (Triple H) as they attempt to bring down a drug kingpin.  They overcome their differences and forge a lasting friendship that leaves the door open for a sequel or two. 

David will have to provide the majority of the comedy and Triple H will do all the heavy lifting when it comes to the action.  It can't be worse than The Chaperone.

Comparable Movies: Lethal Weapon meets Running Scared.

Chris Jericho and Jennifer Lopez

A cynical, xenophobic cop (Jericho) is transferred to a Texas/Mexico border town after a disgraceful incident he refuses to talk about.  Along with his feisty, no-nonsense Mexican counterpart (Lopez), he must infiltrate a drug cartel and bring down its heinous leader to resurrect his career.

Despite their constant bickering, the two partners eventually fall in love.

Sexual tension steams up the screen.  As a bonus, both Fozzy and J-Lo can contribute to the soundtrack.  After warming up with Albino Farm and MacGruber, is Jericho ready for the big time?

Comparable Movies: Super Cop meets Red Heat.

R-Truth and Bruce Willis

In a future world, Earth is being overrun by a spastic, loud-mouthed race of aliens.  A murder that occurs on the border of an alien refugee camp and Queens, creates the unlikely pairing of a paranoid, brazen alien (R-Truth) and a veteran cop who hates aliens (Willis) almost as much as he hates not drinking.

Bruce Willis has proven he can do his thing in sci-fi movies (12 Monkeys, The Fifth Element), and R-Truth has proven recently that he can make people laugh. 

Comparable Movies: Alien Nation meets Die Hard 3.

The Miz and Tommy Lee Jones

One's a maverick playboy cop (Miz), while the other's a sensible family man (Jones); one is a smart-mouthed rookie, the other is a buy-the-book veteran.  Together they must stop a local string of bank robberies, but only if they don’t shoot each other first.

The Miz has been all over the place lately (7-11 commercials, late night TV, etc.) and has the potential for mainstream appeal.  Tommy Lee Jones is an acting veteran who can show Miz the ropes.  I think it's time to start pre-production.

Comparable Movies: Bad Boys meets the Good Guys.

Steve Austin and Ashton Kutcher

A rough and tumble cop views his new metro-sexual partner (Kutcher) as weak and unmanly.  He tries to ditch him during a big time investigation, but ends up learning a thing or two from the young cop.

Stone Cold doesn't have the greatest acting range, but he's clearly fine with being a tough guy.  His action-movie experience pays dividends during the fight scenes.  Kutcher brings comedy to the table here and the odd couple brings in two distinct niches of fans.

 Comparable Movies: Chaos meets Guess Who.

The Rock and a Dog

To solve a local murder, a recently divorced, small-town sheriff (Rock) is forced to work with a lovable pooch despite his loathing for dogs.  As the case unfolds, the sheriff discovers that a Russian gangster is plotting a nefarious plan. 

He’s forced to shoot a ton of bad guys and comes away with one nasty scratch on his cheek.

The Rock is well versed in the tough-guy-opposite-cute-star dynamic, and can rock it here again.  His excess charisma combined with an adorable dog could make for movie magic. 

Comparable Movies: Turner and Hooch meets Raw Deal.