Arnold Schwarzenegger is not the only name that comes to mind when talking about the legendary action heroes of the 80s. There was another superstar who fought for the top spot against Schwarzenegger. And it is Sylvester Stallone. He needs no introduction, and neither does his rivalry with The Terminator star. The feud between Schwarzenegger and Stallone lasted for about twenty years until they came to realize their individual legacies. 

There are many stories over the web regarding the head-to-head heated rivalry of the superstars. While some of them are credible, others are nothing but a little misleading. However, recently, Arnold Schwarzenegger shared what went down between these two superstars.  

Arnold Schwarzenegger shared the origin of his rivalry with Sylvester Stallone 

Schwarzenegger recently appeared on the podcast, WTF With Marc Maron to promote his new book, Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life. During the podcast, the 76-year-old recalled his first Golden Globe win, where both the actors’ mothers bragged about their contribution to their sons’ success. When Maron inquired if that was the beginning of their rivalry, Schwarzenegger revealed that it took shape after his career started to skyrocket in the film industry. He also revealed back in the 80s “we just couldn’t coexist”.

Arnold Schwarzenegger shared that he was actually on good terms with Stallone initially. Stallone even offered a movie to the former bodybuilder back in the 70s. The Austrian Oak shared how Stallone was way ahead of him in the industry initially until he caught up. He further went on to say how, with time, their competition escalated to a great extent, making them despise each other. However, the stars share a friendly relationship now and even starred in movies together. 

The FUBAR actor also shared that Stallone’s “ripped” body added to his stress levels, as he felt someone was suddenly getting into his turf. However, not many would know that Schwarzenegger’s physicality was something that caused a hindrance in his acting career. 

Schwarzenegger’s body caused a setback in his Hollywood career

Arnold Schwarzenegger had a difficult childhood in a war-torn Austria and wanted to do everything in his power to get out of the country. He finally saw bodybuilding as a chance to find a place in the sought-after destination, USA. The seven-time Mr Olympia became the most popular bodybuilder of his time, which got him immense fame. However, his bodybuilding soon became an obstacle to his deep desire to achieve great success in Hollywood, for which he even turned down a $200, 000 job. 

In a recent interview with Literally! With Rob Lowe, the former California Governor revealed that his body was too big for an actor. Makers in the industry rejected the star to his face saying, “You are a 100 pounds too heavy”. This messed up Schwarzenegger’s confidence, and he started to doubt his chances in the movies. However, he successfully turned his setback into a catalyst for his legendary status in the industry.

What do you think about Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone’s rivalry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!