Sylvester Stallone Addresses Age-Long Rivalry With Arnold Schwarzenegger: 'He Had The Body'

Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone recently opened up about his long-standing rivalry with fellow action star Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Speaking candidly during his interview on Schwarzenegger's Netflix docuseries, "Arnold," Stallone reminisced about the intense competition between the two actors while also declaring Schwarzenegger as the "superior" action star of their time.

Schwarzenegger, on his part, acknowledged that Stallone was "ahead" of him, but he made it a task to "outdo" him every time he came up with something.

Keep on reading to learn more.

The Stallone-Schwarzenegger rivalry has been an iconic part of Hollywood's history, beginning in the 1980s when both actors became the quintessential action heroes.

Throughout the years, they were embroiled in a friendly yet fierce competition, both on and off the screen, captivating audiences worldwide with their charismatic performances and bulging muscles.

During an interview session on Schwarzenegger's new Netflix docuseries, Stallone's reflective tone was evident as he admitted that the "Commando" star was the "superior" action star, per the Daily Mail.

"He was superior. He just had all the answers," he said of Schwarzenegger. "He had the body. He had the strength. That was his character."

Stallone claimed that their rivalry was fueled as they both desired to be labeled as the "definitive action guy" of the eighties.

Schwarzenegger also acknowledged Stallone's initial dominance in their early years before their decade-long feud picked up steam.

According to Insider, the actors' long-standing standoff started in the early 1980s when Stallone quipped that no one else was exploring the budding action genre like him "except some other guy from Austria."

"Sly was ahead of me in the '80s, so it was for me to catch up," Schwarzenegger said. "Every time he came out with a movie like 'Rambo II,' I had to figure out how to outdo that."

With Stallone and Schwarzenegger's admissions of each other's strengths and successes, it becomes clear that their rivalry was not simply fueled by ego but served as a catalyst for their growth as actors and individuals. As they pushed the boundaries of the action genre, audiences were treated to many thrilling and memorable performances that have stood the test of time.

Adding to the dynamic narrative of their rivalry, Stallone explained that Schwarzenegger eventually began to outshine him as their careers progressed. In a candid moment during the interview, Stallone acknowledged that Schwarzenegger "started to come on strong" and eventually surpassed him in terms of success and impact in the action genre after starring in "Red Sonja," "Commando," and "The Terminator."

Although Stallone noted that he usually played the underdog who was "not overly gifted" and "got my ass kicked constantly," he explained that Schwarzenegger's character barely came out of a duel with any scratch.

"He just had all the answers. He had the body. He had the strength. That was his character," he said. "Arnold, he never got hurt too much, and I'm going, 'Arnold, you could go out and fight a dragon, and you'd come back with a Band-Aid.'"

"He wanted to be number one. Unfortunately, he got there," Stallone conceded.

Elsewhere on the show, Schwarzenegger acknowledged that they were initially "at war" but credited his rivalry with Stallone for helping him push himself beyond his limits.

"We were competing about everything," Schwarzenegger shared. "The body being ripped and oiled up. Who is more vicious? Who is tougher? Who uses bigger knives? Who uses bigger guns? Sly and I were at war."

However, In a testament to the enduring impact of their rivalry, the "Terminator" star credited the "Rocky" star's fierce competition as a crucial factor in pushing himself beyond his limits. The action star-turned-politician revealed how Stallone's relentless drive and success constantly motivated him to strive for greatness.

Reflecting on their rivalry during an interview on "Arnold," Schwarzenegger shared, "Without Stallone, I maybe wouldn't have been as motivated during the '80s to do the kind of movies I did and work as hard as I did."