50 Greatest Wrestlers of All Time

Love it or hate it – a lot of people love it. Wrestling is a wild phenomenon – with so many fans from all over the world to watch a choreographed sport. But no matter what your feelings on it are – you’ve got to admit, it gets the blood flowing! Wrestling is pure entertainment from start to finish and if you’ve never sat down to watch a match or even a Wrestlemania – then you’re missing out! Here’s our top 50 wrestlers EVER!

50. Ted DiBiase

There are few wrestlers as talked about as DiBiase. He has been a part of some memorable moments but is best remembered for ‘buying’ the WWF Championship in one of the most thrilling storylines ever. For this reason, he isn’t listed as a champion in the history books and is often called the most deserving wrestler to have never won the World Title. Dibiase is known for being a technical wrestler and is considered one of the greatest heels in the business. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010 and continues to make sporadic appearances for the company.

49. “Superstar” Billy Graham

Billy Graham was a well-recognized bodybuilder before he turned to wrestling. He immediately caught the attention of fans due to this incredible physique and great performances. He went on to have some great matches with Bob Backlund and Harley Race. His wrestling proteges include some popular names like Ric Flair, Jesse Ventura, and Hulk Hogan. Graham was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 and is remembered for his colorful personality. While he has stayed away from wrestling since retiring and was in the news for locking heads with the McMahons, he appears to have buried the hatchet.

48. The Iron Sheik (Khosrow Vaziri)

If you want to know what a true heel looks like then watch this man cut promos and perform in the ring. The Iron Sheik played the bad guy for a majority of the time and was popular for making fans hate him. He’s the only Iranian wrestler to have won a world title in WWE. He often used his background in his feuds and is credited for making Hulk Hogan a hero. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and retired from in-ring competition in 2010. However, he is infamous for his shoot interviews that often contain vulgar language.

47. Lex Luger

Lex Luger was pitched to be the number one guy at one point but injuries prevented him from reaching the top. He won The Most Popular Wrestler of the Year award in 1993 but never won a title in the WWF despite being one of the few wrestlers to have challenged for every single title in the promotion. He, however, went on to win major titles in WCW and holds the record for holding the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship for the most number of days. Luger currently works as a backstage producer and is remembered for his incredible physique.

46. Kevin Nash

There are few wrestlers as controversial as Kevin Nash. Fans often criticize him for pulling down other wrestlers and taking part in backstage politics. However, we can’t deny his achievements that include defeating Goldberg at Starrcade 1998 to end his 173-0 undefeated streak. He performed under different names and went on to win world titles in both WCW and WWF. He also holds the record for the longest WWF Championship reign in the ’90s. However, fans best remember him for being a founding member of the New World Order, which is considered the greatest stable ever.

45. Sgt. Slaughter

If The Iron Sheik was the top heel, Sgt. Slaughter was the top face who gave stiff competition to The Iron Sheik and together they performed exceptionally well. However, Sheik was not Slaughter’s only popular opponent. Slaughter wrestled a number of other top wrestlers including Pat Patterson, Kamala, Hulk Hogan, and The Ultimate Warrior. He was known for his unique ring attire that included a large hat, dark sunglasses, and military fatigues. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 and is also remembered for his on-screen WWF Commissioner role during the Attitude Era.

44. Rob Van Dam

Rob Van Dam is one of the few ECW originals to have won major titles in WWE. However, his run ins with the law prevented him from reaching the top as WWE had to release him during the midst of several unfortunate legal and personal outcomes. RVD gave us some incredible matches against the likes of Jerry Lynn and Sabu and was also the headliner when WWE relaunched the ECW brand. He currently performs for TNA and is said to be on good terms with WWE, hence there are hopes for a return in the future.

43. Booker T

The five-time WCW Champion is one of the most entertaining in-ring performers. His “Spinaroonie” sends people into a frenzy and so does his amazing moves. Booker T could not find much success in WWE until he reinvented himself with the King Booker gimmick, after which he went to win multiple World Heavyweight Championships. However, he decided to leave WWE and joined TNA where he also became a top wrestler and become a part of Main Event Mafia, a heel stable. Unable to find success in TNA, he came back to WWE. But, he hasn’t been very active as a wrestler since returning to WWE. He took on some non-wrestling roles including commentator and is also busy handling his own wrestling school.

42. Paul “Big Show” Wight

This 7-foot, 500-pound wrestler is incredibly agile for his size. However, he is said to be working to lose weight. He was a top wrestler in WCW before joining WWF where he aligned himself with Vince McMahon and helped him face his arch-nemesis, Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Big Show got a major push in 2002 when he carried the Smackdown brand with Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar and became the first man to get a pinfall victory over the latter. The Big Show now rarely appears on-screen and has turned his attention towards acting. However, he’ll always be remembered for his professionalism and excellent display of strength. Also, he’s the only man to have won the WWF Championship, WCW World Heavyweight Championship, World Heavyweight Championship, and ECW World Championship.

41. Dave Bautista

Batista is now a popular name in Hollywood, having appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, wrestling fans remember him as The Animal. Just like Orton, Batista was a part of Evolution. However, he took his own time to reach to the top and defeated his on-screen mentor, Triple H, for the World Title at Wrestlemania after winning the Royal Rumble to kickstart his bright career. Batista had some incredible matches in his glorious run. He faced top performers including John Cena, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, and The Undertaker. According to him, Triple H has been his favorite opponent. He personally requested to wrestle Triple H in his last match and retired in 2019 after losing to The Game.

40. Davey Boy Smith / The British Bulldog

The British Bulldog is best remembered for being one half of the tag team British Bulldogs, with Dynamite Kid. The two teamed up together in multiple promotions and won tag titles on several occasions. However, he also shined as a singles wrestler and had a stellar of a feud with Bret Hart, his brother in law. He also performed for other promotions including World Championship Wrestling, All Star Wrestling, and Stampede Wrestling. He was the first WWF European Champion and held the belt for 206 days. He passed away in 2002 due to a heart attack.

39. Roman Reigns

The Big Dog is new to the game but he has already carved a niche for himself. He is one of the top merchandise movers and is almost always a part of big matches. He debuted in WWE as a part of The Shield with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins but soon started a singles career and went on to win the 2014 Superstar of the Year and 2015 Royal Rumble. He is also one of the only two men to have defeated The Undertaker at Royal Rumble. However, he’s often criticized for having a limited move set. Reigns left wrestling in 2018 due to leukemia but is back to in-ring competition after defeating the evil.

38. “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes

Dusty Rhodes was unlike other wrestlers. He did not have an impressive physique. He was presented as a common man, a gimmick that helped him a great deal. He was quickly able to make a connection with his audience and started to receive good reactions. He wrestled for over 40 years and retired in 2010 after a storyline with his children, Dustin Rhodes, and Cody Rhodes. In addition to being a great in-ring performer, Rhodes is remembered for his creativity and ability to come up with unique storyline ideas. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.

37. Terry Funk

Terry Funk is known for having a lengthy career, spanning over 50 years. He has performed for a number of promotions including NWA Championship Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling. He was known for his hardcore wrestling style and introducing outside elements into his matches including thumbtacks and barbed wires. He is one of the few wrestlings to have been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame despite only spending close to two years with the company. Today, he is considered a legend and still makes wrestling-related appearances for different organizations.

36. Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy became popular as a tag team wrestler but found immense success as a singles performer as well and went on to win his first WWE Championship in 2008. However, he could not maintain the momentum and had to leave WWE in 2009 due to injuries and personal battles. Fans remember him for being a daredevil and performing earth-shaking moves from the top of ladders.  At the end of the day, Jeff Hardy is a performer who skilled not only in WWE but in TNA as well, winning the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on three occasions. He presently performs for WWE as a mid-carder.

35. Randy Orton

Randy Orton is a third-generation wrestler best known for his Legend Killer gimmick and finishing move, The RKO, which is among the most copied moves on the internet. Orton became popular as a founding member of Evolution and went on to become the youngest World Heavyweight Champion when he won the title in 2004 at the age of 24. He then feuded with some top performers including Triple H, John Cena, and Batista. However, he could never be the number one guy but always lived under the shadow of other performers despite winning 13 world titles and two Royal Rumble matches.

34. Arn Anderson

Arn Anderson was a founding member of Four Horseman and is best remembered for his alliances with Ric Flair, with whom he has performed on hundreds of occasions. Despite being a great talent, he could never find success as a singles wrestler. Anderson retired from in-ring competition in 2000 but has some great title runs and feuds under his credit. He might not be the most popular wrestler today, but he is considered one of the greatest due to his backstage influences. After retirement, he worked for WWE as a producer until 2019 and has now joined AEW.

33. Sting

Sting was once the most popular WCW wrestler to have never wrestled for WWE due to his decision to join TNA after WCW shut down. He went on to become the face of the company and headlined several pay per views until 2014 when he decided to join WWE. His debut created quite a sit and he went on to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship within a few months of debuting in WWE. However, his run was short-lived as injuries caused him to retire. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016. He has won The Most Popular Wrestler of the Year award on four occasions and is considered one of the most loyal wrestlers of his era.

32. The Road Warriors

The Road Warriors is arguably one of the greatest tag teams in professional wrestling. It consisted of Michael ‘Hawk’ Hegstrand and Joseph ‘Animal’ Laurinaitis, two wrestlers who almost spent their entire career together. Hence, it is the only team you will see on this list of 50 greatest wrestlers. The two wrestled under different names including The Legion of Doom, The Hell Warriors, and American Originals. They were active for over 30 years and disbanded in 2014. They were both quite large and pretty dominant in the ring. They were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011 as a tag team and also won the Tag Team of the Year award from Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

 

Still to come: Jake “The Snake” Roberts

Continue reading to see where the iconic wrestler with one the WWE’s coolest fishing moves, ends up.

31. Bob Backlund

Backlund is a legend in the true sense of the word. His name is in the history books for having the second-longest WWF World Heavyweight Championship reign. Backlund mostly played a face and was loved by the fans. He was inducted into The WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 and has stayed away from wrestling since retiring in 2011. He had some great matches with Shawn Michaels, The Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan, and Peter Maivia, who he also formed a pretty successful tag team with.

30. Kane

Undertaker’s on-screen half-brother Kane debuted in 1998 and immediately connected with the fans. He wore a mask and played the evil brother to perfection. Kane went on to have some great matches in his career but he is best remembered for his multiple feuds with The Undertaker. Some argue that he never found success as a singles wrestler only winning the World Heavyweight Championship once in his career. However, his career as a tag team wrestler is quite bright. He teamed up with The Undertaker, The Big Show, Rob Van Dam, Daniel Bryan, and several others to win the tag titles 12 times. Now he is working on building his political career and rarely appears for WWE. Fans count him among the most loyal wrestler as he hasn’t performed for any other promotion in his entire career.

29. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat

There are few wrestlers as loved and respected as this 2009 WWE Hall of Fame inductee. He is considered a pioneer in the field of wrestling and is best remembered for his classic feuds and matches with Randy Savage and Ric Flair. Steamboat retired from in-ring competition in 1994 but made a surprise return in 2009 for a feud with Chris Jericho. He won several belts in his illustrious career and was also instrumental in inspiring the likes of CM Punk, who he mentored in ROH.

28. Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan’s story is quite motivational. He always wanted to work for WWE but was fired twice before he found his niche in 2009. He is known for unique submission moves, impeccable charisma, and great storytelling. The man went on to have some great feuds and won fans over by joining Kane to form one of the most popular tag teams in recent times, Team Hell No. He won some major titles but had to retire from competition due to medical issues. But in a surprise twist, he returned to in-ring action in 2018 and has been going strong since then. In addition to great skills, Bryan is known for upgrading his looks and playing both heel and face personas effectively.

27. Ricky “Rick Rude” Lewis

Fans remember Rick Rude as a founding member of the popular Attitude Era stable, D-Generation X. However, Rude did his best work as a tag team wrestler working for a number of promotions including ECW and WCW. He never won a major title in any major promotion but was a part of some top storylines and feuds. Rude had a short wrestling career as injuries caused him to retire in 1994 after 12 years in business. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by one of his most popular rivals, Ricky Steamboat, in 2017.

26. The Ultimate Warrior

The Ultimate Warrior is remembered for being a powerhouse of a performer. He had some classic matches in both WWF and WCW and has inspired a generation of wrestlers. Warrior is best remembered for feuding with top stars like Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker. Despite being limited in the ring, he was loved by the fans due to his charisma and power moves. However, he could never reach the top spot as injuries forced him to retire in 1998. He stayed away from wrestling due to a difference of opinion but was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014, three days before his death due to myocardial infarction.

25. CM Punk

CM Punk was quite well-known before he joined WWE and climbed the success ladder. His breakthrough came when he gave the infamous ‘Pipe Bomb’ promo that faced the change of the company and made Punk a darling of the masses. He quickly went on to win the World Title and became a part of some of the best-rated matches and feuds. However, he decided to quit WWE in 2014 due to creative differences despite being a part of some top feuds. He has seen been in the news due to his poor MMA career and court cases against WWE and Colt Cabana. Punk says he has no plans to return to wrestling but fans are still keeping their fingers crossed.

24. Rey Mysterio

There are few masked superstars as popular as Rey Mysterio. He is a high flyer who carved a niche in WCW before starting his career in WWE in 2002. Despite his small size, he was able to win major titles including the World Champion. He also won the 2006 Royal Rumble match lasting for over 62 minutes. His finishing move 619 is among the most popular signatures in wrestling. Today, he is slower but still performs regularly for WWE and is best remembered for his classic feuds with Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle, Randy Orton, and Chris Jericho. Very few people know what Rey looks like as he has rarely performed without a mask remaining true to the tradition.

23. Triple H

Few wrestlers are as controversial as Triple H. Married to Stephanie McMahon, The Game is the Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative for WWE and the mind behind NXT, a promotion that builds future talent. He joined WCW in 1994 but quickly moved to WWE where he formed D-Generation X with Chyna, Road Dogg, and Shawn Michaels. Being a part of the stable gave him great exposure and he soon found himself flirting with the main title which he has held a total of 13 times. He’s also won the Royal Rumble twice and has had some amazing feuds against Kurt Angle, Mick Foley, Chris Jericho, Batista, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, The Rock, Stone Cold, and Shawn Michaels. Triple H now rarely wrestles but is still known for being in tremendous physical shape.

22. Kurt Angle

No list of top wrestlers can be complete without the mention of The Olympic Gold Medalist, Kurt Angle. He was known for his classic matches against the likes of Shawn Michaels, Edge, The Undertaker, The Rock, and Stone Cold. He won almost all the major titles in WWE but decided to leave the company in 2006 due to differences with the management. He immediately joined TNA, becoming their most popular face and headlining some of the company’s best performing pay per views. He had some incredible matches against Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, and Sting and became the first and only man to have held the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, WWE Championship, TNA World Heavyweight Championship, IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and WCW Championship. Angle was inducted into both TNA and WWE Hall of Fame and retired from pro wrestling in 2019 after coming back to WWE and losing a retirement match to Baron Corbin.

21. Brock Lesnar

There are few wrestlers that tasted success as quickly as this man. Lesnar debuted in the early part of 2002 and was the WWE Champion by SummerSlam 2002 when he defeated the top face, The Rock, to a thunderous response. Lesnar then went on to become the top face of the company and had some memorable feuds with Kurt Angle, The Big Show, and The Undertaker. However, he decided to quit wrestling in 2004 due to burnout syndrome and tried his luck in NFL which didn’t work. Fans remember him for being the most dominant face in UFC where he won The Heavyweight Championship before retiring and coming back to WWE for a light schedule making him the highest-paid wrestler in the world. He went on to hold the Universal Title for a long time and had some lengthy feuds with The Undertaker, Roman Reigns, and Triple H. Lesnar is often criticized for being lazy in his second run but we can’t decline that he’s popular, talented, and a top seller. Plus, he’ll always be the man who ended The Undertaker’s Wrestlemania streak.

20. Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho is known for being one of the greatest in-ring performers. He started with WCW but moved to WWF due to a lack of recognition in WCW. He immediately got involved in top feuds and became the first-ever Undisputed Champion by defeating The Rock and Stone Cold in the same night. Jericho then went on to have some memorable feuds with Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Kevin Owens, and Daniel Bryan. He has won all major championships in WWE and is remembered for his amazing mic work and interview segment called The Highlight Reel. He’s also the mind behind The Money in The Bank concept. Jericho is currently signed with AEW and is their inaugural World Champion. Other than wrestling, he’s known for his band Fozzy.

19. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper

Roddy Piper is undoubtedly the most popular wrestler to have never won a World Championship in WWF. His feud against Hulk Hogan helped him become a household name. In fact, this is the feud that started the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling revolution. Thanks to his excellent mic skills, he was able to make his interview segment called ‘Piper’s Pit’ one of the most-watched segments of the show. He retired from wrestling in 2011 was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. In addition to wrestling, he is also remembered for his acting roles in movies like They Live and FX’s comedy It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

18. Mick Foley

Mick Foley is known for his bloody face and hardcore matches. He wrestled under three different names – Mick Foley, Dude Love, and Mankind at the same time. Now a known author and speaker, Foley is credited for putting big names such as Edge and Randy Orton on the map. Some also credit him for helping WWF beat WCW when his WWF Title win on RAW helped attract more viewers than WCW Nitro. Moreover, he’s been a part of some of the highest-rated RAW segments including The Rock: This Is Your Life. He’s known as one of the most dedicated performers and was the inaugural WWF Hardcore Champion.

17. Harley Race

Harley Race is a legendary wrestler with 8 NWA Heavyweight Championships under his belt. He’s known for having a long career and wrestling big names all around the globe. Today’s fans do not recognize him as he retired from wrestling in 1990 but continued to work in a non-wrestling role for multiple foundations. He’s one of the few men to have been inducted into all major wrestling Hall of Fame including WWE, NWA, and WCW. He wrestled under various ring names such as Harley Race, The King, Jack Long, and The Great Mortimer. He’s also one of the few performers to have developed a huge following while working for NWA. He died of lung cancer in 2019.

16. Bruno Sammartino

Bruno Sammartino’s name is in the history books for holding The WWF World Heavyweight Championship for a record 11 years across two reigns. Called The Strongest Man in the World, he was one of the most dominant wrestlers of his time and his bearhug sent opponents shivering. He retired from active competition in 1987 but wasn’t inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame until 2013 due to his differences with the company. He died in 2018 due to multiple organ failure and is remembered as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.

15. Eddie Guerrero

Eddie Guerrero passed away in 2005, the night he was expected to win the World Title. However, his legacy lives on. He’s known as one of the most consistent performers and is remembered for his cool limo entrances, classic matches, and lying gimmick. Guerrero won his only  WWE Championship in 2004 after defeating Brock Lesnar at No Way Out. He then went to feud with Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio, and JBL and gave us some memorable matches. WWE put on a tribute show in his honor and several wrestlers still wear special bands and use his finishing move, The Five Star Frog Splash, as a way to pay him respect.

14. Jake “The Snake” Roberts

Fans loved Jake Roberts due to his unique gimmick. He often carried snakes and pythons to the ring that were occasionally used during the match to overpower his opponents. He has appeared in several promotions such as TNA, ECW, WCW, WWF, and NWA. He was one of the most charismatic wrestlers on the roster. His unique finishing move was called the coolest maneuver by WWE. Despite never winning the world title in a major promotion, Roberts is still loved by the fans and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014.

13. Kenny Omega

Kenny Omega might not be the most popular name in the US but he deserves to be on the list due to his sheer talent. He’s one of the most talented Japanese wrestlers in the world. He recently signed with AEW and is one of their headliners. Omega got an opportunity to wrestle for WWE early in his career but decided against it as he did not like the work environment. He won Sports Illustrated’s Wrestler of the Year in 2017 and was ranked 1st by Pro Wrestling Illustrated in the 2018 500 Best Male Wrestlers list. He is known for putting 5-star matches. In fact, his 2018 match against Kazuchika Okada received a 7-star rating from Dave Meltzer, the highest he has ever awarded a wrestling match.

12. Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka

Snuka is one of the most controversial wrestlers due to his alleged involvement in a murder. However, he was never proven guilty and the charges were eventually dismissed because of his mental condition. He joined WWF in 1982 as a heel and quickly got involved in major title matches, however, he never won a title in WWF and was inducted into The Hall of Fame in 1996. He’s remembered as the inaugural Eastern Championship Wrestling World Champion. His children, Tamina and Jimmy, are both wrestlers working to keep his legacy alive.

11. Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels retired from wrestling after losing a Career vs Streak match at Wrestlemania against The Undertaker, however, we saw him make a comeback to wrestle a tag team match with his long-term partner, Triple H, to take on The Brothers of Destruction. Michaels is known as Mr. Wrestlemania for always putting the best match on the card. His matches against The Undertaker, John Cena, Kurt Angle, and Chris Jericho are still talked about. He was infamous for backstage politics in the first part of his career but found religion after sustaining an injury in a casket match against The Undertaker in 1998. He came back to wrestling in 2002 and went on to win several championships.

10. John Cena

Don’t worry if you can’t see him! John Cena is a polarizing figure – some love to hate him and some simply love him. He was the face of the company for a good few years before deciding to try his luck in acting. Cena debuted in 2002 with a unique Thugonomics gimmick. However, he quickly turned face and went on to win major titles starting the reign of ‘Super Cena’, which eventually forced a majority of fans to turn on him. Cena has never played a heel since his face turn in 2004 but has given us some memorable matches against CM Punk, Edge, Shawn Michaels, and Randy Orton. Today, he’s one of the top merchandise sellers and is hugely missed by wrestling fans.

9. Bill Goldberg

Bill Goldberg predominantly worked for WCW where he held one of the most impressive wrestling streaks. He is mainly remembered for his size, strength, and charisma but is often criticized for a lack of versatility. He’s the only wrestler to have won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, WWE Universal Championship, and WWE World Heavyweight Championship. In addition to wrestling, he has also flirted with commentary and acting but couldn’t find the same level of success. Goldberg is currently semi-retired and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018.

8. André the Giant

At 7 feet 4 inches, Andre The Giant was one of the biggest athletes to have performed for a major promotion. However, despite his size, he was quite agile and could put on great matches. He mainly wrestled for WWF where he won The World Heavyweight Championship once. However, he’s best remembered for his classic feuds and matches with Hulk Hogan. Often called The Eight Wonder of the World, he suffered from gigantism which resulted in acromegaly. Andre died at a young age of 46 due to congestive heart failure and was the sole and inaugural inductee in the first-ever WWE Hall of Fame.

7. Ric Flair

Ric Flair is a legend in the true sense of the word. He had a textbook ending to his career when he lost to Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania in one of the most emotional WWE matches ever. However, his career before retirement is nothing but extraordinary. He has been a part of some of the greatest stables including The Four Horsemen and Evolution and has wrestled superstars from different generations including Arn Anderson, Hulk Hogan, Triple H, and Randy Orton. With over 16 World Championships under his belt, he is one of the most decorated superstars.

6. Bret Hart

Bret Hart is undoubtedly one of the greatest in-ring performers. His matches are still being used to help wrestlers learn the art of selling. However, sadly, he had to retire early in 2000 due to injuries. Most fans today remember Hart for his love-hate relationship with Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon, whom he blamed for the Montreal Screwjob incident. However, the two have now buried the hatchet and even had a match at Wrestlemania XXVII, which Bret Hart won. If you want to see how good he was, watch his matches against Stone Cold, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, and Ric Flair.

5. Undertaker

The Undertaker, best known for his Wrestlemania streak, is one of the most loved and respected professional wrestlers. He hasn’t been very active for the last few years but is best remembered for his matches against Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, Kane, Brock Lesnar, Stone Cold, Ric Flair, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels. Taker has won almost all the major championships and is known as the locker room leader. He is also one of the highest-paid wrestlers. He has been a part of some very unique matches such as Hell in a Cell, Buried Alive, Inferno, and Casket matches. The Undertaker mainly wrestled as a singles wrestler but he also formed a dominant tag team, Brothers of Destruction, with his on-screen brother, Kane.

4. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

If you smell…what The Rock is cookin’! The moment fans heard this phrase, they roared! Today we know The Rock as Hollywood’s Dwayne Johnson but he first tasted popularity by working in the ring. He put on some great matches with opponents like Brock Lesnar, Triple H, Stone Cold, and Mankind. The Rock rose to fame in 1999 and was the most bankable star in 2000 when Austin was sidelined due to injuries. He singlehandedly managed to keep the company afloat and helped WWE fight WCW.

3. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

Stone Cold Steve Austin is the man who helped WWE win Monday Night Wars and made wrestling popular again. He is best remembered for his passionate promos, beer smashing stunners, and incredible matches. Fans loved Austin and would cheer him against anyone, whether he was the good guy or the bad guy. Austin has given us some memorable matches against The Rock, Triple H, Vince McMahon, and Kurt Angle. However, his career was short-lived due to a neck injury that caused him to retire from in-ring competition in 2002. Despite being out of action for over 8 years, he still makes a good amount of money through merchandise, regular appearances, and video game credits and is the biggest merchandise mover ever. He is also the only man to have won the Royal Rumble thrice.

2. Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan is undoubtedly one of the most popular wrestlers in the world. The man, known for his unmatched charisma, had the fans eating from the palm of his hands. He is known as the second top merchandise seller in the wrestling business and was the most popular member of NWO.cHis major breakthrough came at Wrestlemania III where he body-slammed Andre The Giant in front of over 101,000 fans. After this, he went to have memorable feuds with The Undertaker, Randy Savage, Ric Flair, The Rock, and Triple H.cHulk Hogan semi-retired in 2002 but kept making regular appearances for the company before joining TNA due to issues with Vince McMahon. However, the WWE Hall of Fame inductee is now back to where he belongs.

1. “Macho Man” Randy Savage

It was not easy to pick the number one but we trust ESPN’s Bill Simmons who called Savage ‘one of the greatest pro wrestlers who ever lived’. His raspy and deep voice helped him cut incredible promos but that wasn’t his only asset. He had a great gimmick and in-ring talent that made him a star. Plus, some also give credit to his manager, Miss Elizabeth, who later became his wife, for Savage’s massive success. He died in 2011 due to a heart attack. A great number of wrestlers consider Savage as the greatest performer ever. His matches against Jake Roberts, Sting, Ricky Steamboat, Andre The Giant, and Bret Hart are still loved and talked about. Savage was inducted in the first Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996 and in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.