The Top Ten Wrestlers Of All Time

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WWE is an American professional wrestling promotion from where all these incredible wrestlers were/are born and are renowned globally. These top ten wrestlers have made their name on the list because of their exclusive contribution to wrestling.

Well, WWE is not just about wrestling; there is more to it than you can imagine. It is an integrated media and entertainment company with branches in other fields, including film, American football, and various other business ventures.

The world-class championship has been going on for over three decades. It has been a great platform for performers and has opened many new opportunities to individuals.

If a person can make it in the WWE, you bet he has reached the top of his profession.

Wrestlers Wrestling At WWE
Wrestlers Wrestling At WWE (Source: WWE)

The best wrestlers of all time have worked hard in the WWE to reach the top. Only a handful of top talent can be named the best wrestlers to date.

On February 17, 2023, Madcap Moss will try to take his Intercontinental Title from Gunther on the SmackDown preview. Will he dethrone Gunther or Gunther remain dominant?

These kinds of events create curiosity, and there is fun in them. Are you one of those who regularly watch wrestling matches and enjoy a good fight with intense anticipation of who will eventually take the glory of winning?

If yes, you must be aware of the thrill and excitement that the game provides to its audience.

So, who are the top ten wrestlers of all time? Curious?

Below is the list of the top ten wrestlers of all time. However, watch out for your favorite ones; you may find them here!

Hence, below, we present the list of the top ten wrestlers of all time.

The Top Ten Wrestlers Of All Time

1. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
2. Shawn Michaels
3. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
4. Hulk Hogan
5. Ric Flair
6. The Undertaker
7. John Cena
8. Macho Man” Randy Savage
9. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
10. Mick Foley

10. Mick Foley

Michael Francis Foley, also known as ‘Mick Foley,’ is an American actor, author, retired professional wrestler, and color commentator.

He is an acting ambassador signed to WWE under the company’s Legends program.

Mick Foley fought for various wrestling companies, but he is best known for his skills in the WWE.

Foley is highly regarded as one of the biggest stars of the Attitude Era, and in the history of WWE, he is also one of the greatest wrestlers.

The retired wrestler who has proven himself in acting is best known for his ‘Wreck’ movements which he started using towards his excellent wrestling career.

Mick Foley Showing Off his Badge For The New Assignment
Mick Foley Showing Off his Badge For The New Assignment (Source: Instagram)

Foley, a WWE Hall of Famer, made headlines in 1999 at Wrestle Mania and won three WWE World titles. However, his love of the metals he unsparingly used in the rings earned him a reputation for brutality.

Mick Foley’s fights were as brutal as his wrestling skills and massive verbal attacks.

Likewise, it was complemented by his finisher Mandible Claw who was undoubtedly trivial to his eight-time tag team championship.

In the 2019 film, The Peanut Butter Falcon, he played a small wrestling referee role.

On the Foley Is Pod podcast on February 10, 2023, he remembered one of the fights with the Undertaker where he said a ‘regular chokeslam’ was enough to leave him ‘spewing blood’ backstage.  

In the same podcast, he expressed that he was happy to see Lita back in WWE and said, “She’s a big-time player.”

9. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper

Roderick George Toombs, also “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, was a Canadian professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and actor.

He was undoubtedly the strongest wrestler in the ring. Late Roddy Piper was a hot topic among fans during his hay days for his distinctive entrance with bagpipe and kilt music.

In addition, the Canadian wrestler with Scottish roots was one of the leading stars of WrestleMania and Starrcade. He won 34 titles throughout his wrestling career.

Although he did not wrestle for the WWE alone, Piper collected much more fame with the WWE. His mastery of the sleeper move earned him several titles at WWE.

“Rowdy” Roddy Piper At The WWE Stage
“Rowdy” Roddy Piper At The WWE Stage (Source: NBC News)

Some might consider him the greatest villain wrestler. But Roddy Piper, no doubt, was one of the best stars to ever fight in the WWE.

He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Ric Flair in 2005. Piper also acted in dozens of movies and TV shows, of which the famous was one lead role of John Nada in the 1998 cult classic They Live and as a Da’ Maniac on the FX comedy series, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

On July 31, 2015, Piper died at 61 at his summer residence in Hollywood, California.

Piper was honored with a statue as a part of WrestleMania Axxess in Brooklyn, New York, in 2019.

8. “Macho Man” Randy Savage

Randy Mario Poffo, better known as “Macho Man” Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler best known for his time in the WWF and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).

“Oooh yeah,” WWE fans noticed Randy Savage with his ‘Oooh yeah’ call; he was not only known for this alone. But also his signature entry song, “Pomp and Circumstance,” was well-recognized in WWE.

People called him egomaniac and narcissistic, but he was a top wrestler.

In his 32 years of wrestling career, his finishing aerial acrobatics move was effective as it earned him several championships, including his two-time World Heavyweight Championship.

Macho Man” Randy Savage At The Backstage Of The WWE
Macho Man” Randy Savage At The Backstage Of The WWE (Source: Sports Illustrated)

Macho was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996.

Savage was driving his Jeep Wrangler around his house in Seminole, Florida, with his wife in the passenger seat when he became unresponsive and crashed into a tree on May 20, 2011.

He died at 58 as paramedics declared him dead at the scene. In 2015, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame posthumously.

Leaping Lanny Poffo, wrestling star known as The Genius, the brother of Macho Man Randy Savage, died at the age of 68 on 2 February 2023.

Randy’s brother was a decorated WWF wrestler in the 1980s.

7. John Cena

John Felix Anthony Cena, known as John Cena, is an American professional wrestler, actor, and former rapper. 

Cena is just fantastic! Loved by kids and girls, the superstar entry wrestling music is like the man himself.

His words ‘you can’t see me’ have won him many fans. He has appeared in the WWE for over two decades.

Similarly, his win list includes OVW Heavyweight Championship, OVW Southern Tag Team Championship, and the WWE United States Championship. 

John Cena Posing With His Hand Signature
John Cena Posing With His Hand Signature (Source: MARCA)

In addition, his finishing moves, such as attitude adjustment, stepover toehold facelock, better known as STF, tapout finisher, and the brutal five-knuckle shuffle, that many will call the rebranded form of the people elbow.

But that is not with the elbow, but with the fist, limiting the most brutal ending moves in the WWE.

Besides his work, Cena is also known for his involvement in numerous charitable causes, namely with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where he has granted the most wishes at over 650.

Cena has also worked in movies like The Marine, Trainwreck, Ferdinand, Blockers, Bumblebee, and many more.

He will be featured on the cover of each game edition, striking three of his signature poses in the WWE 2K23 game franchise developed by Visual Concepts.

As per some sources released on 11 February 2023, John Cena wearing skirt photos went viral as he wore it on the movie set.

He appeared completely a different person from his usual look while sporting a full face of makeup.

6. The Undertaker

Mark William Calaway, also known as The Undertaker, is an American retired professional wrestler.

The dark and scary, Undertaker is said to be connected with the underworld.

But the wrestling thespian of wrestling is just a well-known actor who has mastered the art that has stuck and made him different from others.

However, what he lacks in savage utterances, and the moves he makes up in the ring. Also, Undertaker’s Tombstone Piledriver was one of his finishing moves that few in the WWE ever survived.

The Undertaker In His Avatar
The Undertaker In His Avatar (Source: MensXP)

His effective chokeslam has been one of the few steps ever taken. Not to mention, he holds as many WWE belts as most of the top stars.

The famous wrestler won the WWE Championsip four times, the WWE Heavyweight champion three times, and the World Tag Team Championship six times.

Therefore it solidifies his position as one of the top ten wrestlers.

He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2022 as he invested most of his career in wrestling for WWF/E and is better known for his critically acclaimed “Deadman” Undertaker gimmick.

5. Ric Flair

Richard Morgan Fliehr, known as Ric Flair, is an American professional wrestler. He has spent more than five decades in wrestling.

Ric Flair has been ranked high in the world championships, which is not limited to WWE. His fighting skills in many wrestling companies earned him the reputation he currently adorns.

“The Nature Boy,” Flair, is known for his wrestling days. He intensified his methods of making rings vibrate to the tunes of “Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30.”

Likewise, his timing was so perfect that Flair was right then, making his way into the rings when the crescendo hit. That, indeed, is an epic entry.

Ric Flair In A Red Robe
Ric Flair In A Red Robe (Source: WWE)

However, his showmanship was unmatched. His insane remarks, derogatory remarks, and insane acts, such as cuffing himself on rings while challenging an opponent, made him a fan favorite.

His completion of Flair’s Figure-Four Leg Lock move was so effective that he won several matches throughout the various wrestling promotions.

The Hall of Famer has also won the WWE Championship twice and is one of the few WWE players to have emerged as a three-time champion.

In 2008, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

In the class of 2012, he was inducted as a member of The Four Horsemen. He is a member of the NWA Hall of Fame and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.

4. Hulk Hogan

Terry Gene Bollea, known as Hulk Hogan, is an American retired professional wrestler.

Hulk Hogan was simply the best wrestler, from his looks to his wrestling moves. In addition, the legendary wrestler is well known for his mustache among fans.

Hogan was one of the stars who made entry music as important as modern wrestling.

To drive fans crazy, Hogan used a little music to get into the rings, like Real American and Eye of the Tiger.

Hulk Hogan At A TV Show
Hulk Hogan At A TV Show (Source: People.com)

His rambles on the mic are embedded in his interest to see the action in the ring. His remarkable Atomic Leg Drop made fans scream.

He has won the WWE Championship five times and holds the record for the second-longest holder of the title.

His album Hulk Rules reached No. 12 on the Billboard Top Kid Audio chart in 1995 as a frontman of the Wrestling Boot Band.

Hogan also played roles in several movies beginning with his cameo role in 1982 Rocky III.

Because of his incomparable performance in the ring, Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

On May 3, 2018, he was inducted into the Boys and Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame, and again in 2020 as a member of the nWo.

3. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Dwayne Douglas Johnson, better known as The Rock, is an American actor and former professional wrestler.

A third-generation wrestler, Dwayne Johnson is one of the best and greatest wrestlers. As a man with a failed football career, he showed that he was destined to wrestle.

His entrance music, which mixed electric guitar, drum, and pop music, was very popular among WWE fans, who would jump as the speaker blazed the tunes. Also, his showmanship was very high.

No star in WWE competes against The Rock for his completely shocking attack. 

The Rock During The Match
The Rock During The Match (Source: People.com)

For someone who has made SmackDown an established English word, his mobility should be very high, and it is.

His Rock Bottom and People’s Elbow moves have left opponents in tears. The star has won eight WWE Championships and other titles.

He became the most bought professional wrestling pay-per-view (WrestleMania XXVIII), which led to being featured among the most-watched episodes of WWE’s flagship television series. 

Apart from wrestling, he has been into movies, and his films have grossed more than $3.5 billion in North America and over $10.5 million billion worldwide, which makes him one of the world’s highest-grossing and highest-paid actors.

He is the co-owner of the spring American football league. The XFL’s first image will kick off more than two decades later, in 2023.

2. Shawn Michaels

Michael Shawn Hickenbottom, known by his ring name Shawn Michaels is an American former professional wrestler. WWE signed him as the Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative.

Wherever he goes, “Heartbreak Kid” leaves a mark. Of the many wrestling promotions he has fought, Michaels has had a great time.

His powerful entry-level music was visible, classic, and mixed with his good looks.

Shawn Michaels Posing In The Costume
Shawn Michaels Posing In The Costume (Source: IMDb)

In addition, his rambles come with layers of humor and insults. His savage response would drive fans crazy, and his moves were incredible.

Michaels has mastered the art of using his heels to bring a special step to the end of Sweet Chin music. He also highlighted the high pay-per-view events, most notably Wrestle Mania.

His masterpiece in Wrestle Mania earned him the nickname Mr. Wrestle Mania.

Moreover has won the WWE championship four times and emerged as the first grand slam champion in the WWE and the fourth Triple Crown Champion.

He was inducted two-time in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011 as a single wrestler and in 2019 as part of D-Generation X.

1. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

Steve Austin, famous as Stone Cold Steve Austin, is an American media personality, actor, and former professional wrestler.

Under many names, the most famous is the Stone Cold moniker Steve Austin, who ruled the WWE during his hay days.

Fans may disagree that he is WWE’s greatest wrestler. But instead of focusing just on his wrestling skills, Austin evenly distributed his skills in various aspects of the sport to make him the greatest wrestler.

Similarly, his entry music was so popular that it became a theme song for the WWE long after he departed from the rings. His showmanship was like a badass man himself.

Stone Cold Portrait
Stone Cold Portrait (Source: People.com)

One of his most memorable lines fans love is the phrase, “Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your ass,” which sent laughter among the fans.

Stone Cold has won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship six times and the Tag team championship four times and is the fifth wrestler to emerge as a Triple Crown Champion.

In 2009, Steve was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. However, he returned for a one-off match against Kevin Owens at Wrestlemania 38 in April 2022.

Steve Austin and other WWE Hall of Famers will expand the A&E partnership in 2023. He will be on a WWE-related venture, Stone Cold Takes on America, where he will travel the country in an R.V.

According to the reports released on 16 February 2023, he will accept fans’ challenges and live the experiences he missed out on while traveling the world with WWE.

WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures and the Stone Cold Takes On America will premier on Sunday, April 30, 2023.

Summary

Altogether, we have summed up our list of the top ten wrestlers of all time per their popularity rate.

However, every wrestler is popular for their unique moves and characteristics, and everyone has the ideal players they admire.

Sanjib Sah
Sanjib Sah
Sanjib Sah is an engineer and content writer passionate about sports and athletics. With a background in engineering and a love for all things active, Sanjib brings a unique perspective to the world of sports writing. Whether he is covering the latest trends in sports technology or sharing tips on improving your game, Sanjib's words are always rooted in a deep appreciation for players' hard work and dedication everywhere. In his free time, you can find him hitting the courts or hitting the trails, always looking for new ways to challenge himself and improve his skills.

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Comments

  1. Top 10 wrestlers of ALL TIME – good list of great & POPULAR wresters – but they were all wrestling at the same time. – a 15-year period during the entire history of wresting.!
    Cena and Flir are the bookends, and careers were at different stages… but nobody from the 70’s (Flair), 60’s 50’s? Dusty, Bruno, Gange, Harley, how about Andre, Anoki and Sting? And you list Foley, Undertaker and Savage… GIMMICKS! Don’t write articles you’re not qualified for. Go back to your pimple cream.
    *You might as well put Mass Transit on there…. Anybody?

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