Who would have thought that professional wrestling – a form of entertainment consisting of scripted storylines, “flights of fancy,” and colorful characters – would become such a cultural phenomenon? The WWE has produced some incredible wrestlers over its decades-long history and continues to produce new stars each year. From the larger-than-life Hulk Hogan to the high-flying Rey Mysterio, here are 10 of the greatest WWE wrestlers to ever step into the ring. Read on to learn more about their stories and accomplishments — you may even pick up a few wrestling moves yourself!
- The Undertaker: Known for his iconic streak at WrestleMania and his longevity in the industry.
- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: A charismatic superstar who transitioned to Hollywood.
- Stone Cold Steve Austin: Famous for his rebellious attitude and beer-drinking persona.
- Shawn Michaels: A master in-ring performer and part of legendary matches.
- John Cena: A face of WWE for over a decade, with numerous championships.
- Ric Flair: A 16-time world champion and a true wrestling icon.
- Hulk Hogan: Helped popularize wrestling in the ’80s and ’90s.
- Bret “The Hitman” Hart: A technical wizard and a beloved figure.
- “Macho Man” Randy Savage: Known for his flamboyant style and memorable promos.
- The Rock (again): His impact on wrestling and entertainment is undeniable.
What are some memorable wrestling moments?
- Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III (1987): The sight of Hogan body-slamming the massive Andre is etched in wrestling lore.
- Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13 (1997): The “I Quit” match where Austin refused to submit, despite bleeding profusely, catapulted him to superstardom.
- The Montreal Screwjob (Survivor Series 1997): When Vince McMahon orchestrated a controversial finish to the Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels match, forever changing the landscape of professional wrestling.
- Undertaker’s Streak at WrestleMania: The Undertaker’s 21-0 streak at WrestleMania captivated fans for years until it was finally broken by Brock Lesnar in 2014.
- CM Punk’s Pipe Bomb Promo (2011): Punk’s unscripted rant against WWE management shook the industry and fueled the “Summer of Punk.”
- Edge’s Surprise Return at Royal Rumble 2020: After a career-ending injury, Edge’s unexpected return sent shockwaves through the wrestling world.
- Mankind’s Fall from the Hell in a Cell (King of the Ring 1998): Mick Foley’s insane dive off the cell remains one of the most brutal and memorable moments.
- The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin Rivalry: Their intense battles, especially at WrestleMania, defined an era.
- Daniel Bryan’s “Yes!” Movement (2014): Fans’ overwhelming support led to Bryan’s WrestleMania triumph.
- Shawn Michaels’ Sweet Chin Music to Ric Flair (WrestleMania 24): Emotional and poignant, it marked Flair’s retirement.
Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan is one of the most popular WWE wrestlers of all time. He is a 12-time world champion and has main evented WrestleMania, the biggest wrestling event in the world, multiple times. Hogan has starred in movies and television shows, and his catchphrase ” Hulkamania” is known around the world.
The Rock
The Rock is one of the most popular WWE wrestlers of all time. He has held the WWE Championship a record seven times and is a two-time Royal Rumble winner. The Rock was also one of the main eventers in the Attitude Era, which was one of the most successful periods in WWE history. He is considered to be one of the greatest WWE wrestlers of all time.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin is one of the most popular WWE wrestlers of all time. He is a six-time WWE Champion and was the first ever WWF Intercontinental Champion. He is also a two-time Royal Rumble winner and was named “Superstar of the Year” by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in 1998. Austin has main evented multiple WrestleManias, including WrestleMania XV and WrestleMania X-Seven, which is widely considered to be the most successful WrestleMania ever. He is considered to be one of the greatest WWE wrestlers of all time.
John Cena
John Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, and rapper. He is signed to WWE, where he appears on the Raw brand. Cena started his professional wrestling career in 1999 with Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW). He signed a contract with WWE in 2001. Cena’s first television appearance was on SmackDown! in June 2002.
Cena quickly rose up the ranks of WWE, winning his first championship, the United States Championship, in 2004. He went on to win the WWE Championship in 2005 and 2006. Cena has also won the World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE Tag Team Championship. He is a five-time United States Champion and a four-time world champion, making him WWE’s thirteenth Triple Crown Champion and sixth Grand Slam Champion. In addition to these titles, Cena has also won the 2008 Royal Rumble, 2012 Money in the Bank ladder match and 2013 Superstar of the Year Slammy Award.
Triple H
Triple H is one of the most decorated wrestlers in WWE history. He is a 13-time World Champion and has held the WWE Championship, World Heavyweight Championship, and Intercontinental Championship. He is also a two-time Royal Rumble winner and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.
Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels is one of the greatest WWE wrestlers of all time. He is a four-time world champion and has held the WWF Championship, the World Heavyweight Championship, and the ECW World Championship. He has also won the Royal Rumble, the King of the Ring, and the Slammy Award for Superstar of the Year. Shawn Michaels is considered to be one of the best performers in WWE history.
Bret Hart
Bret Hart is a Canadian-born professional wrestler who wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) from 1985 to 1997. Widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, he is a five-time WWF/WWE Champion and a two-time WCW Champion. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.
Hart began his career in his father’s Stampede Wrestling promotion in Calgary, Alberta, where he honed his skills as an amateur wrestler. He then joined the WWF in 1985 and quickly rose to prominence, winning his first WWF Championship in 1988. He held the title for nearly two years before losing it to The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VI.
Hart regained the title at SummerSlam 1992, defeating Ric Flair. He held onto the title until 1993, when he lost it to Yokozuna at WrestleMania IX. After leaving the WWF for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1997, Hart won the WCW Championship twice before retiring from professional wrestling in 2000.
Throughout his career, Hart was known for his technical wrestling ability and use of submission holds. He was nicknamed “The Excellence of Execution” and was widely considered one of the best wrestlers ever during his prime. His finishing move, the Sharpshooter, was adopted by Stone Cold Steve Austin and has since become one of WWE’s most popular signature moves.
Undertaker
The Undertaker is one of the most iconic WWE Superstars of all time. He made his debut at Survivor Series in 1990, and has been a mainstay in the company ever since. Over the course of his nearly 30-year career, The Undertaker has amassed an impressive resume, which includes seven WWE World Heavyweight Championships, three WWE World Tag Team Championships, and one WWE Intercontinental Championship. He is also a five-time Royal Rumble winner, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.
While The Undertaker’s in-ring ability is undeniable, it is his larger-than-life persona that has helped him to become one of the most popular Superstars in WWE history. His matches are always highly anticipated, and his entrance – complete with the signature gong – is truly unforgettable. The Undertaker is truly one of a kind, and will go down as one of the greatest WWE Superstars of all time.
Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle is an Olympic gold medalist, a six-time WWE world champion, and a Hall of Famer. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest WWE wrestlers of all time. Kurt Angle made his WWE debut in 1999 and quickly rose to prominence. He won his first WWE world championship in 2000, and went on to win several more titles over the course of his career. Kurt Angle has wrestled for many other promotions including TNA and New Japan Pro Wrestling. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017.
Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio is one of the most popular WWE wrestlers of all time. He is known for his high-flying, acrobatic style of wrestling and his impressive ability to perform incredible maneuvers in the ring. Rey has been a fan favorite for many years and has won multiple championships during his career. He is truly one of the greatest WWE wrestlers of all time.
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