But Rocky's best asset, and the number one tool in his shed, is his ability to entertain his millions (and millions!) Wrestling is full of underdog stories, but there will only be one Dusty Rhodes story. Look, The Rock is great in the ring, and he's given us some truly memorable showdowns with Triple H, The Undertaker, Chris Jericho, Hulk Hogan and, now, John Cena. He also seems amazingly chilled out about everything in a near-Daniel Bryan way. 20) Chris Benoit. SI.com's ranking of the top 101 wrestlers of all time. Anderson was the most physically gifted of the Four Horsemen, but unfortunately his in-ring career was cut short after a number of injuries in 1997. straight-up humiliating a 10-year old kid, the worst Sharpshooter in television history. Steven James Anderson, widely known as Stone Cold, is an American retired professional wrestler, actor and producer. Came to WCW from ECW In 1996 after he debuted Actor | We can talk up Abdullah The Butcher and Bruiser Brody, but the original Sheik was where hardcore wrestling began. Orton was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Bob Orton, Jr. and his wife Elaine. George got his start in the 50s, when pro wrestling was trying to look as close to the real thing as possible, and he was one of the first guys to push the industry towards the sports entertainment end of the spectrum. Vaders legacy was cut short after he went to WWE and Vince McMahon bungled his bookingturning one of the most prominent monster heels ever into Shawn Michaels perch. Hes been a top draw as a babyface, a heel and as a tag-team, and ruled the roost through the 80s and 90s south of the border. Lou Albano. With 37 title wins spanning five decades, Hart is a national hero in his homeland of Canada. After receiving Jerry Lawler was born on November 29, 1949 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Hardy is widely considered one of the greatest Paul also played college basketball at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville from 1992 to 1993, and was a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Cougars basketball team. The son of a professional wrestler (Warren Bockwinkel), it was only natural for Nick Bockwinkel to follow in his father's profession. Being that this list is very subjective, we created the list based on a . The 50 Greatest Pro Wrestlers of All Time has the answers. ShinsukeNakamura has created so much wrestling joy over the last few years, and even if tomorrow he explodes or goes back to MMA or something, his peak will be remembered forever. 2023 NFL Mock Draft: A new successor for Tom Brady in Tampa Bay? If nothing else, it proved to American audiences that this business really did stretch all over the world. Thanks for watching "Top 10 Best WWE WRESTLERS of all Time " For 40 years, the WWE has been the home to some of the greatest professional wrestlers around t. Theres a running joke about how Mr. Perfects Wikipedia picture has him working as a guest referee, because it really does feel like Curt Hennig spent more time injured than in the ring. On Monday's SI Now, WWE wrestler John Cena explains what he loves about the new WWE Network, who would go on his Mt. He is best known for his appearances in the World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation from 1976 to 1984 and in the 1990s, where he held the WWWF Championship/WWF Championship on two occasions. One of those 7-foot tall projects brought in for refinement and maybe a monster heel run. Someone once said that Randy Orton reminds them of a guy whos been working at the same place long enough to not really care anymore. The greatest foreign heel ever, mostly because he was actually foreign. avg. He had a brief role (unmasked) as himself in Ready 2 Rumble. - Anthony Mahalis. Maybe, but theres no question who is the biggest success story in wrestling history. They have two children named, Turk & Duke. Brock Lesnar has probably worked fewer wrestling matches than anyone else on this list, but theres something to be said for stakes. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports. It flirted with some more complicated tones than just hes the Russian guy, which was hard to find in the WWE during that era. He was fired from WCW for not fitting the mold, and he remembered that rejection with every step he took in the ring. There are a lot of tragic deaths in wrestling, but this one still hurts every day. hide this ad. Bestselling author Larry Matysik shoots from the hip about who q A no-holds-barred, definitive look at the greatest pro wrestlers ever Who were the best pro wrestlers of all time? A bald-headed everyman with a chip on his shoulder and a whole lot of contempt for limp-wristed authority. He competed for Stampede Wrestling, for the Canadian National Wrestling Alliance (no connection to the National Wrestling Alliance) and West Kurt Angle was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. All Rights Reserved. He was a big, burly heel who spent over 1,000 days as NWA Champion. Menu. 11 Marvel Snap Tips That Will Help You Win & Get Cards Fast! Its often hard to defend the artistry of pro wrestling while Ultimate Warrior is trying to make a splash look dangerous, but the precise, violent grace of Steamboat put all those chortles to bed. Someone had to invent the idea of fixed fights, okay? Dustin Runnels couldve had it a lot easier, but instead he got over as an androgynous, non-binary sex robot thing. 4. The DDT. Giant Baba. 1. If you create one of the four basic moves in wrestling, welcome to immortality. Eddie Guerrero. He removed his mask exactly once, about a week before he died. Combine that with a great physique and you had a star. OK, I am taking another stand. Standing at 6'10, Giant Baba was one of the biggest wrestlers in the WWE. Curtbegan training to follow in his fathers footsteps when he was just 12 years old. And he's still so tremendously popular that he can return to the WWE after seven freakin' years, take the title of Prom King, and whoop John Cena's candy ass at WrestleMania XXVIII! note: This list is not only based on their in ring work it's also based on their achievements and impact in WWE. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Hes a crazy person, but he also happens to have the second longest WWF title reign ever. Blending the old and the new and delving into what made these 50 remarkable performers the best in their sport, this guide illustrates their contributions to the . 4. Sigh. Consider this an upside pick. Jimmy Wang Yang. Originally a "heel", he came into the WWE under the guidance of heel manager Capt. I know its weird to put someone on a list of the greatest wrestlers because hes a good shoot interview, but whatever, I just like Kevin Nash. type to search . Athletic, fearless, strong, all wrapped up in astonishing body control. Pic credit: WWE In November 2018, Jeff. Now, my time has come. He has been married to Rena Mero since May 6, 2006. Headcounts are provided by the companies directly or public filings. Give Up. He was a white meat surfer bro, an insanely profitable Crow rip-off, and survived a series of bad TNA ideas, like, say Joker Sting. Through it all, Steve Borden showed us how loyal and humble he was to the cause. These days you probably remember Zbyszko for his commentary in WCW, but its important to consider his golden era too. Many men and women have made their mark on this business for a variety of reasons throughout the years. Whether Mysterio was working in AAA, or underground ECW shows, or jobbing around WCW, or during his late-career championship reigns in WWE, hes always been a joy to watch. Randy Mario Poffo is a retired professional wrestler who is best known by his ring name "Macho Man" Randy Savage. Johnny Valentine loved to work stiff. 14. He is widely considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. 2022 Sports New Media Limited. score: 26 of 50 (53%) . (In anyone elses hands it wouldve felt false, hackneyed, and played out.) He is the most fearless and natural talent to ever step in the squared circle, and hed be number one if not for the guy who taught him everything. In-ring work lacking charisma is a recipe for mediocrity. Jake on The 100 Greatest Basketball Players of All-Time; Dan on The 100 Greatest Basketball Players of All-Time; Jake on The 100 Greatest Hockey Players of All-Time That might be true, but even when hes sleepwalking, Orton does his job better than anyone. He is signed to WWE.He began his professional wrestling career on the independent circuit in 1992, wrestling in Curt Hennig was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the son of one of wrestlings all time legends - Larry Hennig - Aka Larry The Ax Hennig. Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe and A.J. Like Inoki, Akira Maeda had a background in MMA, and worked hard to protect puroresu as a legitimate sport. A two-time WWE world heavyweight champion and one of the greatest African American wrestlers, Mark Henry is the strongest wrestler of all time. In the late 70s, hed put over Ric Flair, making him the new nature boy. Yeah, the most legendary wrestler of all time got his start from a Buddy Rogers rub. Lesnar elevates everything. Or Hart/Rollins, or Hart/Lesnar, or even Hart/Cena? These athletes on the list contain a combination of muscle mass and ripped leanness to create a jacked and athletic physique. Interviewed some of the biggest names in WWE including Triple H, Kurt Angle and Charlotte Flair. 2. Part of me thinks we should put the whole Von Erich family here, but unfortunately it doesnt work that way. He cut these quick, articulate promos that dug down into the minutia of kayfabe, and people hated him for it. Inoki has worked with practically every legend of wrestling, and hes responsible for maybe the greatest Hulk Hogan match of all time. When they finally had a match in 1980,Zbyszko blindsided his mentor with a wooden chair, turning him into a humongous heel. - Page 31 I dont care if its intentional or not, Steiner Math is one of the most memorable moments this industry has ever seen, and he deserves his spot on the list. . A medical student at Minnesota University (his father was a doctor, his mother an actress), Flair dropped out college to train for the mat wars under legendary former AWA World champ Verne Gagne. Still one of the biggest tragedies in wrestling, Owen Hart died far too young and left an incomprehensible amount of potential left on the table. But more than anything, Ive never seen someone have as much fun with his or her character as Rowdy Roddy Piper. While his father was more famous, El Hijo del Santo is kind oflike the Sting of Mexican wrestling. 50 Greatest Professional Wrestlers of All Time. 3 The Rock. Ranking the 50 best professional wrestlers of all-time, from the WWE and beyond. No, thats why hes up here at 101, but I feel like someday well look back on Miz the same way we look back on Ted DiBiase. He has been the Republican Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee since 2018. DiBiase entered the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the late 1980s where he gained most of his fame as "The Glenn Thomas Jacobs better known by the ring name Kane, is an American politician, actor, and professional wrestler. 20/25 20. He is the grandson of Bob Orton, Sr. and the Michael Francis Foley was born on June 7th, 1965, in Long Island, New York. 2. He once tossed an arm-drag in TNA to this hilariously shocked pop. Edge is the sort of guy weve learned to appreciate more after he retired. He is also one of the guys who put the hair vs. mask trope on the map, which continues to be the greatest stipulation in wrestling history. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. His first Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. And honestly, after watching Liger for three decades, none of us are all that surprised. 50 Greatest Professional Wrestlers of All Time The Definitive Shoot by Larry Matysik. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. One of the top tag teams of the '70s, The Valiant Brothers perfected a pretty boy heel gimmick, with polished blond locks, gaudy plastic sunglasses and nicknames like . Top 50 pro wrestlers of all time. So, following his retirement, Undertaker has moved to the top of the rankings, with many fans believing he is . He understands audience dynamics better than anyone on earth, and obviously that quickly translated across all mediums. CM Punk made wrestling cool. Yeah hes never going to be great in the ring, but Miz is a fantastic heel who has reinvented himself a number of times over his 12 years in the WWE. Its a shame because hes great in the ring and capable of a solid promo. He was previously married to Jan Carol Bateman and Sandra Lee Riney. We poured through old YouTube videos, wrestling mags and the WWE Network (just $9.99!) Accounts about his early athletic career do not quite agree, but he first tried to make his mark as a boxer, despite warnings that his arms were too short. Welcome to the dumbest entry on this list. The Undertaker has finally stepped away from WWE. Sometimes I wonder if things hadnt worked out for Trish Stratus, and she had turned out to be just another fitness model brought in for easy dollars. Hats off. Eldridge Wayne Coleman better known by his ring name "Superstar" Billy Graham, is an American former professional wrestler. Robert James Marella was born in Rochester, New York, USA . 1. Big Show is underrated. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onWWE and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. 86. Pro wrestling is a place of imagination and fantasy, but sometimes its at its best when the art imitates life. Austin joined the WWF with the help of Jim Ross and Diesel, who convinced WWF's owner to hire him in 1995. On Rankers list, The Phenom just edges the likes of Ric Flair, HBK and The Rock to take the top spot. 6th), while professional services. Kane wont ever achieve the singular fame as The Undertaker, but theres no question that Glenn Jacobs has proved to be a super useful asset to the WWE. 10. Jake wasnt a great wrestler, but hes been responsible for some of the fundamental beats in wrestling. But that is the beauty of lists like this.they are completely subjective, completely there . El Santo was more than a wrestler, he was a folk hero. Bestselling author Larry Matysik shoots from the hip about who qualifies as the very best in history. I will stick to my guns on this one. He first came to the WWF in 1990 as Ted DiBiase's mystery partner at The Survivor Series (1990). His parents and four siblings were all of normal size, but Andr suffered from acromegaly, a hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone. 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. This industry is dangerous, but if you embrace that, it can make you pretty undeniable. His streak match with Undertaker is enough to be on this list alone. Hes always been kinda self-deprecating and acutely aware of his limitations. Check out the top 50 wrestlers of all time, per Ranker, below. Is Matysik always correct, always spot on? Somebody had to beat Bob Backlundto get the belt on Hulk Hogan, right? Hart comes from the legendary Hart Family of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I love Bob Backlund. 50 Greatest Professional Wrestlers of All Time Its amazing it took so long for Rey Mysterio to get real main event chances. Donate . The Rock's over-abundance of charisma has allowed him to cross-over into Hollywood and become an honest-to-goodness movie star, something many other wrestlers have tried to do with little success. Rest in peace Misawa, we hope youre still throwing stiff forearms. That alone is enough. The 10 Best Tech Companies to Work for in Raleigh, NC. Of course,Gagne is best remembered for running the legendary AWAbut his in-ring career was just as important. 30. In the 70s he wrestled title matches around the NWA, in the 80s he made it to WWE, and by the 90s he was laying the groundwork in ECW. And yeah, it certainly doesnt hurt that everybody in the business has an amazing drunk Andre story. Starting off in the AWA - Curt began his career as a tag team wrestler. Personal issues sunk his in-ring career before it should have, but theres no question that the Razor Ramon character was groundbreaking. Wrestling hipsters arent tipping you to great Sammartino matches the way theyll tout Tully Blanchard or Barry Windham. So where exactly does The Deadman rank amongst the greatest pro-wrestlers of all time? Make no mistake about it though, if you are a wrestling fan, a TRUE fan, read Larry Matysik's "Top 50 Professional Wrestlers of All Time." If you don't, you are doing yourself a disservice. He is the son of Ata Johnson (born Feagaimaleata Fitisemanu Maivia) and professional wrestler Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles). The first megaheel. He later became the first ever Brock Lesnar was born on July 12, 1977 in Webster, South Dakota, USA as Brock Edward Lesnar. At first, he was a heel, but later turned face, around WrestleMania VIII (1992). I genuinely think hes underrated. Register for free or log in to build your IGN game library. He died on June 22, 1992 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. The film stars Halle Bailey as Ariel, Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder, Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Art Malik as Sir Grimsby, Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina, Javier Bardem as King Triton, and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula. 1 of 49. He has had a bona fide Hall of Fame career, and even when hes given nothinglike that Roman Reigns match from last yearhe still puts a unique spin on things. 1980) is an American professional wrestler and actor best known to sports entertainment audiences for his career signed with WWE. Top 10 Greatest Wrestlers of All Time. 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