Top 10 Wrestlers of All-Time

This has been a piece I have been back and forth on. From writing and rewriting this to having it finished only to delete it, finally I decided since my birthday is tomorrow it was time to post my top ten all time wrestler list. Now lists are quite the conversation starter and be written or viewed in certain ways but like anything I do when it comes to stuff like lists, perspectives, and other things like that I want to be and try being as down the middle and fair as possible while maintaining that fandom but not letting it take over the exercise.

When I finally made this list it was a variety of things to decide who was on the list and who was honorably mentioned. So, here are the criteria I experimented with to make the list up: Skills (promos and in-ring), Popularity, Significance on professional wrestling, and the It-Factor. Yes I left out title reigns, pay-per-view appearances, things of that nature because that stuff to me is now a crutch used make these lists divisive and slanted, so I left that out this. I did think of doing a rating system for the criteria for each wrestler, but it would have taken forever to complete (laughs)

But the time period is basically everything I grew up watching or was introduced to with a little bit of going back and watching stuff before my time so my apologies to all the fans of Bruno Sammartino, Superstar Billy Graham, Lou Thesz, Harley Race, Dory Funk Jr, Nick Bockwinkel, and other legends from the past they did not make the list (hopefully one day I can just go back and watch of that all uninterrupted because I love wrestling history) so with that cleared up here are my honorable mentions starting with the still active group.

Honorable Mentions (Still Active)

AJ Styles: The phenomenal one AJ Styles certainly could be most all-time list in a few years when he retires, but at this moment I think and hope there is another run or two for him before he retires but his influence is everywhere in this generation of wrestlers.

Seth Rollins: Seth Rollins is another person whose influence is felt in this generation, being one of the first “Triple H guys” Rollins has had quite the amazing career while evolving his character when it called for it. Rollins along with his fellow SHIELD member Roman Reigns also could be on a top ten all-time list in future years but there is still more to be done in his career.

Roman Reigns: Speaking of the shield, the tribal chief Roman Reigns has had quite the rollercoaster ride of a career but has certainly made his case as one of the all-time greats. With this recent run Roman Reigns silenced a lot of his detractors turning them into fans, but his career is far from over and there is one more phase in his career that will complete his legacy.

Samoa Joe: Another iconic Samoan wrestler from the start of this century is Samoa Joe who has under the radar for most of his career but still was a worldwide respected name in pro wrestling. Between ROH and TNA, Joe was always one the names when it came to the best in the world conversation then his time with WWE only validated what many fans already knew that Samoa Joe is one of the best to ever to do this.

CM Punk: Speaking of best in the world one of Joe’s biggest rivals and easily the most polarizing figure in professional wrestling is CM Punk who gets a reaction when he is talked about. Punk is another massive influence in this generation of wrestling across the board. Punk certainly on his final run or “Last Dance” with his return to WWE recently but there are few more things to be done in WWE for Punk before he retires and makes his case for top ten someday.

Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan: Another incredible influence but has some time left to add on stuff before retiring is Bryan Danielson. Danielson is a constant name when it comes to best wrestler in the world, wrestler of the year, and other accolades. Although it seems like the end is closer than we think there is time for some more memorable things to happen before Danielson calls it a career one which could be a return/farewell tour in the WWE under Triple H if coming full circle is a possibility.

Randy Orton: Considered one of the most talented wrestlers ever, Randy Orton could have easily made my top ten list but his recent return when it seemed like it was not possible put him in the honorable mentions because there is one more big run or reign to be had with Orton before retirement.

Now to the other honorable mentions, which were incredibly hard to decide and stick with because every person in this group could be on any top ten list us fans make, so I will start my honorable mentions with one of my personal favorites.

Honorable Mentions

Bruiser Brody: Yes, I unfortunately did not see Bruiser Brody’s run in real time, but as grew up finding some of his matches and promos along with getting his incredible book the mythology of him only grew validating his place amongst the greatest ever. With a limited time seen on American television also factored into Brody being an honorable mention, but what he stood for in pro wrestling is undeniable and should not be forgotten.

Terry Funk: Another icon lost to time passed away last summer in Terry Funk. One of the last outlaws in wrestling, Funk meant so much to wrestling past, a big part of modern times for wrestling, and a mentor for some of the future in wrestling leaving his imprint everywhere along the way.

Ricky Steamboat: One of the greatest performers and good guys ever, Ricky Steamboat set the bar high for in-ring performance because he is a one of one type of talent. From his epic match with Randy Savage at WrestleMania 3 to his series of matches with Ric Flair, Steamboat was simply incredible but just missed the cut for the top ten.

Sting: Speaking of another great good guy in pro wrestling, Sting was someone who colored a lot of our childhood fandom. Sting when from the vibrant colored hero to this dark hero doing what was right and that complete change in look only added to his legend not counting his longevity that spanned decades.

Eddie Guerrero: Eddie Guerrero was one of the absolute best to ever step into a ring, so by the time he became a world champion it was a long time going as far as him as the top guy in wrestling. Then his sudden death crushed all of us but certainly cemented his legacy that influenced the next generation of talent that is still felt today.

The Rock: This may be one of the controversial people to be left off my top ten, but The Rock is the most electrifying man in sports entertainment and carried that over into Hollywood where he became a huge star. I am pretty sure I don’t need to talk about how influential he is to pro wrestling but in a somewhat short career he did accomplish a lot while being a huge icon to so many performers.

Kurt Angle: From Olympic gold medalist to all-time greats in professional wrestling, Kurt Angle absolutely belongs in the conversation for one the best to ever do it. His list of accomplishments seems endless, and his career certainly opened the door for more athletes like him to have a good career in pro wrestling but Angle’s journey the good and the bad is what makes his career quite special.

Andre the Giant: Our last of the honorable mentions is of course the eighth wonder of the world Andre the Giant. Now some of us saw the latter days of his career but even then, Andre just stood out and felt different, considered the best big man ever by some Andre certainly impacted wrestling throughout the world and remains one of the iconic figures.

So, with the honorable mentions out of way let us begin the long awaited top ten wrestlers of all-time list and start with number ten.

#10 Dusty Rhodes: Dusty Rhodes is one of the people in pro wrestling whose impact and influence has touched if not helped multiple generations. The common man from Texas, Rhodes ability to talk and his charisma influence so many from Superstar Billy Graham to Hulk Hogan to his sons Dustin and Cody along with so many more, so having Rhodes not on a top 10 list wouldn’t be legitimate list hence why the son of the Plummer is on here at ten.

#9 Rowdy Roddy Piper: Without question the greatest villain to ever exist in pro wrestling, Roddy Piper was a game changer and is the standard for every bad guy that came after him where many have tried but very, very few in that have come close. An innovator in so many ways from having a talk segment the famous Piper’s Pit, venturing out to Hollywood successfully, and more Piper is the iconic without having a world title reign of any kind making him one of a kind.

#8 The Undertaker: If there is a pro wrestling dictionary and you need a picture next to legendary, longevity, and consistency then a picture of the Undertaker would be the choice. Undertaker is one of the most iconic and memorable wrestlers ever who has always evolved his character throughout his career where today he is in a class by himself while taking the title of greatest big man wrestler to ever do it.

#7 Hulk Hogan: If this list were made when I was 4,5,6 years old then he would be number one on this list without question. But the immortal Hulk Hogan regardless of his post career comments and decisions that have disappointed us, it is undeniable that he was the sole reason we fell in love with professional wrestling. Red and yellow will always be in our heads and even when he turned to black and white Hogan was and is one of the undisputed icons in wrestling.

#6 John Cena: My number six is not a reaction to the news from last night, but John Cena belongs on any form of a top ten all-time list even if he is gearing up his farewell tour. Hulk Hogan was the prototype ultimate good guy especially in WWF/WWE, but John Cena took that to another level surpassing the hulkster in every way, the resume and title reigns speak for itself and is why we can see Cena (Sorry had to do that) on this top ten list.

#5 Shawn Michaels: Shawn Michaels could easily be the biggest influence for the whole future generation of wrestlers that we still see even today. Michaels could be considered the face of wrestling in the 1990s where the boyhood dream came true, and a legacy was cemented even with its well documented controversies. Then after a short retirement he had another iconic run that certainly made him a top five all-time wrestler who today is helping the future up and coming talent.

#4 Ric Flair: This man was not just an influence on Shawn Michaels but everyone who came along in the late 1980s and forward, Ric Flair is synonymous with professional wrestling and rightfully so. The resume is well-known and undeniable paired with his obvious influence that felt and seen even today so many years later, which is why Flair is one of wrestling’s immortals.

#3 Macho Man Randy Savage: We now come to the top three of all-time and another one wrestling’s immortals is next with Macho Man Randy Savage. Savage easily is the most colorful and memorable person in wrestling history who was the complete package. The gear, the pomp and circumstances seem to only fit Randy Savage that has stayed with us ever since and rightfully belongs on this list.

#2 Stone Cold Steve Austin: Again, if there was professional wrestling dictionary if there was picture next to the word it-factor it would be Stone Cold Steve Austin. Austin is one of the biggest stars to ever happen in wrestling and has not been duplicated since despite multiple attempts. Austin and his rise were simply right time, right place, and most importantly the right person to do it which has remained to be true today, this was tough for me for I went back and forth between him and who was number one that honestly is a coin flip, but both are great choices to be number on any list.

#1 Bret Hart: My number one wrestler of all-time was the best there is, best there was, and best there ever will be, Bret the Hitman Hart as time goes becomes more iconic and influential by hearing and seeing how much he means to wrestlers as well as wrestling itself. Hart was truly an artist, and the ring was the canvas where he created so much magic with so many memorable matches that still stand up, which includes his series of matches against Stone Cold Steve Austin in the mid-1990s. While I am sure Hart comes off like a “Grumpy old man” to select portion of fans, Hart and his approach/philosophy to professional wrestling has stood time and proven to be most successful which is why Hart is the greatest of all-time.