Greatest Pro Wrestlers of All Time

They are the most iconic, dominant and captivating characters in wrestling history.

Greatest Pro Wrestlers of All Time

Professional wrestling can be a fickle field. Attitude without athleticism is all talk and never pays off. In-ring work lacking charisma is a recipe for mediocrity.

The true greats are able to harness their personality, turn it up to 11 and make you believe everything is real when it's time to fight.

These are the wrestlers that have left the greatest legacy on the professional wrestling industry.

60. Kenny Omega

Born: Oct. 16, 1983, in Transcona, Winnipeg, Canada

Career: 2001-present

Finishing move: Winged Angel

Titles: All Japan world junior heavyweight champion, IWGP heavyweight champion, IWGP intercontinental champion, IWGP junior heavyweight champion (two times), IWGP junior heavyweight tag team champion, IWGP United States champion

Bottom line: Perhaps it’s a bit premature, but Kenny Omega is revolutionizing the wrestling industry with his acumen for the business, along with his role on-screen.

Omega took control of the Bullet Club in Japan, and he and his buddies, the Young Bucks, formed the Elite, gaining amazing success on YouTube.

After launching All Elite Wrestling in 2019, they have the potential to give WWE its first major challenger in nearly 20 years.

59. JBL

JBL at a WWE "Tribute to the Troops" event in Iraq in 2005.

Born: Nov. 29, 1966, in Sweetwater, Texas

Career: 1992-2009

Finishing move: Clothesline from Hell

Titles: WWE champion, WWE intercontinental champion, WWE United States champion, WWE hardcore champion (18 times), WWE European champion, WWE tag team champion (three times)

Bottom line: JBL came to popularity as one half of the Acolytes Protection Agency, and was a fan favorite for his brutality and everyman persona.

After writing a book on finance, he reinvented himself into a Wall Street expert, who looked down on the less wealthy.

The transformation turned him into an all-time hateable on-screen character.

58. The Miz

Born: Oct. 8, 1980, in Parma, Ohio

Career: 2003-present

Finishing move: Skull Crushing Finale

Titles: WWE champion, WWE United States champion (two times), WWE intercontinental champion (eight times), WWE tag team champion (seven times)

Bottom line: After starting out as a wannabe wrestler on the Real World, the Miz has won over the WWE fanbase with more than a decade of hard work and consistency.

One of the best ever on the mic, Miz has forged an unlikely bond with wrestling fans for not giving up on his dream.

57. Christian

Born: Nov. 30, 1973, in Kitchener, Canada

Career: 1994-2014

Finishing move: Unprettier

Titles: NWA world heavyweight champion (two times), ECW champion (two times), WWE world heavyweight champion (two times), WWE European champion, WWE hardcore champion, WWE light heavyweight champion, WWE intercontinental champion (four times), WWE world tag team champion (nine times)

Bottom line: Christian may be looked at as the Marty Jannetty to Edge’s Shawn Michaels, but he did have a strong singles career of his own and headlined TNA shows for years as its top star.

Although Vince McMahon never saw him as a main eventer, Christian continued to get over with his personality and strong work in the ring.

56. Batista

Born: Jan. 18, 1969, in Arlington, Virginia

Career: 1999-2019

Finishing move: Powerbomb

Titles: WWE champion (six times), WWE world tag team champion (four times)

Bottom line: Dave Batista is one of the few to have transcended the wrestling business and used it to catapult himself into mainstream stardom, but that only came as a result of his terrific work in the ring.

Despite starting in his 30s (a la Diamond Dallas Page), Batista quickly made a lasting impact with his brutality and athleticism in the ring.

His comebacks since he moved to Hollywood have lacked a little bit of oomph, but Batista still is one of the best entertainers to lace up the boots.

55. The Fabulous Moolah

Born: July 22, 1923, in Kershaw County, South Carolina

Died: Nov. 2, 2007, in Columbia, South Carolina

Career: 1949-2007

Finishing move: Headlock Uppercut

Titles: NWA women's world tag team champion (two times), NWA world women's champion (five times), WWE women's champion (four times)

Bottom line: There is a good bit of controversy these days surrounding Moolah’s tactics for how she treated other women competitors during her career.

But her place in wrestling history is solidified as the most famous woman to wrestle in the 20th century.

She had runs in WWE and the NWA, and also broke into the mainstream, appearing in a Cyndi Lauper music video.

54. Terry Funk

Born: June 30, 1944, in Hammond, Indiana

Career: 1965-present

Finishing move: Piledriver, Sleeper hold, Spinning toe hold

Titles: WWE tag team champion, NWA world tag team champion (three times), NWA western states tag team champion (three times), NWA Western states heavyweight champion (12 times), NWA international tag team champion (five times), USWA unified world heavyweight champion, NWA world heavyweight champion, ECW television champion, ECW world heavyweight champion (two times)

Bottom line: The longevity of Terry Funk’s career is astounding on many fronts. The most impressive of those is the sheer punishment he’s put his body through in brutal matches in ECW and other promotions.

He’s battled everyone from Ric Flair to Mick Foley and nearly everyone in between.

His inability to retire has become a running joke in the industry.

53. The Sheik

Born: June 7, 1926, in Lansing, Michigan

Career: 1949-95

Finishing move: Sheik's Choke

Titles: NWA United States heavyweight champion (12 times), WWWF United States heavyweight champion (two times), NWA Americas heavyweight champion (two times)

Bottom line: Playing the role of a wealthy Syrian, the Sheik became one of the early dastardly heels.

He innovated such tactics as holding onto submissions past the referee’s count and putting his feet on the ropes to gain leverage, tactics which are still used by most wrestling heels today.

The Sheik drew a crazy amount of heat in the 1950s and ‘60, and gained mainstream notoriety when he joined the WWWF and feuded with Bruno Sammartino and Chief Jay Strongbow.

52. Kane

Born: April 26, 1967, in Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain

Career: 1992-present

Finishing move: Chokeslam, Tombstone Piledriver

Titles: USWA heavyweight champion, ECW champion, WCW tag team champion, WCW world heavyweight champion, WWE champion, WWE hardcore champion, WWE intercontinental champion (two times), WWE tag team champion (11 times)

Bottom line: Something has to be said for longevity, and when WWE launched this character in the 1990s to feud with the Undertaker, they could not have seen a 20-year run on the horizon.

Kane kept himself relevant with subtle gimmick tweaks and a few insane storylines along the way.

Despite those storylines, the man behind the character was elected mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, in 2018.

51. Scott Hall

Born: Oct. 20, 1958, in St. Mary's County, Maryland

Career: 1984-2009

Finishing move: Razor’s edge

Titles: AWA world tag team champion, USWA unified world heavyweight champion, WCW world television champion, WCW United States heavyweight champion (two times), WCW world tag team champion (seven times), TNA world tag team champion, WWE intercontinental champion (four times)

Bottom line: Starting out as Razor Ramon in the WWE, he was the company’s answer to Scarface, and he played it perfectly.

Scott Hall oozed machismo and took that persona with Kevin Nash to WCW to form The Outsiders, perhaps the most important faction ever in the NWO.

His place in wrestling history may overshadow his in-ring career, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive.

50. Rob Van Dam

Born: Dec. 18, 1970, in Battle Creek, Michigan

Career: 1990-present

Finishing move: Five Star Frog Splash

Titles: ECW world television champion, ECW world tag team champion (two times), TNA world heavyweight champion, TNA X division champion, WWE champion, ECW world heavyweight champion, WWE hardcore champion (four times), WWE intercontinental champion (six times), WWE European champion, WWE tag team champion (three times)

Bottom line: He went by many names in his run, but whether it’s "Mr. Monday Night" or "The Whole Damn Show," Rob Van Dam leaped off the screen with his rare combination of martial arts kicks and high-risk maneuvers.

A late-ECW product, Van Dam was up to the task of a headline role in WWE. He never quite got to the top of the mountain, as some struggles with substances and police kept him from realizing his full potential in WWE.

49. The Fabulous Freebirds

Born: Michael P.S. Hayes — March 29, 1959, in Pensacola, Florida

Buddy Roberts — June 16, 1947, in Del City, Oklahoma — Died: Nov. 26, 2012, in Chicago, Illinois

Terry Gordy — April 23, 1961, in Chattanooga, Tennesee — Died: July 16, 2001, in Soddy Daisy, Tennesee

Jimmy Garvin — Sept. 25, 1952, in Tampa, Florida

Career: 1979-94

Finishing move: Torpedo Lariat, Oriental Spike

Titles: Mid-South tag team champions (two times), NWA Mid-America tag team champions (two times), WCW United States tag team champions (two times), WCW world six-man tag team champions, WCW world tag team champions (two times), NWA American tag team champions (two times), WCCW six-man tag team champions (six times)

Bottom line: The Freebirds paved the way for many of the theatrics showcased in the modern-day product.

Spectacles such as entrance music, dance routines and in-ring concerts became a regularity with the Freebirds, who entered the ring to "Bad Street, USA."

The song holds up as one of the most recognizable entrance themes. The team played foil to the great Von Erik’s in the NWA in one of the most heated rivalries in tag team history.

48. "Ravishing" Rick Rude

Born: Dec. 7, 1958, in Saint Peter, Minnesota

Died: April 20, 1999, in Alpharetta, Georgia

Career: 1982-99

Finishing move: Rude Awakening

Titles: NWA Southern heavyweight champion (two times), NWA United States tag team champion, WCW international world heavyweight champion (three times), WCW United States heavyweight champion, NWA world tag team champion, WWF intercontinental champion, NWA American heavyweight champion

Bottom line: "Ravishing" Rick Rude often goes overlooked in the conversation of the best of all time, but he was part of some of the most revolutionary moments in wrestling.

Rude was a classic heel, and his most famous WWE storyline came when he was feuding with Jake "The Snake" Roberts and had Roberts’ wife’s face airbrushed on the front of his tights.

Rude also served as the early enforcer in the first incarnation of DX.

47. AJ Styles

Born: June 2, 1977, in Jacksonville, North Carolina

Career: 1998-present

Finishing move: Phenomenal Forearm, Styles Clash

Titles: IWGP heavyweight champion (two times), ROH world tag team champion, NWA world heavyweight champion (three times), NWA world tag team champion (four times), TNA legends champion (two times), TNA world heavyweight champion (two times), TNA world tag team champion (two times), TNA X Division champion (six times), WWE United States champion (two times), WWE champion (two times)

Bottom line: The closest thing to a modern-day Shawn Michaels, AJ Styles stood out as a diamond in the rough at TNA.

His work in the X Division, where he showed his athleticism via a variety of high-flying moves, along with his matches against Kurt Angle, made him a true all-around in-ring performer.

He’s adapted to the WWE style flawlessly and has proven that he wasn’t just a big fish in a small pond.

46. Arn Anderson

Born: Sept. 20, 1958, in Rome, Georgia

Career: 1982-1997

Finishing move: Spinebuster

Titles: WCW world television championship (four times), NWA national tag team champion, WCW world tag team champion (five times), NWA world tag team champion, WWE tag team champion

Bottom line: With a devastating spinebuster, Arn Anderson was the muscle behind Ric Flair in the heyday of the Four Horsemen in the NWA. Anderson frequently bailed Flair out of tough situations.

Anderson's prowess as a tag team wrestler made him a Hall of Famer in his own right, even if he hadn’t been a member of that iconic group.

45. Jake "The Snake" Roberts

Born: May 30, 1955, in Gainesville, Texas

Career: 1974-2008

Finishing move: DDT

Titles: Mid-South North American heavyweight champion (two times), NWA world six-man tag team champion, NWA national television champion, NWA world television champion (two times)

Bottom line: The soft tone of Jake "The Snake" Roberts’ promo style stood out from most of the wrestlers in the early 1990s, who mostly would just scream during their promos.

He made you listen, and he was great at it. Brining the snake to the ring gave him a wrinkle of sadistic that fit in perfectly with his well-crafted persona.

44. The Ultimate Warrior

Born: June 16, 1959, in Crawfordsville, Indiana

Died: April 8, 2014, in Scottsdale, Arizona

Career: 1985-98

Finishing move: Splash

Titles: WWE intercontinental champion (two times), WWE champion

Bottom line: Pure energy and enthusiasm, The Ultimate Warrior was a big favorite of little kids in the early 1990s, and shot to the top of the industry in a way only mirrored by Goldberg since.

The Ultimate Warrior even toppled Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania VI in a "passing of the torch" moment.

Unfortunately for Warrior, that torch only burned for so long.

43. Chris Benoit

Born: May 21, 1967, in Montreal, Canada

Died: June 24, 2007, in Fayetteville, Georgia

Career: 1985-2007

Finishing move: Crippler Crossface, Diving Headbutt

Titles: ECW world tag team champion, IWGP junior heavyweight champion, WCW world heavyweight champion, WCW world tag team champion (two times), WCW world TV champion (three times), WCW United States heavyweight champion (two times), WWE world heavyweight champion, WWE tag team champion, WWE United States champion (three times), WWE intercontinental champion (four times), WWE world tag team champion (three times)

Bottom line: The end of his life and career notwithstanding, Chris Benoit could outshine anybody from an in-ring perspective.

Touted as the "best damn technical wrestler" in the business, Benoit always backed it up with show-stopping performances and a realistic move set.

He got a run as world champion late in his career, and it was a long time coming.

42. Dory Funk Jr.

Born: Feb. 3, 1941, in Hammond, Indiana

Career: 1963-2013

Finishing move: Cloverleaf

Titles: NWA international heavyweight champion (two times), NWA Mid-Atlantic heavyweight champion (two times), NWA world heavyweight champion

Bottom line: Brother of fellow Hall of Famer Terry Funk, Dory Funk Jr. is credited with innovating the submission move dubbed the "Texas Cloverleaf" in the 1970s.

His longevity speaks for itself, and included the fifth-longest title reign in NWA history, as Funk held the NWA world heavyweight championship for more than four years.

41. Chyna

Born: Dec. 27, 1969, in Rochester, New York

Died: April 20, 2016, in Redondo Beach, California

Career: 1995-2002

Finishing move: Powerbomb

Titles: WWE intercontinental champion (three times), WWE women’s champion

Bottom line: The :"Ninth Wonder of the World," Chyna broke in as the D-Generation X bodyguard for Shawn Michaels and Triple H, playing the straight man to their sophomoric personas.

She also redefined what a female wrestler looked like and broke the mold for a generation of women to come.

40. Charlotte Flair

Born: April 5, 1986, in Charlotte, North Carolina

Career: 2012-present

Finishing move: Figure 8, Natural Selection

Titles: Raw women’s champion (four times), SmackDown women’s champion (three times), WWE Divas champion

Bottom line: Saddled by a famous last name, Charlotte Flair had lots to live up to in the wrestling business, and she’s exceeded every expectation.

Flair continues to grow on the mic, finding her own voice and stepping out of her father’s shadow.

Athletically, she’s unmatched in the ring.

39. Rey Mysterio

Born: Dec. 11, 1974, in Chula Vista, California

Career: 1989-present

Finishing move: 619

Titles: Lucha Underground Trios champion, WCW cruiserweight champion (five times), WCW cruiserweight tag team champion, WCW world tag team champion (three times), WWE world heavyweight champion (two times), WWE champion, WWE cruiserweight champion (three times), WWE intercontinental champion (two times), WWE tag team champion (four times)

Bottom line: Rey Mysterio has been flying through the air in a wrestling ring for the last three decades, and he looks better than ever.

He broke in as a cruiserweight in WCW, stealing the show on plenty of pay-per-view events. Mysterio got serious hype before debuting in WWE and instantly became a fan favorite.

His run to win the WWE title at Wrestlemania is still one of the best underdog stories they’ve ever told.

38. X-Pac

Born: July 13, 1972, in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Career: 1989-2016

Finishing move: X-Factor

Titles: NWA Heritage champion, WCW cruiserweight champion, WCW world tag team champion, WWE European champion (two times), WWE light heavyweight champion (two times), WCW cruiserweight champion, WWE tag team champion (four times)

Bottom line: X-Pac has lived 1,000 lives in the wrestling industry.

He got his start with a surprise win over intercontinental champion Razor Ramon as the 1-2-3 Kid, jumped ship to WCW and joined the NWO, and then he later jumped back to WWE and joined DX, making him a member of two of the most dominant factions in history.

His style of agility and martial arts kicks were the inspiration for much of wrestling today.

37. “Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase

Born: Jan. 18, 1954, Omaha, Nebraska

Career: 1974-99

Finishing move: The Million Dollar Dream

Titles: NWA United national champion, NWA national heavyweight champion (two times), NWA national tag team champion (two times), NWA United States tag team champion, NWA North American heavyweight champion, Mid-South North American heavyweight champion (four times), Mid-South tag team champion (five times), WWE North American heavyweight champion, WWE tag team champion (three times), King of the Ring

Bottom line: It was the perfect man for the perfect role. Ted Dibiase’s iconic laugh, look and arrogance made the "Million Dollar Man" infinity despicable.

He had memorable feuds with Junkyard Dog, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and, of course, Hulk Hogan, due to both the strength of the character and his great technical in-ring work.

After the best of his in-ring days were over, he worked as a manager in WCW for some of their top talents, including the Steiner Brothers.

36. The Dudley Boyz

Born: Bubba Ray — July 14, 1971, in Queens, New York

D-Von — Aug. 1, 1972, in New Rochelle, New York

Career: 1996-2016

Finishing move: 3D

Titles: TNA world tag team champions (two times), NWA world tag team champions, WWE tag team champions (nine times), WCW world tag teach champions, IWGP tag team champions (two times), ECW world tag team champions (eight times)

Bottom line: A group that headlined at nearly every promotion in the industry for the last 20 years, the Dudley Boyz have had over 20 combined tag team title reigns and have put opponents through countless amounts of tables.

Their legacy can be seen in the crowd today, any time fans begin to chant "we want tables!"

35. Lita

Born: April 14, 1975, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Career: 1997-2012

Finishing move: Moonsault

Titles: WWE women’s champion (four times)

Bottom line: Lita was a true dream-come-true story. After moving to Mexico to learn to wrestle, she floated around on the independent scene before landing in WWE.

She joined up with the Hardy Boyz in a perfect pairing and used those TLC tag matches to show off her luchador-style skills, which she used to win several women’s championships

34. Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka

Born: May 18, 1943, in Suva, Fiji

Died: Jan. 15, 2017, in Hallandale Beach, Florida

Career: 1968-2015

Finishing move: Superfly Splash

Titles: AWA Midwest heavyweight champion, NWA United States heavyweight champion, NWA world tag team champion (two times)

Bottom line: Look back at what most of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka did. His work is the predecessor to what some of the most thrilling high-flyers (such as Ricochet or Neville) do to excite crowds today.

That’s how influential Snuka was during his heydey. His leap off the top of the cage at Madison Square Garden is one of the most iconic moments in history, and that moment alone would warrant inclusion on this list.

33. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat

Born: Feb. 28, 1953, in West Point, New York

Career: 1976-2005

Finishing move: Diving Crossbody

Titles: NWA world heavyweight champion, NWA Mid-Atlantic heavyweight champion (two times), WCW United States champion (four times), WCW world TV champion (four times), WCW tag team champion (eight times), WWE intercontinental champion

Bottom line: Ricky Steamboat was regarded as one of the early staples of great in-ring work.

His personality lacked a certain zest that the all-time greats had, but few could match Steamboat beat-for-beat in the ring.

His trilogy of matches with Ric Flair are regarded as some of the best exhibitions of in-ring storytelling ever.

32. Becky Lynch

Born: Jan. 30, 1987, in Limerick, Ireland

Career: 2005-present

Finishing move: Disarm-her

Titles: WWE SmackDown women’s champion (three times), WWE Raw women’s champion

Bottom line: Becky Lynch’s last year gets her on this list, and while it may seem like it’s a bit prisoner of the moment, her impact warrants her place here.

Greats like Stratus and Chyna helped bring women’s wrestling into the limelight, and Lynch busted through that glass ceiling, winning the first women’s match to headline a Wrestlemania.

31. Randy Orton

Born: April 1, 1980, in Knoxville, Tennesse

Career: 2001-present

Finishing move: RKO

Titles: WWE champion (nine times), WWE tag team champion (two times), WWE world heavyweight champion (four times), WWE intercontinental champion, WWE United States champion

Bottom line: Randy Orton gets big points for a daunting list of opponents.

He broke out as the "Legend Killer," rolling through a laundry list of former greats, and he’s since become a legend of his own, squaring off against Seth Rollins and Daniel Bryan, helping to make their careers.

Orton’s legacy will be as one of the best, most consistent heels of this or any era.

30. CM Punk

Born: Oct. 26, 1978, in Chicago, Illinois

Career: 1999-2014

Finishing move: GTS (Go To Sleep)

Titles: WWE champion (two times), WWE world heavyweight champion (three times), intercontinental championship, WWE tag team champion, ECW champion, Ring of Honor world champion, ROH tag team champion (two times)

Bottom line: Whether he’s "Chicago Made" or "Chick Magnet," CM Punk is a legend. His famous pipe-bomb promo changed the way pro wrestlers talk to the audience.

His run wasn’t everything it should have been, as a combination of his bad attitude and the WWE’s insistence on pushing Rock vs. Cena led to his departure.

Still, Punk was maximum impactful given his time with the company.

29. Trish Stratus

Born: Dec. 18, 1976, in Flemingdon Park, Toronto, Canada

Career: 2000-2010

Finishing move: Chick Kick

Titles: WWE women’s champion (seven times), WWE hardcore champion

Bottom line: The youngest inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame deserves to be recognized.

Trish Stratus broke through the glass ceiling and inspired the women’s revolution throughout wrestling.

Without her, women wrestlers like Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch would not have the same opportunities.

28. Goldberg

Born: Dec. 27, 1966, in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Career: 1996-2004, 2015-2017

Finishing move: Spear, Jackhammer

Titles: WCW heavyweight champion, WCW U.S. champion (two times), WCW tag team champion, WWE universal champion, WWE world heavyweight champion

Bottom line: An undefeated streak for the ages, combined with an unmatched intensity and a physique to match, led to one of the most meteoric rises in wrestling history for Goldberg.

The former NFL lineman had little in-ring experience when he debuted for WCW and built a career off a limited move set and supreme explosiveness.

27. Bob Backlund

Born: Aug. 14, 1949, in Princeton, Minnesota

Career: 1973-2007

Finishing move: Cross-Face Chicken Wing

Titles: NWA Florida tag team champion, NWA Georgia tag team champion, NWA Western states heavyweight champion (three times), NWA Missouri heavyweight champion, WWE champion (two times), WWE tag team champion

Bottom line: The man with one of the longest title reigns of the last 40 years, Bob Backlund carried the WWF in the early part of the 1980s until Hulk Hogan came along.

Backlund never toppled the Hulkster and deserves plenty of credit for Hogan’s rise.

Backlund had a couple interesting late-career turns, keeping himself relevant into the new millennium.

26. Brock Lesnar

Born: July 11, 1977, in Webster, South Dakota

Career: 2000-2007, 2012-present

Finishing move: F5

Titles: WWE champion (four times), WWE universal champion (two times), King of the Ring, IWGP heavyweight champion

Bottom line: Say what you want about Brock Lesnar, but the man can sell a fight. Look at his recent reign as champion and his overall attitude toward showing up to work.

Paired with loudmouth Paul Heyman, Lesnar has built a reputation for brutality based on real-life UFC fighting and is a must-see attraction for the WWE.

25. Daniel Bryan

Born: May 22, 1981, in Aberdeen, Washington

Career: 1999-2016, 2018-present

Finishing move: Running Knee

Titles: NWA Southern junior heavyweight champion, IWGP junior heavyweight tag team champion, PWG world champion (two times), ROH pure champion, ROH world champion, WWE world heavyweight champion, WWE champion (four times), WWE intercontinental champion, WWE tag team champion, WWE U.S. champion

Bottom line: Whenever Daniel Bryan retires, he will move up on this list.

His career has raced by, but the arc — from little-known and underrated worker to underdog champion to plant-based snob of a heel —shows just a small amount of the massive potential Bryan possesses.

He’s back in the ring after a lengthy absence, during which he even formally "retired."

24. Buddy Rogers

Born: Feb. 20, 1921, in Camden, New Jersey

Died: June 26, 1992, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Career: 1939-1969, 1978-1992

Finishing move: Figure-Four Leg Lock

Titles: AWA world weavyweight champion (five times), NWA world heavyweight champion, NWA U.S. tag team champion (two times), NWA U.S. heavyweight champion, NWA world tag team champion, NWA Mid-America heavyweight champion, NWW North American heavyweight champion, WWWF world heavyweight champion

Bottom line: The original "Nature Boy," Buddy Rogers was the direct inspiration for Ric Flair, who borrowed Rogers’ nickname, along with his famous figure-four leg lock.

Rogers was one of the first to embrace the cocky persona in the 1930s and 1940s, and Vince McMahon Sr. pegged him to be the first champion when McMahon broke away from the NWA to start the WWWF.

23. 'Mr. Perfect' Curt Hennig

Born: March 28, 1958, in Robbinsdale, Minnesota

Died: Feb. 10, 2003, in Tampa, Florida

Career: 1980-2003

Finishing move: Perfect-plex

Titles: AWA world heavyweight champion, AWA world tag team champion, NWA Pacific Northwest heavyweight champion, NWA Pacific Northwest tag team champion (three times), WCW U.S. heavyweight champion, WCW world tag team champion, WWE intercontinental champion (two times)February 10, 2003, Tampa, FL

Bottom line: Middle-aged wrestling fans today will remember "Mr. Perfect" for the perfectly done vignettes prior to his debut.

Following that debut, Curt Hennig went on to have a lengthy run as intercontinental champion and later left for WCW, becoming a member of the Four Horsemen prior to also joining the NWO.

22. Antonio Inoki

Born: Feb. 20, 1943, in Yokohama, Japan

Career: 1960-2005

Finishing move: Back Brain Kick

Titles: NWA international tag team champion (four times), All Asia tag team champion (three times), IWGP heavyweight champion (3 times), NWA North American tag team champion, NJPW real world champion, NWA Texas heavyweight champion, NWA united national champion, NWA North American tag team champion, NWA world tag team champion, WWE heavyweight champion

Bottom line: No all-time great wrestling list would be complete without the greatest Japanese wrestler in history.

Throughout the 1970s, '80s and '90s, Antonio Inoki battled the likes of Andre the Giant, Karl Gotch, Hulk Hogan and Bruno Sammartino.

Apart from Inoki’s in-ring achievements, he also started New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), the second-biggest pro wrestling company in the world today.

21. Eddie Guerrero

Born: Oct. 9, 1967, in El Paso, Texas

Died: Nov. 13, 2005, in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Career: 1987-2005

Finishing move: Frog Splash

Titles: ECW world television champion (two times), WCW cruiserweight champion (two times), WCW U.S. heavyweight champion, WWE champion, WWE European champion (two times), WWE U.S. champion, WWE intercontinental champion (two times), WWE tag team champions (four times)

Bottom line: Eddie Guerrero, similar to Jericho, started off as a smaller wrestler, going against mostly cruiserweights.

After Guerrero bulked up, he started to gather more opportunities, and he surged.

His storylines with Chyna in the Attitude Era, his feud with lifetime best friend Rey Mysterio and his satisfying title win in 2004 are just a few of Guerrero’s notable moments in wrestling.

20. Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey — Kurt Angle appeared with Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 34 in 2018.

Born: Dec. 9, 1968, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Career: 1998-present

Finishing Move: Ankle Lock, Angle Slam

Titles: WWE European champion, WWE intercontinental champion, WWE champion (four times), WCW champion, WCW U.S. champion, WWE world heavyweight champion, WWE tag team champion, WWE hardcore champion, TNA world heavyweight champion (six times), TNA world tag team champion (two times), TNA X division champion, IWGP heavyweight champion

Bottom line: Kurt Angle brought with him the most credibility possible when he joined the WWF in 1998, shortly after a gold medal-winning performance at the 1996 Olympics.

What makes Angle a legend — apart from his top-level athleticism — was the charisma he brought to the microphone and backstage segments.

His early-career work with Steve Austin often is replayed as some of the funniest moments from both of their careers.

19. Mick Foley

Mick Foley and The Rock — Mick Foley, left, and The Rock.

Born: June 7, 1965, in Bloomington, Indiana

Career: 1983-2012

Finishing move: Mandible Claw

Titles: WWE champion (two times), WWE hardcore champion, WWE tag team champion (eight times), WCW world tag team champion, TNA world heavyweight champion, ECW world tag team champion (two times)

Bottom line: They say cats have nine lives. Mick Foley must have at least 10.

He began his career as an anti-hero who would put his body through absolute hell to win as Cactus Hack. He maintained that reputation through a lengthy career as Hack, Mankind and Dude Love.

His title win on Monday Night Raw over The Rock was an emotional conquest, capped off by perhaps the biggest crowd reaction in history when Steve Austin surprised everyone to assist Foley.

But beyond the in-ring work, Foley captivated hearts through his emotional promos and his infectious attitude.

18. Edge

Big Show and Edge — Wrestlers Big Show, left, and Edge at the 25th anniversary of WrestleMania news conference in New York in 2009.

Born: Oct. 30, 1973, in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada

Career: 1992-2011

Finishing move: Spear

Titles: WCW U.S. champion, WWE world heavyweight champion (seven times), WWE champion (four times), WWE intercontinental champion (five times), WWE tag team champion (two times), WWE world tag team champion (12 times)

Bottom line: Edge made a maximum impact while he was on the stage. He had to retire far too early due to a series of neck problems, but his character went through many twists and turns.

He began as the goofy half of the tag team Edge and Christian, broke out as a babyface foil to Kurt Angle, rebranded himself as the R-Rated Superstar following his real-life and on-screen relationship with Lita, and all that bled into more storylines with Vickie Guerrero.

Throughout it all, Edge's in-ring work was top level, and he always was one of the most must-see acts on any show.

17. Bruno Sammartino

Born: Oct. 6, 1935, in Pizzoferrato, Italy

Died: April 18, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Career: 1959-1987

Finishing move: Bearhug

Titles: WWWF international tag team champion (two times), WWWF U.S. tag team champion, WWWF world heavyweight champion (two times), NWA U.S. heavyweight champion, NWA international tag team champion

Bottom line: Bruno Sammartino set the bar for main eventers in the Northeast in the early WWWF.

He had two lengthy title reigns, spanning nearly 15 years total, and carried the promotion on his back for the better part of two decades, setting the table for Hulk Hogan to carry wrestling to national prominence.

16. Harley Race

Born: April 11, 1943, in Quitman, Missouri

Career: 1960-1991

Finishing move: Pile Driver

Titles: NWA united national champion, NWA world heavyweight champion (seven times), AWA world tag team champion (three times), NWA Central States heavyweight champion (nine times), NWA North American tag team champion (two times), NWA Mid-America champion (two times)

Bottom line: A tough guy inside and outside of the pro wrestling business, Harley Race earned a reputation for brutality in the heyday of both the NWA and AWA.

Top wrestlers such as Ric Flair and Triple H credit Race for providing plenty of inspiration in playing a heel, and Race's feuds with Rhodes and Terry Funk are some of the most legendary in history.

15. Sting

Born: March 20, 1959, in Omaha, Nebraska

Career: 1985-2016

Finishing move: Scorpion Death Lock, Scorpion Death Drop

Titles: NWA world TV champion, NWA world heavyweight champion, WCW international world heavyweight champion (two times), WCE U.S. heavyweight champion (two times), WCW world heavyweight champion (six times), WCW world tag team champion (three times), TNA world heavyweight champion (four times), TNA world tag team champion

Bottom line: Sting's career is packed with dynamic colors, all-time great matches and a remarkable transformation.

The Stinger often is criticized for not working in the WWE until the closing moments of his career, but his work in WCW with Ric Flair and later evolution into "Crow" Sting as a foil to the NWO cement his legacy as an all-time great.

The slow build to his black-and-white character served as the perfect pro-WCW hero juxtaposed to the radical invaders of the NWO.

14. Andre the Giant

Born: May 19, 1946, in Molien, France

Died: Jan. 27, 1993, in Paris, France

Career: 1966-1993

Finishing move: Scoop Slam

Titles: NWA Florida tag team champion, NWA U.S. tag team champion, WWE tag team champion, WWE world heavyweight champion

Bottom line: A legendary man with no equal — in size and reputation — Andre the Giant set and broke the mold of how to book a literal giant in professional wrestling.

He had a decade-long winning streak and was used sparingly, so when he was used, his appearance had maximum impact.

Even long past his in-ring prime, Andre headlined a make-or-break WrestleMania for the then-WWF. He also had an iconic film role in "The Princess Bride."

13. 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes

Born: Oct. 11, 1945

Died: June 11, 2015, in Orlando, Florida

Career: 1967-2010

Finishing move: Bionic Elbow

Titles: NWA world heavyweight champion (three times), NWA U.S. heavyweight champion, NWA world TV champion (three times), NWA world tag team champion (two times), NWA Mid-Atlantic tag team champion, NWA Florida heavyweight champion (12 times)

Bottom line: The everyman foil to Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen of wrestling, Dusty Rhodes spent his career fighting for the little man.

Fans in Florida and throughout much of the South connected with Rhodes on a deeply personal level, and in contrast to Flair’s flashy style, Rhodes looked and talked like much of the fanbase.

His popularity and backstage work combined with his skills in the ring and a resume of drawing money make him an important part of wrestling history.

12. Bret 'Hitman' Hart

Born: July 2, 1957, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Career: 1978-2000

Finishing move: Sharpshooter

Titles: NWA international tag team championship, WCW U.S. heavyweight champion, WCW world heavyweight champion (two times), WCW world tag team champion, WWE U.S. champion, WWE intercontinental champion (two times), WWE tag team champion (two times), WWE world heavyweight champion (five times)

Bottom line: Some people have him as a top-10 performer. Others have him in the top five. Bret Hart certainly deserves a nod based on talent. His in-ring storytelling and promo work are some of the best ever, even though he headlined during a "down" period for the business.

The divisive opinion on Hart comes from a lack of flash and his off-screen politicking. Despite all that, the Hitman made more careers than most, and count Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels among those.

That is his everlasting stamp on the industry.

11. Chris Jericho

Born: November 9, 1970, Manhasset, N.Y.

Career: 1990-present

Finishing move: Walls of Jericho, Lionsault, Codebreaker

Titles: ECE world TV champion, IWGP intercontinental champion, WCW cruiserweight champion (four times), WCW world TV champion, undisputed WWE champion, WWE world heavyweight champion (three times), WCW world champion (two times), WWE hardcore champion, WWE European champion, WWE U.S. champion (two times), WWE tag team champion (seven times)

Bottom line: Chris Jericho continues to reinvent himself, and why not? He’s proven to be more in touch with his character and how to keep fans guessing than anyone in history.

Jericho has gone from cruiserweight standout, to flashy mid-carder, to main eventer. Along the way, he’s given fans amazing matches, promos and character tweaks.

His work nowadays in lesser-known promotions is some of the best of his career.

10. 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper

Born: April 17, 1954, in Saskatoon, Canada

Died: July 31, 2015, in Hollywood, California

Career: 1969-2011

Finishing move: Sleeper Hold

Titles: NWA Mid-Atlantic heavyweight champion (three times), NWA TV champion (two times), WCW U.S. champion (three times), NWA American tag team champion, WWE intercontinental champion, WWE tag team champion

Bottom line: Roddy Piper was a Golden Gloves boxing champions before he became one of the most famous villains in wrestling history.

In the wrestling ring, he had legendary feuds with Hulk Hogan, Mr. T and, of course, Vince McMahon.

Piper's career spanned six decades, and he even found success in mainstream pop culture as an actor.

9. Triple H

Born: July 27, 1969, in Nashua, New Hampshire

Career: 1992-present

Finishing move: Pedigree

Titles: WWE tag team champion (three times), WWE world heavyweight champion (five times), WWE champion (nine times), WWE intercontinental champion (five times), WWE European champion (two times)

Bottom line: What is most captivating about Hunter Hearst Helmsley is his overall career arc.

Triple H began as a Connecticut blue-blood jobber, teamed with Shawn Michaels to form DX, took over DX and flipped to corporate stooge. He now runs the show.

His story is that of a B-plus wrestler who used everything at his disposal to put together an A-plus resume. His contributions backstage only add to the layer of his on-screen persona.

8. Randy 'Macho Man' Savage

Born: Nov. 15, 1952, in Columbus, Ohio

Died: May 20, 2011, in Seminole, Florida

Career: 1973-2005

Finishing move: Flying Elbow

Titles: NWA Mid-America heavyweight champion, WCW world heavyweight champion (four times), WWE intercontinental champion, WWE world heavyweight champion (two times)

Bottom line: "Ooooooh Yeaaaaaah." The Macho Man has the most imitated voice in the history of pro wrestling, but he was much more than a grisly set of pipes.

Randy Savage brought an unmatched charisma to the ring. At a time when all the main stars were 6-foot-3 and up, Savage was larger than life at 5 feet, 10 inches, even stepping toe to toe with Hulk Hogan to culminate an all-time feud.

Savage's relevance in WCW and with the NWO, along with his crossover into mainstream stardom, ensured his contributions to the business will never be forgotten.

7. John Cena

Born: April 23, 1977, in West Newbury, Massachusetts

Career: 1999-present

Finishing move: Attitude Adjustment

Titles: WWE world heavyweight champion (three times), WWE tag team champion (four times), WWE U.S. champion (five times), WWE champion (13 times)

Bottom line: Some like him, some hate him, but all wrestling fans have come around to respect John Cena for his longevity, durability, resilience and promo ability.

Panned in some respects for his in-ring ability in an era when it’s more important than ever, Cena always will be regarded as a top-level entertainer who can sell a match.

His ability to connect with younger fans and his unchanging message of demanding respect make him one of the best to ever step into the ring.

#6: The Undertaker

Born: March 24, 1965, in Houston, Texas

Career: 1984-present

Finishing move: Tombstone Piledriver, Triangle Choke, Last Ride, Chokeslam

Titles: WCW tag team champion, WWE world heavyweight champion (three times), WWE undisputed champion (four times), WWE hardcore champion, WWE tag team champion (six times)

Bottom line: Perhaps the most iconic wrestling name in today’s pop culture lexicon, The Undertaker has a career that has spanned across four decades.

The streak at WrestleMania and his patented Tombstone Piledriver are his trademarks. But over 30 years, a countless array of feuds and matches have kept the Dead Man relevant.

His ability to reinvent himself time and time again, while maintaining his mystique, is a remarkable achievement.

5. The Rock

Born: May 2, 1972, Hayward, Calififornia

Career: 1996-2004, 2011-2013

Finishing move: Rock Bottom, People’s Elbow

Titles: WWE world champion (two times), WWE champion (eight times), WWE intercontinental champion (two times), WWE tag team champion (five times)

Bottom line: The Rock’s foray into motion pictures makes him the most transcendent professional wrestler of all time.

His remarkable story from broke ex-football player to blue-chip prospect to despicable heel to red-hot babyface alone makes him a top five wrestler of all time.

The movie stardom puts him over the top.

4. Shawn Michaels

Born: July 22, 1965, in Chandler, Ariz.

Career: 1984-2010

Finishing move: Sweet Chin Music

Titles: AWA world tag team champion (two times), WWE world heavyweight champion (4 times), WWE intercontinental champion (three times), WWE European champion, WWE tag team champion (six times)

Bottom line: Often compared to Ric Flair, Shawn Michael is remarkable on his own.

After starting out as a high-flying half of a tag team, Michaels broke out as one of the most cocky and electric entertainers around. He formed D-Generation X in the late 1990s, and after missing years due to substance problems and injuries, he returned better than ever.

His late run featured excellent feuds with The Undertaker, Triple H and Chris Jericho, to name a few.

3. Ric Flair

Born: Feb. 25, 1949, in Memphis, Tenn.

Career: 1972-2012

Finishing move: Figure-Four Leg Lock

Titles: WCW world heavyweight champion (eight times), WCW international world heavyweight champion (two times), NWA Mid-Atlantic heavyweight champion (three times), NWA TV champion (two times), WCW U.S. champion (six times), NWA Mid-Atlantic tag team champion (three times), NWA world tag team champion (three times), NWA world heavyweight champion (nine times), WWE tag team champion (three times), WWE intercontinental champion, WWE world heavyweight champion (two times)

Bottom line: Ric Flair possessed the rare combination of in-ring skill and storytelling, along with a dynamic persona on the microphone.

Many dub him the greatest, given his success and longevity across different companies.

Flair has stayed relevant with his connection to today’s hip-hop culture as the original stylin' and profilin' professional athlete.

2. Hulk Hogan

Born: Aug. 11, 1953, Augusta, Georgia

Career: 1977-2013

Finishing move: Leg Drop

Titles: IWGP heavyweight champion, WCW world heavyweight champion (six times), WWE tag team champion, WWE world heavyweight champion (six times)

Bottom line: Far from an in-ring dynamo, Huld Hogan’s "eat your vitamins and say your prayers" character of the 1980s and early 1990s caught fire, particularly with the kids in the audience. He was a hero toppling evil left and right in his classic red-and-yellow gear.

In the late '90s, Hogan’s heel turn was the catalyst for WCW challenging the WWE as the top company in the business, and he gave the NWO instant credibility.

Hollywood Hogan added another chapter to his impossibly long and successful career.

1. Stone Cold Steve Austin

Born: Dec. 18, 1964, in Austin, Texas

Career: 1989-2003

Finishing move: Stone Cold Stunner

Titles: WCW world TV champion (two times), WCW U.S. heavyweight champion (two times), WCW world tag team champion, WWE world heavyweight champion (six times), WWE intercontinental champion (two times), WWE tag team champion (four times)

Bottom line: A career workhorse transformed himself into the top name in the history of the business.

Fueled largely by a career-long feud with WWE owner Vince McMahon, Steve Austin’s anti-establishment persona captivated fans and made him an everyman to root for.

The last seven years of Austin’s career, he reached unforeseen heights in wrestling and brought the WWE into the mainstream spotlight for good.

More Wrestling Stories