With so many amazing talents that have graced the promotion’s squared circle over the years, fans often wonder who are the best WWE wrestlers of all time. While many are memorable, not all have been able to stand the test of time and have a long-lasting influence on the industry.
With all of that in mind, here are the 10 best WWE wrestlers to ever step inside their ring.
10. Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle took WWE to a whole new stratosphere of athleticism when he brought his Olympic gold medal-winning talents to professional wrestling in the late 90s. However, where he blew diehard fans away was in his insane charisma and ability to be both fearsome and ridiculous.
No performer could do everything so expertly as Angle. If he had started his career five years earlier, he might be closer to the top spot of this list of best WWE wrestlers of all time.
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9. Brock Lesnar
“The Beast.” It is one of the greatest nicknames in WWE history because that’s exactly what Brock Lesnar is. He is a genetic freak that is equal parts power, speed, and ferocity. He is one of the few WWE performers who had athletic success in “real” sports and was an even greater performer in the second half of his esteemed career.
Due to his talent, maturity, and resume as a former UFC champion, he became a key part of the company as his aura as a real-life wrecking machine of an athlete helped to bring in record profits. Now, he serves as an attraction that is helping to build money-makers of the future like Cody Rhodes.
8. Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels is arguably the greatest pound-for-pound performer in WWE history. Few have had as many legendary matches and been a bigger influence on many of the top stars competing today than “HBK.” A bad back injury cost him eight valuable years, but the second chapter of his career, while different was just as memorable.
7. John Cena
John Cena holds the top spot of most WWE titles under his belt, with wrestling icon “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Cena had polarizing popularity during his heyday (who could forget the “Let’s Go Cena/Cena Sucks” chants that dominated, whenever he performed). However, since he’s hit part-time status, he’s earned the respect of the WWE universe and been a key part of helping several other stars of today on their path to eventually landing on future best WWE wrestlers of all time lists.
6. Roman Reigns
Much like his cousin The Rock, Roman Reigns was on shaky ground with the fans after The Shield broke up in 2014, and the WWE tried to “push” the superstar into the limelight. Still, some within the WWE Universe didn’t accept the superstar initially, as he has dominated the land of WWE since SummerSlam 2020.
With a record-breaking WWE title reign, he’s obliterated everyone who has stepped up to challenge him. Furthermore, he has been at the center of one of the greatest storylines since the NWO.
5. Triple H
Ric Flair will go down as one of the greatest bad guys in wrestling history. Well, Triple H is the Flair of WWE history. No performer was better at being bad than Hunter Hearst Helmsley. However, it can’t be forgotten that he was one of the founders of the legendary D-Generation X faction as well. He is one of the best WWE wrestlers of all time because his run was a major influence on many of the company’s top stars today.
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4. Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan changed the face of the WWE and introduced wrestling to mainstream audiences shortly after he pinned the Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden to win his first WWE title in 1984. He captured the attention of fans everywhere, especially young viewers who swore by Hogan’s regimen of saying his prayers, eating his vitamins, and training (with a fourth one added in 1990 during his feud with Earthquake “believing in yourself”).
Over the years, Hogan became a six-time WWE Champion, and continues to have an incredible following of fans, brother!
3. The Rock
He’s a major film star and producer now, but fans still remember the awkwardness of Rocky Maivia when he entered the land of WWE in 1996. He’d work hard to evolve his character, turn it into something of his own, and was able to achieve great success in the company, with 10 WWE title reigns.
With that being said, he also earned the respect of fans over the years during a legendary run that further built the industry, so it was no surprise when Hollywood eventually came knocking at his door.
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2. The Undertaker
Taker, The Deadman, The Phenom. No matter how you refer to the Undertaker, he stands in a class of his own. Maybe it’s the iconic undefeated streak he held at WrestleMania for decades. Perhaps it’s the fact that his persona evolved and remained relevant for years with fans.
Not only is he one of the greatest WWE champions of all time, but he’s also one of the best superstars to ever compete in the ring. As a seven-time WWE Champion and Hall of Famer, this man’s career and matches have been as legendary as the characters he played in the squared circle.
1. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
One of the icons of pro wrestling, many compare Steve Austin’s rise in popularity within the WWE in the mid-90s to that of Hulk Hogan. After all, there was a massive lull in the early ‘90s where the WWE was concerned until “Stone Cold.” The shatter of the glass in his intro caused a tremendous uproar on Monday Night RAW, live events, and pay-per-views and he still does so to this very day.
He made wrestling “cool” again, which makes it no surprise that Austin had six incredible WWE Championship reigns. He truly is a WWE superstar who has done it all. Including the 1996 King of the Ring winner, three-time Men’s Royal Rumble winner, Triple Crown Champion, and WWE Hall of Famer. That is why he is at the top of our list of the best WWE wrestlers of all time.
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