He was a partner and adversary of Nick Bockwinkle in the AWA and was a tag team partner of Pat Patterson in the WWWF. He had the hardest chops in the business. He was good looked, skilled and could wrestle anyone. As a face or a heel, he has won multiple titles in WWE and then in TNA. WWE. I did not want to leave him off this list. I believe in the carnage of blood and gore from a bull rope match and I love seeing barbed wire draped across the ring. Matt Hardy 45. He also worked with East Coast Wrestling Association and BCW's Night of Legends event. 1 Billy Robinson 2 Dynamite Kid 3 Davey Boy Smith 4 Danno O'Mahoney 5 Mick McManus 6 Steve Casey 7 Jackie Pallo 8 Bert Assirati 9 Billy Joyce There weren't many wrestlers with Brisco's amateur credentials. I always said Satan wore purple tights in the ring and Sullivan best exemplified that. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. Considered one of the greatest in-ring performers ever, Guerrero was renowned for his technical skills and ability to entertain the audience with his gimmicks. An old school rugged SOB. It was during his second stint with the company that the phenomenon known as Hulkamania would emerge and Hogan would go on to be the most globally recognizable wrestling star. Ric Flair said Harley Race was the toughest wrestler ever to be in the business. Valentine was a great NWA wrestler, feuding with Roddy Piper amongst others. While Scott Steiner was winning singles titles and being the bad man he grew into, Rick carved himself out a pretty good career as a singles and tag team wrestler. rival promotion World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 2001, These days Page has found a second career in yoga. As a competitor, Fuji was a great tag team wrestler who was famous for throwing salt in the eyes of his opponents. A celebrated wrestler, she was involved in the first Iron Woman match, first women's WWE pay-per-view event, and first women's Hell in a Cell match. Using the ring name Rocky Maivia, he found success as part of stables like The Nation of Domination and the Corporation. He was a WWF World Tag Team champion with Dick Murdoch in the WWF. The Top 20 WWE Superstars of the 80s - Money Inc Hulk Hogan. Brock, who has had an equally successful MMA career, is the only person in history to hold a WWE world championship and UFC championship. As a singles wrestler, he was brutal as a heel who won the World Heavyweight Title and e proved that he was one of the most hated men in all of wrestling. ), (French Professional Wrestler Known for His Great Size), (The Most Recognized and Popular Wrestler of the 1980s), (Regarded as the Greatest Professional Wrestler of All Time), (Professional Wrestler Best Known as 'The Most Dominant Female Competitor of All Time'), (American Professional Wrestler and Retired Mixed Martial Artist), (Professional Wrestler and the Youngest World Champion in WWE History), (One of the Greatest Professional Wrestlers of His Generation), Colby Lopez, better known as "Seth Rollins," previously wrestled in, (One of the Most Influential Wrestlers of All Time), Wrestler Oscar Gutierrez, better known by his stage name, Rey Mysterio, was trained by Rey Misterio, Sr. Bret Hart Actor | WWF SmackDown! The most successful Canadian wrestling export is Bret "The Hitman" Hart from the legendary Hart family professional wrestling dynasty. The Taskmaster was one of the best at playing mind games with his opponents before matches. Some even became household names and rose to legendary status in the industry. A big, muscle-bound freak who was a good wrestler and a member of the Horsemen, but he could not draw as a champion. Canadian professional wrestler, amateur boxer, and actor, Roddy Piper, is best remembered for his work with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Mark William Calaway is The Undertaker. The Breaking of the glass is all you needed to hear. Ric Flair said he always thought of Dusty as the ultimate face and he was the ultimate heel in the business. He was the first black wrestler to win the Georgia Heavyweight Championship. He became too big, too stiff and too juiced. Jarrett is now in TNA, the brand he helped to create. I think he could have beena WWF champion who could have carried the company. Kevin Von Erich was the oldest and maybe the most skilled of all of them. Apart from wrestling, Jericho is a alsofamoussinger, currently serving as the lead singer for Fozzy, a heavy metal band. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. And the 52-year-old recently dodged a big-time bullet, because according to a report in the Queen City News, Cain had . July 03, 2013 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, humor & hilarious, male, portraits, sports. Mysterio was a proven commodity when he came to WCW and was a cruiserweight champion in that promotion. Owen Hart could have been a world champion in any wrestling promotion. He is a four-time world champion and two-time Royal Rumblewinner. Wrestlers don't tend to age very well, but these stars over the age of 60 still look amazing. Strong and powerful. They either stepped away from the ring pretty early to allow their bodies to heal and/or adopted a healthy lifestyle. He was limited in some areas, but he had a great look. Spent time in Bill Watts' territory and thrived, then moved the WCW where he joined The Varsity Club with Kevin Sullivan. And even into his 40s he is still a title contender. InTNA he proved to be a great singles wrestler. He first performed under the name "Mean" Mark Callous but it was when he adopted the persona of an entity of darkness that his career really took off. No one on Memphis was as popular as Lawler except for maybe Elvis. In the United States, in the First Golden Age of professional wrestling was in the 1940's and 1950's. Johnson took his natural knack for entertainment and has, He executive produced and starred in the HBO series "Ballers" and was named the, Joan Marie Laurer took the WWE by storm when she, After leaving WWE, Laurer fell on hard times. Despite several storylines indicating retirement, The Undertaker continues to perform as part of the company and is still one of their most popular performers of all time. With WWE's new show The Monday Night War heating up on WWE Network, WWE.com lists the Top 50 WCW Superstars of all time. He is also the man to make Ric Flair "retire". His character, whether face or heel, was loved by fans of all ages and his love for Miss Elizabeth and subsequent marriage made everyone shed a tear. When Scott Steiner was in his prime, he was an amazing tag team wrestler and a great burst of power and speed. Still other wrestlers are now seeking higher office, including Booker T.. Apart from wrestling, Cena has also carved a career as an actor and rapper. Michaels, now a Hall-of-Famer, is a born-again Christian. A second generation wrestler out of the Mid-South region. He is currently the AAA Mexican Heavyweight Title holder. The Top Ranked Pro Wrestlers of the 1960s - AinsworthSports.com Eddie was fantastic in the ring. Regarded as one of the all-time greats, Bret Hart was one of the most popular and important WWF wrestlers during the promotion's New Generation Era. Plus, his maternal grandmother Lia Maivia was one of the few women involved in wrestling promotion and he has a slew of cousins who have also followed in the family footsteps. He could do just about anything, and usually he did. He is popular for his daredevilstunts and is often described as a death-defying and high-flying performer. One of his most high profile success stories is. He brought The Road Warriors, Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan. A good in ring performer in the NWA as a tag team partner of Barry Windham. He made a comeback in 2019 and went on to reestablish his position as a popular champion. His good looks and devil-may-care attitude earned him the nickname of the "Heartbreak Kid" in the '90s. Eddie's brothers, Hector, Amadno and Chavo, Sr. also became wrestlers. The northern crowds identified with the working class persona of Sammartino, who won over fans and feuded with the likes of Billy Graham, Ivan Koloff and Big John Studd'. WWE first originated in the mid-20th century as the brainchild of Roderick James "Jess" McMahon Sr., a professional wrestler and the patriarch of the McMahon family. The Macho Man was as good on the mic as he was in the ring. Other stars have children who continue their legacy, like Ric Flair. Hayes always looked like he was 8 hours short of sleep and a step slow in the morning, but when he got in the ring and on the screen, he was magic. We dont think so! CM Punk is one of the first independent wrestlers to have achieved tremendous success in WWE; his success served as a precedent for other independent wrestlers. in the company and he has injected new life into the brand with NXT, a pipeline of fresh wrestling talent. From being a professional wrestler, he went on to become a part of WWE's management team after marrying CEO Vince McMahon's daughter Stephanie. He became a Triple Crown champion and a Grand Slam champion with WWE before joining TNA. He is one of the first true "mat men" I ever saw in person. He had just as much to do with ushering in Hulkamania as anyone. The third generation star is getting better. He became one-half of Pro Wrestling World-1's Tag Team Champions, defeating the Extreme Rednecks. I am Charlotte Flair's dad!". He is missed as a superstar in this business. He is hopefully going to make a return soon. In 2013, Flair's son Reid, also a wrestler, died from an accidental drug overdose. In a career spanning over three decades, he has clinched the world heavyweight championship seven times. Professional Wrestling: The 50 Greatest Wrestlers of the 1980s Meet the 91-year-old grandfather booking major fashion campaigns - CNN CM Punk is an American retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Not only does he look amazing but he also seems to have a lot of gas still left in the tank. He was a member of Doom with Butch Reed and later a member of the APA with Bradshaw. Signed to the popular wrestling promotion WWE, Bray Wyatt uses intimidation as a major factor to gain an upper hand over his opponents. He was an amazing tag team wrestler as a member of Harlem Heat with his brother, Stevie Ray. And yes, sometimes Triple H will step back into the ring. Shortly before his death, he was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame. His heart punch appeared to be lethal and was said to be responsible (confirmed or not) of possibly leading to two deaths in wrestling. Flair has tweeted about her success, saying, "It's official, Charlotte is no longer Ric Flair's daughter. He battled bigger men and beat them with strength and determination. He is the greatest performer the wrestling business has known. Canadian fitness model and former wrestler Trish Stratus is known for her stint with WWF (later renamed WWE). Over the years, CM Punk hasinfluenced and inspiredpopular wrestlers like Seth Rollins, Adam Cole, and Rhea Ripley. Undertaking has been dealing with health issues and it is not known when his return will happen, but we all hope it will be at Wrestlemania. As he pursued the Intercontinental Champion, his feud with Randy Savage was one of the best ever. He initially entered the WWF as a villain, paired with manager Classy Freddie Blassie. Under the new ring name, Austin flourished. He is just as known for his ring performance as he is known for his mind and some of the great things he created in the NWA. Hulk Hogan (real name Terry Bollea) is synonymous with '80s wrestling. In 2004, he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. The Greatest Pro Wrestlers of All Time - Ranker CNN Professional wrestler Jay Briscoe has died at age 38. She was billed as the Ninth Wonder of the World and more than lived up to the title by becoming the only female WWF wrestler to win the Intercontinental Championship a feat she accomplished twice. Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki became two of the most popular Japanese wrestlers of all time. Pro surfer Mikala Jones dies at 44 in surfing accident - BBC News The rumor was that if Vince McMahon did not get Hulk Hogan to be his main star at the time, McMahon was leaning toward Snuka to carry the torch for the promotion. Hey parlayed different characters into world title holders. The 100 Greatest Wrestlers of All Time - Bleacher Report 11 Stars of Big Time Wrestling in the 1970s | Mental Floss He was the WWWF first ever Intercontinental Champion. Baker was one of the meanest men in wrestling. Deaths in 2023 - Wikipedia Outside of the ring, Jacobs and his wife work in the insurance industry. And when he returns to the ring, he will electrify again. He was a world champion and was gone from the ring way too soon. He suffered a stroke which caused paralysis on his left side in 2002, after hitting his heading in a bicycle accident. He has won several world championships in WWE. He also tried his hand in the food industry, to lesser success. WWE Superstars Then & Now: photos | WWE A former triple crown winner and tag team specialists, he also captured the WWF World Title. He also, Hogan is soon to be immortalized in film. Page allowed his contract to expire after a spate of injuries but made a series of guest appearances on WWE shows between 2010 and 2015. He is another one of those wrestlers who went to the WWF and was held back by the Hulk Hogan Era. Not only does he keep himself aware of what happens in the world of wrestling when the cameras are turned on, but he also digs deep to find out the stuff happening backstage. The current WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, is one of the most popular WWE superstars of the current generation. During his career, Kane held several titles including ECW Championship, WCW, and WWE Tag Team Championship, World Heavyweight Championship, WWF Championship, WWF Hardcore Championship, and WWF/WWE Intercontinental Championship. Now out of the ring, he was pacing like a wild, irate bull. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, The Undertaker is currently signed to WWE. He has also participated in Japanese wrestling championships. WWE Power Rankings: The 25 Greatest Superstars of the '90s But after parting with Jannetty, Michaels really found his stride as a villain and went on to win every major title. She was. The former WWWF World Champion took his acttothe NWA and became a tag team success. Deaths in 2023. Stratus' post-wrestling life includes being a mom to son Maximus and daughter Madison, in addition to running her Toronto based yoga studio, Stratusphere. Bockwinkle once said he raises his arm everything he hears someone count to three. After following the sport of professional wrestling for more than 14 years, Ali started working as a freelance content writer for numerous wrestling-based websites in 2018. The usually clean-living wrestler, Her downward spiral came to a tragic end in 2016 when she was found dead at her home in California. He is still a main attraction and could get another shot at the TNA World Title. Other Links > Pro Wrestling > Top Ranked Pro Wrestlers by Decade . Matt Hardy is an American wrestler best known for his appearances in WWE where he was part of the famous tag team, The Hardy Boyz, with his real-life brother Jeff. Few wrestlers have had a career as accomplished as, He also crossed over to the business side of the industry as the Executive Vice President of the Talent, Live Events, and Creative Direction for WWE. Widely regarded as one of the greatest pro wrestlers ever, Jericho is also one of the most recognized WWE superstars in the history of the wrestling promotion. The Rock has won eight WWE titles among many other accolades. However, what he did have over others was the ability to form an unrivaled connection with the crowd, which helped him rise to the top and allowed him to stay there for decades. Often considered the best wrestler in North America, Triple H played an important role in the World Wrestling Federation's Attitude Era as part of the influential D-Generation X stable. 15 Best Classic Hollywood Actors, According to the AFI - Collider He had success as a singles wrestler but was best known for his tag team work in the AWA with Jesse Ventura in the "East/West" Connection. Ric Flair had four children. He feuded with Roddy Piper and Jay Youngblood. . Since this article's initial publication, some . She is a dedicated animal lover as well. A typical entry reports information in the following sequence: Name, age, country of citizenship at birth, subsequent nationality (if applicable), what subject was noted for, cause of death (if known), and reference. He soon entered the world of acting, experienced phenomenal success in television and films and became the highest earning male actor in the world. Hogan began his professional wrestling career in . He was also great tag team wrestler with Barry Windham. . In the early '90s, the old guard slowly vanished to let the place to the rising stars. He published his autobiography "Wrestling for My Life: The Legend, the Reality, and the Faith of a WWE Superstar" and is the host of a hunting show on the Outdoor Channel together with longtime friend Keith Mark. His good looks and devil-may-care attitude, He later formed the alliance D-Generation X with a then up and coming Triple H, a move which propelled the groundbreaking, Wrestling for My Life: The Legend, the Reality, and the Faith of a WWE Superstar, New York Daily News Archive / Contributor/ Getty Images. He was a star in the Universal Wrestling Federation, wrestled in Georgia and feuded with . 1. 18 Vintage Portraits of Wrestlers From the Early 20 Century Apart from his several championship reigns in WWE, Scott Hall is also renowned for being an original member of the New World Order, one of the most popular stables in the history of professional wrestling. Professional Wrestling is not a mere hobby for Ali, it is an escape from reality for a while. Known for his large frame and athleticism, Show is one of the most popular WWE wrestlers of all time. Hogan became a pop culture icon with several magazine covers, talk show appearances, and even a Saturday morning cartoon. Benoit was known for his quick moves and powerful take downs. Also known as a booker and part of the WCW creative team. WWE: Power Ranking 25 of the Best Wrestlers of the 1970s He rose to fame in the WWE after being let go by WCW. Following his retirement, he became a public speaker. Nobody will ever be as great and larger than life as Andre. Everyone would be having their own personal favorites, but theres no doubt that wrestling is one of the most entertaining combat sports ever! Men hated him, women wanted to be with him. One of his popular moves, a diving headbutt, was cited as one of the reasons for his deteriorating mental health that eventually resulted in his suicide. Goldberg is one of the most popular figures of the late 1990s/early 2000s professional wrestling boom. He wrestled Ric Flair on several occasions, even beating the former NWA champion, but the title never changed hands and the victory for Colon was never recognized by the NWA. David is a 29-year-old Mexican writer and reader . He was an eight-time champion in the Portland area under Don Owen's promotion. Top 50 professional wrestlers from 2000-2010 using win-loss record He stood over seven feet tall due to a condition aptly called gigantism, but used his condition to gain popularity. Physical therapy helped him regain his mobility. Professional wrestling, in the sense of traveling performers paid for mass entertainment in staged matches, began in the post-Civil War period in the late 1860s and 1870s. Luger was a body with power and not much else. His tag team the Hart Foundation was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019 (though a fan tackled him during the ceremony he was later able to recover and finish his speech). His feud with Dusty Rhodes was one of the best ever. With more than two years of experience in writing listicles and features, it was only a matter of time before Ali joined The Sportster family. In 1996, he was inductedintothe Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. McDaniel was a hard-nosed old school wrestler who helped make Ric Flair a champion and a legend. He man who can stand on the top rope at his size with his speed and agility. His bad boy image and distinctive wrestling style have inspired several young wrestlers all over the world. Understand too this is my list. Morton was the lead in this tag team with Robert Gibson. "As most are aware our beloved Jeffrey has . The streak was eventually, Despite several storylines indicating retirement, The Undertaker continues to perform as part of the company and is still one of their, Stratus also broke the mold of women as ringside arm candy by becoming a WWE Hardcore Champion and a record seven-time Women's Champion. And while I watch it today with all its glamour and style, I think at times how in the world someone could make the transition from toe holds and arm bars to a Five-Star Frog Splash or a Huracanrana off the top ring rope. A great cruiserweight who won gold on both WCW and the WWE. The couple has two young daughters. He was a gentleman outside the ring and was well represented as a true champion of the NWA. 50 names 1. Jeff Hardy is a professional wrestler. Hart is not just known for his prowess as a singles performer, but together with his brother-in-law, the late Jim Neidhart, they formed the powerful tag team tandem of the Hart Foundation.