20 Greatest Wrestlers Of All Time (2024)

Every wrestling fan has their own ideas about the greatest wrestlers of all time. While championship reigns are a large part of what makes a great wrestler, their athleticism, charisma, and interactions with fans also play a large part in their career success.

However, the greatest wrestlers are skilled athletes and performers, who can sell hits in the ring and work with almost anyone. Wrestling has a long history and icons like Andre the Giant and Mick Foley rose to the top for a reason. These aren't just big, beefy men. The greatest pro wrestlers deserve respect at every stage in their careers.

Updated April 18, 2024, by Michael Colwander: AnotherWrestleMania is on the books with new champions crowned, stories finished, and legacies established. This list has been updated with five more wrestling legends.

20 Rey Mysterio Was Proof Size Doesn't Matter

WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2023)

When thinking about the greatest wrestlers of all time, most immediately go to big, bulky, heavyweight wrestlers. One wrestler subverted those expectations and helped usher in an era of wrestling where size doesn't matter.

Rey Mysterio has long been a popular wrestler among luchador fans. He's an icon in Mexico and one of the biggest draws in Spanish-speaking cities and regions. Rey Mysterio is one of the best babyfaces ever. In 2006, Rey Mysterio shocked wrestling fans when he won the Royal Rumble against all odds and went on to win the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22. Rey Mysterio has since added a WWE Championship to his résumé. Rey Mysterio still competes in WWE where he maintains his long feud with his son "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio.

WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2017) & TNA Hall of Fame (Class of 2013)

Wrestlers come from all sorts of backgrounds. Maybe they were bodybuilders, actors, former football players, or simply decided to pursue the dream. Kurt Angle may be the most decorated wrestler before entering the pro wrestling industry.

Kurt Angle won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in wrestling "with a broken freakin' neck." Kurt Angle is arguably the best technical wrestler ever and saw success in both WWE and TNA where he won their respective world titles multiple times. In TNA, he also had a run where he held all of the company's titles sans women's titles. Even beyond technical skills, he's also the rare wrestler who can smoothly transition from a silly/cheesy character to a believably serious force.

18 Is Bryan Danielson One Of The Best Ever? Yes! Yes! Yes!

WWE has always preferred to create its own stars. It's always tough for someone who rose to prominence elsewhere to carry their success over to the entertainment world of WWE. For independent legend "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson, known in WWE as Daniel Bryan, WWE had no choice but to push him.

Bryan Danielson is elite in both character work and technical ability. He's no stranger to producing amazing matches and fans have always gravitated toward him no matter if he was a heel or a face. His popularity reached an apex during the "Yes Movement" where fans voiced their displeasure at Danielson losing in the 2014 Royal Rumble, ultimately compelling WWE into changing their plans in order for him to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XXX. Currently, Danielson competes in AEW as a member of the Blackpool Combat Club with Jon Moxley (WWE's Dean Ambrose), Claudio Castagnoli (WWE's Cesaro), and Wheeler Yuta.

17 AJ Styles Can Have A Great Match With Anyone

To give an idea of what makes AJ Styles "Phenomenal," look up his match against Dusty Rhodes in 2003. AJ Styles was still early in his career but was the NWA World Heavyweight Champion while it was under the TNA banner. Styles, a heel at the time, defended his title against an aging Dusty Rhodes, and all things considered, the match was great.

No matter who is put in AJ Styles' path, whether an aging legend or Shane McMahon at WrestleMania, AJ Styles can have a great match with anyone and steal the show. This has led to him being in an extremely exclusive club of being one of the few wrestlers to win a world championship in three or more promotions having won both the NWA and TNA World Championships with TNA, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship with NJPW in Japan, and the WWE Championship.

16 John Cena's Star Is Only Getting Brighter

Few thought WWE would ever dare push someone to nearly break Ric Flair's official 16 World Championship mark, but they had someone special in John Cena. In WWE, Cena is a 16-time World Champion now himself.

What Cena may lack in technical ability, he made up in popularity and stardom. He's become one of the most recognizable figures in the world and his star in Hollywood is only getting brighter. Cena's popularity has also made him the lead wish-granter in the Make-A-Wish foundation, which perfectly encapsulates the impact he's made across generations. While he may not be in the WWE Hall of Fame yet, he absolutely will be.

15 Hulk Hogan Brought Mainstream Popularity To Wrestling Twice Over

WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2005) & WWE Hall of Fame with the nWo (Class of 2020)

There's no denying the impact Hulk Hogan and all his little Hulkamaniacs had on the wrestling industry, especially during his prime in the 1980s-'90s. He was an American icon who inspired an entire generation of kids to take their vitamins, say their prayers, and keep training hard. He also enjoyed an entire second era as a key part of the nWo faction, which helped revolutionize the industry and ignite the Monday Night Wars.

He had some of the most memorable and iconic matches during his time in WWE (WWF at the time), including epic face-offs against Andre the Giant, The Ultimate Warrior, Randy the Macho Man Savage, and Rowdy Roddy Piper. Though most of his promos lacked inspiration, and his moves in the ring weren't on par with a lot of his colleagues, he was still a wrestling icon for decades that will go down among the greats.

14 Eddie Guerrero Relied On Cheating And Became The Most Likable Hero

WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2006)

Eddie Guerrero was a fan favorite, even if he often struggled to compete for the limelight amid a roster of giant personalities. Coming from a prominent Mexican wrestling family, he moved like he was born in the ring. Both powerful and agile, Guerrero could deliver precise blows as easily as he could land flips and fly around the ring.

His versatility made him a good match for anyone who dared to come at him, and that little hint of arrogance that fueled his fire was one of the things fans couldn't get enough of. Eddie's charisma eventually made him so popular that fans continued to root for him despite his cheating ways, often reserved for heel characters. He even found a way to look great while working alongside top female talent like Chyna without ever looking overshadowed.

13 André The Giant Was The Eighth Wonder Of The World

WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 1993, Inaugural Inductee)

For non-wrestling fans, André the Giant was the larger-than-life presence in The Princess Bride, but for everyone else, he is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. 7'4" and 520lbs., André the Giant had a notable, must-watch rivalry with Hulk Hogan at the end of his career, leading to matches in places like New York's Shea Stadium to the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan, for WrestleMania III.

Despite being one of the biggest names in professional wrestling, André the Giant didn't have many title reigns. He only held the WWF World Heavyweight title one time, but that was never the point for André. For him, his size and strength were more of a draw for fans than his accolades. A great performer, he was known more for his presence than his skill in the ring. That said, he was always a fan favorite whose heart matched his enormous stature.

12 Triple H Proved It Was All About The Game And How It's Played

WWE Hall of Fame with D-Generation X (Class of 2019)

Before he was the Chief Content Officer of WWE, Triple H was dusting it up with the greatest wrestlers of all time in the ring. Triple H came on the scene as a heel and continued in this capacity for much of his career. With a gruff voice and hulking frame, it was easy to see him as a villain. However, that doesn't mean he didn't have the charisma to draw crowds in.

Much of Triple H's popularity was earned during his time as the leader of D-Generation X, a tag team that defined the Attitude Era. Later, during the Ruthless Aggression era he collected even more accolades during his "reign of terror," defeating some of the greatest wrestlers in the world. A performer who was always willing to adapt his gimmick to match the wrestling business' and the fans' desires, Triple H remained relevant and kept winning titles until his retirement in 2022.

11 Mick Foley Became Beloved Not Just As One Character, But Three

WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2013)

Mick Foley has played many different roles in wrestling, from his popular anti-hero character Mankind to Cactus Jack to the mellow and entertaining Dude Love. Foley's a legend, in part because of the way he was willing to sacrifice his body for the sake of the match.

Foley's fearlessness meant he was willing to let the Undertaker throw him off of the Hell in a Cell cage, and he cut himself in the ring regularly to make his performances look more realistic. He was even injured by barbed wire on several occasions. Foley was constantly changing his persona, which kept fans invested. He was a gifted wrestler, as entertaining in his promos and vignettes as he was in the ring. His championship reigns, including four solo championship titles, and eleven tag-team titles, are still fan favorites that defined the Attitude Era.

10 Chris Jericho Is A Master Of Reinventing Himself

Chris Jericho didn't have an easy time making his mark in professional wrestling, and not because he didn't have the talent. For a while, he struggled to make himself stand out among the business' top performers, but he didn't let that hold him back.

Jericho made people notice him through his heel work in the most obnoxious ways imaginable until they had no choice but to pay attention to him. Once he got their attention, it was hard to deny his talent. Jericho has been a worldwide success for decades, and will no doubt go down in the books as one of the greatest wrestlers to hit the ring.

9 Sting Is An Undeniable Icon

WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2016) & TNA Hall of Fame (Class of 2012, Inaugural Inductee)

Sting's roughly 40-year wrestling career covered a lot of ground before his official retirement in early 2024 in AEW. Though people may not talk about him as much as they did when he was the front-runner for WCW, even after WWE consumed its rival, Sting went on to continue achieving great things. He was an incredible and daring athlete throughout his career, and he faced off against some of the industry's most iconic stars.

At times his promos were a little weird, but that just made him seem cooler. He went through a lot of face paint phases over the years, but when he became the Scorpion and began painting his face like the main character from The Crow, fans were more intrigued than ever by his mystique. Sting's one-man rivalry with the entire nWo was one of WCW's most poignant and memorable storylines, and there were times the fans were convinced he would just keep rising from the ashes every time they dog-piled him and tried to keep him down.

8 "Rowdy" Roddy Piper Knew When To Change The Question

WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2005)

Unlike many other wrestlers, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper didn't debut as an in-ring talent. Instead, he was a manager for another wrestler, which led to him starting feuds and working as an in-ring performer. As part of the former WWF, Roddy Piper captured fans with his personality before he showed off his wrestling prowess. He knew exactly how to rile up the fans, and how to throw curveballs to the audience in character. As he often liked to say: "Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the question." Throughout his various match-ups, though, he showed he could back up his microphone skills with his physical feats.

Piper joined WCW in the '90s, which reignited his longstanding feud with Hulk Hogan, who was then wearing a black hat as a part of nWo. However, despite these ongoing spats, Piper and Hogan were actually partnered up in the WWE more often than they fought.

7 "Macho Man" Randy Savage Was The Perfect Mix Of Charisma And Skill

WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2015)

Among the wrestling elite, Randy "Macho Man" Savage had all the right components to go down in wrestling history as an icon and a legend. His promos were full of charisma, even when his tangents went way off the deep end, and while great promos often help make even mediocre wrestlers stand out in a crowd, Macho Man had the chops to back up his words.

He was an incredible athlete, as muscular as he was agile, and his many feuds over the years with fellow icons like Hulk Hogan and Jake "The Snake" Roberts are still counted among some of the most memorable matches in wrestling history.

6 Bret "The Hitman" Hart Represented The Excellence Of Execution

WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2006) & WWE Hall of Fame with the Hart Foundation (Class of 2019)

Bret "The Hitman" Hart is one of the greatest technical wrestlers to ever work in WWE. Hart and his brother-in-law, Jim Neidhart, were also among the most revered tag teams as part of The Hart Foundation. He developed an infamous rivalry with Shawn Michaels that ended in 1997 when Hart unexpectedly lost a match in the infamous "Montreal Screwjob" that helped drive him out of the WWE.

Hart won the Intercontinental Championship in 1991 and transformed the title into an important championship. Hart also held the WWF Championship five times. Truly dedicated to his craft, Bret Hart was one of the most popular wrestlers of his time and set the standard for many wrestlers.

5 Ric Flair Showed The Importance Of Style

NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2008), WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2008), & WWE Hall of Fame with the Four Horsem*n (Class of 2012)

The Nature Boy Ric Flair is one of the most recognizable faces in wrestling, with a career that continues to evolve. Despite being 74, Ric Flair only recently stopped wrestling. After coming out of retirement yet again, Flair wrestled for AEW in his final match. However, he had several notable "last" matches throughout his career, adding to his legend as an all-time great performer.

Flair's longevity is part of why he's considered the most outstanding wrestler of all time. Officially, Flair has had 16 title reigns, although that number is disputed. But no wrestler has brought the same energy and style to the ring as Ric Flair. He was an effective heel for much of his wrestling career and has passed his skills down to his daughter Charlotte who continues the family legacy.

4 Shawn Michaels Remains Mr. WrestleMania

WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2011) & WWE Hall of Fame with D-Generation X (Class of 2019)

Shawn Michaels, otherwise known as The Heartbreak Kid, got his start as part of the tag team known as The Rockers but shined as a singles competitor. Michaels thrived as a villain and used the less desirable aspects of his persona to elevate his character. He was co*cky and vain, and the fans loved it.

Michaels' infamous rivalry with Bret Hart is still one of the biggest controversies in wrestling and had outside-of-the-ring ramifications. Much of Michaels' wrestling career is defined by his time in D-Generation X with Triple H and Chyna. He became known as "Mr. WrestleMania" for the sheer number of matches he competed in at the yearly event. Michaels is retired but is still a part of the WWE, helping find new talent in NXT.

3 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Took Wrestling To Hollywood

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has expanded his career beyond the squared circle, but that doesn't erase his status as one of the most popular babyfaces in wrestling. The Rock continued the Anoa'i family's legacy in the ring and, while his wrestling skills were excellent, his skills on the mic were unmatched. To this day, fans still have "Do you smell what The Rock is cooking?" on their lips.

Even when he turned heel, fans rallied behind The Rock and wanted to see him win. His undeniable charisma made fans fall in love with him, and he continued his career in WWE even after he moved on to become one of Hollywood's top-grossing actors. The Rock continues to make sporadic appearances in WWE including his feud with Cody Rhodes leading up to a tag-team match at WrestleMania XL where he, dubbed WWE's "Final Boss," teamed with Roman Reigns to face off against Rhodes and Seth Rollins.

2 The Undertaker Has The Most Impressive Streak In Wrestling

WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2022)

The Undertaker had one of the most illustrious careers in professional wrestling. After three decades in the squared circle, he finally retired in 2020 and was subsequently inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2022. The Undertaker's twenty-year undefeated streak of WrestleMania matches has never been rivaled, and no one may ever come close.

Besides being a great technical wrestler, The Undertaker had one of the most immersive characters in the ring, and he reimagined it regularly. From the Deadman to the American Badass, the towering 6'10" performer dominated in the ring and helped launch the careers of numerous other WWE Superstars.

1 "Stone Cold" Steve Austin Was The Defining Wrestler Of The Attitude Era

WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2009)

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin was the most popular wrestler in WWE in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His rivalry with The Rock is still considered one of the best feuds in the history of WWE. Stone Cold produced some unforgettable catchphrases, like "That's the bottom line because Stone Cold said so," and created the "What?" call and response with fans that still continues even though Steve Austin isn't an in-ring personality anymore.

Austin competed at some of the most important WWE events, including WrestleMania and Summer Slam, and took home championships, solidifying his place as one of the best wrestlers in the world. Despite his lengthy retirement, Austin did return to in-ring action to have one final match at WrestleMania 38 in his home state of Texas against Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred match, which he won.

WWE

WWE is the largest wrestling promotion in the world. Its main roster is divided into two brands, Raw and SmackDown, along with a developmental roster featuring up and coming potential stars on NXT.

Created by

Vincent J. McMahon

Cast

The Rock Dwayne Johnson , hulk hogan , 'Macho Man' Randy Savage , Ric Flair , andre the giant , Stone Cold Steve Austin , Bret Hart , triple h , Shawn Michaels

Current Series

WWE Raw , WWE SmackDown! , WWE NXT

TV Show(s)

WWE NXT , WWF Monday Night RAW