It is WrestleMania weekend in Philadelphia, and I am very excited about it. Wrestling is cool again. WrestleMania arrives when WWE has had one of their best years creatively in a very long time. Cody Rhodes, The Bloodline, LA Knight, and Rhea Ripley have all had standout years, and that was before The Rock showed up. The exit of Vince McMahon has led to the entrance of excellence that had been missing for many years. As a longtime wrestling fan, I decided to put together my 10 favorite wrestlers of all time.

I know that some of your favorites may be left out but cutting it down to 10 was extremely hard. I will explain my criteria. No top 10 list for me will include a wrestler who can’t cut a great promo. The Undertaker is an all-time great, but can you name his best promo? Brock Lesnar is a beast, but he has 0 great promos. Bret Hart only had 1 great promo that wasn’t referencing Shawn Michaels.

Wrestling is about storytelling, not just doing moves. The guys who last know how to tell the best stories. Guys who just flip, won’t be on my list. My favorites tell a story both outside the ring with the microphone and inside the ring. Some will have managers, but none of them needed the manager to tell a story.

Longevity plays a big role for my top 10 as well. The Ultimate Warrior for example is missing because he wasn’t at the top for very long in addition to his promo issues.

There is 1 glaring omission from my list who checks every box and that is Mick Foley. He was an amazing storyteller who could get it done in the ring and on the microphone, but he was just edged out.

I am interested in hearing everyone’s reactions to this, and your list of favorite wrestlers.

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• 10. Hulk Hogan

  Hulk & Junk Yard Dog are the reason I became a wrestling fan. In the WWE, the most memorable match for me was against Macho Man at WrestleMania V, after the Mega Powers exploded. When he was the 3rd man in the NWO in WCW, I didn’t blink for about 10 minutes straight.

  The reason he is so low on the list is because his in-ring wasn’t the best, and he ego in WCW. (plus, that leaked tape, come on Hulk).

• 9. Booker T

  Harlem Heat showed up in WCW right when my interest in wrestling was waning, but they were incredible. Sister Sherri Martel (RIP), and his brother Stevie Ray are one of the best tag teams of all time.

  Booker went on to be the 5-time WCW champion, and King Booker in WWE was tremendous. His tag team with Goldust always delivered as well. He should have beaten HHH at WrestleMania 19.

• 8. Randy Orton

  Orton has been full-time in the WWE for basically 22 years! At one time he was the youngest world champion in the history of the company.

  Orton still has the most bulletproof finishing move in wrestling, the RKO. That move alone makes all his matches must-see. Orton bridges the gap to main eventers HHH & Ric Flair in Evolution to Cody Rhodes in Legacy.

   

• 7. Stone Cold Steve Austin

  Stone Cold was the biggest star in the most popular era in wrestling history. There are reports he used to make 7 figures per quarter on merchandise when he was at his peak. He had a legendary feud with the Rock that headlined 3 different WrestleMania’s.

  The only reason he is not top 3 is due to injuries his run was relatively short.

• 6. John Cena

  Cena is the superstar who defined an era. He out of the OVW class in development that included Orton, Brock Lesnar, and Batista! Despite that tough competition he shined the brightest.

  Some knock his in-ring work, but compared to Hulk Hogan he was a tactician. He also holds the world record for granting Make-A-Wish wishes with kids. That is something to be proud of.

• 5. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

  Johnson, the most electrifying man in wrestling is back for WrestleMania 40 and has reminded everyone of just how entertaining he can be. The Rock went from being told to die by fans, to being the best promo the business has ever seen. He has been amazing as a babyface and a heel.

  Hollywood Rock when he was on his way to being a huge box office star may have been the best version. The Rock debuted at Mania in 1997, and was already in the main event in 1999, the last WrestleMania in Philadelphia.

• 4. Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig

  There is a generation of fans who forget just how great Mr. Perfect was. Go back and look at his work from AWA to before his back injury in the then WWF. You will see a guy who was as close to perfect as anyone in the ring, and flawless promos.

  Who didn’t try to spit out their gum and smack it? His matches against Bret Hart were amazing, and while his WCW run wasn’t quite as good, he still is an all-time favorite for me. 

• 3. Ravishing Rick Rude

  Rick Rude was a menace. If he was still with us, I could hear him saying, “all you Philadelphia peons keep the noise down as a real sexy man takes off his robe, hit the music”.

  Rude was great on the mic and great in the ring. The Ultimate’s Warrior had 3 great matches in his entire career, 2 of them were against Rude. He went on to win the world title in WCW. He is also the only person to be on Raw and Nitro on the same night.

• 2. Ric Flair

  WOOOOO, bright lights, pretty ladies, Nature Boy!! Flair is the last great touring NWA champion and is still active in the business today. He was swag before the word existed, and was impeccable both in the ring, on the mic, and apparently at the Marriott after the matches.

  Go back on Peacock and watch his 3 matches against Ricky Steamboat, they still hold up. The only reason Flair isn’t #1 on his list is because he didn’t know when to quit.

• 1. Shawn Michaels

  The best in ring performer in the history of the business is my all-time favorite. The Rockers were an amazing tag team, and when he threw Marty Jannetty through the glass, he became a star. Mr. WresteMania is so important to the business because he improved the inside the ring product so much.

  Wrestling went from the biggest guys to the best athletes in large part due to him. He also did the job for to begin the Stone-Cold era. His 1st mania match vs the Undertaker is still the greatest wrestling match in history.

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