34 thoughts on “The 100 Greatest Professional Wrestlers of All-Time”
Goldust Brian Pullman Tully Blanchard The Crusher Rick Martell Cody Rhodes Chris Benoit and several others not in top 100
go back and read the list. You are wrong.
I appreciate the comment.
It’s hard to make that argument for each of the wrestlers you mentioned, let alone all of them. There’s no question that it becomes akin to splitting hairs the further down the list you go. It’s not a coincidence that six of the seven you named are outside of the top 70.
I would love to hear who belongs in the place of the seven you mentioned. Keep in mind…
Benoit is a top-100 wrestler of all-time by any standard that doesn’t include personal transgressions.
Cody is the brains and the face behind the WWE’s first legitimate competition since WCW died. He was a decent wrestler in the WWE (the “Dashing Cody Rhodes” gimmick is underrated) but his WWE work is not what gets him on the list. He did the unthinkable and created WWE’s first legitimate competition in nearly two decades. His impact on the industry is significant and it’s likely only to go up from here.
Goldust’s character is one of the most controversial and longstanding in the history of professional wrestling. If you were around in ’95 when it debuted, you know how cutting edge it was. All told, Dustin has wrestled for 33 years and won 18 belts between WWE and WCW. It would be very difficult to argue that someone else should be on this list ahead of him.
I’d be happy to go on about Martel, Tully, Pillman, and The Crusher but I’ll leave it at that for now.
Any top 100 list without Greg The Hammer Valentine is completely illegitimate.
Any comment on a top 100 list advocating for Greg The Hammer Valentine is completely illegitimate.
As tempting as it is to put as much thought and effort into my comment as you did yours, I’m going to choose to support my viewpoint with words. I love me some Hammer. First and foremost, there have been thousands of professional wrestlers over the years. Valentine would be one of the next 5-10 on the list if I expanded it to 150 or so which is pretty lofty considering all of the great performers who have come and gone. There are many reasons why Valentine doesn’t rate higher on my list. He had some notable feuds in the territories with Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, and Wahoo McDaniel. However, when wrestling took off in the mid-80s, Valentine was quickly relegated to mid-card and tag-team status. From 1984 until he left the big-time scenes in 1998, Valentine was too much in the background to beat out the other players on this list. After a brief IC run in the WWF, he was never in the title picture, he essentially stopped dropping promos, and didn’t evolve his character in any way unless you count dyeing his hair black to appease Elvis. If you go down the list of qualities tht make for an elite top-tier performer, Valentine doesn’t score high in any category. He was a consummate professional with a good nickname. To hit the top-100, you gotta bring more to the table.
Bro how could you leave out Rob Van Dam??
I’ve got a solid explanation on RVD and it goes something like this… I mistakenly deleted his name. 🤷♂️ I have a master list that I transfer names to and from and somehow he got lost in the wash. He was a candidate for the back half of the top 100 for sure. I’ll definitely get him properly rated for the next update (whether he ends up in the top 100 or HM will depend on a few factors). The next update will probably happen after WrestleMania; there are some current superstars who have made major moves since the initial list was revealed (Bobby Lashley etc.) which I suspect will ultimately decide RVDs fate. Thanks for pointing out RVD’s omission!
There is no women on the list Chyna and lita should be on here. There’s no xpac, the Hardy Boyz, ray Mysterio…
Hey Inferno!
There is a separate women’s list. Chyna (2) and Lita (4) feature prominently.
Rey Mysterio is #60! Jeff Hardy is #63!
X-Pac and Matt Hardy are on the fringe.
X-Pac is an interesting case. On one hand, he was in DX and the NWO. On the other hand, the biggest accomplishments of his career were being in DX and the NWO. He was a fantastic wrestler and had a few memorable angles (the 1-2-3 Kid/Razor angle that put him on the big stage was one of the better angles ever) but he was a support guy. For me, he’s just outside of the top 100.
Matt Hardy hasn’t had the same singles spotlight as Matt even though I think his Broken Matt Hardy gimmick could’ve been much, much bigger with the right creative.
So Amos joe as 100 that is wrong it should be Bobby lashley but I do not like him so Braun strowman
Hey Sally!
Bobby Lashley will be moving into the top-100 after my next update (after WrestleMania). It took him a while to get here but he’s a superstar and has made enough of a mark to crack the list. Given what he’s accomplished in the last year, he’ll likely debut in a strong position.
Braun Strowman was criminally underutilized in the WWE. He is a sure-fire top-100 talent but the creative failed him. I was hoping he’d land with AEW where he could realize his potential as the top heel in a company. His WWE run had some good moments but it was unsatisfying overall and I don’t think his career is strong enough to break into the top-100, yet. Lashley laid the blueprint for a massive talent to find his groove late in his career so hopefully, we’ll be seeing the same from Braun.
Given Samoa Joe is #100 and given Bobby Lashley (at a minimum) will be entering the list as of the next update, it’s safe to say Joe’s time on the list will be coming to an end soon. However, it’s important to recognize his talent and contributions to the industry. Although his WWE run ended unceremoniously and without the same success we were used to seeing from him, he was a massive star in promotions all over the world for nearly two decades. After WCW died in 2001, the WWE’s consolidation of talent made it virtually impossible for a competitor to emerge. That didn’t mean wrestling outfits weren’t trying. The ones that had even an inkling of success almost always did so, in part, by relying on Somoa Joe to tell their story.
What about the IRON Sheik?
The Iron Sheik is worthy of consideration on a list like this and he does nab a spot on “The Next 100” list. However, he’s just not in the same category as the rest of the wrestlers in the top 100. He did a great job filling the foreign heel role in the 80s with Nikolai Volkoff but he’s probably most known for being the wrestler that Hulk Hogan beat to win his first WWF Heavyweight Championship. Sheik held the belt once for less than a month and then was quickly tossed into the tag team ranks with Volkoff. It’s hard to come up with a defining angle that Sheik was a major player in. Volkoff and Sheik were relevant for a few years as a tag team but beyond that, his career is pretty nondescript. I’d argue the most significant angle he ever participated in was Sgt Slaughter’s betrayal of America angle when he portrayed Colonel Mustafa. That’s not going to cut it on a list as talented as this one.
Your list is pretty good and I can’t argue with it too much. But an honorable mention could be made for Jesse The Body Ventura, Mad Dog Vachon, Tommy Wildfire Rich, Michael Hayes, Marty Jannetty and Larry the Ax (aka Pretty Boy) Henning. Those guys were all champions and stars in their day.
Not only do I agree with your comment, but Michael Hayes is also actually in the top-100 (#94) and Jesse, Mad Dog, Tommy Rich, and the Ax are on my honorable mention linked below…
Jannetty had some moments but he’s a touch behind, IMO.
Dude The Ultimate Warrior has gotta be way lower than 52 on the list he is a top 20
Ultimate Warrior has gotta be lower in the list he is top 20 for sure
Hey Josiah,
There’s no doubt the Ultimate Warrior was a lightning bolt in the industry. Like a lightning bolt, he was flashy, electric, powerful, and memorable. However, also like a lightning bolt, he was short-lived and destructive. This what I wrote when describing the methodology for this list:
“The Ultimate Warrior was a pop culture icon. At Wrestlemania 7, he became the first person to cleanly pin Hulk Hogan in nine years. He would send Macho Man into retirement the following year in the first and only career vs. career match in Wrestlemania history. He starred in Slim Jim commercials, appeared on Regis & Kathy Lee and the Arsenio Hall Show, and was adorned to Wrestling Buddies and Hasbro figures alike. His popularity would eclipse even that of the Immortal Hulk Hogan. So, it would make sense if his legacy was mistaken for more than what it was.
The reality is that Warrior had a reputation for working stiff (unintentionally hurting his opponent). His skill-set was limited to a few basic moves. He gassed himself out sprinting to the ring, leading to short matches. He delivered rambling promos that did nothing to further storylines. Worse yet, he was notoriously unreliable. Without this additional context, it would be easy to overrate his legacy.”
Two things I’m curious about. Why does Hawk outrank Animal so much? Super surprised by that. What a rush! Secondly, what puts Nash at 50? I thought he was pretty impacted. Am I misremembering Big Sexy?
Hey Anthony!
Great questions, specifically on the difference in ranking between Hawk and Animal. Obviously, they are by most accounts the greatest tag team in North American wrestling history. They made their mark in the tag team ranks and their work there carries the most weight when evaluating their careers. FWIW, Animal would likely rate in the first 10-15 spots outside the top 100. Hawk edges Animal for a few reasons. Here they are in no particular order:
1). Hawk had more singles success both in North America and overseas. He challenged Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Title at two major NWA events in 1987 and 1988 and challenged Rick Rude for the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship in 1993. Animal never got that kind of spotlight outside of the Road Warriors.
2). Hawk was the mouthpiece for the tag team, he was the stronger worker in the ring for the tag team, and his iconic, grizzly, “Oooooh, what a rush!” hook is in the pantheon of wrestling catchphrases.
Obviously, Animal was a huge part of the Road Warriors and is an absolute legend in his own right. I just think there is a bit of a difference between their resumes.
As for Nash, there is no doubt he was impactful. The NWO angle might be the greatest in history. He thrived both as a singles and a tag team performer. The reason he doesn’t rate higher than 50 is based on a few factors. First, he was never THE guy. Second, he was not an elite worker. Third, there wasn’t a lot of character versatility. Yes, he won world championships but that is different than being THE guy and, yes, he was a good worker for his size, but that’s different than being an elite worker. I look at a guy like Scott Hall (Nash’s cohort in the NWO and “The Outsiders”) and Hall is superior in just about every category I used to evaluate wrestling resumes. IMO, Hall is Nash’s ceiling on a list like this. Then it comes down to what other big men rate ahead of Nash. That might be something I revisit in the future. I currently have Vader, The Big Show, and Kane ahead of Nash. There are compelling arguments he should be rated behind all three and, frankly, equally compelling arguments he should be rated ahead of all three. It really just comes down to how much credit you give Nash as the third-best player in the original NWO and how much you factor in his limited in-ring work. Longevity plays a big part, too. Nash stuck around for a minute but nothing compared to the runs near the top by Kane and The Big Show.
Hey man. I just have one question….How in the hell is Abdullah the Butcher on this list? AND he’s higher than Batista? Batista is ranked 75 out of 100??? Please explain….
Abdullah the Butcher wrestled for 62 years. He wrestled everyone from Lou Thesz to Mick Foley. He was a special attraction known for his brutal feuds with the likes of The Shiek and Bruiser Brody. Abdullah the Butcher was hardcore before hardcore was hardcore. Batista had an exceptional physique and certainly moved well for his size. He was a headliner for a brief run before moving on to Hollywood. Comparing these two is like comparing Apples to Pepperoni. Both have vastly different career resumes and character types. I’ll go with the guy who pioneered a style decades before it would be embraced by wrestling fans and in-ring performers.
No list is ever going to make everyone happy. I’ve looked at a number of top 100 wrestlers and am usually so sick to my stomach by the time I get up to #80 that I quit reading and just flash to the top 10 before throwing up in my mouth. I’m sure I could find 10-15 guys who may be more deserving than some near the bottom of your list but I’m not going. Instead I’m going to salute your list as of all the ones I’ve looked at it is clearly the best one I’ve seen. So hats off, job well done sir!
Thanks, Garry! I appreciate your comments.
How did you decide to put Bray Wyatt over Batista?
Hey Carl!
The advantage that Bray Wyatt has in terms of creativity and evolution of character is substantial. In fact, I think it’s such that it offsets any advantage Batista has over Wyatt in other areas. Although, I’m not sure in what areas Batista does have an advantage. The only negative for Wyatt is that he was badly misused in the WWE. Otherwise, he’d be much, much higher on the list.
Thanks for making this list. I’m a list-maker myself, and I enjoy compiling many lists, including those of the greatest wrestlers of all-time. That said, I consider this the definitive list, as it is obviously well-thought out and defended. I look forward to it being updated. My only request would be to “time-stamp” it somehow, so we know when the list was last updated.
Hey Kurt!
I appreciate the comments and the time-stamp suggestion (I’ll look into that). In the meantime, the fastest way to see the date of the last list update (for any of the lists) is to look at the Activity Log on the home page. Just look under the “Sport” column and scroll for the date of the latest update. Coincidentally, I was updating the list when your comment came through and the list has been freshly updated. FYI–This list changes at a glacier pace compared to the other simply because it’s performance art rather than an athletic competition (with wins and losses). Unfortunately, that just means this list will be updated less frequently than the others. For perspective, the last update prior to today’s was in 2022.
Tito Santana should be on the list. So should Magnificent Muraco and Honky Tonk Man.
All very good performers. Tito and the (original) Rock have been surpassed by too many wrestlers to justify inclusion. Honky’s omission is a tough one for me since he was white hot as a heel for two consecutive years. However, his run at the top was just too short. He’s one of my favorites.
Hardly any new Japan stars where’s Will Osprey
Elijah,
Osprey is an interesting case. I feel comfortable waiting things out before forming an opinion on his legacy.
RE: New Japan–Here is what I wrote in the write-up for the list:
“U.S. and Canada
When it comes to pro wrestling, comparing success in Japan to the U.S. and Canada is a losing proposition not because one is better than the other but because we have little overlap to form a basis for comparison. The audiences and cultures are very different from each other. In Japan, in-ring technical work has historically been the most emphasized element, which is supported by the fact that 125 of the 160 5-star matches awarded by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter have taken place within Japanese promotions. In the U.S. and Canada, physique, the ability to deliver memorable promos, moving merchandise, and driving ratings have all played more important roles in defining legacies.
These two distinct wrestling cultures have had very few lasting collaborations and crossover stars, although Japan has been much kinder to its visitors. The list of U.S. wrestlers who have been embraced by Japanese audiences is long and varied. It includes Big Van Vader, Stan Hansen, Scott Norton, “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, and Prince Albert, all of whom were more popular in Japan than in the U.S. The list of Japanese stars who have been embraced by American audiences stands at Shinsuke Nakamura. In all seriousness, while the Great Muta, the Great Kabuki, Ultimo Dragon, and Jushin “Thunder” Liger did achieve modest success in the States, they weren’t exactly featured in their respective promotions.
To fairly compare North American wrestlers to Japanese wrestlers, we would need to see them in the same universe with the same opportunities, and that just hasn’t happened. Instead of randomly splicing Japanese legends throughout the list, we’re better off settling on a U.S. and Canada-centric list and deferring the Japanese list to those immersed in the Japanese culture. Although Rikidozan, Antonio Inoki, and Giant Baba might be household names even among American wrestling fans, there’s a difference between being aware they existed and understanding their impact.
We certainly wouldn’t expect a Japanese wrestling fan to accurately rank, say, The Ultimate Warrior without a deep understanding of American wrestling culture. The Ultimate Warrior was a pop culture icon. At Wrestlemania 7, he became the first person to cleanly pin Hulk Hogan in nine years. He would send Macho Man into retirement the following year in the first and only career vs. career match in Wrestlemania history. He starred in Slim Jim commercials, appeared on Regis & Kathy Lee and the Arsenio Hall Show, and was adorned to Wrestling Buddies and Hasbro figures alike. His popularity would eclipse even that of the Immortal Hulk Hogan. So, it would make sense if his legacy was mistaken for more than what it was.
The reality is that Warrior had a reputation for working stiff (unintentionally hurting his opponent). His skill-set was limited to a few basic moves. He gassed himself out sprinting to the ring, leading to short matches. He delivered rambling promos that did nothing to further storylines. Worse yet, he was notoriously unreliable. Without this additional context, it would be easy to overrate his legacy. Without having intimate knowledge of Japanese wrestling culture to avoid making similar miscalculations, we’re better off outsourcing to experts. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a top-100 Japanese list. Hopefully, that changes at some point. In the meantime, here is an informative rundown of 50 of the greatest Japanese wrestlers of all-time.
Latino wrestlers have had more success in the U.S. than their Japanese counterparts, although even that door has only been open for 25 years. Lucha libre in the states didn’t take off in earnest until WCW began to promote its cruiserweight division in 1996. Wrestling fans would immediately marvel at the pace and athleticism of Rey Mysterio Jr., Eddie Guerrero, Juventud Guerrera, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Psicosis, La Parka, and Super Calo. Since Latino stars who predated this lucha explosion rarely got the opportunity to apply their craft in the U.S., it also makes sense to recognize them separately rather than force them onto a list without having proper cultural context. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a top-100 Latino list, either. Hopefully, that changes, too. In the meantime, here is an informative rundown of 15 of the greatest luchadores of all-time.”
Road Warrior Hawk, but no Animal?
Hi Stewart,
This was asked above, so I’ll copy and paste my response:
Great questions, specifically on the difference in ranking between Hawk and Animal. Obviously, they are by most accounts the greatest tag team in North American wrestling history. They made their mark in the tag team ranks and their work there carries the most weight when evaluating their careers. FWIW, Animal would likely rate in the first 10-15 spots outside the top 100. Hawk edges Animal for a few reasons. Here they are in no particular order:
1). Hawk had more singles success both in North America and overseas. He challenged Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Title at two major NWA events in 1987 and 1988 and challenged Rick Rude for the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship in 1993. Animal never got that kind of spotlight outside of the Road Warriors.
2). Hawk was the mouthpiece for the tag team, he was the stronger worker in the ring for the tag team, and his iconic, grizzly, “Oooooh, what a rush!” hook is in the pantheon of wrestling catchphrases.
Obviously, Animal was a huge part of the Road Warriors and is an absolute legend in his own right. I just think there is a bit of a difference between their resumes.
Goldust Brian Pullman Tully Blanchard The Crusher Rick Martell Cody Rhodes Chris Benoit and several others not in top 100
go back and read the list. You are wrong.
I appreciate the comment.
It’s hard to make that argument for each of the wrestlers you mentioned, let alone all of them. There’s no question that it becomes akin to splitting hairs the further down the list you go. It’s not a coincidence that six of the seven you named are outside of the top 70.
I would love to hear who belongs in the place of the seven you mentioned. Keep in mind…
Benoit is a top-100 wrestler of all-time by any standard that doesn’t include personal transgressions.
Cody is the brains and the face behind the WWE’s first legitimate competition since WCW died. He was a decent wrestler in the WWE (the “Dashing Cody Rhodes” gimmick is underrated) but his WWE work is not what gets him on the list. He did the unthinkable and created WWE’s first legitimate competition in nearly two decades. His impact on the industry is significant and it’s likely only to go up from here.
Goldust’s character is one of the most controversial and longstanding in the history of professional wrestling. If you were around in ’95 when it debuted, you know how cutting edge it was. All told, Dustin has wrestled for 33 years and won 18 belts between WWE and WCW. It would be very difficult to argue that someone else should be on this list ahead of him.
I’d be happy to go on about Martel, Tully, Pillman, and The Crusher but I’ll leave it at that for now.
Any top 100 list without Greg The Hammer Valentine is completely illegitimate.
Any comment on a top 100 list advocating for Greg The Hammer Valentine is completely illegitimate.
As tempting as it is to put as much thought and effort into my comment as you did yours, I’m going to choose to support my viewpoint with words. I love me some Hammer. First and foremost, there have been thousands of professional wrestlers over the years. Valentine would be one of the next 5-10 on the list if I expanded it to 150 or so which is pretty lofty considering all of the great performers who have come and gone. There are many reasons why Valentine doesn’t rate higher on my list. He had some notable feuds in the territories with Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, and Wahoo McDaniel. However, when wrestling took off in the mid-80s, Valentine was quickly relegated to mid-card and tag-team status. From 1984 until he left the big-time scenes in 1998, Valentine was too much in the background to beat out the other players on this list. After a brief IC run in the WWF, he was never in the title picture, he essentially stopped dropping promos, and didn’t evolve his character in any way unless you count dyeing his hair black to appease Elvis. If you go down the list of qualities tht make for an elite top-tier performer, Valentine doesn’t score high in any category. He was a consummate professional with a good nickname. To hit the top-100, you gotta bring more to the table.
Bro how could you leave out Rob Van Dam??
I’ve got a solid explanation on RVD and it goes something like this… I mistakenly deleted his name. 🤷♂️ I have a master list that I transfer names to and from and somehow he got lost in the wash. He was a candidate for the back half of the top 100 for sure. I’ll definitely get him properly rated for the next update (whether he ends up in the top 100 or HM will depend on a few factors). The next update will probably happen after WrestleMania; there are some current superstars who have made major moves since the initial list was revealed (Bobby Lashley etc.) which I suspect will ultimately decide RVDs fate. Thanks for pointing out RVD’s omission!
There is no women on the list Chyna and lita should be on here. There’s no xpac, the Hardy Boyz, ray Mysterio…
Hey Inferno!
There is a separate women’s list. Chyna (2) and Lita (4) feature prominently.
Rey Mysterio is #60! Jeff Hardy is #63!
X-Pac and Matt Hardy are on the fringe.
X-Pac is an interesting case. On one hand, he was in DX and the NWO. On the other hand, the biggest accomplishments of his career were being in DX and the NWO. He was a fantastic wrestler and had a few memorable angles (the 1-2-3 Kid/Razor angle that put him on the big stage was one of the better angles ever) but he was a support guy. For me, he’s just outside of the top 100.
Matt Hardy hasn’t had the same singles spotlight as Matt even though I think his Broken Matt Hardy gimmick could’ve been much, much bigger with the right creative.
So Amos joe as 100 that is wrong it should be Bobby lashley but I do not like him so Braun strowman
Hey Sally!
Bobby Lashley will be moving into the top-100 after my next update (after WrestleMania). It took him a while to get here but he’s a superstar and has made enough of a mark to crack the list. Given what he’s accomplished in the last year, he’ll likely debut in a strong position.
Braun Strowman was criminally underutilized in the WWE. He is a sure-fire top-100 talent but the creative failed him. I was hoping he’d land with AEW where he could realize his potential as the top heel in a company. His WWE run had some good moments but it was unsatisfying overall and I don’t think his career is strong enough to break into the top-100, yet. Lashley laid the blueprint for a massive talent to find his groove late in his career so hopefully, we’ll be seeing the same from Braun.
Given Samoa Joe is #100 and given Bobby Lashley (at a minimum) will be entering the list as of the next update, it’s safe to say Joe’s time on the list will be coming to an end soon. However, it’s important to recognize his talent and contributions to the industry. Although his WWE run ended unceremoniously and without the same success we were used to seeing from him, he was a massive star in promotions all over the world for nearly two decades. After WCW died in 2001, the WWE’s consolidation of talent made it virtually impossible for a competitor to emerge. That didn’t mean wrestling outfits weren’t trying. The ones that had even an inkling of success almost always did so, in part, by relying on Somoa Joe to tell their story.
What about the IRON Sheik?
The Iron Sheik is worthy of consideration on a list like this and he does nab a spot on “The Next 100” list. However, he’s just not in the same category as the rest of the wrestlers in the top 100. He did a great job filling the foreign heel role in the 80s with Nikolai Volkoff but he’s probably most known for being the wrestler that Hulk Hogan beat to win his first WWF Heavyweight Championship. Sheik held the belt once for less than a month and then was quickly tossed into the tag team ranks with Volkoff. It’s hard to come up with a defining angle that Sheik was a major player in. Volkoff and Sheik were relevant for a few years as a tag team but beyond that, his career is pretty nondescript. I’d argue the most significant angle he ever participated in was Sgt Slaughter’s betrayal of America angle when he portrayed Colonel Mustafa. That’s not going to cut it on a list as talented as this one.
Your list is pretty good and I can’t argue with it too much. But an honorable mention could be made for Jesse The Body Ventura, Mad Dog Vachon, Tommy Wildfire Rich, Michael Hayes, Marty Jannetty and Larry the Ax (aka Pretty Boy) Henning. Those guys were all champions and stars in their day.
Not only do I agree with your comment, but Michael Hayes is also actually in the top-100 (#94) and Jesse, Mad Dog, Tommy Rich, and the Ax are on my honorable mention linked below…
https://www.the100greatest.com/2021/02/17/the-greatest-professional-wrestlers-of-all-time/
Jannetty had some moments but he’s a touch behind, IMO.
Dude The Ultimate Warrior has gotta be way lower than 52 on the list he is a top 20
Ultimate Warrior has gotta be lower in the list he is top 20 for sure
Hey Josiah,
There’s no doubt the Ultimate Warrior was a lightning bolt in the industry. Like a lightning bolt, he was flashy, electric, powerful, and memorable. However, also like a lightning bolt, he was short-lived and destructive. This what I wrote when describing the methodology for this list:
“The Ultimate Warrior was a pop culture icon. At Wrestlemania 7, he became the first person to cleanly pin Hulk Hogan in nine years. He would send Macho Man into retirement the following year in the first and only career vs. career match in Wrestlemania history. He starred in Slim Jim commercials, appeared on Regis & Kathy Lee and the Arsenio Hall Show, and was adorned to Wrestling Buddies and Hasbro figures alike. His popularity would eclipse even that of the Immortal Hulk Hogan. So, it would make sense if his legacy was mistaken for more than what it was.
The reality is that Warrior had a reputation for working stiff (unintentionally hurting his opponent). His skill-set was limited to a few basic moves. He gassed himself out sprinting to the ring, leading to short matches. He delivered rambling promos that did nothing to further storylines. Worse yet, he was notoriously unreliable. Without this additional context, it would be easy to overrate his legacy.”
Two things I’m curious about. Why does Hawk outrank Animal so much? Super surprised by that. What a rush! Secondly, what puts Nash at 50? I thought he was pretty impacted. Am I misremembering Big Sexy?
Hey Anthony!
Great questions, specifically on the difference in ranking between Hawk and Animal. Obviously, they are by most accounts the greatest tag team in North American wrestling history. They made their mark in the tag team ranks and their work there carries the most weight when evaluating their careers. FWIW, Animal would likely rate in the first 10-15 spots outside the top 100. Hawk edges Animal for a few reasons. Here they are in no particular order:
1). Hawk had more singles success both in North America and overseas. He challenged Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Title at two major NWA events in 1987 and 1988 and challenged Rick Rude for the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship in 1993. Animal never got that kind of spotlight outside of the Road Warriors.
2). Hawk was the mouthpiece for the tag team, he was the stronger worker in the ring for the tag team, and his iconic, grizzly, “Oooooh, what a rush!” hook is in the pantheon of wrestling catchphrases.
Obviously, Animal was a huge part of the Road Warriors and is an absolute legend in his own right. I just think there is a bit of a difference between their resumes.
As for Nash, there is no doubt he was impactful. The NWO angle might be the greatest in history. He thrived both as a singles and a tag team performer. The reason he doesn’t rate higher than 50 is based on a few factors. First, he was never THE guy. Second, he was not an elite worker. Third, there wasn’t a lot of character versatility. Yes, he won world championships but that is different than being THE guy and, yes, he was a good worker for his size, but that’s different than being an elite worker. I look at a guy like Scott Hall (Nash’s cohort in the NWO and “The Outsiders”) and Hall is superior in just about every category I used to evaluate wrestling resumes. IMO, Hall is Nash’s ceiling on a list like this. Then it comes down to what other big men rate ahead of Nash. That might be something I revisit in the future. I currently have Vader, The Big Show, and Kane ahead of Nash. There are compelling arguments he should be rated behind all three and, frankly, equally compelling arguments he should be rated ahead of all three. It really just comes down to how much credit you give Nash as the third-best player in the original NWO and how much you factor in his limited in-ring work. Longevity plays a big part, too. Nash stuck around for a minute but nothing compared to the runs near the top by Kane and The Big Show.
Hey man. I just have one question….How in the hell is Abdullah the Butcher on this list? AND he’s higher than Batista? Batista is ranked 75 out of 100??? Please explain….
Abdullah the Butcher wrestled for 62 years. He wrestled everyone from Lou Thesz to Mick Foley. He was a special attraction known for his brutal feuds with the likes of The Shiek and Bruiser Brody. Abdullah the Butcher was hardcore before hardcore was hardcore. Batista had an exceptional physique and certainly moved well for his size. He was a headliner for a brief run before moving on to Hollywood. Comparing these two is like comparing Apples to Pepperoni. Both have vastly different career resumes and character types. I’ll go with the guy who pioneered a style decades before it would be embraced by wrestling fans and in-ring performers.
No list is ever going to make everyone happy. I’ve looked at a number of top 100 wrestlers and am usually so sick to my stomach by the time I get up to #80 that I quit reading and just flash to the top 10 before throwing up in my mouth. I’m sure I could find 10-15 guys who may be more deserving than some near the bottom of your list but I’m not going. Instead I’m going to salute your list as of all the ones I’ve looked at it is clearly the best one I’ve seen. So hats off, job well done sir!
Thanks, Garry! I appreciate your comments.
How did you decide to put Bray Wyatt over Batista?
Hey Carl!
The advantage that Bray Wyatt has in terms of creativity and evolution of character is substantial. In fact, I think it’s such that it offsets any advantage Batista has over Wyatt in other areas. Although, I’m not sure in what areas Batista does have an advantage. The only negative for Wyatt is that he was badly misused in the WWE. Otherwise, he’d be much, much higher on the list.
Thanks for making this list. I’m a list-maker myself, and I enjoy compiling many lists, including those of the greatest wrestlers of all-time. That said, I consider this the definitive list, as it is obviously well-thought out and defended. I look forward to it being updated. My only request would be to “time-stamp” it somehow, so we know when the list was last updated.
Hey Kurt!
I appreciate the comments and the time-stamp suggestion (I’ll look into that). In the meantime, the fastest way to see the date of the last list update (for any of the lists) is to look at the Activity Log on the home page. Just look under the “Sport” column and scroll for the date of the latest update. Coincidentally, I was updating the list when your comment came through and the list has been freshly updated. FYI–This list changes at a glacier pace compared to the other simply because it’s performance art rather than an athletic competition (with wins and losses). Unfortunately, that just means this list will be updated less frequently than the others. For perspective, the last update prior to today’s was in 2022.
Tito Santana should be on the list. So should Magnificent Muraco and Honky Tonk Man.
All very good performers. Tito and the (original) Rock have been surpassed by too many wrestlers to justify inclusion. Honky’s omission is a tough one for me since he was white hot as a heel for two consecutive years. However, his run at the top was just too short. He’s one of my favorites.
Hardly any new Japan stars where’s Will Osprey
Elijah,
Osprey is an interesting case. I feel comfortable waiting things out before forming an opinion on his legacy.
RE: New Japan–Here is what I wrote in the write-up for the list:
“U.S. and Canada
When it comes to pro wrestling, comparing success in Japan to the U.S. and Canada is a losing proposition not because one is better than the other but because we have little overlap to form a basis for comparison. The audiences and cultures are very different from each other. In Japan, in-ring technical work has historically been the most emphasized element, which is supported by the fact that 125 of the 160 5-star matches awarded by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter have taken place within Japanese promotions. In the U.S. and Canada, physique, the ability to deliver memorable promos, moving merchandise, and driving ratings have all played more important roles in defining legacies.
These two distinct wrestling cultures have had very few lasting collaborations and crossover stars, although Japan has been much kinder to its visitors. The list of U.S. wrestlers who have been embraced by Japanese audiences is long and varied. It includes Big Van Vader, Stan Hansen, Scott Norton, “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, and Prince Albert, all of whom were more popular in Japan than in the U.S. The list of Japanese stars who have been embraced by American audiences stands at Shinsuke Nakamura. In all seriousness, while the Great Muta, the Great Kabuki, Ultimo Dragon, and Jushin “Thunder” Liger did achieve modest success in the States, they weren’t exactly featured in their respective promotions.
To fairly compare North American wrestlers to Japanese wrestlers, we would need to see them in the same universe with the same opportunities, and that just hasn’t happened. Instead of randomly splicing Japanese legends throughout the list, we’re better off settling on a U.S. and Canada-centric list and deferring the Japanese list to those immersed in the Japanese culture. Although Rikidozan, Antonio Inoki, and Giant Baba might be household names even among American wrestling fans, there’s a difference between being aware they existed and understanding their impact.
We certainly wouldn’t expect a Japanese wrestling fan to accurately rank, say, The Ultimate Warrior without a deep understanding of American wrestling culture. The Ultimate Warrior was a pop culture icon. At Wrestlemania 7, he became the first person to cleanly pin Hulk Hogan in nine years. He would send Macho Man into retirement the following year in the first and only career vs. career match in Wrestlemania history. He starred in Slim Jim commercials, appeared on Regis & Kathy Lee and the Arsenio Hall Show, and was adorned to Wrestling Buddies and Hasbro figures alike. His popularity would eclipse even that of the Immortal Hulk Hogan. So, it would make sense if his legacy was mistaken for more than what it was.
The reality is that Warrior had a reputation for working stiff (unintentionally hurting his opponent). His skill-set was limited to a few basic moves. He gassed himself out sprinting to the ring, leading to short matches. He delivered rambling promos that did nothing to further storylines. Worse yet, he was notoriously unreliable. Without this additional context, it would be easy to overrate his legacy. Without having intimate knowledge of Japanese wrestling culture to avoid making similar miscalculations, we’re better off outsourcing to experts. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a top-100 Japanese list. Hopefully, that changes at some point. In the meantime, here is an informative rundown of 50 of the greatest Japanese wrestlers of all-time.
Latino wrestlers have had more success in the U.S. than their Japanese counterparts, although even that door has only been open for 25 years. Lucha libre in the states didn’t take off in earnest until WCW began to promote its cruiserweight division in 1996. Wrestling fans would immediately marvel at the pace and athleticism of Rey Mysterio Jr., Eddie Guerrero, Juventud Guerrera, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Psicosis, La Parka, and Super Calo. Since Latino stars who predated this lucha explosion rarely got the opportunity to apply their craft in the U.S., it also makes sense to recognize them separately rather than force them onto a list without having proper cultural context. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a top-100 Latino list, either. Hopefully, that changes, too. In the meantime, here is an informative rundown of 15 of the greatest luchadores of all-time.”
Road Warrior Hawk, but no Animal?
Hi Stewart,
This was asked above, so I’ll copy and paste my response:
Great questions, specifically on the difference in ranking between Hawk and Animal. Obviously, they are by most accounts the greatest tag team in North American wrestling history. They made their mark in the tag team ranks and their work there carries the most weight when evaluating their careers. FWIW, Animal would likely rate in the first 10-15 spots outside the top 100. Hawk edges Animal for a few reasons. Here they are in no particular order:
1). Hawk had more singles success both in North America and overseas. He challenged Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Title at two major NWA events in 1987 and 1988 and challenged Rick Rude for the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship in 1993. Animal never got that kind of spotlight outside of the Road Warriors.
2). Hawk was the mouthpiece for the tag team, he was the stronger worker in the ring for the tag team, and his iconic, grizzly, “Oooooh, what a rush!” hook is in the pantheon of wrestling catchphrases.
Obviously, Animal was a huge part of the Road Warriors and is an absolute legend in his own right. I just think there is a bit of a difference between their resumes.