PWPNation.com is happy to announce the “Greatest Ever Series,” where we’ll rank a wide range of topics from the world of professional wrestling. The first will be a list of the Top 50 Wrestlers of all time.
Members of the PWP Nation staff and community put together their own collective lists, which was then infused into one solidified list. From all walks of life, young and old, long-time to recent fans, we feel like we have a very accurate and precise list that can represent the greatest performers and wrestlers of all time.
This list will feature current stars like John Cena and Daniel Bryan, to old school legends like Bruno Sammartino, Andre The Giant, Lou Thesz, and stars from the most popular time in wrestling, the “Attitude Era,” like ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and The Rock.
The following names are the members who helped contribute to the final list:
- Eron Ramadanov, Editor-in-Chief of PWPNation.com
- Jay Alletto, Owner & Founder of PWPNation.com
- Zak Fellows, Senior Staff Writer
- Matt Burgess, Featured Writer
- Brennan Daly, Featured Writer
- Tim Bell, Featured Writer & News Reporter
- John “JCD” Dimiceli, Senior Staff Writer
- Zack Heydorn, Featured Staff Writer & Host of “The Bottom Line” on PWP Nation Radio
- Chris Baker, Staff Writer
- Nick Ohrn, PWP Nation Community Member
- Mike Roche, PWP Nation Community Member
- Stephen Ajamie, PWP Nation Community Member
- Ford Fischer, PWP Nation Community Member
- Ron Adams, PWP Nation Community Member
- Matthew Hollie, PWP Nation Community Member
Along with these names, we received several other anonymous lists.
One of the biggest questions we’ve been asked is how the members of the PWP Nation universe put together their respective lists. When posing this task to them, we asked them to take into account everything that can be considered when trying to analyze a wrestler/performer:
- In-ring abilities
- Microphone/promo skills
- Drawing power/merchandise sales
- Longevity
- Name recognition
- Influence on the business
- Intangibles
Obviously, we can’t confirm that people didn’t place their own personal bias into their respective lists, but we feel like because there were so many entries, the margin for error is small. Also, we asked our contributors to take into account the different eras. For example, it’s hard to compare someone like Lou Thesz against someone like John Cena. Both great in their respective eras, but two completely different performers.
The Top 50 list will be released in several parts:
- #50-41: READ HERE
- #40-31: READ HERE
- #1o-6 will be released on June 18th
- #5-1 will be released on June 25th
Each part of the list will have analysis and explanations from the staff and members on why they placed a certain performer where they did and why they should be higher or lower on the overall list.
To stay tuned and up-to-date with all the postings of the Top 50 Wrestlers of All Time, follow us on Twitter @PWPNation and check us out at Facebook.com/ProWrestlingPowerhouse.
So, here’s numbers 20-11:
#20. Brock Lesnar
Achievements/Accolades:
- 4-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- King of the Ring Winner (2002)
- Royal Rumble Winner (2003)
Opinions:
“Brock Lesnar is a one-of-a-kind true super athlete that we are lucky to be able to witness within the confines of a professional wrestling ring. He’s an anomaly. Could you imagine the run amount of accolades he would have in pro wrestling if he didn’t leave WWE in 2004? Top 20 All Time without question.” — Jay Alletto
“The greatest athlete to ever step foot in a WWE ring, Brock Lesnar is certainly deserving of a spot in the top 50. However, #20 is far too high for the “Beast Incarnate,” a spot closer to #40 would have been more fitting.” — Matt Burgess
“One of the great sports stars of the 21st century, Brock Lesnar has cemented a legacy in both wrestling and MMA. In my opinion, it is an accurate summation that he is the pinnacle example of a fast rising star becoming the youngest WWE Champion in history by defeating the Rock in mere months. Several world titles, ending the Undefeated WrestleMania streak of the Undertaker and with the destructive force of a natural disaster that fans gravitated to, Brock Lesnar is one of the most popular names of the modern era of professional wrestling with no sign of stopping.” — Zak Fellows
#19. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
Achievements/Accolades:
- 1-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2009)
- 1-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion
- 4-time WCW United States Champion
- 4-time WCW Television Champion
- 5-time NWA World Tag Team Champion
- 8-time WCW World Tag Team Champion
Opinions:
“The Dragon amazed me when I was in the stadium for WrestleMania 25 when he went back to his old form & pushed Chris Jericho to the limit. Without a doubt one of the greatest in-ring competitors of all time. He was one of the few wrestlers who never turned heel during that era. Growing up, I must have watched WrestleMania 3 a hundred times. His Intercontinental Championship match with Macho Man Randy Savage stands the test of time as one of the greatest matches ever. A true legend and all time great.” – Jay Alletto
“One of the most technically sound athletes to ever lace up a pair of wrestling boots, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat was a workhorse in every sense of the word. His matches with Ric Flair, and of course his WrestleMania 3 classic with Randy Savage, will go down in history as some of the greatest of all time. A spot at #19 is thoroughly deserved.” — Matt Burgess
“Known for a hybrid style of technical wrestling and speed, the Dragon remains one of the greatest protagonists and technicians to compete in the squared circle. I, like many others fans of recent times, became exposed to Steamboat through his performance at WrestleMania XXV where he shocked the world with his still efficiently sound ability 15 years later. This would prove to be a glimpse into the man that once was as Steamboat in the past was responsible for some of the greatest matches in history with legends like Ric Flair and Randy Savage. The Dragon takes his place among the best of the best.” — Zak Fellows
#18. Eddie Guerrero
Achievements/Accolades:
- 1-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- 2-time WWE European Champion
- 1-time WWE United States Champion
- 4-time WWE Tag Team Champion
- 2-time WCW Cruiserweight Champion
- 2-time ECW Television Champion
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2006)
Opinions:
“A truly inspirational wrestler who was able to have epic, memorable matches in every major promotion he worked in. His battles against Dean Malenko in the ECW arena are epic. Guerrero’s WCW Halloween Havoc 1997 match against Rey Mysterio Jr. still goes viral on the internet today! And his road to winning the WWE Championship was improbable, defeating Brock Lesnar at No Way Out 2004. He overcame his demons & became one of the most popular wrestlers of all time. Eddie was taken from the world way too soon, but his legacy will continue to live on. Easily a Top 20 wrestler of all time.” – Jay Alletto
“Eddie Guerrero trying to convince people he was Batista’s friend…that was my first experience watching the magnetizing charm that was Latino Heat. Although his time was cut short, the most famous of Gory Guerrero’s sons left with us a sea of memories that made him the man we loved, hated and loved to hate a sign of a multi-talented performer. His victory over Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship remains a defining moment in WWE’s history. He may have lied, cheated and stole his way to multiple successes but the distinction as one of the greatest of all time is well warranted and deserved.” — Zak Fellows
#17. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
Achievements/Accolades:
- 1-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- 1-time WWE Tag Team Champion
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2005)
Opinions:
“What can really be said here? Many give Rowdy Roddy Piper the distinction of being the man to make WrestleMania the major success that it was. And anyone who gives him that accolade is absolutely correct. Without Piper being arguably the greatest villain of all time, we would have never had what we have today. He was one of the most well rounded professional wrestlers to ever lace up the boots. Gone too soon & creating controversy until the very end. Easily deserves his spot on this list.” – Jay Alletto
“Behind every great hero lays a great villain, and in the 80’s to Hulk Hogan there was Roddy Piper. Without Hogan having the great foil to the Rock n Wrestling connection in the Hot Rod, I don’t think the wrestling landscape would have been changed to the degree that it did ultimately become. And yet, people became attached to this man, his wit and outlandish behavior making him more likable than many could predict. Rowdy Roddy Piper serves as an example of the importance of charisma and speaking ability in the wrestling world with his creation, Piper’s Pit, being a template to future segments on wrestling TV.” — Zak Fellows
#16. Sting
Achievements/Accolades:
- 6-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion
- 2-time WCW United States Champion
- 3-time WCW World Tag Team Champion
- 2-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion
- 4-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2016)
Opinions:
“Sting was the first WCW wrestler that I remember seeing on Saturday Night’s at 6:05 pm on TBS. I’m sure I saw Ric Flair & Dusty Rhodes before Sting, but as a child, Sting stood out for obvious reasons. It was easy to be drawn to him. He was a living, breathing superhero & one of the best good guys in the history of the business.” – Jay Alletto
“One of the most iconic figures in the history of professional wrestling, if you’ll pardon the pun, I believe Sting’s stellar career deserves a spot in the top #10. Had “The Franchise” joined the WWE earlier in his career I am certain he would have been higher on this list.” — Matt Burgess
“From the Surfer and ultra-confident athlete of the early 90’s to the dark, sentinel like avenger of the late 90’s to now, the man called Sting is one of the wrestlers for which fans have always loved to see triumph. Be it against Ric Flair, Hollywood Hogan or Kurt Angle, people turned to Sting to be their hero against these antagonists. Combining overall ability, a passion for his craft and a willingness to reinvent himself, Sting is one of the greatest of all time for just how much of an example he can serve to aspiring wrestlers.” — Zak Fellows
#15. Chris Jericho
Achievements/Accolades:
- 6-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- 9-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- 7-time WWE Tag Team Champion
- 4-time WCW Cruiserweight Champion
Opinions:
“Jericho will continue to climb the ranks on this list as long as he continues to produce some of the most entertaining segments in your wrestling week. Listen, Jericho is a legend in this business…period. He told you that he would be just that 15 years ago! In the grand scheme of things, he will always be under appreciated & we won’t realize the kind of professional we’ve been watching until he decides to hang them up. All hail the Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla!!!” – Jay Alletto
“Chris Jericho is the ultimate showman, and his world traveled career saw him develop a unique blend of styles that allowed him to thrive in the WWE. His achievements speak for themselves and he will deservedly go down as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. I am very happy with his spot at #15.” — Matt Burgess
“While I do admit to having stronger feelings of investment with the self-professed honest man of 2008 to 2010, I cannot deny that Chris Jericho is one of the great all round performers of the last two decades. A good measure of ability is one’s willingness to adapt to different situations and spots on the card, something for which Jericho has proven to be able to do. World Heavyweight Champion, Mid card Intercontinental Champion, Tag Team Champion or even just helping younger and less established names better themselves (with very hit or miss results I would say) a performer of Jericho’s caliber would be a credit to whatever promotion he belongs to.” — Zak Fellows
#14. Dusty Rhodes
Achievements/Accolades:
- 3-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion
- 3-time NWA Television Champion
- 4-time NWA Tag Team Champion
- 1-time NWA United States Champion
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2007)
Opinions:
“One of the greatest minds in the history of the business & that doesn’t even include his physical in-ring contributions. War Games, Starrcade, Clash of the Champions…just a few of the creations that have come from the mind of the late, great American Dream. His feud with The Four Horsemen is the embodiment of a true, blue collar babyface with the majority of the fans fully invested in the story. We lost Dusty last year, but the wealth of knowledge that he was able to share in his final years is invaluable to the talent that he worked with.” – Jay Alletto
““I’mma reach out right now, I want you at home to know my hand is touchin’ your hand for the gathering of the biggest body of people in this country, in this universe, all over the world now, reachin’ out because the love that was given me and this time I will repay you now.” And the American Dream did…we are forever living in an industry with contributions to booking, to matches, to characters and to performers that have become synonymous because of Dusty Rhodes. The Rock and DDP may have been considered it by the title but Dusty Rhodes was THE People’s Champion.” — Zak Fellows
#13. Bruno Sammartino
Achievements/Accolades:
- 2-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2013)
Opinions:
“My first memories of Bruno Sammartino was as a color commentator with Vince McMahon on WWE broadcasts in the mid 1980s. I remember not being able to understand his importance to wrestling, even though it was explained to me by my parents and grandparents. Growing up in New Jersey, everyone knew who Bruno Sammartino is. He drew an incredible amount of money & put on believable, real fight style matches which were appreciated back then and are a lost art today. I was lucky enough to be at Madison Square Garden for his WWE Hall of Fame induction on 2013 & it’s a moment I will never forget.” – Jay Alletto
“Coming from dark beginnings, the Living Legend Bruno Sammartino would bring his background in weightlifting to professional wrestling, becoming the first major box office draw of the WWE. To this day, he holds the record for the longest single World Title reign in the WWE with Madison Square Garden playing host to 221 headlining shows and 187 sell outs courtesy of Bruno. I have always said that the line of WWE headliners goes Bruno > Hogan > Austin > Cena…Bruno was the first of that illustrious line and without him; WWE probably wouldn’t have been able to establish themselves outside of the National Wrestling Alliance.” — Zak Fellows
#12. Andre “The Giant”
Achievements/Accolades:
- 1-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time WWE Tag Team Champion
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 1993)
Opinions:
“I’ll admit: I FORGOT to put Andre on my first draft Top 50 list. How could a larger than life legend slip through the cracks like that? I couldn’t tell you. But something I can share about Andre was my confusion at having two different LJN rubber Andre toys. One with the short black hair and black singlet. Let’s call him “heel Andre.” And one with the blue traditional trunks and a huge Afro: babyface Andre. They used to fight each other. Sometimes, they would even team up against my Hogan (multiple variations) LJN toy & my Randy Savage. I’ll never forget his storyline with Hulk Hogan because it was the biggest match of all time. I must have watched it 1,000 times. Andre on this list is a no-brainer. His contributions to the business & drawing power will never be duplicated in the same respect that it was with him.” – Jay Alletto
“What else can be said about the pop culture icon that is Andre the Giant that hasn’t been said already? Arguably one of the biggest names of wrestling before the insurgency of the WWE expansion of the 1980’s, Andre’s story is one of a man who’s colleagues always speak in happiness and reverence that goes beyond the screen and words to positively affect a fan in retrospective. Despite having the shortest WWE World Championship reign in history, his great moment of the Body Slam heard around the world is a moment that stands the test of time in the zenith of the wrestling golden era. Andre may not have been the best of wrestlers technically but there is no denying his intangible qualities.” — Zak Fellows
#11. Triple H
Achievements/Accolades:
- 14-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- 5-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- 2-time WWE European Champion
- 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion
- King of the Ring Winner (1997)
- 2-time Royal Rumble Winner (2002, 2016)
Opinions:
“There is a belief out there that Triple H wouldn’t be where he is today if he didn’t marry the boss’ daughter. While the assumption could be considered valid, my belief is that a person with that much drive & conviction can’t be stopped. Torn muscles couldn’t stop Triple H in the ring. Politics couldn’t stop Triple H backstage. He even made it through some of the worst documented on-camera hazing in the history of WWE. His passion is undeniable. His preservation of the history of the business is admirable. Personally, I was a hater at one point during his career for his consistent burial of outside talent from WCW & ECW, but I have gained an enormous amount of respect for what he has done to guarantee that the future of this business that we love is bright. I am honestly surprised he didn’t make the Top 10.” – Jay Alletto
“People have often addressed Triple H as a student of the game and as we have travelled along with him from his beginnings in WCW to the position of corporate authority in the WWE, we have seen an athlete become an amalgamation of the greatest wrestlers of all time into one individual. He is known for many things: Being one of the greatest heels in WWE history, leading D-Generation X, Evolution and the Authority, marrying into the long lasting McMahon family, dozens upon dozens of championships and accomplishments and his own descent into becoming a promoter. Triple H has really done it all in the wrestling world and it is for that high quality and proficiency that he should be acknowledged as one of the greats of WWE.” — Zak Fellows
Thanks for reading, everyone.
Numbers 10-6 will be released shortly.
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