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
- #30-21 will be released on Tuesday (5/3)
- #20-11 will be released on Tuesday (5/10)
- #1o-6 will be released on Tuesday (5/17)
- #5-1 will be released on Tuesday (5/24)
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 40 through 31:
#40. Goldberg
Achievements/Accolades:
- 1-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- 2-time WCW United States Champion
- 1-time WCW World Tag Team Champion
Opinions:
“The guy made the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time in wrestling history. He was green as grass when he debuted, but turned out to really get the hang of his character and the vision that the powers of WCW had for him. Goldberg was also one of the most popular and recognizable wrestlers of all time. If he walked out on Raw today, he would get that heroes welcome…and not just for nostalgia purposes. It would be because people remember how badass the guy truly was. Considering how little time he lasted in the business & the huge impact that he made, I think his spot on the list is warranted.” — Jay Alletto
“Yes despite his relatively short wrestling career, Goldberg deserves recognition for an impactful one. In the midst of the Monday Night Wars this guy was WCW’s ascending phoenix dominating the lower carder to the mid card and finally the main event in short, action filled matches that to this day are enjoyable. His victory over Hollywood Hogan in the Georgia Dome remains one of the greatest moments in the Monday Night Wars. His hindrances with his overall ability prevent him from being ranked higher up so I am fine with him being in this position on the list.” — Zak Fellows
“Despite a lack of technical prowess between the ropes, Goldberg captured the wrestling world by storm, and was WCW’s most successful home grown talent. The NFL defensive tackle turned professional wrestler, captivated audiences during the Monday Night War, amassing an undefeated streak of 173-0. At the peak of his career Goldberg was as hot as anybody had ever seen, and for that, whether you agree with it or not, has justifiably earned him a spot in our top 50… I actually had him at #31.” — Matt Burgess
#39. Booker T
Achievements/Accolades:
- 5-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion
- 10-time WCW World Tag Team Champion
- 6-time WCW World Television Champion
- 3-time WWE United States Champion
- 3-time WWE World Tag Team Champion
- King of the Ring Winner (2006)
Opinions:
“The 5-time WCW Champion is truly unappreciated in the grand scheme of things. Booker T is one of the most decorated champions in the history of professional wrestling. His transition from Booker T to King Booker rejuvenated his career in a time where he was starting to become a little bit stale. The great thing about Booker T was his undeniable charisma that can still be witnessed to this day at the various WWE pre-shows. I’m actually surprised Booker T isn’t closer to the 25 spot on this list, although I can’t remember where I personally ranked him.” — Jay Alletto
“Can you dig it, Sucka!!” A catchphrase that dominated my childhood, and is still used sporadically as I transition into adulthood. The charismatic “five-time, five-time, five-time!” WCW Champion and one-time WWE Heavyweight Champion was certainly a trailblazer and influential character in the world of professional wrestling. Somehow I completely overlooked Booker T in my top 50; but if I were to do it again he would definitely feature. However, not quite as high as #39.” — Matt Burgess
“When it comes to a wrestler that combines wrestling and character, I actually find Booker T somewhat overlooked among that group of multi-talented individuals. Booker T was involved in my first mid card title feud when he was feuding for the United States Championship accompanied by his wife Sharmell…suffice to say, I hated the two for cheating which should prove how invested I was in the Book Man. A good all-rounder with a packed to the brim trophy case, Booker T deserves to be on this list in general ranked 39 and all.” — Zak Fellows
#38. “Ravishing” Rick Rude
Achievements/Accolades:
- 1-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- 3-time WCW Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion
Opinions:
“A sure-fire WWE Hall of Famer who isn’t in for whatever reason. It’s really one of those questions that may be left unanswered. Is it WWE that doesn’t want him in? Or is it the family of The Ravishing One? Either way, Rude was just awesome, man. He worked the kind of style that could put him against any opponent on the card in an entertaining match. It is really a shame he left WWE when he did because he was just starting to hit his prime, but some of the matches he had in WCW were the greatest of his career. No question in my mind that Rick Rude should be in the Top 50.” — Jay Alletto
“The only man to feature on Monday Night Raw and Monday Nitro on the same night, “Ravishing” Rick Rude was a pioneer for the sleazy character. However, coming in above the likes of Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jushin “Thunder” Liger does not sit well with me; a spot closer to #50 is more deserving in my opinion.” — Matt Burgess
“Since the heyday of Ravishing Rick Rude, we have had a somewhat overabundance of pretty boy narcissist heels in wrestling. But very few, in my opinion, were able to match the almost visceral, guttural reaction of hate that Rude would receive as he declared his superiority and faced off against Jake Roberts and the Ultimate Warrior among others. Rude is one of the greatest heels of all time, and I don’t say that lightly, and helped set the standard for characters alike to himself and it is for this reason that I’m happy he is being recognized on this list.” — Zak Fellows
#37. Rob Van Dam
Achievements/Accolades:
- 1-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time ECW World Television Champion
- 6-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- 4-time WWE Hardcore Champion
- 3-time WWE World Tag Team Champion
- 2-time ECW World Tag Team Champion
Opinions:
“There’s never been a wrestler out there quite like Rob Van Dam. The guy is a freak of nature. His incredible strength with the insane daredevil approach made RVD truly “one of a kind.” He worked both heel & face in the original ECW and pulled both of extremely well (pun f’n intended). He became one of the most popular wrestlers in the world & won the WWE Championship. RVD’s spot on this list should be above a few of the guys ahead of him, but that’s OK. We can always look forward to another unexpected return of The Whole F’n Show!” — Jay Alletto
“Rob Van Dam, with his blend of martial arts and high flying offense, embodied everything ECW stood for, earning himself legendary status among the Philadelphia faithful. Defeating John Cena for the WWE Championship at One Night Stand, hitting is iconic Five-Star Frog Splash in the process, will always be one of my fondest memories of RVD. The only man to simultaneously hold the WWE and ECW championships is more than deserving of a top 50 spot.” — Matt Burgess
“Of all the famous alumni to emerge from ECW, I find Rob Van Dam to be one of the few capable of standing the scrutiny of time itself. From WWE to TNA to the Independent scene RVD made a moment wherever he went with championships a plenty. My first exposure to him was in the build up to his now famous WWE Championship match with John Cena at One Night Stand 2006 and it was through his name that encouraged me to give ECW on Sci Fi a shot…mileage may vary on that one working well.” — Zak Fellows
#36. Ted DiBiase
Achievements/Accolades:
- 2-time Million Dollar Champion
- 3-time WWE World Tag Team Champion
- King of the Ring Winner (1988)
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2010)
Opinions:
“He lived the gimmick. Ted Dibiase had a tremendous career going for himself in Mid-South Wrestling before making a dramatic entrance in WWE during the mid 1980s. Taking on the persona of “The Million Dollar Man”, Dibiase fully owned the gimmick & made people believe. To this day, I still think that Ted Dibiase is that jerk I watched kick a basketball away from a little kid when I was young. He deserves his spot in the Top 50 for sure.” — Jay Alletto
“The innovator of the Million Dollar Championship, Ted DiBiase was one of the greatest in-ring technicians to ever lace up a pair of wrestling boots. With his evil laugh, “The Million Dollar Man” was arguably the most hated heel of his generation, whose legacy as both a wrestler and manager will live on forever. DiBiase is a worthy #36 on our list, and is exactly where I placed him.” — Matt Burgess
“Of course when we say Ted DiBiase we are referring to senior and not junior…I think. What a character of the Million Dollar Man! That is a persona that can work today and people would still probably have the same instinctive reaction to it that they did 30 years ago. But let’s not lose sight on the man himself, after all it takes the talent and mind of the man to make a character work as well as it did and that is what we got in Ted DiBiase. His attempting to buy the WWE Championship from Andre the Giant remains one of the most scumbag acts of a heel in history.” — Zak Fellows
#35. Owen Hart
Achievements/Accolades:
- 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- 4-time WWE World Tag Team Champion
- King of the Ring (1994)
- 1-time WWE European Champion
Opinions:
“One of the most tragic moments in wrestling history came when Owen Hart fell from the ceiling at Kemper Arena and died. His career ended way too early, but more importantly, his life ended way too early. Owen Hart would have been giving back to the pro wrestling business for years to come & wasn’t even close to hitting his full potential. There were surefire World Championship dreams in the future for Owen Hart. He was, without question, one of the all-time greats and if you aren’t too familiar with his work, go check out some of his classics in 1994 and 1995.” — Jay Alletto
“Both athletic and entertaining, there was nothing Owen Hart could not do in the squared circle. The ultimate professional, I have never heard anyone speak badly about Owen. His match at WrestleMania X against his brother Bret was a clinic, and is one of my personal favorites. One of the most underrated wrestlers of all time, who was taken far too soon, Owen’s spot at #35 is a testament to his ability and work ethic.” — Matt Burgess
“While Bret Hart definitely deserves credit for the raw talent that he brought to wrestling, Owen deserves equal for not just his ability but for the character and personality that he proved to have. Popularizing the overshadowed sibling character in wrestling, he had enough going for him to the point that he became a character that was so conniving and sneaky that you couldn’t help but get invested in him. Having such classic matches and arguably being one of the best heels of the 90’s as an overall performer Owen is one of the most beloved wrestling legends in history.” — Zak Fellows
#34. Kane
Achievements/Accolades:
- 2-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- 1-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion
- 11-time WWE World Tag Team Champion
Opinions:
“The Big Red Machine has had a run in the WWE that most could only dream of. His gimmick has taken a ton of twists and turns, but he has always been a consistent asset to the WWE roster. He has given back to the business over and over again…and will continue to. Kane is definitely Top 50, and in the category of “Big Man”, he’s an easy Top 10. It will be a sad day when Kane decides to finally hang up his boots for good.” — Jay Alletto
“The Devil’s Favorite Demon” has been a mainstay in WWE since his iconic debut in 1997. Kane has amassed 18 championships with the WWF/E, and no matter how many times I see it, when “The Big Red Monster” comes up through the ring to drag someone to the depths of hell, I mark out. The 48-year-old is very deserving of his top 40 spot.” — Matt Burgess
“Triple H once described Kane as the constant and he was right. Even as we approach 20 years of Kane being at the forefront of WWE competitors, people are still into him and his character as he made it his own and separate from the character that he was tied towards the Undertaker. I wouldn’t say he is one of the best in history in general. But that’s just me. In WWE though, he has constantly reinvented his image while remaining the same at its foundation and for that he should be acknowledged as one of the more iconic of wrestlers in WWE.” — Zak Fellows
#33. Bob Backlund
Achievements/Accolades:
- 2-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2013)
Opinions:
“The reason why I loved Bob Backlund wasn’t his run in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but when he returned to WWE in 1993 and regained the WWE Championship in 1994. He only held it for 3 days and was a transitional champion to Diesel, but the matches he put on with Bret Hart over the championship were believable & entertaining. Bob Backlund could step foot in a WWE ring today and put on the same caliber match he did 20 years ago. Depending on who you ask, he could warrant a Top 25 spot on the all-time list, but he’s not far away from that here. I’m good with this ranking.” — Jay Alletto
“A great technician from the days before the Hogan era, who proved to have a more to him than just ability with his comeback to the WWE in the 90’s, Mr Backlund is one of the most notable comeback stories in wrestling history that can serve as the basis for the future resurgences that have occurred.” — Zak Fellows
#32. Chris Benoit
Achievements/Accolades:
- 1-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion
- 2-time WCW United States Champion
- 4-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- 3-time WWE United States Champion
- 4-time WWE World Tag Team Champion
- 3-time WCW World Television Champion
Opinions:
“Without question one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. However, the legacy that he has left is so unbelievably tainted. He will never be in the WWE Hall of Fame. I don’t care what any fans say. Could you imagine an induction ceremony for Chris Benoit? How would they justify inducting someone who committed the atrocity that Benoit did? You know how there is a silver lining in everything? It’s hard to find one with the Benoit incident, but if you look close enough, you can see the concussion protocol and how it has positively impacted WWE & professional sports in general. Nobody wants to turn out the way Chris Benoit did & the proof is there that his brain was severely damaged.” — Jay Alletto
“Chris Benoit, the name alone is enough to make a room go quiet. However, it is undeniable that Chris Benoit is one of the all-time greats. The man cut his teeth, and perfected his craft, across the globe wrestling for promotions such as NJPW, ECW and of course WWE. Whether you can look past that horrific weekend in June, 2007 or not, his ability in the ring was second to none. A spot at #32 complaints draws no objections from me.” — Matt Burgess
“I must confess that I don’t think Benoit should be on this list at all. And this doesn’t stem from the obvious reason although that plays a role in it. His inability to take care of himself for the better of his own health and accommodate for his injuries, really puts a darkness on him and his overall ability that turns what could have been a good lesson for prospective wrestling students into a “What not to do” in wrestling history. You can enjoy him but me personally? Nah.” — Zak Fellows
#31. Ultimate Warrior
Achievements/Accolades:
- 1-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2014)
Opinions:
“Similar to Goldberg, Warrior came roaring into the business green as grass with no idea what the hell he was doing, but after a little while, he became one of the most recognizable characters in the world. His intensity was unparalleled & his promos were something that have to be heard to be believed. His classics with Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage will live forever in the annals of WrestleMania history. I’m honestly surprised that his ranking wasn’t higher, but I’m sure he was dropped a few spots on most lists due to his in-ring skills.” — Jay Alletto
“The Ultimate Warrior epitomizes the world of professional wrestling. His unrivaled intensity, both in and out of the ring, made him an instant fan favorite and catapulted him to the main event of WrestleMania VI; where he pinned Hulk Hogan to become the first person to hold hold both the Intercontinental Championship and WWF Championship at the same time. The Ultimate Warrior left a lasting impression on the WWF/E and a sport at #31 is more than warranted.” — Matt Burgess
“The overall cool factor of the Warrior during his prime is ultimately what people remember about him. Despite all the bad occurrences and negativity surrounding the man himself for a number of years, fans have made their peace with that and still regard his initial stint with the WWE as a major run in its history. While he may not have the same ability when it comes to others on this list he makes up for it with charisma and an overabundance of it to boot.” — Zak Fellows
Thanks for reading, everyone.
Part three of this series (30-21) will be posted next Tuesday right here on PWPNation.com! To stay updated on all things professional wrestling, follow us on Twitter @PWPNation.