Greatest WWE Wrestlers of All Time: In all fields of sports and entertainment, wondering who is the greatest of all time is a natural question.
With so many greats gracing the annals of WWE history, every fan has at least pondered the question – Who is the greatest WWE wrestler of all time?
Before even attempting to answer that question, we must define what being the greatest means. This is where the answer complicates, as everyone will have a different point of view in that regard. Some might put more weight into a wrestler’s in-ring skill, while someone else might consider the best on the mic as the greatest.
Greatest WWE Wrestlers of All Time
How will we answer this question today? We will be looking at different aspects of the business and try to name the best WWE wrestler in all of them. We will name some of the greatest WWE wrestlers of all time It is then upon you, the reader, to choose your GOAT (Greatest of All Time).
Check Out: Greatest WWE Wrestlers of All Time
John Cena
A common answer whenever fans are asked to pick the GOAT WWE wrestler. Cena can be looked at as the jack of all trades in wrestling. Fantastic on the mic, with an ability to put up 5-star classics makes John Cena the greatest WWE wrestler of the 21st century.
The 16-time World Champion John Cena is also a mainstream icon. Now a Hollywood star, John Cena was still one of the most marketable wrestlers of all time before jumping to the movies.
While John Cena might have been divisive across his career in the eyes of hardcore fans for being “the guy” in WWE, those who grew up watching him consider him the greatest of all time.
Check Out: 1) Greatest WWE Wrestlers of All Time
2) Who do you think is the best WWE wrestler ever?
Hulk Hogan
As per the Greatest WWE Wrestlers of All Time, Hulk Hogan was the first mainstream star in professional wrestling, simple as that. The WWF/E Champion during much of what is called the ‘Golden Era’ of wrestling, Vince McMahon put all his eggs in the Hogan basket after driving out most territorial promotions in the 1980s.
Being the top star of the business during one of its most prosperous periods automatically makes Hulk Hogan the Greatest of All Time in many eyes.
Another feather in his cap towards being considered the greatest is WCW overtaking WWF in the mid-90s on the back of his heel-turn and subsequent formation of nWo. This was over 6 years after the height of his popularity in WWE.
Check Out: Greatest WWE Wrestlers of All Time
‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin
WWF/E’s top star in the company’s most profitable and prosperous time, the Attitude Era, Stone Cold Steve Austin was the definition of badass during his time on top of the company. Still the biggest merch seller for the company, Steve Austin’s time at the top saw WWE once again break into the mainstream after the dull New Generation Era.
While his time in the company as an in-ring competitor was short when compared to the likes of John Cena, Steve Austin packed a lot of punch in the few years he was active.
It should also be noted that Steve Austin was arguably in the greatest WWE rivalry of all time, his multi-year saga opposing Vince McMahon. Steve Austin was also one of the greatest promo-cutters in wrestling history, being able to string audiences into a frenzy each time he opened his mouth. This makes him one of the greatest WWE wrestlers of all time
Check Out: 1) Greatest WWE Wrestlers of All Time
2) Most Successful Wrestler in WWE History
Bruno Sammartino
When it comes to only one wrestler being on top of the mountain in WWE, Bruno Sammartino was the first one to do so. The face of the then WWWF, Bruno Sammartino’s legacy is still felt to this day.
But the thing that brings him to the GOAT conversation is his incredible longevity on the top of the wrestling business. The first two-time WWE Champion, Bruno’s two reigns add up to an incredible 4040 days, or just over eleven years, with the first one of them being an astounding 2803 days, or over seven years.
His time on top of WWE was also second to none, as he sold out the company’s home arena Madison Square Garden an incredible 188 times.
Check Out: 1) Greatest WWE Wrestlers of All Time
2) Who do you think is the best WWE wrestler ever?
The Rock
The greatest cross-over star in WWE history, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is now one of the biggest movie stars in the world, so much so that some people nowadays forget about his past as a wrestler. While that might knock The Rock down from being considered the greatest in some people’s eyes, one must not forget how incredible in in-ring career was.
Correctly considered by many as the best promo cutter in wrestling history, The Rock, along with Steve Austin, were the faces of the company’s Attitude Era. Part of some of the greatest main events in WWE history, The Rock is, to this day, arguably the most popular wrestler of all time.
But it is obviously his mic skills and mainstream appeal that bring him to the GOAT conversation.
Check Out: Greatest WWE Wrestlers of All Time
Shawn Michaels/ Bret Hart
With their intertwined paths in WWE, it is only fair that we discuss Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart in the same breath.
Faces of the company during the otherwise dismal New Generation Era, it is the two’s in-ring skills that bring them to the GOAT conversation.
Bret Hart is called the Excellence of Execution for nothing. It is often said that Bret Hart could have a compelling match with a broom. His ability to make anyone look good is highlighted in the story of Tom Magee –
When Vince McMahon was looking for a Hulk Hogan substitute in the 1980s, his eyes landed on Canadian powerlifter Tom Magee. When the strongman had an excellent tryout match with Bret Hart, McMahon thought he found his next big star in Magee. But his subsequent matches proved that Tom Magee could not wrestle at all, and it was Bret who pulled an amazing match out of him. Bret Hart also had an incredible match in the main event of SummerSlam 1992 against a very hungover British Bulldog.
Shawn Michaels might have a very different wrestling style, but his acumen is just as great as Hart’s. A more versatile wrestler as compared to Bret Hart’s mat-based style, Shawn Micheals was a magician in the ring. The Heart Break Kid could also be credited for kicking off the Attitude Era with the formation of D-Generation X along with Triple H and Chyna.
Check Out: Greatest WWE Wrestlers of All Time
Kurt Angle
It is not a particular skill or attribute that brings Kurt Angle to the GOAT debate, but it is his sheer versatility, and mastery in all arts of professional wrestling that make him the greatest. It is very difficult to call Kurt Angle the greatest WWE wrestler of all time because he spent most of his in-ring years in TNA/Impact Wrestling. Despite that, Kurt Angle is the absolute favourite of a large portion of the wrestling fandom. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest WWE Wrestlers of All Time.
His backstory of winning an Olympic Gold medal did not stop him from portraying funny and goofy characters when necessary. His promo and in-ring style varies wildly depending on what role he is portraying – from the Olympic Gold medallist to goofy Kurt, to the Wrestling Machine.
Check Out:
- Greatest WWE Wrestlers of All Time
- Ranking the Greatest WWE/WWF Wrestlers of All Time
- Ranking The Best WWE Wrestlers Of All Time
- Greatest Wrestlers in World Wrestling Entertainment History
Get WWE News along with All Latest Updates about WWE at IceCric.News and Follow for Live Updates – Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.
