As kids, we all had a phase in our life where we were obsessed with watching WWE. The excitement of finally being able to watch your favourite wrestlers fight on TV after a long day at school was unmatched. In this article, you will go on a trip down memory lane as we discuss the top 10 wrestlers in the world.
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1. Steve Austin:
‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin who started his wrestling career in 1989 has managed to stay popular, even in recent times. He was a prominent player in WWE and his rivalry with Dwayne Johnson kept fans on their toes. His finishing move was called Stone Cold Summer and he created some evergreen catchphrases like “ That’s the bottom line cause Stone Cold said so”. Even though he’s not an active wrestler anymore, fans still remember him, and the performance of new wrestlers is compared with him.
2. The Undertaker:
The Undertaker is undoubtedly one of the most common and well known wrestlers. He made his debut in wrestling in the year 1984 and had one of the most significant winning streaks in the history of wrestling; he won 22 times in a row! After 30 years of wrestling, he decided to retire in 2020, but still remains in the hearts of WWE fans all around the world. His finishing move, the Tombstone Piledriver, got him many names such as the American Badass and the Deadman.
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3. Dwayne Johnson:
Many of you must be thinking, isn’t Dwayne Johnson an actor? I am here to tell you that before his acting career even began, Dwayne Johnson was a well-known personality in the field of wrestling. You could feel the crowd roaring in the stadium when he entered the ring. His wrestling skills were like nobody else’s making him one of the top wrestlers in world history. Starting out in the year 1995, his finishing move was called Rock Bottom. Fans still remember his famous catch face “Do you smell what The Rock is cooking?”
4. Shawn Michaels:
Also known as the Heartbreak King, Sean Michaels made his first appearance in the ring in 1988. Even though he started out in a team, he slowly became an individual fighter and gained a lot of popularity. Everyone in the wrestling circle was well aware of his rivalry with Bret Hart, which is still talked about. He took part in a huge number of WrestleMania matches, so much so that he came to be known as “Mr. Wrestlemania”. There is no denying that his contribution in the wrestling field has been extravagant.
5. Ric Flair:
Starting out his wrestling career in the year 1972, this wrestler looked like no other in the ring. He brought a completely different style and aura whenever he came to wrestle. He was also much older than all the other wrestlers. He quit wrestling very recently and is now 72 years old. He managed to secure 16 titles to his name and is passing his wrestling legacy onto his daughter Charlotte. People will always remember him by his signature last move ‘The Figure Four’.
6. Bret Hart:
Also known as ‘The Hitman’ , Bret Hart was a showstopper in the ring. He made his first appearance in 1976 and left a lasting impact on the wrestling audience. Him along with his brother-in-law Jim Neidhart were one of the most respected names in this field as they were a part of the Hart Foundation. He won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice and the WWF Championship a whopping 5 times. His finishing move called the Sharpshooter used to leave the crowd cheering loudly.
7. Randy Savage:
‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage didn’t only have big muscles, but also a big personality. Making his wrestling debut in November 1973, Randy Savage left an impression quite different from the wrestlers. She was extremely charismatic and had the ability to charm the audience with his words, even though his moves stood out for themselves. He has fought some of the most memorable matches that wrestling fans remember like the back of their hand.
8. Roddy Piper:
‘Rowdy’ Rider Piper did not start out as a wrestler in this field. But instead, he was a manager of another famous wrestler before he made his way into the ring. His personality was to die for; the audience loved seeing him talk more than they loved seeing him fight. But that does not mean that he was any less of a fighter. His iconic finishing move “Sleeper Hold” is still a core memory for many wrestling fans.
9. Sting:
An icon, a legend, the very best Sting. This man was a wrestler for four decades and retired in the year 2024 itself. Even though he is not as popular, the way he fought in the ring was extraordinary to say the least. He presented himself way differently. His face paint era truly made him stand out from the crowd. He has many winning tournaments in his name, and for those who know, he will always remain legendary in their hearts.
10. Chris Jericho:
Starting his wrestling career in 1990, Chris Jericho didn’t always have it easy. Even though he was talented, he had a hard time competing with the top wrestlers in the business. But his hard work eventually paid off, and he became one of the most well known wrestlers in the world. He is a true example of how hard work and perseverance makes you reach new heights.
After this long list, I am missing the good old days of WWE. Time to tune into an episode and refresh my memories!