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- The topic of the greatest wrestlers of all time is a strong debate that has wrestling fans and critics alike talking. However, when it comes down to skill, some wrestlers had all of the ingredients needed to be physically imposing inside the squared circle and knew how to tell a story. Some wrestlers were master technicians inside the ring in WWE and captivated an audience with superb wrestling and putting on instant classics. Many of the all-time greats like Hulk Hogan were not the best inside the ring but were unquestionably one of the major stars in the wrestling industry. Nevertheless, some of the best wrestlers who had good skills were powerhouses and engaged in hard-hitting encounters.
When it comes to the world of professional wrestling, there's a lot that goes into being the greatest of all time. Obviously, one has to be a good talker, have proven themselves throughout years of competing, have fan appeal, and so on and so on. However, that's not what this list will be about.
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This list will exclusively focus on the mat specialists. Some of these ten names didn't get to headline WrestleMania and won't be considered in the GOAT conversation at all. However, when it came time to just go in there and wrestle, there were none better than these ten WWE alumni.
UPDATE: 2024/10/25 20:00 EST BY TEVON KING
The topic of the greatest wrestlers of all time is a strong debate that has wrestling fans and critics alike talking. However, when it comes down to skill, some wrestlers had all of the ingredients needed to be physically imposing inside the squared circle and knew how to tell a story. Some wrestlers were master technicians inside the ring in WWE and captivated an audience with superb wrestling and putting on instant classics. Many of the all-time greats like Hulk Hogan were not the best inside the ring but were unquestionably one of the major stars in the wrestling industry. Nevertheless, some of the best wrestlers who had good skills were powerhouses and engaged in hard-hitting encounters.
10 Brock Lesnar Is A Physical Specimen
The Beast Incarnate Uses His Size And Strength To His Advantage
| Date Of Birth | Height | WWE Tenure | Notable WWE Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 12, 1977 | 6'3" | 2000-2004, 2012-Present | WWE Champion (7 Times), WWE Universal Champion (3 Times), Royal Rumble (2003, 2022), King of the Ring (2002), Men's Money in the Bank (2019) |
The only reason why Brock Lesnar didn't land higher on this list is because he often chose to just phone it in at times in his wrestling career. However, whenever The Beast was on, he was on, and there were few better.
Lesnar can go with the best of them and is a lot more than just suplexes. Furthermore, he's one of the best sellers in the game too, and has had incredible David vs. Goliath matches with the likes of Eddie Guerrero and AJ Styles.
9 Eddie Guerrero Was One Of The Best Technical Wrestlers In WWE History
Latino Heat Was An Excellent In-Ring Competitor
| Date Of Birth / Death Date | Height | WWE Tenure | Notable WWE Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 9, 1967 - November 13, 2005 | 5'7" | 2000-2001, 2002-2005 | WWE Champion (1 Time), WWE Intercontinental Champion (2 Times), WWE United States Champion (1 Time), WWE European Champion (2 Times), WWE Tag Team Champion (4 Times), WWE Hall of Fame (2006) |
Look, there's a reason why Eddie Guerrero was one of only a few cruiserweights to rise to the world title scene. From his time in WCW all the way up to his tragic passing in the WWE in 2005, he was an absolute technician.
Guerrero could play the role of the underdog incredibly well in the ring, as well as being a cocky heel. It didn't matter what was asked of the former WWE Champion, he could get it done.
8 The Undertaker Is The Best Big Man In WWE History
The Demon Of Death Valley Had A 30-Year WWE Career
| Date Of Birth | Height | WWE Tenure | Notable WWE Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 24, 1965 | 6'10" | 1990-2020 | WWE Champion (4 Times), World Heavyweight Champion (3 Times), WWE Hardcore Champion (1 Time), WWE World Tag Team Champion (6 Times), WCW Tag Team Champion (1 Time), Royal Rumble (2007), WWE Hall of Fame (2022) |
The Undertaker is arguably the best big man in WWE history. It's easy to forget, but he came out of an era where slow, plodding big men were essentially the norm. He should've peaked out as one of The Skyscrapers in WCW.
Instead, The Undertaker decided to work on his craft and put on his working shoes. He's not as athletic as Kurt Angle or anything like that, but he could tell a story unlike any other.
7 Dynamite Kid Was One-Half Of The British Bulldogs
Dynamite Kid Was Incredibly Athletic
| Date Of Birth / Death Date | Height | WWE Tenure | Notable WWE Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 5, 1958 - December 5, 2018 | 5'9" | 1984-1988 | WWE Tag Team Champion (1 Time) |
Dynamite Kid won't be landing on anyone's most-beloved wrestlers list anytime soon, as he had too many enemies to count. However, if one can set that aside, the British wrestler is one of the best to ever enter a ring.
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While his time in the WWE was brief, it was extremely memorable. While Kid had his own personal issues, there's no doubt that his athletic ability, and mind for professional wrestling, get him a spot here.
6 Ric Flair Is A Legend In The Wrestling Business
The Nature Boy Is Remarkable On The Mic And Inside The Squared Circle
| Date Of Birth | Height | WWE Tenure | Notable WWE Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 25, 1949 | 6'1" | 1991-1993, 2001-2009, 2012-2021 | WWE Champion (2 Times), WWE Intercontinental Champion (1 Time), World Tag Team Champion (3 Times), Royal Rumble (1992), WWE Hall of Fame (2008, 2012) |
Admittedly, the only reason Ric Flair isn't higher on this list is because he didn't know when to call it a career. The Nature Boy has famously retired several times but has always exited retirement, even in his 70s.
However, in his prime, Flair was an absolute technician who put on some of the best matches in wrestling history. You don't become a world champion as many times as he did without being a legend. Furthermore, there's a reason why he's been able to transcend wrestling.
5 Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat Doesn't Get The Credit He Deserves
Steamboat's Intercontinental Championship Victory Was Iconic
| Date Of Birth | Height | WWE Tenure | Notable WWE Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 29, 1953 | 5'10" | 1985-1988, 1991, 2005-2014 | WWE Intercontinental Champion (1 Time), WWE Hall of Fame (2009) |
Funnily enough, one of Ric Flair's biggest rivals comes just one place ahead of him. While Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat never got as much mainstream love as The Nature Boy did, he's still one of the best to ever enter a ring.
While Steamboat was arguably better in WCW, he still put on some incredible matches in the WWE. Even in his late 50s, he was able to put on a show, which is exactly what he did with Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 25 and Backlash 2009.
4 Daniel Bryan's Yes Movement Ran Roughshod In WWE
Bryan Was A Solid Competitor In WWE
| Date Of Birth | Height | WWE Tenure | Notable WWE Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 1981 | 5'10" | 2000-2003, 2009-2010, 2010-2021 | WWE Champion (4 Times), World Heavyweight Champion (1 Time), WWE Intercontinental Champion (1 Time), WWE United States Champion (1 Time), WWE Tag Team Champion (1 Time), SmackDown Tag Team Champion (1 Time), Money in the Bank (2011 - World Heavyweight Championship contract) |
From one Dragon to another, Daniel Bryan is also one of the greatest pure wrestlers in WWE history. The most impressive part of his journey is that he obviously was never supposed to reach the heights that he did.
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However, Bryan couldn't be held down thanks to the support of the fans. He got that fan support largely based on his ring work, and ability to go with anyone. Even today as he heads towards retirement, he's one of the best in the world.
3 Shawn Michaels Is An All-Round Entertainer
Michaels Built A Reputation As Mr. WrestleMania
| Date Of Birth | Height | WWE Tenure | Notable WWE Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 22, 1965 | 6'1" | 1987, 1988-1998, 2000-Present | WWE Champion (3 Times), World Heavyweight Champion (1 Time), WWE Intercontinental Champion (3 Times), WWE European Champion (1 Time), World Tag Team Champion (5 Times), WWE Tag Team Champion (1 Time), Royal Rumble (1995, 1996), WWE Hall of Fame (2011, 2019) |
Shawn Michaels is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and he did it with ease. Despite the fact that The Heartbreak Kid famously had issues with substance abuse, as well as injuries throughout his WWE run, it would be hard to tell.
Michaels put on incredible matches day in, and day out. Furthermore, it didn't matter what opportunity he was put into, he always put on a show and came out on top.
2 Kurt Angle Is A Submission Specialist
The Olympic Gold Medalist's WWE Career Was Exceptional
| Date Of Birth | Height | WWE Tenure | Notable WWE Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 9, 1968 | 6'0" | 1998-2006, 2017-2019 | WWE Champion (4 Times), World Heavyweight Champion (1 Time), WCW Champion (1 Time), WWE Intercontinental Champion (1 Time), WCW United States Champion (1 Time), WWE European Champion (1 Time), WWE Hardcore Champion (1 Time), WWE Tag Team Champion (1 Time), King of the Ring (2000), WWE Hall of Fame (2017) |
Kurt Angle didn't really have the lengthy career in WWE that will have him at the top of everyone's greatest of all time list. That being said, just about every fan can agree that the former Olympian was one of the best pure wrestlers ever.
Despite not being a wrestling fan before he got signed, Angle just got it. From his earliest moments in the WWE, it was clear that he could be an all-time great, and he followed through on it.
1 Bret Hart Was The Face Of The Company In The New Generation Era
The Hitman Is A Member Of The Legendary Hart Family
| Date Of Birth | Height | WWE Tenure | Notable WWE Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2, 1957 | 6'0" | 1984-1997, 2010-2011 | WWE Champion (5 Times), WWE Intercontinental Champion (2 Times), WWE United States Champion (1 Time), WWE Tag Team Champion (2 Times), Royal Rumble (1994), King of the Ring (1991, 1993) |
Bret Hart is the greatest pure wrestler in WWE history, and he did it with ease. Few have been as effortlessly good as The Hitman.
It didn't matter the circumstance. WrestleMania, or a dark match with Tom Magee, Hart would put his all into everything. Furthermore, it didn't matter if he was on the receiving end of the damage, or was dishing it out, he made wrestling look real. That's all you can ever really ask.
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