Who is the best wrestler of all time? It is one of the most hotly-debated questions among wrestling fans, and it can depend on a number of things; number of championships won, great matches, impact on the wrestling industry, and so much more that can have an impact on who you see as the best of the best.

It also depends on when you grew up. People who started watching wrestling in the late 2000s and early 2010s might say John Cena is the best to ever do it, but anyone who started watching before then would adamantly disagree with the likes of The Rock, Bret Hart, and Stone Cold Steve Austin being a part of their list.

Ranker.com has made a list of the greatest Superstars of all time, voted for by fans, and there are some iconic names that make the top 20, with the top spot being held by an undisputed all-time great.

10

Ric Flair

The Nature Boy kicks off the list, and with a career as decorated as his was, it’s very hard to argue. His record of 16 world championships was only broken recently by a man who we will get to later on (although if you ask Flair, the number of world titles he has keeps increasing). Over the course of his career, Flair won eight NWA World Championships, six WCW World Championships, and two WWF Championships.

But the Stylin’, Profilin’, Limousine Riding, Jet Flying, Kiss-Stealing, Wheelin’ n’ Dealin’ Son of a Gun was so much more than his world title record. He was one of the most charismatic wrestlers of all time, and had some legendary rivalries with Sting and Ricky Steamboat. He had the perfect retirement match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24 (before returning for numerous other matches, most recently in 2022) and his “Wooooooooo!” is still iconic with wrestling fans to this day.

9

Bret Hart

The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. Bret Hart is another wrestler whose legacy is still felt in wrestling today. He has inspired wrestlers such as CM Punk and AEW tag team, FTR, as well as pretty much every Canadian wrestler you see today.

Hart was a trailblazer for a more technical style of wrestling, and created a family legacy which is unmatched to this day, with his rivalry against his brother, Owen, creating some of the best matches of all time and his rivalry with Shawn Michaels being one of the most dramatic the WWE has ever seen, with the ‘Montreal Screwjob‘ still referenced to this day.

Hart won five WWF titles, two WCW World Heavyweight Championships, and a number of other titles, but his dedication, skill, and resilience are what makes him an all-time great.

8

Triple H

The Game is someone that caused a lot of controversy over the course of his career, whether it be his “reign of terror” in the early 2000s, the infamous curtain call, or his work with D-Generation X, storming down to WCW in a tank. Triple H was a mainstay of WWE programming from being Hunter Hearst Helmsley in 1995 to his final match.

The King of Kings won 14 world championships in his career, with the final one coming when he won the 2016 Royal Rumble. He has also had some of the most iconic theme songs of all time, with ‘The Game’, ‘My Time’, and ‘King of Kings’ all being legendary among wrestling fans. Now, Triple H is the head of creative at WWE, and leading the company into a new era.

7

Hulk Hogan

Hogan is one of the most iconic wrestlers of all time. He was the face of professional wrestling in the 1980s, and was the first wrestler to really make his way into the mainstream and catapult the WWF to a whole new level with his catchphrases and look, making him the perfect poster-boy.

His slam on Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III is one of the most iconic moments of all time and his matches in the early days of ‘Mania really set the stage for the ‘Showcase of the Immortals’ to become what it is today. He had legendary catchphrases such as: “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?”, and his popularity in the ’80s made him a cultural icon, brother.

6

Randy Orton

The third member of Evolution on this list and the highest, Randy Orton, has had a career decorated with countless titles and legendary rivalries. The Viper became the youngest world champion in WWE history at the age of 24, and in the years since then, he hasn’t slowed down, winning 13 more and becoming one of the all-time greats.

He is another wrestler whose legacy (pardon the pun) has transcended wrestling, with his finisher, the RKO, becoming iconic in pop culture and 2009 Randy Orton being the face of pure evil. Orton is cold and calculated, and even at 46, he is still mixing it up with the best of the best. When he decides to retire, he is a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

5

Shawn Michaels

Undoubtedly one of the best in-ring performers of all time, Shawn Michaels is another wrestler that inspired a generation, with his legendary Sweet Chin Music being seen in pretty much every wrestling match you see today. Like his DX stablemate, Triple H, The Heartbreak Kid is one of the most controversial figures in the company’s history, playing a key role in the ‘Montreal Screwjob’ and countless other incidents during the 1990s.

The Heartbreak Kid is known for stealing the show, adopting the nickname ‘Mr WrestleMania’ because of his iconic matches with Razor Ramon, Kurt Angle, and Bret Hart. His best, though, are his two against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25 and 26 respectively, with the latter being the perfect retirement match for one of the best to ever do it.

4

John Cena

John Cena is the face of a generation, becoming synonymous with the PG Era of WWE. He broke Ric Flair’s record, winning his 17th World Championship at WrestleMania 41, and he has delivered some of the most iconic matches and rivalries of all time.

Cena is someone else who has broken into pop culture, with his ‘you can’t see me’ becoming an infamous meme. What truly makes Cena an all-time great, however, is his hustle, loyalty, and respect mantra and his charitable work outside of wrestling, especially with the make-a-wish foundation. Cena is one of the GOATs both inside and outside the ring.

3

The Rock

Probably the biggest household name to come out of professional wrestling, The Rock didn’t grace the WWE with his presence with the longevity of others on this list, but he was iconic. He is best known for his charisma and incredible promos. His catchphrases such as “Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?”, “Know Your Role and Shut Your Mouth”, and “Just Bring It!” have become legendary with wrestling fans, and his rivalries with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, and John Cena defined an illustrious career for The Brahma Bull.

Most recently, he came back as the ‘Final Boss’, teaming with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 against Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes and making appearances at Bad Blood and Elimination Chamber. We are hoping that he returns soon, with a match against Roman Reigns being rumoured for years, but whatever happens, he has become a legend both in the ring and in the box office, and his undeniable star power makes him one of the greatest of all time.

2

Stone Cold Steve Austin

Stone Cold Steve Austin is another man that defined a generation. The Texas Rattlesnake became the face of the WWE during the Attitude Era, the most popular in the company’s history, and a time when professional wrestling was a key part of pop culture.

Austin was a perfect antihero, with his rivalry with Vince McMahon becoming must-see television, and his catchphrases still live on to this day, with his iconic Austin 3:16 promo launching him into infamy, and his “What?” still being heard around wrestling arenas today.

Austin was the face of an era when wrestling was cool, with the glass shatter and the Stunner becoming infamous around the world. Stone Cold won six WWE Championships and was the first ever back-to-back Royal Rumble winner, and his legacy will live on forever.

1

The Undertaker

The Phenom. The Deadman. The Last Outlaw. No one in the history of professional wrestling has had the longevity of The Undertaker, with his career spanning three separate decades, whether that’s as The American Bada** or The Deadman.

It is impossible to mention ‘Taker without mentioning his WrestleMania streak. He went undefeated in 21 WrestleManias before his loss to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 30, and in that time, had iconic matches against the likes of Edge, Triple H, CM Punk, Shawn Michaels, and many, many more.

What makes The Deadman one of the undisputed GOATs, though, is that over three decades he refused to break character, whether inside or outside of the ring. He knew the magic of professional wrestling, and kept that magic alive for as long as physically possible. He is a multiple-time world champion and an icon, and whichever way you look at it, he is one of the most important figures to ever grace the sport.