The WWE will reach a milestone in 2014 when WrestleMania 30 takes place in New Orleans. The event has a chance to become the most profitable professional wrestling show off all time.
In the 30 years since Vince McMahon created WrestleMania, the greatest wrestlers in history have made an appearance in the WWE. With superstars dating back several decades, there is often a debate surrounding who is the best wrestler off all time.
Here is a top 10 list, consisting of the greatest performers to ever step inside the ring. Notable superstars that didn't make the cut include John Cena, Triple H and Sting.
It’d be hard to argue that there’s ever been a better in-ring performer than The Heartbreak Kid. His athleticism, ability to sell and knack for having a good match with anybody make HBK one of a kind. Michaels had a career unlike any other. He was a star in the 1990’s after The Rockers disbanded. His feud with Bret Hart remains one of the best ever, and he was a founding member of D-Generation X, perhaps the greatest stable in WWE history. Following a four-year retirement, HBK came back better than ever, having compelling feuds with the likes of Chris Jericho, The Undertaker and John Cena. His final years in the WWE cemented his legacy as the greatest of all time.
http://wwehalloffameblog.com/category/9-out-of-10/He only spent a small portion of his career with the WWE, but Flair was one of the best to ever step in the ring. He was a legend in the South during his time with NWA, and he holds the record by winning 16 world titles in his career. Flair was a part of two all-time great stables in The Four Horsemen and Evolution, and his ring work in over 40 years was always one of the best. The Nature Boy’s legendary promos, though, might be what separate him from the rest.
http://www.ringsideaction.com/2012/12/ric-flair-comments-on-wwe-return/Over 20 years after his debut, The Undertaker character remains the best gimmick in WWE history. He became one of the top superstars when he first appeared at Survivor Series in 1990 and hasn’t looked back. Even as he approaches 50 years old, The Undertaker still has some of the best matches of the year when he steps inside the ring. His WrestleMania streak has become almost bigger than the event itself, and his match steals the show every year. His ability in the ring and longevity make him a contender for the top spot on this list.
wwe.comNo wrestler has ever been more popular at his peak than Steve Austin. He helped usher in the “Attitude Era,” which brought the WWE the best ratings in the company’s history. Austin’s emergence and feuds with Mr. McMahon and The Rock were the driving force behind the WWE surpassing WCW in the Monday Night Wars. He connected with the fans like no wrestler in history, and was a great in-ring performer, earning the moniker “The Ringmaster” because of his technical skills. Vince McMahon has called Stone Cold the greatest WWE superstar of all time. If his career hadn’t been derailed by injuries, he might be No.1.
http://www.wrestlingdvdnews.com/stone-cold-steve-austin-dvd-2011-2012/15339/Hogan was the face of professional wrestling in the 1980s and helped elevate the business to heights it had never seen before. He was so popular that the term “Hulkamania” was coined to describe the fanfare that surrounded the wrestler, who drew money like no other. He was a part of some of the biggest moments in WWE history, including his match Andre the Giant at WrestleMania 3 and his match with The Rock at WrestleMania 18. Just when it looked like Hogan’s best days were behind him, he turned heel and joined the NWO, helping WCW surpass the WWE.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Wrestling/HulkHogan?from=Main.HulkHoganAround the world, Andre may be the most famous professional wrestler of all time. Fans flocked to see the massive man who had never lost a match. He finally was defeated by Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 3, helping Hogan reach even greater heights. When he faced Hogan, Andre pulled off a successful heel turn after being a top babyface for so long, proving that he is one of the best to ever step in the ring.
wwe.comFew, if any, have done as much to elevate wrestling’s place in pop culture as The Rock. Dwayne Johnson translated his success as the top babyface in the WWE to becoming one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood. The Rock is very good in the ring, but it’s his work on the mic that sets him apart. His catchphrases have become a part of the American lexicon, and his “This Is Your Life” segment with Mick Foley was the highest-rated in WWE history. Even though his popularity rivaled that Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan, he still had the ability to work as a top heel.
wwe.comHe wasn’t called “the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be” for no reason. Hart was a technical genius in the ring, making him a part of some of the greatest matches in history. His hour-long Iron Man Match with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 12 was named the greatest of all time by wwe.com, and with good reason, while his bout with Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13 has become famous for its rare double turn. Hart wasn’t always the best on the mic, but his promo skills improved over time.
wwe.comSometimes overlooked for his spot among the all-time greats, Savage takes a backseat to no one. Whether he was in the WWE or with WCW, the “Macho Man” was always one of the best performers in the business. He had memorable feuds with the likes of Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan, and expanded his popularity beyond the world of pro wrestling. Whether he was a heel or a babyface, his promos were always top notch. His unique style on the mic and in the ring makes him an easy pick for the top 10.
wwe.comSammartino defined professional wrestling in the 1960’s. He’s the most successful WWE champion of all time, holding the title for almost eight straight years, a feat that will certainly never be matched. Sammartino was a beloved figure, selling out Madison Square Garden countless times. If it wasn’t for him, the business would not have been able to grow like it did in the coming years.
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