Where do Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, The Rock and John Cena rank?

Troy L. Smith, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio – You could spend forever debating the greatest wrestlers of all time.

Every diehard wrestling fan has a list and it’s different from that of the person sitting next to them. That’s the beauty of professional wrestling, which has a deep tradition and collection of memorable stars that have kept it alive for so many years.

In ranking the 100 greatest wrestlers of all time, we took into account in-ring skills, influence and impact, longevity, career success and charisma, among other things. We also kept it limited to performers who debuted after 1930.

Some these stars have been somewhat forgotten over time. Others are underrated workers who accomplished more than you realize. Then there are those who everyone will recognize.

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100. Bill Goldberg

Kicking off a list like this with Bill Goldberg wasn't easy. As fans know, Goldberg’s in-ring skills could put you to sleep. But that’s now what he was all about. WCW needed another huge star to win the Monday Night Wars and Goldberg was it. He was as big as anyone during wrestling’s peak of the late 1990s thanks to a larger than life persona he owned from the locker room to the ring.

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99. William Regal

Regal is probably the most underrated worker of his time. Throughout his runs with WCW and WWE, you’d be hard-pressed to find a bad match involving him. He’s also not given enough credit for helping build WWE on a global front, winning the European Championship back when it was actually something to write home about.

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Two of the all-time greats, Chief Wahoo McDaniel & Dory Funk Jr! https://t.co/CmtUNTKJ0U pic.twitter.com/qdpgTOZ7mU — NWALegends.com (@NWALegends) September 13, 2017

98. Wahoo McDaniel

A standout in the National Wrestling Alliance during the 1970s, McDaniel held his own with some of the best workers of his era, from Superstar Billy Graham and Ivan Koloff to Johnny Valentine and Ric Flair. McDaniel’s most noteworthy accomplishment was winning the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship five times.

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97. Bobo Brazil

Bobo Brazil existed at a time when wrestling was full of big name stars like The Sheik, Dic the Bruiser, Buddy Rogers and Bruno Sammartino. But he accomplished so many great things, including multiple Heavyweight Championship runs, while breaking down racial barriers as the first ever African American to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

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96. Davey Boy Smith

There was no more beloved wrestler in the UK than Davey Boy Smith, aka The British Bulldog. Earlier in his career, he found success tagging with the Dynamite Kid (as the British Bulldogs). Smith’s solo run made him one of WWE’s greatest Intercontinental Champions and mid-card performers, and was one half of the greatest SummerSlam match of all time in 1992 against Bret Hart.

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95. Kane

When Kane made his debut in 1997, you wouldn’t have guessed he’d stick around all that long. His memorable storyline as the Undertaker’s enemy/brother didn’t seem to have the longest shelf life. Yet, Kane never went away, becoming one of the most durable performers in WWE history and headlining multiple pay-per-views.

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Remembering one of the all time greats on his birthday, Hall of Famer Terry Gordy. Happy B'day Bam Bam! @MichaelPSHayes1 @BADSTREETBUDDY pic.twitter.com/vor1r9MWe2 — The Midnight Snacker 🌕 🐎 (@BuzzardToombs) April 23, 2017

94. Terry Gordy

Terry Gordy won belts in numerous promotions, topping "Match of the Year" votes both in singles competitions and as a member of tag teams. Gordy even once held the important Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. He evolved wherever he went and elevated the talent of everyone who stepped in the ring with him.

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93. Don Muraco

Before The Rock there was the original "The Rock." That was the nickname Muraco went by in his heyday, which included one of the most memorable feuds of the 1980s with Bob Backlund. Muraco was also the first winner of the King of the Ring in 1985.

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92. Kevin Nash

As his character Diesel, Nash became standout big man in WWE and even held all three major titles in the promotion during the mid 1990s. But his true impact came when he moved to WCW and formed the influential N.W.O with Scott Hall. Nash participated in some of the biggest matches of the Monday Night Wars and was instrumental in helping change the way talent contracts worked in the industry.

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91. Larry Zbyszko

Mentored by Bruno Sammartino, wherever Larry Zbyszko went, he was the kind of guy every wrestler wanted to work with. He was versatile, standing out as a heel and babyface, both in tag team competition and singles. Zbyszko held titles in multiple promotions and was last person to hold the AWA World Heavyweight Championship.

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Today, in 1928, pro wrestler Johnny Valentine was born. Many sellouts at the Sportatorium when he faced Wahoo & Fritz pic.twitter.com/GVZRlPi5ch — Doyle King (@ImDOYLEKING) September 22, 2014

90. Johnny Valentine

There isn’t a major wrestler of his era that didn’t come face to face with Valentine, a performer that could own a crowd as a babyface or heel. His memorable feuds included face-offs with Buddy Rogers, The Sheik, Jack Brisco, Bruno Sammartino and Antonio Inoki. His run lasted nearly 30 years and would have went longer had he not suffered a broken back in the same 1975 plane crash Ric Flair made an improbable comeback from.

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Dick Beyer, AKA "The Destroyer" began wearing the mask in the early 60's. Once wrestled a bear. #lvrj pic.twitter.com/ZVMFSaaLle — Jeff scheid (@JeffScheid) April 21, 2015

89. Dick Beyer

With his character The Destroyer, Beyer was a workhouse who became a draw around the world. He was so successful outside the United States that he became one of the premier talents to work in Japan and held titles in nearly a dozen promotions.

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88. Nikita Koloff

The Russian Nightmare was a physical force of a man. He looked the part of a major heel and played it perfectly. As part of the Koloff regime, Nikita represented on-sight doom for whomever he was feuding with, which included the likes of Sting, Mike Rotunda and Lex Luger, among others.

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87. Dean Malenko

If you were putting together a list of the best technical matches in the history of ECW and WCW, it wouldn’t be complete without Dean Malenko. He was known for crafting fluid and highly complex matches with the likes of Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Jericho and others. And while his star didn’t rise as much as some of his contemporaries, Malenko is considered one of the more influential workers from the mid 1990s cruiserweight era.

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86. Akira Maeda

A pioneer of the shoot-style of wrestling, Maeda remains one of the sport’s most important figures of the 1980s. He would work alongside some of the biggest names in helping continue wrestling as one of the top draws in Japanese culture.

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85. Barry Windham

The son of Blackjack Mulligan, Windham had a legacy to live up to. And he did just that. Windham’s collection of matches can hold up against anyone from his era, routinely putting together time-limit gems with Ric Flair and memorable feuds with just about everyone who passed through the National Wrestling Alliance and WCW.

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84. Scott Hall

Hall spent the first part of his career roaming around promotions with little success. But when he arrived in WWE as Razor Ramon, a star was born. He became one of the promotion’s top draws and participated in two iconic ladder matches with Shawn Michaels. Hall joined his friend Kevin Nash in moving to WCW and reinventing that promotion (and the industry) with the N.W.O.

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83. Tully Blanchard

Blanchard might be the forgotten member of The Four Horsemen. But not to old-school fans who can name check several of his technical masterpieces in the ring. Blanchard’s work with the likes of Magnum T.A., Dusty Rhodes and Terry Funk bordered on perfection.

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¿#SabíasQué El luchador italiano/argentino Antonino Rocca derrotó en un mismo cómic a Superman, Sansón y Hércules? #Leyenda 🇦🇷🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/8M9AcpF84u — Solowrestling (@Solo_Wrestling) July 29, 2017

82. Antonino Rocca

Rocca won titles in a number of promotions, from AWA to Stampede Wrestling to the WWF. He also developed a large, loyal fanbase during the 1940s and 50s that few stars of that era could rival.

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81. Jeff Hardy

Hardy is one half of one the most important tag teams in wrestling history – The Hardy Boyz. The duo elevated the tag team division in WWE with its epic extreme matches. But Hardy always seemed destined for bigger things and went on to became an Intercontinental Champion and WWE Champion.

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80. Ultimo Dragon

Ultimo Dragon won so many belts, he used to look like a boxing champion who had conquered multiple divisions. As one of Japan’s premiere wrestlers, Ultimo Dragon possessed an arsenal of moves (including the moonsault) that were breathtaking. He eventually worked his way stateside and became one of the top cruiserweights in WCW.

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79. Genichiro Tenryu

Discovered by Japanese wrestling Giant Baba, Tenryu actually made his debut in the United States in epic fashion with a match against Ted DiBiase. Tenryu would return to Japan and become a standout worker. His matches were so highly regarded he joined WWE for a bit in the 1990s and even competed at WrestleMania VII.

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78. Owen Hart

Owen Hart spent a lot of time working out of the shadow of his big brother Bret, and audiences benefited from it. You could make the case Owen was actually more naturally gifted. Some of his best matches came against his brother on the biggest of WWE stages. His run was tragically cut short in 1999 during a pay-per-view at the age of just 34.

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From my Mexican wrestling series, Blue Demon and Ana. pic.twitter.com/12aR07Kfae — denise de la rue (@denise_delarue) October 23, 2014

77. Blue Demon

If there were a Mount Rushmore of Mexican wrestling, Blue Demon would be on it. He was one of the culture's most important stars who simply became known as "Blue" due to his blue mask.

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76. Ron Simmons

With WWE, Simmons became known as a powerhouse tag team wrestler. But long before that, Simmons’ career was groundbreaking for the industry. He became one of the first modern African-American wrestling stars when he won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in 1992

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75. Rick Rude

Rick Rude was a physical marvel who could have coasted on his looks and in-ring ability. But he had the charisma to go with it. He rode his snake-like charm into epic feuds with The Ultimate Warrior, Sting and several others. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April 2017.

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74. Jerry Lawler

You know The King for his WWE persona. But long before that, he helped build wrestling in the Memphis area. Lawler was also one of the first stars to merge professional wrestling with Hollywood, building a headline-grabbing feud with comedian Andy Kaufman.

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73. Jimmy Snuka

High-flying maneuvers are commonplace in wrestling and have been for quite some time. That’s because of Jimmy Snuka. He was one of wrestling’s most captivating stars of the 1980s and is responsible for one of the most memorable moves in wrestling history when he jumped from the top of a steel cage onto Don Muraco in 1983.

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72. Rob Van Dam

RVD was the star ECW needed to legitimize itself during the late 1990s. Where the promotion’s other stars built their reputations on violence, Van Dam would leave mouths on the floor for his otherworldly athleticism. He stands as one of the more physically gifted wrestlers of all time, earning more than 20 championships in multiple promotions.

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Hiroshi Tanahashi Cuts His Hair And Changes Color https://t.co/DqHTYAFj9c pic.twitter.com/XLoFqsjJ3g — eWrestlingNews.com (@ewrestlingnews) August 14, 2017

71. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Tanahashi might be the best in-ring performer wrestling has today. Japan wrestling has really taken off since the star of the 2000s and no star is more at the center of that than Tanahashi, a sure bet to go down as one of the greatest wrestlers of the last 25 years.

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As I go to sleep here are some images of Mick Foley vs Toshiaki Kawada pic.twitter.com/mIWpqYgbC4 — blues (@CaeruleusBlues) March 10, 2017

70. Toshiaki Kawada

When you talk about the greatest technical matches of all time, names like Steamboat, Flair and Guerrero come up often. But Kawada’s name belongs there too. He was, arguably, Japan’s biggest and best wrestler during the 1990s, who perfected the stiff style of combat Japan has become known for.

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69. Arn Anderson

Arn Anderson is known for his alliance and friendship with Ric Flair. But Anderson was just as important to that great group as Flair. If Anderson is underappreciated, it’s only buy current generations of wrestling fans. Those who witnessed his work knew how important he was to the history of WCW and the careers of those he teamed with.

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Atsushi Onita announced that his retirement show will take place on October 31 in Korakuen Hall. His retirement tour starts on 9/9 in Osaka. pic.twitter.com/BIQWTU8ROB — STRIGGA (@STRIGGA) May 10, 2017

68. Atsushi Onita

Onita innovated hardcore wrestling, bringing the death match style to the country of Japan. It was during the late 1980s and early 1990s that Onita elevated the overall level of violence in wrestling, setting the stage for what the likes of Mick Foley, Sabu and others would do around the world in the 1990s.

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67. AJ Styles

Styles may be the best all-around wrestler WWE has today. But he’s spent a longtime working towards this level of stardom. Along the way, Styles became the guy at various promotions, including TNA and Ring of Honor. His recent feud with John Cena is just the latest example of Styles’ ability to tell stories with an epic in-ring payoff.

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66. Tatsumi Fujinami

Tatsumi was the "Dragon." He's responsible for several of the most innovative and, now, popular moves in Japanese wrestling history. His impact would stretch behind just Asia, as well, earning him respect in multiple promotions and countries.

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65. Samoa Joe

Joe’s run in WWE was a long time coming. He dominated virtually everywhere else, leaving behind a collection of greatest-match candidates in various promotions. He’s won just about every title imaginable, except the WWE Championship. But it seems like a matter of time.

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Celebro el gran interés y compromiso de @ElHijodelSanto en la lucha de luchas vs corrupción e impunidad👊🏻 pic.twitter.com/v7SVBR5a8s — EdgardoFloresCampbell (@EFloresCampbell) September 13, 2017

64. El hijo del Santo

The son of El Santo, El Hijo del Santo nearly (or maybe even equaled) the legend of his father and became a hero in Mexico as a masked wrestler. It can be said that no one quite mastered the Lucha Libre style quite like del Santo, who would become a Mexican pop culture fixture.

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Giant Baba defends the NWA International Heavyweight title in Osaka vs Gene Kiniski, 1967 #AJPW pic.twitter.com/GsLRO9FCBq — LARIATOOOO!! (@MrLARIATO) July 14, 2017

63. Gene Kiniski

Before Bret Hart was the greatest wrestler from Canada, there was Kiniski. He won multiple championships in different organizations and became a big enough name to challenge the great Bruno Sammartino on multiple occasions. Kiniski’s peak moment came when he wrestled and defeated Lou Thesz for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in front of more than 11,000 people in St. Louis in 1966.

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62. Randy Orton

Orton had the look, the talent and the personality to become the biggest star in wrestling history. Even if you believe he never quite lived up to the hype, Orton has still had an impressive career, winning the WWE Championship nine times and headlining multiple WrestleMania events.

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#EnUnDíaComoHoy pero de 1979, el Perro Aguayo destronaba como Campeón Mundial Semi Completo de la UWA al Gran Hamada en la #CDMX. pic.twitter.com/Bz2jb9X2Gw — Lucha Libre Y Ya (@LuchaLibreYYa) April 11, 2017

61. Perro Aguayo

Aguayo was to Lucha Libre wrestling what The Rock was to WWE. Together with El Santo, Aguayo made the Mexican style of wrestling as big of a draw as it ever was. He was a powerful force in the ring whose matches were punishing. He made his impact in the U.S. when he won the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship in 1986.

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It is my suggestion that everyone look up Sabu's uncle, Ed Farhat - The (ORIGINAL) Sheik. NO HEEL WAS GREATER. pic.twitter.com/4tUjeKAjrB — The Wrestling Scope (@scope_wrestling) September 6, 2017

60. The Sheik

There were a few memorable wrestlers who used The Sheik moniker. But none was more impactful than the original, portrayed by Edward Farhat. The Sheik was a vicious heel who became one of the originators of hardcore wrestling in the U.S.

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59. Ted DiBiase

DiBiase proved there was more to being a bad guy than just a good gimmick. He had the in-ring technical skills to back it up. His “Million Dollar Man” persona made him a standout in the industry during the 1980s against some of the biggest names such as Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage.

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58. Brock Lesnar

He’s the most unstoppable force the promotion has seen since the Undertaker at his peak and the man who ended the streak. Earlier in his career, before Lesnar became a UFC champion, he was full go mode in WWE, becoming its youngest champion ever and being on track to become one the greatest of all time. Now he's a gun for hire, but an impressive one at that.

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57. Kenta Kobashi

If you were building the perfect wrestler, it might just be Kenta Kobashi. He is one of the greatest all around workers in wrestling history and a true hero in Japan. Interestingly enough, Kobashi lost his first 63 matches, but would eventually become the gold standard in Japan before making memorable runs in promotions like Ring of Honor and World League Wrestling.

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56. Edge

Edge was undoubtedly one of the greatest tag team wrestlers of all time. But he surprised a lot of people when he became a standout singles wrestler who drew the admiration of everyone in the WWE Universe. In a time that was cut short by injury, Edge managed to win King of the Ring, the first Money in the Bank Latter Match, a Royal Rumble and headline a WrestleMania.

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55. Jushin Liger

Jushin Thunder Liger established the junior heavyweight style wrestling during the 1990s, which would translate to success in lighter weight divisions around the globe. His moves were impressive, his look was mesmerizing and his matches were unforgettable. Liger would go on to become a standout in WCW and even Ring of Honor into the 2000s and beyond.

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54. Jake Roberts

A lot has been made about the struggles Jake “The Snake” Roberts has seen since retiring from wrestling. But few were bigger than Roberts during the late 1980s. He brought a different kind of charisma as a babyface and sinister nature as a heel. He was one of the most beloved performers of his day and the man behind one of the greatest finishing moves ever in the DDT.

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53. Jack Brisco

Brisco (along with his family) made one of the biggest discoveries in wrestling history when he scouted a little known talent named Terry Bollea, who would become Hulk Hogan. Prior to that, however, Jack Brisco was laying the groundwork for what it meant to be a top-notch champion throughout the 1970s. It’s a standard every champion in every promotion sought to reach.

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One of the best in the history of Pro-wrestling & WWE..#RIP Chris Benoit pic.twitter.com/JmzpF8uUPk — Eddie (@HEEL_Rollins_) September 10, 2017

52. Chris Benoit

Hands down, the most controversial wrestler on this list. It has nothing to do with his in-ring ability. Benoit could be considered one of the 30 greatest in-ring performers ever for his technical prowess and willingness to put everything on the line. However, the murder-suicide that would end his life (Benoit murdered his wife and son) would forever put a black cloud over Benoit’s legacy.

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51. Jumbo Tsuruta

Larger heavyweights weren’t considered fan favorites in Japan. But Tsuruta changed that by becoming one of the most popular stars in Japanese wrestling history. Not only did he compete against some of the greatest stars the wrestling world had to offer in the 1970s and 1980s. But Tsuruta also became the first Triple Crown champion, which would become the pinnacle for Japanese wrestlers.

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Professional wrestler and TV pioneer Gorgeous George died on this date in 1963, at the age of 48. He's at Valhalla Memorial Park. pic.twitter.com/lqNaJH3Y1q — Mark Masek (@CemeteryGuide) December 26, 2016

50. Gorgeous George

During the popular era of the 1940s and 1950s, Gorgeous George became a mainstream success for creating a flamboyant character unlike anything else in wrestling. His style and personality drew in people outside of wrestling diehards to the show and inspired other pop culture stars, such as Muhammad Ali and James Brown to develop the art of the promo.

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LUCHA LIBRE LEGENDS #!OLDSCHOOL CUSTOM LUCHA FIGURES #!EL CANEK #!FISHMAN #!DOS CARAS #!https://t.co/evAi4VIouH pic.twitter.com/pLTKslsgSf — EL PEO (@peoloslppboys) August 3, 2016

49. El Canek

El Canek was Mexican wrestling’s version of Ric Flair, winning the UWA World Heavyweight Championship a stunning 15 times. He was a huge draw throughout the 1980s, whose star power made in a national hero.

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That gif reminds me of the iconic photo of Ivan Koloff mid kneedrop, seemingly floating over Bruno pic.twitter.com/IOv05wmtvP — Brad T (@hey_mrman) August 4, 2017

48. Ivan Koloff

Known as “The Russian Bear,” Koloff was a groundbreaking villains of the 1960s and 1970s. He never achieved the mainstream status of the babyfaces he worked with. But Koloff proved to be the perfect heel to elevate feuds with Pedro Morales, Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund and Billy Graham.

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47. Curt Hennig

When you go by the name Mr. Perfect, you better be good. And Curt Hennig was great. During his days with the AWA, Hennig held the World Heavyweight Championship for over a year. He never reached such levels in the WWE. However, he is arguably the greatest mid-card performer and Intercontinental Champion in history.

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46. Rey Mysterio

When Rey Mysterio became a star in ECW, he was many younger fans’ first introduction to the Lucha Libre style and the first breathtaking cruiserweight to the take over in the United States. The fact that he would go on to become a star in WCW and one of the best WWE performers of his era is testament to Mysterio’s versatility.

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Freddie Blassie vs Rikidozan pic.twitter.com/m5rwk5o9vj — RealHeroEric (@NjpwGaijinEric) September 3, 2017

45. Freddie Blassie

“Classy” Freddie Blassie helped redefine what it meant to be a villain in wrestling, making the way you looked and acted just as important as how you performed in the ring. In fact, Blassie was so hated, promotions often had to bring in extra police to assure his safety with large crowds.

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The big guy is coming to the Club! Sign up for our August Box and get an item from wrestling legend, Big Van Vader 🤘🏼https://t.co/NgIp90Irpr pic.twitter.com/MCxuO1iida — Dark Parlor Originals (@DarkParlorOrigs) July 14, 2017

44. Vader

Everywhere the man known as Big Van Vader went, he stood out. If you’re only familiar with his solid, but brief run in WWE during the late 1990s, you’re barely scratching the service. Wrestling had never seen a big man like Vader, who could punish opponents with his size and brutality, and mesmerize crowds by pulling off high-flying moves like the “Vadersault.”

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43. Satoru Sayama

Sayama (better known to many as Tiger Mask) is the only person ever to hold the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship and WWF Junio Heavyweight Championship at the same time. And it seemed like he would never lose either of them. His offensive blend of striking and athleticism helped revolutionize Japanese wrestling, leading Bret Hart to call him the “Bruce Lee of wrestling.”

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"Sometimes The Will Is More Important Than The Skill" - Superstar Billy Graham @ssbillygraham pic.twitter.com/bvotFAwM1Y — Wrestling Quotes (@JustRasslin) July 16, 2017

42. Superstar Billy Graham

Before Hulk Hogan or Triple H, there was “Superstar” Billy Graham. Every major, beefed-up star to come after Graham’s epic run in the 1970s and early 1980s borrowed from “Superstar.” Graham was the first to truly master the art of interviews and carve out the look of a proven athlete (thanks to his body building background).

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41. Daniel Bryan

You might be thinking Daniel Bryan’s career being cut short (at least so far) in WWE shouldn’t have him this high on the list. But even if the man whose real name is Bryan Danielson had never stepped foot in a WWE ring he’d likely be in this discussion. Before taking the WWE universe by storm, Danielson was, arguably, the greatest wrestler in Ring of Honor history and an inspiration to fans everywhere.

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On this day in 1977, Bruiser Brody won the NWA American Heavyweight Championship for the 3rd time #NWA pic.twitter.com/LX5Qon9RqU — BlaiseZebrataur (@BlaiseZebrataur) September 11, 2017

40. Bruiser Brody

There was something seriously off about Bruiser Brody. But that’s what made him so great. He was a brawler who didn’t care much for the technical aspects of wrestling. That wasn’t the easiest thing for opponents to adjust to. But Brody’s style was a revelation for fans and future wrestlers dreaming of stepping in the ring.

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39. Kurt Angle

Given his Olympic pedigree, Kurt Angle might be the best pure wrestler sports entertainment has ever seen. But he brought so much more to the table. Angle’s commitment to his persona was amazing, helping him become a near perfect balance of charisma, storytelling and athleticism.

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38. Keiji Mutoh

Even with all the big names from Japan on this list, Mutoh might be the most important. Working as The Great Muta, Mutoh established a persona that would help bring Japanese wrestling to the United States, kick starting legendary feuds with stars like Sting, Ric Flair and Lex Luger.

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---Ever wonder what caused that headache you had last week? Stan Hansen's opponents never did . . .🤔 pic.twitter.com/CecX1mFxMZ — Gary Cappetta (@GaryCappetta) September 9, 2017

37. Stan Hansen

Stan Hansen brought a different style to American wrestling that would help him standout in various promotions. He was a stiff worker with a cowboy persona unlike anything else at the time. Hanson quickly became of the most memorable villains in WWE history and was part of some of the greatest feuds and matches of the 1970s.

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36. Chris Jericho

When you think of Chris Jericho, you think of a guy oozing with charisma who could dominate on the mic and hold his own with anyone in the ring. That began with brilliant matches in ECW and WCW. But Jericho knew he was destined for superstardom and took his talents to WWE, where he would unleash one of the greatest debuts in the promotion’s history with Y2J.

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Riki Choshu vs. Tatsumi Fujinami from 1992 https://t.co/kcKwUOPLcR pic.twitter.com/3BoLv0rvTE — Old New Japan (@Old_New_Japan) January 4, 2017

35. Riki Choshu

New Japan Pro Wrestling might not exist today had Riki Choshu carried it on his back during much of the 1970s. For three decades, Choshu would serve as the centerpiece of the promotion, taking on both Japanese stars like Antonio Inoki and Jumbo Tsuruta and standouts from the U.S. Choshu’s impact would also be felt in the U.S. when, as part of a storyline, he created a faction that would “invade” the promotion; something that would later be copied the N.W.O. in WCW.

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34. Bob Backlund

Bob Backlund was as prolific and reliable a WWE superstar as anyone during the 1970s and early 1980s. His title reign served as the second longest in the promotion’s history just behind Bruno Sammartino. Backlund was one of the first superstars to prove the model of moving from the regional circuit to WWE’s big Northeast stage, where you could thrive in front of huge audiences.

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Entrevista a Abdullah The Butcher: Carlos Colón, sus hijos, su deseo de regresar a Puerto Rico y más - ... pic.twitter.com/n6Lu3M4wE0 — Planeta Wrestling (@Planeta_Wrest) July 5, 2017

33. Adullah the Butcher

Your opinion of Abdullah the Butcher probably depends on your stomach for hardcore wrestling. For fans of ECW and stars like Mick Foley and Sabu, there was no legend greater than the Butcher. This is where hardcore wrestling took shape, in brutal and violent fashion that has yet to be matched.

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What's El Santo the legendary Lucha Libre wrestler doing in the studio? pic.twitter.com/NHGWB94JQe — Rye Arts Festival (@Ryearts) June 6, 2017

32. El Santo

El Santo was more than just a wrestler. He was an ambassador for Mexico. His wrestling career lasted nearly 50 years and made him one of the most famous figures in the entire country.

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Forty-seven years ago today on this date: Dory Funk Jr. @fuanku defeated Sandy Scott in Norfolk, Va. pic.twitter.com/30ix98ctDe — Mike Mooneyham (@ByMikeMooneyham) September 10, 2017

31. Dory Funk Jr.

One of Dory Funk Jr.’s biggest contribution to wrestling was his invention of the Texas cloverleaf submissions, which would go on to influence every submission artist who came after him. His in-ring abilities made him standout in the National Wrestling Alliance, while his later career work as a coach would influence an entire new generation of superstars.

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30. CM Punk

CM Punk never really clicked with the politics of WWE, which is why fans adored him so much. He came from the underground circuit and was a legend in Ring of Honor. Punk’s skills in the ring and his personality made him a star in WWE. And with one promo (The legendary Pimp Bomb), he changed the landscape of wrestling by name-dropping the indies.

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On this day in 1964, Verne Gagne won the AWA World Heavyweight Championship for the 7th time #AWA pic.twitter.com/tIV5u0btKn — BlaiseZebrataur (@BlaiseZebrataur) May 16, 2017

29. Verne Gagne

Gagne built AWA into a promotion that could challenge WWE, which was stunning in its own right. He was a great technician who was committed to the traditions of wrestling. Eventually, the industry left his way of thinking behind. But during his time, Gagne was able to make himself into the star by knowing how to own the crowd and build careers from the ground up.

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28. Eddie Guerrero

Few wrestlers were better regarded inside the industry than Guerrero. His work in ECW and WCW with Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko and others produced some of the greatest matches of that era. When he arrived in WWE, Guerrero’s charisma helped him rise to the top. There were no false gimmicks. Guerrero was as real and as talented as it gets, which is why today’s stars still borrow his stunning moves.

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Titan Sports

27. Mick Foley

Whether he was Mankind, Cactus Jack or even Dude Love, Foley was an unlikely star wherever he landed. His promo work was top notch and his storytelling was second to none. The fact that it came in brutal hardcore matches is all the more impressive. No one put their body on the line like Foley, who defied the odds to become one of wrestling greatest stars.

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26. Nick Bockwinkel

Bockwinkel may be the smartest wrestler of all time. From the early 1970s through the late 1980s, he revolutionized professional wrestling. He was an in-ring technician unlike anyone else. Bockwinkel was also ahead of his time on the mic, with intellectual promos that helped him standout among the over the top personas in the industry.

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25. Mil Mascaras

When it comes to Lucha Libre wrestling, there is considered a big three of defining stars. El Santo, Blue Demon and Mil Mascaras. While the previous two had a tremendous impact in Mexico, Mascaras is the guy most responsible for making Lucha Libre popular in other parts of the world. In fact, if it wasn’t for Mascaras, we may never have seen several of the other masked stars on this list.

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Ricky Steamboat's real name is Richard Blood. 'Richard Blood' is a ring name once used by Tito Santana. pic.twitter.com/mQCJyjhgj4 — Wrestling Facts (@WrestlingsFacts) August 22, 2017

24. Ricky Steamboat

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat was never the guy. You didn't see kids wearing his t-shirts or catch him starring in any movies. But when it came to what happened in the ring, very few were better. Just think about this – If you're ranking the greatest matches in wrestling history, Steamboat could very well land in two of the top-three spots and four of the top five.

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23. Triple H

Triple H was in the right place at the right time because he made it that way. When his buddy’s were getting drunk and partying, Triple H was learning the ins and outs of the business. When Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin got hurt, he was best positioned (along with The Rock) to take over the Attitude Era. And when WWE was looking for someone to help cultivate its current era of talent, Triple H stepped up. Love him or hate him, the man known as The Game did it while also performing as well as anyone in the ring over the course of 15 years.

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22. Roddy Piper

Few knew how to talk like Piper. When WWE decided to embark on WrestleMania, Piper was the villain they picked to co-headline. While Hulk Hogan gets a lot of credit for making Vince McMahon’s promotion a success, Piper was just as important. Every great story needs a heel, and Piper knew how to make you love to hate him.

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Terry Funk Speaks On Possible WWE Return, Modern WWE Product, More https://t.co/XIFgZaeqoY pic.twitter.com/iollRdmVKc — eWrestlingNews.com (@ewrestlingnews) August 28, 2017

21. Terry Funk

The great Terry Funk’s career should be looked at in two parts. During his first run, he held his own in the U.S. and Japan against the likes of Harley Race, Stan Hansen and Giant Baba. Funk reinvented himself in the late 1980s and 1990s, becoming a brilliant storyteller in an epic feud and with ECW, becoming the hardcore hero fans loved.

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20. Giant Baba

Giant Baba was to Japan what Hulk Hogan was to the United States. He looked the part (touching the sky with his head at nearly 7-feet tall). But he could also perform in the ring, earning numerous titles in Japan and the United States. Not only is Baba regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of Japan. He’s also considered done of the most important people in the country’s history.

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@TonyBasilio I really hope Commish Ron Fuller doesn't disappoint me like he did my son in 1977 when he got dog whooped by Harley Race! pic.twitter.com/li5UkhM8hN — The Vol Colonel (@TheVOLColonel) August 14, 2017

19. Harley Race

No one was more dedicated to wrestling than Harley Race, which is why his career lasted more than 30 years. During that time, served as a standout for WWE, AWA and NWA. When it comes to the latter, Race was responsible for much of NWA’s growth in terms of putting over stars like Ric Flair to Terry Funk.

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18. Mitsuharu Misawa

In terms of raw wrestling ability, no one on this list is above Misawa. Others had better stories to tell and commanded more attention. But Misawa has more perfect matches to his name than anyone, including Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat or Shawn Michaels.

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Dusty Rhodes defeated the Four Horsemen's Tully Blanchard in a Barbed Wire Ladder Match as part of #NWA's 1987 Great American Bash tour. pic.twitter.com/s0ri85cvPf — WWE History (@WWEHist) September 2, 2017

17. Dusty Rhodes

“Let me tell you sumthin’ baby,” about the most beloved wrestler whoever lived. Dusty Rhodes certainly didn’t look the part of a physical specimen. But that made him the guy every wrestling fan could live vicariously through. His personality lit up every arena and his matches were the stuff of legend. If any promoter doubted Dusty’s value, the fans would set them straight. No one knew how to fill the seats like the American Dream.

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16. John Cena

Whether you’re on team “Let’s go Cena” or team “Cena sucks!” There’s no denying what John Cena has accomplished. He’s been the face of the biggest wrestling promotion in the world for more than 10 years. The Rock never did that. Neither did Stone Cold. Cena has done everything in WWE, including tie Ric Flair’s number of World Championships won.

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15. Rikidozan

Mitsuhiro Momota, better known as Rikidozan, didn’t necessarily invent wrestling in Japan. But he might as well have. He brought the sport to the country and laid the groundwork for what it is today. Rikidozan is considered the “Father of Puroresu,” the dominant style of wrestling in Japan and is considered by some to be the greatest wrestler whoever lived.

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My dad used to be a big fan of Lou Thesz, who back in the day was very good wrestler as far as in-ring skills. pic.twitter.com/uGppH1Ttkp — Rick Roberts (@RasslinHistory) October 24, 2013

14. Lou Thesz

Thesz may very well have been wrestling's first perfect star in the 1930s and 1940s. He had the charisma to carry a world title (during multiple reigns) for more than a decade. But he also created moves we still see in the ring today, from the belly to back suplex to the Lou Thesz press and the awesome power bomb. His impact wasn’t limited to the U.S. either, as Thesz’s matches with Rikidozan became the stuff of legend in Japan.

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13. The Rock

He’s currently one of the biggest stars in the world. But Dwayne Johnson has been “The People’s Champ” for a while now. After false starting on his career as a third generation superstar, Johnson convinced WWE to let him be The Rock, the most charismatic superstar the industry had ever seen. He took it and ran with it, becoming the promotion’s biggest star next to Stone Cold Steve Austin and solidifying WWE’s dominance as the worldwide leader.

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WWE.com

12. Sting

You might not know it with the way WWE botched Sting’s late career run. But there was no one quite like The Stinger. He began as a bodybuilder turned wrestler, but quickly morphed into the face of WCW after a series of legendary matches against Ric Flair. Stars came and went from WCW. But Sting remained. And when he reinvented himself into The Crow persona, he became larger than life.

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11. Andre the Giant

Andre the Giant went undefeated for 15 years. Let that sink in for a second. Never had wrestling seen a force so unstoppable. Andre's size alone was enough to make him an attraction. But he also knew how to ham it up, which made Andre a pop-culture giant. He main evented some of WWE’s biggest shows early on and was the only inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame’s inaugural class.

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10. Randy Savage

Some will recall Savage’s role in WWE’s early WrestleMania era as that of the second biggest star next to Hulk Hogan. But, in many ways, Savage was Hogan’s equal. Where Hogan had the muscular build Vince McMahon loved, Savage had the personality and in-ring ability to not only wow fans, but inspire future wrestlers as well. His WrestleMania III classic with Ricky Steamboat, which, 30 years, may still be the greatest match in WWE history.

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We continue w/ The Class of 1994 w/ The Original Nature Boy Buddy Rogers! https://t.co/EW8m7KTzCr pic.twitter.com/zpHbpiWdGy — MWC Blog (@MastoWC) September 10, 2017

9. Buddy Rogers

To know how influential Buddy Rogers was, all you have to do is look at the career of Ric Flair, who borrowed Rogers' the “Nature Boy” gimmick and figure-four leg lock. Rogers was ahead of his time in showmanship, interviews and creating a persona fans couldn’t get enough of. He was also innovative in the ring, pioneering moves that are still practiced. Rogers is just one of three men to ever win both the NWA title and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship during his career (Flair and AJ Styles are the other two).

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8. Shawn Michaels

The Heartbreak Kid’s career is a roller coaster ride. He began as a tag-team standout who turned heel in shocking fashion. Michael's ladder match with Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X was a game-changer that elevated Michaels to the top of the WWE. His feud with Bret Hart further turned Michaels into a polarizing icon. And just when you thought a back injury finished his career, Michaels returned to WWE for a string of WrestleMania matches that were nothing short breathtaking.

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Antonio Inoki, el precursor de la diplomacia de la lucha libre con Corea del Norte https://t.co/zZ8dJosOTE pic.twitter.com/F9oqS7MIA1 — El Patagon (@ElPatagonNET) September 14, 2017

7. Antonio Inoki

No single figure stands out bigger in the history of Japanese wrestling than Antonio Inoki. He was The Rock, Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan all rolled into one. He even became big enough to fight Muhammad Ali in a mixed martial arts match in 1976. Inoki is responsible for some of the greatest matches and biggest events in wrestling history, including two North Korea shows that saw him and Ric Flair set records with audiences that approached the 200,000 mark.

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6. Bret Hart

When Bret Hart called himself the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be, he believed it and made you do the same. With Hulk Hogan’s epic run coming to an end, WWE needed a star to carry it through the early to mid 1990s. Hart became that guy. He didn’t generated the types of ratings top stars who came before or after him did. But over a six year period as WWE’s top solo star, Hart put together one the greatest resumes of matches in history.

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Bruno Sammartino On Being Inspiration For Bruno Mars' Nickname, Velvet Sky In Maxim Contest https://t.co/eba4leXjmy pic.twitter.com/B8fywzYgPN — WrestleZone on Mandatory (@WRESTLEZONEcom) August 31, 2017

5. Bruno Sammartino

WWE’s first great star and, perhaps, the greatest wrestler up until his era, was Bruno Sammartino. He held the title for over 11 years, because no one else was even close to being as worthy. Sammartino holds an astonishing five “Match of the Year” awards from Pro Wrestling Illustrated and became a living legend before his career was close to ending.

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4. The Undertaker

What began as a chilling gimmick turned into the most astonishing thing WWE had ever seen. The Undertaker didn’t just enter an arena, he consumed it. His mystique was beyond belief. Yet, what made it more mind-boggling was just how explosive Taker became in the ring as his career went on. The WrestleMania streak and his matches with Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Mankind were next level. The Undertaker wowed us for the better part of 25 years.

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3. Hulk Hogan

Who knew so much could be done with boot to the face and a leg drop. Hulk Hogan didn’t do much when he was in the ring in terms of moves. With a simple hand to his ear, Hogan could whip a crowd into a frenzy. When he was the Hulkster, Hogan was as big as Michael Jordan. When he went “Hollywood,” you loved to hate him. Hogan is still one of the most well known wrestlers in the world and he hasn’t had a memorable match in nearly 15 years.

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2. Steve Austin

No one had a run like Stone Cold during his WWE peak. He was the biggest star during the biggest time in professional wrestling history. But there’s more to Steve Austin than just that. During his early years, Austin was a standout performer in WCW, who was underrated by that promotion. He took out his frustrations with some of the greatest promos of all time in ECW. When he unleashed Austin 3:16 in WWE, the world was on notice that a new kind of anti-hero was here to rule over the Attitude Era.

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World Champion Wrestling

1. Ric Flair

This list was always going to end here. As there was never anyone like Ric Flair and there never will be. When many of the other stars on this list made it big when wrestling became a TV juggernaut, Flair became a star in the days where holding the NWA title mean traveling from region to region, proving you were the man.

When he did get on TV, Flair put together the greatest matches you’d ever seen with Steamboat, Sting, Rhodes, Funk, Windham and so many others. When he finally got to WWE, Flair won the Royal Rumble.

Flair lived wrestling. He cultivated his character to the point where his promos became the stuff of memes before the Internet was ever a thing. As Flair used to say, "To be the man, you gotta beat the man!" He was the man in so many ways. He's the G.O.A.T.