20 Greatest WWE Wrestlers of All Time and Their Legacies

By Ankita Neogi

Updated Sep 29, 2026Published Nov 29, 202112 min read

Note (September 2026): This list has been corrected: Brock Lesnar played American football, not soccer; Eddie Guerrero was American, not Mexican; John Cena lost his 2002 debut match to Kurt Angle; and Hulkmania was Hulk Hogan’s era, not the Ultimate Warrior’s. Hulk Hogan’s death in July 2025 and the retirements of Cena, AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar have also been added.

The greatest WWE wrestlers of all time include Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, John Cena, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Randy Orton, Kane and Brock Lesnar. John Cena holds the record of 17 world championships, while WWE recognizes Ric Flair as a 16-time world champion. As of September 2026, Cena, AJ Styles and Lesnar have all retired from in-ring competition.

WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) is the largest and most valuable professional wrestling promotion in the world, and it is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings. WWE traces its origins to the Capitol Wrestling Corporation, founded in 1953, which puts the promotion well past its 70^th year and has managed to deliver few of the most entertaining moments that will forever be cherished by its fans.

The Best WWE Superstars of All Time

These splendid moments have been etched in our memories and they have also transcended generations with the strong portrayal of craft and emotion. WWE has produced few of the greatest wrestling superstars. Here are 20 of the greatest WWE wrestlers that you should know of.

1] Kane

His character is undoubtedly one of the most iconic ones that have been ever produced in the history of wrestling.

However, at the same time, Kane’s character is also heavily under-utilized. Glenn Jacobs, the man behind the mask, was repackaged as Kane in 1997 and was billed in storylines (not in real life) as the younger half-brother of Undertaker. That storyline made him Undertaker’s half-bro.

2] The Ultimate Warrior

The Ultimate Warrior had the ability to run with Vince McMahon’s biggest superstar just after Hulk Hogan. He was the one who won the title of WWF off Hogan during the main event at WrestleMania 6. After that win, the company positioned the Warrior as its new top star, the role Hogan had held during ‘Hulkmania’.

3] Randy Orton

The Apex Predator of WWE had gained immense respect and good wishes throughout this entire career with WWE.

Randy Orton is a third-generation pro wrestler: his grandfather Bob Orton, father Bob Orton Jr. and uncle Barry Orton all wrestled. He has held the WWE Championship 10 times and the World Heavyweight Championship four times. He later on became a part of the faction in Evolution with Ric Flair, Triple H and Batista.

4] Chris Benoit

If you had to name of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time, Chris Benoit is undoubtedly one of them. His legacy is overshadowed by what happened in June 2007, when Benoit murdered his wife and his 7-year-old son before killing himself. Because of those crimes, his place in wrestling history remains heavily debated; research by the Sports Legacy Institute (now the Concussion Legacy Foundation) suggested that depression and advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) were likely contributing factors.

He worked for different promotions like NJPW, WCW and WWF/WWE. His career span was of 22 years.

5] Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar was definitely one of the dangerous performers who could ever step into the WWE ring. This is why he was touted to be the biggest attraction at the box office.

Brock Lesnar was never a soccer player: he won the NCAA Division I wrestling championship in 2000, joined the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings in 2004 (he was cut in pre-season) and later became UFC Heavyweight Champion as a mixed martial artist. He played all roles with conviction.

6] Mick Foley

He is hailed as one of the most generous wrestlers of the industry as his contribution to the wrestling business can never be described in words. It is for his ring-style that the Hall of Famer is recognized widely.

Cactus Jack, Mankind and Dude Love are parts of his awesome resume.

7] Eddie Guerrero

Eddie Guerrero, an American wrestler from the famous Guerrero wrestling family who spent much of his early career in Mexico, was one of the most talented performers of his era and he achieved his top position due to his agility, perseverance and iconic artifice.

He had dedicated fans and the love of his fans played a huge role in elevating him to the topmost position at the WWE. He won the WWE Championship at No Way Out 2004 and died suddenly on November 13, 2005, at age 38. He remains one of the most idolized wrestlers.

8] Triple H

Few wrestlers have shaped the company as much as Triple H (Paul Levesque), a 14-time world champion in WWE who retired from in-ring competition in 2022 and now serves as WWE’s chief content officer and head of creative.

He was revered for being one of the greatest minds in wrestling and he also changed the entire landscape of the developmental territory of WWE.

9] A.J Styles

At his peak, AJ Styles was widely rated among the best wrestlers in the world: Pro Wrestling Illustrated voted him its Wrestler of the Year three times between 2016 and 2018. Thanks to his authentic work ethic, he could form his legacy in the history of WWE.

He was called the Phenomenal One and was known for bringing the best out of his opponents. Styles put his career on the line against Gunther at the Royal Rumble on January 31, 2026, lost, and retired from in-ring competition; he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2026.

10] Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan is one of the most famous wrestling heroes of all time. He was the face of WWF for nearly 10 years and he also went to lead WWE’s flagship show, WrestleMania, headlining eight of its first nine editions (not eight in a row). Hulk Hogan died on July 24, 2025, at age 71.

11] Edge

It is although sad that serious injuries had forced several superstars to opt for untimely retirement but for heroes like Edge, the legacy that they’ve left behind will always be remembered. Edge (Adam Copeland) signed with the WWF in 1997, made his televised debut in 1998, and first retired in 2011 because of neck injuries. He returned at the 2020 Royal Rumble and left WWE when his contract expired in September 2023, joining AEW under his real name.

12] John Cena

Regardless of whether you love him or hate him, you can’t deny that his entry in WWE changed the business once and for all. His official televised debut came on June 27, 2002, when he answered Kurt Angle’s open challenge on SmackDown; Cena lost that match but was praised for his effort. He went on to become a record-setting 17-time world champion and wrestled his final match on December 13, 2025, losing to Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

13] Kurt Angle

With his quirky mannerisms, Kurt Angle soon became one of the most technical wrestlers of WWE. His rookie run was unusually fast: after his televised in-ring debut in November 1999, he held the European and Intercontinental Championships at the same time within two months, won the 2000 King of the Ring and captured the WWF Championship in October 2000. Angle was also a 1996 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling.

14] Ric Flair

There can be no other wrestler in the planet that can exceed the charisma, the craft, the personality and the achievements of Ric Flair. WWE recognizes Ric Flair as a 16-time world champion, and his career spanned fifty years.

15] C.M Punk

The noteworthy contribution of C.M Punk to the world of WWE wrestling has brought about a welcome change to the company. CM Punk signed with WWE in 2005, left the company acrimoniously in 2014, later wrestled in AEW, and returned to WWE in November 2023, where he has since won the World Heavyweight Championship twice and the WWE Championship once more.

16] Chris Jericho

Few WWE Superstars have been as versatile as Chris Jericho, who in 2001 became the first Undisputed WWF Champion by beating Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock on the same night. His charisma, characterization and delivering abilities made him stand out in the crowd. He is also a real rock star: Jericho has been the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Fozzy since 1999, and he has been signed to AEW since January 2019.

17] Daniel Bryan

As one of the most popular wrestlers of the 21^st century, Daniel Bryan always broke the glass ceiling that no one else could. He headlined WrestleMania 30 and WrestleMania 37 (Night 2), retired in 2016 because of concussion-related injuries, was cleared to return in 2018 and left WWE in 2021. He now works in AEW under his real name, Bryan Danielson.

18] The Rock

There’s perhaps nobody in the wrestling business who ruled the business and entertained audiences as the Rock. He is hailed as one of the most successful WWE wrestlers of all time: Dwayne Johnson is a 10-time world champion who headlined WrestleMania six times, and he now also sits on the board of TKO Group Holdings, WWE’s parent company.

19] Steve Austin

The most idolized and recognized superstar of the wrestling industry is Stone Cold Steve Austin. He was the most lucrative star of the Attitude Era, a six-time WWF Champion and a record three-time Royal Rumble winner (1997, 1998 and 2001).

20] Shawn Michaels

Michaels’ initial tenure with WWE was incredible as he possessed more power behind the curtains as compared to any other superstar. Few of his mention-worthy matches are those with Bret Hart, Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, Triple H, Stone Cold and Undertaker.

All 20 WWE Legends at a Glance

The table below lists each wrestler on this page with his real name, a signature achievement and his status as of September 2026. Championship counts follow WWE’s own recognition as summarized on each wrestler’s Wikipedia entry.

How Were These 20 Wrestlers Chosen?

The numbering on this page is not a strict ranking. The list covers wrestlers whose WWE careers combined major championships, headline matches at WrestleMania and lasting influence on how the company was run or presented. Several different eras are represented:

• The 1980s boom (Rock ‘n’ Wrestling era): Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels.
• The Attitude Era (late 1990s to early 2000s): Steve Austin, The Rock, Mick Foley, Triple H, Kane, Kurt Angle, Edge and Chris Jericho.
• The 2000s and after: John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles.

Chris Benoit is included because of his in-ring record, but his inclusion is controversial because of the 2007 murders of his wife and son, and many fans and writers leave him off lists like this one for that reason.

Which of These WWE Legends Are Still Wrestling?

As of September 2026, only a few names on this list still wrestle regularly. Randy Orton and CM Punk are active on WWE’s SmackDown brand, and The Rock performs for WWE on a part-time basis. Edge (as Adam Copeland), Chris Jericho and Bryan Danielson work for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) instead of WWE.

The last two years saw several farewells. John Cena wrestled his final match on December 13, 2025. AJ Styles retired after losing to Gunther at the Royal Rumble on January 31, 2026. Brock Lesnar lost to Oba Femi inside Hell in a Cell on Night 1 of SummerSlam on August 1, 2026, and confirmed his retirement days later. Readers interested in the Lesnar family can also read about his daughter, NCAA shot put champion Mya Lesnar.

Who Has Won the Most World Championships in WWE?

John Cena is a record-setting 17-time world champion, with 14 WWE Championship reigns and three World Heavyweight Championship reigns. Ric Flair is recognized by WWE as a 16-time world champion, although counts of his reigns vary by source from 16 to 25, and 21 is the figure Flair himself has claimed. Among the other names on this list, Randy Orton and Triple H each have 14 world title reigns, and The Rock has 10.

Beyond the Ring: Where the Legends Went Next

• Politics: Glenn Jacobs (Kane) was elected mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, in 2018 and re-elected in 2022; term limits ended his second term on September 1, 2026.
• Hollywood: Dwayne Johnson’s films have grossed over $11.4 billion worldwide, and John Cena has starred in films such as Trainwreck, Bumblebee and The Suicide Squad and played the title role in the series Peacemaker.
• Running WWE: Triple H leads WWE’s creative team as chief content officer, and Shawn Michaels oversees the creative side of the NXT developmental brand.
• Combat sports: Brock Lesnar won the UFC Heavyweight Championship and defended it against Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 in October 2010. Kurt Angle won Olympic gold in 1996, and CM Punk had two UFC fights.
• Family: Mick Foley’s personal life is covered in our profile of his wife, Collette Foley.

More WWE Stories

For more on WWE characters and today’s roster, read about the Boogeyman, WWE’s horror-themed character, the tag team Pretty Deadly and the Chilean wrestler Stephanie Vaquer.

Written byAnkita Neogi

Ankita Neogi has published 791 articles on Justwebworld since 2020, mostly covering Food, Mind and People.

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