The REAL 50 Greatest WWE Superstars of All-Time (25-1)

25) Sensational Sherri: Before Sherri became a manager extraordinaire, she had a budding wrestling career. She debuted in the WWE by defeating her one time trainer, The Fabulous Moolah for the WWE Women’s Championship. She held the title for over a year and once she lost it, she focused her talents on managing as the WWE was phasing out the women’s division. Sherri’s first project was the Macho Man Randy Savage. She helped him become King, which made her Sensational Queen Sherri for the next year. After Savage was forced into retirement, that same night she latched on to The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase for a short time. The Sensational one overhauled her complete appearance when she left Ted DiBiase for her “Boy Toy” the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels. Sherri might not have led any of her men to Championships, but you knew that going into any match with Sherri at ringside it was liable to become a handicap affair.

24) Kurt Angle: Professional wrestling’s only Olympic Gold Medalist. What more can you say after that? I have a few ideas, how about former WCW United States and Heavyweight Champion (while in WWE), former World Heavyweight Champion, Intercontinental Champion, European Champion, Hardcore Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, King of the Ring and 4-time WWE Champion; and most of that was in his rookie year! He actually won every title there was to win at the time he was actively in the WWE. Not only was he extraordinary in the ring, but his versatility and ability to change character was also brilliant. He went from the “goody two-shoes” All American, to a wig wearing comedic goof, to a wrestling machine! Due to wrestling with a broken neck in the Olympics, Angle always had a history with vertebrae and spinal issues, but Kurt would fight through the pain like only a champion could. In 2006 the Undertaker actually requested for Angle to end his undefeated streak at Wrestlemania 22, and although that match never came to fruition; nothing says more of the amount of respect Angle has from his peers. His accomplishments go far beyond the WWE and even professional wrestling, but Kurt will always be a “wrestler” to all of his fans. A return to the company that gave him his first stage isn’t out of the question, and if that happens; Kurt could find his self climbing up the ranks pretty fast.

23) Classy Freddie Blassie: A manager of numerous Legends and Hall of Famers. Classy Freddie Blassie was part of the notorious East Coast circuit of managers in the WWE known as the “Triumvirate of Terror” along with The Grand Wizard and Captain Lou Albano. The “Hollywood Fashion Plate” was known for his colorful style and gruff voice, and he referred to his many detractors as “Pencil-Necked Geeks”. His highest honor came when he led the Iron Sheik to victory over Bob Backlund for the WWE Championship. He also led Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff to the WWE Tag Team Championships. A little known fact is that in 1979, Freddie Blassie managed Hulk Hogan when he first came to the WWE. Blassie was also an accomplished wrestler, never winning any gold; but always being the top guy in the hunt for the prize. When his managerial career ended, he stayed employed by the WWE until his death; lending his voice to many video packages and Wrestlemanias that we still watch to this day.

22) Mr. Perfect: Curt Hennig couldn’t stay in one place for too long and that’s why he’s number 22 on the list. When I watched Hennig in the ring, I knew that I had just witnessed Perfection personified. Blessed with an athletic ability unseen at the time, Mr. Perfect exploded onto the scene and boasted an undefeated record for quite a while. He’s a 2-time Intercontinental Champion, and arguably the best IC titleholder there ever was. The man had main event written all over him, and when he had his chances to showcase his ability against the WWE’s top draws; he never let the fans down. Perfect was effective as either a heel or a face and if he wasn’t wrestling the best in the WWE, he was aligned with them. Perfect’s lingering back problems limited his roll in the company, and a return to the ring was always anticipated. While he was healing, he led Ric Flair to the WWE Championship as his Executive Consultant. Mr. Perfect also had a few stints in the announce booth as well, perfectly executing the task of calling matches and flipping his pencil at the beginning of every broadcast. In 2002 Hennig returned briefly at the Royal Rumble for the first time in six years and thrilled the crowd with an impressive performance. Curt Hennig may no longer be with us, but one thing he always said remains true, “Nobody beats Mr. Perfect. Nobody!”

21) John Cena: With 9 years in the business, Cena already boasts 17 Championships reigns (8 WWE Championships, 2 World Heavyweight Championships, 3 United States Championships and 2 WWE Tag Team Championships and 2 World Tag Team Championships). If you take away all the titles, you’d still have to mention the fact that Cena has been the torchbearer for the WWE over the past 6 years. No single person has held that honor for that length of time since Hulk Hogan. John Cena has beaten every man that has come across his path and he still has many more years of distributing bone-rattling beatings to his opponents. In back to back Wrestlemanias, Cena showcased his rise in Superstardom by winning the United States Championship at Wrestlemania XX and the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 21. Since Wrestlemania 21, John Cena has wrestled in a major title match at every Wrestlemania going forward. When he’s not in the ring, he might be in the recording studio, filming a movie, making an appearance on a late night or daytime talk show, at a Kid’s Choice Awards show, Teen Choice Awards show or Saturday Night Live. He is the face of the WWE and has a number of endorsements that he uses not only to shed light on his self, but on the entire WWE as well. If you aren’t impressed with Cena’s resume and you just despise his entire career, then I have a stat that even the most hateful fan can’t discredit; John Cena has granted over 200 Wishes in the Make-a-Wish Foundation. How can one man have done so much in under a decade? Say what you want about him as a wrestler, and feel how you will about his meteoric rise through the ranks of the company; but you have to acknowledge his unbelievably positive contributions in, out and around the world of professional wrestling. A lot of people talk it, but we all know John Cena walks it. Hustle, Loyalty and Respect!

20) Ultimate Warrior: Moving the WWE fans away from the Hulkamania era could’ve been Warrior’s claim to fame. The potential to start a new wave of generational wrestling in the 90’s was more than apparent. The Ultimate Warrior had the wrestling world in the palms of his hands and let it go just as quickly as he gained it. If you witnessed the power of the Ultimate Warrior, then you could feel the energy and the surge of electricity that he generated in the stands or through the television set. His promos are criticized now (because that’s what bandwagon jumpers do), but the words he spoke; along with the message and intensity he conveyed ranks as some of the most creative and thought provoking promos this business has ever seen or heard. Warrior always marched to the beat of his own drum, and in some ways it was genius; and in other ways it was disappointing. He is a 2-time Intercontinental Champion and was crowned the WWE Champion in the Toronto SkyDome at Wrestlemania VI when he actually “pinned” Hulk Hogan’s shoulders to the mat for the three count. For those of you who may be new to wrestling, in those days you just didn’t “pin” Hulk Hogan! The Ultimate Warrior defeated The Honky Tonk Man in record fashion at the inaugural Summerslam to win his first piece of gold in the form of the Intercontinental Championship. His matches left much to be desired, but his influence and magnetism swept the WWE by storm. People of all backgrounds and ages wore the face paint that has now become an iconic symbol of the man that publically speaks about ring-winged issues. Warrior’s wrestling career ended with little fanfare, but legions of “Warriors” still exist in what has become sort of a cult following. The Ultimate Warrior may not be a Legend to some, but it would be pretty difficult to talk about greats like Hogan and Savage without mentioning the Warrior.

19) Triple H: It seems that starting from 1997 to today, you can’t really talk about the last decade or so of the WWE without acknowledging Triple H. It’s almost as if he’s done something noteworthy in each year since then. As a matter of fact, in ’97 he won the King of the Ring, in ’98 he became the leader of D-Generation X, in ’99 he won his first WWE Championship, in 2000 the McMahon-Helmsley era began, in ’01 Austin & Triple H formed The Two-Man Power Trip and he suffered his first quad injury, ’02 was sparked by his triumphant return in the form of winning the Royal Rumble, in ’03 Evolution was born, in ’04 he headlined Wrestlemania XX, in ’05 Triple H vs. Batista was the hottest feud, in ’06 DX Reunited, in ’07 he suffered another quad injury and returned that same year to win the WWE Championship, in ’08 Triple H tied the WWE record for WWE Championship reigns, in ’09 Triple H broke the record for most WWE Championship reigns putting him at 8 (before John Cena tied him), in 2010 D-Generation X struck again and just this past year, in 2011; Triple H tore the house down and created a classic at Wrestlemania XXVII; nearly ending the Undertaker’s undefeated streak. Triple H had finally had his defining moment, both at a Wrestlemania and for his career. His match with The Undertaker validated and solidified Triple H’s ranking amongst the Legends, and illustrated the greatness that Triple H still possesses 15 years into his career. For those of you keeping score, Triple H is an 8-time WWE Champion, 5-time World Heavyweight Champion, 5-time Intercontinental Champion, a WWE Tag Team Champion, 2-time World Tag Team Champion, 2-time European Champion, Royal Rumble winner and a King of the Ring. With Hunter’s career slowly winding down, he’s already establishing his self in the corporate offices and is now more focused on bringing in new talent to keep the industry alive. Triple H will undoubtedly be a first ballot Hall of Famer when he decides to leave his boots in the ring for good.

18) Pedro Morales: Before Eddie Guerrero, “Latino Heat” was one way to Pedro Morales. Pedro was known for his fiery Latin temper, which flared up during matches in a similar fashion to seeing Hogan “Hulk Up”. Morales will forever be remembered as the first Triple Crown Champion of the WWE, meaning he captured every major Championship in the WWE at that time. He was 2-time Intercontinental Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, WWE United States Champion (which didn’t factor into him being a Triple Crown Champion), and a WWE Champion. Puerto Rican fans came out in droves to support Morales in Madison Square Garden, as he was a pioneer for becoming the first ever Hispanic Champion in the WWE. Pedro also competed in the first ever Face vs. Face match in WWE history when he faced Bruno Sammartino in a historic 75-minute match that took place at the Showdown at Shea in Shea Stadium. In 1995 Morales was recognized for all of his ground breaking achievements and inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

17) Gorilla Monsoon: From Monster Heel to lovable announcer, Gorilla Monsoon entertained us all for many years. Back in the 1960’s, weighing 400 lbs was enough to attract major attention; but to weigh as much as he did and be as agile as he was for his size was enough to fill arenas from coast to coast. Bruno Sammartino, Superstar Billy Graham and Andre the Giant were his main adversaries. One historical moment saw Monsoon be confronted by Muhammad Ali; in which Gorilla left Ali facedown on the mat from his patented Airplane Spin. Monsoon had won the WWE United States Tag Team Championships twice, while they were still in existence, with fellow Hall of Famers Killer Kowalski and Bill Watts. Once in-ring competition came to a halt, Gorilla Monsoon had an even brighter future in the announce booth. Coining such phrases as “The Irresistible Force meeting the Immovable Object”, “They’re hanging from the rafters!” and “The Excellence of Execution”, ushered Monsoon into wrestling immortality. His interactions with Bobby Heenan and Jesse “the Body” Ventura has been the most copied style of broadcasting in sports entertainment. While “Good Ol’ J.R.” was moving up the ranks in the beginning stages of his announcing career, Monsoon was given the on-screen role of WWE President. One classic moment saw Gorilla come down to the ring at Wrestlemania XII and order that the Ironman Match between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart for the WWE Championship, who’s time limit had expired; be continued. In honor of Monsoon, the WWE named the position that he would stand in and give signals to wrestlers from behind the curtain, the Gorilla Position. Gorilla Monsoon’s memory will always live on and his voice will forever be heard during the most historical moments in WWE history.

16) Pat Patterson: “It was a hot and steamy night in Rio De Janeiro…” if you haven’t heard that line before then you should question your degree of wrestling fan-hood. That statement is the beginning of the “fairy” tale told by WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson to describe how he became the WWE’s 1 st Intercontinental Champion. This “make believe” tournament is a story that lives in wrestling lure and has made Patterson a genuine Legend, but outside of his title anointment; Patterson was a legitimate tough guy that was dependable as a performer by all accounts. As mentioned before, Patterson had a legendary “hardcore” Alley Fight match against Sgt. Slaughter that set the bar for future extreme matches. He defeated Ted DiBiase to become only the 2 nd WWF North American Champion before “unifying” it with the (fictitious) South American Championship to create the Intercontinental Championship. When Patterson retired, he became a commentator and road agent for the WWE and invented the popular Royal Rumble match. More than a decade after he hung up his boots, he returned to TV as Vince McMahon’s “stooge” and was highly entertaining in his role. He partook in matches with fellow Hall of Famer and stooge Jerry Brisco, and was repeatedly taken to the woodshed by Stone Cold Steve Austin. His re-entry into the ring also brought about the winning of the Hardcore Championship in addition to the other two title accomplishments in his career. Patterson found a way to reinvent his self and was able to introduce an entirely new generation to all of his exploits.

15) Bobby Heenan: With over 40 wrestlers managed to his credit, “The Brain” can arguably boast that he is in fact the greatest leader of men. He said it best when he stated, “You listen to me, you’ll go to the top. You don’t listen to me, you’re never heard from again!” Heenan is often billed as the Johnny Carson of wrestling, and rightfully so. When he was in front of a microphone, his one-liners were right on target. When he worked with the late great Gorilla Monsoon, his timing was impeccable. The only weakness Heenan ever had was in the form of red and yellow kryptonite, otherwise known as Hulk Hogan. In the early days of Wrestlemania, it seemed every headline match involved at least one party that relied on the services of Bobby Heenan in their corner. In the inaugural Wrestlemania, Heenan led Big John Studd to the ring for the $15,000 Body Slam match versus Andre the Giant, at Wrestlemania 2 Heenan seconded King Kong Bundy in his quest to take the WWE Championship away from Hulk Hogan, at Wrestlemania III an astonishing four members of Heenan’s “Family” had matches at the event, but the most important was Andre the Giant as he challenged Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship, then at Wrestlemania IV he managed Hercules against the Ultimate Warrior in his Wrestlemania debut before wearing the infamous dog catcher suit in a 6-man tag match, at Wrestlemania V he managed four men again and actually wrestled in his second consecutive Wrestlemania, but it’s Rick Rude that shined the brightest as he finally brought some gold into the “Family” for Heenan, Wrestlemanias VI and VII saw Heenan manage less significant matches, but nonetheless he was present on the biggest stage of them all. Bobby is in rare company, as he is one of only a few wrestlers turned managers turned announcers. Heenan has struggled as of late with multiple health conditions, and the outpouring of support has gone far beyond the world of professional wrestling. He was a heel throughout his time as a WWE employee, but the fans recognize his genius and continue to praise Bobby Heenan for all of his contributions to the business. The Hall of Fame isn’t big enough for a “Brain” as large as his!

14) Randy Savage: Ooooh Yeeaaah!! The Macho Man Randy Savage was larger than life and in many ways larger than wrestling. He was in your face and intense in everything he did and said. His voice alone could give you goose bumps and chills as you followed along with his verbal journey through the mind of one of the most creative men to ever bless this business. When the lights hit one of his sequence robes and you heard Pomp and Circumstance fill the arena, you knew that for the next 15 to 45 minutes you were going to be thoroughly entertained. Savage was known as one of the most meticulous and particular practitioners of his craft. He truly made wrestling an art. The Macho Man has 2 WWE Championships to his credit, each of which he won at Wrestlemanias; and an Intercontinental Championship as well. He along with Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat performed the Greatest match in Wrestlemania history. It was a seesaw battle for Savage’s Intercontinental Championship, with countless near falls in front of 93,000 fans in the Pontiac Silverdome. The WWE had never seen a match of such magnitude be performed in such a way. Steamboat was the attacked and injured contender that had plans of retribution on his mind. Savage would end up dropping the title to Steamboat that night, but would emerge as a man that was seen as a capable main eventer and formidable WWE Champion. The Macho Man would be criticized for his strict match formats and pre-planned spots, but it was that approach to the business that allowed Savage to have great matches with everybody from Steamboat, Hogan, DiBiase and Flair all the way to the Ultimate Warrior. Savage’s attention to detail paired with his athleticism made that match into the benchmark and measuring stick of what a superior match is supposed to be. Randy is also a 2-time King of the Ring, winning the tournament in 1987 and defeating Hacksaw Jim Duggan for the title in 1989. His endorsement and commercials for Slim Jim are very memorable and timeless; with his trademark, “Need a little excitement? Snap into a Slim Jim, Ooooh Yeeaaah!” being the line that will live for on for eternity. Savage also brought in his wife, the lovely Miss Elizabeth as his manager, who became the First Lady of Wrestling. Savage had offered so much to the WWE and still had so much more to give prior to his tragic and unforeseen death. One can only sit and wonder “What If..” when it comes to the possibilities that were there concerning a possible return to the WWE. Randy Savage is a Legend and an Icon, and he will truly be missed.

13) The Fabulous Moolah: Without a shadow of a doubt, The Fabulous Moolah is the Greatest Woman to ever grace a squared circle. Moolah broke barriers and set milestones on her way to becoming the first woman to receive Hall of Fame enshrinement. In 1956 she became the first ever WWE Women’s Champion and held that title (controversially) for 27 years straight! Moolah would go on to become a 4-time WWE Women’s Champion, training up and coming women wrestlers at the same time. She was the first woman allowed to ever wrestle in Madison Square Garden and was instrumental in getting the ban of women’s wrestling lifted in the entire state of New York. Moolah also played a key roll in both the Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Connection as well as the very first Wrestlemania. Vince McMahon and Moolah worked in conjunction to pull off the first known screwjob in WWE history, known as “The Original Screwjob” when Moolah donned a mask and competed as “The Spider Lady” against Wendy Richter. The original plan was for Richter to go over, but “The Spider Lady” diverted from the plan and pinned Wendy’s shoulders to the mat to claim the title, even though Richter kicked out after the count of one. Richter fought on and pulled off “The Spider Lady’s” mask to reveal it was Moolah and Wendy Richter quit the company immediately. After going into “semi” retirement, Moolah made a triumphant return to the WWE during the Attitude Era in the late 90’s. During her final stint of in ring activity, Moolah regained the WWE Women’s Championship; becoming the oldest competitor to ever win a major title at 76 years of age. She later became the only wrestler to have a match in their 80’s! The Fabulous Moolah’s career spanned 5 Decades and will possibly never be matched. Moolah was a true Goddess of Professional Wrestling and a pioneer for every woman that steps into a ring today.

12) The Rock: Who would’ve thought that young Rocky Maivia would become the “The Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment”! Rocky is the first 3 rd Generation wrestler to make his way to the WWE and the first African-American to hold the company’s most coveted title. So far The Rock has captured the Intercontinental Championship 2-times, the WWE Tag Team Championships 5-times, the WCW World Championship 2-times (while in the WWE), the WWE Championship 7-times and won a Royal Rumble. His charisma is unmatched and his quick thinking ability to adlib on the microphone is untouched. The Rock’s promos scored higher ratings than most people’s matches. From the moment he debuted he was pushed to be the next big thing. At the Survivor Series he was the sole survivor on his team and less than three months later he won his first Intercontinental Championship. In any other era The Rock would’ve been a Superstar, but with the way the business was evolving, fans didn’t buy into the wholesome baby face gimmick anymore. It was when Rocky joined the Nation of Domination that his natural charisma could shine through. Some of his most classic moments involved his interactions with D-Generation X, and his mockery of what they stood for. Over the next few years The Rock had made it to finals of the King of the Ring and aligned his self with Vince McMahon’s Corporation, guaranteeing his self a shot at the WWE Championship. Rocky battled the likes of Mankind, Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin on his way to becoming a multi-time WWE Champion. The Rock’s promos were getting over so well that the fans had decided to turn him into a face and so began his rivalry with The Undertaker and The Corporate Ministry. Throughout his career, certain Superstars would always prove to be a thorn in The Rock’s side, such as The Undertaker, Kane, Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, The Big Show, Mankind, Triple H, but none bigger than Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Rock and Stone Cold have an unprecedented 3-match history at Wrestlemania. At Wrestlemania XV Austin defeated The Rock, at Wrestlemania X-7 Austin had joined forces with the man he had despised, Vince McMahon; in a shocking twist and show of desperation to defeat The Rock for the WWE Championship again, and at Wrestlemania XIX The Rock finally defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin in what would prove to be Austin’s last match in the WWE. One of the biggest matches in WWE history was billed as “The Icon vs. The Icon” and consisted of The Rock taking on Hulk Hogan for the first time in his career. Wrestlemania X8 was built upon that match and it didn’t disappoint. Fans got to see a couple Rock Bottoms, People’s Elbows and Leg Drops as The Rock showed that he’s today’s true Iconic figure. The Rock transitioned from wrestling to the big screen seamlessly and used his marketability to open the doors for many other sports entertainers to explore the realm of Hollywood. The Rock also transitioned from “Die Rocky, Die!” chants to “The Jabroni Beating, Pie Eating, Trail Blazing, Eye brow Raising, the Best in the Present, Future and Past, and if yall don’t like me you can Kiss the People’s Ass!” The Rock has guaranteed that he’ll never leave the WWE again, so I guess that means the fun is just beginning for the People’s Champ!

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11) Bob Backlund: Nobody possessed more wholesome looks than Bob Backlund, but don’t let his appearance fool you because he was a wrestling machine before Kurt Angle was ever heard of. It took Backlund only four months into his WWE tenure to receive a WWE title shot. Within a year’s time Bob would capitalize on his multiple opportunities and become WWE Champion. Backlund would hold that title for 5 whole years! He never legitimately lost his title neither; it was due to his manager Arnold Skaaland throwing in the towel during his legendary match with the Iron Sheik that caused the title change. Backlund was then fazed out of the WWE as they were going in a new direction under Vince McMahon Jr. Backlund would not be seen in the WWE for another 8 years, but in 1992 he came back in more of an enhancement roll; never once being portrayed as the half a decade WWE Champion. In 1994 Bob took his character to a whole new level. Everybody felt that Backlund’s downfall was his lack of versatility, but when Bob “snapped” on live television the WWE Universe was in utter shock. The “new” Bob Backlund captured the WWE Championship once again, procuring his crossface chicken wing on anybody that got in his way. It had been 10 years since his last reign as WWE Champion, but in a strange twist of fate; the man who had held his title for so long the first go around would end up becoming one of the shortest reigning champions during his second reign, which lasted only 3 days. Backlund was offered a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame, but turned it down because he felt he still had another run left in him today. When the time comes, Backlund’s enshrinement will be one of the most deserved in the history of this business.

10) Bret Hart: The Excellence of Execution is the only competitor on this list to have just as much success as a singles competitor as he did in the tag team ranks. Bret was heavily recruited by the WWE during their acquisition of Stampede Wrestling back in the early 80’s and slowly found his niche as the “Hitman” before long. As a tag team competitor, he and Jim Neidhart captured the WWE Tag Team Championships twice, beating every team that crossed their path. When it was time for Bret to venture out on his own, he managed to win the Intercontinental Championship on two occasions, beating fellow WWE Hall of Famers Mr. Perfect and Rowdy Roddy Piper for the strap. He then went on to become one of only two men to win the King of the Ring tournament twice (Randy Savage being the other). Bret also has a Royal Rumble victory to his credit (2 if you count the one Stone Cold Steve Austin screwed him out of), and 5 WWE Championships to add to his astonishing resume. His amazing technical abilities and ring generalship aided him in becoming one of the most respected professional wrestlers in the history of the business. The WWE cut Bret’s career short within the company by swerving him into losing his title at the Survivor Series in what is infamously known as the “Montreal Screwjob”. Bret was loyal to the WWE and only missed 2 dates out of a 13-year career. The WWE was looking to go in another direction after they had used Bret to transition them from the Hogan era. Shawn Michaels was there new guy, and due to competition from WCW; the WWE couldn’t financially be obligated to the rest of Hart’s contract. Instead of doing what was right for Bret, the WWE did what they felt was right for the company and this caused an enormous wedge between Vince McMahon and his former #1 guy. Bret put on 5-Star matches with the likes of Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XII, Rowdy Roddy Piper at Wrestlemania VIII, his brother Owen at Wrestlemania X and a classic match that got the ball rolling for Stone Cold Austin at Wrestlemania 13. A lot of detractors like to say “the Hitman” had a limited moveset and that his matches were redundant, but those are ignorant statements because Bret would have rematches with wrestlers and their second match would be nothing like the first. Take Bret’s match with Austin at Survivor Series and compare it to their Wrestlemania match, or Bret’s match with Mr. Perfect at Summerslam and size it up to their rematch at the King of the Ring. All it takes is for one person to make a statement and then everybody else jumps on, but take the time to watch greatness and you’ll see for yourself that “the Hitman” took pride in delivering some of the most realistic and creative matches wrestling has ever seen. Bret is one of the most popular superstars worldwide and was voted one of the 50 Greatest Canadians of All-Time. After leaving the WWE his career was unfortunately ended due to a serious concussion suffered during in ring competition and a stroke, which left him paralyzed on one complete side of his body. If you were never impressed or uplifted by what Bret accomplished in the ring, then the fact that Bret Hart battled back from paralysis justifies why he is indeed “The Best there Is, The Best there Was and the Best there Ever Will Be!” Not only did Bret battle his physical ailments, but 13 years after he was last seen on WWE TV he battled his deep-rooted disputes and animosity with Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels. Upon his WWE return, he appeared in his 14 thWrestlemania and won his record 5 th United States Championship title (1 st while in the WWE). With so many accomplishments, achievements, victories and reconciliations Bret Hart’s life story is a novel with chapters still unwritten.

9) Superstar Billy Graham: The often-imitated Superstar Billy Graham is one of the most charismatic members of the 50 Greatest Superstars on this list. As matter of fact, today’s Superstars are called just that in tribute to how big of a personality Billy Graham truly was. Graham won the WWE Championship 2 years into his WWE career and would hold the title longer than any heel has to this date. Billy Graham was a revolutionary that sparked the creation of “the cool heel”. Vince McMahon Sr. couldn’t fathom the idea of a man with the skill set and appearance of Graham being a face, and thus robbed him of the opportunity to be what Hulk Hogan was to the world of professional wrestling. Graham’s character was the foreshadowing of cool heels like Stone Cold Steve Austin, the NWO, Shawn Michaels and Triple H. Graham was a huge draw for the WWE despite his heel status, and traveled across the globe engaging in matches with Dusty Rhodes, Pedro Morales, Jack Brisco and Don Muraco. His biggest match was one that saw him face the NWA Champion Harley Race in the Orange Bowl and wrestle him to a one-hour draw. Almost 10 years too late, Graham was finally given the face turn he had so desperately wanted, but was unfortunately plagued with a hip injury that called for a replacement. Graham was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame but has since wanted to be removed due to the quality of the selection of his H.O.F counterparts. Graham is also a very active speaker about the harm of steroids, as he has been the recipient of many of the negative effects of the substance. To wrap up in words the significance of Superstar Billy Graham is practically impossible. He is within the top 10 of this list because of an “IT” factor that can’t be verbally characterized, but when you watch him; his actions speak louder than any word could possibly sum up all of his greatness!

8) Nature Boy Buddy Rodgers: The 1st WWE Champion Ever! If you want to talk about a legacy, it goes no further than this man. When a legend such as Ric Flair bases any part of his character around you, you’re basically larger than life. Rodgers is one of the most imitated wrestlers in the business, and one of the most hated heels of all-time. Buddy Rodgers had a great career prior to the WWE, and sadly his WWE Championship reign was cut short by a mild heart attack (supposedly), but even in defeat Rodgers passed the torch to another Legend in Bruno Sammartino. Rodgers is ranked where he is because no other man could’ve been in his position and succeeded the same way that the Nature Boy had. The company that is the WWE today was built upon the back of Buddy Rodgers and although he might not have been a multi-time champion, his name alone brings prestige to a 48-year-old title that’s been passed around to 40 different Superstars since his initial reign. Strangely, the only two men to hold both the NWA and WWE Championships are the Nature Boy Buddy Rodgers and the Nature Boy Ric Flair! 2 decades after winning the WWE Championship, the Nature Boy returned to the WWE with his own show titled Rodger’s Corner. This was a show that spotlighted various wrestlers and upcoming matches. Rodger’s used this forum to free Superfly Jimmy Snuka from his corrupt contract with his manager Captain Lou Albano. All those years later, the Nature Boy was still making an impact on the WWE. When you say the name Buddy Rodgers, the WWE Hall of Fame goes without mention.

7) Bruno Sammartino: A 2-time WWE Champion, Sammartino is not hailed for title reigns but for title longevity. In a feat that I believe is safe to say will never be duplicated, Bruno Sammartino held the WWE Championship for a bewildering 8 years! Bruno thwarted the advances of Gorilla Monsoon, Killer Kowalski, Freddie Blassie, George “the Animal” Steele and Johnny Valentine before losing the title to Superstar Billy Graham. His second reign was for an additional 3 years, which is nothing to sneeze at. What made Sammartino a capable holder of the title for so long was his outstanding sellout record at the “Mecca” of sporting events, Madison Square Garden. Out of headlining a record 211 events at MSG, 187 were attendance sellouts. The cause of his popularity was a strong cultural bond between Sammartino and the heavily populated Italian inhabitants of New York City. Bruno had become so popular amongst his Italian counterparts that the Pope threw him a private honorary ceremony. Though a majority of his success was during the 1960’s, Bruno was able to be a part of the first two Wrestlemanias; managing his son in the 1 st and wrestling in a battle royal in the 2 nd. Sammartino went on to wrestle for a few years more, challenging Intercontinental Champion Macho Man Randy Savage, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff, Cowboy Bob Orton and the Honky Tonk Man. While there are some Superstars that are worthy of the Hall of Fame and have been looked over, Sammartino is the one Superstar that refuses to be inducted due to his critical view of WWE programming. With or without the recognition of his conquests, Bruno Sammartino will continue to be the “Living Legend” as long as there is breath in his body.

6) Rowdy Roddy Piper: Every Superhero needs a good Villain, and if Hogan was Batman; then Piper was the Joker. Piper’s reputation preceded him, as the WWE had heard about how good of a performer and mic worker he was before he was signed to the company. He was initially introduced to the WWE fans in a manager capacity due to injuries he’d endured at his previous place of employment, but soon was able to step out on his own and show what he was capable of. There might not be a bigger antagonist on this planet than Roddy Piper. Everybody he opposed, he made a bigger star with promos alone. Piper wasn’t a scientific wrestler, but he had great ring psychology. He knew the right things to say at the right times that would generate heat on his behalf, and get the other guy over tremendously. Some say it is because of Hogan and some say it is because of Piper that Wrestlemania became such a success, but I say that Wrestlemania wouldn’t have been what it became without both competitors. Besides his spearheading of Wrestlemania, Piper engaged in other classic feuds that all found their way onto his “plaid platform” known as Piper’s Pit. Piper would act as the host to his own show and before long something noteworthy would break out causing a seismic shift in the balance of the WWE. Who can forget when Piper and Cowboy Bob Orton cut the Haiti Kid’s hair, or when Adrian Adonis tapped into his “feminine side”, or Cyndi Lauper attacking Capt. Lou Albano, or Roddy Piper smashing a coconut over Superfly Jimmy Snuka’s head! All of those moments are spectacular and legendary, and will live on in the annals of WWE History. The Hot Rod was also a pioneer in the entertainment business, becoming one of the first wrestlers to go Hollywood. Superstars like John Cena, The Rock, Steve Austin and Kurt Angle were able to make that transition because of Rowdy Roddy Piper. From almost the start of his WWE career, Piper was challenging for the WWE Championship; but it would be 8 years before he won his first gold. Piper became the Intercontinental Champion in what would set up and classic match at Wrestlemania VIII between the Rowdy one and Bret “the Hitman” Hart. As I said before, Piper was not a technical wrestler by any stretch of the imagination, a lot of his matches were wild slugfests; but on that day he and Bret Hart put on a match for the ages. It is a match that both men are extremely proud of and name as one of their favorites. At that Wrestlemania Piper lost more than his title to Bret, he also lost his streak of never having his shoulders pinned to the mat from the day he set foot in the WWE. Piper would go on to feud with Goldust and Jerry “The King” Lawler and be the special guest referee in many high profile matches before becoming the WWE President and ultimately taking his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame. Controversy has always followed the silver-tongued pugilist and controversy is what he was born into. Piper announced at his H.O.F induction “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” and judging by his multiple appearances and Piper’s Pits since then, I have to believe he’s telling the truth.

5) Shawn Michaels: They say nice guys finish last, so that would put Shawn Michaels in the front of the line. The Heartbreak Kid wasn’t given success; he took it! His relentless style inside and out of the ring is what helped propel this San Antonio native to Hall of Fame heights. Shawn’s career reads out like a good book, with a rise, a fall, controversy, action and a climax. In Chapter 1 Shawn came into the WWE as part of the tag team The Rockers and was fired within 2 weeks. In Chapter 2 it took Michaels a year before he would receive another shot at the big time, and boy would he capitalize. The Rockers were pegged as “Tag Team Specialists” because the WWE had never seen another team work so well as a cohesive unit. Their double team moves were reminiscent of the legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. The Rockers were scheduled to win the WWE Tag Team Championships, but decisions were literally “reversed” and that title reign never came to fruition. In Chapter 3 Shawn Michaels embarked on a singles career and the “Heartbreak Kid” moniker is born once Mr. Perfect made reference to a Chris LeDoux song he had played for the Macho Man Randy Savage on a car ride to the arena. The Rocker turned Flamboyant Womanizer was the opening act for both Wrestlemania VIII and IX, turning in noticeably good performances. In Chapter 4 Michaels captures his first title in the form of the Intercontinental Championship, but is suspended from the WWE soon after for testing positive for steroids. Michaels entertained advances from other companies but is eventually reinstated by the WWE and put into a match where he can regain his title. He attempts to reclaim his gold in a groundbreaking Ladder Match at Wrestlemania X; he fails in his fight but steals the show. Afterwards, he wins a Tag Team Championship with his bodyguard Diesel and the Royal Rumble, which makes him #1 Contender for the WWE Championship. In Chapter 5 HBK fails at winning the title at Wrestlemania XI but once again attains the Intercontinental Championship. Never without controversy, Michaels is attacked by several men outside of a bar in Syracuse, NY and is forced to forfeit his title. Shawn Michaels would again win the Royal Rumble and this time defeat Bret “the Hitman” Hart in a classic 60 minute Iron Man Match at Wrestlemania XII for the WWE Championship. In Chapter 6 Shawn breaks kayfabe and gives his “kliq” hugs as they leave the WWE. Michaels lost and regained his title in the span of a few months, but then vacated the championship in order to “find his smile” (which in actuality was possibly a way for Michaels to not have to drop the title to Bret Hart at Wrestlemania 13; thus beginning their real life feud). In Chapter 7 Michaels forms the single greatest faction in the WWE, D-Generation X and sparks the beginning of the Attitude Era. Shawn would wrestle Bret Hart at Survivor Series and he along with Vince McMahon would screw Bret out of the title. The villainous Michaels would later defend and lose the championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania XIV and retire from the ring due to a serious back injury. In Chapter 8 Michaels becomes the WWE Commissioner, joins Vince’s Corporation and eventually rejoins DX before resigning from his position. From 1998 to 2002 HBK made sporadic appearances during his retirement from the WWE. In Chapter 9 Michaels made a triumphant return to the ring at Summerslam, proving that he was “the Icon that can still go”. Over the next 8 Wrestlemanias, Shawn Michaels would have the match of the year in 7 of them. In Chapter 10 “The Showstopper” did just that when he retired The Nature Boy Ric Flair at Wrestlemania XXIV. At Wrestlemania 25 he and The Undertaker had the first match at Wrestlemania that has ever rivaled Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat for best match in the history of the event. Shawn would then come face to face with Bret Hart for the first time in 13 years and bury the hatchet of their long withstanding hatred for one another on Monday Night RAW. In the Final Chapter HBK puts his career on the line in order to receive another opportunity at defeating The Undertaker at Wrestlemania XXVI. Shawn has nothing left to accomplish, and if he goes out a loser; he has no regrets. Unfortunately Shawn was defeated by the Undertaker, but he left Glendale, Arizona as anything but a loser. Michaels was a first ballot Hall of Famer the following year. Nobody has had Wrestlemania moments like HBK, and that’s why he is undisputedly Mr. Wrestlemania! Though the book on his wrestling career has been closed, in the WWE there’s always the possibility for future chapters and if anybody has the resiliency to come back; Shawn Michaels is that guy.

4) Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Texas Rattlesnake took the WWE to new heights during the Attitude Era. Austin was never afraid to be himself, and by doing that he influenced people of all races and creeds to be Rednecks. All of Steve’s career he’s been untapped potential and when he was finally able to go to an organization that allowed him freedom over his character, he revolutionized the entire business of professional wrestling. Stone Cold challenges Hulk Hogan as the most influential wrestler in the history of the sport. While Hogan was telling children to “Say their Prayers and Take their Vitamins”; Austin was telling people to give him a “Hell Yea”, flipping off authorities and drinking beer out in the open. Vince McMahon is quoted as saying that, “Stone Cold Steve Austin is the Greatest WWE Superstar of All-Time”. When the owner of the company gives someone that type of acclaim, it makes you take notice. The WWE owner and Stone Cold definitely share a bond, as they were bitter rivals for four straight years. Both men would take turns gaining the upper hand on the other and introduced new characters in their feud throughout that time. The Corporation, The Corporate Ministry, The Big Show, Triple H, Shane McMahon, Mankind, Undertaker, Kane and The Rock are just a few that made Stone Cold’s Mondays eventful. The Rock turned out to be Austin’s greatest in-ring nemesis and their rivalry is one of the best the WWE has ever seen. Before McMahon caught Austin’s attention, it was Bret “the Hitman” Hart that put Stone Cold in the main event picture. Austin resented what “the Hitman” was, and what “the Hitman” stood for and they battled like two caged beasts. For a year straight, Austin was a thorn in Bret’s side. While Hart was focused on winning Championships, Austin prevented him at every stop. It was their classic “I Quit” match at Wrestlemania 13 that transformed Austin immediately from a heel to a record setting merchandise monster mega baby face. Austin had been deservingly beaten from pillar to post, and found his self face down in an ocean of his own blood. Austin would not quit and the match was waved off due to him losing consciousness. The crowd admired Stone Cold’s perseverance and immediately jumped on his bandwagon once Bret was not willing to let go of his almost inescapable sharpshooter. When he says he’s the toughest SOB to ever lace up a pair of boots, he’s not just blowing smoke. He’s wrestled through countless knee injuries, spinal injuries and neck injuries. Austin worked his way up through the ranks, first winning the King of the Ring, and then becoming a 2-time Intercontinental Champion, a 4-time WWE Tag Team Champion, 3-time Royal Rumble winner and a 6-time WWE Champion. When wrestling needed a strong resurgence, it was Austin that took the ball and ran with it. He became a commercial success, appearing on the cover of magazines and making rounds on both daytime and nighttime television shows. To give you an idea of exactly how popular Stone Cold was at the height of his career, he sold more merchandise than any WWE Superstar past or present. It didn’t matter if he was a heel or face; Austin was going to get a tremendous reaction regardless. Stone Cold is another superstar that has used his WWE fame to catapult his self to Hollywood. When you discuss the Greatest of All-Time, Stone Cold Steve Austin will always be in the conversation. More often than not, Austin might just be in the top spot. Even though he didn’t get the nod of being in my top spot of WWE greats, he was honored by being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and practically crowned the “King” of the company during his commencement. Austin periodically makes it a point to stop by his old stomping grounds and raise a little hell every now and then, and when he does; the entire arena goes Stone Cold Crazy!

3) Andre the Giant: To be the 1 st ever inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame is the ultimate honor. That has to mean that you are the Greatest Superstar to ever grace a WWE ring. Andre definitely has the stature to hold such a distinction, but comes up a little short on credentials. Andre’s best years were in other territories, companies and countries, as Vince McMahon Sr. would loan Andre out in order to keep fans from getting board with him. McMahon Sr. had the idea of Andre being a novelty and special attraction, rather than a constant competitor or contender. Andre first signed with the WWE in 1973, but it wasn’t until Vince McMahon Jr. took over in 1982 that Andre was primarily and solely property of the WWE. Andre engaged in feuds with Killer Khan and Big John Studd in the early 80’s. Studd proclaimed that he was the real Giant in the WWE and this led to a $15,000 Body Slam Challenge at the inaugural Wrestlemania. Andre slammed Studd to the mat, took the money and tossed it out to the thousands in attendance. Another great attribute of the Giant’s was his ability to dominate Battle Royals. At Wrestlemania 2 he demonstrated this ability by winning the 20-man over the top rope Battle Royal, eliminating both NFL Stars and WWE Superstars. Andre had been one of the top faces for the company since his debut, but after 14 years of not being given a title shot; Bobby “the Brain” Heenan influenced the Giant to take a new approach to the business. Heenan had convinced Andre that Hogan was using him and so the challenge had been made for the two to meet for the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania III. In front of 93,000 in the Pontiac Silverdome, in the great words of Gorilla Monsoon it was the “Irresistible Force meeting the Immovable Object”. Andre was ready to pass the torch and did the honor for Hulk Hogan that night. He even allowed Hogan to slam him, putting Hulk Hogan over even more at that point in the match. If Hulk Hogan “Made” the WWE and Andre “Made” Hulk Hogan, then where does that put Andre in the historical scheme of things? The WWE let it be known that this was Andre’s first defeat of his career (which technically wasn’t true, but there was never any footage shown in the WWE of him suffering a defeat by pinfall or submission). Hogan and Andre’s feud continued as the inaugural Survivor Series rolled around and Andre led his team to victory over Hogan’s. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase had tried numerous times to defeat Hogan for his belt, and after many failed attempts decided to hire Andre to win it for him. Andre had a match with Hogan where chicanery played a major part in the outcome. Supposedly DiBiase hired a referee to get plastic surgery and look like referee Dave Hebner. When Andre got Hogan’s shoulders down on the mat, the fake referee counted to three despite the fact that Hogan got his shoulders up off of the canvas in time. Andre was rewarded the WWE Championship, and proceeded to give it to his employer Ted DiBiase. WWE President Jack Tunney overruled the referee’s decision and vacated the title; therefore ending Andre’s brief title reign. Andre would go on to capture the WWE Tag Team Championship with fellow Heenan Family member Haku. Once he and Haku lost the titles, Heenan slapped Andre and he immediately became a face once again. Andre’s bad health was taking a toll on the big man and he only made desultory appearances from that point on. His last major WWE appearance was at Summerslam 1991 when he seconded the Bushwackers in their match against the Natural Disasters. Andre’s stories of food and beverage consumption are of mythical proportion. It is said (and has been confirmed by the likes of Dusty Rhodes) that Andre once drank 156 beers in one sitting. Outside of the wrestling ring it is also said that Andre hated people. He wasn’t personable and disliked all of the attention he received. Despite his reluctance of aggrandizement, anybody who’s seen or heard about Andre the Giant knows he was truly “Larger than Life”.

2) Undertaker: No man has more quietly become a Legend than The Undertaker. From his debut in 1990 to the present, ‘Taker has buried everybody that has tried to get in his way. It seems he has evolved right along with wrestling, from his looks to his moveset. Undertaker used to be a stoic creature of the night, then he began to use psychological tactics and mind games, then he forwent his entire gimmick and became a motorcycle riding A.B.A and now he’s a technician submitting opponents with offense never before seen from the Dead Man. Taker made his debut at the 1990 Survivor Series as a part of Ted DiBiase’s team, decimating Koko B. Ware and Dusty Rhodes before being counted out of the match. He then made his Wrestlemania debut obliterating Superfly Jimmy Snuka and laying him to rest. The Undertaker would then go on to successfully feud with the Ultimate Warrior, Randy Savage and Sgt. Slaughter before finally securing a match with Hulk Hogan for the WWE title. One year after he made his debut at the Survivor Series, he would defeat Hogan for the WWE Championship (making him one of only a few people to pin Hogan’s shoulders to the mat). Undertaker would go on to be a 7-time World Champion. The Phenom would have mid-card matches for a while but silently he was building his future Hall of Fame resume. Unnoticeably, every Wrestlemania that was passing; The Undertaker would come out victorious. Dating back to Wrestlemania VII, Undertaker hadn’t lost a match on the biggest stage of them all. Fast forward to Wrestlemania XXV, The Undertaker is currently 16-0 and the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels is “dead” set on adding a 1 to the loss column. The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels would go on to tear the house down at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas (the home state of both competitors). In a back and forth adrenaline pumping masterpiece, The Undertaker would be 17-0 by the night’s end. This match is hailed as one of the greatest matches to ever take place at a Wrestlemania, and is discussed in the same breath as Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat. The Undertaker didn’t see the end of Shawn Michaels though. This time Taker had been lured into a rematch at Wrestlemania XXVI and not only was his undefeated streak on the line, but so was HBK’s career. In a totally different match from the first, Shawn Michaels came closer than ever to ending the streak of the “Dead Man’s”, but ultimately he met the same fate as before. The Undertaker had “taken” Michael’s career, and now has the distinct privilege of saying he retired the “Showstopper”. Michaels and The Undertaker were no strangers to one another. They had engaged in a heated battle a decade before in what is and always shall be the Undertaker’s domain, The Hell in a Cell. The Devil’s Playground, as it is called; has been the setting for 11 of The Undertaker’s most memorable matches. The first of its kind saw Shawn Michaels defeat The Undertaker inside of its metal confines, with the help of The Undertaker’s debuting brother, Kane. Taker’s next high profile Hell in a Cell match would be at the 1998 King of the Ring when he went head to head with the demented Mankind. In possibly the most extreme match in WWE history, Mankind was manhandled from the start to the finish of the match. The Undertaker threw Mankind off of the top of the cell, nearly 20 feet onto the announce table. When Mankind regained consciousness, he forced his self off of the gurney that was carrying him to the back and climbed to the top of the cage once more to attack Taker. This time The Undertaker choke slammed Mankind through the top of the cage causing him to crash down hard to the mat, dislodging his teeth and causing him to bite through the bottom of his lip. The Undertaker brutalized Mankind that night, but in previous encounters Mankind gave as good as he got! Out of the 11 Hell in the Cell appearances by the Undertaker, he only won 5; but it’s guaranteed that Taker’s opponents didn’t leave as the same men they came in as. Before the Hell in the Cell, The Undertaker used to strike fear in his adversaries by challenging them to Casket Matches. The opponent would have to be placed in the casket, and the lid shut in order for the victor to achieve a win. Once again, Shawn Michaels is no stranger to tangling with The Undertaker with those stipulations in place. At the 1998 Royal Rumble HBK and “The Phenom” were involved in an unmerciful onslaught. Shawn Michaels had won the match, but The Undertaker took away four years of Shawn Michael’s career by tossing him over the top rope and forcing him to land awkwardly onto the casket; causing crushed and herniated discs. That would be the last time they met before their consecutive Wrestlemania matches. At Wrestlemania XXVII, Triple H wanted to show that he could slay “The Demon of Death Valley”. Triple H gave Taker all he had and Taker gave Triple H the same, in what was a match with essentially no rules. The streak looked to be in severe jeopardy when Triple H hit The Undertaker with his own Tombstone Piledriver; but at the very last second The Undertaker kicked out. It was “The Dead Man’s” ingenuity that helped him prevail, as he was able to lock in the Hell’s Gate submission maneuver on Triple H thus causing him to eventually tap out. Taker won the fight but Triple H might have won the war. While Triple H was able to walk out of the ring under his own volition, ‘Taker was being carried out on a stretcher. The Undertaker is currently 19-0 and I’m 100% certain we have not seen the last of “The Phenom”. The Undertaker’s Wrestlemania Streak and Legendary Longevity puts him high on this list, and by the end of his career there may be a chance for him to take the #1 spot.

1) Hulk Hogan: Muhammad Ali and Hulk Hogan have something in common; they’re both the Greatest. It’s not Hogan’s title reigns that put him in this position (although they shouldn’t be overlooked), it’s not Hogan’s massive physique and 24 inch Pythons (even though they sure did help his career out a lot), but it was Hulk Hogan protecting his brand that keeps Hulkamania Running Wild to this day! Hogan didn’t job to a lot of people, and for that he catches a lot of flack; but business wise it was such a smart thing to do. Politics is a world that most wrestlers would rather stay away from, but nobody plays the game better than Hogan. In 1979, Vince McMahon Sr. had caught wind of the Hulkster and brought him in to the WWE. It was McMahon Sr. that gave Hogan his name and his first shot at WWE gold. After failed attempts, and a disagreement with the elder McMahon on making an appearance in the Rocky movie; he went elsewhere to perfect his craft. Within four years Hogan had become more charismatic and even more muscular and the son of McMahon Sr. was now running the WWE. It didn’t take long before Vincent K. McMahon Jr. brought Hogan back to the company with the idea of making him the new luminary for the business. In actuality, Hogan became the business and January 23, 1984 was the day it all began. When Hogan defeated the Iron Sheik on that day, Gorilla Monsoon proclaimed, “Hulkamania is Here!” and thus it was born. This was the first of many accomplishments for the “Immortal” one. Hogan is a 2-time Royal Rumble winner, WWE Tag Team Champion and a 6-time WWE Champion. His 1 st title reign lasted 4 years, battling such legends as Rowdy Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff, Ted DiBiase, Terry Funk, King Kong Bundy and Andre the Giant. Hogan and Andre headlined Wrestlemania III; in an event that saw Hulk Hogan slam the 520-pound “8 th Wonder of the World” in front of 93,000 screaming fans. It was Andre that transformed Hogan from a “cool California dude” face, to a legend in the making. Hulk Hogan and Wrestlemania are synonymous with one another. Hogan is only one of two Superstars to appear in the first nine Wrestlemanias (Tito Santana being the other), headlining all but 1 (although he was in the Macho Man’s corner for the main event at Wrestlemania IV). At Wrestlemania V, Hogan’s second title run would begin as he beat Macho Man Randy Savage for the WWE Championship. One year later, 7 years into his WWE career, Hogan decided to pass the torch to the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VI in a classic face vs. face competition. The Toronto SkyDome would prove to be a difficult place for the Hulkster to win. At the next Wrestlemania, it was up to Hogan to save the day and defend America against the Iraqi sympathizer Sgt. Slaughter. Slaughter just so happened to have beaten the Warrior at the Royal Rumble for the WWE Championship, and would in turn lose it at Wrestlemania VII when he was defeated by Hulk Hogan. Wrestlemania VIII would be only the third time the WWE Championship wasn’t the focal point of Hogan’s match, but instead something even bigger was in the works. Hulk Hogan was said to be retiring after his match at Wrestlemania, but in actuality damage control was being done in light of the steroid allegations and scandal that had been plaguing the WWE. Hogan disappeared for a year and came back significantly leaner, but that didn’t stop him from inserting his self into the main event of Wrestlemania IX and causing a second title change that night by defeating the freshly crowned WWE Champion Yokozuna immediately after the mammoth beast had beaten Bret Hart for the title. The plan was for Hogan to have a huge match with Bret Hart at Summerslam, where he would pass the torch to the leader of the new generation; but Hogan was strongly against the idea. Hogan was once again protecting his brand, but unfortunately robbed Bret of the opportunity of mega-stardom in the process. Hogan decided to drop the title to Yokozuna instead, and insisted that his loss not be clean. On June 13, 1993 Yokozuna regained the WWE Championship in a controversial and unexplained scenario that saw a Japanese photographer climb onto the apron of the ring and blind Hogan with an exploding flash bulb; thus allowing Yokozuna to take advantage of the prone Hogan and get the win. This would be Hogan’s last WWE appearance for the next nine years. In 2002 Hogan came back to the WWE along with his NWO cohorts, brining over a gimmick he had established within his 9-year absence from the company. Gone were his trademark yellow and red colors and gone were his “demandments” of “Training, Saying your prayers and Taking your vitamins”. Hogan had now gone “Hollywood” and abandoned all of his Hulkamaniacs. The Rock was the major player in the WWE now and Hogan went straight after him. There were no titles on the line, just pride. For the first time since Hogan lost his WWE Championship to the Warrior at Wrestlemania VI, Hogan found his self back in the Toronto SkyDome; this time against The Rock. 68,000 fans were in attendance for Wrestlemania X-8 and despite Hogan coming in as the heel, the fans would dictate a face turn for him that night because Hulkamania was still very much alive to all the fans that followed Hogan for so long. In an amazing and historical contest, The Rock would achieve a clean victory over Hollywood Hogan. After the fans turned Hogan face, he was catapulted to the #1 Contender spot, and following his match with the titleholder Triple H; he would win his sixth and final WWE Championship. After losing his title to The Undertaker for the second time in his career, he went on to face the man who took responsibility for making him who he was in a bloody war at Wrestlemania XIX. The match was billed as “20 years in the Making” and Hogan would prove to Vince McMahon that he, himself, created Hulkamania as he secured a victory over his boss. Hogan took a two year sabbatical and came back to have one more legendary dream match when he and Shawn Michaels locked horns at Summerslam. “The Legend vs. The Icon” lived up to it’s billing and “The Legend” prevailed, sending HBK away believing in the power of Hulkamania. Hogan is a globally recognized figure and is often the first person that comes to mind when you mention professional wrestling. His trademark clothes, catchphrases and poses are an irremovable imprint in the fabric of the business. All of this has helped Hogan successfully cross over to Hollywood in the form of movies, television shows and commercials. “Hogan knows Best“ when it comes to business and even when he’s not on WWE soil, he stays marketable. In 2005 he received his highest honor by being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. It is a fact that Hulk Hogan “Made” Sports Entertainment, and for that, he has to be The Greatest WWE Superstar of All-Time.

By: Cameron McBride-Gee
ProWrestling-fans.com Wrestling Writer