Highlights

• Roman Reigns is currently one of the top wrestlers in WWE and is on a historic world title reign.
• Bryan Danielson, also known as Daniel Bryan, is regarded as one of the best in-ring wrestlers and has had a memorable career in WWE.
• The Undertaker is considered to be the best character in WWE and has been involved in some of the best matches and feuds in history.

Throughout its illustrious history, WWE has seen some legendary professional wrestlers step into its rings all over the world. The likes of Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker captured the hearts of fans during some of the company's most popular periods, while the likes of Roman Reigns came onto the scene much more recently and have done a brilliant job flying the WWE flag.

With such an army of impressive and iconic figures having called themselves WWE superstars over the years, compiling a list of the 25 greatest sounds like an incredibly tough task and one no one would likely rush to create. With that being said, that's exactly what we've decided to do. Looking at several different components, we've identified the 25 best wrestlers in WWE history. Before we get started, take a look at the different components we've looked at to create our list below.

• Title wins
• Longevity in the sport
• Microphone work and charisma (ranked from poor and okay, to good and excellent)
• Impact on the wrestling business

Now that's out of the way, let's get started. Here are the 25 greatest WWE wrestlers of all time, ranked.

25 Charlotte Flair

Shortly over a decade ago, women's wrestling started to be taken a little more seriously and fans began protesting for WWE to treat their women better and give them more opportunities. This coincided with the arrival of Charlotte Flair in the company, a woman who has gone on to forge her legacy as the greatest women's wrestler of all time since.

The daughter of the Nature Boy, Ric Flair, Charlotte has won just about everything there is to possibly win in WWE. Whether it's gold in NXT, or the numerous championships she's held on the main roster, no woman has accomplished quite as much as she has. She's also very gifted inside the squared circle, clearly taking after her father in that department. Charlotte still has years ahead of her and it's quite daunting to imagine just how much more she'll have added to her legacy by the time she calls it a day.

24 Goldberg

While not the best wrestler, there's no denying that Goldberg had something special going on in WCW during the 1990s, and fans loved it. The 285 lb superstar was massive for the company, but after they folded, he made his move to WWE in 2003. While there, he had iconic feuds with The Rock and Triple H, where he came out on top on both occasions.

His exit just a year later denied fans what could have been an all-time great run, but his return in 2016 at least gave way to some memorable moments. Despite being far from the best technical wrestler that the company has seen, there is no doubt that his gimmick and ruthless special moves, the spear and the Jackhammer, made him a star that fans around the world always looked forward to watching.

23 Andre The Giant

One of the biggest WWE stars ever, Andre The Giant, at a time when the spectacle was more important than the match quality, played his role better than anyone. He might not have been the greatest in-ring worker and her microphone skills left a lot to be desired, but Andre was a bonafide attraction when WWE needed them the most. His role as the company went global under Vince McMahon was massive.

Andre's match with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 3 is still one of the most important in the history of the industry. Whether it was as a gentle giant, or the brute villain working alongside either Bobby Heenan or Ted Dibiase, the giant could do it all and he will always be fondly remembered as one of the most important figures in WWE's early years.

22 AJ Styles

Not many people gave AJ Styles a chance in WWE. He spent the majority of his career on the independent scene, making his name in TNA and New Japan Pro wrestling before finally joining the company in 2016. Debuting in the Royal Rumble, he got off to a strong start and any doubts about how WWe would treat Styles were quickly put to bed as he won his first WWE Championship less than a year into his run.

He's since won numerous championships and had some incredible matches with the likes of Seth Rollins, Brock Lesnar and Daniel Bryan. There aren't many wrestlers around that can match Styles inside the squared circle, and he's still performing at a very high level well into his 40s.

21 Mick Foley

He might have never quite looked like the stereotypical WWE star, but Mick Foley is one of the most important figures in the company's history. Without the Hardcore Legend, there's a strong chance that Vince McMahon's company would have come out on the losing end during the Monday Night Wars. It was his WWE Championship victory, and Tony Schiavone's comments about it that saw millions flock to WWE to watch the moment, and it changed wrestling forever.

Aside from that, Foley has had numerous incredible moments in WWE. From debuting as the menacing Mankind, before transitioning that character into one of the most loveable misfits around, he broke the mould of what a WWE superstar has to look like. From the insane Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker to the hilarious Dude Love character, Foley has impacted WWE in so many ways over the years and deserves more respect.

20 Eddie Guerrero

Whether a heel or a babyface, Eddie Guerrero was adored by fans across the world. His work in ECW and WCW introduced audiences to him worldwide, but it's his work in WWE that made him a global star. Incredibly talented in the ring, it was his infectious personality that won so many people over. Few could entertain to the level he could.

His WWE championship victory over Brock Lesnar at No Way Out 2004 remains one of the most emotional and uplifting moments in the company's history. Taken far too early, there's a very strong possibility that Eddie could have ranked even higher than this if he hadn't passed away in 2005.

19 Rey Mysterio

The biggest underdog in WWE history, Rey Mysterio helped revolutionise high-flying in professional wrestling and his influence on the business is unmatched. After making a name for himself in both ECW and WCW, he finally joined WWE in 2002 and has become an icon in the years since.

Aside from a spell between 2015 and 2018, the former World Heavyweight Champion has spent the majority of his career over the last two decades in WWE and won a plethora of titles and other accolades to build his legacy as one of the company's greatest stars. Who can forget his historic Royal Rumble win in 2006? Or the World Heavyweight Championship triumph at that year's WrestleMania in honour of Eddie Guerrero? These are moments that no WWE fan will ever forget and are only a handful of his incredible run. He's also the first-ever father to win tag team gold with his son.

18 Roman Reigns

After years of trying, WWE succeeded in making Roman Reigns a major star and he's become one of the greatest wrestlers in the company's history. After floundering as a bland hero for several years, his heel turn in 2020 kickstarted what has become a legendary run as the Tribal Chief and he's currently embarking on one of the most historic world title reigns in recent wrestling history. As of January 2024, Roman Reigns is 'the guy' in WWE, and will undoubtedly go down as one of the all-time WWE greats.

The “Head of the Table” has held onto the Universal Championship for 1200 days at the time of writing, the longest reign in decades. It's hard to imagine anyone coming close to matching that feat in the modern era. Who knows what is next for Roman Reigns in 2024?

17 Daniel Bryan

One of the best pure in-ring wrestlers of all time, there are through in wrestling history that can match Daniel Bryan's abilities in the squared circle. His run in 2013-14 which culminated with the WWE Championship victory at WrestleMania 30 is still some of the best storytelling in WWE history.

He might not be working for WWE anymore, but he earned a strong enough legacy during his time with the company to land a spot here. He's also still performing at the highest level with his work for both AEW and New Japan Pro wrestling.

16 Randy Orton

When you speak to many wrestlers, they say that Randy Orton does the basics better than anyone, and is one of the best. There's something to be said about that. The third-generation superstar joined WWE in 2000, spending time in their developmental territory OVW, before joining the main roster in 2002 and for the last two decades, he's consistently been one of the company's biggest and most dependable stars.

Orton is solid inside the ring and has had some of the most iconic characters in recent wrestling history. Whether he was the Legend Killer or the Viper, he has accomplished some historic feats in WWe and only a handful of stars have won more world titles than he has. He's 43 years old now but recently came back from injury in the best shape possible. He could even somehow rise even further on this list in the future.

15 Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle took to WWE better than anyone, and whether a heel or babyface, was almost always one of WWE's top stars, immediately from his debut. Earning a reputation for his incredible gold medal triumph in the Olympics, he took to professional wrestling like a duck to water and was capable of having fantastic matches with just about anyone. Outside of his incredible ability as a wrestler, Angle was always capable of getting just about any character over.

Whether he was the Olympic wrestling machine or Stone Cold Steve Austin's comedic sidekick, he made everything work and fans always had a blast watching him. The fact he spent the majority of his career outside of WWE makes it hard to rank him higher than this. His time in TNA was fantastic, and he is easily one of the promotion's greatest-ever stars, but as we're strictly judging him on his work in WWE, this feels about fair.

14 Dusty Rhodes

Just listen to his 'Hard Times' promo, and you'll understand why he's so high up on this list. In the eyes of some, no one connected with wrestling fans more than Dusty Rhodes. The American Dream was a man of the people and fans all over the world adored him for it. His physique might have been misleading, but he was capable of putting on fantastic matches with just about anyone during his career and there was no one more gifted with a microphone in their hand.

Rhodes spent almost his entire career outside of WWE, so we can't rank him any higher than this, but he's an icon in wrestling and deserved his flowers. Also, his work with WWE's developmental programme and the impact he had on NXT during its formative years can't be ignored. The influence he had on the current generation of talent can't be understated, and the business is better for having had Dusty in it.

13 Chris Jericho

Every time you think his career may be winding down, Chris Jericho creates another gimmick that gets over with the fans and earns him a top spot. He's truly one of the most versatile performers ever. He's excelled all over the world, whether it was in WCW, ECW, Japan or more recently AEW, the Canadian always performs at a very high level. His in-ring work was stellar throughout his time in WWE, but his microphone work maybe even better.

He could play the cool babyface, the evil villain or even a comedy character perfectly and Jericho's knack for constantly reinventing himself helped prevent him from ever really growing stale. His time in WWE is easily the peak of his career and becoming the first-ever Undisputed WWF Champion is an achievement no one else in history can boast of.

12 Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar is one of wrestling's biggest and most intimidating stars. Despite being one of WWE's top stars for the entirety of both of his stints with the company, his work inside the ring is somehow underappreciated by fans. His first run saw him put on some fantastic matches with the likes of Kurt Angle, but it's his second stint that solidified his status as one of WWE's greatest stars ever.

Having stepped into the UFC Octagon and conquered the heavyweight division, winning gold, the Beast Incarnate returned to WWE in 2012 with a completely new aura and it's helped make him one of the last true special attractions in the business. He might not wrestle all that often, but when he does, we're always in for a good time. Not only has he won a plethora of gold, but he ended The Undertaker's WrestleMania streak... he's earned this spot.

11 Ric Flair

It doesn't take a genius to point out that Ric Flair is probably one of the GOATs. Not probably, he is. He was right at the top for so long. Not many people come close. His work for Jim Crocket Promotions and WCW solidified his status as a legend in the professional wrestling industry. Aside from a brief spell at the start of the 1990s with WWE, it wasn't until long after his prime had ended that Flair ended up in the company properly which hurts his case as one of their greatest ever stars.

If we're judging all promotions, he ranks higher than this, but too much of it was outside of WWE. With that being said, he's still an icon. His Royal Rumble victory for the WWF Championship in 1992 is still one of the greatest in the company's history and he helped create one of the best factions in WWE history with Evolution in the 2000s. His retirement match at WrestleMania 24 against Shawn Michaels is still one of the most emotional moments in WWE history and was the perfect way to call time on his legendary career. Unfortunately, he ruined that by stepping back into the ring elsewhere, but let's not focus on that right now.

10 Randy Savage

One of the best wrestlers ever who also broke out into the mainstream, Macho Man is probably the last name on this list who didn't get all of the shots he deserved, despite being incredibly successful. In a time when WWE prioritised larger-than-life characters over skilled in-ring workers, Savage was the best of both worlds. He was adored by fans for his wild personality and his entertaining promos, but he always delivered inside the ring too.

Whether it was his iconic relationship with Miss Elizabeth or his on-again-off-again friendship with Hulk Hogan, he was always involved in some of WWE's biggest stories during his time with the promotion. His WWE Championship win at WrestleMania 4 is still one of the most iconic moments in the history of the Showcase of Immortals. Savage was truly one of a kind.

9 Triple H

Triple H has done everything there is to do in WWE and a couple of times over at that. Behind the scenes too, many of the guys on top of WWE were picked and mentored by him. Debuting as Hunter Hearst Helmsley in the 1990s, he eventually blossomed into the iconic Triple H character and, whether it was as a despicable heel or a wildly entertaining hero, he was always doing something memorable in WWE.

He helped launch two of the most iconic factions ever in D-Generation-X and Evolution and he won an incredible plethora of titles throughout his in-ring career. Remarkably, with his impressive work as the head of WWE right now, there's a possibility that his work outside of the ring eventually becomes an even bigger part of his legacy than anything he did in it and he did a lot.

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8 Bret Hart

If we're going strictly off of his technical ability and work inside a wrestling ring, there's absolutely no doubt at all that Bret Hart would rank far higher up this list than he does here. The Hitman is one of the most talented wrestlers of all time. No one could put on a clinic quite like he could and there's a reason many joke about the fact he could have a good wrestling match with a wooden broom. Whether it was his iconic Summerslam 1992 main event with the British Bulldog at Wembley Stadium, his WrestleMania 10 opener with brother Owen, his Iron Man match with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 12 or his incredible Submission match with Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13, Hart is responsible for some of the greatest matches in WWE history.

The Hitman was also incredibly underrated on the microphone, delivering some superb promos over the years, especially during his heel run in 1997. Unfortunately, his departure in 1997 and the man in which WCW squandered him over the next few years before he was forced to retire stopped him from pushing up this list. One can only imagine just how much greater his legacy could have been if he'd remained with WWE and continued performing at the level that he was throughout his run as the Hitman.

7 Shawn Michaels

It's quite fitting that immediately after Bret comes his biggest rival, Shawn Michaels. The Heartbreak Kid is undeniably one of the most skilled wrestlers to ever step into a WWE ring and the sheer volume of incredible matches he had throughout his career can't be touched. They called him Mr WrestleMania for a reason and he's responsible for some of the most memorable moments the Grandest Stage of Them All. His pair of WrestleMania matches with The Undertaker are enough to earn him legendary status, but his entire career was filled with stellar work.

Whether it was in the 1990s as the cocky, brash young Heartbreak Kid, or the older, wiser veteran in the 2000s, Shawn was almost always the best thing about any WWE card he appeared on. It's scary to think about much bigger his career could have been if he hadn't been forced into a four-year retirement between 1998-2002. It's hard to imagine how much better he could have been, but we're fairly certain he'd have managed to do it.

6 The Rock

Dwayne Johnson's full-time run in WWE spanned less than eight years, but he had a significant impact during that period. No one has ever broken through the professional wrestling boundaries and become the level of star that The Rock has. He's a household name all over the world now, but those foundations were laid through his work in WWE. Initially debuting as the bland hero 'Rocky Maivia', it wasn't until he was allowed to showcase his charisma as The Rock that people began to take notice of how promising he was.

From there, he became a phenomenon in WWE and had some of the company's most legendary moments, including his birthday segment on Monday Night Raw with Mankind which is still the most-watched segment in WWE history. With numerous championships, incredible matches and more than a few electrifying returns under his belt, The Rock has more than done enough to earn his spot as one of WWE's greatest-ever stars.