Top 100 Wrestlers Of All Time: 40-21

With the success of our Top 100 Wrestlers of 2018 list, we’ve decided to go even bigger and bolder. We’re going to rank the 100 greatest wrestlers of all time!

Our ranking differs from the PWI 500 because we use math. Well, at least we try to. Just as we did before, we all submitted our own list of the top 100 wrestlers of all time, and each ranking represents points. For example, #1 = 100 points, #2 = 99 points, etc. At the end, we’d calculate who had the most points and assign ranking from there.

How do you judge what makes a great pro wrestler? Well, we all have different criteria. Some rely on in-ring ability (which of course, is subjective) and others rely on box-office appeal. In a future episode of The Wrestling Estate Podcast, we’ll all break down the criteria we used in crafting our own lists. We’ll also bust each other’s balls for the names lacking and their absurdly low or ridiculously high rankings.

Here are 100-81.

Here are 80-61.

Here are 60-41.

Without further ado, here are 40-21:

40. Scott Hall (279 points)

The NWO does not exist without Scott Hall coming out on that memorable episode of Nitro and declaring WAR. Hall re-wrote the history of professional wrestling and he doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves for his overall career. While his real-life personal demons interfered with his tenure, the former Razor Ramon is one of the greatest of all time. – Neal Wagner

39. Hiroshi Tanahashi (282 points)

The “ACE” of New Japan has been a main event player in the company for many years. He may not have much more time left in his career as injuries begin to take their toll, but if there is one thing that is guaranteed, it’s that Tanahashi has the ability to perform when it matters the most and always put on an exciting show. – Neal Wagner

38. Mr. Perfect (295 points)

Another man on the list of “greatest wrestlers to have never won the WWE Championship,” Curt Hennig was exactly what the moniker says he was: Mr. Perfect. Hennig had all of the tools to be one of the greatest, but most feel that he was never used to his full potential during his runs in both WWF and WCW. – Neal Wagner

37. Arn Anderson (300 points) / Rick Rude (300 points) / Randy Orton (300 points)

If you’re asking who’s the most functional pro wrestler of all time or who’s the best example of a pro wrestler to ever live, the answer is probably Arn Anderson. Double A embodied the lunch pail, great worker style that made the NWA of the 1980s so great to watch. His promos, matches and involvement in angles were all top notch, and his longevity on top (or just below the top) is nearly impossible to equal. – David Gibb

Even though his career was cut short due to injury, the Ravishing One still left an indelible mark on the industry. Before demanding that we keep the noise down in WWE, Rick Rude collected championships in every territory that he entered. Of course, it was in McMahonland and WCW where he drew the ire of sweat hogs around the world as a member of the Heenan Family and Dangerous Alliance. He could go in the ring with anyone (including Ultimate Warrior) and could rile up audiences with his chiseled physique and porn stache. – John Corrigan

Talk about a guy that has all the tools. Basically, Randy Orton is the prototype of what you would want in a wrestler. – Anthony Mahalis

36. Ted DiBiase (305 points)

One of my favorite gimmicks of all time. The Million Dollar Man traded what he lacked in in-ring talent for charisma and a willingness to pour money on his problem. – Sam Gladen

35. CM Punk (317 points)

From 2009 to 2013, CM Punk truly was the Best in the World. He broke the barrier for indie talents to enter WWE, broke the trend of short-term WWE Champions and broke the 4th wall on WWE TV before it was commonplace. Whether he ever returns to wrestling remains to be seen, but we’ll always remember Clobberin’ Time fondly. – John Corrigan

34. Jushin “Thunder” Liger (325 points)

Japanese junior heavyweight wrestling’s poster boy, Jushin Liger continues to enthrall fans to this day. Wrestling all over the world for every major promotion against every conceivable opponent, Jushin Liger still has the ability to stay fresh and innovative to this day. – Steven Jackson

33. Kenny Omega (333 points)

The “Best Bout Machine” has proven time and time again that he is exactly as the nickname says, given fans the greatest athletic matches of this generation. He had one of the most memorable runs and meteoric rises in New Japan and pro wrestling history and it’s comforting to know that he’ll be around for many more years to come with All Elite Wrestling. – Neal Wagner

32. Kazuchika Okada (334 points)

The “Rainmaker” and current IWGP Heavyweight Champion holds the record for most title defenses in one reign in New Japan at 12. His last reign lasted over two years and fans shouldn’t expect any different in his current reign. – Neal Wagner

31. Vader (353 points)

The greatest big man in wrestling history, Vader was a legitimately terrifying opponent to all those who entered the ring with him. But Vader was also one of the most exciting wrestlers of the modern era, showing that even big men didn’t need to worry if they could fly! – Steven Jackson

30. Bruiser Brody (357 points)

A pioneer of independent wrestling, Bruiser Brody crisscrossed the globe, terrorizing all in his path. The Wildman racked up numerous titles on his way to becoming the best brawler of all time. Unfortunately, his tragic death has overshadowed his accomplishments in the ring. – John Corrigan

29. Jake Roberts (360 points)

Jake “The Snake” always stood out to me for his quiet, calculated promos, which were especially unique in a time where energetic, sometimes even nonsensical promos from top guys like Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and Ultimate Warrior were “in.” For that reason, Roberts became a guy that many wrestlers who struck gold in the ‘90s cited as an influence, but his work in the ring actually matched his promo ability for a long time. He invented the DDT, which spawned nearly a dozen different spin-offs from the Tornado DDT to the Raven Effect, and Jake really mastered the art of patience in the ring, giving his matches a more unique look and feel. I’ve recommended it before, but if you haven’t seen it, you NEED to check out the promo Jake cut on Ted DiBiase ahead of their match at WrestleMania VI. Jake, who has had as troubled of an upbringing as any wrestler you’ll hear about, has really gotten his life back in order thanks to an assist from DDP and the accountability crib down in Atlanta. You can hear more about Jake’s story in a documentary that came out a couple years back – The Resurrection of Jake the Snake – and his interview with Joe Rogan is must-see material. – Jack Goodwillie

28. Jerry “The King” Lawler (367 points)

Some consider Jerry Lawler the greatest of all time, and he might have a case purely because of his fundamentals. It was Lawler who worked with Andy Kaufman when no one else would, and the two produced magic. He threw some of the best punches in wrestling and captivated a whole city to the point that people were literally calling him the King of Memphis. In my rankings, The King’s problems outside the ring will not affect him and he doesn’t get his due for being as influential as he was. Triple H, Raven and Jeff Jarrett are all wrestlers who noticeably borrowed from The King of the years. – Jack Goodwillie

27. Owen Hart (375 points)

He is one of the greatest to have never won a major world heavyweight championship. He was taken way too soon and I’m of the belief that Owen Hart had many more great years in him. His matches in the early ‘90s with his brother Bret is some of the best storytelling and overall match quality you will ever find. – Neal Wagner

26. Chris Benoit (376 points)

On The Wrestling Estate Podcast, John Corrigan asked me if The Undertaker would have a case for #1 if he retired after the CM Punk match at WrestleMania 29. Here’s another hypothetical: Does Chris Benoit have a case for #1 if HE makes the match with CM Punk at Night of Champions ’07, puts Punk over, retires and doesn’t kill his wife and murder his son? I won’t give an answer one way or another, but it’s worth thinking about considering the heights he reached in WWE and WCW and the quotient of match quality he produced over his career. Toolswise, the only thing holding him back was the promos, but like Bret Hart, Benoit always performed better when he had a good issue to discuss. – Jack Goodwillie

25. Stan Hansen (387 points)

A staple in American and Japanese wrestling, Hansen is often overlooked by American audiences who did not have direct access to NJPW and AJPW in the ‘90s, but through the miracle of the internet, his dominant performance is starting to come to light. – Sam Gladen

24. Brock Lesnar (388 points)

The only man to win the NCAA, UFC and WWE Championships. The breaker of The Streak. He won the King of the Ring, Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank. Headlined several WrestleManias and remains one of the few box office attractions in WWE. I know what you’re thinking…why isn’t he #1 on this list?! – John Corrigan

23. Lou Thesz (402 points)

From the end of World War II until the rise of Hulkamania, no name in the United States – heck, the world – stood for “wrestling” quite like Lou Thesz. Thesz was tasked with unifying and legitimizing the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, a job he did so well that the shine stuck on the title into the early ’90s. Thesz’s commitment to the sport and seriousness of wrestling built the paradigm that Vince McMahon was able to break in order to change the wrestling world. – David Gibb

22. Rey Mysterio (421 points) / Chris Jericho (421 points)

The most recognizable luchador in history, the most successful cruiserweight in history and the most innovative wrestler in history, there are not enough adjectives to do justice to how incredible Rey Mysterio actually is! Rey Mysterio re-invented high-flying wrestling and with it, created some of the greatest matches in history! – Steven Jackson

The best in the world at what he does. Chris Jericho is incredible; it seems like he is getting better as he ages and has no signs of slowing down anytime soon. – Anthony Mahalis

21. Kurt Angle (428 points)

As a pro wrestling athlete, Kurt Angle stands in a tier of his own. MAYBE Brock Lesnar is in that tier as well, but Angle is someone who might be 1:1 with The Rock as a superstar who actually fulfilled his massive potential in wrestling. Kurt’s ascension to the top of the card was meteoric, and a lot of it had to do with an uncanny knack for comedic timing and an ability to turn written material, sometimes mediocre, into something befitting of his character and personality. I’d say Angle is a guy a lot of young wrestlers should be studying, and that might go without saying, but the array of talent Angle had as a pro wrestler was simply uncanny. – Jack Goodwillie