Top 100 Wrestlers Of All Time: 60-41

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.

Without further ado, here are 60-41:

60. Sabu (176 points)

If Tommy Dreamer was the heart and soul of ECW, then Sabu was the scarred carcass. A pioneer of hardcore wrestling, the suicidal, homicidal, genocidal, death-defying madman revolutionized the industry with his innovative use of weaponry and lack of regard for his body. Somehow, someway, Sabu is still throwing chairs on TV to this day. – John Corrigan

59. Christian (179 points)

The most underrated wrestler of our era. He was terrific on the mic and in the ring and should have had more runs with the world title. – Anthony Mahalis

58. Kane (184 points)

Kane was a terrific competitor for a long time. He was so versatile in that he could be a fear-inspiring monster, but could also be comic relief. I think, just like Big Show, his career went on a little too long. Also, I will never forgive WWE for that ugly mask they saddled on Kane the last two years of his career. – Anthony Mahalis

57. Verne Gagne (185 points) / El Santo (185 points)

Churning out more legends than a summer camp campfire, the founder of the American Wrestling Association (WA) shaped the industry throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Verne Gagne trained Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Sgt. Slaughter, Iron Sheik, Bob Backlund, Larry “The Axe” Hennig and many others. Hulkamania also started under his tutelage. Of course, Gagne was a star in his own right, winning back-to-back NCAA titles and being an alternate for the 1948 United States Olympic Team before entering the ring. From the 1950s to 1980, he was a headliner throughout the country, winning the AWA World Heavyweight Championship a record 10 times. – John Corrigan

One of Mexico’s “Big Three” and the original template for Vince McMahon’s dream, Blue Demon was a staple of the Mexican wrestling scene for nearly six decades and a massive movie star to boot. He was and is Mexico’s favorite son. – Sam Gladen

56. Kerry Von Erich (188 points)

My favorite wrestler of all time. Kerry Von Erich picked up where his brother David left of and carried the Von Erich name into infamy. While his WWF run is less than impressive when you look at his WCCW days, it is all the more impressive when you remember he did it on one leg. – Sam Gladen

55. Antonio Inoki (193 points)

Inoki was the original ace of New Japan and ruled over the Japanese wrestling world with an iron fist. He was a legendary talent and a promoter credited with the largest wrestling gate in history when he and Eric Bischoff brought pro wrestling to North Korea. – Sam Gladen

54. Harley Race (201 points)

“What Would Harley Race Do?” Comparing the eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion to Jesus Christ wasn’t sacrilege – it was CM Punk illustrating the reverence that he and his peers hold Harley Race. A man’s man with an undying love for professional wrestling, Race has influenced the sport for the past 50 years, whether headlining events in the ring, managing world champion protégés or teaching the next generation at his wrestling school. – John Corrigan

53. Jeff Hardy (203 points)

Whether you think Jeff is the better of the Hardy Boys is based entirely on your criteria for a list like this. Jeff had the “it factor,” but Matt had better fundamentals all around. Does that make Jeff a bad wrestler? Heck no! When Jeff returned to WWE, I’d heard Matt Hardy had a brother and once Jeff appeared live and in living color to be a surprise opponent for Edge on Raw, I was hooked. Jeff is a guy who you can build a company around, even to this very day based on the unique blend that goes into his enigmatic character, and when you factor in all that he’s overcome to get to where he is now, I’d say he has a rightful place on this list. – Jack Goodwillie

52. Nick Bockwinkel (206 points)

Synonymous with the AWA, Nick Bockwinkel had a firm grasp on the world heavyweight championship for well over a decade. With his slicked back hair, luxurious suits and articulate promos, he was not only a great villain, but a tremendous ambassador for the sport. Accompanied by Bobby “The Brain” Heenan for most of his run, Bockwinkel set the template for what a heel champion should aspire to be. – John Corrigan

51. Bob Backlund (212 points) / Tiger Mask (212 points)

Despite Dave Meltzer’s grudge against the “All-American Boy,” Bob Backlund’s accolades and endurance cannot be denied. He’s the second-longest reigning WWE Champion of all time, bridging the gap between the territory era of Bruno Sammartino to the national expansion of Hulkamania. Then, he reinvented himself in the ‘90s as Mr. Bob Backlund, finding himself on the microphone and entertaining a whole new generation of fans. – John Corrigan

When Satoru Sayama put on a tiger mask to portray a highly trained assassin/hero to orphans from a then-already-10-year-old manga/anime series, a lot of things could’ve gone wrong. Due to Sayama’s incredible wrestling ability and a New Japan junior heavyweight roster that included Dynamite Kid, Bret Hart and Mark Rocco (the first Black Tiger) among others; however, everything went right. The first incarnation of Tiger Mask revolutionized wrestling and helped Japanese fans (and a fortunate few here in the U.S.) see what was possible in a wrestling ring in a whole new light. – David Gibb

50. Booker T (221 points)

He is the five-time former WCW Champion and a multi-time World Heavyweight Champion in WWE. Booker T finally got his much deserved opportunity at stardom in WCW, but it was sadly too late in the WCW lifespan. He is one of the two men who made it in WWE during the much despised InVasion angle and stayed there for many more years. – Neal Wagner

49. Great Muta (230 points)

Keiji Mutoh is one of the most important and venerated wrestlers in Japanese history, but he discovered his greatness on excursion in the United States. As “the Pearl of the Orient,” Gary Hart’s Great Muta presented exactly what that name suggests to the world of wrestling: something exotic, mysterious and incredibly valuable. Muta’s tenure in the NWA revolutionized American pro wrestling and paved the way for stars as different as Brian Pillman and Sabu to carve out their own niches as aerial superstars and memorable characters. – David Gibb

48. Goldberg (244 points)

If you’re only as good as your last match, then Goldberg doesn’t belong on this list. But Da Man’s place in wrestling history was cemented over 20 years ago. Erupting in WCW, Goldberg became the company’s biggest homegrown star, dethroning Hulk Hogan for the World Heavyweight Championship to the roar of 40,000 fans in the Georgia Dome and millions upon millions of people around the world. – John Corrigan

47. Dynamite Kid (246 points)

There may not be a more influential wrestler than Tom Billington, the Dynamite Kid. Yes, Dynamite could be a miserable son of a bitch and dealt with a number of demons throughout his life, largely stemming from an in-ring style that induced a ton of wear and tear. That said, Dynamite opened the door for smaller wrestlers with a higher work rate and greater degree of athleticism to get recognized on a larger platform. Chris Benoit modeled his style and mindset after Dynamite’s, and once guys like himself, Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero broke through and became stars in WWE, size became less of a factor in WWE’s booking equation. In 2019, size matters as little as ever, and Dynamite’s impact on the game is still felt through wrestlers like Will Ospreay, Kota Ibushi and Johnny Gargano. – Jack Goodwillie

46. Brian Pillman (251 points)

For those of you who’ve read my review of “Crazy Like a Fox,” you’ll know just how much I love Brian Pillman. Pillman is without doubt the most unique personality ever to step into a pro wrestling ring. Incredible athletic ability, unmatched charisma and an array of classic matches, Brian Pillman’s legacy will continue to grow and grow. – Steven Jackson

45. Gorgeous George (263 points)

This man died in 1963, and yet, we’re still talking about him more than half a century later. With his colorful attire, flamboyant mannerisms and “Pomp and Circumstance” entrance music, Gorgeous George was the first character in pro wrestling. Inspiring cultural icons like Muhammad Ali, James Brown and Bob Dylan, George truly transcended the squared circle. – John Corrigan

44. Samoa Joe (267 points)

A man of mythological stature, Samoa Joe ran roughshod over ROH, TNA and the indies in the early to mid-2000s, creating great match after great match after great match. Unpredictable and sensational, you never forget a Samoa Joe match. – Steven Jackson

43. Buddy Rodgers (271 points) / William Regal (271 points)

The original “Nature Boy” was way before most people’s time, but you always hear the stories of his matches and what he meant to the industry before Hulkamania. Rodgers is one of the most respected men amongst his peers and can always be found on any list as one of the greatest of all time. – Neal Wagner

William Regal is bar none, one of the more underrated names on this list. No, he never held a world championship, but his journey to the big time is one of many lessons wrestlers of today can take and apply to their own respective journeys. It’s no coincidence that he’s been a factor on and off screen at NXT for more than half a decade, and I always found his style and promos to be reflective of his own personal experiences. This allowed Regal to gradually develop a unique style in the ring, and pass some of his mannerisms on to his protégé, Daniel Bryan, who is revered as one of the best wrestlers of the modern era. No, Regal never drew a dime, but he was a team player and deserves a ton of credit for his ability to rise to the occasion in segments inside and outside the ring. – Jack Goodwillie

42. RVD (274 points)

Terrific wrestler, could do it all in the ring. Not great on the mic, but always put on a great show in the ring. – Anthony Mahalis

41. Edge (277 points)

Edge had a chance to be much higher on this list. It is a real shame that his career got cut short. – Anthony Mahalis