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Undertaker and Brock Lesnar with Vince McMahonWWE has been delighting fans around the world for 36 years now, and while the job description of a professional wrestler on the franchise involves knocking people about for money, you got to admit that it’s pretty freaking entertaining.WWE, being a highly competitive franchise, has seen countless wrestlers come and go over the years, and while many have faded from memory, a select few have managed to carve a niche for themselves not only in the hearts of their fans, but also their fellow peers, some of whom took up wrestling just because of their icons.So who are these individuals who have stood, and continue to stand the test of time? This article – 5 legends most respected among wrestlers, will tell you just that.
#1 Dwayne \"The Rock\" Johnson
If Hulk Hogan was a role model to Generation X, this man is an icon to Generation Y. Not only is he an excellent wrestler, but also a phenomenal crowd pleaser, with the audience going ecstatic every time he took the stage.
Needless to say the accolades soon followed and Johnson won, among other things, eight WWE Championships, five WWE Tag Team Championships as well as two Intercontinental Championships.
Soon every kid’s prized possession was something with The Rock’s image on it, and every word he uttered was treated as the Gospel truth. He was everything an average American kid wanted to be.
Johnson’s peers have also acknowledged his impact on the franchise, with fellow WWE icons including Hulk Hogan, John Cena and Diamond Dallas Page naming the Canadian native as one of the greatest wrestlers to ever grace the WWE.
It’s no wonder that his autobiography – The Rock Says....., sold like hot cakes and topped the New York Times’ Bestseller list when it released back in 2002. To top it all, Johnson is also a genuinely nice person, always making time for his legion of fans.
Johnson is, and will always be, the greatest individual to ever grace the WWE.
#2 Hulk Hogan
Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Steve Jobs, Robert De Niro and Ayrton Senna were some of the icons Generation X looked up to, but none succeeded in having as big an impact on the kids of the ‘80s as this man.
It’s no wonder that he was named the most recognized wrestling star worldwide as well as the most popular wrestler of the ‘80s by media powerhouse IGN. In his heyday, it was hard not to find a piece of Hogan merchandise in the household of an average American kid, who followed everything their hero said including commands to eat all their vegetables as well as their cereal.
Accolades that have been bestowed on Hogan include, six WWE Heavyweight Championships, two consecutive Royal Rumbles as well as a six-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion.
The legendary wrestler also influenced several of today’s biggest stars to take up the sport including John Cena, The Edge, The Miz, among countless others.
Despite being disowned by WWE due to some scandalous remarks he made on tape a few years ago, Hogan’s legacy will continue to linger in the franchise, whether they choose to acknowledge him or not.
#3 \"Stone Cold\" Steve Austin
Being the poster boy of the attitude era, no list of WWE legends can be complete without a nod to the incredible “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
Famous for his rivalry with WWE CEO Vince McMahon, Austin’s incredible antics as well as his crowd-pleasing abilities have never failed to delight the hearts of his huge fan following.
Now signed on to WWE as part of their Legends program, Austin’s title collection includes six WWE Championships, two Intercontinental Championships, four Tag Team Championships as well as a King of the Ring title, making him one of the franchise's most decorated wrestlers.
The-50-year-old’s ability to draw pay per view patrons is matched by few and has been called as the most profitable wrestler in WWE history by Vince McMahon. Fellow wrestlers who have sung the praises of Austin include John Cena, Ric Flair, CM Punk, among numerous others.
And who can forget his legendary Austin 3:16 rant directed at Jake “The Snake” Roberts during the 1996 King of the Ring? That, as well as numerous other incidents, has helped Austin carve a niche for himself in WWE history.
#4 The Undertaker
Another Texas native who has created history in the WWE is none other than Mark Calaway aka The Undertaker. One of the WWE’s longest serving wrestlers; there are few major storylines in the franchise’s history without the involvement of Undertaker.
Famous as one-half of the Brothers of Destruction, along with Kane, Undertaker became a star in his own right and lifted numerous titles, part of The Streak, some of which include: eight World Championships, three World Heavyweight Championships, one Royal Rumble, among other allocates.
Apart from his historic streak, Undertaker also holds the record for most victories in the SummerSlam, Hell In a Cell as well as the Survivor Series. Naturally his historic feats have earned him a huge fan following, with his merchandise being one of the most popular the WWE has ever seen.
Calaway has also won the respect of his peers, and is considered by many including Triple H, Big Show, Vince McMahon, among others as the greatest wrestler of all time.
#5 Ric Flair
You don’t get a day dedicated to you in numerous American states unless of course you’re a WWE legend and that’s exactly what Ric Flair is.
On the scene since the ‘70s, Flair has been a part of four different franchises, winning an estimated 25 titles. Apart from that, Flair holds the record for being the first wrestler to be inducted into the WWE Hall of fame twice; first for his individual feats and second as a member of the Four Horsemen.
Before The Rock, Stone Cold or Undertaker, it was Flair who dominated pay per view ratings, which won him the respect of countless wrestlers.
Numerous cities have declared a designated day for Flair including Norfolk, Virginia and Columbia, South Carolina and even received the keys to the city of Greensboro, North Carolina for his incredible achievements.
