#3 Dean Malenko
This list would be rendered incomplete without the mention of Dean Malenko, the man who not only dominated the ring with his own exploits but also helped shape the careers of future wrestlers, including big names like Brock Lesnar and Ken Shamrock!
Hailing from a predominantly wrestling background, it didn’t take long before Dean Malenko decided to sport the tights and start training under the aegis of his old man Boris Malenko. He would go on to become one of the most prominent wrestlers of all time, despite not being a ripped Demogorgon.
Malenko’s prowess inside the ring made him one of the most advanced wrestlers of his time. His technicality spoke volumes about his proficiency as a trained professional. Malenko definitely had the capability and the calibre to step inside the Octagon and work his way up the ranks.
With a bag full of tricks and surprises, Malenko could conjure armbars, leglocks and various other submission moves at will, something that would have made him an instant success as a fighter from the mixed martial arts oeuvre. Notable also was the multiple variants of the suplex that he could manoeuvre!
