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The world of professional wrestling is quite a diverse one. We have professional wrestlers from all over the world who are able to make an impact on the business. Mexican wrestlers have been making waves for decades now through Luchador style while Japan is host to some of the most gifted wrestlers in history.
Even smaller nations such as the United Kingdom and other European nations are now on the map and we have an Indo-Canadian as the WWE Champion. It's a diverse world, indeed. And, that diversity includes African American wrestlers as well. There might not be an overwhelming number of them in the professional wrestling industry, but a number of them have been immensely successful during their time in sports entertainment, as Vincent Kennedy McMahon likes to call it.
So, without any further ado, here is our list of the 10 greatest African American wrestlers of all-time:
#10 The New Day
If this list was compiled a decade from now, The New Day would probably be much higher up, but for now, they come in at number 10. The trio of Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, and Big E might not have clicked when they first made their debut, but that has changed drastically over the past few years.
They recently broke the record for Longest Reigning Tag Team Champions of all-time during their stint on Monday Night Raw and are the current Smackdown Live Tag Team Champions after the Superstar Shakeup.
No matter which way you look at it, The New Day are fully deserving of a place on this list.
#9 Bobo Brazil
Bobo Brazil isn't a name that most younger fans of professional wrestling will be familiar with but the man - whose real name is Houston Harris - is a large reason why African American performers are accepted in the professional wrestling business today.
He broke some real barriers in the 1950s to become the first truly accepted person of colour and was a fan favourite to boot, during a time when racism was rampant in America.
#8 Abdullah the Butcher
While Abdullah the Butcher was a truly fearsome professional wrestler who really built a reputation for himself in the business, the controversy surrounding him takes away from a legendary career.
He has been accused of blading wrestlers without their consent and giving them Hepatitis C in the process. He was ordered to pay $2.3 million in damages to a wrestler named Devon Nicholson for the same.
#7 D-Von Dudley
Being a part of the most successful tag team of all-time will definitely get you into our list. And, the man to have achieved that feat is one-half of the Dudley Boyz, D-Von Dudley.
While D-Von and partner Bubba Ray might not be related by blood, their epic run of over two decades in the wrestling business means D-Von is fully deserving of his place on this list.
#6 Ron Simmons
Ron Simmons became a popular member of the WWE roster during The Attitude Era. First, it was as the leader of The Nation of Domination under the name of Farooq - the same faction that helped launch the career of The Rock, and, then as a member of the APA alongside Bradshaw.
He is one of the most underrated talents in the history of the business and his signature catchphrase of "Damn" is one that still makes an appearance to this day.
#5 Junkyard Dog
Junkyard Dog, who sadly passed away in 1998, has been called one of the most charismatic and electrifying performers in the history of professional wrestling.
He made a name for himself in both the WWE and WCW before his untimely demise.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2012.
#4 Mark Henry
Say what you will about Mark Henry, you can't deny the fact that he has been a great servant to Vince McMahon and the WWE over the years. Despite initially flopping, he worked hard through the years to become a top guy.
His run with the Hall of Pain, as World Champion and his pseudo retirement, are all great moments in the WWE.
#3 Jay Lethal
Jay Lethal is one of the most gifted professional wrestlers of colour to ever step foot inside the squared circle. He made his name in TNA and is now a hugely popular figure on the indie circuit and also a former Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Champion.
His impressions of The Macho Man, Randy Savage are now legendary and it's a shame we have never seen him at the peak of his powers in the WWE.
#2 Booker T
Booker T is not only a five-time, five-time, five-time, five-time, five-time WCW Champion but is also a World Heavyweight Champion in the WWE and has countless other accolades to his name.
He is a deserving member of the WWE Hall of Fame, Class of 2013, and despite his less than stellar commentary, he is the second greatest African American professional wrestler to have ever competed inside the squared circle.
#1 The Rock
Who else was it going to be, right? The Rock, The Great One, The People's Champ, The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment, and now, The World's Biggest Movie Star.
Dwayne Johnson as he is known these days can stake a claim to be the greatest wrestler of all-time, regardless of colour, and on this list, like so many other lists, he deserves to be Number 1.
