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World Wrestling Entertainment is seen as a sport where wrestlers only get younger by age. It is a fact that for any wrestler to succeed in this sport, he/she has to connect with his fans. This is only achieved when a wrestler is able to stick to the company for very long.
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There are very fewer cases of wrestlers getting the complete limelight in the WWE Universe with few years of service to the company. Even talented wrestler are required to first establish themselves with the WWE Universe for WWE to book them highly.
We have come to a position where we like seeing old wrestlers, superstars who entertained us in the past and the nostalgia of these great legends wrestling again.
The Undertaker continues to fight even today despite being 53, and this is against any other sports where players retire before 40 and hit their prime in mid 20's to early 30's.
To put in much simpler words, WWE and other wrestling promotions believe in the longevity in service of a wrestler in the wrestling field. A wrestler in WWE or any wrestling promotion hits his/her prime years in early 30's to mid 40's.
Wrestlers like Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, Braun Strowman are seen as future WWE draws despite being in their mid 30's.
There have been wrestlers who have performed beyond their prime years and into their 50's. Today, we take a look at 20 wrestlers who are still fighting. Most of these wrestlers don't perform in the glitz and glamour that they once had during their time at WCW, NWA or WWE when they used to perform.
Most of these wrestlers perform in Independent Circuits with a much smaller crowd. A few of these wrestlers still make appearances at major Wrestling Promotions like WWE, TNA, ROH, NJPW, and others but almost every wrestler on the list was once upon a time, a common name on everybody's lips.
So let's take a look at the 11 wrestlers only true fans know are still wrestling.
#1 Billy Gunn
Billy Gunn was an important part of the D-Generation X and possibly one of the most underrated wrestlers in the Attitude Era.
The post-WWE life has seen Billy Gunn play a major role in NJPW's US Event and in the recently help ALL IN pay-Per-View by Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks.
He was an active wrestler in TNA from 2005 to 2009. He continues to perform in the Independent Circuit with a much smaller crowd and less pay, but nonetheless wrestling.
#2 The Sandman
ECW is still considered as the place where the most hardcore matches took place. Even today, whenever somebody brings out a weapon, the fans cheer ECW for the kind of brutality that the show used to portray in its matches.
The Sandman was someone just that. He literally did a limited amount of in-ring work but only played with sticks in the corner of the ring.
Even today, The Sandman continues to play the same gimmick in Independent circuits.
#3 Rikishi
Rikishi is a well-known name in WWE. He was inducted into Hall of Fame class of 2015. Rikishi continues to wrestle in Independent Circuit under the ring name Fatu and Rikishi.
The audience never gets tired of watching the legend dance to the old tunes to bring nostalgia back in the arena.
#4 Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Dreamer's wrestling career hasn't seen a bump ever since rising to fame in the 1990's because of ECW.
Impact Wrestlings, Ring of Honor and his own promotional wrestling events, Dreamer's career hasn't stopped yet and it looks really unlikely he will retire any time soon.
#5 Joey Mercury
Former MNM Tag-Team Champions with Johny Morrison with Melina and a recent stint in 2015 as Seth Rollins Security, Joey Mercury is a common face in the wrestling industry.
After WWE, Mercury wrestled in Independent Circuits and was later hired by Ring of Honor as a Manager. Mercury continues to be involved in wrestling on TV.
#6 Hardcore Holly
One of the most intense guys on WWE during his time with a career spanning almost 15 years, Hardcore Holly is a legend by all terms. Hardcore Holly continues to work for Independent Circuit following his WWE departure and has totally transformed his in-ring persona from WWE to a more humble and sweet guy.
#7 Shane Helms
Shane Helms had quite a carrier with WWE as The Hurricane. The WWE even brought the superstar back in the 2018 Royal Rumble with cheers and appreciation in Social Media.
He continues to wrestle in the Independent Circuit and also made an appearance as The Hurricane in the Zero-Hour Royal Rumble at the Pay-Per-View ALL IN.
#8 Gillberg
Remember Gillberg? WWE introduced Gillberg as a spoof to then-undefeated star Goldberg. Gillberg had a losing streak, entered the arena in the theme song of Goldberg and had an almost same appearance as The Goldberg himself but with a smaller and lean built.
Gillberg continues to wrestle even today, with his most recent match against James Ellsworth in a battle of the iconic jobbers.
#9 Jerry Lawler
Lawler faced Cody Rhodes last year. Jerry "The King" Lawler is a common face in WWE. Most of the fans thought that Lawler had retired after he sustained a cardiac attack on the RAW Episode. But even today, Lawler continues to wrestle in the Independent Circuit.
Jerry Lawler throwing a fireball at Terry Flunk went viral on Social Media. Obvious reasons why the legend has still not retired.
#10 Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Hacksaw Jim Duggan continues to work in the Independent Circuits at the age of 65. Jim Duggan found success in WWE as a gimmick which booked him as a patriotic wrestler in the late 80's and early 90's.
Jim Duggan had the opportunity to work as a veteran in WWE in their Live Events, but Duggan's passion for the game is too big to not capitalize in the better circuit as an occasional wrestler and a pivotal contributor to the game.
#11 Sabu
Sabu is a name that many regarded as one the greatest wrestlers of his time. He was most underrated in the public's view but the WWE Universe seems to have regarded the talented superstar today.
Sabu is someone WWE sees Mick Foley as. Someone who dedicated his body to dangerous matches and moves.
Sabu continues to wrestle in Independent Circuits, even getting a standing ovation for his contribution at the Joey Janela's Lost in New York.
