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WWE is the most successful wrestling promotion of all time and will perhaps remain so, forever. The company in its 39 years have delivered some of the most entertaining moments that will be cherished by legions of its fans forever.
All these fascinating moments have stayed with us and have transcended generations due to the characters' strong portrayal of the emotions and his craft.
Superstars like Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, Andre the Giant, Macho Man Randy Savage, Owen Hart, Bret the Hitman Hart, Ric Flair, and many others have catapulted their status to the very top of professional wrestling.
Considering that these superstars are the pioneers of WWE and their contribution is too significant to be judged upon. Since the article particularly relies on wrestlers who have ruled the 21st century, it would be wrong to include these icons.
So, without further ado, let's dive back into history and analyze the monumental careers of these superstars who changed the landscape of the industry for good.
Here are the top 20 greatest WWE wrestlers of all time.
#20 Kane
A strong man with an undeniable potential, Kane's character is perhaps one of the most iconic yet under-utilized in professional wrestling history.
Despite struggling to make a name for himself in independent circuits, Glenn Jacobs eventually made his way to WWF in 1997 as Undertaker's half-brother.
His dark and demented disposition made for good television which eventually elevated his career and made Undertaker's persona even more relevant.
Widely regarded as one of the most memorable debuts in history, the former World Champion destroyed his own brother and went on to become a pivotal member of the Attitude Era.
The 51-year old has not looked back since and has had exceptional feuds with the Undertaker, Stone Cold, Daniel Bryan, and many others.
A character of his calibre has been able to engage the audience, scare them with his demonic presence, and make them laugh with his quirky humour. The Machine has done it all.
His rivalry with the Undertaker and subsequent alliance with him later, as the Brothers of Destruction remains a career highlight for the recently returned Monster.
It's a damn shame that Vinnie Mac never actually understood the potential of Kane's character. Despite being criticized by the WWE Universe, Kane will always remain one of the most pivotal wrestlers in history and his contribution will never be erased from WWE's history.
#19 Randy Orton
WWE's Apex Predator has garnered tremendous respect and accolades throughout his reputed career within the company.
Randy Orton, a third generation professional wrestler has enjoyed every bit of success and manages to gravitate attention in whatever he does.
Working under WWE's developmental territory, OVW, back then, the Viper was always destined for greater things.
While the former WWE Champion made his debut in 2005 in an episode of SmackDown where he surprisingly defeated Hardcore Holly.
However, his rise to fame came when he became a part of a monumental faction in Evolution, alongside Triple H, Ric Flair, and Batista.
The Viper also became the youngest world champion in the company's history at the age of twenty-four and continued to be a rage with his 'Legend Killer' gimmick.
His alliance with Edge and his heel work after he formed Legacy is considered widely as his best work till this date.
Orton's feuds with John Cena, Triple H, Batista, DX, and Daniel Bryan are critically acclaimed for its storytelling and character clashes.
The former US Champion was also fortunate enough to have had memorable feuds with the likes of Hulk Hogan and the Undertaker.
Considering the 38-year old Superstar is beginning to fade out after years of success, one wonders what's left for the Apex Predator to achieve.
The 13 - time World Champion has had an influential career and would probably end up being one of the greatest Superstars of our generation.
#18 Chris Benoit
In my humble opinion, Chris Benoit is one of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time, if not the greatest. Despite being ridiculed for his horrific actions, Benoit remains etched in WWE history.
Many top wrestlers who have had the honour to share the same ring with the former World Champion have lauded his agility and flexibility to run between the ropes.
In a career span of 22 years, the Rabid Wolverine worked for various promotions, especially in WCW, NJPW, ECW, and WWF/WWE.
Dave Meltzer, a reliable wrestling journalist has regarded Chris Benoit as one of the all-time greats, with a solid work rate and ability to make his opponents look good.
His athletic style and technical magic within the ring ascended his status to the top of the world of professional wrestling. The former US Champion went on to hold a total of 22 championships in his prestigious career, in all promotions.
While the superstar headlined multiple pay-per-views in his career, a more remarkable highlight in his career was in the year 2004, where he went on to win the Royal Rumble match, and subsequently headlined WrestleMania XX for the World Heavyweight Championship against Shawn Michaels and Triple H.
Benoit defeated both HBK and HHH to claim the victory and shared an iconic moment with Eddie Guerrero, one of his greatest friends in the business, to close the show on a high.
Moreover, the wrestler went on to become a Grand-Slam Champion, by teaming up with some of the most talented wrestlers in Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho, to name a few.
Benoit was scheduled to face CM Punk for the ECW World Championship at Vengeance,in 2007. However, due to the horrendous tragedy that occurred in Benoit's life, the superstar's name remains unacknowledged in WWE's public books.
Despite achieving such monumental positions in the world of wrestling, Benoit's horrific end has left a question mark on his personal life. Died at the age of 40, the former World Champion will always remain one of the greatest technicians to ever live.
#17 Brock Lesnar
Perhaps one of the most dangerous performers to ever step foot in a WWE ring, Brock Lesnar is the biggest box-office attraction in the WWE today.
Having enjoyed tremendous success as a football player, mixed-martial artist, and a professional wrestler, Lesnar has done it all with conviction.
Despite being heavily criticized for his lack of appearances in the squared circle, the Beast Incarnate still manages to wow the audience every time his music hits.
His offensive mannerisms, his MMA style, and his whole aura is something that has surprised legions of professional wrestling fans all over the world, and he has been doing this since a long-long time.
The Mayor of Suplex City signed for the WWE in 2000, and was performing under its developmental territory - OVW, where the Universal Champion enjoyed a decent run for two years, and held the OVW Southern Tag-Team Championships for three times with Shelton Benjamin.
His debut in 2002 felt huge, with Vince McMahon already sold at the idea of his physique and agility as a performer.
The Beast Incarnate went on to become the WWE Champion five months after debuting in 2002, and solidified his position as the youngest to do so.
After that, there was no stopping him. The 41-year old Machine added incredible amount of achievements under his belt during his initial run, with the Beast being crowned the King of the Ring and the Royal Rumble winner in 2002 and 2003 respectively.
Lesnar, however, left the company after a horrendous match at WrestleMania 20 with Goldberg, and went on to pursue a successful career in NFL, NJPW, and UFC.
He ended the Undertaker's streak at WrestleMania 30, which remains the most incredible accomplishment in the Universal Champion's WWE career.
The longest reigning Universal Champion is the only person in history to have won the WWE Championship, NJPW World Championship, UFC Heavyweight Championship, and an NCAA Heavyweight Championship.
While many fans question Lesnar's credibility today because of his contractual engagements, there's no denying that he gravitates tremendous attention, and will continue to do so.
He might not be the greatest WWE performer of all time, but he definitely remains in a different league of athletes that will be forever remembered in the company's history.
#16 Mick Foley
Probably hailed as one of the most selfless performers in the wrestling industry, Mick Foley's commitment and contribution to the business cannot be put into words.
The Hall of Famer is widely recognized for his in-ring style, and most importantly, his ability to dive deep into the characters he portrayed.
Mankind, Cactus Jack, and Dude Love are all parts of Foley's incredible resume, and assisted him in establishing his position to the top of the WWE.
Throughout his incredible career, the former WWE Champion performed for various promotions, including WWE/WWF, WCW, TNA, ECW, NWA, and had a pretty strong career in Japan.
While the fans acknowledge him for his selflessness within the squared circle, what Foley really brought to the table were extremely barbaric moments that transformed the business forever.
The King of the Ring PPV in 1998, where the man himself squared off against the Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match brought one of the greatest visuals in wrestling, where the Phenom threw Mankind off the top of the cell.
The incident resulted in numerous injuries to Mick Foley, but it ascended WWE's credibility, and became perhaps one of the most iconic match es ever.
His feud with the Undertaker, the Rock, Edge, Randy Orton, and Triple H were totally incredible and catapulted Foley as the fan-favorite.
The 53-year old Icon was a hardcore legend, and won a number of championships throughout his historical career, with Foley being a three time WWE Champion, an eight time WWF Tag-Team Champion, and the Hardcore Champion.
Despite suffering tons of injuries, Foley developed a popularity among fans like no other, and will forever be remembered as a hardcore legend.
#15 Eddie Guerrero
Perhaps one of the most talented professional wrestlers from the Mexican descent, Eddie Guerrero made it to the top with his perseverance, his agility in the ring, and his iconic gimmick.
The fans loved Eddie and were a prime reason of his elevation to the top of the WWE. The former WWE Champion has performed in various recognized wrestling promotions in the world and is a role model to every professional wrestler who dreams of making it big in the business.
His innovative gimmick of a man who would just do anything to get the upper hand was impressive and was done so creatively that it still remains one of the most idolized gimmicks in history.
The Mexican sensation was popular as a heel and won many accolades during his tenure with the WWE.
Initially joining hands with Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn in the WWF, Eddie Guerrero was able to capture the WWF European and WWF Intercontinental Championships.
Despite his unfortunate release in 2001 due to addiction issues, the Mexican made a strong comeback in 2002 and became a popular name on the blue brand where he enjoyed tag-team success with Chavo Guerrero.
His incredible style, charisma, and willingness to deliver sensational bouts made him the most lovable superstar during 2002-05.
The man went on to win the WWE Tag Team Championships and solidified his position as a credible main-eventer during 2004, where he defeated Brock Lesnar at No Way Out to become the WWE Champion.
While Eddie might not be the greatest WWE wrestler of all time, but his incredible characterization, his funny gimmick, and his flexibility in the ring turned him into a fan favourite.
Had the former WWE Champion been alive today, he would have probably ended up being in the Top 5 Greatest wrestlers of all time.
#14 Triple H
One of the most difficult things in life is to justify which wrestler is better than the other, but there are not many wrestlers who have contributed back to the business like Triple H has.
The man who is widely regarded as one of the greatest minds in professional wrestling has changed the landscape of WWE's developmental territory and turned it into a full fledged brand.
The Game has been a loyal WWE guy and has earned his position in the company as one of the top superstars in the industry.
Having started his professional wrestling career under International Wrestling Federation (IFW), the CEO of WWE transitioned from WCW to WWF/WWE.
After joining WWF in 1995, he became Hunter Heart Helmsley, and eventually the King of Kings, Triple H. His incredible dedication in the ring, and to the business helped the Game ascend to the top of the mountain.
He also enjoyed a highly successful tag-team with his best-friend Shawn Michaels, in D-Generation X. The King of Kings was an influential member of the Attitude Era, and has had terrific feuds in his career with the likes of the Rock, HBK, Stone Cold, Kurt Angle, Mick Foley, and the Undertaker.
His matches with Mick Foley, the Rock, the Undertaker, and Shawn Michaels have entertained audiences throughout the world, and our always remembered for its fine display of emotions and storytelling.
The Game also formed another highly successful stable in Evolution, where he joined hands with Ric Flair, Batista, and Randy Orton. The heel stable went on to dominate WWE, and elevated the careers of Orton and Batista.
Considering that he is much focused on creating the future of the company, Hunter performs limited dates. However, the man has won many accolades throughout his incredible career.
HHH is a Grand-Slam Champion, with fourteen World Championships that puts him behind John Cena and Ric Flair. He is widely appreciated for his ability to tell stories in NXT and providing fast-paced action to the fans.
By headlining WrestleMania seven times, the Cerebral Assassin has had an incredible career, and is only getting better and better as the years go by.
There's no denying that Triple H is one of the greatest heels to ever lace a pair of boots, and is continuing on his journey to change the future of this business forever.
#13 A.J. Styles
Perhaps the best wrestler in the world today, let alone WWE, A.J. Styles has cemented his legacy in WWE's history by his incredible work ethic.
The Phenomenal One has the ability to bring out the best of his opponents and continues to put on some of the finest matches on a weekly basis.
The WWE Champion has main-evented many WWE pay-per-views and is respected by everyone backstage. Starting his career in 1998, the 41-year old competed for various independent promotions and climbed all the way to the top of the food-chain.
Since a lot of the fans know about his days in TNA and NJPW, Vince McMahon saw the talent himself when he blew the world in his debut in WWE Royal Rumble 2016.
Anybody who has an unending passion for professional wrestling idolizes A.J. Styles. Despite the odds stacked against him, the Phenomenal One entered the WWE, and immediately made a name for himself.
His feuds with Roman Reigns, John Cena, Chris Jericho, Dean Ambrose, and, Kevin Owens are regarded as some of his finest WWE feuds to date.
Considering that he has been in the WWE for only two years, there's no denying that the WWE Champion is recognized all across the globe for his phenomenal wrestling ability.
His match with John Cena at SummerSlam and Royal Rumble 2017 are some of my personal favourites' and immediately turned him into one of Cena's greatest rivals.
The WWE Champion is the only WWE superstar to have won a major championship in the company, to win the title outside of North America, after he beat Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship in Manchester.
He has three WrestleMania appearances under his belt, with his best coming at WrestleMania 33, where he went on a collision course with Shane McMahon and delivered Shane O'Mac's career-best match till date.
His phenomenal fore-arm off the top rope to Roman Reigns at WWE Payback was truly one of the best WWE moments of 2016.
The man became the heart and soul of SmackDown Live, and the blue brand will always remain the house that A.J. Styles built.
Impressed by his agility in the ring, he is now a proud cover star of WWE 2K19, which only goes on to justify that the Phenomenal One is a trusted performer backstage.
While he is currently feuding with Samoa Joe for a blockbuster bout at the biggest party of the summer, the world hopes for the Phenomenal One to entertain the audiences, as long as he lives.
#12 Hulk Hogan
Widely regarded as one of the most popular professional wrestling superstars of all time, Hulk Hogan is everything that catapulted WWE's position in the 80's.
Being a regular main-event superstar, the Hulkster participated in various renowned promotions, such as WWF/WWE, WCW, and TNA.
Having been the face of the WWF for almost ten years, Hulk Hogan went on to headline WWE's flagship show WrestleMania for a record eight times.
He is the only superstar in WWE history to have closed the Show of Shows for a consecutive five times, and his contribution to elevating the position of WWE can never be denied.
While the former WWF Champion was a popular mainstream babyface, his incredible characterization as a heel, running NWO was bloody incredible.
His villainous stable with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall was perhaps one of the greatest stables to be made in professional wrestling.
Taking that time into account, wrestling was more about the personality rather than relatability, and Hulkster was a hero to legions of professional wrestling fans.
The 64-year old legend had a pretty strong comeback when he returned to the squared circle. The Superstar had incredible feuds throughout his career, with Ultimate Warrior, Ric Flair, Randy Savage, Shawn Michaels, The Rock, and Andre the Giant.
His fantastic moment with Andre the Giant is widely regarded as one of the most iconic moments in professional wrestling history.
His accomplishments speak for themselves, as the popular NWO leader has 12 World Championships under his belt, and was the first wrestler to have won two consecutive Royal Rumble matches in 1990 and 1991.
His blockbuster match with the Rock at WrestleMania 18 still remains one of his best Mania outings of all time, and both the icons delivered a match to remember.
While Hulk Hogan has had his share of problems in the public world, which led WWE to be professional and remove his acknowledgements from the squared circle.
He has, however, been reinstated back to the company, and remains a proud recipient of the Hall of Fame, which he received in 2005.
There are many die-hard wrestling fans who do feel that Hulk Hogan may not fit in the world of wrestling today, but his contribution to this industry remains unforgettable.
#11 Edge
Unfortunate injuries have coerced many WWE superstars to an untimely retirement, but superstars like Edge have left a legacy that is too difficult to be forgotten.
Considered the most talented superstar of this generation, Edge's contribution to the business is extreme, inspirational, and unforgettable.
Having debuted in WWE in 1997, the Ultimate Opportunist broke out immediately and went on to win several accolades during his initial years.
The 44-year old's technical ability struck a chord with legions of WWE fans and continued to glorify his status as one of the best in the business.
His partnership with his best-friend Christian is one of the prime reasons why a lot of WWE fans love tag-team wrestling and are die-hard fans of the product.
Edge's exceptional versatility between the ropes earned him tremendous adulation, and his participation with Christian in the TLC match at WrestleMania was a massive success.
A match that is still regarded as a cult-classic opened the gates for Edge to have an incredible singles career, and transitioned him into the legend he is, today.
With a whopping 31-championships under his belt, the Rated-R Superstar has managed to cement his position in the company as one of the finest, with eleven world championship reigns.
No superstar in the WWE has had more World Championship reigns than Edge, as the 44-year old Icon has held the title for a record seven times.
Winner of the inaugural Money in the Bank Ladder match, King of the Ring 2001 tournament, and closing Royal Rumble with an epic victory in 2010, Edge has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest wrestlers of our generation.
His incredible outing against the Undertaker at WrestleMania 24 stole the entire show, and led Edge to his first WrestleMania main-event.
Delivering night after night, Edge headlined multiple events for the company, and was a trusted entity backstage, and also ruled the blue brand with his epic heel gimmick.
His feuds with John Cena, Batista, the Undertaker, Triple H, and Mick Foley are some of his most accomplished work to date.
It's a damn shame that unfortunate injuries forced Edge to call it a day, but his unending passion for the business has catapulted him into a different stratosphere of professionalism.
#10 John Cena
If you watch Roman Reigns on a weekly basis and try to analyze his mannerisms, you will end up missing John Cena, just a little bit.
Whether you love him or hate him, there's no denying that his entry in the Ruthless Aggression era changed the business forever.
John Cena made his WWE debut in 2002, where he instantly made an impact by defeating Kurt Angle, in what was a very shocking moment.
His initial tenure in SmackDown was innovative, with the guy using his rap gimmick to the extreme, and shoving off Thuganomics to his opponents.
The 41-year old Icon has done it all, be it inside or outside of the ring. Widely regarded as one of the most polarizing superstars ever, the former United States Champion gravitates attention like no other.
His physique and his work ethic inspired legions of WWE fans all over the world, and positioned him as the face of the company for almost ten years.
Being a regular main-event superstar during his time, the Cenation had the honor of headlining WrestleMania for five times, and multiple pay-per-views throughout his career.
While a lot of fans criticize Cena for his wrestling skills, the 16-time World Champion's U.S. Open Challenge was a sensational move to prove his critics wrong.
Cena had classic matches with the likes of Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Neville, Sami Zayn, and Rusev, giving the WWE Universe something refreshing on a weekly basis.
Considering that he carries off a superhero persona, the 41-year old Superstar has been able to back up, and deliver when required.
His feuds with C.M. Punk, A.J. Styles, Edge, Randy Orton, the Rock, Batista, Triple H, and, Shawn Michaels have been unforgettable, and will always be cherished.
If personal accolades are anything to take into account, then John Cena has won 25 championships throughout his incredible career, with 16-world Championships, which has tied him with Ric Flair, as the highest number of world title reigns in company's history.
Be it Money in the Bank, or the Royal Rumble, the Cenation leader has registered his name in history everywhere he went.
He still attracts tremendous attention, and while he may not be the greatest 'wrestler' of all time, he still remains very pivotal to this industry.
#9 Kurt Angle
With his amateur wrestling background and his goofiness to pull off such a quirky gimmick, Kurt Angle went on to become one of the most gifted technical wrestlers on the planet.
There's probably no SmackDown without the immense contribution of the Olympic Gold Medalist, during his initial tenure with the company.
While he is enjoying his bit as the General Manager of Monday Night Raw, Angle's technicality within the ring remains exactly the same.
His debuting year in the WWE is highly regarded as one of the greatest WWE rookie years of all time, with the former World Champion winning multiple championships during that time.
Having won the Olympic Gold Medal in 1996, Kurt Angle rose to prominence very quickly, within the squared circle, and he went on to become one of the most idolized wrestlers in the world.
While he left the company on unfortunate terms in 2006, Angle already was a Grand Slam Champion by that time and cemented his position in history.
His technical agility and style of grappling was second to none and led to Angle delivering epic encounters with Brock Lesnar, Shawn Michaels, and Triple H.
His blockbuster match with the Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship at No Way Out remains one of the most underrated bouts in the company's history.
Considering that he works limited dates now, as far as in-ring performance is concerned, a lot of the fans still expect the Olympian to lock horns with today's generation.
The likes of Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, and Roman Reigns are always thrown under the hat, and if it does happen, it only goes on to prove Angle's technicality between the ropes.
His personal accomplishments have definitely justified his in-ring credentials, with the man being inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame 2016, and was also inducted into the Hall of Fame 2017, which led to his return back to the WWE.
There's no denying that his craft and his charisma is difficult to replicate. The man is the only superstar to have won the WWE Championship, World Championship, WCW Championship, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, and the IGF's IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
There will never be another Kurt Angle, and you know it's true, it's damn true.
#8 Ric Flair
Is there any wrestler on the planet who can surpass the charisma, the personality, the craft, and the achievements of Ric Flair?
Probably the greatest professional wrestler of the century, Ric Flair's dashing moniker catapulted him to a stratosphere of super-stardom.
The Nature Boy's inspiring career spanned over 40 years and gave all the wrestling fans some incredible moments that will be remembered forever.
The veteran performed for various recognized promotions throughout his career and built a strong reputation of being an incredible submission specialist.
Having debuted in 1991 for WWF, the 69-year old Legend claimed to be the read world champion material and was respected backstage, by his peers and the management.
His versatility in the ring earned him several accolades and turned him into a superstar, who was a credible main-event threat.
While his initial tie with the company broke in two years, with the veteran joining hands with WCW, and turning himself into one of the greatest WCW superstars of all time.
His time in WCW saw him have incredible feuds with the likes of Sting and the NWO. Flair's credibility rose during those times and cemented his position in the history books.
He returned to WWE, however, in 2001 and went on to change the landscape of the business. His incredible associations with the Four Horsemen and the Evolution were remarkable and fresh.
His feuds with Vince McMahon, the Undertaker, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels raised the bars of storytelling and gave us unforgettable moments.
His final WWE storyline ever was with Shawn Michaels, which saw them pull off an instant classic at WrestleMania 24, with the Heartbreak Kid retiring his idol.
His retirement celebration felt heartbreaking, and was probably the most iconic segment of our times, with the Undertaker bestowing his respect to the Nature Boy.
Whether it's the personality, the precision, the craft, or the agility, Ric Flair carried all the ingredients to exceed the expectations of the fans and became a hit in no time flat.
The Nature Boy is recognized as the only professional wrestler in history to have more than twenty championship reigns, with a record 16 times coming from WWE.
If statistics are anything to take into account, then Ric Flair will probably end up being the greatest wrestler of this century.
#7 C.M. Punk
CM Punk's significant contribution to the world of professional wrestling has changed the landscape of the company forever, and for the better.
A man who came from the independent scene rose to prominence with his perseverance to reach to the top, and was primarily categorized as the 'last territorial wrestler'.
By participating in various promotions all over the world, Punk's willingness to hone his craft between the ropes elevated his stature and made him a popular name.
The Cult of Personality signed for the WWE in 2005, after spending much of his credible time in Ring of Honor, but was unfortunately sent to the developmental area.
While he continued to struggle in the land of the giants, Punk's ambition to prove other people wrong got him a friend in Paul Heyman.
The Best in the World went ahead to perform significantly good for ECW, before being drafted to the main shows in the company.
Using the same moniker in every promotion he went, Punk was able to get the adulation of the fans through his anti-hero gimmick, who became the voice of the voiceless.
His ability in the ring was undeniable, as the man was a technical grappler, and had the versatility to deliver epic encounters within the ring.
His mic-skills were fantastic and were on par with anyone in the locker room. Punk's pipe-bomb promo is perhaps the best promo to have ever been cut on Monday Night Raw.
While he did share a troubling relationship with the management, the Voice of the Voiceless went to enjoy many championship reigns in the company, with the most significant being his 434-day reign as the WWE Champion, making him the sixth longest reigning WWE-Champion of all time.
Winning the MITB two times in a row, Punk also held multiple championships throughout his career, and went toe-to-toe with John Cena, in 2011, making it Cena's best feud till date.
Had it not been for Punk, a lot of the stars that we see in the WWE today might not have got the push they are getting now.
While a lot of the fans may not see him as the catalyst for change, there's no denying that the 39-year old Superstar did break the glass ceiling, and changed the whole concept of professional wrestling.
#6 Chris Jericho
Has there been any WWE Superstar as successful as Chris Jericho? The uniqueness in his characterization, the charisma, and the ability to deliver whenever necessary, Chris Jericho is the true rockstar of professional wrestling.
Currently ruling the NJPW, Jericho's widely regarded as the greatest professional wrestler of all time and has been able to rejuvenate himself by playing different gimmicks throughout his career.
Debuting in 1999, Y2J became an instant hit, with perhaps the most memorable debuts of all time, clashing with the Rock.
While he was already popular before joining the company, what Jericho pulled off for Vinnie Mac's billion-dollar promotion was nothing short of pure entertainment.
Being a regular box-office attraction, Jericho made history by defeating Stone Cold and the Rock, two of wrestling's biggest stars, on the same night to become the first ever Undisputed WWF Champion.
His versatility to enact different characters and his agility between the ropes made him a credible performer, in and outside of the ring.
His mic-skills were terrific, with many hailing him as the best performer of all time. Perhaps one of the most prolific performers in the industry, Jericho headlined multiple pay-per-views, including WrestleMania 18.
Being the most widely recognized Intercontinental Champion of all time, with a record of nine times, Jericho has built a reputation for himself as the last of the stars, left within the company.
His feuds with Shawn Michaels, Triple H, CM Punk, the Rock, Kevin Owens, and, Edge were pretty amazing and catapulted Jericho to a different stratosphere of elite performers.
He delivered a classic with Kenny Omega in NJPW, at such an age, which only justifies how good he is in the ring.
While he has carried many monikers in the company, his latest gimmick, where he creatively dived and delivered some outstanding moments, with the Gift of Jericho will be remembered.
His time with Kevin Owens is perhaps his best work to date, and the Festival of Friendship segment will always remain special, and refreshing.
The Ayatollah of Rock N' Rolla has been the most trusted performer in the company, and while he may not be competing with the WWE, there won't be another Chris Jericho.
#5 Daniel Bryan
If popularity, technical abilities, and passion for wrestling are anything to take into consideration, then there is perhaps no wrestler in the WWE that can even go toe-to-toe with Daniel Bryan.
Perhaps the most loved characters of the 21st century, Daniel Bryan broke the glass ceiling in a way no other could, and was responsible for shifting the landscape of the company towards much more influential things.
A terrific submission specialist, Bryan's humble beginnings were respected by everybody, with the man performing exceptionally well on the independent scene.
While he struggled to make his presence felt in the WWE like Punk, Bryan's desire to never quite got the fans to rally behind him, and turn him into the biggest superstar ever.
Considering that his WWE main roster debut was a success, with Nexus destroying everything that came into their hands, his tag-team with Kane rose him to a different level.
There's no denying that his partnership with Kane and his unfortunate loss to Sheamus were responsible for the fans to go after Bryan and cheer for him till the end of time.
His 'YES!' catch-phrase became a popular buzzword when Bryan was part of the storyline between the Authority and the Underdog.
His feud with Randy Orton and Triple H is perhaps his career-best work till date, and really solidified his position as a credible superstar.
WrestleMania 30 is perhaps the most successful WrestleMania of all time, with Bryan's main-event story being the best story produced by WWE in a decade.
Defeating the whole Evolution on a single night, Bryan defied the odds and turned himself into the uncrowned face of the billion-dollar company that never believed in him.
Since repeated concussions coerced Bryan to retire, the former World Champion's willingness to redeem himself was inspirational, and only goes on to prove why everyone loves him.
His excellent work-ethic, with an unending passion for the company, has catapulted Bryan into possibly the biggest superstar of this era.
#4 The Rock
There's nobody in the history of this company that entertained and ruled this business like the Rock, and there probably never will be.
Hailed as one of the most successful WWE superstars of all time, Rock became an elite level superstar with his heelish mannerisms, and an attitude to die for.
Being the first third-generation wrestler in company's history, his ability to sell, and gravitate attention made him a popular name in the world of sports entertainment.
Debuting in the WWF in 1996, the Rock's initial tenure was straight-out rejected by the fans for his boring babyface persona, until he turned heel.
His work in the Attitude Era was game-changing and elevated his stature of being the cockiest entities in the world of sports entertainment.
He brought entertainment back to the industry and delivered exceptional feuds with the likes of Stone Cold, the Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, John Cena, CM Punk, Triple H, and Mick Foley.
Besides winning multiple championships during his time with the WWE, Rock also solidified his position in history by winning the Royal Rumble match in 2000.
His match with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 18 was career-defining, and exceeded expectations, with many hailing as the best WrestleMania match of all time.
His rivalry with Stone Cold sky-rocketed WWF ratings, and helped the company to rival WCW during Monday Night Wars.
While he left the company to pursue a career in Hollywood, Rock ruled the industry like no other and became the most successful actor in the entertainment industry.
His return to the WWE brought some mainstream attention, with his feud with John Cena turning out to be a work of genius.
Considering how great the Rock has been, it is difficult to replicate his success, and that is why he is the most electrifying man in the history of this business.
#3 Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin is wrestling industry's most idolized and recognized superstars of all time. There's no denying that his anti-establishment attitude is perhaps the greatest gimmick in professional wrestling.
Probably the most profitable star of the Attitude Era, Stone Cold defied the odds and carried a feud with Vince McMahon that was too entertaining to ignore.
Despite not being a prominent figure in the WCW, the Rattle Snake's entry to the mainstream was highly successful and rose him to prominence like no other.
Introducing the widely popular 'What' chant in professional wrestling, Stone Cold's verbal smackdowns' are still remembered around, with many wrestlers still idolizing the popular star.
Vince McMahon has always hailed Austin as the greatest WWE star of all time, and his contribution changed the business like no other.
He held 19 championships throughout his incredible career, and versatile between the ropes, with his match with Bret Hart being a technical masterpiece.
The man won the Royal Rumble a record three times and won the King of the Ring tournament in 1996. He played an anti-hero throughout his career, but turned to the dark side in his bout against the Rock at WrestleMania 17, joining hands with his life-long rival, Vince McMahon.
The Monday Night Wars were highly competitive, but Stone Cold's anti-establishment gimmick tore the house down and shut WCW down.
His feuds with Vince McMahon, the Rock, the Undertaker, Kane, Triple H, and Bret Hart were incredible, with the latter one carrying to him his career-best match.
#2 Shawn Michaels
While a lot of the WWE superstars have elevated their stature with their incredible characterization's, nobody in the history of this business can be a better in-ring performer than Shawn Michaels.
HBK's versatility within the ring has transcended generations and made him the most iconic WWE superstar of all time.
His initial tenure with the company was incredible, with Michaels having a far-more power behind the curtains than any other superstar.
His time with Triple H working under D-Generation X was innovative, refreshing, and bold. The Show-Stopper, unfortunately left the wrestling role in 1998, and started participating in more non-wrestling roles for almost two years.
However, his return to wrestling in 2002 was sensational, with Michaels becoming a more technical wrestler, and became an even more flexible performer.
His matches with Kurt Angle, Bret Hart, Triple H, Ric Flair, John Cena, Vince McMahon, Stone Cold, and the Undertaker were incredible.
His feud with the Undertaker, however, remains the greatest rivalry of our generation, with their match at WrestleMania 25, being the greatest WrestleMania match of all time.
He is a two-time Royal Rumble winner, with the only superstar winning from the first spot, and also became the first-ever WWF Grand Slam Champion.
While a lot of the independent stars competing today idolize HBK, there has been no performer in the industry who could match his credibility.
With many of his matches being hailed as timeless classics, it only justifies that Shawn Michaels was truly a wrestling machine and the Show-Stopper!
#1 The Undertaker
For a quarter of a century, one man has been entertaining generations of WWE fans with his undying supernatural gimmick.
There's no superstar in the WWE who has been as loyal, and as hungry to perform, as the Undertaker. The Phenom defines greatness in every aspect, and has solidified his position as the greatest WWE performer of all time.
Every superstar who has stepped between the ropes understands what the Undertaker brings to the table, and he is doing for almost three decades now.
His striking ability, and his quickness between the ropes only suggested that he could do everything, in and outside of the ring.
Gaining mainstream attention through this horror-themed gimmick wasn't easy, but Undertaker's determination to never break the kayfabe speaks volumes.
Superstars like Stone Cold, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, and many others who are credible performers hail the Undertaker as the greatest that ever lived.
His accomplishments within the business cannot be denied, and his partnership with his half-brother Kane created for some classic moments during the Attitude Era.
The Streak was highly responsible for elevating Undertaker's incredible resume to the top of the mountain, with many fans left heartbroken when it ended in New Orleans in 2014.
While he did play the American Badass in the 2000's, the company knew that his supernatural gimmick was money, and transitioned him into the company's greatest ever.
His feuds with Shawn Michaels, Kane, Edge, Triple H, Stone Cold, Mick Foley, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, and Batista were gold and catapulted his position in the company.
He is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and will always be recognized as the greatest that ever lived. It's hard to imagine a WWE without the Undertaker, and that only goes on to show how influential he has been for the business.
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