5 current WWE Superstars you might not know have been wrestling for more than 20 years

The Undertaker said goodbye to the WWE after 30 iconic years, and it seems like there will never be a Superstar who can match Taker’s impact on WWE and the wrestling world.

However, many current Superstars in WWE have been competing in the company for over a decade, and have been wrestling for almost two decades. Randy Orton, Sheamus, The Big Show, and John Cena are the obvious Superstars who’ve been competing for a long time.

Apart from these men, newer WWE Superstars such as Drew Gulak, Sami Zayn, KUSHIDA, and Aleister Black have also been competing in the ring for over 15 years.

There are a handful of current WWE Superstars who have been competing for the company for less than ten years but have been around in the wrestling industry for over 20 years.

These Superstars have managed to make a name for themselves not just in WWE but all over the world. Most of them have also won some World Championships to show their worth.

In this article, we will look at the 5 current WWE Superstars you might not know have been wrestling for more than 20 years.

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#5. Santos Escobar

Santos Escobar aka El Hijo del Fantasma

Santos Escobar is currently enjoying his time at the top of WWE’s Cruiserweight division as the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Champion. Escobar entered WWE as El Hijo del Fantasma and won his first tournament to become the Champion, after which he turned heel.

Now performing as Escobar, the Superstar seems to be enjoying his first year in the company with a major title. However, it might come as a surprise to some wrestling fans that Escobar made his wrestling debut over 20 years ago.

Escobar began wrestling in 2000, wearing a mask and fighting under the ring name “Top Secret”. It wasn’t until 2003 that he began competing as El Hijo del Fantasma to reveal to the wrestling world that he’s the son of legendary Mexican wrestler, El Fantasma.

He competed for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre from 2008 until 2013 and moved to Lucha Underground from there. He managed to win a few titles during his time in the two promotions.

Escobar joined WWE in August 2019 and got his big break during the COVID pandemic when an Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship tournament was announced. Not only did Escobar win the tournament to become the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Champion, but he also turned heel following the final and formed a new faction on the brand.

Escobar is currently 36 years old and seems to have a bright future ahead of himself in the company.

#4. Roderick Strong

Roddy Strong

Roderick Strong joined WWE in October 2016 and started competing in the company as a babyface. He later turned heel by attacking Pete Dunne and joining The Undisputed ERA, after which he went on to become a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion and a one-time NXT North American Champion.

Strong has a long way to go in WWE, but his accomplishments outside WWE prove that he is among the finest wrestlers in the company today. Strong began training with Jim 'The Anvil' Neidhart, who also trained Strong's father, and made his wrestling debut in 2000.

After competing on the Floridian Independent Circuit, Strong competed for many promotions such as NWA Florida followed by Ring of Honor (ROH) and Full Impact Pro (FIP). He’s a one-time Ring of Honor World Champion and three-time FIP World Heavyweight Champion.

Apart from that, The Messiah of the Backbreaker is also a one-time Pro Wrestling Guerrilla World Champion and has competed for the promotion for a few years.

Strong has been wrestling for over two decades now and has shown that his experience has helped him become an outstanding wrestler in the ring.

#3. Cesaro

Cesaro fought under his real name Claudio Castagnoli for some time

Just like Kofi Kingston, the WWE Universe has been backing Cesaro to become a World Champion in the company for several years now. Cesaro is nearing the age of 40, and it’s a shame that he hasn’t won a World Championship even though he has been competing for WWE for over nine years now.

While Cesaro hasn’t won a big one in WWE, The Swiss Superman has been a World Champion in other promotions before as he has been competing in the ring for over two decades now. Cesaro began his career by competing for the Germany-based Westside Xtreme Wrestling in 2000.

After competing for a few European Promotions, Cesaro moved to the United States in 2004 and began working for major promotions such as Ring of Honor and Chikara. 10 years after his wrestling debut, Cesaro won his first major title in the United States, the PWG World Championship, while competing for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.

The Swiss Cyborg has been part of WWE since 2011 and has become a 7-time Tag Team Champion in the company ever since. While it seems like Cesaro will likely compete for the company until he retires, he should get a World title run with WWE before he hangs up his boots.

#2. Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens was known as Kevin Steen

Kevin Owens, famously known as Kevin Steen before he joined WWE, has been one of the top performers for the company for five years or so. KO doesn’t have the "ideal physique" required to become the face of WWE, but his outstanding in-ring and mic skills have helped him become one of the best in the world.

While KO has been with WWE since 2014, it might come as a surprise to many readers that the 36-year-old has been competing for over 20 years now. As a 14-year-old, Owens started training in his hometown in Quebec. He went on to compete in his first wrestling match in May 2000.

Since then, KO has strived to become the best in the industry and has tried to break the norms while doing so. In 2003, KO made his International Wrestling Syndicate debut and followed it up with appearances for Combat Zone Wrestling.

However, his best work before entering WWE came for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) and Ring of Honor (ROH), as he went on to become the World Champion for both the promotions.

KO is now a one-time NXT Champion and Universal Champion in WWE, and he is one man who can help the company reach new heights in the years to come.

#1. Finn Balor

Finn Balor competed as Prince Devitt before signing with WWE

Finn Balor does not look a day over 20, but it’ll come as a surprise to some that the WWE Superstar is nearing the age of 40. That’s not all, as Balor has spent over half his life competing in the ring.

The Prince of WWE started training with NWA UK Hammerlock at the age of 18 and debuted for them in 2000. The Irishman won the NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship in 2004, becoming the first junior heavyweight to win the title.

Balor started his own promotion known as NWA Ireland with Paul Tracey and trained future WWE Superstar Becky Lynch as part of the promotion.

The Prince became best known for his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he became a three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. Balor was also responsible for giving the wrestling world the iconic Bullet Club.

Balor joined WWE in 2014 and has been a top performer for the company ever since. The inaugural Universal Champion is also a two-time WWE NXT Champion in the company. However, it is interesting that Balor has now been competing in the ring for over 20 years.