One of the unique facets of pro wrestling compared to other sports is that today’s rookies and younger wrestlers get the chance to work alongside veterans and legends, some of whom those wrestlers cheered for growing up. For example, when New Day shared a segment with guys like Stone Cold, Mick Foley and Shawn Michaels, that would be the equivalent of Steph Curry sharing a court with Michael Jordan.
Some of these veterans are around for more than just a segment, though. Many veterans have remained in the locker room on at least a semi-regular basis for a long time, and even some of the current stars have established themselves as leaders. Here are five examples.
#1 Undertaker
There is perhaps no better role model for WWE rookies than the Undertaker. If you ask almost any young superstar, the Deadman is on their list of dream matchups down the road, and not just for the chance to beat him at WrestleMania.
Undertaker has been the ultimate company man. He would have been a hot commodity for WCW during the Monday Night War, but once he landed at WWE, then WWF, he stayed. Further, he has always been regarded as a leader in the locker room and can teach rookies the right way to do business.
#2 Triple H
For all the talk in the past about Triple H burying young talent when he was an active wrestler, his job is the exact opposite now. As an executive behind the production of NXT, he helps develop and mold young talent into tomorrow’s superstars.
The positive thing for those young superstars is that Triple H is also around the WWE product a lot. That gives them someone they recognize and who is familiar with their work, who also has the lengthy in-ring experience to help them along the way.
#3 Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler may not have the same resume as the other entries on this list, but he’s definitely reached veteran status within the WWE locker room. And perhaps to his own detriment, he’s become a frequent opponent for wrestlers who have just recently come up from NXT.
One such performer was Tyler Breeze, who entered a program with Dolph Ziggler immediately after coming up to the main roster. In a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone, Breeze said he breathed a “sigh of relief” when he found out he was working with Ziggler, which says a lot about the Showoff.
#4 Kane
Kane is best known for his run as the Big Red Machine, a masked behemoth with a dark backstory and the twisted brother of the equally demonic Undertaker. As that character, he was an intimidating monster who couldn’t be counted out in any match.
Before that, though, he was a dentist named Dr. Isaac Yankem and even had a stint as the fake Diesel after Kevin Nash went to WCW. As a result, Kane has plenty of wisdom to pass down to younger performers about how to overcome questionable booking and thrive down the road.
#5 Big Show
One could argue that the Big Show is one of the most accomplished professional wrestlers in the sports history. Originally the Giant in WCW, Big Show has won 10 different championships and virtually every belt that’s been in circulation during his WWE run.
The grand slam champion has also done whatever’s asked of him from a storyline perspective, including some pretty silly turns from heel to face and back again. While fans may pick on that, his commitment to the assignment given, and efforts to make those assignments make sense, would be good for young guys to learn from.
