Everyone knows that professional wrestling is staged; the matches are scripted, rehearsed, and outcomes are pre‑determined. Yet the athletes who make up the top 10 greatest wrestlers endure brutal physical punishment, real injuries, and a relentless travel grind. Fame comes at a steep price, and these ten legends have paid it in full while leaving an indelible mark on the sport:

Top 10 Greatest Wrestlers

1. Buddy Rogers

Major Titles Held: 2

Rogers burst onto the scene in the 1950s and 60s, dazzling fans with his flamboyant swagger, chiseled physique, and a signature finishing move that set a new standard. Though he never eclipsed the era’s two titans—Thesz and Sammartino—he played a pivotal villain role that elevated them and countless others. In short, without Buddy Rogers paving the path, the lineage of Ric Flair, Sting, and many more would look very different.

2. The Rock

Major Titles Held: 9

If the gods ever crafted a wrestler, they’d hand‑pick Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Blessed with raw athleticism and magnetic charisma, he vaulted from the squared circle to Hollywood stardom faster than anyone else. While his in‑ring career was brief, it was densely packed with triumphs. The Rock’s electrifying presence and razor‑sharp mic skills cement him as the ultimate entertainer and arguably the greatest wrestler‑turned‑microphone‑master of all time.

3. Andre The Giant

Major Titles Held: 1
Winner of the most Battle Royals in a career.

Andre remains perhaps the most beloved figure in wrestling lore. In his prime he could literally crush any opponent who dared step into the ring. Cast as the towering “Goliath” against countless “Davids,” his larger‑than‑life persona created unforgettable storytelling, even if it limited his championship tally. Injuries and illness eventually took their toll, but he retired as an all‑time fan favorite and cultural icon.

4. Bruno Sammartino

Major Titles Held: 2

Sammartino dominated the 1960s and early 70s, embodying the big‑man archetype in the United States. His massive frame and relentless power style won over fans, especially within the Italian‑American community, earning him the nickname “The Italian Stallion.” A beloved babyface, he even survived a tragic accident that unintentionally claimed the life of fellow wrestler Chick Garibaldi with a devastating body slam. His legacy endures as a pillar of wrestling history.

5. Stonecold Steve Austin

Major Titles Held: 6
PWI Wrestler of the Year 1998 & 1999

Steve Austin epitomized the Attitude Era of the late 1990s, a period when wrestling reached its cultural zenith. His rebellious “Stone Cold” persona, combined with relentless in‑ring intensity and flawless microphone work, made him a magnet for both hardcore and casual fans. The legendary feud with boss‑type Vince McMahon turned into one of wrestling’s most successful storylines, cementing Austin as a cornerstone of the era.

6. Antonio Inoki

Major Titles Held: 9 (sources vary)
Overall professional record: 2,107‑148‑183

Inoki stands as the greatest Asian wrestler ever, a noble and captivating competitor who set the benchmark for Japanese pro‑wrestling. Over a 35‑year career he faced—and often defeated—the world’s biggest names, while simultaneously becoming a revered mixed‑martial‑arts pioneer. Beyond the ring, Inoki served as an ambassador, spreading the sport’s appeal worldwide.

7. Bret Hart

Major Titles Held: 7
PWI Wrestler of the Year 1993 and 1994

Born into the legendary Hart wrestling dynasty, Bret grew up surrounded by champions. He is widely regarded as the finest technical wrestler ever, captivating audiences with his ability to weave intricate stories inside the ring. Whether teaming with brothers or shining solo, Hart’s precision and charisma earned him massive popularity and enduring respect.

8. Lou Thesz

Major Titles Held: 3
Longest Title Duration (10 years)
Youngest Title Holder (Age 21)

Thesz was a true pioneer, rising to fame in the 1930s and credited with inventing numerous maneuvers. Known as a “hooker,” he blended legitimate grappling with scripted drama, allowing him to dominate for a decade while dispatching every challenger. His fluid style and innovative spirit cemented his place as one of wrestling’s foundational legends.

9. Ric Flair

Major Titles Held: 16 (varies by source).
PWI Wrestler of the Year: 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992.

Ric Flair is the embodiment of wrestling drama. From the 1970s through the early 2000s he headlined every major promotion, amassing countless world championships. Known for his flamboyant entrances, rule‑bending tactics, and endless charisma, Flair could ignite a crowd whether playing hero or villain. His durability and unforgettable promos keep him a perpetual fan favorite.

10. Hulk Hogan

Major Titles Held: 12
PWI Wrestler of the Year: 1987, 1991, 1994

The Hulkster ruled the industry for two full decades, his charisma and towering presence turning wrestling from a regional pastime into a global phenomenon. Though his technical skill was modest, his marketability and crossover into movies and TV helped catapult the WWE into a billion‑dollar empire. Even into his 50s, Hogan rarely lost, solidifying his status as a cultural icon.

Part of the enduring appeal of professional wrestling lies not in the ring but in what happens behind the scenes. Backstage stories, contractual negotiations, and life beyond the mat all add to the allure of this larger-than-life form of entertainment. But for some wrestlers, being an entertainer runs deep, and when they are not wrestling, they need other ways to vent their creativity.

For better or worse, this can often take the form of a musical career. Below, we give you 10 wrestlers who unleashed their musical talents on the world.

10 Macho Man Randy Savage

Macho Man Randy Savage was, at one point, equally at the level of superstardom that Hulk Hogan was. His larger-than-life attitude and testosterone-fueled vocabulary made him a huge draw. With the addition of his wife, Elizabeth, by his side, he had a human side that ingratiated him with fans. However, an unknown fallout with Vince McMahon, the cause of which is still unknown to this day, saw him banned with subsequently very few mentions of his name.

After WWF, he joined WCW, and toward the end of this career, when WCW was bankrupt and with little hope of returning to his old company, he started a music career. His first album was a collection of rap songs titled Be a Man, which was released in 2003.

While most of the album concentrates on ripping into Hulk Hogan, it does have some genuinely touching moments. The final track, “Perfect Friend,” was written for the then-recently deceased wrestler Kurt Hennig, also known as Mr. Perfect. It has many ham-fisted lines like “It’s hard to keep it going day to day, I know you wouldn’t want it any other way,” but it does contain genuine childlike emotion.^[1]

9 Jerry Lawler

Jerry “The King” Lawler has one of the oldest music careers in the whole of professional wrestling. Before his time as a commentator in WWE, he had a highly successful career on the Memphis wrestling circuit. He was so popular that he cashed in with Jerry Lawler Sings, a compilation that featured covers of songs by Van Morrisson and Ringo Star.

Unlike most wrestlers, Lawler sold enough to justify a second album. This time, he returned with Jerry Lawler and the Nunnery Brothers Band. While still containing covers such as “Monday Monday” and “Catch The Wind,” it also had some themed originals such as “World’s Greatest Wrestler.” This would be his last effort until a ’90s single with WWE titled “Puppies,” which was a homage to his love of breasts. Most recently, a Kickstarter campaign was opened to create a repress of the album.^[2]

8 The Rock

Anyone who has raised a daughter over the last five years is familiar with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s most recent musical efforts. Playing Maui in the animated feature Moana, the track “You’re Welcome” is a heartwarming song littered with playful arrogance and sung by a god who is discussing his fantastic achievements. However, it was not the first outing for this wrestling superstar.

During the attitude era, rap star Wyclef Jean from the Fugees and Melky Seldeck would collaborate with the wrestler on “It Doesn’t Matter.” Taken from his famous catchphrase, it features a fairly standard 2000-era rap interspersed with soundbites and samples from The Rock. A repetitive trumpet riff gives it a Latin feel, which is the most exciting aspect of the whole track. Borrowing heavily from other songs, it even namechecks “Country Roads” at one point. Cleverly, it manages to be a diss track on the whole financial posturing of rap while celebrating it simultaneously.^[3]

7 John Cena

John Cena is one of the few wrestlers that has made a musical gimmick work, barring the Honky Tonk Man, of course. When Cena first arrived at WWE, he played the part of a rapper, taking the nickname “The Doctor of Thugonomics.” Despite being slightly cringeworthy, he would prepare rap promos which were often very amusing. This helped propel him into the star he is today, but not before a small cash-in.

Cena’s first and only album was You Can’t See Me. A collaboration with the rapper ThaTrademarc, it was poorly executed and lacked the wit of his in-ring promos. Cena would continue his musical efforts throughout his career unfazed. His most recent effort was in 2015 when he recorded “All Day” with Wiz Khalifa for the video game 2K15.^[4]

6 Terry Funk

Terry Funk never achieved the headline success he should have. He worked across multiple generations, in different promotions around the world, and in a multitude of styles. Yet most people in the west only knew him through his unbelievable deathmatches played out in Japan. So, it may come as a shock to many that Terry Funk had a musical career.

His first album came in 1983 under the name Texas Bronco Terry Funk. It was a strange collection of wrestling-themed songs and dialogue taken from promos. The next year he would follow it up with Great Texan, which included tracks such as “We Hate School” and “Barbara Streisand’s Nose.” Strangely, it had backing vocals from a genuine Japanese pop star named Noriko Miyamoto.^[5]

5 Captain Lou Albano

Captain Lou Albano may not have the superstar status of many others on the list. Most of his career was spent as a manager. He was most famous for his feud with singer Cyndi Lauper, with whom he began a real-life friendship, even appearing in some of her videos. He also managed numerous top superstars, such as Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan.

In 1985 he teamed up with the rock quartet NRBQ, who had previously worked with luminaries such as Sun Ra and Carl Perkins. Creating the album Lou and the Q, they crafted a bizarre selection of tunes that included “Boarding House Pie” and “Tiddlywinks Radio Ad” alongside well-known songs such as “La Vie en Rose” and the nursery rhyme “Michael Row the Boat Ashore.”^[6]

4 Freddie Blassie

Freddie Blassie was a professional wrestler and manager. He began his career after the Second World War working as a babyface. However, when he dropped this in favor of being a bad guy, he became the benchmark for the heel, pioneering the concept of a superstar villain.

In the ’70s, Blassie began recording some voiceovers on songs that included musicians such as rockabilly act Johnny Legend and punk rocker Billy Zoom. Tunes from this would later be included on his album I Bite The Songs. Cementing his heel status, it contained several antagonistic tracks such as “Pencil Neck Geek” and “Loser Leaves Town.” Oddly, the album opens with the gruff voice of Blassie himself, giving a disclaimer in case his heel character offends.^[7]

3 Lita

Lita was the punk rock heroine of the attitude era, taking more heavy bumps than anyone should endure in a career. This led to her having a short run-in wrestling which ended in 2006. In her final match, she wore a t-shirt from a band called The Luchagors. This was her new band and her first project after leaving the pro wrestling world.

They began playing in the Atlanta area and recorded their first self-titled album in 2007. Soon after, they set about on a huge American and European tour, but due to poor reception in the UK, they called a hiatus on the project. This may have been due to poor reception all around. Songs such as “Goodbye” and “All There Is” did little more than provide standard noughties punk rock fare, which saturated the music scene at the time and sounded dated before it was even released.^[8]

2 Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho is the most successful wrestler turned musician. This is due to the fact that he has devoted as much time and attention to his career with his band “Fozzy” as he has to his in-ring one. Throughout his life, he has switched between wrestling to tours and writing with the band. Formed in 1999, they have now released eight studio albums and one live album and toured worldwide.

Their first two albums were covers of hard rock and metal classics, including Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. By their third album, they had turned to original material and had built quite the following. Famous figures such as Zakk Wylde joined them on tracks to cement their reputation as accepted rock gods. Not only have they continued to produce quality material, but they have been used as the soundtrack for multiple events by WWE and other promotions.^[9]

1 The WWF Roster

No music produced by wrestlers has ever reached the heights of the classics that WWF created themselves. In a bid to turn into an all-around entertainment machine, Vince McMahon commissioned numerous albums. It was the first two that were the standout weird ones. These were The Wrestling Album and Piledriver: The Wrestling Album 2.

The first album had classics such as “Grab Them Cakes.” Sung by the Junkyard Dog, it was his theme tune and a euphemism about grabbing your partner’s unmentionables. It has not aged well.

For the second album, mid-carder Koko B Ware sang the title track “Piledriver,” in which he picked out the similarities of being in love with taking the famous neck-breaking move.

However, the standout moment of wrestling oddness is the final track, “Stand Back” sung by Vince McMahon himself. As the album was released on a VHS in which eight songs got their video, this has to be the most ridiculous as the company executive performs a stunted dance routine at the 1987 Slammy Awards. A host of superstars stand behind him pretending to play instruments, all oblivious to the car crash they are participating in.^[10]