My 50 Favorite Professional Wrestlers

1. AJ Styles

Actor | WWE SmackDown

Allen Neal Jones best known by the ring name AJ Styles is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE. Long regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the world, Styles has headlined numerous pay-per-view events internationally.

Styles debuted in 1998 and competed for various independent...

2. Colby Lopez

Actor | WWE NXT

Colby Daniel Lopez is an American professional wrestler and actor currently signed to WWE under the ring name Seth Rollins. Prior to signing with WWE, Lopez wrestled as Tyler Black for Ring of Honor (ROH), where he held the ROH World Championship once and the ROH World Tag Team Championship twice (...

3. Tetsuya Naito

Actor | AEW Collision

Tetsuya Naito is known for AEW Collision (2023), TNA Xplosion (2002) and Wrestling Revolver: Naito Takes Dayton (2018).

4. Chris Jericho

Actor | MacGruber

American-born, Canadian-raised professional wrestler, rock singer, actor and author. Debuted in 1990 in Calgary after training in the Hart Family Dungeon. He competed for Stampede Wrestling, for the Canadian National Wrestling Alliance (no connection to the National Wrestling Alliance) and West ...

5. Hiromu Takahashi

Actor | Kamen Raidâ Autosaidâzu

Hiromu Takahashi was born on December 4, 1989 in Hachioji City, Tokyo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Kamen Rider Outsiders (2022), NJPW Strong (2020) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (2015).

6. Kazuchika Okada

Actor | TNA Xplosion

Kazuchika Okada was born on November 8, 1987 in Anjo, Aichi, Japan. He is an actor, known for TNA Xplosion (2002), AEW Collision (2023) and All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite (2019).

7. Shawn Michaels

Actor | WWE Monday Night RAW

Began his career in Texas. Trained by the legendary Jose Lothario, Shawn Michaels wrestled in Kansas, where he met fellow wrestler, Marty Jannetty. A year later, after sending tapes of his matches to the major wrestling companies at the time, he was contacted by the AWA, who proposed that he team ...

8. Adam Copeland

Actor | Vikings

Adam Copeland is an actor and an professional wrestler, who wrestles as Edge in the WWE. He starred as one of the leads in the fifth season of the popular television series Haven on Syfy. He also starred as a recurring character on the History Channel series Vikings. Canadian-born, Copeland's life ...

9. Kevin Steen

Actor | WWE SmackDown

Kevin Steen was born on May 7, 1984 in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada. He is an actor, known for WWE Smackdown! (1999), WWE NXT (2010) and WWE Raw (1993). He has been married to Karian Elias since 2007. They have two children.

10. Kenny Omega

Actor | Deep South Wrestling

Kenny Omega was born on October 16, 1983 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is an actor and executive, known for Deep South Wrestling (2006), Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix (2023) and AEW Games 2.Show (2021).

11. Shingo Takagi

Actor | Briscoe Brothers - Since Day One

Shingo Takagi is known for Briscoe Brothers - Since Day One (2012), NJPW Strong (2020) and DGUSA: Open the Freedom Gate (2009).

12. Minoru Suzuki

Tekken 4

Minoru Suzuki is known for Tekken 4 (2001), Tekken Tag Tournament (1999) and Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection (2005).

13. Kenta Kobayashi

Actor | WWE NXT

Kenta Kobayashi is a professional wrestlers best known for his work in WWE as Hideo Itami, and his time in Japan as KENTA. He was trained by legendary wrestlers Kenta Kobashi and Yoshihiro Takayama. Kenta competed for 15 years in Pro-Wrestling NOAH before leaving for WWE in 2014. He has captured ...

14. Claudio Castagnoli

Actor | The Wrestler

Swiss professional wrestler known for his work for Ring of Honor, CHIKARA, CZW, IWA Mid-South, Pro Wrestling Guerilla and many other promotions under his own name and for WWE as Cesaro, formerly Antonio Cesaro. Debuted in 2000 and competed all over Europe, debuting in the U.S. in 2004. He and Chris...

15. Mark Calaway

Actor | Suburban Commando

Born on March 24, 1965. Best known as "The Undertaker" from World Wrestling Entertainment. He first came to the WWF in 1990 as Ted DiBiase's mystery partner at The Survivor Series (1990). At first, he was a heel, but later turned face, around WrestleMania VIII (1992). He has held the WWF World ...

16. Will Ospreay

Actor | London Rampage

Will Ospreay is known for London Rampage (2018), AEW Collision (2023) and Progress Chapter 87: Breadknife (2019).

17. Rebecca Quin

Actress | WWE SmackDown

Rebecca Quin was born on January 30, 1987 in Dublin, Ireland. She is an actress, known for WWE Smackdown! (1999), WWE NXT (2010) and WWE Raw (1993). She has been married to Colby Lopez since June 2021. They have one child.

18. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Actor | Kamen Raidâ Heisei Jenerêshonzu: Dokutâ Pakkuman tai Eguzeido ando Gôsuto wizu Rejendo Raidâ

Hiroshi Tanahashi was born on November 13, 1976 in Ogaki, Gifu, Japan. He is an actor, known for Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Rider (2016), My Dad Is a Heel Wrestler (2018) and AEW Collision (2023).

19. Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin

Actor | The Campaign

Michael "The Miz" Mizanin was born in Cleveland, OH on October 8th, 1980 to Barbara and George Mizanin. He graduated with honors from Normandy High School before attending Miami University of Ohio (where he was a member of the Theta Chi Fraternity).

While in college, he auditioned for The Real World...

20. Jonathan Good

Actor | 12 Rounds 3: Lockdown

Much of Good's wrestling persona is based on his own real-life upbringing in Cincinnati's East End, where he spent much of his childhood in public housing. An avid wrestling fan who idolized Bret Hart as a child, he used wrestling as an escape from his rough upbringing by immersing himself in ...

21. Seiya Sanada

Actor | Wrestle-1 Events

Seiya Sanada is known for Wrestle-1 Events (2013), AJPW Samurai TV (2000) and TNA One Night Only (2013).

22. Paul Levesque

Actor | WWE Monday Night RAW

Paul "Triple H" Levesque is WWE's Executive Vice President, President of Talent, Global Talent Strategy & Development. In this role, he oversees the Company's Talent Development department, serves as a senior advisor to the CEO for talent strategy and is the Executive Producer of NXT, WWE's third ...

23. Kyosuke Mikami

Actor | All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite

Kyosuke Mikami is known for All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite (2019), NJPW Strong (2020) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (2015).

24. Jeff Hardy

Actor | WWE SmackDown

Jeffrey Nero Hardy is an American professional wrestler and musician. Born and raised in Cameron, North Carolina, Hardy started his career as a youth performing in the Trampoline Wrestling Federation, which he started alongside his brother Matt Hardy. Hardy is widely considered one of the greatest ...

25. Kanako Urai

Actress | WWE NXT

Kanako Urai (born September 26, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to WWE under the ring name Asuka. She started her professional wrestling career in the AtoZ promotion in June 2004 under the ring name Kana. She remained there until retiring in March 2006. She returned to ...

26. Matt Massie

Actor | E.C.W.

Matt Jackson is an American professional wrestler who is part of The Young Bucks tag team with his brother Nick Jackson. The pair have appeared for numerous promotions across the globe including WWE, TNA Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Guerilla and Chikara, but are best known for their work in New Japan ...

27. Kairi Hôjô

Actress | Lucha Underground

Kairi Sane is a Japanese female professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) where she is competes on the Smackdown brand. Making her WWE debut in NXT, Sane became a one-time NXT Women's Champion. Before WWE, she spent much of her career in Japan wrestling for World...

28. Cody Rhodes

Actor | Warehouse 13

Cody Rhodes was born on June 30, 1985 in Marietta, Georgia, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Warehouse 13 (2009), Arrow (2012) and WWE Smackdown! (1999). He has been married to Brandi Rhodes since September 12, 2013. They have one child.

29. Miroslav Barnyashev

Actor | Countdown

Miroslav Barnyashev (born December 25, 1984) is a Bulgarian professional wrestler and former powerlifter and rower. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs under the ring name Rusev on the SmackDown brand. He is the only Bulgarian to have wrestled for WWE. Rusev has generally played the ...

30. Tom Budgen

Actor | WWE NXT

Tom Budgen was born on May 19, 1985 in Alkmaar, Netherlands. He is an actor, known for WWE NXT (2010), AEW Collision (2023) and Action Force. He has been married to Thea Trinidad since November 2018.

31. Taichi Ishikari

Self | NWA: Total Nonstop Action

32. Walter Hahn

Actor | PROGRESS Wrestling PROGRESS Chapter 68: Super Strong Style 16 Tournament Edition 2018

is an Austrian professional wrestler and trainer better known by the ring name WALTER. He is currently signed to WWE performing for their NXT UK brand where he is the current WWE United Kingdom Champion in his first reign. He has appeared in a number of promotions in Europe, Japan and North America...

33. Shinsuke Nakamura

Actor | WWE SmackDown

Shinsuke Nakamura was born on February 24, 1980 in Mineyama, Kyoto, Japan. He is an actor, known for WWE Smackdown! (1999), WWE NXT (2010) and TNA Xplosion (2002). He has been married to Harumi Maekawa since September 2007.

34. Fergal Devitt

Actor | WWE NXT

Fergal Devitt was born on July 25, 1981 in Bray, Ireland. He is an actor, known for WWE NXT (2010), WWE Raw (1993) and NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn (2015). He has been married to Vero Rodriguez since August 19, 2019.

35. Jay White

Actor | AEW Collision

Jay White is known for AEW Collision (2023), All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite (2019) and All Elite Wrestling: Rampage (2021).

36. Austin Jenkins

Actor | WWE NXT

American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Adam Cole. He competed for several independent promotions, including Combat Zone Wrestling, Maryland Championship Wrestling, Northeast Wrestling and Ring of Honor. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs in their developmental ...

37. Windham Rotunda

Actor | WWE SmackDown

Windham Rotunda was born on May 23, 1987 in Brooksville, Florida, USA. He was an actor, known for WWE Smackdown! (1999), WWE NXT (2010) and SummerSlam (2013). He was married to Samantha Krieger. He died on August 24, 2023 in Clermont, Florida, USA.

38. Hirooki Goto

Actor | Headshot

Hirooki Goto is known for Headshot (2016), Kamen Rider Zero-One: Real×Time (2020) and CRISIS: Special Security Squad (2017).

39. Mercedes Varnado

Actress | WrestleMania 37

Mercedes Kaestner-Varnado is an American professional wrestler and actress who also known as her ring names Sasha Banks (in WWE) and Mercedes Monè (in other promotions). Varnado made her acting debut in season 2 of the acclaimed show The Mandalorian (2019) in the role of Koska Reeves. As a pioneer ...

40. Lucas Eatwell

Actor | AEW Collision

Lucas Eatwell is known for AEW Collision (2023), Beyond Feeling Minnesota (2017) and PROGRESS Chapter 40: Intercepted Angel (2016).

41. Manny Andrade

Actor | WWE NXT

Manny Andrade is known for WWE NXT (2010), AEW Collision (2023) and All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite (2019). He has been married to Ashley Fliehr since May 27, 2022.

42. Toni Rossall

Actress | AEW Collision

is a New Zealand-born Australian professional wrestler, best known by her ring name as Toni Storm. She is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) performing on its NXT UK brand. Prior to joining the WWE, Storm wrestled nearly ten years on the independent circuit, beginning in her ...

43. Phil Brooks

Actor | Girl on the Third Floor

Phillip Jack Brooks, better known by the ring name CM Punk, is an American Professional wrestler, comic book writer and former mixed martial artist.

Punk began his professional wrestling career on the American independent circuit, primarily with Ring of Honor (ROH) until 2005, when he signed with ...

44. Stephen Farrelly

Actor | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

Sheamus O'Shaunessy began his wrestling career in The Monster Factory in April 2002 where he trained under the supervision of former WWF professional wrestler Larry Sharpe along with former ECW referee Jim Molineaux. SOS made his wrestling debut 6 weeks later against WWA and TNA star Robert ...

45. Brock Lesnar

Actor | WrestleMania

Brock Lesnar was born on July 12, 1977 in Webster, South Dakota, USA as Brock Edward Lesnar. He is an actor, known for WrestleMania XIX (2003), Summerslam (2002) and WWE Unforgiven (2002). He has been married to Rena Mero since May 6, 2006. They have two children named, Turk & Duke. Lesnar also has...

46. Drew Galloway

Actor | The Cursed

Drew Galloway was born on June 6, 1985 in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland, UK. He is an actor and producer, known for The Cursed (2014), WWE Smackdown! (1999) and WWE NXT (2010). He has been married to Kaitlyn Frohnapfel since December 9, 2016. He was previously married to Taryn Terrell.

47. Riley Vincent

Actor | TNA iMPACT! Wrestling

Riley Vincent is known for TNA iMPACT! Wrestling (2004) and Don't Quit Your Gay Job (2009).

48. John Hennigan

Actor | Boone: The Bounty Hunter

John Hennigan was born on October 3, 1979 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Boone: The Bounty Hunter (2017), Birds of Prey (2020) and The Iron Sheik Massacre (2022). He has been married to Kira Hennigan since June 1, 2018.

49. Johnny Gargano

Actor | WWE NXT

Johnny Gargano is known for WWE NXT (2010), NXT TakeOver: New Orleans (2018) and WWE Smackdown! (1999). He has been married to Candice Dawson since September 16, 2016. They have one child.

50. Jeffrey Cobb

Actor | Lucha Underground

Jeffrey Cobb was born on July 11, 1982 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. He is an actor, known for Lucha Underground (2014), Lucha Ilimitado vs. The State of Washington (2017) and All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite (2019).