B/R's Top 25 WWE Men's Superstars of the Quarter Century, Ranked
This year marks the quarter-century point for WWE, a 25-year span that has seen the industry's top promotion evolve into something unrecognizable from the company that rode the pro wrestling boom of the Monday Night Wars and was once the only game in town.
Since 2000, the company has remained the global standard in the industry, thanks to larger-than-life Superstars whose stories and matches have enthralled audiences.
From the cerebral assaults of Triple H and the cans of whoop-ass dealt by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, to the Attitude Adjustments unleashed by John Cena and RKOs from out of nowhere by Randy Orton, the first quarter century of this millennium has produced some of the biggest and brightest sports-entertainment stars.
B/R's Chris Mueller (@BR_Doctor), Graham Matthews (@WrestleRant), Donald Wood (@RingRustRadio), Eric Ball (@EBall_BR), Kevin Berge, and Erik Beaston (@ErikBeaston) cast their votes on the best of the best since 2000, choosing the 25 greatest men's Superstars of the quarter century, determined by in-ring performance, mic ability, historic significance, fan popularity, WWE main roster accomplishments, and overall importance to the company during that period.
Find out who landed where and why, then sound off in the B/R app and tell us who we got right, who we did not, and who is conspicuous by their absence.
Honorable Mention
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Bray Wyatt
One of the most captivating Superstars in WWE history, Bray Wyatt arrived on the scene in 2013 and wasted little time leaving a lasting impression on fans, thanks to his haunting promos and undeniable aura.
Whether it was his Max Cady-inspired incarnation or The Fiend, Wyatt had the WWE Universe in his hand and captured both the WWE and Universal Championships during the height of his run.
His death in 2023 robbed fans of his creative brilliance and left a huge void in WWE. His memory lives on in The Wyatt Sicks and the "fireflies" that light up arenas around the world.
Kane
Kane's omission from our list is somewhat surprising, given the longevity it enjoyed and a resume brimming with championships.
He feuded with his brother, The Undertaker, and teamed with him. He competed with a mask on and introduced hell on earth when he took it off. As destructive between the ropes as he was outside of the ring, he made headlines and was a legitimate main event attraction throughout his WWE run.
The winner of world titles, tag team belts, midcard championships, and the Money in the Bank briefcase, he enjoyed incredible success in WWE and had a career that earned him an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.
The Big Show
The start of Big Show's century was anything but smooth, with a demotion to Ohio Valley Wrestling amid weight and work ethic concerns, but he rebounded to embark on a two-decade run that saw him regain the WWE Championship by dealing Brock Lesnar his first loss.
He also turned heel, then babyface, then heel again before returning to the face side of things seemingly more often than any other Superstar.
Whether fans booed or cheered him, Big Show was a larger-than-life performer who could shake hands and kiss babies one week, then compete against undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather in a marquee WrestleMania match the next.
Like Kane, his resume is one of a star who belonged on our final list.
Others receiving votes: Dolph Ziggler, Goldberg, Matt Hardy, Rob Van Dam, Christian, Sheamus, Sami Zayn, The Miz, Chris Benoit
25. Kofi Kingston
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion, intercontinental champion (4), United States champion (3), WWE Raw tag team world champion (7), WWE SmackDown tag team champion (7), world tag team champion
Kofi Kingston has accomplished everything there is to in WWE, both as a singles and tag team competitor.
Since arriving on the roster in 2008 with the ECW brand, he has proved to be a picture of consistency, delivering at every level of competition and against every major star who has come through the company in his 17 years on the main roster.
From his all-time-great trio with Xavier Woods and Big E in The New Day to his unforgettably emotional run to the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35, Kingston has been a source of great matches and unforgettable moments, all of which should make him an easy first-ballot Hall of Famer.
He remains a steady member of the WWE roster today alongside Woods, as The New Day continues to rile audiences and capture championship gold.
24. Booker T
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Accomplishments since 2000: WCW champion, world heavyweight champion, intercontinental champion, United States champion (3), WWE Hardcore champion (2), world tag team champion (3), WCW tag team champion, King of the Ring (2006), WWE Hall of Fame classes of 2013 and 2019
Arriving in WWE in June 2001, Booker T joined Diamond Dallas Page as the two former WCW champions leading the way in the Invasion storyline.
While he struggled to make his mark in the company and avoid the political landmines of that era early on, he built a hugely successful career that saw him battle everyone from The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to Batista and Bobby Lashley.
While he was always a charismatic fan favorite, his work as a heel separated him from the rest of the pack, particularly with his King Booker turn in 2006. Obnoxious and over the top as the latest wrestler to assume the role of royalty, he connected with audiences at an entirely different level.
His run as the face of SmackDown in 2006 was some of his finest work and, coupled with everything that preceded it, earned him an inclusion on this list and an induction into the 2013 Hall of Fame.
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23. Kevin Owens
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE universal champion, intercontinental champion (2), United States champion (3), WWE Raw tag team champion, WWE SmackDown tag team champion
When someone is so good for a long and sustained period, it's easy to take them for granted. This was not the case with the B/R Wrestling team, as they voted Kevin Owens onto the list.
KO has been a main event mainstay in WWE since his arrival on the main roster in 2015 and subsequent rivalry with John Cena. He has worked with the top names on the roster, with rivalries against Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns among the best of the last decade.
An intensely physical performer who will sacrifice his body to combat his opponents, he is currently recovering from a serious neck injury. If and when Owens is cleared to return, do not be surprised to see him back at the top of the card and with championship goals.
22. Dean Ambrose
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion, intercontinental champion (3), United States champion, WWE Raw tag team champion (2), Money in the Bank (2016)
While Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins have accumulated title runs, headlined WrestleMania and defined a generation of WWE, Dean Ambrose did things his way en route to tag team and singles glory.
Arriving as one-third of The Shield, Ambrose was arguably the group's most captivating member and had a connection with the fans that no marketing machine could develop in a creative meeting.
When he broke free of the constraints of the group, he rose to superstardom as the everyman star, sporting a tank top and blue jeans and pulling from the offensive arsenals of Dusty Rhodes, Terry Funk and Stan Hansen.
Though he departed in 2019 amid creative frustrations and took his talents to All Elite Wrestling, he still compiled world title reigns and competed in unforgettable, high-profile main events against the top stars of his era.
Whether Ambrose did enough to belong on this list at the expense of Kane, Big Show or even a prolific champion like Sheamus is the real question.
21. Cody Rhodes
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Accomplishments since 2000: Undisputed WWE champion (2), intercontinental champion (2), WWE Crown Jewel champion, WWE Raw tag team champion (4), WWE SmackDown tag team champion, world tag team champion (3), Royal Rumble winner (2 - 2023, 2024), King of the Ring (2025)
The first of two surprises in the bottom five of this list comes in the form of Cody Rhodes, a second-generation star who debuted in 2007, woefully underprepared for the enormity of battling Randy Orton, but learned every week and developed into one of the brightest young prospects in the company.
Like father Dusty and brother Dustin before him, Rhodes took everything given to him creatively and made it better. He won singles gold, added the occasional tag team title reign to the resume, and shined against Superstars from all levels until creative frustrations proved too much and he departed WWE in 2016.
Fast-forward six years and Rhodes returned a bigger star than before. Three WrestleMania main events, two WWE titles and one big wrestling boom later, and he is the undisputed QB1 of the company and one wrestler who figures to rank much higher on this list when his career is finished.
20. 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion (2), WWE world tag team champion, Royal Rumble winner (2001), WWE Hall of Fame classes of 2007 and 2025
The idea of Steve Austin ranking this low on any list is likely considered blasphemous to many fans, but upon a deeper dive into what the new millennium looked like for him, it's easy to see why he barely cracked the top 20.
The Texas Rattlesnake returned from a career-threatening neck injury in 2000 and wasted little time reminding the world of why he was the biggest badass of his era. He waged war with Triple H, defeated The Rock at WrestleMania X-Seven in an all-time great match, and battled The Undertaker, Kane, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, and Big Show with regularity.
Then came his departure from the company in 2002 and his early retirement following one final match with The Rock at WrestleMania XIX. Neck, back and knee injuries cut Austin's run in the new century short, leaving him with cameo appearances and general manager runs rather than epic encounters and championship victories.
He did return to the squared circle one last time against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38, but a brief three-year period of activity and some entertaining appearances here and there were not enough to warrant a higher position on our list.
19. AJ Styles
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion (2), intercontinental champion, United States champion (3), WWE Raw tag team champion
Who will ever forget AJ Styles' long-awaited arrival in WWE at the 2016 Royal Rumble?
The enormous ovation that greeted him that night as the former TNA world champion and Bullet Club leader stepped through the curtain confirmed he would have no trouble connecting with his new audience.
In the past decade, Styles has silenced any doubters who believed he would not be able to transition to the more entertainment-dominated promotion by stealing shows with Chris Jericho and John Cena, winning the WWE Championship, successfully retaining it against challengers like Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Kevin Owens, and connecting with fans through his excellence between the ropes.
Styles is not the biggest, most marketable Superstar, or most dynamic on the mic. However, he is phenomenal, and the audiences let him know it every night.
Even as injuries have taken their toll on him in recent years, Styles has remained one of the most popular names on the roster, thanks in large part to an obvious desire to be great and encounters such as his Crown Jewel classic against John Cena.
18. Batista
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion (2), world heavyweight champion (4), world tag team champion (3), WWE tag team champion, Royal Rumble winner (2 - 2005, 2014)
Little more than muscle for Evolution through the early part of his main roster run in WWE, Batista exploded into a brand-new stratosphere in 2005, when he began to see through the manipulation and self-serving tendencies of Triple H.
He won the Royal Rumble, chose to challenge his mentor at WrestleMania 21 and captured the World Heavyweight Championship, paying off a meteoric rise to the top of the industry and kicking off a run that earned him this spot on our list.
Though he was plagued with a few injuries, Batista became a workhorse for WWE, competing against every major star of his era. Routinely a champion or in the hunt for a title, he was in main events from the moment he was established as one of the faces of the company and never looked back.
He retired in 2010, with his legacy as one of the greats of his era already secured. He returned in 2014 but, unfortunately, was not as celebrated as expected, thanks in large part to a Yes Movement that demanded deserving new champions.
A selfless performer, he still put Daniel Bryan over in the main event of WrestleMania 30, then did the same for The Shield in the following two months.
His final match came against Triple H at WrestleMania 35, wrapping up a Hall of Fame-worthy career for a Superstar who went on to become, arguably, the best wrestler-turned-actor of all time.
17. Shawn Michaels
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Accomplishments since 2000: World heavyweight champion, WWE tag team champion, WWE world tag team champion, WWE Hall of Fame classes of 2011 and 2019
Shawn Michaels was already one of the greatest of all time when he hung up his boots in 1998 due to a severe back injury.
Then, he returned to the squared circle in 2002, beat Triple H in a Street Fight at that year's SummerSlam, and embarked on a second half of his career that was, arguably, even better than the first.
Acclaimed encounters with Ric Flair, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Randy Orton, Edge, and Chris Benoit further established The Heartbreak Kid as the measuring stick for in-ring performers, especially in big-match situations.
His WrestleMania 25 epic with Undertaker, though, put him on an otherworldly level.
By the time he wrapped up his second stint as an in-ring performer after eight years of genre-changing classics, there was little doubt he was in the conversation to be recognized as the best to ever do it.
Given the historical significance of his work, it is somewhat surprising to see him so far down our list. That said, though, there was a 15-year window for those ahead of him to establish themselves, and his brief comeback match with Triple H and against Kane and The Undertaker is best forgotten.
16. Jeff Hardy
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion, world heavyweight champion (2), intercontinental champion (5), United States champion, European champion, WWE Hardcore champion (3), WWE Light heavyweight champion, WWE Raw tag team champion, WWE SmackDown tag team champion, WWE world tag team champion (5), WCW tag team champion
Jeff Hardy was the wrestler of the 2000s. He threw caution to the wind and delivered a high-flying, death-defying arsenal of maneuvers that left the audience in awe. He was alternative, had dyed hair, moved to the beat of his own drum, and was beloved for it.
Whether he was partnering with brother Matt to revolutionize wrestling as The Hardy Boyz in TLC (Tables, Ladders & Chairs) or working as a singles star who began at the bottom and achieved his goal of becoming WWE champion, The Charismatic Enigma did it all in three separate stints with the company.
Though his toughest battles have sometimes come with his own demons, the fans have always had his back, through championship encounters against everyone from Triple H and The Undertaker to CM Punk and Edge.
It is that connection with the audience and unwavering support that makes Hardy one of the most popular and genuinely beloved wrestlers on any roster, but especially WWE at his peak.
15. Eddie Guerrero
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion, intercontinental champion (2), United States champion, European champion (2), WWE tag team champion (4), Hall of Fame class of 2006
Eddie Guerrero's death in November 2005 was one of the biggest stories of the first 25 years of the century and left a major hole in the pro wrestling industry that, many would argue, has not been filled.
It is a testament to the performer that his legacy lives on in so many current Superstars emulating him.
Look no further than Dominik Mysterio, who was at the center of Guerrero and Rey Mysterio's battle over his custody. He is as over as anyone after borrowing from his former on-screen Papi. There is also AEW's Mercedes Moné, who pulls from his armory at least once in every match.
It is proof of the amount of respect he built up with fans and peers that Guerrero is as high on our list. His emotional victory over Brock Lesnar at the 2004 No Way Out pay-per-view ranks as one of the most memorable moments of the first two decades of the millennium and the work he did as part of the SmackDown Six with Kurt Angle, Edge, Chris Benoit, Chavo Guerrero and Rey Mysterio remains some of the best pro wrestling content since.
Guerrero's legacy lives on in those he helped motivate to become stars and may one day eclipse him on this countdown.
14. CM Punk
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion (2), world heavyweight champion (4), ECW world champion, intercontinental champion, world tag team champion, Money in the Bank (2 - 2008, 2009)
CM Punk refers to himself as The Best in the World and based on his accomplishments in WWE since his arrival in the company as part of the rebranded ECW, it's not difficult to see why.
Exceeding all expectations and achieving greater success than anyone in the company had planned for him, Punk was fueled by both spite and the desire to be the greatest pro wrestler in the industry.
That rubbed some the wrong way and created friction behind the scenes, but in front of the camera, he was what he said he was, to the tune of world championships, Money in the Bank cash-ins, and high-profile rivalries with Jeff Hardy, The Undertaker, Kane, Big Show, and Randy Orton.
His 2011 program with John Cena changed the course of his career forever, elevating him to a main event level he had not previously enjoyed on a regular basis. What he accomplished with The GOAT, coupled with his unforgettable pipebomb promo, opened eyes in management and afforded Punk new opportunities.
However, creative frustrations and general burnout led to him severing ties with the company and walking out in 2014. It is for that reason that his return in 2023 was so much more unexpected and made for an unforgettable moment.
What Punk has achieved since returning to the top of the card and being as popular as ever while doing it, while mixing it up with a new generation of headliners, is equally special.
When he takes his wrist tape off for the final time, it would not be surprising to see him move up significantly on this list, with his spot here attributed to his near-decade-long absence in the middle of his career.
13. Triple H
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion (6), world heavyweight champion (5), intercontinental champion (2), WWE tag team champion, WWE world tag team champion (2), Royal Rumble winner (2 - 2002, 2016), WWE Hall of Fame classes of 2019 and 2025
This quarter century in WWE has been dominated by Triple H.
He kicked it off by rising to the top of the card as the central villain in the hottest promotion in the business, battling The Rock, Big Show, Mick Foley, Undertaker, Kane, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, and Chris Jericho, among others, to stay that way.
He suffered a serious quadriceps injury, came back, resumed his place as a headliner, and continued building his resume. He formed Evolution, which elevated and made stars of Batista and Randy Orton, reformed D-Generation X with Shawn Michaels, and even gave The Great Khali one of the best matches of his career.
As a heel authority figure, HHH was key to the rise of Daniel Bryan as a main event babyface and headlined WrestleMania 32 against Roman Reigns.
Criticized by some for marrying into the McMahon family instead of being applauded for his achievements and influence on the business, he is now WWE chief content officer, overseeing the company's creative direction on a day-to-day basis.
His position of power and long-perceived backstage politics, as reported by industry insiders and tabloids since the turn of the century, likely led to a setback, preventing him from advancing in the countdown.
Even though he has the resume and historical significance to rank in the top five.
12. Brock Lesnar
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion (7), WWE Universal champion (3), King of the Ring (2002), Money in the Bank (2019), Royal Rumble winner (2 - 2002, 2022)
Brock Lesnar was anointed as "The Next Big Thing" upon his main roster arrival in 2002 and wasted little time backing that up.
The former NCAA wrestling champion bulldozed his way to the 2002 King of the Ring, submitted Hulk Hogan, and pinned The Rock to become WWE champion, all within his first five months in the company.
He defeated Undertaker in Hell in a Cell, turned babyface amid a betrayal by manager Paul Heyman, won the Royal Rumble in 2003, defeated Kurt Angle in the main event of WrestleMania 19, turned heel again and then left professional wrestling to start a career in the NFL.
Eight years later and after a further career shift to the UFC, where he became the promotion's heavyweight champion and a top box-office attraction, Lesnar returned to WWE. He demolished all opposition, including the emphatic destruction of John Cena at SummerSlam 2014.
He worked best as a special attraction, but that didn't stop Vince McMahon from booking him to end the Undertaker's storied unbeaten streak at WrestleMania or giving him a WWE title reign that lasted over a year.
Lesnar was instrumental in Roman Reigns' development into a main event star, and he remains one of the most recognizable faces in the industry and someone whose legitimacy in other sports makes him appealing to fans outside of pro wrestling.
His long absence, coupled with repetitive booking style and a failure to evolve much in the last decade, likely limited his ability to place higher on this list.
11. Edge
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion (4), world heavyweight champion (7), intercontinental champion (4), WWE world tag team champion (12), WWE tag team champion (2), King of the Ring (2001), Money in the Bank (2005), Royal Rumble winner (2010, 2021), WWE Hall of Fame class of 2012
Edge began this century as a tag team specialist, teaming with Christian to capture championships, all while showing off the goofier side of himself.
A singles run had him looking like the top star of WWE's future until a neck injury threatened his career in 2002.
When he returned, fans were overly critical, believing the Canadian to be the recipient of a major push he had not yet earned since returning from his year-long hiatus. They booed him, necessitating a heel turn that would change the course of his wrestling career.
As the hated "Rated R Superstar," whose real-life relationship with Lita earned him headlines for months, he embraced the sleaze and rode it straight to the top of the industry.
He cashed in Money in the Bank (twice) to win championship gold, engaged John Cena in a series of superb matches that strengthened both of their spots at the top, and proceeded to work with every star from Triple H to Undertaker, Jeff Hardy to Randy Orton, and back again.
One of the most decorated competitors on this list, Edge was forced into early retirement due to the same neck injury that plagued him a decade earlier.
However, an unexpected return in 2020 allowed him to prove he still had the X-factor and resulted in one last WrestleMania main event, as well as matches against a new generation of stars.
Once you hit this area of our countdown, many of the Superstars are interchangeable, with an argument to be made for any of them to be higher (or lower) on the list.
His long hiatus and rather disappointing end to his WWE run likely cost Edge here, but ranking 11th is still a major accomplishment for someone whose career looked to be done prematurely just a decade into the century.
10. Daniel Bryan
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion (4), world heavyweight champion, intercontinental champion, United States champion, WWE tag team champion, WWE SmackDown tag team champion, Money in the Bank (2011)
Like Edge before him, Daniel Bryan also rose to stardom as a tag team wrestler, achieved his boyhood dream of winning the top prize in WWE, headlined WrestleMania and then nearly had it all taken from him through a neck injury that forced him into early retirement.
He fended off criticisms of his size, his perceived inability to cut a promo and a general lack of belief in him as a main event star to become one of the most beloved wrestlers of all time.
The fans fought for Bryan, demanding his elevation by hijacking shows with chants of his name and his trademark "Yes!" catchphrase.
Not even the ascension of Roman Reigns or the return of Batista could silence them, and he finally had years of hard work pay off when he took center stage at WrestleMania 30, winning the opener against Triple H and capturing the WWE title in the main event.
Bryan lost three years of his career to neck and concussion issues, but he returned to the squared circle in 2018 as good as ever. Within a year, he was The Planet's Champion, a hated heel who blamed fickle fans for ruining the environment and booing him.
His work with Kofi Kingston led to the unforgettable KofiMania and while he could have remained a heel, the fans loved him so much that he was a babyface again within a year and ended his WWE career as such in 2021.
The greatest technical wrestler of his generation, with a personality that was far more impressive than anyone gave him credit for early on, he exceeded all expectations and became a genuine marquee WWE Superstar.
While there are arguments to be made that Bryan could be further down the list, there is an era of the company's programming that cannot be discussed without mentioning him, meaning his significance to WWE is deserving of this position.
9. The Rock
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion (4), WCW champion (2), WWE tag team champion (2), Royal Rumble winner (2000)
The only thing keeping The Rock from a higher position on this list is his successful transition to Hollywood, which saw him become the No. 1 box-office attraction and a bona fide A-lister.
He followed in his father's footsteps, elevated WWE to popularity never before seen as a key member of the Attitude Era, pursued his acting dreams and still managed to come back every so often to heat things up.
A WWE champion and established main eventer at the arrival of the millennium, he was already feuding with the likes of Triple H, Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, The Undertaker, and Rikishi. He would go on to battle Hulk Hogan in a match billed as "Icon vs. Icon" at WrestleMania X-8, put over Brock Lesnar to establish him as the face of the company's future, and retired Stone Cold at WrestleMania 19.
He popped up from time to time after that, mostly in one-off appearances, before returning in 2011 to kick off a three-year program with John Cena that saw him cost the franchise star a WWE Championship at WrestleMania 27, beat him a year later in a match billed as "Once in a Lifetime," and then finally put him over in 2013.
A return in 2024 continued the momentous run WWE found itself on and led to one of the most successful WrestleManias of all time in Philadelphia, headlined by his return to the squared circle for a tag team match in which he partnered with Roman Reigns to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.
An influential member of WWE today, as a result of his presence on the TKO board and his heavy creative influence on the product, he could pop up at any time and insert himself into any ongoing story.
Still, The Rock is as big a star as the pro wrestling industry has produced. His inconsistent appearances since 2003 would be enough to warrant any discussion to move him down, but considering the magnitude of what he's done, it's easy to see why he made the top 10 of our countdown.
8. Seth Rollins
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion (2), world heavyweight champion (2), WWE Universal champion (2), intercontinental champion (2), United States champion (2), WWE Crown Jewel champion, WWE Raw tag team champion (6), Money in the Bank (2 - 2014, 2025), Royal Rumble winner (2019)
The workhorse of WWE since arriving in 2012 as part of The Shield, Seth Rollins has done it all for the company.
Overlooked early on as part of the aforementioned trio, all he did was break free and go on a main event run that culminated with him becoming WWE champion at WrestleMania 31.
In the decade that followed, he worked with every major Superstar to cross his path, from Brock Lesnar to Sting, John Cena to AJ Styles, Logan Paul to CM Punk.
Along the way, he waged war with Shield teammates Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose, defeated Triple H at WrestleMania 33, and bounced back from a devastating knee injury to be better than ever.
A consistent presence in or near the top of the card for the majority of his singles run, Rollins has forged a connection with the fans that has allowed him to stay popular and relevant, regardless of where he falls in the lineup or whether he is a hero or villain.
His ability to maintain kayfabe led to one of the more unforgettable Money in the Bank cash-ins at SummerSlam 2025, when he tossed aside crutches, ripped the brace off of a perceived injured knee, and defeated CM Punk to win the world title.
A constant presence on television for over 10 years, he seized the opportunity to make himself a star and never looked back. As much as Reigns has been acknowledged as the face of this generation and Rhodes considers himself QB1 in WWE, Rollins has defined this current era of the industry and earned his spot in our top 10.
7. Kurt Angle
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion (4), WCW champion, world heavyweight champion, intercontinental champion, European champion, WWE Hardcore champion, WCW United States champion, WWE tag team champion, King of the Ring (2000), WWE Hall of Fame (2017)
No one achieved more in his first six years in professional wrestling than Kurt Angle. An Olympic gold medalist in 1996, he made the jump to pro wrestling and wasted little time proving his greatness.
Picking up an incredibly difficult art form with relative ease, he won every singles title available to him within his first 10 months and solidified himself as a main event player from that point on.
A tenacious athlete with the drive to be the best to ever lace a pair of boots, he could bring legitimacy to the table but was also remarkably funny and possessed the comedic timing that allowed him to achieve success as early and often as he did.
Not afraid to make a fool of himself, he could play a guitar while wearing a tiny cowboy hat and singing "Jimmy Crack Corn" one moment, then be a badass while making Steve Austin tap out to his trademark ankle lock the next.
As diverse a performer as there was at the height of his run, Angle was a fan favorite who earned respect from the audience because he gave his all every night, regardless of what version of him the show called for.
Health concerns interrupted his WWE run and led to his departure in 2006. After returning from a decade-long run in TNA Wrestling, Angle took his spot in the WWE Hall of Fame and even added another Match of the Year to his resume in the form of his WrestleMania 38 banger, in which he teamed with Ronda Rousey to defeat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
It is a testament to all that he achieved and the quality of his work that Angle placed as highly on this list as he did, especially with only six years of WWE work to pull from.
6. The Undertaker
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion, world heavyweight champion (3), WWE Hardcore champion, WWE tag team champion (3), WCW tag team champion, Royal Rumble winner (2007), WWE Hall of Fame class 2022
The most iconic character in WWE history, The Undertaker, returned from a significant injury in 2000 and embarked on a two-decade run that saw him take souls, win championships and further establish himself as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.
Feuds with Steve Austin, Triple H, Kane, The Rock, Ric Flair, Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, Jeff Hardy, Batista, Edge, and Big Show allowed him to showcase that, as he got older, he got better.
Throw in his annual marquee matches on WrestleMania cards, and there was no denying the version of The Undertaker that fans watched from the turn of the century on was the best version of himself.
Look no further than the epic encounters with Shawn Michaels in 2009 and 2010. Those 'Mania showdowns were as good as there have ever been, and the stories woven into them highlighted a performer who understood the power of the narrative, something he could lean on as his physical tools diminished later in his career.
While he took on a more part-time schedule from 2010 on, popping up for a shortened run here or a WrestleMania program there, no one could deny how much prestige came with The Phenom and whatever he involved himself in.
He never lost his mystique or aura, protecting his character right up until he took his final bow in 2020 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame two years later.
Had his career not been limited to one-off performances toward the end, for the sake of preserving his body, he may well have been ranked even higher on this list and he would have earned it.
5. Chris Jericho
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Accomplishments since 2000: Undisputed WWE champion, world heavyweight champion (3), WCW/world champion (2), intercontinental champion (9), United States champion (2), European champion, WWE Hardcore champion, WWE tag team champion (5)
Chris Jericho has become so synonymous with AEW since signing with the upstart promotion in 2019 that it's easy to forget just how successful and significant he was to WWE in the first two decades of the century.
An immensely popular babyface in 2000, he got over with fans because of his personality, wisecracks, insults, and ability to mix it up with everyone from Chris Benoit to Triple H to The Rock.
It was his rivalry with The Rock that propelled him into the main event stratosphere and gave him the opportunity to become the first undisputed WWE champion in 2001, defeating both The Great One and Steve Austin on the same night.
Jericho would go on to feud with every headliner for the next 19 years, including his childhood inspiration, Shawn Michaels, in a WrestleMania classic in 2003 and one of the best feuds of the decade five years later.
A performer who can make fans laugh one minute and turn them against him the next, Jericho is one of the most engaging personalities in the industry, with top-tier in-ring talent to boot.
With championship victories, iconic rivalries, defining matchups, and crowds that still chant his name when John Cena breaks out the Walls of Jericho to pay homage to his former foe, his legacy is secured.
Whether Jericho has enough for one last run in WWE is an intriguing thought.
4. Rey Mysterio
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion, world heavyweight champion (2), intercontinental champion (2), United States champion (3), cruiserweight champion (3), WWE tag team champion (4), WWE SmackDown tag team champion, Royal Rumble winner (2006), Hall of Fame class of 2023
No one overachieved in WWE more than Rey Mysterio.
When it was revealed he had signed with the company in 2002, there were real concerns about what his ceiling was. Sure, he was a hugely marketable luchador thanks to his look and presentation, but he was a small competitor in a world of giants and those typically did not fare well in McMahonland.
Not only did he fare well, but Mysterio also became a Hall of Famer.
Whether competing in the cruiserweight division, partnering with Rob Van Dam and Eddie Guerrero, or winning the Royal Rumble in honor of Latino Heat and capturing the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22, Mysterio was already a made man five years into his run.
That he continued to compete for the company, including a WWE Championship, only further cemented his greatness. By the time 2023 rolled around, there was no more influential Superstar in the pro wrestling industry, which had evolved and grown to include smaller, faster wrestlers in marquee positions, than Mysterio and he rightfully took his spot among his fellow icons in the Hall of Fame.
Since then, he has remained an active competitor, was instrumental in establishing his son Dominik as a future star in the company, and has been a great ambassador of the industry.
A two-decade run of excellence, involving some of the most unforgettable moments and matches, Mysterio not only cemented his legacy as the greatest luchador of all time, but he also opened doors for others of his size.
For that, he more than earned recognition among the elite of our countdown.
3. Roman Reigns
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion (4), WWE Universal champion (2), intercontinental champion, United States champion, WWE tag team champion, Royal Rumble winner (2015)
Around 2015, questions arose about Roman Reigns' ability to be the main event attraction, a concern that had crept into the minds of fans and analysts.
He had been on the receiving end of a significant singles push, but the fans had rejected him, booing him out of the building when he won the Royal Rumble and continuing to do so for a few years.
The massive WWE marketing machine tried "shoving him down their throats", which did not help, nor did the lack of evolution and character advancement. Reigns, for all of his hard work to advance his in-ring performance, was still just the undefined Big Dog he had always been and no one had any real reason to care about him.
He still won titles, beat legends, and proved he had the tools to be great, but it had not all come together yet as the second decade of the century came to a close.
Enter, Paul Heyman.
With The Wise Man by his side, Reigns found himself. Together, they developed The Tribal Chief, a family-driven, egotistical heel who knew how good he was but would also gaslight friends and family to get what he wanted.
He was excellent in that skin, connecting with audiences as a character in ways he never did as a one-dimensional good guy. The manipulation of his family and the epic Bloodline storyline that came from it made him the biggest star in the industry and a central figure of its top narratives.
He reigned over WWE for 1,316 days as undisputed WWE universal champion. The product became hotter than it had been in three decades with him on top.
When he lost the title and turned babyface, he was somehow more over and popular with audiences than he had ever been. He still is today, creating unforgettable moments for the WWE Universe simply by walking through the curtain.
Finally, the star he was meant to be, with one of the richest histories and stories in all of WWE, Reigns could wind up in the top spot by the time he ends his career.
2. Randy Orton
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Accomplishments since 2000: WWE champion (10), world heavyweight champion (4), intercontinental champion, United States champion, world tag team champion, WWE Raw tag team champion (2), WWE SmackDown tag team champion, Money in the Bank (2013), Royal Rumble winner (2009, 2013)
A third-generation Superstar, Randy Orton, was destined for greatness from the moment he walked through the front door. It took a bit to get there, thanks to his own personal demons, but The Viper accomplished everything he set out to and more, becoming one of the best and most respected Superstars of his generation.
Orton captured the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam 2004, just two years into his main roster career. He battled the likes of Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, The Undertaker, Triple H, Batista, and Edge before he even hit 30 years old, inflating his ego at times and giving him a sense of invincibility.
Disciplinary issues threatened his career, but Orton eventually straightened himself out and earned rave reviews for his cerebral approach and attention to the little things.
Along the way, The Viper captured titles, beat the biggest stars the industry has ever produced, captivated fans with how delightfully evil he could be, and even became a social media movement, thanks to his unpredictable RKO finisher.
One of two Superstars who are most closely linked to the Ruthless Aggression Era, Orton more than exceeded the loftiest expectations set for him by management and fans alike, becoming a bona fide future Hall of Famer and recognized as one of the best to compete inside the squared circle.
Still a wildly intriguing character with plenty of potential to flip that switch and find his dark side again for one last great run, he is an all-timer and deserving of his spot in the top two performers of the century.
Fittingly, it is against the No. 1 entrant on this countdown that he has had his greatest matches and will forever be linked.
1. John Cena
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Accomplishments Since 2000: WWE champion (14), world heavyweight champion (3), United States champion (5), WWE tag team champion (2), world tag team champion (2), Money in the Bank (2012), Royal Rumble winner (2 - 2008, 2013)
The moment John Cena walked through the curtain on the June 27, 2002, episode of SmackDown and confronted Kurt Angle, he changed WWE forever.
It was not easy. Cena was nearly a roster cut casualty until he showcased his rap skills during an overseas trip, developed the Doctor of Thuganomics persona, and was catapulted into the stratosphere amid growing popularity.
When he got to the top of the card, he faced backlash from fans who thought he was pushed too hard and had gone from underground hero to the machine's chosen one.
To his credit, though, Cena never discussed the backlash, instead staying the course, putting the work in, and proving himself as a main eventer in WWE.
He seized opportunities to learn from the likes of Angle, Guerrero, Edge, Triple H, Michaels, and anyone else he worked with. He proved himself against Umaga and John Bradshaw Layfield, engaging in bloody battles that injected the toughness he needed.
Most importantly, he never lashed out at the crowds that booed him out of buildings. He stayed true to himself and the character he wanted to be. For those who loved him, great. For those who did not, he saw an opportunity to work hard and win them over.
For two decades, he has preached hustle, loyalty, and respect, inspiring a generation of young fans and earning the respect of his biggest detractors through a continuing desire to be the best he can be.
Cena evolved his style to mesh with the independent-minded stars who arrived in the 2010s, including Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
Then Hollywood came calling and Cena answered, breaking down another door for others to walk through if and when the time calls for it.
While his retirement tour in 2025 has been inconsistent, the love fans have shown him across the globe is reflective of their appreciation for all he has done in the ring, outside of it, and a career as great as any other WWE Superstar's.
He has never taken it for granted, gave the audience everything he has, never rested on his laurels, and when he takes his final bow this December, he will have earned every bit of attention that will be paid to him.
The standard-bearer in WWE for most of this quarter-century, Cena is the No. 1 Superstar of the last 25 years, and it's not particularly close.
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