Audiences have enjoyed professional wrestling for decades, and there are multiple well-known promotions all over the world. The WWE was founded in 1953, and over the course of 70 years, it has become the biggest and most successful wrestling promotion in history. Hundreds of wrestlers have competed in a WWE ring, but certain wrestlers have had longer and more notable careers than others.
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The WWE Hall of Fame honors wrestlers and other individuals who contributed to WWE and professional wrestling as a whole. Rey Mysterio and Stacy Keibler headlined 2023's class, and while some of the biggest names in wrestling have already been inducted, there are some notable individuals who aren't in the WWE Hall of Fame.
10 John Cena
John Cena will go down as one of the greatest babyfaces in wrestling history, and it is shocking that he has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame already. He is a 16-time World Champion, a record that he shares with Ric Flair, but Cena is also a 5-time United States Champion, a 4-time Tag Team Champion, and a 2-time Royal Rumble winner.
Cena helped to carry the company during the Ruthless Aggression Era, which was no easy feat. Cena spends most of his time in Hollywood as an actor, but he competes in WWE at least once a year, which proves just how much he appreciates the company and its fans.
9 Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho's wrestling career now spans more than three decades, and he is arguably one of wrestling's best heels. He has won championships in various promotions, and when it comes to WWE, he is a 6-time World Champion and a 9-time Intercontinental Champion.
Chris Jericho is also a 4-time Tag Team Champion, and he has won a few titles that no longer exist. Jericho's Hall of Fame induction will likely only happen once he finally retires and has nothing to do with AEW, where he was the first World Champion.
8 William Regal
William Regal started his wrestling career when he was 15, and he was a fantastic brawler with technical skill. He retired from in-ring competition in 2013, but he continued to work for WWE's NXT brand. There, he served as General Manager and helped to develop talent.
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After a brief stint in AEW, Regal returned to WWE in late 2022. Now, he serves as the Vice President of Global Talent Development. He is one of the best minds in wrestling a fantastic teacher who has won the WWE Hardcore, Intercontinental, and Tag Team Championships multiple times.
7 Big Show
The wrestling world has seen its fair share of powerful giants, and Paul Wight is the most decorated giant in WWE history. Most wrestling fans know him as "Big Show," and he is a 6-time World Champion and 8-time Tag Team Champion.
Big Show also won the Hardcore, Intercontinental, and United States Championships during his WWE run. Big Show is currently working with AEW, so it is highly unlikely that he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame while he is with WWE's biggest competitor, but he does deserve a place.
6 Umaga
Umaga sadly passed away in 2009, and for several years, fans have questioned why he never received a Hall of Fame induction. He was a member of the Anoa'i wrestling family, a famous Samoan wrestling family that has produced numerous Hall of Famers. During his WWE run, he won the Intercontinental Championship twice.
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When Umaga debuted as a singles competitor in 2006, he went on an impressive undefeated streak that lasted several months. However, his streak ended when John Cena pinned him during a WWE Championship match.
5 Sable
The WWE should have inducted several women into the Hall of Fame. This long list includes Sable, who officially retired in 2004. She may have not been the best in-ring talent, but she was still incredibly popular, especially during the Attitude Era.
Sable won the Women's Championship at Survivor Series in 1998, and she held onto it for almost 180 days. Seeing as other women have been inducted in the Hall of Fame without ever winning a Championship, Sable's absence is quite noticeable. That being said, her absence may be due to the fact that she once filed a $110 million lawsuit against the company.
4 Melina Perez
Melina Perez made her WWE debut in 2003 as part of the MNM stable, and their gimmick was to act like Hollywood celebrities, which included a red carpet entrance. The group had a decent run, and Melina went on to have an incredible singles run.
Over the course of five years, Melina became a 6-time Women's Champion, and she held onto those titles for nearly 400 days combined. She was arguably the best female wrestler in the WWE during the Ruthless Aggression Era, which makes her a worthy Hall of Fame candidate.
3 AJ Lee
AJ Lee spent a lot of time working as a valet and General Manager, but she was also a talented in-ring performer. WWE fans loved her persona, she was great at cutting promos, and her Diva pipe bomb may be the best women's promo of all time.
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AJ Lee is a 3-time Women's Champion, and her combined reigns lasted more than 400 days. She retired in 2015 when she was in her prime, but she was never inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame. Between 2013 and 2015, AJ carried the Women's Division.
2 CM Punk
Under normal circ*mstances, WWE would have inducted CM Punk in the Hall of Fame shortly after retiring in 2014, but he allegedly burned a lot of bridges in WWE. This is a real shame because Punk is a WWE star and a fantastic antihero.
Punk's promo skills are second-to-none, and his pipe bomb still resonates today. He is famous for being a 6-time World Champion, the Intercontinental Championship winner, and Tag Team Championship winner. He may go down as the best wrestler to never be inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame.
1 The Rock
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is undoubtedly the most successful pro wrestler-turned-actor, and he is also one of the most successful WWE Superstars in history. He rose to fame during the Attitude Era, and he is a 2-time Intercontinental Champion and 5-time Tag Team Champion.
If that were not enough, The Rock is also a 10-time World Champion. Considering his accolades, it is truly astonishing that WWE has not inducted him already, especially since WrestleMania was in Hollywood in 2023. Eventually, The Rock should get inducted, perhaps when his busy schedule allows it.
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