WWE Characters
Since the lineup for WrestleMania 25 is under wraps right now, lets take a look at key players in the WWE. These guys are the hardest hittin’ wrestlers around and although the list changes from week to week, these are my top ten (in no particular order). What are yours?
John Cena
Hailing from West Newbury Mass, not the most hardcore of areas, Cena had to prove that he was tough, and did it by the time he was 15. After building up in the gym, Cena attended Springfield College in Massachusetts for exercise physiology, and attributes his ringside smarts to that.
Accomplishments
- Ohio Valley Wrestling
* OVW Heavyweight Championship
* OVW Southern Tag Team Championship
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
* PWI Feud of the Year – vs. Edge 2006
* PWI Match of the Year – vs. Shawn Michaels 2007
* PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year 2003
* PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year 2004, 2005, 2007
* PWI Wrestler of the Year 2006, 2007
* PWI ranked #1 top 500 singles wrestlers 2006 and 2007
- Ultimate Pro Wrestling
* UPW Heavyweight Championship
- World Wrestling Entertainment
* World Heavyweight Championship
* World Tag Team Championship 2x
* WWE Championship 3x
* WWE United States Championship 3x
* Royal Rumble Winner 2008
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
* Wrestler of the Year 2007
* Best Box Office Draw 2007
* Best on Interviews 2007
* Most Charismatic 2006, 2007
* Best Gimmick 2003
Vladmir Kozlov
With a face as intimidating as his name, Moscow born Kozlov boasts a 6′ 8″ frame supporting 300 pounds of fury. Not only has Kozlov made a name for himself in the WWE, he is an expert in the fields of American Football, sambo, judo, kickboxing, MMA, rugby and freestyle wrestling. There is no way I’d want to be stuck in a room with this guy, maybe I’ll just score myself some WrestleMania tickets instead…
Accomplishments:
Wrestling
- Ohio Valley Wrestling
* OVW Heavyweight Championship
- World Wrestling Entertainment
* Slammy Award winner for 2008 Breakout Star of the Year
Martial Arts
- Sambo
* USA Open Heavyweight Sambo Champion of 2005
- United States Kick-Boxing Association
* USKBA International Heavyweight Grappling Champion
Mark Henry
If you thought Kozlov has the face of death, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. The king of intimidation, Mark Henry is a former Olympian, and the winner of the Arnold Classic Strongman Competition, although 7 inches shorter than kozlov, his monster frame supports a whopping 380 pounds!
Accomplishments:
- Lifting
* All–time raw squat world record holder
* Olympics Games
o Olympic Games team member 1992, 1996
* Pan American Games
o Pan American Games Silver Medalist 1995
* Senior American record holder in Snatch, Clean and jerk, and Total 1993–1997
* Senior National Championship 1993, 1994, 1996
- Professional wrestling
* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
o # 41 of PWI 500 in 2006
* WWF/ WWE
o ECW Championship
o WWF European Championship
- Strongman athletics
* Arnold Classic
o Arnold Classic Strongest Man 2002
Edge
Losing his title of World Heavyweight Champion to Undertaker in last year’s WrestleMania, Edge has a lot to make up for this year- or does he? Having won the World Heavyweight Championship three times and obtaining all six major titles on SmackDown and Raw, Edge doesn’t have anything to prove. Will you be one of the lucky ones with WrestleMania tickets to see Edge relinquish his title?
Accomplishments:
- Insane Championship Wrestling
* ICW/MWCW Mid-West Unified Tag Team Championship w/Joe E. Legend
* ICW Streetfight Tag Team Championship 2x – w/Christian Cage & Joe. E Legend
- New Tokyo Pro Wrestling
* NTPW Pro Tag Team Championship w/ Christian Cage
- Outlaw Championship Wrestling
* OCW Tag Team Championship w/ Psycho Joe Sampson
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
* PWI Match of the Year w/ Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz & The Dudley Boyz
* PWI Match of the Year w/ Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boyz 2000
* PWI Comeback of the Year 2004
- PWI Feud of the Year vs. Matt Hardy 2005
* PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year 2006
* PWI Feud of the Year vs. John Cena 2006
* PWI # 2 best singles wrestlers in PWI 500 2007
- Southern States Wrestling
* SSW Tag Team Championship w/ Christian Cage
- WWF | WWE
* WCW United States Championship
* World Heavyweight Championship 3X
* WWF/E World Tag Team Championship 11x
* WWF/E Intercontinental Championship 5x
* WWE Championship 3x
* WWE Tag Team Championship
* King of the Ring 2001
* Mr. Money in the Bank 2005, 2007
* Slammy Award for Couple of the Year 2008 w/Vickie Guerrero
* Fourteenth Triple Crown Champion
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
* Match of the Year 2002
* Tag Team of the Year 2000 w/ Christian
Batista
Rightfully earning the nickname, “The Animal,” this avid collector of lunch boxes who once described himself as ” a skinny kid with asthma and a bad size complex” now boasts a 6’6″ frame holding 290 pounds. As a kid Batista had a tough life, but he has risen above and admits that bodybuilding and wrestling saved his life.
Accomplishments:
- Ohio Valley Wrestling
* OVW Heavyweight Championship
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
* PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year 2005
* PWI Wrestler of the Year 2005
* PWI # 1 best singles wrestlers in PWI 500 2005.
- World Wrestling Entertainment
* World Heavyweight Championship 4x
* World Tag Team Championship 3x w/ Ric Flair 2x and John Cena
* WWE Tag Team Championship w/ Rey Mysterio
* Royal Rumble 2005
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
* Feud of the Year v. Triple H 2005
* Feud of the Year v. The Undertaker 2007
Triple H
By far my favorite wrestler. Like Batista, this Nashua, NH native was tiny, and a gym membership when he was 14 years old changed his life. Debuting in March of 1992, Triple H, also known as The Game, never anticipated such success. Who do you think they’ll throw Triple H against in WrestleMania 25?
Accomplishments:
- Independent Wrestling Federation
* IWF Heavyweight Championship
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
* PWI # 1 singles wrestlers in PWI 500 2000
* PWI Feud of the Year v Kurt Angle 2000
* PWI Feud of the Year v Chris Benoit 2004
* PWI Match of the Year v Shawn Michaels 2004 & Chris Benoit @ WrestleMania
* PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year 2003–2005
- World Wrestling Federation | World Wrestling Entertainment
* WWF/E Championship 7x
* WWF European Championship 2x
* WWF/E Intercontinental Championship 5x
* WWF Tag Team Championship w/ Stone Cold Steve Austin
* World Heavyweight Championship 5x
* King of the Ring 1997
* Slammy Award for Best Hair 1997
* Royal Rumble 2002
* 2nd Grand Slam Champion
* Seventh Triple Crown Champion
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
* Feud of the Year v Mick Foley 2000
* Wrestler of the Year 2000
* Worst Feud of the Year vs. Kane 2002
* Readers’ Least Favorite Wrestler 2002, 2003
* Worst Worked Match of the Year v Scott Steiner 2003
- Most Overrated 2002–2004
* Feud of the Year v Shawn Michaels & Chris Benoit 2004
* Feud of the Year v Batista 2005
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame 2005
* Worst Feud of the Year w/ Shawn Michaels vs. Shane and Vince McMahon 2006
Jeff Hardy
The artist of the WWE family, Hardy, Hardy owes his inspiration to a little obsession with Ric Flair as a child. Constantly reinventing himself, Hardy went from motocross biking to becoming a member of the Teenage Wrestling Foundation. Needless to say, Hardy is an eccentric addition to the WrestleMania family.
Accomplishments:
- National Championship Wrestling
* NCW Light Heavyweight Championship 2x
- New Dimension Wrestling
* NDW Light Heavyweight Championship
- New Frontier Wrestling Association
* NFWA Heavyweight Championship
- North East Wrestling
* NEW Junior Heavyweight Championship
- NWA 2000
* NWA 2000 Tag Team Championship w/Matt Hardy
- Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts
* OMEGA New Frontiers Championship
* OMEGA Tag Team Championship w/ Matt Hardy
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
* PWI Comeback of the Year 2007
* PWI Match of the Year w/ Matt Hardy v The Dudley Boyz and Edge and Christian in the Triangle ladder match at WrestleMania 2000
* PWI Match of the Year w/ Matt Hardy versus The Dudley Boyz and Edge and Christian 2001
* PWI Tag Team of the Year w/ Matt Hardy 2000
* PWI # 17 singles wrestlers in PWI 500 2001
- Universal Wrestling Association
* UWA World Middleweight Championship
- WWF/WWE
* WCW Tag Team Championship w/ Matt Hardy
* WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
* WWF Hardcore Championship 3x
* WWF/E Intercontinental Championship 4x
* WWF/E World Tag Team Championship 6x
* WWE European Championship
* Slammy Award for Extreme Moment of the Year 2008
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
* Best Flying Wrestler 2000
Chris Jericho
since his 1999 Y2J millennium appearance, Jericho has held the title of first ever Undisputed WWE Champion. But not only is this ECW, WCW and WWF champion a wrestler, he’s also a rocker too- his metal band Fozzy has achieved a cult following. And although he lost his title to Triple H in WrestleMania XVIII, an appearance at WrestleMania XXV will soon commence.
Accomplishments:
- Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
* NWA World Middleweight Championship
- Extreme Championship Wrestling
* ECW World Television Championship
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
* PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year 2002
* PWI ranked him #4 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2002
- World Championship Wrestling
* WCW Cruiserweight Championship 4x
* WCW World Television Championship
- World Wrestling Federation | World Wrestling Entertainment
* WCW World Heavyweight Championship 2x
* WWF European Championship
* WWF Hardcore Championship
* WWF/E Intercontinental Championship 8x
* WWF Undisputed Championship
* WWF/E World Tag Team Championship 3x – Chris Benoit, The Rock, Christian
* World Heavyweight Championship 2x
* Slammy Award for Superstar of the Year 2008
* Ninth Triple Crown Champion
* Third Grand Slam Champion
- Wrestle Association “R”
* WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship
* WAR International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship w/ Gedo
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
* Readers’ Favorite Wrestler 1999
* Most Underrated Wrestler 1999, 2000
* Best on Interviews 2003
Matt Hardy
Hardly shadowed by his brother Jeff Hardy, Matt Joined the WWE in 1998 terribly underweight but determined. Hardy would go on to join the SmackDown fmaily and participate in his most publicized drama yet – the Lita Saga. Far too lengthy to cover here, this saga can be summarized in one word- heartbreak. And it’s funny how heartbreak often spawns determination. After being fired and rehired into the WWE roster, Hardy is tougher than ever! Maybe we’ll encounter a Hardy boys reunion over at WrestleMania 25? hmmm…
Accomplishments:
- National Championship Wrestling
* NCW Light Heavyweight Championship 2X
- New Dimension Wrestling
*o NDW Light Heavyweight Championship
* New Frontier Wrestling Association
o NFWA Heavyweight Championship
* North East Wrestling
o NEW Junior Heavyweight Championship
* NWA 2000
o NWA 2000 Tag Team Championship w/ Matt Hardy
* Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts
o OMEGA New Frontiers Championship
o OMEGA Tag Team Championship w/ Matt Hardy
* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
o PWI Comeback of the Year 2007
o PWI Match of the Year 2000
o PWI Match of the Year 2001
o PWI Tag Team of the Year 2000 w/ Matt Hardy
o PWI # 17 singles wrestler in PWI 500 2001
* Universal Wrestling Association
o UWA World Middleweight Championship
* World Wrestling Federation | World Wrestling Entertainment
o WCW Tag Team Championship w/ Matt Hardy
o WWF Hardcore Championship 3x
o WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
o WWF/E Intercontinental Championship 4x
o WWF/E World Tag Team Championship 6x w/ Matt Hardy
o WWE Championship
o WWE European Championship
o Seventh Grand Slam Champion
o Slammy Award for Extreme Moment of the Year 2008
o Eighteenth Triple Crown Champion
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
o Best Flying Wrestler 2000
Undertaker
Ah, last year’s WrestleMania champion, a true staple in WWE culture, Undertaker began his journey in the WWE way back in 1990 and almost 20 years later, he’s still hardcore. Undertaker has defeated big time stars like Randy Orton, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H, often thought dead for months at a time, Undertaker always returned with a seething vengence. Will Undertaker bury the competition at this year’s WrestleMania? Grab your WrestleMania tickets and see for yourself!
Accomplishments:
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
* PWI Feud of the Year 1991
* PWI Match of the Year 1998
* PWI # 2 ofbest singles wrestlers in PWI 500 2002
- United States Wrestling Association
* USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship
- World Class Wrestling Association
* WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship
- World Wrestling Federation | World Wrestling Entertainment
* WCW Tag Team Championship w/Kane
* WWF/E Championship 4x
* WWF Hardcore Championship
* WWF Tag Team Championship 6x
* World Heavyweight Championship 2x
* Royal Rumble 2007
* Slammy Award for WWF’s Greatest Hit 1996
* Slammy Award for Best Tattoo 1997
* Slammy Award for Best Entrance Music 1997
* Slammy Award for Star of the Highest Magnitude 1997
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
* 5 Star Match 1997
* Best Gimmick 1990-1994
* Best Heel 1991
* Feud of the Year 2007
* Most Overrated 2001
* Readers’ Least Favorite Wrestler 2001
* Worst Worked Match of the Year 2001
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame 2004
* Worst Feud of the Year 1993
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