While most amateur wrestlers are known for wearing a singlet or one piece, pro wrestlers are known for their creative, unique, and character-driven wrestling outfits. It’s what makes the sport so entertaining as the wrestling outfits and characters that wear them take to center stage.
From the days of wrestling in circuses throughout the 1800s to amateur wrestling, the First Golden Age of pro wrestling, the Second Golden Age of pro wrestling, and modern day pro wrestling, we’ve seen a wide range of distinctive, unique wrestling outfits that we enjoyed.
Just think how different the WWE would be today if the wrestlers didn’t wear wrestling outfits. It would take away from the storyline, it would take away from the character’s personality, and it would deplete the viewer’s interest in watching – which is the opposite of what they want.
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Who Wore the Best Wrestling Outfits of All-Time?
WWE is home to some of the craziest, most memorable, and creative wrestling outfits, but don’t underestimate the wrestling outfits found in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor (ROH), Major League Wrestling (MLW), and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
All these promotions understand how important wrestling outfits are to the overall success of the show. When they see an opportunity to grab the viewer’s attention and draw their interest, they will pounce on that opportunity every time – and wrestling outfits often allow them to do that.
Over the past 70 years, since the WWE was originally founded in 1953, we have seen so many great wrestling outfits that we can’t fit them all in one list. With that being said, we’re going to detail what we think are the 20 best wrestling outfits of all-time. Let’s see if you agree with us!
20. The Ultimate Warrior
James Bryan Hellwig, known by his ring name The Ultimate Warrior, is a former bodybuilder turned wrestling superstar. He is most known for his stint in the World Wrestling Foundation (now the WWE) between 1987 and 1992. He’s one of the most energetic wrestlers ever.
The Ultimate Warrior is a two-time WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion and also won the WWF Championship in 1990. He passed away in 2014 due to a heart attack while walking to his car. This came just three days after he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 5.
19. Legion of Doom
The Legion of Doom, also known as The Road Warriors, was the tag team duo of Joseph Laurinaitis (Road Warrior Animal) and Michael Hegstrand (Road Warrior Hawk). They’re most known for their stints in the AWA, NWA, WCW, and WWF (now WWE) between 1984 and 2003.
Legion of Doom were known for their face paint and spiked football shoulder pads. The wrestling outfits were inspired by The Road Warrior, a Mad Max film from 1981. In fact, they were the first wrestlers to base their characters off of a movie. They’re inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
18. Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler
Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler showed everyone how good it was to be king. He often walked out with a crown on his head and a cape on his back – both of which were full of shiny elements. He began his career in the 1970s, becoming a four-time world heavyweight champion in the AWA.
Lawler joined the WWF (now WWE) in 1992 and dominated the promotion until 2001, at which point he became a part-time wrestler and color commentator. He never won a championship in the WWE, but Lawler holds more recognized championships than any other wrestler ever.
17. Giant Gonzales
Jorge González, best known by his ring name Giant Gonzales, was a 7’7’’, 460-pound behemoth of a man that terrorized the WCW and WWE between 1989 and 1993. He often feuded with Ric Flair, The One Man Gang, Sid Vicious, The Undertaker, and Randy Savage.
Gonzales looked like a hairy, muscular man, but that was mostly just his outfit. Prior to his career as a professional wrestler, he was an Argentinian basketball player that played for the national team. He even caught the interest of the NBA, but failed to turn it into a career.
16. Sable
Rena Marlette Lesnar, better known by her ring name Sable, is a retired professional wrestler that’s currently married to Brock Lesnar. She wrestled for the WWE between 1996 and 1999, becoming the WWF Women’s Champion. She later returned in 2003 and wrestled until 2007.
Sable turned a lot of heads when she entered the ring with a bikini on, but without a shirt. Instead, she had painted her chest with two hand prints on her breasts. She quickly became a sex symbol and even made her way onto the cover of Playboy magazine three times.
15. Naomi
Trinity Fatu, best known by her ring name Naomi, is a professional wrestler that’s currently billed to SmackDown under the WWE promotion. She signed with the promotion in 2009 and has been a major player in the sport ever since. She’s known for her neon, glowing attire and personality.
Naomi became WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion in 2017 when she feuded with Alexa Bliss. She has been involved in various storylines since 2018, but is also a dancer and recording artist. She’s married to pro wrestler Jonathan Fatu, best known as Jimmy Uso.
14. Sting
Steve Borden, best known by his ring name Sting, is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all-time and his resume speaks for itself. He won a total of 15 world championships in his career, which has spanned five decades and even continues today.
Sting is best known for his stints with the WCW between 1987 and 2001, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling between 2003 and 2014, and the WWE between 2014 and 2020. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling and continues to wear his colorful face paint that made him famous.
13. Dusty Rhodes
Virgil Riley Runnels Jr., best known by his ring name ‘The American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes, was one of the greatest personalities the sport has ever seen, despite having a less-impressive physique than most. He could wine and dine, but wasn’t afraid to eat with his hands, either.
Dusty Rhodes began his wrestling career in 1967, despite not having much experience in the sport. He would remain in the sport until his death in 2015, turning over a career that spanned nearly half a century. He is in the Hall of Fame for the WWE, WCW, and Professional Wrestling.
12. Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger
Keiichi Yamada, best known by his ring name Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger, is a former professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He wrestled primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling, but also had stints with All Star Wrestling, WWE, Stampede Wrestling, Total Nonstop, and WCW.
Jushin Liger is currently the longest-tenured wrestler on the New Japan Pro Wrestling roster and is known for his unique, gigantic mask that features a red face, horns, and long black hair. His outfit is just as shocking and colorful, making him look far from human. It’s an interesting outfit.
11. Goldust
Dustin Rhodes, the son of ‘The American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes, is a professional wrestler that performs under the ring name Goldust. He’s known for wearing a gold and black one-piece track suit with matching black and gold face paint. He began his professional wrestling career in 1988.
Between the WCW and WWE, Goldust has won a total of 23 world championships – including nine WWE Hardcore Championships and three WWE Intercontinental Championships. He has the second-most Royal Rumble matches of all-time and is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling.
10. Hulk Hogan
Terry Eugene Bollea, best known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is one of the most recognizable professional wrestlers in the history of the sport. Known for his handlebar mustache, red and yellow wrestling outfits, red bandana, and yellow sunglasses, Hulk Hogan is a living legend.
Hogan’s professional wrestling career began in the late-1970s and joined the WWF in 1979. He headlined eight of the first nine WrestleMania matches and was a five-time WWF Champion in his initial reign. He was also a six-time WCW Heavyweight Champion during another title reign.
9. Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque, best known by his ring name Triple H, began his professional wrestling career in 1992, joined the WCW in 1994, and finally settled into the WWE in 1995 where he remains today. Although retired, he serves as an executive vice president for the promotion.
Triple H won his first WWE Championship in 1999 and later became a five-time Intercontinental Champion, three-time Tag Team Champion, and 14-time world champion. He’s the WWE’s seventh Triple Crown Champion and the second wrestler to be named Grand Slam Champion.
8. Kane
Glenn Thomas Jacobs, best known by his ring name Kane, is a retired professional wrestler and current Mayor of Knox County in Tennessee. He began his wrestling career in 1992 and joined the WWE in 1995. He was known for his long hair and red mask, an iconic WWE look.
Kane’s character was built to be the younger half-brother of The Undertaker, which makes sense given his scary, intimidating look. He’s a three-time world champion, 12-time tag team champion, and the third professional wrestler to complete the WWE’s coveted Grand Slam.
7. Ted DiBiase
Theodore Marvin DiBiase Sr., best known by his ring name ‘The Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase, is a retired professional wrestler that competed between 1974 and 2008 – though he’s currently signed to WWE’s Legends program. He was known for his gold and shiny ‘million dollar’ suit.
Ted DiBiase won a total of 30 titles during his illustrious wrestling career and is widely regarded as one of the WWE’s greatest villains. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011 as a three-time Tag Team Champion, 24/7 Champion, 1988 King of the Ring, and two-tme Million Dollar Champion.
6. ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper
Roderick George Toombs, best known by his ring name ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper, is a retired professional wrestler of Scottish heritage – though he’s from Canada. He was known for his white ‘Hot Rod’ shirt, red and black plaid kilt, and bagpipe entrance that made him famous.
Roddy Piper brought WWE fans the well-known ‘Piper’s Pit’ interview segment, which featured some of the greatest trash talking of all-time. During his professional wrestling career, Piper won a total of 34 championships and was eventually inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
5. Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr, best known by his ring name ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair, is widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time. He was known for his colorful, fluffy, and sparkly robes that were used as a fashion statement, but you can’t forget the long, white hair.
Flair began his wrestling career in 1972 and it has now spanned over 40 years. He spent most of his career with Jim Crockett Productions and World Championship Wrestling, but had several stints with the WWE. He has won 16 world championships and is a two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee.
4. ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage
Randy Poffo, better known by his ring name ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage, is one of the most electric personalities the sport has ever seen. He’s known for his intense voice, colorful bandanas, big sunglasses, colorful top hat, and tassel-filled wrestling outfits that steal the show.
Randy Savage began his pro wrestling career in 1973 after an injury brought his pro baseball career to an end. He joined the WWF in 1985 and the WCW in 1994. Throughout his career, he had a total of 29 championship reigns with 11 different titles in both the WCW and WWF.
3. Sgt. Slaughter
Robert Rudolph Remus, best known by his ring name Sgt. Slaughter, is one of the most recognizable wrestlers of all-time. His character was that of a Vietnam War veteran, though he never served himself. He wore dark sunglasses, a campaign hat, and military fatigues.
Sgt. Slaughter played the part of a sergeant very well. His voice was direct and he was always yelling. He began his career in 1972 and joined the WWF in 1980. In 1991, he won the WWF Championship and was a two-time NWA US Heavyweight Champion. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.
2. ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin
I want you to picture someone getting off their motorcycle, heading straight to their refrigerator in the garage, cracking open a cold beer, and getting on the lawn mower to cut the grass. Now I want you to picture ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. Yeah, we’re picturing the same person.
Steve Austin had one of the most basic, yet relatable wrestling outfits of all-time. The jeans, the generic black shirt, the leather vest, the bald head, Stone Cold resembled true American men and wasn’t shy about his love for beer. He’s one of the best professional wrestlers of all-time.
1. The Undertaker
Mark William Calaway, best known by his ring name The Undertaker, is perhaps the only human that resembles a real-life Thanos. He’s one of the scariest wrestlers of all-time and made it known with his long black overcoat, black tank top, tall black top hat, and black gloves.
The Undertaker began his career in 1987 and joined the WWE in 1990. He had 21 straight wins at WrestleMania, won four WWE Championships, three World Heavyweight Championships, and six Tag Team Championships. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.
What About the Best Wrestling Outfits Today?
Every year, we see a new generation of wrestling outfits enter the ring and while some of them won’t win many fans over, others will enter the spotlight and rally the fans. Those wrestlers are the ones you’ll see and hear the most of as they become the face of modern-day wrestling.
For example, some of the best wrestling outfits today include Brock Lesnar, Sammy Guevara, Seth Rollins, Chad Gable, Adam Cole, Jade Cargill, Edge, Rey Mysterio, Happy Corbin, The Miz, Montez Ford, and Angelo Dawkins. If you haven’t seen them yet, you have to!
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If you’re like us and can’t wait to see all the awesome wrestling outfits the future has in store for us, then you can rest easy knowing that wrestling isn’t going anywhere and neither are the outfits. In fact, they’re only going to continue to get better, so make sure you continue to tune in!
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