Where does Hulk Hogan rank among the 20 strongest WWE wrestlers?
Embodying power
Hulk Hogan, who has sadly died at 71, embodied raw power for decades, inspiring generations with his incredible presence in the ring.
Dominating
Alongside him stand other legendary names who didn’t just defeat opponents but dominated them, displaying strength that left crowds in awe. Here they are...
19. Ron Simmons
A former football standout, Simmons had raw power that few could match. His spine busters and slams were some of the hardest-hitting in WWE, and he never struggled to throw around massive opponents. He was also known as a backstage enforcer, a reputation that is not easily earned without the means to back it up.
18. Ryback
"The Big Guy" wasn't the best wrestler by any stretch, but his power was undeniable. His Shell Shocked finisher saw him marching around with two men on his back at one point, and he routinely lifted 300-pounders like they were nothing. He was inconsistent, of course, as his botch on Tensai shows.
17. The Rock
We're probably talking more about the post-Hollywood Rock here, the one that occasionally wrestles and has access to better protein powder (we assume that's what it is anyway) than he would if he were strictly working under the WWE's wellness policy. But that version of the Rock is definitely one of the strongest guys in the ring and reportedly benches 400lbs for fun, as far as fitness site Barbend understands.
16. Cesaro
Pound-for-pound, Cesaro might be the strongest wrestler WWE has ever seen. Swinging The Great Khali, deadlifting Big Show, and his effortless strength-based offense made him a powerhouse despite not being the biggest guy.
15. Hulk Hogan
Say what you want about Hogan, but his body slam on the 500lb Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III is still one of the most iconic feats of strength in WWE history. Sure, Andre helped, but Hogan still pulled off something almost no one else could.
14. Scott Steiner
Big Poppa Pump wasn't just a loudmouth – he backed it up with insane power. His Frankensteiner on 300-pounders and freakish gym lifts made him one of the most physically imposing stars of his era. He could seemingly suplex anyone, anytime, from any position.
13. The Great Khali
His wrestling ability was notoriously... well, non-existent, but there's no denying he was strong. Khali's two-handed choke slams and vice grip crushed opponents, and at nearly 400 pounds himself, just moving around was a feat of power.
12. The Big Show
It's one thing to be big, it's another to be strong. Big Show was both. His one-handed choke slams and military presses on 300-pounders proved his strength was just as monstrous as his size.
11. The British Bulldog
Davey Boy Smith had legendary power, best showcased when he lifted a 300-pound Vader on his shoulders and ran across the ring at Slamboree 1993. And that's not to mention his deadlift suplexes, which became a showstopping moment for any Bulldog match.
10. The Undertaker
Often overlooked for his strength, Undertaker regularly hoisted 400+ pounders for the Last Ride and even lifted the 500-pound Mark Henry for the Tombstone. His power was as underrated as his agility.
9. Kane
The Big Red Machine wasn't just about fire and destruction – he was an absolute powerhouse. He's choke-slammed and body-slammed 500-pound giants like The Great Khali and Big Show with ease (well, relative ease anyway), proving his freakish strength.
7. John Cena
Cena's gym strength translated perfectly into the ring. His double Attitude Adjustment on Big Show and Edge at WrestleMania 25 proved he had legitimate power. In fact, Big Show even said he was the strongest wrestler he's ever been in the ring with, as Chris Van Vliet reported.
6. Batista
A genetic monster, Batista's strength was evident in every match. His Batista Bomb was one of the most devastating powerbombs ever, and he made lifting guys like The Undertaker and Mark Henry look effortless.
5. Tony Atlas
A legit powerlifting beast, Atlas was benching 600 pounds in the 70s before most wrestlers even touched weights. Based on that metric alone, Atlas is well up there with the strongest. His brute strength made him a force, but his career never quite hit main event levels.
4. Andre The Giant
Speaking of giants, Andre's strength wasn't just about size – he was a legit powerhouse. Stories of him flipping cars and carrying wrestlers with one arm are legendary, and his sheer force was unmatched in his prime. According to his documentary, 'He Was a God,' he even once lifted a 1,000lb weight.
3. Bruno Sammartino
A pioneer of power wrestling, Sammartino once lifted more than 600 pounds over his head as the first and only man to lift "Haystacks" Calhoun off the mat and slam him in a match. He also set a world record bench press of 565 pounds in 1959. He dominated his opponents with raw strength in an era before the widespread use of steroids and advanced training methods.
2. Brock Lesnar
A freak athlete, Lesnar's collegiate wrestling background and raw gym strength made him an absolute machine. From F5-ing Big Show to tossing giants around like cruiserweights, he's not only one of the strongest the WWE has ever seen, but he was as agile as wrestlers half his size.
