WWE and AEW's Mount Rushmore for Today's Era

One of the most popular questions asked of wrestlers and fans alike is who they have on their Mount Rushmore of professional wrestling.

Larger-than-life stars such as Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Bruno Sammartino, The Undertaker, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin are always among the most popular answers.

They are, after all, some of the most important contributors to the industry's long and illustrious history.

But which stars deserve spots on WWE's and All Elite Wrestling's modern-era Mount Rushmores?

Let's take a look, with each star determined based on their historical significance and the quality of their work.

AEW has only been in existence since 2019, making it far easier to compile a foursome of the most important and deserving stars in company history.

Omega was one of the faces of pro wrestling globally at the start of AEW and a guy without whom it would have been far more difficult to get the project off the ground.

He had credibility among fans, regardless of where their allegiances lay, and he was arguably the best wrestler in the world at the start of his run there.

That he became a creative centerpiece, won two world titles, battled a serious health issue to come back and still delivered an instant classic against Will Ospreay at All In 2026 certainly doesn't hurt his case for inclusion.

Debuting on night one at AEW Double or Nothing in Las Vegas, Moxley wasted little time becoming the heart and soul of the company.

One of the most decorated and respected stars on the roster, Moxley has become the "ace" of AEW, the promotion's standard-bearer and tone-setter.

Like him and his style of wrestling or not, no one can downplay his importance to the company and his success since emerging from the stands in the MGM Grand Garden Arena seven years ago.

From the moment he first set foot in an AEW ring, it was clear that MJF had the potential to become one of the company's defining homegrown stars and a future world champion.

His work belonged in the 1980s NWA; his promo skills would have been right at home in the Attitude Era, and his willingness to get heat at any cost reminded some of the territory days.

MJF was a breakout star from day one, and he was positioned as such, working with Cody Rhodes, Chris Jericho, Hangman Page and Jon Moxley in relatively short order. Throw in one of the best rivalries in company history with CM Punk, and one of the biggest business-driving programs with Adam Cole, and you have someone synonymous with AEW and its growth and evolution.

One of AEW's pillars, Allin best embodies what it means to be one of the "sickos" Tony Khan and Co. embrace. He is left of center, a completely different wrestler from anyone else on the roster, and someone who does not hesitate to throw himself in harm's way for the sake of his performance.

He moves to the beat of a drummer who may not be on planet Earth, shows no fear in any aspect of his game, and he has won the AEW world, TNT and world tag team championships.

The longtime tag team partner of the legendary Sting up until his retirement, Allin is now helping to ensure the future of the company by partnering with Steven Borden.

While there is an argument for Swerve Strickland, Hangman Page, Chris Jericho and The Young Bucks here, Allin is so representative of AEW and its philosophies that it feels wrong not to include him.

WWE has had several major stars over the last decade or so, but a handful have left indelible marks on the company, earning their places on its modern-day Mount Rushmore.

The face that runs the place. Since 2015, Reigns has been at the forefront of the company—the face on its posters and in its marketing materials. He has been its leading star on TV, too, especially since his evolution from The Big Dog to The Tribal Chief and the introduction of The Bloodline.

Reigns was so captivating in the role that his nearly four-year reign as universal champion felt warranted—a remarkable achievement in an era of constant competition for fans' attention.

He holds the record for the most WrestleMania main events, has battled many of WWE's biggest stars during his run and is enjoying the greatest in-ring stretch of his career. Acknowledge him.

Rhodes returned to WWE in 2022 and embarked on a two-year journey to become the undisputed WWE champion, captivating fans along the way.

Their support helped persuade WWE to put him, rather than The Rock, opposite Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 40's second night. His victory over The Tribal Chief marked the beginning of a new era in WWE.

Although some creative decisions may have hurt Rhodes' run at the top of the company, he has undeniably developed into one of WWE's leading stars.

If Rhodes and Reigns are the "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock of this generation, Rollins is the Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels: He can consistently be trusted to deliver once the bell rings.

One of the most gifted wrestlers of his era, Rollins has been presented as a star on par with his peers. He has accomplished everything: won numerous major titles, slayed The Beast Incarnate, frazzled The Tribal Chief, beaten The Best in the World and pulled off two of the greatest Money in the Bank cash-ins of all time.

Rounding out the big four of this generation of WWE Superstars is CM Punk.

Yes, he returned to the company only in 2023 after nearly a decade away. Since then, however, he has delivered one of the greatest rivalries of all time with Drew McIntyre, won both the World Heavyweight and Undisputed WWE Championships and main-evented consecutive WrestleManias. He remains as popular with fans as ever.

He is in his Shawn Michaels era: a grizzled veteran enjoying a magnificent run of in-ring performances.

Love him or hate him, Punk backs up his bravado and has repeatedly proved he is almost untouchable on the mic, in the ring and even on commentary. That is enough to earn him a spot on WWE's modern-day Mount Rushmore.

Writer's note: Becky Lynch also has a strong case based on her work in the women's division. She narrowly misses out here, with Rollins and Punk taking the final two places.

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