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User: Rank the stardom of the following wrestlers: Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Jim Londos, Gorgeous George, Buddy Rogers, Ra…

Rank the stardom of the following wrestlers: Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Jim Londos, Gorgeous George, Buddy Rogers, Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Steve Austin, The Rock, Mick Foley, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Batista, Roman Reigns, CM Punk.

Assistant: That’s a great list — it spans virtually the entire modern history of professional wrestling stardom.

That’s a great list — it spans virtually the entire modern history of professional wrestling stardom. Below is a ranking of their overall stardom, considering mainstream recognition, drawing power (ticket/PPV sales), cultural impact, and legacy — not just wrestling skill or fan respect.

🌟 Tier 1 – Global Icons / Transcendent Stars

These names are known outside wrestling circles and represent the business to the general public.

1. Hulk Hogan – The face of 1980s wrestling, mainstream celebrity, and the man who made wrestling “cool.” Without Hogan, there is arguably no global WWE phenomenon.
2. The Rock – The biggest crossover star in wrestling history; transcended WWE into Hollywood. Pure cultural icon status.
3. Steve Austin – Carried the entire company during its most lucrative period (the Attitude Era). In wrestling terms, possibly the biggest draw ever.
4. John Cena – The face of WWE for nearly two decades; transcended into film, philanthropy, and meme culture.
5. Andre the Giant – A mythical name from the pre-Hogan era, recognized globally even by non-fans, largely thanks to The Princess Bride and his one-of-a-kind presence.

⭐ Tier 2 – Era-Defining Legends / Industry Pillars

Every one of these names could headline any era; they were either the guy or shaped wrestling’s identity.

1. Ric Flair – The greatest all-around pro wrestler to many, multi-decade career, pop culture figure (“WOOO!” chant still ubiquitous).
2. Randy Savage – Hogan’s 1980s counterpart in charisma, famous voice, and “Macho Man” brand; crossed into music and Slim Jim ads.
3. The Undertaker – Longevity, mystique, and legacy; one of WWE’s most respected and instantly recognizable figures worldwide.
4. Shawn Michaels – Known as one of the best in-ring performers ever; not as big a mainstream name as those above but revered within wrestling.

🔥 Tier 3 – Major Stars / Cultural Influence Within Wrestling

These drew money, had eras of dominance, or major influence, but didn’t transcend as far into the mainstream.

1. Bret Hart – Face of WWF in the 1990s global slump; major star in Canada and Europe; essential to wrestling’s credibility revival.
2. Brock Lesnar – Legit crossover sports star (UFC champion) and attraction; not as culturally loved as Cena, but box office dynamite.
3. Mick Foley – Hardcore legend, bestselling author, beloved underdog personality. Known even to casual fans as the “crazy guy off the cage.”
4. CM Punk – Voice-of-the-voiceless era star, sparked a wrestling resurgence; massive cult following and mainstream crossover with AEW/return headlines.
5. Roman Reigns – Face of WWE’s modern era; global recognition growing but not quite at Cena/Austin/Rock level yet.

⚙️ Tier 4 – Historical Draws / Important in Their Time

Hugely influential in their eras, but outside hardcore or historical circles, their names don’t carry as much mainstream weight today.

1. Buddy Rogers – The original “Nature Boy,” first recognized WWE Champion, essential to the lineage of modern showmanship.
2. Gorgeous George – The first wrestling television superstar, inspired Muhammad Ali’s flamboyance; essential to the birth of wrestling celebrity.
3. Jim Londos – One of the most famous athletes of the 1930s–40s; massive draw in his time but almost forgotten by modern audiences.
4. Batista – Big movie star now (Guardians of the Galaxy), but wrestling fame was solidly below Cena or even Lesnar. Crossover helps his modern visibility though.

🏁 Summary Table (Ranked 1–18)

| Rank | Wrestler | Notes | | ---- | --------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | Hulk Hogan | Wrestling’s biggest global icon of the 20th century | | 2 | The Rock | Biggest crossover star ever | | 3 | Steve Austin | Peak wrestling draw | | 4 | John Cena | Two-decade face of WWE | | 5 | Andre the Giant | Mythic attraction, pop culture icon | | 6 | Ric Flair | Legendary charisma, influence, longevity | | 7 | Randy Savage | Iconic look/voice, mainstream crossover | | 8 | The Undertaker | Longevity + mystique = legend | | 9 | Shawn Michaels | Peerless in-ring performer | | 10 | Bret Hart | International star, technical icon | | 11 | Brock Lesnar | Legit crossover athlete, PPV draw | | 12 | Mick Foley | Beloved cult hero | | 13 | CM Punk | Modern cultural disruptor | | 14 | Roman Reigns | Modern company face | | 15 | Buddy Rogers | Original “Nature Boy,” historical innovator | | 16 | Gorgeous George | First wrestling celebrity | | 17 | Jim Londos | Pre-TV era superstar | | 18 | Batista | Movie star, moderate wrestling legacy |

Would you like me to rank them purely by drawing power (ticket/PPV money) next, or by pop-culture recognition? Those two lists differ slightly (for example, Lesnar ranks higher in drawing power than Foley).