Being in the ring takes its toll. Many wrestlers from the ’80s and ’90s stayed in shape and look amazing today, while others didn’t age as well.
If there’s an industry that ages talent faster than almost any other, it’s undoubtably professional wrestling. Many of your favourite WWE and WCW stars from the 80s and 90s look completely ‘washed up’ and worn out now after their gruelling careers in Sports Entertainment ended.
While the WWE and other big promotions try to keep their talent as healthy as possible now, even wrestlers from just 10 years ago are looking super old today. Back in the day, ‘the juice’ compounded with many addiction problems aged wrestlers extremely quickly. But even today, the sport of wrestling itself is enough to age a performer far more briskly than you or me.
While we love the art of wrestling, it is very doubtful the human body was designed to tolerate abuse in the ring every day of the week. This notion has been proven with how many wrestlers are hurt so frequently.
However, not all wrestlers age as badly as others, and there are surprisingly still plenty of wrestling stars from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s who look fantastic, and are in great shape.
That being said, I’d argue the number of wrestlers looking super old and washed up far outweigh those who still look great, and this is why it’s quite ‘out of the ordinary’ when we see former WWE or WCW stars looking good. Today, we’re going to be looking at 10 photos of your favourite wrestlers looking super old, and 10 who look better than ever.
20Super Old: Lex Luger
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Out of all the former WCW stars who look completely unrecognizable and downright terrible without ‘the juice’, Lex Luger has to be at the forefront of that list. The former WCW World Champion has unfortunately lost all of his once impressive muscle mass due to health complications caused by abusing ‘the juice’ and other substances for many years, and he’s certainly not looking too good right now.
Showcased above is what Lex Luger looks like today, and he’s definitely looking super old considering he’s only 59.
Luger unquestionably possessed one of the most intimidating physiques throughout the 80s and 90s in professional wrestling, and while it certainly helped him achieve success, the negative side effects that come with being ‘on the juice’ for so many years cannot be overlooked.
19Better Than Ever: Steve Austin
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If there’s one thing for certain when it comes to Stone Cold Steve Austin, it’s the fact that he never seems to age – if anything, Austin’s gotten himself into better shape since retiring. Stone Cold may be 53 years old, but he could easily pass for being in his early 40s, something that could not be said for a wrestler such as Triple H who’s a whole five years younger than Austin.
Our take on Steve Austin not aging as quickly as most other WWE and WCW stars simply stems from good genetics, and retiring from wrestling well before he needed to.
Stone Cold was only in his mid 30s when he retired, so he’s had many years for his body to recuperate from the wear and tear. While Steve Austin portrays a beer drinking guy on television, he’s undoubtedly sticking to a good diet as well.
18Super Old: The Dynamite Kid
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The Dynamite Kid’s health has declined immensely over the past few years, and he’s looking absolutely terrible right now as shown above, unfortunately. While the sport of professional wrestling itself is more than enough to wear out and age its talent extremely quickly, the fact remains that abusing ‘the juice’ to the degree Dynamite Kid did during his prime definitely speeds up the process even more.
Wrestlers back in the 80s and 90s didn’t have the knowledge about ‘the juice’ and its negative side effects like they do now. It’s very sad to see former wrestling stars such as Dynamite Kid and Lex Luger suffering from those said side effects currently. The Dynamite Kid unquestionably looks much older than 59, and he’s quite honestly become unrecognizable with age.
17Better Than Ever: Billy Gunn
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Similar to Al Snow, Billy Gunn is looking absolutely terrific for being 54 years old, and showcased above is a photograph of Billy post-workout with his impressive ‘guns’ on full display. However, unlike Al Snow, Billy Gunn has actually been linked to ‘the juice’ as he had been fired for failing the WWE’s Wellness Policy a few years back, so there’s no denying that Gunn achieved his physique unnaturally, as he did.
That said, it’s still impressive for Billy to have been able to get himself in such fantastic shape even with the help of the juice, because as we mentioned before, hard work, dedication and a great diet are all necessary as well. While he’s not been all too successful outside the WWE, Billy Gunn’s still wrestling on the Indies and in NJPW to this day.
16Super Old: Bret Hart
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Bret Hart may be one of, if not the greatest wrestler of all time, but that doesn’t change the fact that Bret hasn’t aged very well, and the recent photo above shows ‘The Hitman’ looking super old and worn out. Bret Hart clearly hasn’t been working out in the gym like he used to since retiring, and it’s definitely showing.
Bret is 60 years old, so he was bound to show some aging at this point.
The wrestling business undoubtedly wears out its performers quicker than most other industry’s including Hollywood, as actors who worked gruelling schedules too are still looking great even into their 70s – guys like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone for example. Nothing quite compares to being tossed around the ring day in and day out for decades on end.
15Better Than Ever: Sycho Sid
via pensandpatron.com
When I had first stumbled across the picture above of former WWE and WCW Champion Sycho Sid, it was very surprising and shocking to say the least. Despite retiring from Sports Entertainment many years ago, Sid’s kept himself in great shape, and he’s quite honestly never looked better – not even in his prime.
Sycho Sid officially retired from wrestling last summer after he defeated Indie wrestler Paul Rosenberg at an event held by Great North Wrestling, and while Sycho Sid may not be your ‘favorite’ wrestler of all time, you cannot deny that he was a key player during the 90s wrestling boom. Comparing the 57 year old Sycho Sid to Bret Hart, it’s clear a wrestler can still look good later on in life if they make a conscious effort to stay healthy and fit.
14Super Old: Sunny
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We simply cannot put all the focus on your favorite male wrestlers looking super old and those looking better than ever, as there are undoubtedly many female wrestlers looking great, and some not so much. One of the former women’s wrestling stars who’s looking super old presently is none other than Sunny.
As I’m sure most are well aware, Sunny’s post-WWE life has been filled with substance use and controversial behaviour.
She’s definitely showing the wear and tear of her terrible decisions. If you hadn’t known, Sunny had been arrested the other day for being a ‘fugitive from justice’, and she’s once again found herself amidst the media for being controversial. Above is a recent photo of Sunny posing alongside a fan, and she’s looking very worn out and washed up.
13Better Than Ever: Scott Hall
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Scott Hall is living proof that it’s never too late for a former wrestler struggling with alcohol or drug addiction to change their ways and make a drastic transformation in their health and overall appearance. Shown above is what Scott Hall looks like today, and compared to just two years ago, he’s looking better than ever.
With the help of Diamond Dallas Page and some of his other good friends, Scott’s since gotten himself back into the gym with a good diet, kicked the addictions that had previously held him down, and is in unbelievable shape for being just one year shy of 60 years old. The days of Scott Hall looking like a complete mess are over, and he’s making much healthier life decisions now, thankfully.
12Super Old: Randy Orton
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Although Randy’s been apart of Sports Entertainment for what seems like an eternity now, the fact remains that Orton’s still only 37 years old – much younger than what you may have expected him to be.
I’d argue that many fans would’ve expected Randy to be well into his 40s now, and if that were the case, he wouldn’t be looking too bad, but for 37, he’s aged very quickly.
Compared to fellow SmackDown Live Superstars AJ Styles and Bobby Roode who are 40 years old and looking as young as ever, Randy Orton’s definitely aging faster than other wrestlers.
Randy Orton used to be quite reckless back in the day, so perhaps some of his poor early life choices are catching up to ‘The Viper’ now, but regardless, this picture showcases Randy Orton looking super old and worn out.
11Better Than Ever: Dwayne Johnson
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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has never looked better at any point of his career in Sports Entertainment than he does right now, and he certainly looks like a modern day version of ‘Hercules’. The Rock’s unparalleled work ethic has not only allowed him to succeed to the degree he has in Hollywood, but it’s also kept ‘The Brahma Bull’ in fantastic shape.
Dwayne’s forte is unquestionably making action films, so it only makes sense that he’d be making sure that he stays in phenomenal shape.
Many fans are hoping that we’ll be seeing The Rock make a shocking comeback to the WWE sometime in the near future, and I’m sure Vince McMahon is trying his hardest to convince Rocky to make an appearance at WrestleMania 34 this year – whether for a match, or a non-wrestling appearance.
10Super Old: Triple H
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The stress, intense schedule and responsibility of being one of the WWE’s most important executives has definitely been adding a few wrinkles to Triple H’s forehead recently, and since becoming more of an executive over an in-ring performer, Hunter has aged extremely quickly. Shown above is a recent photograph of Triple H posing alongside recent signee Ronda Rousey, and Hunter’s definitely looking super old for only being 48.
When Triple H returned to the ring last year for the Survivor Series pay-per-view as well as the supershow in India, you could clearly tell that Hunter’s body has been deteriorating a bit, as he was nowhere near in the shape he was at WrestleMania 33.
Having the responsibility of being a top WWE executive as well as a part-time performer is unquestionably taxing in all departments, and it’s a position that will age a person quicker than any other.
9Better Than Ever: Torrie Wilson
Unlike Sunny, former WWE women’s wrestler Torrie Wilson is looking better than ever, and we definitely mean that. Even during her peak in Sports Entertainment, Wilson was never quite as ‘shredded’ as she is presently, and her recent Royal Rumble appearance showcases that Torrie hasn’t missed a beat.
If you can believe, Torrie Wilson is only three years younger than Sunny, which just goes to show how much our decisions can truly affect our appearance.
Since retiring from full-time competition, Wilson’s found success in modeling, and she’s also a fitness instructor and blogger. I’m sure most fans wouldn’t mind a beauty like Torrie Wilson becoming a full-time women’s wrestler once again, as she’s just as gorgeous as she was ten years ago – if not more stunning.
8Super Old: Ric Flair
via tmz.com
‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair certainly hasn’t aged too gracefully, and shown above is a recent photograph showcasing Flair looking super old, much older than his actual age of 69. It’s clear the years of alcohol abuse have been catching up severely with Ric Flair the past couple years, as he’s been looking noticeably older compared to just two years ago.
However, health issues aside, Ric Flair continues to live his life in a stylin’ and profilin’ way, and it doesn’t seem like Flair’s willing to change his ways, nor is he able to kick his addiction issues.
Regardless, Ric Flair is one of he greatest of all time, and his limousine riding style is what set him apart from everybody else and made him a star. That being said, it doesn’t look like Flair will be living as long of a life as he could’ve had he curbed his alcohol problem earlier on.
7Better Than Ever: Goldberg
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Although Bill Goldberg isn’t quite as shredded as he was during his short run in WWE last year, he’s still undoubtedly looking better than ever – comparable to his prime in Sports Entertainment. Bill’s genetics are obviously fantastic, and to be able to look the way he does at 50 odd years old is unbelievable to say the least.
Goldberg is still very much the beast of old, and while he’s heading into the WWE Hall Of Fame this year, don’t rule out one last match sometime down the line – perhaps at ‘Mania next year.
Vince McMahon is all for doing ‘what’s best for business’, and if Goldberg’s able to keep himself in great shape, the opportunity will present itself once again in the future. What makes Goldberg’s physique even more impressive is the fact that he’s likely natural and juice-free.
6Super Old: John Cena
via hairlosstalk.com
While John Cena’s recent hair transplant has made the former ‘Face That Runs The Place’ appear a bit younger, this close-up photograph definitely showcased Cena looking super old. Being the face of the WWE for well over a decade definitely takes its toll on any wrestler, and John Cena is no exception to this rule. Compared to other wrestlers currently in WWE who are the same age as Cena (40) such as AJ Styles, Bobby Roode and Brock Lesnar, in this specific photo, John looked a solid ten years older.
The hair transplant has certainly helped John look much younger than he did last year, but he’s still showing the wear and tear from being the face of WWE for so long.
It doesn’t seem as though Cena’s schedule is going to become any lighter in the foreseeable future, as John’s putting a big chunk of his focus now on his budding career in Hollywood.
5Better Than Ever: Al Snow
Had Al Snow possessed the physique he has now during his prime years in Sports Entertainment, who knows how much further he could’ve gone in WWE. Showcased above is a photo of Al Snow looking better than ever, and Snow’s never been so shredded in his life.
It’s quite surprising to see Al in such great shape at 54 years old, and while some may make assumptions that Snow’s ‘on the juice’, regardless, hard work is unquestionably required to attain such an impressive physique at his age.
Al Snow may be heading towards the tail end of his career, but he’s definitely concerned about his health once his career finishes up unlike many other WWE and WCW stars from his generation who completely fell off the rails once they retired.
4Super Old: The Undertaker
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The Undertaker’s unquestionably one of the all-time greats, but I think most of us can agree on the fact that ‘Taker’s aged terribly, and the recent picture above showcases ‘The Deadman’ looking super old and completely worn out.
It’s quite surprising that The Undertaker’s continuously agreed to wrestle at WrestleMania each year despite being in terrible shape, and while ‘Mania wouldn’t quite be the same without ‘Taker, I think of us would rather have Undertaker keep away from the ring to avoid being tossed around once again this year for no real reason.
If you can believe, The Undertaker’s actually one year younger than Steve Austin, and I’d argue that ‘Taker looks about 10 years older than he actually is. The wrestling business has definitely ‘chewed up and spit out’ The Undertaker, and it would be a wise decision for everyone involved if ‘Taker honored his retirement ceremony last year.
3Better Than Ever: Hulk Hogan
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While Hulk Hogan had deflated without the juice a few years back, Hogan’s since gotten himself back into phenomenal shape, and he’s looking better than. Shown above is a recent photo of ‘The Hulkster’ and his son Nick, and Hulk Hogan’s ‘guns’ were on full display. Hogan definitely looks fantastic for being 64 years old, and he truly seems ready for a return to WWE in the near future – though that’s likely not going to happen as the company recently stated their stance on Hulk returning.
Hulk Hogan has undoubtedly bounced back from his controversial lawsuit with Gawker and his racist remarks, and I think most of us can agree that he wouldn’t be a problem for WWE at this point if he did return. However, Vince McMahon seems very committed to his decision of banning Hogan from WWE, and it’s very unfortunate to say the least.
2Super Old: Shawn Michaels
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Although Shawn Michaels is still in great shape, this particular photograph of ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ and his good friend Triple H made Shawn look super old. This certainly isn’t one of Shawn’s most flattering post-retirement pictures, as Michaels looked closer to 62 years old than his actual age of 52 in this photo – I’m sure it’s a picture Shawn doesn’t want any of us to see.
However, Shawn Michaels has still kept up his physique, and he looks as though he could return to the ring at any moment. Unfortunately for fans, Shawn turned down a big money Royal Rumble match with AJ Styles last year, and Michaels has no interest in returning to the ring. On one hand, it would’ve been a great match, but it also would have done nothing for Michaels to lose a random return match – it would’ve tainted his legacy in Sports Entertainment.
1Better Than Ever: Bruno Sammartino
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Out of all the wrestlers included on this list who’re looking ‘better than ever’, I don’t think any of them quite compare to WWE Hall Of Famer, Bruno Sammartino. Showcased above is what the legend looks like currently, and his physique is beyond impressive for a guy who’s 82 years old, almost unthinkable actually.
While the wrestling business wears out most of its talent, you simply cannot say that it wears out all of them, as Bruno is an exception to that rule. As we had mentioned before, Sammartino looks as though he could be main eventing pay-per-views for the WWE right now, and he’s arguably in better shape than half the current roster. However, Bruno’s definitely a rarity, as most professional wrestlers his age can barely move, let alone flex a shredded physique.