Guest Rod Justice Report post Posted January 1, 2008 The following are the results of an independent study of the ages of WWE's wrestlers. 95% of the male wrestling roster is represented below. I was unable to find the ages of a few wrestlers, however, this sample size is certainly more than suffiicient. I didn't include any female wrestlers because in the big picture, they don't really "matter". The following are the main findings: Average Age: 33.62 Median Age: 33 I will give WWE credit for moving in the direction of elevating some of the younger guys. This has been demonstrated through the pushes of Punk, Zach Ryder, Kurt Hawkins, Shelton Benjamin, and Jeff Hardy...to name a few. Moreover, WWE is not headed towards WCW's "Wheel Chair Wrestling" days, however, they need to use the credibility of guys like Taker, HBK, Triple H, and Batista to elevate the stars of tomorrow. Let's face it, most wrestlers' bodies begin breaking down in their mid-to-late 30's. Ric Flair 58 Hacksaw Jim Duggan 54 Dave Taylor 50 Finlay 49 Hardcore Holly 44 Boogeyman 43 Undertaker 42 Shawn Michaels 42 JBL 41 Kane 40 William Regal 39 Funaki 39 Triple H 38 Batista 38 Chris Jericho 37 Chavo Guerrero 37 Snitsky 37 Mark Henry 36 Chuck Palumbo 36 Duece 36 Val Venis 36 Tommy Dreamer 36 Stevie Richards 36 Big Daddy V 35 The Great Khali 35 Nunzio 35 Balls Mahoney 35 Charlie Haas 35 Edge 34 MVP 34 Umaga 34 Super Crazy 34 Rey Mysterio 33 Matt Hardy 33 Matt Stryker 33 Gregory Helms 33 Santino Marella 33 Shelton Benjamin 32 Mr. Kennedy 31 Jamie Noble 31 Bobby Lashley 31 John Cena 30 Jeff Hardy 30 Kevin Thorn 30 Elijah Burke 29 CM Punk 29 Mike Knox 29 John Hennigan 28 Brian Kendrick 28 Jesse 28 Carlito 28 Shannon Moore 28 Domino 28 Randy Orton 27 The Miz 27 Paul London 27 Trevor Murdoch 27 Lance Cade 27 Jimmy Wang Yang 26 Festus 24 Cody Rhodes 22 Kenny Dykstra 22 Curt Hawkins 22 Zack Ryder 22 DH Smith 22 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rising up out of the back seat-nuh 0 Report post Posted January 1, 2008 I think 33 is a good average age. It's a mix of having guys at their peak, youngsters coming through and older pros to guide them. It's worth mentioning that when Flair retires, that average age will go down by nearly a year. Same with Duggan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Obi Chris Kenobi 0 Report post Posted January 1, 2008 A few years ago, just as I stopped watching in 2002 I was really worried there wouldn't be much of a WWE to watch if I started again, as I couldn't see any future stars. But they've managed to create some over those 5 years - Batitsa, Cena, Orton, Jeff Hardy's profile really rose as well, so its all good. In a few years time we'll have D H Smith, Colt, Punk, Cody all up there too which will make for an entertaining IC Title scene for a while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanks for the Fish 0 Report post Posted January 1, 2008 The one name that really jumped out at me is Festus being 24- I always assumed he was a late bloomer and already in his mid-30's. Maybe it's the early onset baldness that ages him in my mind. Deuce is a helluva lot older than I figured as well - 36yo already!?! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisMWaters 0 Report post Posted January 1, 2008 I can't believe I'm older than Festus. ...*needs to get started in training soon* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk 34 0 Report post Posted January 1, 2008 Brian Kendrick, the guy who still passes for a teenager is 28, it just baffles me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisMWaters 0 Report post Posted January 1, 2008 Also... Nelson "Mabel/King Mabel/Viscera/Big Daddy V" Frazier is younger than I thought he was. ...geez, he was only 22 back in the MoM days... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted January 2, 2008 Rey Mysterio might be 33, but I think his body is that of a 45 year old or so.. and the other thing is, in 5 years I dont see half that roster still active. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scroby 0 Report post Posted January 2, 2008 One thing that should be acounted for, WWE normally picks up wrestlers who are in their mid to late 20's to the early to mid 30's. Mainly because of the experiance and I think those who are picked up in those age brackets get called up a lot faster than the younger guys who have been in OVW for quite awhile. Plus a lot of the older guys are used more on tv than the younger ones. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted January 2, 2008 It'd be interesting to take another promotion, say, WCW in 1989 and run the same analysis. It's one thing to look at WWE today, but you need a basis of comparison. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scroby 0 Report post Posted January 2, 2008 It'd be interesting to take another promotion, say, WCW in 1989 and run the same analysis. It's one thing to look at WWE today, but you need a basis of comparison. If someone would do a comparison, it would have to be with a promotion from the past 10 years or so. Using a promotion like WCW in 1989 wouldn't work because the way wrestlers worked was much differant back then than the way wrestlers work today. But I do agree with you, just not the 1989 WCW part. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk 34 0 Report post Posted January 2, 2008 I think TNA would be a better comparison since that is more likely flooded with the 38-45 and 20-25 market with almost nothing in between. I think a good sign for WWE is that the company as a whole is more balanced. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kizzo 0 Report post Posted January 2, 2008 Interesting ages.. Some look nothing like there age. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted January 2, 2008 Isn't Batista in his 40's? I thought it was revealed that he lied about his age or something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cabbageboy 0 Report post Posted January 2, 2008 I agree that WWE has a good mix of veteran and younger talent right now, lots of guys in the solid late 20s and early 30s range too. There can be extreme ends on both sides. WCW in the late 90s had way too old of a roster, especially the main event scene. However there is such a thing as having too young of a roster. While watching the WCCW DVD this past week I couldn't help but notice how nearly everyone getting a push in World Class was in their 20s. I think you need some actual veteran leadership on top of a promotion, whereas there the veteran guys were more supporting players in the midcard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nate 0 Report post Posted January 2, 2008 I'd like to see a comparison of TNA guys as well Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mysterious_w 0 Report post Posted January 2, 2008 Undertaker being 42 shocked me, was sure he was 50. Oh well, the guy can go for at least 4 more years then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cabbageboy 0 Report post Posted January 2, 2008 Well here are the ages for the various TNA guys (no women). Abyss: 34 Styles: 29 Shelley: 24 BG James: 38 Dustin Rhodes: 38 Booker T: 42 Sabin: 25 Chris Harris: 34 Christian: 34 Elix Skipper: 30 Eric Young: 28 Hernandez: 34 Homicide: 30 James Storm: 32 Jay Lethal: 22 Jeff Jarrett: 40 (if we are considering him active) Johnny Devine: 33 Judas Mesias: 32 Kaz: 30 Nash: 48 (if we consider him exactly active) Kip James: 44 Kurt Angle: 39 Lance Hoyt: 30 Matt Morgan: 29 (is he a wrestler right now?) Petey Williams: 26 Raven: 43 (again, is he really active?) Rellik: 30 Rhino: 32 Rick Steiner: 46 Robert Roode: 30 Samoa Joe: 28 Scott Steiner: 45 Senshi: 28 (is he still there?) Shark Boy: 32 Sonjay: 25 Sting: 48 (is he even there?) Brother Ray: 36 Brother D-Von: 35 Tomko: 31 I won't do the avg. ages since some of these guys might skew the results (like Nash and Sting) and I'm not sure if they are exactly on the roster or considered wrestlers anymore. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nate 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2008 Well here are the ages for the various TNA guys (no women). Abyss: 34 Styles: 29 Shelley: 24 BG James: 38 Dustin Rhodes: 38 Booker T: 42 Sabin: 25 Chris Harris: 34 Christian: 34 Elix Skipper: 30 Eric Young: 28 Hernandez: 34 Homicide: 30 James Storm: 32 Jay Lethal: 22 Jeff Jarrett: 40 (if we are considering him active) Johnny Devine: 33 Judas Mesias: 32 Kaz: 30 Nash: 48 (if we consider him exactly active) Kip James: 44 Kurt Angle: 39 Lance Hoyt: 30 Matt Morgan: 29 (is he a wrestler right now?) Petey Williams: 26 Raven: 43 (again, is he really active?) Rellik: 30 Rhino: 32 Rick Steiner: 46 Robert Roode: 30 Samoa Joe: 28 Scott Steiner: 45 Senshi: 28 (is he still there?) Shark Boy: 32 Sonjay: 25 Sting: 48 (is he even there?) Brother Ray: 36 Brother D-Von: 35 Tomko: 31 I won't do the avg. ages since some of these guys might skew the results (like Nash and Sting) and I'm not sure if they are exactly on the roster or considered wrestlers anymore. I averaged them out, I got 33.69 so about the same as the WWE, and I could have made errors as well Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lt. Al Giardello 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2008 Isn't Batista in his 40's? I thought it was revealed that he lied about his age or something. I believe he turns 39 this month... He said in his book he was born in 1969. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Hasbeen2 Report post Posted January 3, 2008 Damn I'm old. MVP, 34, surprised me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2008 I thought Taker was 45 and not 42. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2008 Damn, baldness hit Festus early if he's really 24. Wouldn't that mean he was only 22-23 during the whole Fake Kane bit? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haws bah gawd 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2008 Yea, as others have said, I guess its due to his balding hair, and freakish size that he looks a lot older than he actually is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naked Snake 0 Report post Posted January 4, 2008 30-33 seems to be the age where a lot of the guys win their first Rumble/Title/Mania main event. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BUTT 0 Report post Posted January 4, 2008 I swear the Undertaker's birth year always used to be reported as 1962, but in recent years that's changed to 1965. Also, in the TNA analysis, Dustin Rhodes is listed as 38, but I'm pretty sure he's really 41. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
