Top 10 WWE superstars who 'sell' better than actors

In professional wrestling, one of the most basic yet important things taught to the youngsters is how to take a move, or a ‘bump’. In an industry which tries to suspend the fans’ disbelief, taking a bump, and moreover ‘selling’ the move is of the utmost importance. A performer cannot take a devastating looking maneuver and yet walk away unharmed. Unlike boxing or MMA, where the physicality is real, and is obvious to the naked eye, professional wrestling depends on the notion created by the performers, and the more flashy the maneuver is, the more the recipient of the move is expected to sell.However in the past, there have been numerous superstars who didn’t just sell the move, but made it look like the most painful experience a human being can endure. There have been performers who went overboard with their mannerisms, and in this article, we take a look at 10 such performers in the WWE who could sell better than the actors in Hollywood.

#10 Mick Foley

One can argue that no other performer in the history of professional wrestling had to endure the amount of pain Mick had to go through in his career. From barbed wires to flaming tables to falling off scaffoldings, Mick has been there and done that. It isn’t completely off the mark to hence deduce that the pain Mick often seemed to be in might not be a work, and was legitimate. Who can forget his fall from the HIAC structure, and then through the roof of the cell?

Mick Foley was also one of the best sellers in WWE history, and he understood the psychology of the business. There was a point in the WWE that if you had to put over someone as a devious villain, you could just put him in a match with Mick and dish out punishment, while Mick would sell it like he was in a car crash.

#9 Paul Heyman

Heyman has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest promoters and managers of all time, and he continues to surprise us with his verbal prowess every week. But the one factor that separates Heyman from every other manager is his ability to make people loathe his very existence, and Heyman backs it up by selling it to perfection.

If you ever needed to see an over the top performance, you get to witness the hilarity of the ‘sports entertainment’ every time Heyman is confronted or physically assaulted, while he sells it like he’s just a couple of ticks away from death. Remember Punk lashing out at Heyman with a kendo stick, while Heyman sold it as he was going to have a stroke? That one instance is enough to put Heyman on this list.

#8 Seth Rollins

Remember the first PPV match of The Shield at WWE Tables, Ladders and Chairs in 2012? Although you might not remember the entirety of the match, the image of a lifeless Seth Rollins being helped to the back by Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns emphasized on how The Shield would go to any extent to get what they want. A great seller can also be a great storyteller, and that is what separates Seth Rollins from the rest of the pack.

Seth’s involvement in his matches against Dean Ambrose and recently against Lesnar and Cena proved once again just why he is being groomed as the next face of the company. Seth can make anyone “look strong”, and that puts him at number 8 on our list.

#7 Vince McMahon

The chairman of the WWE has been one of the greatest performers in the business, and is arguably the greatest heel the business has ever seen. What made Mr. McMahon such a great character was his feud with ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, and how in the end, the biggest rebel in the organization managed to one – up the authority figure, and the feud transcended the sports entertainment genre.

Vince to his credit played his part to perfection, and the image of Vince McMahon trying to swim his way out of a beer puddle, during the infamous “beer bath” segment will continue to linger in the minds of those who were fortunate to witness the Attitude Era. Mr. McMahon, in his dreams of getting into Hollywood, has proved that he can act just as well, and with his ability to sell anything from drowning in beer to pissing himself on – camera, he makes his way into our list at number 7.

#6 Eddie Guerrero

It was once said that if there was anyone who was born to be a wrestler and a sports entertainer, it was Eddie Guerrero. His mannerisms, facial expressions and his innate ability to sell, even the moves that he doesn’t actually take made Eddie Guerrero one of the greatest and funniest performers to ever grace the wrestling ring.

One of the greatest pleasures of working with Eddie was the fact that he understood the business like very few can, and he would put over his opponents like no one else could. It is a crying shame that Eddie passed away at his peak, but his actions and his impeccable selling ability puts him at number 6 on our list of greatest sellers of all time.

#5 Chris Benoit

Chris Benoit is considered to be one of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time, even though most of the fans would rather forget that fact. Benoit’s work ethic and dedication made him one of the most beloved performers, but all of that changed at the very end. Benoit could put on a great match with virtually anyone, and he could also make them look like a million bucks with how he sold in the ring, and tell an amazing story.

The sight of Benoit leaping off of a 20 foot ladder for a Swandive headbutt, and later flapping around like a fish out of water to sell the move will be one of the greatest sights for a wrestling fan. Although the fans can also argue that the pain he felt was legitimate, Benoit was one of the few people who could sell as if he’s been shot and the fans would buy it.

#4 The Rock

It’s ironical that The Rock is included in the list, as he has managed to become of the highest paid actors in Hollywood today. The Rock is considered by many to be one of the most entertaining superstars in the history of the WWE, and those abilities came in handy when he set his sights on Hollywood.

It is also considered that no other superstar can sell a stunner from Steve Austin better than The Rock. The way he tumbled and flapped after a stunner at WrestleMania will always remain as one of the greatest sells in WWE history.

#3 Ric Flair

‘The dirtiest player in the game’ was also one of the most animated figures in the business, and his over the top selling became one of the highlights of Ric’s matches. The way he would just walk over after getting whiplashed into the corner and fall headfirst became a trademark, and Flair became known not only for his wrestling skills, but also for his selling.

One other aspect that became a trademark in Flair’s matches was his willingness to bleed in large quantities to sell his opponent’s beating. Hence, it is easy to understand why Ric finds himself at number 3 on our list.

#2 Dolph Ziggler

While people may argue that Ziggler should top the list, he is undoubtedly one of the greatest sellers in the history of professional wrestling. Ziggler is an unbelievable talent, and the former World Heavyweight champion has shown that he can take a beating, and can sell it like John Cena’s ability to sell merchandise.

Sitting through a Ziggler’s match, you start to wonder just why he hasn’t had a stroke or dropped dead, and Ziggler’s ability to look like a bouncing ball puts him at number 2 on the list.

#1 Shawn Michaels

At number 1 is one of the greatest WWE superstars, Shawn Michaels. While Michaels was known for his charisma and in – ring skills, he was also notorious for over – selling against opponents he wasn’t fond of. Kevin Nash once said that although Michaels could take a powerbomb while standing upright, he took one of the worst powerbombs of Nash’s career just to one – up the former WWE champion.

But perhaps, the greatest example would be Shawn’s match with Hulk Hogan at SummerSlam 2005. Shawn took “over the top selling” to a whole new level, flapping like a fish out of water throughout the match. Shawn was also a great seller when he wasn’t trying to make his opponent look foolish, and this puts him at number 1 on our list of the greatest sellers in WWE history.