Professional wrestling is a tough business. It takes dedication and sacrifice to make it in this industry. Wrestlers put their bodies on the line every time they step inside the ring. In fact, some wrestlers are older than most people think. Many of these older wrestlers are still able to put on fantastic matches and have solid performances, but how long can these grapplers keep going?
Imagine stepping into a roaring arena at 83 years and 203 days old. Most would call it quits, but Dory Funk Jr. just proved age is nothing but a number. But here’s the kicker: he isn’t even the oldest to do it! From Dominic DeNucci to Dory Funk Jr. to ‘Bullet’ Bob Armstrong, we explore some of the oldest pro wrestlers who defied age and wrestled a match well into their golden years.
Professional wrestling is one of the most physical and dangerous sports and forms of entertainment one can engage in.
Here is a list of some of the oldest wrestlers to ever compete in the sport:
Legends Who Defied Age: A Look at Wrestling's Enduring Competitors
Here is a list of some of the **oldest professional wrestlers** who have continued to compete well into their later years:
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16. Mil Máscaras: In his prime - the masked superhero who helped globalize lucha libre with dazzling high-flying moves in the 1970s, wrestled his final match at 77 years, 60 days old.
15. Chic Donovan: At age 78, he defied expectations in IWA Deep South’s RassleMania event in Sylacauga, Alabama, on June 14, 2025.
14. Bullet Bob Armstrong: Alongside his sons “Road Dogg” Brian James, Scott Armstrong, and Steve Armstrong at the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011. Tragically, Bob succumbed to cancer just over a year later, on August 27, 2020.
13. Mr. Angel Blanco: Alongside Mr. Chile (at 79 years) and Corporate diam0nd during the buildup to "Fight of Immortals" at VLL Inmortales, July 27, 2022. Born November 21, 1942, in Valparaíso, Chile, Mister Chile (also billed as Mr. On August 27, 2022, at the VLL Inmortales event held at Fortín Prat, Mister Chile returned for his final recorded match, teaming with Angel Blanco against Zaddam and La Momia Porteña. Not only was this bout a reunion of Chilean wrestling legends, but it also marked a long-awaited in-ring encounter-Zaddam faced his master, Mr.
12. Ox Baker: Had his final professional wrestling match on April 19, 2014, on his 80th birthday in Marion, Ohio. Headlining the CCW “Birthday Bash” card in Marion, Ohio, he squared off against Bobo Brazil Jr., unleashing clubbing forearms and his signature Salto de la Muerte before sealing a final victory.
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11. Popoff the Gypsy: Seen here still going strong at 72 in 2015, Popoff the Gypsy (Jean-Pierre Pouzade) continues to train in his backyard gym, proving that age is just a number!
10. Tinieblas: (Manuel Leal), who wrestled his final match at 80 years and 71 days old proves that legends never truly retire from lucha libre. At 80 years, 71 days, he teamed with Dr. Wagner Jr. Despite his late start in wrestling, Tinieblas captured the WWA World Heavyweight Championship and became one of the first luchadores to tour Japan in 1974.
9. Dominic DeNucci: At age 80, closed out a storied career with one final victory.
8. “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant: over the years.
7. The Fabulous Moolah: Celebrates a win over Velvet McIntyre at WrestleMania 2.
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6. Killer Kowalski: Over the years.
5. KY Wakamatsu: Indeed competed in a battle royal on June 2, 2024, at 82 years, 153 days, reinforcing his status as one of the oldest wrestlers ever to step into the ring.
4. The Great Kojika: Is one of the oldest wrestlers to lace up a pair of wrestling boots.
3. Kendo Nagasaki: Made his final in-ring appearance in November 2024 at the age of 83, staking a Guinness World Record bid as wrestling’s oldest active competitor. Nagasaki’s career spanned 60 years, blending occult theatrics with legitimate judo prowess.
2. Dory Funk Jr.: On August 24, 2024, Dory defied expectations by competing in a Double Hell Current Explosion Death Match at the FMW-E Terry Funk Memorial and Atsushi Onita 50th Anniversary - Kawasaki Legend 2024 show at Fujitsu Kawasaki Stadium in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. In a hard-hitting Explosion Deathmatch, Dory Funk Jr. The match, culminating in Dory Jr. taking an explosive bat to the back, demonstrated his enduring fighting spirit and tenacity-traits that have defined his remarkable career. "In order to make a living in this business," Dory shared in a 2022 interview with Villages News, "you have to devote yourself to wrestling.
1. The fierce yet wonderful Mae Young:
As of 2024, there are 43 living veterans from the "Golden Age of Wrestling" (1950s-1970s) over 75 years old. The last surviving wrestler from the "Pioneer Era" (WWWF) (1900s-1940s) was American wrestler Angelo Savoldi (born April 21, 1914, died September 13, 2013, aged 99 years, 145 days). The title of the oldest verified wrestler of all time belongs to Polish wrestler Abe Coleman (1905-2007), who lived 101 years, 189 days.
The current oldest male living retired wrestler is Australia's Bill Verna, aged 95-96. The oldest female wrestler was Princess Bonita (1919-2014), aged 94 years, 273 days. The oldest female wrestler to have a match is Mae Young, who defeated LayCool in a WWE Raw handicap match on November 15, 2010, at the age of 87.
Here is a list of some of the oldest wrestlers currently signed to WWE:
- Franklin Robert Lashley a.k.a. Bobby Lashley
- Shelton Benjamin
- Oscar Gutierrez a.k.a. Rey Mysterio
- Matt Hardy
- William Jason Reso a.k.a. Christian
- Montel Vontavious Porter, better known by his ring name MVP
- Adam Joseph Copeland is a professional wrestler who is better known by his ring name, Edge
- Ronnie Aaron Killings a.k.a. Killings
- Matthew Robert Weise a.k.a. Hardy
- Christopher Keith Irvine a.k.a. Chris Jericho
- Runnels’ first foray into professional wrestling was in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he adopted the ring name Dustin Rhodes
- Goldberg
- Monty Kip Sopp a.k.a. Billy Gunn
- Steve Borden a.k.a. Sting
Some of the highlights of Sting’s career include winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship a record eleven times, the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship a record six times, the WCW World Heavyweight Championship a record two times and the TNA World Heavyweight Championship a record four times.
In the WWF, Goldberg won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship and the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Runnels’ first foray into professional wrestling was in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he adopted the ring name Dustin Rhodes. He is a two-time Intercontinental Champion, a nine-time Hardcore Champion, and a one-time World Tag Team Champion (with Cody Rhodes).
He is the ninth Triple Crown Champion and the fourth Grand Slam Champion in WWE history. Jericho has headlined multiple pay-per-view events for WWE, including WrestleMania X8 and Y2J. Hardy began his wrestling career on the independent circuit in 1993, before being signed by WWE in 1994. After signing with WWE in 2002, he won the Hardcore Championship three times and the United States Championship once.
Edge began his professional wrestling career in 1992 and spent several years wrestling in independent promotions in Ontario and Quebec. Edge quickly rose to prominence in the WWF, winning the Intercontinental Championship four times and the World Tag Team Championship five times. He also won the 2001 King of the Ring tournament and the 2001 and 2002 Royal Rumbles.
In 2005, he signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and was assigned to their development territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). He has won numerous championships and accolades throughout his career, including multiple world championships and tag team championships. He has won numerous championships and accolades throughout his career, including multiple world championships and tag team championships.
Some of the highlights of Hardy’s career include winning the WWE Tag Team Championship a record 10 times, as well as the World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE Hardcore Championship. In 2001, he left WCW when it was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). He was also a two-time Royal Rumble winner, in 2006 and 2007.
In 1996, Mysterio signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he became one of the promotion’s top stars. Some of the highlights of Shelton Benjamin’s career include winning the United States Championship from John Cena in 2004, and then successfully defending it against Cena in a rematch at WrestleMania 21.
Lashley is a former two-time ECW World Champion, a one-time United States Champion, and a one-time Intercontinental Champion in WWE. Lashley is the only man to have held all three titles in WWE and TNA at the same time.