Pro wrestling as fans know it today has existed since the 19th century, which is more than enough time to create multiple dynasties. As a result, there are lots of big wrestling families that have been around for decades and produced several generations worth of notable talent, if not big stars. Fans know several of them like the Flairs, the Rhodes, the Von Erichs, the Harts, the Guerreros, the Anoa’is, and even the McMahons.
On top of that, there are the families that have also produced a number of wrestlers -- including some pretty big stars -- that aren’t spoken about as much as the families above.
10 The Vachon Family
WWE fans may remember Luna Vachon as an underrated staple of the promotion’s programming in the 1990s, where she valeted Shawn Michaels, feuded with Alundra Blayze, and managed Goldust during his TAFKA Goldust phase. But the Vachon name is an underrated one in wrestling, as her stepfather was Butcher Vachon, who found notoriety tagging with his brother Mad Dog Vachon in AWA and NWA promotions. Their sister, Vivian Vachon, was also a big deal, as she was considered one of the great female wrestlers during her heyday in the 1970s.
9 The Armstrong Family
The Armstrong Family consists of the children of southern wrestling journeyman “Bullet” Bob Armstrong. The most famous member of the Armstrong clan is likely Attitude Era WWE tag team specialist Road Dogg, whose relation to the Armstrongs is concealed by the fact that his other well-known ring name was Jesse James. His brothers include 1990s WCW light heavyweight Brad Armstrong, WWE referee Scott Armstrong, and Steve Armstrong, who wrestled for WCW throughout the 1990s.
8 The Finlay Family
For most fans, the idea of a Finlay wrestling family amounts to WCW and WWE star Fit Finlay and his son David Finlay who wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling and recently captured the Impact Tag Team Championship with Juice Robinson. In reality, however, the Finlays are a multi-generational dynasty.
David Finlay is actually a fourth generation wrestler, as Fit Finlay’s father and grandfather were both pro wrestlers, and Fit’s sister worked as a referee.
7 The Villano Family
Obsessives who remember every cruiserweight who showed up on random minor WCW shows may remember Villano IV and Villano V as two of many masked luchadores who never really got much exposure compared to La Parka and even Super Calo. Given there numbers, there were obviously three other Villanos, and they were all the sons of Ray Mendoza, who was a top star in Mexico during the 1960s and 1970s. Even some of the Villanos’ sons have entered the wrestling game, including Villano III Jr., El Hijo del Villano III, and Villano V Jr.
6 The DiBiase Family
“The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase is one of the better known stars of the 1980s, so much that he still appears on WWE television today while his son Ted Jr. has largely become a trivia question. Lesser-known, however is that Ted Sr. is actually part of a pretty big wrestling family, starting with his stepfather, “Iron” Mike DiBiase and mother, Helen Hild. In addition, two of Ted Sr.’s other sons wrestle: Mike DiBiase II and Brett DiBiase.
5 The Windham/Rotunda Family
Barry Windham, Bo Dallas, Bray Wyatt, and Mike Rotunda (a.k.a. IRS) all have different lsat names and gimmicks, but they’re all from the same surprisingly prolific wrestling family. It all started with heel wrestler Blackjack Mulligan, who performed in the WWE in the tag team The Blackjacks in the 1970s. Kendall Windham and Four Horsemen member Barry Windham were Mulligan’s sons, and Mike Rotunda married into the family through Mulligan’s daughter. From there, Rotunda had two sons: Bo Dallas and Bray Wyatt.
4 The Rougeau Family
Die-hard wrestling fans might know the name Jacques Rougeau, who wrestled for WWE in the 1980s and 1990s under both his real name and as The Mountie, but are likely less aware that the Rougeau Family dates back to the 1940s with his grandfather, Eddie Auger. Jacques’ brother Ray was also a wrestler who tagged alongside him as The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers in the 1980s.
Jacques Rougeau’s sons were set to become a fourth generation of Rougeau, but they all eventually quit wrestling only to make a one-night-only return for their father’s retirement match in 2018.
3 The Funk Family
It may be the fact that their careers dated back to the territory days, but it’s easy to forget that hardcore wrestling pioneer Terry Funk isn’t the only big-name Funk in pro wrestling. Fans of 1980s WWE may remember Terry’s brother Hoss Funk, but he’s otherwise known as Dory Funk Jr., and their father Dory Sr. was a pro wrestler, too, working as a junior heavyweight in Texas territories before becoming a noted promoter in the area after his retirement.
2 The Laurinaitis Family
Any fan would be forgiven for assuming there’s no connection between iconic 1980s tag team wrestler Animal of The Road Warriors and skateboard gimmick wrestler turned WWE corporate stooge John Laurinaitis (a.k.a. Johnny Ace), but they’re actually brothers, and not the only wrestlers they’re related to. Their brother Marcus was also a wrestler, performing under the name The Terminator. To further add to the family, Johnny Ace is married to The Bella Twins’ mother, making him Daniel Bryan’s father in law. Which is weird.
1 The Mil Mascaras Family
Mil Mascaras is one of the most iconic luchadores of all time, having become a major star in Mexico and spreading the lucha libre style across the world via his international exploits in WWE and All Japan Pro Wrestling. His brothers are luchadores as well, known as Sicodelico and Dos Caras, both of whom have sons who followed in their footsteps. Dos Caras’ kids in particular are of note, as Dos Caras Jr. unmasked and became Alberto Del Rio in WWE while El Hijo de Dos Caras briefly wrestled in NXT as Memo Montenegro.