The road to becoming a wrestler is just as hard—if not harder—than the road and lives the wrestlers are asked to run as they wrestle from town to town. What makes a young man or woman want to lace up the boots in the first place? This is a question that can be asked of anyone who had dreams to chase after, of course, but wanting to be a wrestler is always responded with with the same old: “really?!” It’s just because many don’t understand the dedication at which these men and women must operate.
Well, teams and teams of wrestlers worked hard to get where they are today, or where so many of the great icons of the past got in their respective careers and all on their own steam and determination. Yet there are a select few that seemed and seem to still rely on their family name to “make it” in a really difficult business. They were unable to break out on their own without having a push from their fathers or their grandfathers … resulting in lacklustre careers without any drive. Yet, there have been those that rose even higher than their family name, having made claim to an impressive career by breaking free from their history.
Stick around for a bit and see who made the list: 10 wrestlers who have coasted and relied on their family name and 10 who made it on their own. You might be surprised who made the list and discover some hidden gems you didn’t even know about.
20 Coasted: Dave Finlay Jr
His father is a legend in the business, having worked in WCW and the WWE. His matches and title reigns have gone down in history and he is surely regarded as one of the greatest technical wrestlers in history. Finlay's dedication to the sport was indeed showcased from match to match, from year to year. His son, Dave Finlay has gotten into the sport as well, but his work is most definitely cut out for him, as they say.
This is a common problem for many children of great wrestlers who want to get into the business.
If their fathers were so utterly successful that they either became household names, or legends in the sport, it becomes nearly impossible for younger stars to do better than them. This is natural, as the fans are expecting the children of legends to be spectacular and give them more than their parents did, and when they don’t, it becomes a massive disappointment to the fans and everyone else involved. By the same token, maybe even management puts too much emphasis on their lineage and expect much more of 2nd and 3rd generation stars, making the pressures insurmountable. We hope this young man can hack it.
19 Earned His Success: Cody Rhodes
We’ve talked a lot about lineage in this article. And perhaps there is no group of wrestlers who have more of a storied past than Cody Rhodes and his brother (more on him in just a bit). Their father Dusty Rhodes was a pioneer in the sport and probably the innovator of attitude before the attitude era. The man wasn’t that athletic and was a tad overweight, but he still convinced you that he was a force to be reckoned with and the body of a Greek god. He had the charisma that had the ladies swooning and the appeal that had the men laughing and cheering him on. He was also the ultimate face, battling it out with The Four Horsemen at every turn.
Well is son Cody inherited all of those great features and then some. His charisma is extremely reminiscent of his father, and he actually has incredible mat skills. He too was in Legacy with Orton and DiBiase Jr, and he ran hard with the ball he was given. His untimely release from the WWE shocked everyone watching and paying attention to this great young man’s career. Many expected him o flop when he started wrestling in the independent circuit, but just the opposite happened. He is doing quite well, and a return to the mainstream in the future is imminent. You can’t put a stop to greatness.
18 Coasted: Cody Hall
Scott Hall is probably one of the most influential wrestlers to grace us with his presence and skills. He completely changed the landscape of professional wrestling, alongside his best friend and tag partner, Kevin Nash. It was because of them that the world of wrestling was introduced to guaranteed contracts and the wrestlers from today’s era owe them a debt of gratitude, that’s for sure. This is something that isn’t talked about enough. Scott had his fair share of controversies in the business and outside the business and although it shed a bad light on a pretty awesome career, it didn’t slow him down for long. He’s still regarded as one of the most incredible forces in the business and for good reason.
The ovation he received when he was inducted into the hall of fame was huge and bigger than most inductees.
As we said before, when the offspring of such a huge star in the wrestling game tries to break through, it’s extremely difficult to do it on their own steam and merits. Cody Hall has had his work cut out for him at the beginning, but the fact that he wears his father’s in ring gear and vest, shows that he has no intention to have wrestling fans forget who his father is. In one way that’s nice … as imitation is the greatest form of flattery, as they say, but at the same time, it’s pretty detrimental to his own success.
17 Earned Her Success: Natalya
We’ve talked about the Hart Dynasty very often here at The Sportster, and we ask why not? The Hart family is indeed one of the most influential wrestling families in the world, having spawned many great performers and wrestlers the business has ever seen. The Harts, are among an elite group that includes The Guererros, The Anoaʻis, The Rougeaus, The Von Erichs, The Colons and The Singhs. Natalya Neidhart is the latest Hart to come from the Hart dynasty, and apart from her name, she has pretty much worked on her own to rise amongst the ranks to be at the top of the women’s division in a sport that has been dominated by men for the longest time, so if we’re being honest, this young woman has had ait a lot harder than most, having to prove herself twice over any man in the sport.
And she has done so beautifully. She showcases grace, balance, strength, technique and a showmanship that is indeed rare. Yes, she hasn’t been granted all the chances she deserves, but she continues to battle it out, day in and day out, no matter where she lies on the card. She is the daughter of powerhouse wrestler and Hart Foundation member, Jim The Anvil Neidhart. If you watch her, she exudes many of her father’s characteristics (she only has a much prettier face—sorry Jim, we love you, though!), and her uncle Bret’s finishing move, but this young woman has made it all on her own steam and we couldn’t be prouder of her.
16 Coasted: Curtis Axel
If ever there was a young wrestler that the legions of wrestling fans were the most excited about, it would have to be this guy. The single, most important reason for that, is that he was the son of one of the greatest wrestling tacticians of any era. He was the son of none other than Mr. Perfect, Curt Hennig. (More on Mr. Perfect later in this article.) Now, we know what you’re thinking: “that’s a huge shadow to pull away from,” and we’d have to agree with you, but at the same time, he should have been able to garner some steam on his own, but that never happened.
He has been with the company for eight years and he hasn’t made much noise. Yes, he is a consistent mid-card wrestler, but has never really shone on his own. His slogan, better than perfect, couldn’t be further from the truth, honestly, and truth be told, some of us have always found that slogan to be a little offensive, especially since Perfect has been gone now since 2002. So, we definitely feel that he has relied on his family name indirectly, but has coasted off of it just the same.
15 Earned His Success: The Rock
Here’s the main man! The dude that rocked his way through the roster like no other. If ever there was a wrestler that came from a great legacy and broke from it, it’s this man right here. Dwayne The Rock Johnson started his career in 1996m after a failed attempt at the NFL. He came to wrestling as his second choice, but that hardly slowed him down. He debuted as Rocky Maivia, an homage to his grandfather, and his father, Rocky Johnson, but when the gimmick didn’t work, he pulled away from it so fast, the people forgot about his family lineage and started to pay attention to this great performer for other reasons, like his charisma, his physique, his mat skills and his work ethic.
His drive to be the best shone through and he no doubt became more of an impressive performer than any of his family and that’s saying something, considering that the Anoaʻi family tree is quite large. (There are a few other members on this list). His heel turn was what did the trick, and in a matter of time, he became the leader of The Nation of Domination, and the rest is history, and a beautiful history at that. Now Dwayne dominates the world of film and has done quite nicely for himself. Is there anyone really that can deny that he didn’t succeed on his own? IT DOESN’T MATTER!
14 Coasted: The Usos
Yet two other member of the illustrious Anoaʻi family tree, these two gentlemen are the sons of Rikishi, hall of famer and WWE legend. While he wrestled in the early to mid-nineties, no one imagined he would reach the heights of popularity that he did, but he definitely achieved greatness and had a very positive impression on the world of sports entertainment. He worked so hard that he retired a broken man, his body injured and abused by years of dedication and physical bombardment. His legacy is firmly in place and deservedly so.
His two sons however aren’t leaving much of an impression and haven’t really broken out of their family name or their past.
They seem to be coasted and are unable to establish their own legitimate identity. The way they carry themselves and their style is definitely reminiscent of their father in his heyday and it’s definitely hurt any chance of them breaking away from that image. Many have also observed that their style in the ring is so like Rikishi’s that his name comes to mind every time they get in the ring. But more than that, is their inability to discover gimmicks that make sense for them that can carry them further than their father’s illustrious and impending shadow.
13 Earned His Success: Randy Orton
If there has ever been a wrestler that has had more ups and downs, it’s this man right here. Randy Orton, the son of Cowboy Bob Orton has had a long career that he hopes will last at least another ten years. As fans we wish him luck on that journey, as we would love to continue watching him perform, as his matches are indeed some of the best in the business and very reminiscent of the styles of the past wrestlers that have come and gone.
However, his career wasn’t always as distinct as it is today. He had a hard time in finding himself and he sadly had a lot of demons to battle along the way, but battle and conquer them he did, and he and his legacy are all the better for it. He had a lot of support from legends like Ric Flair and Triple H, and he even fought them tooth and nail, his bad attitude winning out in the end, but these days, he seems to be serene and wise. If you look in this deep blue eyes of his, you can actually see how centred the man now is. He too is parlaying his career into cinema. We wish him luck there too.
12 Coasted: Richie Steamboat
This young man is the son of legend Ricky The Dragon Steamboat, a star that wrestled in various territories during his wrestling career. His career was no doubt was illustrious, his matches having gone down in history as some of the greatest of all time. One in particular has been named as one of the greatest matches of all time, between himself and Macho Man Randy Savage at WrestleMania 3. The match is perfect, frame to frame and it stole the show.
Many wrestlers have claimed that it was the match that inspired their own careers and that’s a believable statement, as it was a perfect match. It ranks right up there with Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13, ten years later. Now, try living up to all that. Good luck! But this young man, Richie, has tried over the past few years, but he has been unable to garner the success his father had, even though his name is so remarkably close to his father’s. Maybe he should have changed his name, as that probably would have helped him along, enabling him to make it in the business on his own steam… no pun intended.
11 Earned His Success: Alberto El Patron
Here’s a wrestler that has also seen his fair share of ups and downs. But amidst all the hard work and controversy, he sure has risen to the top and all on his own steam. He is the son of Mexican legend, Dos Caras, yet you wouldn’t have known it at the start of this young man’s career… unless you went to do some research of course. He used many names at the start of his career, and even now uses his own name to distinguish himself and all his hard work. Some examples are: Alberto Banderas, Alberto Del Rio, and currently, Alberto El Patron.
He has had two successful runs with the WWE and has wrestled for Impact Wrestling. His career wasn’t without incident and he did have some real life heat backstage at the WWE, but still, his drive and determination still make him a true favourite of many true blue wrestling fans all over the world. He made it from where he got his start and he only has himself to thank. There is something profound in that and we’re positive that he can be proud of what he has accomplished. We hope that he has another WWE run in him, as we’d love to see him on the biggest stage in the business.
10 Coasted: Ted DiBiase Jr
A handsome son of a legend, indeed, he had everything imaginable in his arsenal to succeed. A great physique, excellent mat work, and conviction in all his story lines. But his career proves that you can have all the right stuff, but it won’t get you anywhere unless you’re willing to put in the time and work necessary to break free from your family lineage. And how huge his family name was… being the son of The Million Dollar Man. Ted DiBiase SR, was a huge name in the world of sports entertainment, having taken part in numerous storylines in the WWE, and WCW. He was a massive star and heel that terrorized the baby faces in both companies and did an excellent job at that.
Jr. did the best he could, but he only ever made it so far. The greatest period for him probably came during Legacy, in which he paired up with Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes, all three being sons of former wrestlers. The angle was a huge success and garnered all three men a lot of attention. Orton, being the most experienced, led them through on their way to the top of the roster. But when that storyline dwindled away, so did the fame and popularity of one of its stars. DiBiase suffered a huge low point, becoming the least unpopular wrestler, and also suffered some severe injuries that led him to retirement.
9 Earned His Success: Goldust
Here is a man who has been part of the business for a long time. He has been wrestling since way before the attitude era and has been wrestling since. He too is the son of wrestling legend, Dusty Rhodes and has also taken the ball and has run quite far. Talk about taking a whole new direction than his father ever did. When he came onto the scene as Goldust, he stepped into a direction that at first offended a lot of old school wrestling fans. But to the new crowd that was desperate for something new, Goldust was the perfect antidote.
And it wasn’t just persona. He had the skills to back it all up and he has been involved in some of the most memorable angles and storylines that the WWE has ever put on … of course some rather controversial, but hey, the attitude era offended a lot of people. His life hasn’t always been that productive and positive and he battled with his weight for years, but he rose to the top of the business and in recent years has been in the best shape of his career. His dedication has been commendable and as I’ve actually written before, it’s disheartening that he has never had a title run, as he has more than deserved it.
8 Coasted: Ross & Marshall Von Erich
The Texas Sportatorium is a huge venue that was host to some of the earliest memories in professional wrestling. The talent that passed through those doors is some of the greatest, and the cream definitely rose to the top within the doors of that small but influential place. Some names are: Mick Foley, Steve Austin and of course The Von Erich family. They were a huge family of wrestlers that had outstanding bouts that have gone down in history. Wrestlers and fans still talk about those memories to this day.
Kevin Von Erich was a legend in the sport, as was the rest of his family.
His two sons, Ross and Marshall are no doubt exceptional talents in the ring. But the fact that they wrestle under that famous name, means that they should step up much more than they have been. We don’t mean to be difficult, here, but carrying such an important name means that you should step up at every turn, never once coasting on what your parents or grandparents have done. We feel that these young men could have done much more—and could be doing a lot more—to rise amongst the ranks and do their family justice.
7 Earned His Success: Cedric Rougeau
We know this isn’t an extremely successful young man … yet, but bear with us, please. Here’s a young man whose name you should remember, as his father and uncle are royalty in the world of wrestling. His father Jacques was one half of the Quebecers and also had a gimmick as The Mountie during the early nineties. Now although his son, Cedric, here, hasn’t hit the big time yet, it’s just a matter of time according to us. He’s got the look, the physique and the skill to make it and rise up amongst the ranks. Basically… Kevin Owens, watch out! This young man has the whole package and we’re not just blowing smoke.
Just look up any one of his matches on line and you’ll see that he’s a strong force on the mat and shades of his father are definitely noticeable. But at the same time he has his very own effective style. The only thing that may be a problem with his possible future in the big leagues is the fact that his father and Vince McMahon have a very bad relationship, made worse at an event held in Montreal a few years back. He was to meet up with Vince and introduce Cedric to his former Boss, but Vince only showed up for the meeting eight hours late, causing Jacques and his son to wait around, getting into a verbal altercation with Arn Anderson. If Cedric can get over this, his already successful independent career can only get better.
6 Coasted: DH Smith
This young man sure disappointed a lot of people… and not because he didn’t deserve his success, but he let everything go when he and the WWE didn’t see eye to eye on their wellness policy set in place to protect the WWE’s reputation about performance enhancer use. Of course that wasn’t the only problem with his career at the company as he seemed to have very little conviction and dedication to the sport as it was, his tag partner, Tyson Kidd showing more devotion to the sport and Kidd wasn’t even a direct descendant of the Hart Dynasty. It's always sad to see someone with a family history of wrestling to struggle under the weight of the expectations associated with their family name.
DH Smith’s father was none other than The British Bulldog… a legend indeed and a man who actively wrestled in many companies and territories for many years. DH came to the WWE after leaving the rebooted Calgary Stampede territory in Canada, but when he showed up, despite not having the same name, he still packaged himself like his father and used many of the same moves including the running power slam and the body slam with a long hesitation… two moves that made his father quite famous for being a strong wrestler.
5 Earned His Success: Curt Hennig
Now we know this is a blast from the past, but his story lives on in the minds of many wrestling fans. And every time we see his son, Curtis, we can’t help but miss his father … the excitement and the dedication that he brought to his matches were above par. His father was a legend in his own right. His name was Larry Hennig, but when his son made the scene, back in 1980, he did everything on his own right, his apparent skill rising him to the superstar status he achieved. He had many great matches and was part of many great angles in the business.
Hennig also had great mic skills and applied them time and time again. He served as valet and worked commentary. Mr. Perfect lit up the screen every time he was showcased in a match and there isn’t anything that can be taken away from him. Tragically he passed in 2002, yet his legacy is in place and will be from now on end. Mr. Perfect was in fact just that and he exuded his skills in great fashion. He worked in both the WWE and WCW, as well as many other territories in his time.
4 Coasted: Brian Christopher
Brian Christopher, or Grand Master Sexay is the son of Jerry The King Lawler, the legend in ring performer and announcer. He wrestled in a tag team during the attitude era with Scotty Too Hotty. They achieved success because of their gimmicks as a tandem of hip hop dancers turned wrestlers and their teaming with Rikishi only took them further to the top. And although, Christopher’s gimmick couldn’t be further from his father’s, he still couldn’t capitalize on the momentum he had achieved and he couldn’t get out of his father’s shadow.
No matter how hard they tried to keep it a secret and never mentioned on air that they were father and son, the WWE universe got wise and their sheer resemblance was enough to keep Brian Christopher securely in place under his dad’s big shadow. He was riddled with injury early on, just like Scotty Too Hotty, so we’ll never know exactly what he would have been able to achieve, but we’re likely to believe that he didn’t have the capability nor the drive to go very far beyond the status he reached. He made some good memories for himself and fans alike, but mostly as a side show than any real main event or even mid-card level talent should.
3 Earned His Success: Eddie Guerrero
Here’s another legend we just couldn’t keep off the list. Eddie Guerrero was indeed one of the greatest performers the world of wrestling had ever seen. His skills, ability and charisma were bar none, other than maybe Bret Hart when it came to in ring action and delivery. His storied past is definitely worthy of books and documentaries and could provide the world with an inside view of a very spectacular and sadly tragic wrestling legacy. He wrestled in El Paso, Mexico, Japan, ECW, WCW and the WWE, as well as the independent circuit. Eddie was muscular, and yet he was able to mesh a powerhouse style with high flying skills worthy of lucha fighters and the mat skills of a collegiate wrestler.
He also had impeccable mic skills and showed conviction in whatever he was doing and whatever angle he was able to be involved in.
His passing in 2005 shocked the world, as he had defeated numerous demons on his quest at bettering his life. But one thing that can be said about him is: he definitely outshone his father and brothers and became the best of the Guerrero family. A feat he accomplished on his very own, as he often claimed that the members of his own family were often his biggest detractors.
2 Coasted: Tamina
The women’s division has undergone many different changes over the long years that women have been wrestling in the squared circle. During the attitude era, wrestlers like Lita and Trish Stratus took the division very far from where matriarchs like The Fabulous Moolah and Alundra Blayze had ushered it. They added a femininity to it that had been absent. Over the years, the division has spearheaded and with so much more talent, they are part of one of the main reasons people are watching wrestling today, as the matches have improved, the athleticism has definitely gone up quite a few notches and the attention grabbing Total Divas reality show couldn’t be more popular.
Tamina, here, is the daughter of Superfly Jimmy Snuka. Who wrestled in the WWE and became rather famous for his high-flying techniques. There were thunderous expectations for Tamina to make a big splash in the business when she debuted, but as the years went on, she sadly was unable to perform accordingly. This is when the children of the very successful tend to try to coast on the popularity of their fathers as a last attempt at making a lasting impression, but it very seldom ever works.
1 Earned Her Success: Charlotte Flair
Woooo! I had to do it. Forgive me, but Ric Flair is a legend’s legend. Not always the best of businessmen in the business, but definitely one of the most dedicated. Not much else can be said about the man who revolutionized the sport time and time again and all while styling and profiling along the way. “To be the man … you’ve got to beat the man!” The stories and history attached to the Flair name is extensive and he deserves all the accolades.
The Flair name has spawned a few other wrestlers, including his son, David Flair, who sadly was unable to deliver. He spent his time wrestling in WCW but was unable to transition well into the WWE. But Charlotte Flair has turned out to be an excellent wrestler and in ring performer. She has the charisma of her father and the abilities to back it all up. Her matches are a definite treat. She, like Natalya has the balance, strength, conditioning and coordination to wrestle a long match, as well as having the conviction and intense line delivery her father had. And despite having the entrance theme of her father, only re-mixed, she definitely stands out from his shadow and her success can be attributed to her hard work and dedication.