Top 10 Wrestling Promos of All-Time
In wrestling, a “promo” is short for a promotional interview. Professional wrestlers shine with their athleticism, but they also provoke emotion on the microphone.
Promos make wrestling special and it’s one of the main reasons why fans tune in all around the world.
Here are my top 10 wrestling promos of all-time.
10 | The Rock’s Billy Gun Promo
The Rock was a generational talent on the microphone. This is no surprise as he has become one of Hollywood’s best actors in a variety of different roles. The Rock embarrassed Billy Gunn in this epic promo from 1999 on Sunday Night Heat.
Gunn became a target in this promo after he won the King of the Ring and began his world title push.
Best Quote: “Oh dear God… you see, my name’s Billy. And I just won King of the Ring, but there’s one problem. Everybody still thinks that I absolutely suck!”
9 | Ric Flair 1992 Royal Rumble Preview
Ric Flair is one of the greatest trash talkers of all-time. This epic promo occurred after he won the 1992 Royal Rumble. Flair wrestled for over 60 minutes and made sure all of his competitors “paid homage to the man.”
Many wrestling fanatics have stated that this is Flair’s best promo of his career.
Best Quote: “This is the only title in the wrestling world that makes you number one.
8 | Randy Savage Cream of the Crop
Randy Savage’s unique delivery style made him special on the mic. Following his match at WrestleMania III with Ricky Steamboat, the Macho Man used little coffee creamers to demonstrate his value to the World Wrestling Federation.
Savage’s promo following WrestleMania III is still a classic to this day.
Best Quote: “I am the cream in the World Wrestling Federation and there is no doubt about it, yeah, you Mean Gene Okerlund, you know that I’m the cream of the crop!”
7 | Chris Jericho’s Debut
When Chris Jericho was part of WCW, he was a middle of the card performer. The WWF made this world class entertainer a wrestling star. When he arrived on RAW in 1999, the walls were broken down.
Jericho debuted in the World Wrestling Federation and interrupted the Rock. This promo catapulted him into the company’s spotlight.
Best Quote: “Chris Jericho has come to save the WWF.”
6 | Hulk Hogan Turns Heel with the nWo
Hulk Hogan shocked the wrestling world when he turned heel and joined the New World Order in 1996. Hogan was the baby face of wrestling for years, so this storyline was jaw dropping.
He became the company’s most hated wrestler shortly after this speech. The Monday Night Wars resulted from this promo when WCW and WWF would go toe to toe on network television.
Best Quote: “What are you going to do, when the New World Order runs wild on you.
5 | Paul Heyman at One Night Stand 2005
I believe that Paul Heyman is the best manager in the history of wrestling. He is known for his time as the advocate for Brock Lesnar. Heyman has worked for the company for decades. In this time, he was the creative genius and general manager of ECW.
At One Night Stand in 2005, Heyman ripped apart WWE superstars who were visiting the pay per view. His most famous quote targeted John Bradshaw Layfield.
Best Quote: “The only reason you were WWE champion for a year, is because Triple H didn’t want to work Tuesdays.
4 | Ric Flair is Limousine Ridin’ and Jet Flyin’
This Ric Flair promo isn’t regarded as one of the Hall of Famers best over his career, but a historic quote came out of this interview. In the middle of a 1985 wrestling promo, Flair said a line that is still prevalent to this day.
The 20 second tirade will go down in history as one of Flair’s best verses.
Best Quote: “You’re talking to the Rolex wearin’, diamond ring wearin’, kiss stealin’, wheelin’ dealin’, limousine ridin’, jet flyin’ son of a gun. And I’m having a hard time holding these alligators down. Woo!
3 | CM Punk’s Pipe Bomb
The CM Punk Pipe Bomb promo is a defining moment in wrestling history. At one point, WWE was the only game in town for wrestlers who wanted to make a career out of the form of entertainment. Punk cut this promo at the end of his WWE contract.
He had to get a few things off his chest, and his target was John Cena. WWE didn’t make the most out of this storyline even though Punk handed them a perfect promo on a silver platter.
Punk revealed that wrestlers had other options for work than just WWE which caused Vince McMahon to cut his mic.
Best Quote: “I’d like to think that maybe this company will be better off after Vince McMahon is dead, but the fact is, it’s going to be taken over by his idiotic daughter and his doofus son-in-law and the rest of his stupid family.
2 | Hard Times for Dusty Rhodes
The Hard Times promo is the best speech of Dusty Rhodes’ career. In this promo, he discusses coming back from an injury that Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen inflicted on the late Hall of Famer.
Dusty Rhodes stated that he supported the hard-working people of America. He was reaching out to help these people by beating the Nature Boy who was known for his lavishing style.
Rhodes appealed to blue-collar American workers and this tactic was a huge success amongst the fans.
Best Quote: “Hard times are when the auto workers are out of work and they tell them go home, and hard times are when a man has worked at a job 30 years, 30 years they give him a watch, kick him in the butt and say hey, a computer took your place daddy.
1 | Austin 3:16
This list of top wrestling promos wouldn’t be official if it didn’t include Steve Austin’s King of the Ring speech from 1996. After defeating Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Stone Cold goes off on Roberts’ “Born again Christian” gimmick.
This part of the promo is the most memorable amongst fans. However, Stone Cole proceeds to put the rest of the company on watch.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best wrestling promo of all-time.
Best Quote: “You sit there and you thump your bible, and you say your prayers, and it didn’t get you anywhere. Talk about your psalms, talk about John 3:16…Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!
Did you enjoy this Top 10 Wresting Promos post? If so, you will love our Top 10 Wrestling Entrances as well.
