Once a wrestler (and most professional athletes) reaches the age of 40, they usually think about retirement. Sometimes, a world class athlete competes into their 40s and even 50s. If we’re talking wrestlers, Kane, Goldust, Big Show, and Ric Flair are some of the famous performers who are still going today. They are all in their 50s and 60s which is incredible. Despite this, there are a few lesser-known wrestlers passed the age of 50 who are still wrestling today. Here are the top ten oldest wrestlers at the time of their last match.
10. Dory Funk Jr.
Pictured above is a young Dory Funk Jr. But in October of 2013, at age 72, he teamed with his younger brother, Terry Funk against Masanobu Fuchi and Osamu Nishimura. Still displaying incredible ring awareness and psychology, the Funks weren’t able to defeat the Japanese duo. The 20-minute match ended in a draw.
9. Warren Bockwinkle
Warren Bockwinkle, the father of Nick Bockwinkle, wrestled his last match at 72 years old. Bockwinkle was one of the first wrestlers to appear on TV and helped popularize the Golden Era. He passed away two years later.
8. The Sheik
In 1998, The Sheik entered the ring for the last time at the age of 72. Before promotions like CZW and ECW, The Sheik was a true pioneer of the hardcore style, which makes this feat even more impressive. In 2007, he was inducted into the WWE HOF.
7. Adrian Street
At 74 years of age, Adrian Street is one of the oldest ACTIVE professional wrestlers. You read that right, Street is still actively competing to this day and is best known for inspiring Goldust’s gimmick.
6. Lou Thesz
Wrestling legend Lou Thesz was an icon of the NWA. In 1990, he wrestled Masahiro Chono in Japan at the age of 74 years old. The WWE HOF displayed incredible durability during the match, making him the only wrestler on earth to wrestle in seven separate decades.
5. Bob Armstrong
Bob “The Bullet” Armstrong is 75 years old and still actively competing in his local indy circuit of Pensacola, Florida.
4. The Fabulous Moolah
The Fabulous Moolah is one of the greatest women wrestlers of all time, as well as a pioneer of the Golden Era. In September 2003, at age 80 she appeared on Raw and defeated Victoria.
3. Gypsy Joe
With 81 years under his belt, Gypsy Joe is the oldest active professional wrestler in the United States.
2. Dave Kidney
Dave Kidney is the oldest active professional wrestler in the world. At 82, the British performer is still competing today.
1. Mae Young
The legend and WWE Hall of Famer, Mae Young is the oldest wrestler on the planet to compete in a match. In her last match at the age of 87, Mae Young pinned former WWE Divas Champ Layla, who was 32 at the time. Regardless of gender, some people call her one of the toughest wrestlers ever. Her career started in 1939. She passed away in 2014.
