List of oldest surviving professional wrestlers

This is a list of oldest surviving professional wrestlers. 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 ). The title of the oldest verified wrestler of all time belongs to Polish wrestler Abe Coleman (1905–2007), who lived . The oldest person ever to be involved in the wrestling industry was promoter Harry Elliott (1904–2006), aged 101 years, 314 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 . The oldest female to be involved in the wrestling industry was Gorgeous George's valet Betty Wagner, who lived to the age of 98.

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. The oldest male wrestler to have a match is Kendo Nagasaki, who wrestled in an 8 tag team match in London, England aged 84.

List Oldest wrestlers ever

Rank Name Sex Age Birth Death Notes 1 Harry Elliott M August 16, 1904 June 25, 2006 Was the promoter of Seattle wrestling, from 1958 to 1969 he was the sole promoter in Washington, Idaho, and Northeast Oregon. 2 Abe Coleman M September 20, 1905 March 28, 2007 Oldest wrestler ever. 3 Joe D'Orazio M July 27, 1922 March 9, 2022 Referee, and British Wrestlers Reunion president until BWR ended in January 2022 after 30 years. 4 Angelo Savoldi M April 21, 1914 September 20, 2013 Last surviving veteran of the "Pioneer Era". 5 Cesar Pabon M February 23, 1928 September 12, 2026 Puerto Rican wrestler and bodybuilder who wrestled for the AWA from 1969 to 1981. 6 Bill Mercer M February 13, 1926 March 23, 2025 Voice of World Class Championship Wrestling. 7 Jackie Stallone F November 29, 1921 September 21, 2020 Manager and promoter for Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling from 1986 to 1989. Mother of Sylvester Stallone. 8 Dan McLeod M June 14, 1860 June 20, 1958 Last surviving American Heavyweight Champion and veteran of the "Farmer" Burns-Frank Gotch era. 9 Betty Wagner F 98 years 1912–1913 June 3, 2011 First wife and valet of Gorgeous George. 10 Jarvis Astaire M October 6, 1923 August 21, 2021 Promoter for Joint Promotions in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s. 11 Pedro Septién M March 21, 1916 December 19, 2013 Mexican actor, wrestling announcer and baseball broadcaster. 12 Gerry Hoggarth M 97 years, 119 days April 17, 1922 August 14, 2019 Began his career in the 1940sCauliflower Alley Club 13 Luis Magana M 97 years 1910 March 23, 2008 Spanish announcer in boxing and wrestling in Los Angeles 14 Gorilla Pogi M January 23, 1902 August 30, 1998 Italian-American wrestler most notably took part in the EMLL 1st Anniversary Show in 1934. 15 Samson Burke M April 8, 1930 Living Canadian wrestler, actor, bodybuilder, wrestler, swimmer. Known as Sammy Berg during his wrestling career. 16 Jack LaLanne M September 26, 1914 January 23, 2011 World-famous fitness guru, had a brief pro wrestling career in 1938. 17 Milo Steinborn M March 18, 1893 February 9, 1989 Promoted wrestling in Florida 18 Abe Jacobs M April 18, 1928 August 21, 2023 New Zealand wrestler. Former NWA World Tag Team Champion. 19 Hélio Gracie M October 1, 1913 January 29, 2009 Brazilian martial artist who wrestled occasionally. 20 Bob Caudle M August 2, 1930 November 16, 2025 Voice of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Later announced in South Atlantic Pro Wrestling and Smoky Mountain Wrestling. 21 Meshulam Riklis M December 2, 1923 January 25, 2019 Turkish-Israeli businessman that owned Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling from 1986 to 2001. 22 Andrew Tsimpides M August 16, 1916 September 19, 2011 Former manager of Gorgeous George 23 Octavio Gaona Jr. M October 4, 1931 Living Son of Octavio Gaona 24 Hank Garrett M October 26, 1931 Living Wrestled as The Minnesota Farm Boy from 1957 to 1966. 25 Princess Bonita F May 31, 1919 February 28, 2014 Oldest female, mainly wrestled as Princess White Dove

Oldest female wrestlers ever

Rank Name Sex Age Birth Death Notes 1 Princess Bonita F May 31, 1919 February 28, 2014 Oldest female, mainly wrestled as Princess White Dove 2 Ann Lake M years 1933 Living Inducted into the New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. 3 Mae Young F March 12, 1923 January 14, 2014 Oldest person to wrestle ever at 87 years old. Wrestled for WWF from 1999 to 2000, 2004 and 2010. 4 Yukiko Tomoe F November 1, 1935 Living Oldest living female wrestler. First Japanese woman to win the NWA World Women's Championship in 1968. 5 Lorraine Johnson F March 2, 1930 October 5, 2020 6 Kathy Starr F June 8, 1936 Living Wrestled mainly in Hawaii. Former Central States Women's Champion. 7 Ethel Brown F May 25, 1931 July 21, 2021 8 Irma Gonzalez F August 20, 1936 Living Wrestled mainly in Mexico and WCCW. Oldest surviving Mexican women wrestler. 9 Gladys Gillem F January 6, 1920 August 12, 2009 Feuded with Mildred Burke. 10 Cora Combs F March 17, 1927 June 21, 2015

Oldest wrestlers currently living Rank Name Sex Age Birth Notes 1 Bill Verna M years 1929 Aussie wrestler won the British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship. 2 Samson Burke M April 8, 1930 Oldest Canadian Wrestler. Known as Sammy Berg. Also was a bodybuilder, swimmer, and actor. 3 Octavio Gaona Jr. M October 4, 1931 Son of Octavio Gaona. 4 Hank Garrett M October 26, 1931 Wrestled as The Minnesota Farm Boy from 1957 to 1966. 5 Nick Kozak M November 3, 1932 Raised in Texas. Wrestled for Pacific Northwest, WCCW and NWA Georgia. 6 Steve Novak M November 24, 1932 Wrestled in Studio Wrestling out of Pittsburgh in the 1950s and 1960s. Also wrestled as The Battling Bohemian and Red Menace. 7 Ann Lake M years 1933 Inducted into the New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. 8 Keita Meretana M years 1933 Former NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship 9 Dory Dixon M February 1, 1934 First Jamaican wrestler in the WWWF. 10 Guillotine Gordon M January 14, 1935 Wrestled in the WWWF from 1964 to 1969. Later in his career he wrestled as Enforcer Luciano in NWA Hollywood. 11 Horst Hoffman M September 29, 1935 German wrestler. Wrestled in Germany, France, Japan and AWA. 12 Paul Diamond M October 24, 1935 Wrestled for NWA Vancouver and AWA from 1960 to 1972 13 Yukiko Tomoe F November 1, 1935 Japanese female wrestler. Oldest living female wrestler. Former NWA World Women's Champion 14 Earl Maynard M November 28, 1935 From Barbados former Mr. Universe, a bodybuilder wrestler in the 60s and 70s and teamed with Rocky Johnson. He wrestled for Pacific Northwest, Stampede, NWA, and WWWF. 15 Tony Kontellis M years 1935 Wrestled in Australia and WWWF 16 Eddie Sharkey M February 4, 1936 Wrestled in AWA. Owns Pro Wrestling America. Also has trained many wrestlers like Rick Rude, Bob Backlund, Jesse Ventura, etc. 17 Escorpion I M April 26, 1936 Mexican wrestler. Two time NWA Americas Tag Team Champion. 18 Kathy Starr F June 8, 1936 Wrestled mainly in Hawaii. Former Central States Women's Champion. 19 Irma Gonzalez F August 20, 1936 Wrestled mainly in Mexico and WCCW. 20 Black Gordman M October 5, 1936 Well known in Los Angeles, Texas and WWWF from 1972 to 1974. 21 Eddie Morrow M years 1936 From Martinique wrestled for Pacific Northwest and Stampede Wrestling. Brother of Gerry Morrow. Resides in Calgary, Canada. 22 Mark Lewin M March 16, 1937 Multi-time regional champion. Worked as Purple Haze. 23 Zivko Kovacic M September 30, 1937 Croatian wrestler. Mid-West Tag Team Champion 24 Paul DeMarco (wrestler) M years 1937 Canadian wrestler. Former 3-time NWA Georgia Champion. 25 Steve Veidor M January 10, 1938 Former European Heavyweight Champion. 26 Omar Atlas M April 22, 1938 Former NWA Central States Heavyweight Champion. Worked for WWF from 1986 to 1992. 27 Johnny Rodz M May 16, 1938 WWE Hall of Famer. Worked for WWF (WWWF) from 1965 to 1985. 28 Gantetsu Matsuoka M November 25, 1938 Former two-time NWA United States Tag Team Champion. 29 Harvey Smith (equestrian) M December 29, 1938 British show jumping champion. Wrestled occasionally in the 1970s. 30 Lumberjack Pierre M February 13, 1939 Former WWWF World Tag Team Champion. 31 Chuck Wepner M February 26, 1939 Former professional boxer. Fought Andre the Giant at Showdown At Shea in 1976. 32 George Hultz M March 7, 1939 Former NFL football player. Had a short career in Tri-State and Alabama from 1969 to 1974. 33 Lars Anderson M March 14, 1939 Five-time NWA Polynesian Pacific Heavyweight Champion. 34 Jim Herd M March 24, 1939 Executive vice president for World Championship Wrestling from 1988 to 1992. 35 Bill Watts M May 5, 1939 Three time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion and promoter of Mid-South/UWF Wrestling. 36 Tinieblas M June 8, 1939 One time WWA World Heavyweight Champion. 37 Ramona Isbella F June 20, 1939 African-American female wrestler 38 Fred Peloquin M November 1, 1939 Known as Mad Dog Peloquin in Winnipeg and AWA. Three-time WFWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion. 39 El Matematico M April 20, 1940 Mexican wrestler 40 Spiros Arion M September 3, 1940 Egyptian-Greek wrestler. Well known in the WWWF from 1966 to 1978.

Oldest wrestlers to ever perform 70 and over