The Best Wrestling-Related Memes, Ranked

Early man had cave paintings. Alexander Graham Bell gave us the telephone. Now, we relay our thoughts and emotions with the power of memes. The right meme can portray even the most nuanced of messages that words can not sufficiently express. And one major source of meme material in recent history has been the world of professional wrestling. Due to the uncanny ability of wrestlers to express themselves without uttering a single word, their sport has given us many memes that are appropriate for almost all occasions.

So, we’ve put together a ranked list of the best wrestling-related memes, including explanations of their origins and the context in which they are best used. Grab your popcorn like Big E and prepare to be entertained.

20. Big E Eating Popcorn

Use: When you’re loving what you’re seeing and extremely entertained

Origin: It’s one of the biggest tragedies in wrestling today that as of publication, Big E’s in-ring career seems to be over, due to a scary neck injury. Thankfully, Big E and his crew, The New Day, gave us enough memories to last a lifetime. During their legendary feud with The Usos, The New Day would taunt their opponents by watching their matches with a giant tub of popcorn from the front row of the crowd. Big E, being the entertainer he is, even made the act of eating popcorn hysterical.

19. Steve Austin Looking at His Watch

Use: When you’re impatiently waiting for something

Origin: The 1997 Royal Rumble was a coming-out party of sorts for Stone Cold Steve Austin. After he entered the Rumble, Austin dominated, eliminating opponent after opponent. He took down so many foes that at one point he was alone in the ring, just waiting for the clock to run out so another wrestler would join him in the ring. While he was waiting, he sat on the top rope and pantomimed looking at his “watch,” coaxing the production truck to send more victims his way.

18. Shawn Michaels on His Head

Use: When you see something that leaves you bewildered and dumbfounded; also used when you see an attractive person

Origin: One of the many things that made Shawn Michaels one of the best ever is his ability to sell his ass off. In a match with Sycho Sid, Michaels attempted to dive off the top rope but was met with a boot to the face upon landing. Shawn bounced off the boot and did a complete headstand before flipping onto his stomach. Just some of the stuff that made Shawn the icon he is.

17. Ultimate Warrior Shaking Ropes

Use: When you are extremely excited or eagerly anticipating something

Origin: This one doesn’t require too much explanation. One of the things the Ultimate Warrior was known for was his extremely energetic entrance. He would sprint to the ring and shake the ropes up and down before entering. (Unfortunately, this often left him tired before the match even started.) A lot of the Warrior's appeal happened before the bell even rang.

16. Undertaker Brock Laughing

Use: When you’re being sarcastic or mocking someone with laughter

Origin: In 2015 at SummerSlam, the Undertaker had his rematch against Brock Lesnar after Brock previously ended his Wrestlemania undefeated streak. During the match, both competitors ended up flat on their backs. First, Brock sat up mocking Undertaker, and the Undertaker quickly followed with his trademark sit-up, locking eyes with Brock and laughing maniacally in his face. The image was very concerning, to say the least.

15. John Cena HOF Face

Use: When you hear something controversial or shocking; often used when hearing a damaging insult.

Origin: When The Rock briefly returned to the WWE to induct his father Rocky Johnson into the WWE Hall of Fame, he started his induction speech by riffing on the current locker room. One of the people who caught a stray was John Cena. The Rock claimed that Iraqi detainees, as a form of torture, would be forced to watch copies of Cena’s 2006 movie The Marine. The audience ate it up and Cena took the blow in stride.

14. Angry Miz Girl

Use: When you’re extremely angry or frustrated

Origin: In 2010, The Miz shocked the wrestling world by cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase, which granted him the opportunity to challenge any champion at any moment of his choosing, against champion Randy Orton. Taking advantage of an exhausted Orton, The Miz pulled off the win with ease, leaving the fans none too pleased—especially this little girl, who showed her disgust tenfold.

13. Sting Removing Mask to Reveal Face Paint

Use: When it’s the new year and you’re the same you

Origin: This meme is a trick employed by Sting several times in his wrestling career. Since plastic Sting masks were always a hot piece of merchandise, you’d usually see a good number of people wearing them at wrestling events. To catch his opponents unaware, Sting would don one of these novelty masks and ambush them by appearing to be just another fan. When an opponent would get close, Sting would remove the plastic mask, revealing that he was indeed the real article.

12. Sorry I Love You

Use: When you have to do something that’s necessary but may hurt someone else

Origin: At Wrestlemania 24, Ric Flair faced Mr. Wrestlemania himself, Shawn Michaels; if Flair lost, he had to retire—or at least act like he would retire. In what was perceived at the time as his last match, Ric threw everything he had at Michaels, but in the end, The Heartbreak Kid proved too much for him. Before delivering one last kick to the face, Shawn looked his childhood hero in the eye, told him he loved him, and took him down Old Yeller style.

11. Sting In The Rafters

Use: When you’re watching something closely from afar

Origin: During the peak of WCW’s popularity, the New World Order—led by Hollywood Hogan, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash—invaded the company and dominated the brand week after week by taking out multiple WCW favorites. Seeing the direction that WCW was headed, franchise hero Sting decided he needed to make a change if he was going to be able to challenge the NWO. Gone was his bleached-blonde hair, neon tights, colorful face paint, and his goody-two-shoes demeanor. Sting started dressing in all black, stopped speaking, and would watch from the rafters until he finally found his moment to strike and disrupt the power that the NWO amassed.

10. Undertaker Sitting Up in Casket

Use: When you’ve recharged for a second wind or when you’re suddenly raring to go for an activity

Origin: The Undertaker would employ multiple forms of mind games against his various opponents. Since he was indeed an undertaker, many of these games involved caskets. Oftentimes, Undertaker’s druids would roll out a casket to ringside while his opponent would be cutting a promo in the ring. The casket would open and the Undertaker would shoot up in a seated position as if rising from the grave.

9. Andre the Giant Panicking

Use: When a situation has you in extreme fear

Origin: During his feud with Jake “The Snake” Roberts, it was revealed that Andre had a deathly fear of snakes (naturally), and Jake would take every opportunity he had to exploit that phobia. During a match with Rick Rude, Jake was attacked by Andre and Bobby Heenan. In order to even the odds, Jake grabbed his trademark python and cornered Andre, who proceeded to panic when faced with his biggest fear.

8. John Cena Flabbergasted Face

Use: When you’re shocked and bewildered

Origin: During Wrestlemania 29, John Cena faced The Rock for the WWE championship in a return match from their encounter the previous year. After delivering 32 minutes of punishment, Cena pinned The Rock, thinking he had finally beaten his rival. But The Rock kicked out at the last second, leaving Cena to wonder what lengths he would have to go to put The Great One away.

7. Triple H Angry Face

Use: When you’re furious

Origin: During Triple H’s feud with his former protégé Randy Orton, Orton would employ mind games and attack not only Triple H, but also his family. During an episode of Monday Night Raw, Orton attacked Triple H’s wife Stephanie McMahon as well as his brother-in-law Shane. After punting Shane in the face, Orton would deliver his finishing move, the RKO, to Stephanie—leaving Triple H fuming with the face you see above.

6. Daniel Bryan “Yes”

Use: When you vehemently agree about something

Origin: Daniel Bryan (currently Bryan Danielson on AEW) was everyone’s favorite underdog for a period of time in the WWE. He started what would eventually be called “The Yes Movement,” which became a rallying cry that fans chanted whenever they wanted their hero to succeed. Daniel Bryan would chant “Yes” over and over at the top of his lungs as he would go into battle.

5. Shocked Undertaker Fan

Use: When you’re astonished or left aghast by something

Origin: Until Wrestlemania 30, The Undertaker had gone 21 consecutive Wrestlemanias without ever losing. “The Streak,” as it was called, seemed unbreakable, and nobody could ever imagine anyone defeating The Undertaker on the grandest stage of them all. Enter Brock Lesnar. To the utter shock of fans worldwide, Lesnar defeated Undertaker clean. When the final bell rang, there was utter silence—this writer was present at this moment and can attest to this—and WWE camera crews panned the audience, showing multiple people aghast at what they just witnessed. One fan, who looked like his very soul had left his body, would end up in meme infamy.

4. Vince McMahon Tearing Up

Use: When something makes you emotional, usually nostalgic

Origin: During HBO’s Andre the Giant documentary, Vince McMahon was asked about Andre’s death. McMahon started to choke up remembering his old friend, motioning with his hands that he needed a break to gather himself. A meme was born.

3. Vince McMahon Falling Over His Chair

Use: When you’re overwhelmed and astonished by something

Origin: In 2002, Vince McMahon was holding open job interviews for his new “personal assistant.” After a few initial applicants, former WCW star Stacy Keibler made her way down to the ring and proceeded to give Vince a very seductive table dance on top of a desk. Vince could hardly contain himself and keeled over backward in his chair. Needless to say, she was hired.

2. Steve Austin Drinking Beers on the Floor

Use: When you’ve had a long night of drinking

Origin: There weren’t many times Stone Cold Steve Austin would end an appearance on WWE without chugging multiple beers or inviting other superstars to join in (before giving them a Stunner for good measure). This meme originates from one of the many times Austin gave the fans in attendance. It is unclear (at least to this writer) which night this episode of Smackdown aired, but it could just as well be any of Austin’s appearances on the blue brand.

1. The Rock Eye Roll

Use: When you see something that causes you to roll your eyes

Origin: Early on in his WWE career, during his first heel run, The Rock was part of the stable known as The Nation of Domination. While Farooq was its leader at the time, it was clear a young Rock was vying for the top spot. This meme depicts one of the first signs of his dissatisfaction with the old guard in the Nation.