Oh Canada, our home and native land! So says the national anthem, and the nation is also home to a number of talented men and women wrestlers today. Its rich wrestling history can be traced from the days of Stu Hart to the generations that followed him, including those who appear today.
At the height of WWE's Attitude Era, performers such as Edge, Christian, Owen Hart and Bret 'Hitman' Hart were all known for not only being Canadian but also for being very good at what they did.
Even people such as Test, Val Venis, and Trish Stratus were an integral part of the company’s success. And successful Canadian wrestlers were not only in WWE; ECW and WCW also had a number of Canadian wrestlers that had successful careers, whether it was Lance Storm, Chris Jericho or Chris Benoit.
Since WCW dissolved, TNA has also featured a number of Canadian men and women wrestlers during the company's history. Even Ring of Honor has had a recent Canadian champion in Kyle O'Reilly.
Who today stands out as the biggest and most successful Canadian wrestlers in the world? While some are obvious, these people have certainly worked their way up the rankings to earn that notoriety, and are deservedly receiving accolades.
Here are the five most successful Canadian wrestlers in the world today.
#5 Bobby Roode
When the word Glorious is used, only one man should come to mind, Toronto, Ontario native Bobby Roode. A professional wrestling veteran of over ten years, Roode first carved a niche for himself as one of the stalwarts in TNA, and spent the majority of his career there.
In TNA he faced some of the biggest names ever in wrestling, such as Sting, AJ Styles, Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe. At 39 years of age, Roode appeared to achieve all he could during his time there, and it was time to move onward and upward.
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Soon after, he was popping up at NXT Takeover events, in the audience or during brief glimpses where he was walking backstage. Fans eagerly anticipated his impending arrival.
Upon his entry into NXT, Roode managed to do just what he said he would do, and that was when he became glorious. From his entrance to the ring to his infectious theme song that gets the audience signing along, Roode has captured everyone’s attention as he moves up the roster.
As it stands right now, Roode is the current number one contender for Shinsuke Nakamura's NXT championship and will face him at the NXT Takeover event the day before the Royal Rumble.
#4 Sami Zayn
The underdog from the underground has put on many exciting and competitive matches since he has been part of WWE. That wasn't, however, when he first began to make a name for himself.
He once donned a mask and went under the moniker of El Generico, as he competed for promotions such as Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerilla. One of the most endearing qualities about Zayn is his ability to get the fans behind him by telling compelling and interesting stories inside and outside the ring.
Whether it's his moves such as the blue thunder bomb, his diving ringpost tornado DDT or his helluva kick, Zayn has made others aware of just how much he is capable of doing in the ring.
Despite being linked to Kevin Owens for the better part of the past couple of years, Zayn is finally being pushed to achieve success as part of a program against the monster amongst men, Braun Strowman. He is only getting his feet wet and has shone during this feud even in defeat.
Fans will be more compelled to see what happens with Sami, and would be looking forward to more battles with Strowman in the future.
#3 Chris Jericho
After twenty years, a few breaks from the ring, and the opportunity to reinvent himself, Chris Jericho has everyone drinking it in, man! Jericho is a multi-time champion, main eventer, and still the focal point of a number of storylines.
Since Jericho returned this past year and turned heel on AJ Styles, it appears as though everything he has said or done has become noteworthy.
Whether that means making the term 'stupid idiot' a catchphrase, or creating a list which everyone and anyone could be on, Jericho has been a major reason to watch Monday Night Raw this past year.
Despite being in his late forties, Jericho is still putting on high calibre matches and navigating the ups and downs of his character seamlessly. His on-screen relationship with Kevin Owens has been a focal point for the brand since Owens captured the Universal championship this past fall.
His rise, and the quality of his promos is consistent, as he manages to be both clever and a heel at the same time. It's one of the qualities that make him one of the biggest heels in the company today.
#2 Kevin Owens
He is the current WWE Universal champion. However, during the time that he has been with the company, Owens has made a name for himself based on both what he does in the ring and on the microphone.
Prior to arriving in WWE, Owens was known for his ability to fight. While part of Ring of Honor he captured the world championship and had several stand-out matches against men such as Roderick Strong, Shinsuke Nakamura, Adam Cole and fellow Canadian Michael Elgin while he was there.
What he achieved there made fans sit up and take notice, and it also made WWE notice.
While he has discarded his real name Kevin Steen, there wasn't much of a change in his character from his days in ROH. He immediately made an impact in WWE's NXT brand. Then, after capturing the NXT championship, he made an impact by beating John Cena in his first match on the main roster.
Owens has achieved success in WWE and continues to prove why he is one of the greatest Canadian wrestlers we see today.
#1 Kenny Omega
While it could be said that the greatest Canadian wrestlers come from Alberta or are in WWE, that isn’t necessarily true. One of the most popular and well-known Canadian wrestlers in the world is neither from Alberta nor is he in the WWE.
As a significant member of New Japan Pro Wrestling and part of the Bullet Club, Kenny ‘The Cleaner’ Omega has turned heads. It would be safe to say that he has slowly earned recognition throughout his career to the point where he is considered as one of the best in the world today.
He had humble beginnings, feuding with a young Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan) in his early days. He has risen to the top of NJPW, feuding with the likes of Shinsuke Nakamura before recently headlining Wrestle Kingdom 11 with Kazuchika Okada.
At one time he signed to a developmental deal with WWE in 2005 and competed for their developmental territory in Deep South Wrestling. Fans have to wonder if it is only a matter of time before he also makes his way back to the WWE and reunites with his former Bullet Club brothers. The thought of it is too sweet.
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