During his interview on The Bill Simmons Podcast, WWE President Nick Khan weighed in on the popular debate topic of selecting a “Mount Rushmore” – the top four figures – for WWE history.
Khan quickly identified his first two undisputed choices, representing distinct dominant eras in the company. “Flair, Hogan, for sure. Yeah,” he stated, locking in Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan.
Selecting the final two proved more challenging for Khan, as he considered several iconic figures from different periods. He acknowledged John Cena’s remarkable two-decade run at the top: “Cena deserves some sort of recognition. You’re talking about a 20-year run.” He also cited Roman Reigns’ recent historic championship reign: “and what Roman did the last couple of years.”
Khan reflected on historical figures like Bruno Sammartino (“Sammartino was just before me, but you would read… he held the championship for this period of time”) and Superstar Billy Graham. However, he circled back to a key figure from the Attitude Era, Stone Cold Steve Austin, recognizing his massive cultural impact despite a shorter career due to injury. “I would put Austin somewhere around there, just because of the impact he had,” Khan said, adding context: “I think if I’m remembering correctly, he retired at like 39 with injury and all of those things.”
He also mentioned Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, noting his early departure for Hollywood: “Rock left early to pursue a different career and was doing movies.” While not explicitly placing Austin, Cena, or Reigns in the final two spots alongside Flair and Hogan, Khan clearly identified them as the primary contenders in his view.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Bill Simmons Podcast with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
