Ahead of Wrestlepalooza Stephen A. Smith Unveils His Top 5 Wrestlers — Triple H Left Shaking His Head at #1 Pick
On the eve of Wrestlepalooza, WWE’s first-ever Premium Live Event to air on ESPN Unlimited, WWE CCO Triple H joined Stephen A. Smith and the crew on First Take. The segment, billed as a crossover between sports and sports entertainment, delivered exactly what fans expected: fireworks, bold takes, and a few unforgettable reactions from “The Game.”
Stephen A.’s “A-List” Sparks Debate
Stephen A. revealed his Top 5 Pro Wrestlers of All Time live on air:
- Goldberg
- Ric Flair
- Hulk Hogan
- The Rock
- The Road Warriors
Cam Newton and Ryan Clark (co-host's on First Take) quickly stated the notably absent icons like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, Randy Savage, Dusty Rhodes, and John Cena.
Triple H’s face told the story — his mixed reactions ranged from raised eyebrows to outright disbelief. When Goldberg was revealed at #1, “The King of Kings” looked like he’d just been Pedigreed by the list itself.
Stephen A. doubled down, pointing at Triple H and saying with a grin: “Don’t worry, you’re always on my top list, baby.”
Triple H Claps Back
Ever the diplomat, Triple H explained that Stephen A. had baited the audience with a list that seemed solid at first — before throwing Goldberg at #1 to maximize outrage. “I love Bill, I think he’s great, but number one? Over everybody else? Come on…” Triple H rattled off names like Austin, Savage, and Dusty Rhodes, noting the glaring omissions.
The banter only added to the hype surrounding Wrestlepalooza, proving once again that WWE thrives in the mainstream conversation.
Wrestlepalooza Preview on ESPN
Triple H pivoted back to this weekend’s spectacle:
- John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar in what’s being billed as their final clash.
- CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch, a dream mixed-tag match.
- Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
“This whole event is going to be a spectacle,” Triple H promised. “If you’ve never tuned in before, now is the time.”
🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Stephen A.’s “A-List” did exactly what it was supposed to — grab attention and rile people up. But Triple H’s reactions, especially his exasperation at Goldberg sitting atop the list, gave fans a hilarious moment before Wrestlepalooza. Whether you agree with Stephen A. or not, one thing is clear: WWE is officially in the mainstream ESPN conversation, and that’s a massive win for the company. Everyone has their own top 5, and that is what makes professional wrestling so special.
📺 Reminder:
- Wrestlepalooza Special: ESPN2 & ESPNews, today at 3 PM ET and throughout the evening.
- Road to Wrestlepalooza airs tomorrow at 3 PM ET on WWE and ESPN socials.
- Pre-Show: Saturday, 5 PM ET on ESPN Unlimited.
- Main Event: Saturday, 7 PM ET, streaming exclusively on ESPN Unlimited.
