THE WWE has been a home to hundreds of superstars over the years, with some enjoying decades on the books, turning them into household names.
Wrestlers such as Dwayne Johnson and Hulk Hogan have used their WWE careers as a platform to push into Hollywood, yet others appear happy to remain in the ring, enjoying their time as stars of sports entertainment.
The Undertaker has been under contract with the WWE since 90Credit: Reuters
Here is a list of the longest tenured wrestlers in the WWE.
10) Natalya: 13 years
Natalya is the second longest female under contract with the WWE.
The 38-year-old Canadian has been with the company for more than a decade, signing with the brand in 2007.
Natalya is the first third-generation female wrestler in WWECredit: AFP – Getty
Natalya, who is married to Tyson Kidd, is well-respected by fans, wrestlers and the WWE brass.
She is the first third-generation female wrestler in the WWE, and a member of the Hart wrestling family.
Her father, Jim Neidhart, was a member of the famous Hart Foundation alongside Bret Hart.
Natalya has been with the WWE since 2007, winning the Smackdown Women’s title and the Divas championshipCredit: Getty Images – Getty
As a 13-year veteran, Natalya’s list of accomplishments in the WWE include reigns as the SmackDown Women’s champion and the Divas Champion.
9) Kofi Kingston: 13 years
Former WWE champion Kofi Kingston signed with the WWE in 2006 at the age of 24.
The 39-year-old was originally assigned to Deep South Wrestling, then a WWE developmental territory in Georgia.
Kofi Kingston has been under contract with the WWE for 13 years, having made his debut under the ECW brand in 2007Credit: Getty Images – Getty
The Ghanaian-American spent a year in the development league before being called up to be a part of the ECW brand in 2007.
In 2008, Kingston was drafted to Raw and would win the Intercontinental title from Chris Jericho in his first official match.
However, his career was given a boost in 2014 when he was partnered with Xavier Woods and Big E to form New Day.
Kingston has achieved mainstream success in the company as part of New DayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Kingston had his WrestleMania moment in 20, when after 12 years with the company he defeated Daniel Bryan to win the WWE championship.
During his time with the company, Kingston has won the WWE title, the Intercontinental title four-times, the United States championship three-times and the tag-team titles 11-times.
8) Alicia Fox: 14 years
No other female wrestler has been signed to the company longer than Alicia Fox.
In 2006, the 34-year-old signed with the WWE’s then-developmental brand Ohio Valley Wrestling.
Alicia Fox was the longest contracted female wrestler in WWE.
Fox made her OVW debut that year under the ring name Tori – competing in a battle royal.
At OVW, Fox shared the ring with other notable wrestlers including Mickie James, Rosa Mendes, Maryse, Milena and Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix.
In 2008, she made her debut on the SmackDown main roster, having changed her in-ring name to Alicia Fox.
In June 2010, Fox competed in a four-way match for the WWE Divas Championship, which involved Gail Kim, Eve Torres and Maryse.
Fox made her WWE debut in 2006, when she signed with their then-developmental brand Ohio Valley Wrestling.
Fox pinned Maryse to win the championship, becoming the first and only African American to win the Divas title.
It was the only title she would win and after a long career Fox was released by the company earlier this year.
7) Dolph Ziggler: 14 years
Dolph Ziggler officially signed with the WWE’s OVW brand in late 2005, and was paired up with four other wrestlers to form the Spirit Squad.
The group took on the in-ring personas of male cheerleaders, with Ziggler adopting the name Nicky.
Dolph Ziggler first appeared in the WWE in 2005, when he was part of the Spirit Squad.
After the gimmick ran its course, Ziggler was sent back to the developmental brand in 2007.
A year later he reappeared on Raw as Dolph Ziggler.
The 40-year-old was initially a mid-card talent, winning the Intercontinental and United States titles several times.
Ziggler won the World Heavyweight title in 2013, after cashing in his Money in the Bank contract against Alberto Del Rio.
Ziggler finally broke through in 2013, when he captured the World Heavyweight title after cashing in his Money in the Bank contract against Alberto Del Rio.
The 14-year veteran has been a two-time world heavyweight champion, a two-time US champion, a six-time Intercontinental champion, and a three-time tag-team champion.
6) The Miz: 14 years
In 2004, The Miz competed in season four of WWE’s Tough Enough competition show.
Despite losing to Daniel Puder, he was offered a contract and sent to the company’s developmental brand.
Two years later, Miz was called up to SmackDown where he spent a brief period hosting the MizTV segment.
In 2007, he was drafted to the ECW, where he finally came into his own.
The Miz peaked in 2010-2011, when he won the WWE championship after five years with the company.
His career peaked in 2011 when he became the WWE champion.
As well as the WWE champion title, Miz’s is also an eight-time Intercontinental champion, a two-time US champion and an eight-time world tag-team champion.
5) R-Truth: 16 years
R-Truth has had two runs with the WWE – the first from 98-2002 under the name K-Kwik.
In 99, he signed for WWE and was sent to Memphis Championship Wrestling.
R-Truth first signed with the WWE from 98-2002, and performed under the ring name K-Kwik.
In 2000, he cracked the main roster and wrestled as part of a tag team with Road Dogg.
After Road Dogg’s WWE release, Truth became a singles competitor in the Hardcore division.
In 2002, Truth was released by the company and spent the next five years with rival TNA wrestling.
Since his return to the WWE in 2008, Truth has been a mid-level talentCredit: Getty – Contributor
He eventually returned to the WWE in 2008, and has since been known as R-Truth.
As a mid-level talent, Truth has won the 24/7 championship 42-times, the tag-team titles once, the US title twice and the Hardcore championship twice.
4) Randy Orton: 18 years
Randy Orton is a third-generation wrestler, who signed with the WWE in 2001 at the age of 21.
The company immediately sent him to OVW, and he officially made his main roster debut a year later.
Randy Orton signed with the WWE in 2001, when he was just 21-years-oldCredit: Getty – Contributor
Orton’s debut was short lived as he suffered a shoulder injury that put him on the shelf for much of 2002.
In 2003, he returned and joined the Evolution faction alongside Triple H, Batista and Ric Flair.
He became the youngest world champion in WWE history in 2004 when he pinned Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight title at SummerSlam.
Randy has won the WWE title 13-timesCredit: WWE/Youtube
The 40-year-old has accomplished everything in the WWE, winning the WWE title 13-times, the tag-team titles twice, the Intercontinental championship, the US title and the Royal Rumble twice.
The Viper will no doubt be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he decides to hang up his wrestling gear.
3) John Cena: 18 years
John Cena, the 16-time WWE champion, signed with the WWE in 2000 and was immediately shipped to OVW following two non-televised matches on SmackDown.
In OVW, Cena would wrestle the likes of Randy Orton, Batista and Brock Lesnar, who were also coming through.
The 18-year veteran, John Cena is a 16-time WWE world heavyweight champion.
In June 2002, Cena officially made his WWE debut on the SmackDown roster when he answered an open challenge from Kurt Angle, pushing the company into the Ruthless Aggression era.
From 2002 to 2005, Cena performed as the Doctor of Thuganomics, a rapper who cut promos while rhyming.
Cena captured his first singles title at WrestleMania XX, after defeating the Big Show for the US title.
The following year at WrestleMania, Cena won the WWE Championship for the first time – pinning JBL in the main event.
To many wrestling fans and performers, John Cena is considered the greatest of all timeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Cena would rise to superstardom throughout the years and continue adding to his resume.
Considered by many watchers as as the greatest wrestler of all time, Cena is a 16-time WWE champion, a five-time US champion, a four-time tag-team champion and a two-time Royal Rumble winner.
2) Big Show: 21 years
The world’s largest athlete is also WWE’s second longest tenured performer, having signed with the company in 99.
The Big Show signed a 10-year contract with the WWE, matching the sizeable offer on the table from the WCW at the time.
In 99, the Big Show signed a 10-year contract with the WWECredit: Getty – Contributor
The seven-foot giant was immediately placed into the main roster, and into a feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Originally referred to by his real name, Paul Wight, the company quickly began calling him Big Show.
At the Survivor Series pay-per-view event in 99, Big Show captured his first WWE championship, defeating Triple H and The Rock in a triple-threat match.
The Big Show is the second longest tenured superstar in WWE history Credit: Getty Images – Getty
In 21-years with the company the 48-year-old is a four-time WWE champion, a three-time Hardcore champion, a US and Intercontinental champion and an eight-time world tag-team champion.
1) The Undertaker: 30 years
The workhorse of the WWE, the Undertaker has been the face of the WWE for decades.
After a failed stint with WCW, the Deadman signed with the WWE in 90 and made his official debut at the Survivor Series PPV that same year.
The Undertaker has been under contract with the WWE for 30 years, debuting in 90
Undertaker would go on to defeat Hulk Hogan for the WWE title at the Survivor Series event in 91 – his first singles championship in the company.
Since then, Taker has become the most recognizable wrestler in the world, known even to those who don’t enjoy the sport.
