IT'S IN THE GENES

It may not always be genetics, but there is definitely a perk to being apart of a wrestling family. Since the end of the territory days, with the exception of Kerry Von Erich maybe, there hadn't really been a known to be next generation wrestler until The Rock in the late 90's being the WWE's first 3rd Generation Wrestler. Most but not were aware of the 2nd Generation stars like "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Bret "The Hitman" Hart amongst others.

The WWE currently has roughly 10+ next generation wrestlers working both the current main rosters as well as NXT. Some are part of their characters or announced every show like Cody Rhodes and Goldust being the 2nd Generation stars following in their legendary father, Dusty Rhodes footsteps. There is Curtis Axel (Joe Henning) who is currently following in The Rock's initial steps, using a combo of both his father (Rocky Johnson) and Grandfather (High Chief Peter Maivia) with Rocky Maivia. Then there is Roman Reigns of The Shield, who is in fact a third generation superstar in his own right being son of Afa (and is also brother of former WWE star Rosie, Super Hero In Training). Plus others, some of whom will be mentioned below.

Here are a list of some of the wrestling families, while I'll be sticking with the better known members, in most cases some of these bloodlines seem to produce nothing but wrestlers, who simply never made it to WWE, WCW or even TNA Wrestlings rosters over the years.

The Anoa'i/Maivia Family

Possibly the largest wrestling family there is, and a knack for giving us top performers over these years. Greats like High Chief Peter Maivia, Wild Samoans Afa and Sika, Yokozuna (yes non-hardcore fans he was actually Samoan), Rikishi (who's used many monikers), The Rock, Umaga, Rosie, and a bunch of others who've both made the top companies and haven't, yet wrestled elsewhere. Current stars from this family include Jimmy and Jey Uso (Rikishi's sons) and Leati Joseph Anoa'i better known as Roman Reigns.

The Hart Family

Canada's top or better known wrestling dynasties. With the Hart's every one of wrestler/promoter/trainer Stu Hart's sons wrestled and his each of his daughters married a wrestler. Best known would be Bret "The Hitman" Hart and his brother Owen Hart and their brother in-laws Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart and "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith (who is cousins with Dynamite Kid, who's ex-wife is Bret's ex-wifes sister). Of course there is a third generation with D.H. Smith (Harry Smith, son of Davey Boy Smith and Diana Hart), Teddy Hart (son of wrestler B.J. Annis and Georgia Hart, and Natalya Neidhart (Jim Neidhart and Ellie Hart) who recently married WWE star Tyson Kidd (TJ Wilson).

The Guerrero Family

They are Mexico's Dynasty to at least the mainstream media. Similar to the Hart Family, every one of Gory Guerrero's sons was a wrestler, even his wife, Herlinda Llanes came from a wrestling family. Best known is the late Eddie Guerrero and his wife current EXCUSE ME! star Vickie Guerrero. Also there's Hector Guerrero, Chavo Guerrero Sr (better known to current generation as Chavo Classic perhaps) and since I don't want to leave him out finally Mondo. Third generation star is Chavo Guerrero Jr who's been in WWE, WCW and TNA. Also there is Eddie and Vickie's daughter, Shaul Guerrero, working under the name Raquel Diaz on NXT. Guerrero Siempre!

The Windham-Rotunda Family

I was surprised by this at first, but then everything made sense. In this family it seems to be a case of genetics and upbringing. Wrestling legend Black Jack Mulligan (Robert Jack Mulligan) is the father of wrestling greats Barry Windham and Kendall Windham, but is also the step-father of another great, Mike Rotunda or I.R.S., Irwin R. Schyster. Rotunda is father of current WWE and NXT superstars, Windham Rotunda aka Bray Wyatt (he was known as Husky Harris during the "Nexus" days) and Bo Dallas (Taylor Rotunda).

The Poffo Family

Even though there isn't going to be a next generation star from this bloodline by the looks of it, they deserve mention, not just for level of greatness, but for the shock that I am sure I wasn't alone in feeling when I heard this bloodline. Angelo Poffo, Randy Poffo and Lanny Poffo. The late Angelo Poffo is the wrestling legend and father of the late and legendary "Macho Man" Randy Savage and his brother "The Genius". And of course we all know that Randy was once married (in real life) to the late Miss Elizabeth (Elizabeth Hulette). If never going to be an induction into WWE's Hall Of Fame, we would love to know the reason.

The Rhodes Family

"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes (Virgil Runnels Jr.) is a legendary WWE Hall Of Famer, and is father of two future HOF inductees, Goldust/Dustin Rhodes (Dustin Runnels) and Cody Rhodes (Cody Runnels). Dustin really came into his own once he became Goldust, and is leading a small "Attitude Era" resurgence within the the WWE. And was of course once married to Marlena (Terri Runnels). Cody is so good he successfully "gimmicked" a protective mask and then a mustache. That takes skill. Also, Dusty Rhodes is the brother in-law of Nasty Boys member Jerry Sags (Jerome Saganovich) and Tugboat/Typhoon/Shockmaster (Fred Ottoman). Both of whom are also Cody's Uncle. Cody's Godfather is also wrestling great Magnum T.A. (Terry Allen).

The Flair Family

Perhaps Ric Flair was "too great" for his sons to succeed in wrestling. With David Flair, it could have been from being in WCW during the wrong era and/or not being in the WWE instead. With Naitch's other son, Reid Flair, it was a tragic case of a drug over-dose that is likely the cause for not getting to the level he was capable of reaching if not for his demons. There is a ray of light within the Flair Family (which is Fliehr in real life) with The Nature Boy's daughter Ashley Flair is on NXT using the name Charlotte (likely homage to Flair country Charlotte, NC) WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The Von Erich Family

Possibly the most tragic stories of all the wrestling families and in a business loaded with it. Wrestling great Fritz Von Erich (Jack Adkisson) had 6 sons; Jack Jr, Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike and Chris. Jack Jr passed at the age of 6, but the other Von Erich sons all followed their father into the business of pro wrestling. Tragically, only Kevin Von Erich is still alive, with his brothers all meeting untimely deaths at young ages. Kerry Von Erich was best known to WWE fans as the Texas Tornado back in the 90's, where he actually wrestled on a prosthetic leg, but took his own life at the age of  . There is a ray of hope in the Von Erich clan, while Kerry's daughter Lacey Von Erich was at one time wrestling in TNA, and Kevin has two sons currently breaking out in the business. Perhaps one day we will see The Claw return to the main stage at the hand of a Von Erich..

The Henning Family

The wrestling great, Larry "The Axe" Henning is father to the late, legendary "Mr. Perfect" Curt Henning. And of course put the names together and you get current WWE third generation superstar, Curtis Axel (Joe Henning). Curt's daughter Amy is also a wrestler apparently. An almost "perfect" wrestling family. Pun obvious. Pun intended.

The DiBiase Family

"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase Sr., was the son of Helen Nevins a female wrestler and her husband, his adoptive father, "Iron" Mike DiBiase. Tragically, Mike died from a heart attack during a match with "Mountain Man" Mike in July 1969. There is a thrid generation of DiBiase's in the wrestling business, with Ted DiBiase Jr having formerly been in WWE, and his two brothers Mike DiBiase II and Brett DiBiase although currently retired were also professional wrestlers.

The McMahon Family

We may not always like the product that they give us, or the desicions that they make at times, but we should all be thankful that this family has existed in professional wrestling. Beginning with boxing and wrestling promoter, Roderick McMahon. Followed by his son also a wrestling promoter, Vincent J. McMahon who gave us Vinnie Mac, Vince K. McMahon. Hard to put one label on Vince promoter, entrepreneur, wrestler list goes on. Even that applies to Vince and Linda's children, Shane McMahon who worked for the family company on all levels from office to ref to even wrestling as well, and same can be said for Stephanie McMahon-Levesque, who is married to WWE great Triple H (Paul Levesque) who is now doing what the McMahon's do behind the scenes also after a stellar and now part-time wrestling career.


The list of wrestling families is pretty extensive, with mine being the tip of a massive ice berg. Remember the little baby Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat brought with him during Wrestlmania IV? For those unaware, that was his son and even he's in the business right now

A few others from the endless list of other 2nd and 3rd generation stars are;

• Jake "The Snake" Roberts
• Wes Brisco
• Tamina Snuka
• Deuce (Jimmy Snuka Jr.)
•  "The Mountie" Jacques Rougeau
• Ray Rougeau
• "Road Dogg" Jesse James and referee brother Scott Armstrong