It may be a surprise to professional wrestling fans that Long Island, New York, has been a hotbed for producing superstars who have graced the squared circles the world over for several years running. Maybe not, though.
Nevertheless, below are six wrestlers that have (and still do) made waves in the business at every turn.
Mick Foley
Sitting atop of the Long Island’s greats list is hardcore icon and overall fantastic former pro wrestler Mick Foley.
Foley pro wrestling career is legendary. He is four-time World Champion, (three WWF Championships and one TNA World Heavyweight Championship), an 11-time world tag team champion (eight WWF Tag Team Championships, two ECW World Tag Team Championships, and one WCW World Tag Team Championship), a one-time TNA Legends Champion, and the inaugural WWF Hardcore Champion.
Additionally, Foley battled the Undertaker, in my opinion, in one of the best matches I have ever seen at the King of the Ring’s Hell in the Cell bout in June of 1998.
Who can forget the battle-tested former pro wrestler being thrown off the top of the 20-foot cage? Then, for good measure, the Undertaker choke-slamming him through the roof of the cell onto the unforgiven canvas.
Foley wrestled as Mankind, Dude Love, Catus Jack and himself, all of which were spot-on memorable personas.
Not only is the WWE Hall of Famer one terrific in-ring and out-of-ring performer, but he is also one heck of a nice guy. In addition to that, he is a New York Times best-selling author of 11 books.
Bang, bang!
MJF, at 28 just years old, is hitting his stride as one of the most talented wrestlers in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Great on the mic and in the ring, there is no doubting that, in my opinion.
Furthermore, he is on his way to building a Hall of Fame career.
Most recently, MJF is coming off a defeat to Will Ospreay at AEW’s All In card in London, England, where he dropped his Interational American Championship belt in late August of 2024.
With the Dynamite Diamond ring in tow, MJF has captured the AEW World Championship and International Championship, which he renamed the American Championship. He also held the Ring of Honor Tag Team belt with Adam Cole.
But MJF has claimed, on X, that his ring was stolen.
Matt Cardona
Woo, woo, woo, you know it.
Matt Cardona, FKA Zack Ryder in WWE, has won the Intercontinental, United States, and (Raw) Tag Team Championships with Curt Hawkins on two occasions.
The Merrick, Long Islander’s self-promotion has been absolutely genius, which started in a time before every wrestler hopped on board the internet train. Dubbing himself the “Internet Champion” proved to be very fruitful for Cardona, who also possesses the in-ring skills to back up the digital smack talk.
After the WWE released him in 2020, Cardona went to continue his stellar wrestling career around the world. He has competed for AEW, Impact Wrestling, National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and Game Changing Wrestling (GCW) promotions.
Brain Myers
Born in Glen Cove, Long Island, Meyers, FKA as Curt Hawkins in WWE, has won the Impact Digital Media strap, TNA World Tag Team titles, as well as the (Raw) Tag Team Championships twice, and WWE Tag Team Championship (once).
With extensive experience and success in the business, Myers decided to opening his own, along with Pat Buck, training facility called Create A Pro Academy on Hicksville, Long Island, producing some of the finest pro grapplers around today.
Willow Nightingale
Nightingale, real Danielle Paultre, has earned her status as one of the top female wrestlers in the business. The Long Islander’s infectious, gregarious personality and powerful squared circle abilities has won the hearts of pro wrestling fans the world over.
Nightingale has captured belts in AEW as the TBS Champion, held the inaugural Strong Women’s Championship in New Japan’s Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) federation, and in the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), where she is the current CMLL World Women’s Champion.
She has also graced the rings of ROH and Shimmer.
The former Andromeda Galaxy billed resident, Statlander is one powerful woman who was actually born in West Islip, Long Island, and is Create A Pro Academy’s first female graduate.
The 5-foot-9, 143-pounder, a one-time AEW TBS Champion, teamed with Stokely Hathaway to take on Nightingale and Tomohiro Ishii in a losing effort at All In, in August.
Armed with a superb look and unmatched strength, the sky’s the limit for Statlander.
— Jerry Del Priore
NY NJ Sports World/Brooklyn Sports World 
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