The New Generation Era was a great time for WWE fans getting to see a new style of wrestling. WWE used to have all slower paced matches and one-dimensional characters in the Golden Era with performers like Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior. Change came when talents like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels changed the game.

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WWE tried to adjust to more advanced stories within the matches and building the new characters. Unfortunately, not every wrestler came off intelligent in the big picture. Both sides of intelligence and idiocy were shown during that special time for WWE. The following New Generation Era wrestlers were either the dumbest or smartest of that time.

10 Dumbest: Lex Luger

WWE tried really hard to make Lex Luger a top star during the New Generation Era, but their booking often presented him like a moron. SummerSlam 1993 featured an all-time foolish moment after Luger won a match over Yokozuna by count out without winning the WWE Championship.

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Luger celebrated as if he won the top prize by having balloons and confetti falling from the rafters. Other face wrestlers lifted him in the air despite not winning the prize. Luger looked dumb again getting another shot against Yokozuna at WrestleMania 10 and having it end via DQ.

9 Smartest: Bret Hart

Bret Hart was one of the few wrestlers to be viewed as smart from both the babyface and heel side of his career. WWE witnessed Hart always wrestling smart matches by targeting the leg or other body parts he wanted weakened as the top face.

However, it was the heel turn leading the Hart Foundation towards the end of the New Generation Era to further show his brilliance. Bret often outsmarted his rivals like when he tricked enemy Shawn Michaels into hitting his opponent Undertaker with a chair to unintentionally help him win the WWE Championship.

8 Dumbest: Jerry Lawler

The heel character of Jerry Lawler was actually quite smart before WWE, but he turned into a caricature in WWE. Lawler was the over the top heel that tried to make life miserable for any babyface that feuded with him before the full-time move to commentary.

A classic moment of Lawler being dumb saw him intentionally making his feet as disgusting as possible for weeks ahead of a “Kiss my foot” match against Bret Hart. Lawler naturally had to kiss own gross feet when Bret forced that for the ultimate revenge.

7 Smartest: Sunny

Managers usually have to be the smartest characters to help their talents in storyline. Sunny became smarter than most as a successful manager that wasn’t above using her clients. The Bodydonnas started off as Sunny’s first act helping them win the WWE Tag Team Championship.

Sunny showed no loyalty by jumping to the next tag team that won gold to continue always representing champs. The Bodydonnas, Godwinns and Smoking Gunns all were managed by Sunny when winning the belts. Sunny also used her star power to always get television time in different roles as a smart character.

6 Dumbest: Marty Jannetty

WWE breaking up The Rockers led to the careers of Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty going in different directions. Jannetty looked a bit dumb as a character coming in and out of the company to get revenge when personal issues forced him off.

The dumbest move came when Marty returned from another absence with a new tag partner. Al Snow played Leif Cassidy as Jannetty’s partner in The New Rockers. Marty trying to pretend like he could replace Michaels with a lower mid-carder just made fans view him as a fool.

5 Smartest: Triple H

The heel character of Triple H was brilliant from day one always looking to get ahead. Triple H and Mr. Perfect once worked closely together to con Marc Mero all in a huge plan to set up Triple H winning the Intercontinental Championship from him.

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Another genius move featured Triple H introducing Chyna as his new enforcer and manager. Chyna was unlike any other enforcer figure in wrestling as she attacked male wrestlers to help Triple H, but they feared striking her. Triple H won many matches thanks to Chyna getting involved.

4 Dumbest: Ultimate Warrior

WWE bringing back the Ultimate Warrior saw the once legendary character no longer connecting with the audience. Warrior’s previous promo style of aimless talking now felt moronic after fans witnessed the company evolving with more well-rounded characters.

The promos of Warrior barely getting his words out saw him looking more foolish than when he was a top star. A confusing feud with Jerry Lawler saw both wrestlers looking dumb. Warrior not lasting long and ending his final WWE run poorly made sense looking back.

3 Smartest: Owen Hart

The heel turn of Owen Hart started a great new chapter of his career feuding with his brother Bret Hart. Owen was a thinking man’s heel that loved to play mental gymnastics with his brother. Even the original heel turn kicking Bret’s injured leg showed him making decisions at an opportunistic time.

Owen saved his greatest plan for Bret’s WWE Championship defense against Bob Backlund. Helen Hart was manipulated by her son Owen to cost his brother the match by selling his concern for Bret’s injury. A brilliant dastardly heel didn’t even hesitate to con his own mother.

2 Dumbest: Ahmed Johnson

Vince McMahon believed in Ahmed Johnson to view him as a future main eventer when getting pushed in the New Generation Era. However, something always came up to prevent Johnson from getting to the next level.

Ahmed came off dumb due to many promo botches and not having the wisest character. The Royal Rumble match in 1997 featured Johnson eliminating himself from the match by jumping over the top rope to chase the Nation of Domination members to the back.

1 Smartest: Steve Austin

WWE introduced Steve Austin during the New Generation Era despite fans remembering him for the Attitude Era. Austin became one of the hottest acts as an unapologetic heel that did anything it took to win matches and it made fans naturally enjoy him.

The first Royal Rumble win for Austin came when the referees missed his elimination, and he snuck back in the ring to win the match. Austin was also one of the first wrestlers to sneak attack his enemies by coming through the crowd.