5 Best Wrestling Face Paint Of The 2020s So Far (& 5 Worst)

Many professional wrestlers decide to throw on face paint in a bid to add a little more character and personality to themselves. This is something that has happened for years in the industry, with the 2020s being no exception, although there have certainly been mixed results to this point.

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Sometimes face paint can elevate a wrestler to a different level, whether they use it as a one-off or consistently. However, that magic isn't there for everybody, because when face paint doesn't work or suit the person wearing it then there can be a detrimental effect that takes away from them.

10 Best: Thunder Rosa

Thunder Rosa always rocks an amazing face paint design when she appears in the ring, as it is something that makes her stand out and feel like a star before she even begins to wrestle. Because of her character and how much she taps into her Hispanic heritage, it works perfectly.

The designs are always incredibly detailed and that only helps to increase the fan enjoyment of them, with people finding them to be some of the most impressive face paint designs in wrestling history.

9 Worst: Proud & Powerful

Santana and Ortiz have been a brilliant tag team over the years, and it is their frantic brawling style that has gotten them over. They've never needed any extra gimmick to make them stand out, but that didn't stop them from opting to add some face paint at times in AEW.

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They have always gone with a full white face paint with touches of black around the eyes and mouth, but it wasn't the greatest look for them. It's something that felt forced, rather than being natural which is always when face paint doesn't work.

8 Best: Asuka

Asuka used face paint before joining WWE, but throughout her run with the company, she opted not to use it. However, the Empress Of Tomorrow switched things up by bringing her fantastic face paint back, with her unique style being something that makes her stand out.

The clown-style paint instantly makes Asuka look incredibly creepy, and with the mannerisms that she can provide with her walk and in-ring style, it's something that suits her overall character. It's an example of face paint enhancing a wrestler and taking them to the next level.

7 Worst: Ronda Rousey/Shayna Baszler

Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler have a lot of similarities as performers, and one of those was that they each decided to wear heavy eye makeup and paint around that area of their faces. It was a decision that came randomly and started subtly, but they quickly decided to ramp things up.

The decision to make the designs far more extreme wasn't a positive one as the looks didn't truly suit their characters. They were just badass MMA fighters, but adding this didn't help them, with most fans not liking them.

6 Best: Alexa Bliss

When Alexa Bliss changed up her character to work alongside Bray Wyatt she put in a lot of work to try and make fans see her in a different light. It's something that she ended up achieving, and one of the ways she did that was by putting on face paint, which was a great addition to her character.

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Bliss didn't go for a full face with her design, often putting small but intricate details into her work. It helped to enhance the character and allowed this version of her character to feel different.

5 Worst: House Of Black

AEW doesn't tend to do much mystery or anything supernatural, with the House Of Black faction being the closest that the company has got. They do a great job of building intrigue in everything that they do, and their overall presentation is a huge part of that, which they have decided to add face paint to at times.

While they don't do it every week, the fact that it is kept to special events helps to make those particular encounters feel important. The black and white style that they choose works perfectly with their gimmick and has proven to be a great touch.

4 Best: Finn Balor

Face paint has been well established as being part of Finn Balor's overall character for many years now, dating back to his time before WWE. He doesn't use it every week, nor does he rely on it as a crutch, and that's one of the reasons it has ended up working so well as his ability to bring out The Demon for big matches has made him even more interesting.

The face paint is always incredibly detailed, often going onto his chest and back as well, normally having some sort of link to the storyline he's in or the place he's wrestling. The fact he changes his entire mannerisms and in-ring style to show the paint makes him different also helps as it's not just done for the sake of a pop.

3 Worst: Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho is someone who is always aiming to reinvent himself and change things up, and that's what he did when creating the Painmaker character. It's one that was more aggressive than anything he has done before, and it led to him adding some face paint.

However, it's a very lackluster design with Jericho just splodging different lines across his face. While that is done on purpose, it ultimately doesn't create a great look or one that feels memorable.

2 Best: Darby Allin

Darby Allin has built a mysterious character for himself over the years, and having his face painted has helped to establish that. It's created a unique look that is specific to him, and it has become so popular that fans have begun painting their own faces with it, showcasing that it has gotten over.

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The brilliance of his face paint is that it is quite simple, and having only have his face done is unique. Yet at the same time, he can add a lot of clever details that help to make it look different each time.

1 Worst: Brian Cage

Brian Cage randomly decided to throw face paint into his act in the 2020s, but it's something that wasn't necessary nor does it look good. Cage's face paint always appears like a nod to Sting's iconic surfer look, which is a perfectly fitting tribute if it's done as a one-off, but Cage works it regularly.

The paint has nothing to do with his gimmick and has never been properly explained, which is why it has become an issue for him. Fans don't understand why he wears it, with the pain unfortunately not suiting his overall presentation at this point.