For me to decide who to put on my own personal Mount Rushmore, I need to state some ground rules.
Even though I am a Canadian myself, the mountain would have to be restricted to Americans only. If it's a mountain in the US, you couldn't have non-Americans on it. Unfortunately this rules out such guys as Andre the Giant and Bret Hart.
Secondly, wrestlers only. Not founders, announcers, managers etc., just guys who were full time wrestlers. So therefore no McMahon, Bischoff, Heyman,etc.,
No divas. With all due respect to the divas they do not constitute a significant enough part of the wrestling business to be on a Mount Rushmore. So no Trish Stratus or any other divas past or present.
A little controversial, but my mountain would be WWE contributors only. With all due respect to TNA, NWA, ROH, or any other peromotions elsewhere around the world, the WWE is the big time, especially in the US. So some Japanese wrestler who may be superb, could not go on a mountain built in the US. Unfortunately this rules out Ric Flair, who as awesome as he was, had most of his success outside of the WWE. He accomplished a lot in his legendary career, but not a whole lot in WWE specifically. So he does not go on my mountain.
Some would suggest Kurt Angle, but there's not a mountain big enough to display a head of his size, with his ego. Plus he'd likely only agree to go up there if he was the only head on the mountain.
I personally don't feel guys like Warrior, Savage, Backlund, Foley accomplished enough to be in such elite company. If there were more than four, OK, but they don't make my short list.
The Rock doesn't belong because he chose to leave the business in the prime of his career. It's not like he was injured and had to leave, he chose to, which is certainly his right, but leaves him off the mountain. Especially because he chooses to distance himself from his wrestling past, almost disrespectfully, despite the fact that he wouldn't even have a career in Hollywood without it.
So here goes:
1. Hulk Hogan. Goes without saying. Like him or not, good wrestler or not (not), the hugest thing to ever happen to the wrestling business. Head and shoulders above everyone else. Even still.
2. Stone Cold Steve Austin. Much like Hogan in terms of impact although without the longevity. Which he would have had only for injuries which prevented him from continuing, rather than choosing to quit. Quarterbacked the whole Attitude era.
3. Undertaker. Gimmick second to none, has not grown stale even though it's been the same old same old forever. Loyal to WWE and helped keep it afloat during the WCW war years. Undefeated Wrestlemania streak. The heart and soul of SD! for years.
4. HHH. Never mind the nonsense about being the boss's daughter and all of that. Never mind the internet nonsense about backstage politics, holding guys back, etc., His accomplishments are well documented. Face or heel. Solo, tag team, or faction. Intense and serious or comical. He is the game and he is that damn good.
Honourable mention to HBK,just not enough space on the mountain for a fifth guy, but he would likely be deserving as well.