Post by NOwave on Dec 23, 2009 20:24:27 GMT -5
Every year about this time, I go thru a little exercise where I re-think my top 20 all-time wrestlers, looking back at the year to decide if I would anyone up or down. Here's my list for this year:
1) Ric Flair-still the best ever. Best worker, best on the mic, most versatile, longest lasting, etc, etc, etc. NWA, WWF, and WCW world heavyweight champion on something like 20 occasions. The best extended feud of all time with Ricky Steamboat in 1989. Brilliant retirement match in 2008 let him go out in a blaze of glory unmatched in wrestling history.
1a) Hulk Hogan-the most popular and best known figure in wrestling history, bar none. Multi-time WWF and WCW world heavyweight champion. Hulkamania was a revolution in the business and his heel turn with WCW was unprecedented in its impact. His pending comeback with TNA could affect his position in this list, either positive or negative.
3) Andre the Giant-the 2nd most popular figure in wrestling history. Younger fans don't know how big(figuratively) Andre was in the 70's and 80's. He could go to any promotion in the world which could at least double the attendance just by announcing his appearance. Only briefly held the WWF championship, which is in a sense another testament to his popularity. He didn't need titles to prove himself-just his immense presence was enough.
4) Stone Cold Steve Austin-the most popular figure during wrestling's biggest boom-the WWF Attitude Era. Wrestling had more total viewers when Austin was on top than at any other time in history, including Hulkamania. Multi-time WWF world heavyweight champion. Very good worker, incredible on the mic-he perfectly fit the "blue collar working man who hates his boss" character.
5) Randy Savage-the successor, really, to Hulkamania in the WWF. Multi-time WWF and WCW world heavyweight champion. Great worker, great on the mic, just a step behind(and mildly overshadowed by) Flair and Hogan thruout his career.
6) Shawn Micheals- another great worker, and mic guy. The best bumping heel ever. The longevity of his career, multiple reincarnations of his character, and one of the most watched wrestling events of all time in the Ric Flair retirement match. Multi-time WWF/E champion.
7) The Rock-slipped a bit this year, and every year he stays away from the business. However, he was the foil to Stone Cold Steve Austin in the Attitude Era and it's immediate aftermath. Not the greatest worker, but competent, and absolutely brilliant on the mic. He took old-school gimmicks and worked them with contemporary sensibility better than anyone. Multi-time WWF/E champion.
8) Bret Hart-vies with Ric Flair for the title of greatest worker ever-but with a different style from the Nature Boy. Bret told a story in the ring like no one else. improved on the mic as his career went on. Multi-time WWF and WCW world heavyweight champion. Almost better known for all the bad times in his life-Montreal Screwjob, Owen's death, his own stroke, and the breakup of his longterm marriage. -All documented by the best wrestling autobiography ever.
9) Sting-moved into the Top 10 this year. Sting became essentially inactive and dropped off this list in the aftermath of WCW's closure in 2001. His return to TNA in 2006 was superbly done and demonstrated his resilience and enduring popularity. He is the most respected resident of TNA's Impact Zone, just as he was considered the franchise for WCW for years. Multi-time NWA/WCW/TNA champion.
10) Kurt Angle-also moved into the Top 10 this year based on his TNA work. Angle has proven to be the best technical wrestler of all time, and is very good on the mic in a variety of characters. Re-created himself as a face successfully in TNA this year. Multi-time WWF/E/TNA world heavy weight champion.
11) Undertaker-greatest and most long-lasting single gimmick ever. perhaps the most respected wrestler in the WWE locker room. multi-time WWF/E world heavyweight champion. still rising on this list.
12) Triple H-the best politician in wrestling history, as well a solid worker ond good mic man. Multi-time WWF/E. still rising on this list.
13) Kevin Nash-the most athletic big man ever, and the soul of the nWo during wrestling's most competitive era. recreated himself with TNA. gifted talker. injuries slowed him considerably. Multi-time WWF/WCW world heavyweight champion.
14) Harley Race-the toughest man in wrestling history. The one guy no one wanted to shoot with. very popular during the transition from the territory era to the Hulkamania era. Multi-time NWA champion and had a nice run as "King" of the WWF.
15) Bruno Sammartino- the longest running(11 years!!) world heavyweight champion in history. Pure face and good worker for a much smaller WWF audience than in the modern era.
16) Terry Funk-NWA world heavyweight champion when it really meant something. The NWA champ at that time was THE biggest wrestling name in the world. great worker and talker, incredible intensity. Re-created himself as a hardcore legend with ECW to a whole new generation of fans.
17) Dusty Rhodes-one of the best entertainers ever in wrestling, and the NWA's #1 face for nearly a decade. took a nothing gimmick in the WWF and made it work. Multi-time NWA world heavyweight champion.
18) Jerry Lawler-the best of the territorial champions. The Memphis promotion, headlined by him, outlasted all the other territories to continue in some fashion well into the 90's. Southern Heavyweight champion dozens if not hundreds of times, first combined AWA/WCCW world heavyweight champion. Top TV color man in wrestling history.
19) Roddy Piper-the perfect counter for Hulk Hogan at the beginning of Hulkamania, followed by a nice run in WCW. One of the best talkers in wrestling history, never held a world championship, because he never needed to in order to get over.
20) Big Show-the 2nd best "giant" after Andre. incredibly athletic at the beginning of his career for his size. Could still rise on this list. Multi-time WCW/WWF world heavyweight champion.
1) Ric Flair-still the best ever. Best worker, best on the mic, most versatile, longest lasting, etc, etc, etc. NWA, WWF, and WCW world heavyweight champion on something like 20 occasions. The best extended feud of all time with Ricky Steamboat in 1989. Brilliant retirement match in 2008 let him go out in a blaze of glory unmatched in wrestling history.
1a) Hulk Hogan-the most popular and best known figure in wrestling history, bar none. Multi-time WWF and WCW world heavyweight champion. Hulkamania was a revolution in the business and his heel turn with WCW was unprecedented in its impact. His pending comeback with TNA could affect his position in this list, either positive or negative.
3) Andre the Giant-the 2nd most popular figure in wrestling history. Younger fans don't know how big(figuratively) Andre was in the 70's and 80's. He could go to any promotion in the world which could at least double the attendance just by announcing his appearance. Only briefly held the WWF championship, which is in a sense another testament to his popularity. He didn't need titles to prove himself-just his immense presence was enough.
4) Stone Cold Steve Austin-the most popular figure during wrestling's biggest boom-the WWF Attitude Era. Wrestling had more total viewers when Austin was on top than at any other time in history, including Hulkamania. Multi-time WWF world heavyweight champion. Very good worker, incredible on the mic-he perfectly fit the "blue collar working man who hates his boss" character.
5) Randy Savage-the successor, really, to Hulkamania in the WWF. Multi-time WWF and WCW world heavyweight champion. Great worker, great on the mic, just a step behind(and mildly overshadowed by) Flair and Hogan thruout his career.
6) Shawn Micheals- another great worker, and mic guy. The best bumping heel ever. The longevity of his career, multiple reincarnations of his character, and one of the most watched wrestling events of all time in the Ric Flair retirement match. Multi-time WWF/E champion.
7) The Rock-slipped a bit this year, and every year he stays away from the business. However, he was the foil to Stone Cold Steve Austin in the Attitude Era and it's immediate aftermath. Not the greatest worker, but competent, and absolutely brilliant on the mic. He took old-school gimmicks and worked them with contemporary sensibility better than anyone. Multi-time WWF/E champion.
8) Bret Hart-vies with Ric Flair for the title of greatest worker ever-but with a different style from the Nature Boy. Bret told a story in the ring like no one else. improved on the mic as his career went on. Multi-time WWF and WCW world heavyweight champion. Almost better known for all the bad times in his life-Montreal Screwjob, Owen's death, his own stroke, and the breakup of his longterm marriage. -All documented by the best wrestling autobiography ever.
9) Sting-moved into the Top 10 this year. Sting became essentially inactive and dropped off this list in the aftermath of WCW's closure in 2001. His return to TNA in 2006 was superbly done and demonstrated his resilience and enduring popularity. He is the most respected resident of TNA's Impact Zone, just as he was considered the franchise for WCW for years. Multi-time NWA/WCW/TNA champion.
10) Kurt Angle-also moved into the Top 10 this year based on his TNA work. Angle has proven to be the best technical wrestler of all time, and is very good on the mic in a variety of characters. Re-created himself as a face successfully in TNA this year. Multi-time WWF/E/TNA world heavy weight champion.
11) Undertaker-greatest and most long-lasting single gimmick ever. perhaps the most respected wrestler in the WWE locker room. multi-time WWF/E world heavyweight champion. still rising on this list.
12) Triple H-the best politician in wrestling history, as well a solid worker ond good mic man. Multi-time WWF/E. still rising on this list.
13) Kevin Nash-the most athletic big man ever, and the soul of the nWo during wrestling's most competitive era. recreated himself with TNA. gifted talker. injuries slowed him considerably. Multi-time WWF/WCW world heavyweight champion.
14) Harley Race-the toughest man in wrestling history. The one guy no one wanted to shoot with. very popular during the transition from the territory era to the Hulkamania era. Multi-time NWA champion and had a nice run as "King" of the WWF.
15) Bruno Sammartino- the longest running(11 years!!) world heavyweight champion in history. Pure face and good worker for a much smaller WWF audience than in the modern era.
16) Terry Funk-NWA world heavyweight champion when it really meant something. The NWA champ at that time was THE biggest wrestling name in the world. great worker and talker, incredible intensity. Re-created himself as a hardcore legend with ECW to a whole new generation of fans.
17) Dusty Rhodes-one of the best entertainers ever in wrestling, and the NWA's #1 face for nearly a decade. took a nothing gimmick in the WWF and made it work. Multi-time NWA world heavyweight champion.
18) Jerry Lawler-the best of the territorial champions. The Memphis promotion, headlined by him, outlasted all the other territories to continue in some fashion well into the 90's. Southern Heavyweight champion dozens if not hundreds of times, first combined AWA/WCCW world heavyweight champion. Top TV color man in wrestling history.
19) Roddy Piper-the perfect counter for Hulk Hogan at the beginning of Hulkamania, followed by a nice run in WCW. One of the best talkers in wrestling history, never held a world championship, because he never needed to in order to get over.
20) Big Show-the 2nd best "giant" after Andre. incredibly athletic at the beginning of his career for his size. Could still rise on this list. Multi-time WCW/WWF world heavyweight champion.
