saintpat
El Dandy
Release the hounds!!!
Posts: 7,664
|
Post by saintpat on Apr 23, 2011 18:34:50 GMT -5
I'd have to argue that it was Andy Kaufman, who was the "Intergender Champion" and had real matches against females to defend his title.
Some will say that the IG championship wasn't a real title, but the counter question is what is a real title?
I believe his title was recognized when he defended it in the Memphis territory -- he was announced as the IG champ and defended it.
Thoughts?
|
|
BlackoutCreature
Grimlock
The Ultimate Popcorntunist!
Posts: 14,529
Member is Online
|
Post by BlackoutCreature on Apr 23, 2011 18:48:44 GMT -5
Would Shawn Michaels count?
|
|
|
|
Post by xtremehorseman on Apr 23, 2011 22:48:00 GMT -5
Sting?
|
|
saintpat
El Dandy
Release the hounds!!!
Posts: 7,664
|
Post by saintpat on Apr 23, 2011 22:52:10 GMT -5
I thought of that relative to the Jeff Hardy match, but: a) It's one match, not his entire reign where he is shooting b) It's not like Jeff was actually trying to win, so he wasn't shooting on someone who was shooting back From every reference I can find, Kaufman's matches against women were all shoots. He took volunteers from the audience, and I've seen enough clips to believe those matches were for real. If MMA Jeff Jarrett had actually held some sort of TNA MMA Championship title, he might be considered. I assume from the two or three of those "MMA" bouts that they were for real -- same gimmick in picking challengers out of the audience. If not, I guess I'm just a mark. |
|
|
|
Post by "Playboy" Don Douglas on Apr 23, 2011 23:02:18 GMT -5
Even back in the day, there weren't as many shoot champions as some would believe. I remember Heenan and Cornette talking about it, and Heenan said he had asked one of the old timers (I'm thinking Bill Longson) if it was always a work.
Longson said that it was, but said that the guys would fight for what they called top time. Basically each guy would try to look the best he could before they got to the agreed upon finish.
Of course, that's just one account, and by no means firm proof of anything. But I'm convinced that pro wrestling has manipulated for a very long time.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Summer of Muskrat XVII on Apr 23, 2011 23:26:40 GMT -5
Do you mean won and lost the title in legit matches? Or are you referring to the last champ who was a legit hooker, like Lou Thesz or Frank Gotch?
Because if it's last champ who was a shoot wrestler, I think you'd have to look to Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn who held the NWA Title back to back in 2002. Atleast, as far as North American wrestling goes
|
|
