Who is the best in the ring of the WWE's biggest stars?

[mcstoklasa]

Also feel free to rank them if you like.

I am severely tempted to vote Cena, but then I remember how untouchable Austin was in 2001. And his matches, even as a brawler, were fast paced and entertaining. I'm just not sure

[TheSchattenjager]

Hogan got the biggest reactions by doing the least.

My answer is Hogan.

[mcstoklasa]

Feb 7, 2015 17:54:34 GMT -5 TheSchattenjager said:

Hogan got the biggest reactions by doing the least.

My answer is Hogan.

You did not vote.

Hogan was good. Better than people give him credit for.

Also the matches he dragged out of his tired 50 year old body in 2002 are a real credit to him.

[4real]

I'd give Austin the nod over Cena just because he always seemed more smoother in the ring than Cena is. Also I think Austin would have been even better if it weren't for his neck injury that's probably why he didn't have a lot of classic matches during 98-99.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Objectively overall probably Austin. Although by the time he became the WWF's top guy he had to change his style considerably due to injury and just what was expected of the time. His earlier stuff is definitely superior from a Dave Meltzer type perspective.

Hogan could actually work really well. By that I don't mean he new 6 million technical moves, but just the way he worked the crowd and the selling, my god the selling! I remember Raven put Hogan over in a shoot where he mentioned so many young guys are afraid to look weak. Hogan however despite having the biggest ego in wrestling wasn't afraid to sell and that really helped him connect with the crowd. If Hogan just no sold the whole match Hulkamania would've never existed.

The Rock had some good, some bad bad aspects him. He could be very sloppy, which was perhaps his biggest weakness in his in-ring prime. Like Hogan he was great at selling either as a heel or a face. Although he did get a little cartoony with his selling (moreso as a heel I'd argue).

Cena just wasn't very good when he first got on top. However, he has since become a ring general and even as far back as 2007 was having respectable matches where he didn't need his opponent to carry him. Like Rock he can be sloppy. I wouldn't rate Cena at his in-ring prime above Austin at his in-ring prime.

Hogan is my favorite of the four followed by Rock then Austin then Cena. If we're talking about it objectively then at their very best in-ring it would be Austin. If we're just talking about it at the times when they were on top the question becomes a lot more difficult. Heck, Cena might actually be it if we're just talking about their peak in-ring work when on top of the WWE.

[Mid-Carder]

I really thought about this for a long time but went with Cena. I just think he has more great matches in varying match types with varying opponents than the other guys

[Hit Girl]

Hogan

He understood ring psychology better than anyone.


And his matches in Japan kill any suggestion that he couldn't wrestle.

[mcstoklasa]

Feb 7, 2015 18:03:48 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Objectively overall probably Austin. Although by the time he became the WWF's top guy he had to change his style considerably due to injury and just what was expected of the time. His earlier stuff is definitely superior from a Dave Meltzer type perspective.

Hogan could actually work really well. By that I don't mean he new 6 million technical moves, but just the way he worked the crowd and the selling, my god the selling! I remember Raven put Hogan over in a shoot where he mentioned so many young guys are afraid to look weak. Hogan however despite having the biggest ego in wrestling wasn't afraid to sell and that really helped him connect with the crowd. If Hogan just no sold the whole match Hulkamania would've never existed.

The Rock had some good, some bad bad aspects him. He could be very sloppy, which was perhaps his biggest weakness in his in-ring prime. Like Hogan he was great at selling either as a heel or a face. Although he did get a little cartoony with his selling (moreso as a heel I'd argue).

Cena just wasn't very good when he first got on top. However, he has since become a ring general and even as far back as 2007 was having respectable matches where he didn't need his opponent to carry him. Like Rock he can be sloppy. I wouldn't rate Cena at his in-ring prime above Austin at his in-ring prime.

Hogan is my favorite of the four followed by Rock then Austin then Cena. If we're talking about it objectively then at their very best in-ring it would be Austin. If we're just talking about it at the times when they were on top the question becomes a lot more difficult. Heck, Cena might actually be it if we're just talking about their peak in-ring work when on top of the WWE.

Interesting take on it.

Austin had many of his best WWF matche in 2000/2001, post neck surgery, as a face and a heel. He had fun brawls in 1998/1999 which fit his character.

You're right, Hogan did spend a lot of time getting beat up. I remember getting frustrated as a kid as I wanted to see him dominate. Him making his comeback was more epic though after being beat down.

Rock was solid. I loved a lot of his matches with Austin, Foley, HHH etc. I was excited for his comeback but he just was not as good in the Cena matches. Made me realise an Austin comeback would never live up to the past.

Cena has had a ridiculous amount of good PPV matches. The crowd reactions he gets, people either love or hate him, make all his PPV matches feel big. His chemistry with Punk was insane and his bouts with Bork were truly unique.

[percymania]

Austin. Only one of the four that would be described as a good "mechanic" in the ring.

[mcstoklasa]

I want to rank Austin, Cena and Rock in this order-

1. Austin
2. Cena
3. Rock

But I find it difficult to place Hogan, perhaps because he is from the oldest era.

[revolver86]

I think the only weak link, on that list, is the Rock.

[Dub H]

i never saw any Hogan i enjoyed.John Cena is actually good,tough some of his more recent things seems sloppy at times(like his submissions).The Rock was always more of a showman in the ring than a solid worker.From the stuff i saw of Austin,as Stone Cold and Ringmaster,i will have to say Steve Austin.

[Professor Chaos]

Austin
Cena

The other two are far behind but I'd have to give the nod to Hogan. The Rock owned the mic but most of his matches bored me to hell. Plus I hate that stupid elbow especially when he pins people with it. I'm still pissed Punk's 434 day reign ended to that stupid ass thing.

[psychokiller]

In this order:

Austin
Rock
Cena
Hogan

[EyeofTyr]

In my opinion...

Austin
Hogan
Cena
Rock

[Some Guy]

Feb 7, 2015 18:10:10 GMT -5 Hit Girl said:

Hogan

He understood ring psychology better than anyone.


And his matches in Japan kill any suggestion that he couldn't wrestle.

His matches in Japan aren't exactly Austin in WCW/pre neck surgery esque levels of great. Yeah Hogan had a decent understanding of in ring mechanics, but that didn't make him even close to an Austin or even Cena as far as just in ring goes. There's a reason WCW's main event went into the toilet match quality wise the second he stepped foot into the company.

[Bub (BLM)]

Austin. I think people tend to forget that pre-broken neck, he could run circles around guys in the ring and bump like a madman. Check out some Austin vs. Bret. He bumps like freaking Dolph Ziggler.

[Deleted]

Feb 8, 2015 2:48:54 GMT -5 Bub (BLM) said:

Austin. I think people tend to forget that pre-broken neck, he could run circles around guys in the ring and bump like a madman. Check out some Austin vs. Bret. He bumps like freaking Dolph Ziggler.

The groove he was on from mid 96 until he got banged up, never seen anything quite like it. He was already getting banged up before Owen broke his neck though. I don't know if it was the insane pace or the way he bumped, but he was neck/back/knee issues as early as Final Four and Mania 13.

I tend to rate guys by how good they were at their best, so I'm going with Austin. He changed his style at least 4 times within a 5 year period, always kept pace and got everything has could out of his body.

[Deleted]

I don't even know how great of a wrestler Austin would have became had he not broken his neck. If he was that good pre-injury, just wild to think about it. He adapted well which also shows his skill level.

[Ryushinku]

Went for Austin, I'd have Cena in second.

Austin was a guy that was a tremendously strong technical wrestler for years and only really turned into the brawler type out of necessity due to injuries. Even then he retained his psychological know-how and timing and was able to bring some of that back in in his last few years.