msc
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 4,466
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Post by msc on Jun 9, 2021 15:47:28 GMT -5
He was easily one of the best to ever wrestle. His selling was among the best the WWE ever had, to this day I'm still half convinced he was hurt for real on some of those turnbuckle bumps. The best technical wrestler in US history killed his own son, so killed his own legacy. Bret though was one of the best in ring story tellers. He could take on anyone in the world and make them look good - be it a Dynamite Kid or an Owen Hart, or even one of us with no training whatsoever. His in-ring form went nearly 20 years before his career got ended due to Goldberg kick. In terms of longevity, skill and, yes, audience connecting charisma, for sure Bret is right up there.
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4real
Wade Wilson
Posts: 27,924
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Post by 4real on Jun 9, 2021 15:54:25 GMT -5
I’d say he’s up there if he isn't him. Angle & Benoit would be up there for me as well.
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mc74
Samurai Cop
Posts: 2,410
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Post by mc74 on Jun 9, 2021 15:58:35 GMT -5
So good that the "Excellence of Execution" wasn't just a nickname. Bret was technically sound in the ring. His overall moveset was clean & crisp, and he had the ability to change and adapt accordingly to which wrestler he was in the ring with. In terms of psychology, he was in a class of his own, with his ability to tell stories inside the squared-circle being one of his strongest attributes.
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chazraps
Wade Wilson
Better have my money when I come-a collect!
Posts: 28,016
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Post by chazraps on Jun 9, 2021 15:59:50 GMT -5
I'll say Bret's the best technical wrestler of all time, especially considering how well matches that are 25+ 30+ etc. hold up.
If we're evaluating in terms of consistency and getting the absolute most from a technical standpoint from his opponents, I don't think you can find a more diverse body of work of opponents and styles. Considering how (with maybe 4 solitary exceptions) Bret's WWF era work holds up dramatically even when evaluated by today's standards, he's the best.
Look at Bret's 1992 alone. Choose any three random matches against three random opponents no matter how cartoon-y. Just absolutely stellar.
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Venti
Unicron
Posts: 3,002
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Post by Venti on Jun 9, 2021 16:24:09 GMT -5
I consider Bret the best in ring wrestler of all time.
Had the technical skill, nothing he did looked phony, everything made sense, great look, he could carry anyone to a good to great match. And all his matches told a cohesive story. And on top of it all, his matches are fun to watch.
The only wrestlers I can think of(off the top of my head) that are as good as Bret are probably Kurt Angle, Benoit, Bryan and Steve Austin.
Also, the ring post figure four and the way he threw himself into the turnbuckle during an Irish Whip. Just yes.
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Post by Hit Girl on Jun 9, 2021 16:35:45 GMT -5
The best.
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Post by floundertime on Jun 9, 2021 17:00:37 GMT -5
He was the best, just ask him
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john84
Fry's dog Seymour
Proud Father of 3 :)
Posts: 24,243
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Post by john84 on Jun 9, 2021 17:48:35 GMT -5
He was certainly up there imo. Whether he was the best technical wrestler at the time...Well, I'm not sure I'd go that far. Who do you think was the best ? Hmm...It's a really tough one for me as for me it's between him and Eddie (I can't recall anything from Tiger from that period I'd have to check him out personally). Main reason I'm not sure that I'd go as far as to call Bret the best technical wrestler at the time is because my knowledge of wrestling from that time period is pretty much limited to WWE, WCW and ECW so I can't say with absolute certainty.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2021 17:49:40 GMT -5
I bet a prime Bret could even get a good match out of Ryker.
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fw91
Patti Mayonnaise
FAN Idol All-Star: FAN Idol Season X and *Gavel* 2x Judges' Throwdown winner
Tribe has spoken for 2024 Mets
Posts: 39,141
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Post by fw91 on Jun 9, 2021 18:21:23 GMT -5
Very good, but HBK was better all around imo.
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The Heenan Family
Unicron
I'm a legend in this sport. If you don't believe me, ask me.
Posts: 2,569
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Post by The Heenan Family on Jun 9, 2021 18:28:50 GMT -5
So who are the worst technicians of all time? I don't mean guys like Khali who clearly didn't wrestle that way, but who would we consider to be terrible at the technical style they constantly try to use in the ring?
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Cranjis McBasketball
Crow T. Robot
Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
Peace Love and Nothing But
Posts: 41,975
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Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Jun 9, 2021 18:29:53 GMT -5
The best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be.
It’s as simple as that.
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Post by BatPunk on Jun 9, 2021 20:00:59 GMT -5
He’s definitely up there, but for my eyes ROH Bryan Danielson was the best technical wrestler the world has seen.
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Post by MrElijah on Jun 9, 2021 20:37:44 GMT -5
Bret was excellent at being viscous without going heel.
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Post by Celexa Bliss 54 on Jun 9, 2021 20:50:44 GMT -5
For his time, Bret was the best to do it. I really wanted to say Bob Backlund was better, but the fact is, he was the best of a different era. When he wrestled Bret, the differences showed. Backlund was great in his own time, but in Bret's time, when what was considered "technical" wrestling was changing, he came off as boring and clumsy.
Now, if you were to put 1993 Bret in with 2001 Kurt Angle, I would say Kurt might be the best. But we'll never really know, because we didn't get to see the match. It's possible Bret could have adapted to the Attitude Era wrestling style and hung in there with Kurt. Bret vs. AJ might have been a banger in TNA. Bret vs. Joe. Bret vs. Bryan. Bret vs. Punk. Bret vs. Lesnar. Bret vs. Cole. Bret vs. Cesaro. Bret vs. Omega. Bret vs. Okada. Bret vs. Rollins.
All those potential matches to determine who is the "best" that we'll never get to see...
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J. Hova
Don Corleone
Emotionally exhausted and morally bankrupt
Posts: 2,010
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Post by J. Hova on Jun 9, 2021 20:57:14 GMT -5
All of the previously mentioned points are true, but one thing overlooked that made him one of the GOATs, he never hurt one of his opponents. 20 plus year career and you never hear about him breaking someone's jaw or dropping someone on their head.
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Post by Kyle Butler on Jun 9, 2021 21:26:59 GMT -5
I’ve learned at least two things in all of my years watching wrestling. You don’t doubt El Dandy and you don’t doubt Bret Hart. Not necessarily in that order
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Post by Tiger Millionaire on Jun 9, 2021 21:55:46 GMT -5
Very good, but HBK was better all around imo. HBK was a super ball bumper, he wasn't a great technical wrestler.
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Post by mauled on Jun 9, 2021 22:30:31 GMT -5
All of the previously mentioned points are true, but one thing overlooked that made him one of the GOATs, he never hurt one of his opponents. 20 plus year career and you never hear about him breaking someone's jaw or dropping someone on their head. Bret says that but Bad News Brown said its not true and that Bret gave him a concussion
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Post by mauled on Jun 9, 2021 22:31:42 GMT -5
Who do you think was the best ? Hmm...It's a really tough one for me as for me it's between him and Eddie (I can't recall anything from Tiger from that period I'd have to check him out personally). Main reason I'm not sure that I'd go as far as to call Bret the best technical wrestler at the time is because my knowledge of wrestling from that time period is pretty much limited to WWE, WCW and ECW so I can't say with absolute certainty. Heres a bit of Tiger Mask and Dynamite Kid from 83 youtu.be/kZsPNdg89ZQ
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