Good lead off hitters in wrestling?

[ThankGodForSidJustice]

While listening to Greetings From Allentown Podcast recently in their chronicles of 1991-92 WWF they've had a funny and yet accurate observation about the Big Boss Man almost always being used as the first match on either Superstars or Wrestling Challenge whenever he's on. I looked it up and sure enough in 1991 he was in the lead off spot 11 times on Superstars in 1991 which was far more then anyone else. The host, who is a big baseball fan, and his his co host call him the Rickey Henderson of the WWF due to him always being in the "lead off" spot and joke that they should slap number 26 (which was Henderson's number) on his back.

It got me thinking though that him frequently being used in that spot likely wasn't just coincidence. Boss Man was a perennial over upper midcard face who with his uptempo entrance song, energetic entrance with him running to the ring, and consistently getting a good reaction was a very good choice for that role in that it likely got you pumped up and immediately excited when tuning in to the show. Who are some other examples you can think of wrestlers who were very effective as "lead off hitters" whether it be in a television or house show capacity?

[Deleted]

Rey Mysterio has been good for this ever since Nitro used to start off with cruiserweight matches.

[Natural Born Farmer]

When I watched a WCW show as a kid, and the first match was the cruiserweight or US title off the bat, I knew it was going to be a banger.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

The Young Bucks in AEW (particularly in their babyface days) were very consistently used in the opening match because they were over and were always good for high-energy tag matches.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Kidman

[ppl591]

When superstars first premiered in September 86 until I'd say late 87 randy savage led off a lot of episodes even as a heel

[Deleted]

Too Cool was always a great act to send out there to open the show.

[santmare12]

Godfather was the first name to pop in my head.

[johnnyk9]

Tito Santana was great in opening matches

[Jake, The Jake, Jake]

Between 97 and 99 I’m pretty sure Disco Inferno opened up like fifteen WCW ppvs.

[Jumpin' Jesse Walsh]

The Rockers.

Given there weren't as many PPVs in their era, it says a lot that their matches against The Orient Express and Haku & The Barbarian are still frequently brought up in the topic of best opening matches

[rrg251]

Not sure if the same was true in Japan, but Jushin "Thunder" Liger started off several WCW shows with a hotness that the rest of the card usually couldn't match.

[Mozenrath]

Feb 26, 2022 17:33:07 GMT -5 Oh Cry Me a Screwball said:

The Young Bucks in AEW (particularly in their babyface days) were very consistently used in the opening match because they were over and were always good for high-energy tag matches.

They've also used Darby Allin for it a lot. People lose their minds for his entrance, and as he's put it, he is a reversal-focused wrestler, so he's usually, in addition to hitting the fan-favorite spots, also usually working in spots that put over what his opponent does and having him have to fight back from a disadvantaged position. It's the sort of thing that can rile up a crowd and get them engaged.

[XaviersSS2015hair]

I didn't pay attention to it at the time but Johnny B. Badd opened a ton of WCW PPV's and Clash's until his departure in 96. Schiavone and Bischoff have both said it was because the Turner execs liked Badd's entrance. With the pyro, his bright colored outfits and confetti guns, they thought it was a good way to kick off a big event.

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

Feb 27, 2022 0:29:40 GMT -5 Jumpin' Jesse Walsh said:

The Rockers.

Given there weren't as many PPVs in their era, it says a lot that their matches against The Orient Express and Haku & The Barbarian are still frequently brought up in the topic of best opening matches

Weirdly, The Rockers match with Bossman (and Akeem) at Mania 5 was the second match on the card. Had it been the first, that could have been the best Mania ever.

That Rockers/Twin Towers match is an underrated gem btw. Not a 5 star classic but a very fun big guys vs little guys match.

[tafkaga]

Jung Dragons