Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
Speedy Speed Boy
Posts: 121,113
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Post by Mozenrath on Mar 21, 2023 7:33:26 GMT -5
Satoru Sayama/Tiger Mask I. Dude was absolutely incredible back in the day. His peak speed would be impressive even now. Even with the aerial offense of Vikingo, or the rope-walking of Rey Fenix, his agility would still turn heads.
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Post by KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! on Mar 21, 2023 8:01:44 GMT -5
First name to come to mind was Mr. Perfect.
I’d love to see him in some six man’s with FTR. For singles I could see him adapting given his athleticism, but I’d prefer if Omega toned it down because I’d imagine Perfect/Omega could be amazing if their styles met somewhere in the middle.
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Bo Rida
Fry's dog Seymour
Pulled one over on everyone. Got away with it, this time.
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Post by Bo Rida on Mar 21, 2023 9:34:11 GMT -5
Honestly just about all the good world travelling wrestlers from before about 1994. They wouldn't wrestle the same style but most could adapt to anything
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thecrusherwi
El Dandy
the Financially Responsible Man
Brawl For All
Posts: 7,656
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Post by thecrusherwi on Mar 21, 2023 9:35:04 GMT -5
Tons. I think people overstate how unathletic some of those matches were. It was just a different style, but I think most of those guys could hang with this style. Maybe they wouldn't be doing flips and stuff, but they could match the pace and energy. Especially since working today would cut their workload in half from that grueling road schedule they were working.
I'll say the one that most people would write off - 80s Hulk Hogan would easily be a main eventer today. Before he got lazy from like 1991 on, his matches were at a frantic pace, particularly in the mid-80s during his first title reign. People remember his matches with guys like Andre and they think it meant Hogan worked a slow plodding style. Go watch him against Orndorff, Terry Funk, or Randy Savage. 1985 Hulk Hogan vs Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins would be a banger.
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Post by government mule on Mar 21, 2023 9:50:34 GMT -5
Feels too easy to say Bret & Owen, so I'm gonna go with Bam Bam Bigelow. Big dude, distinctive look, could go in the ring, carried an NFL guy to a perfectly passable match (within context) in the main event of a WM which takes a lot of skill and trust.
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Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Mar 21, 2023 10:14:22 GMT -5
Billy Robinson vs. Okada or Zack Sabre Jr. would be lit.
Even in his later period the dude had *spots*, and was hella stiff.
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tafkaga
Samurai Cop
the Dogfather
Posts: 2,118
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Post by tafkaga on Mar 21, 2023 10:54:20 GMT -5
Upvotes for previously mentioned Sean Waltman, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Scorpio.
Adding Bobby Eaton, imo one of the top 5 or so in-ring performers of all time.
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Post by The Dark Order Inferno on Mar 21, 2023 11:30:26 GMT -5
Al Snow could go, and had he started a decade later he'd probably have gotten more of a chance to showcase it.
Marty Janetty proved he could hang during his ill fated WWE returns and likely could make a bigger splash in an era without the toxic party culture backstage.
Sean Waltman, guy was one of the inspirations for the modern style.
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Post by YAKMAN is ICHIBAN on Mar 21, 2023 11:37:20 GMT -5
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Post by MrElijah on Mar 21, 2023 12:30:19 GMT -5
Kinda goes without saying but Bret in modern day would be miraculous. Danielson levels of perfect matches elevating everybody he touches, and unlike back in the New Generation era when he didn't always have the best talent to work with, Bret would be able to put on near-weekly clinics knowing that even the undercard guys are often a lot more technically sound than the dudes he was facing in the main event. Bret's influence is felt so strong and so deep through the whole of how wrestling transformed in his wake that he'd basically have limitless potential ahead of him. -Bret vs. Tanahashi -Bret vs. Omega -Bret vs. WALTER/Gunther -Bret vs. Suzuki Imagine Bret working with those guys. Magic each time. To add a few names: -The Midnight Express(Either versions). Their tag work is the heel tag team template and Bobby Eaton was one of the smoothest wrestlers ever. -Nick Bockwinkel. Over 50 he could keep up with a young Curt Henning. -Arn & Tully. Like the midnights, their tag work set the stage but they would excel as single guys. Blanchard was best kind of shit heel champion and Arn just bought an edge few could match.
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Johnny Flamingo
Hank Scorpio
Killing the business one post at a time
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Post by Johnny Flamingo on Mar 21, 2023 12:45:18 GMT -5
Hayabusa. A Hayabusa vs Omega match would be insanely great. He pioneered a great deal of what we see today.
Raven - His psychology alone would allow him to do well today. A prime Raven vs Moxley would be gold.
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Post by Jindrak Mark on Mar 21, 2023 13:18:20 GMT -5
I think most of the people who were at least decent-good in their day then would be able to hang. If they were around today they would obviously have the same expectations and training as the current stars and hopefully less of a drug culture than they did 30-40 years ago so there's no reason to think they wouldn't be able to adapt.
The big guys though would have a tougher time. I don't think Andre ever becomes Andre if he debuts today. People would take one look at him, see his matches and write him off like a Khali or Omos. He wouldn't develop the aura and popularity he was able to back in the day.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2023 13:39:04 GMT -5
I was going to say Dynamite Kid, so I guess I'll go with one of the few people with an even worse rep and say Benoit Honestly, all of the Radicalz could probably keep up. He wasn't a great promo, but I think Dean the best of all
He is still in NXT as Roderick Strong
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salz4life
Grimlock
Prichard is a guy who gets that his job is to service his boss.
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Post by salz4life on Mar 21, 2023 13:41:26 GMT -5
I think Doug Furnas and Philip Lafon would be a great tag team today.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2023 13:52:06 GMT -5
Andre in his prime was much better than Omos and Khali in the ring. If you watch matches with him and Race, Andre"s putting him in holds most of the match. His brawling with Stan Hansen was also great for his size.
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Ben Wyatt
Crow T. Robot
Are You Gonna Go My Way?
I don't get it. At all. It's kind of a small horse, I mean what am I missing? Am I crazy?
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Post by Ben Wyatt on Mar 21, 2023 13:52:55 GMT -5
Reiterating Sean Waltman. The guy is painfully underrated. It sounds nuts to say that, as he had a career that most guys would kill for. That said, 1,000% agree with you. If he came along 10 years later, he's got a World Title reign from at least one promotion under his belt
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Post by Red Mage Riot on Mar 21, 2023 13:56:45 GMT -5
I was going to say Dynamite Kid, so I guess I'll go with one of the few people with an even worse rep and say Benoit
Honestly, all of the Radicalz could probably keep up. He wasn't a great promo, but I think Dean the best of all
I think about Dean Malenko in his prime vs. Zack Sabre Jr. a lot.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2023 14:12:42 GMT -5
I think most of the people who were at least decent-good in their day then would be able to hang. If they were around today they would obviously have the same expectations and training as the current stars and hopefully less of a drug culture than they did 30-40 years ago so there's no reason to think they wouldn't be able to adapt. The big guys though would have a tougher time. I don't think Andre ever becomes Andre if he debuts today. People would take one look at him, see his matches and write him off like a Khali or Omos. He wouldn't develop the aura and popularity he was able to back in the day.
Andre in the 70's was a better worker than the broken down one we got around the time of Mania III.
Inversely... I think a young Paul Wight that's protected and booked similar to how Vince likes to book Bork would have a legacy surpassing Andre.
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Post by smokinvokoun86 on Mar 21, 2023 14:28:21 GMT -5
I’d love to see prime Curt Hennig in today’s wrestling. Obviously he could work with the best of them, but without back problems, he could probably hang athletically too. Watch the vignette where he and The Genius is at the local pool and he’s doing dives that are basically shooting star presses and 450 splashes. If he had decided to be a flying wrestler instead of a technician, he could totally with someone like Kenny Omega.
There’s a new dream match for you Kenny Omega vs prime Curt Hennig.
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Post by Hacksaw Chuggin' on Mar 21, 2023 18:45:32 GMT -5
Prime Sabu would be a great fit in AEW.
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