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Post by wwefan71080 on Jan 19, 2013 19:01:50 GMT -5
Mine is definately Steve Austin, he was just the total package at a time when the anti-hero was needed and represented it like a champion
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Sparkybob
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Post by Sparkybob on Jan 19, 2013 19:06:01 GMT -5
Well my favorite was JBL. I really enjoy his promo's and the ways he survived title matches with the title.
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Post by wwefan71080 on Jan 19, 2013 19:08:43 GMT -5
Well my favorite was JBL. I really enjoy his promo's and the ways he survived title matches with the title. He wasn't my favorite, but the ways he kept holding on to the title like when he was chokeslammed through the ring and crawled out from under it in a cage match to keep the title was pretty innovative at the time
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Post by Some Guy on Jan 19, 2013 19:09:40 GMT -5
2000 Triple H or present day Punk, even if the latter has gotten jobbed in terms of main eventing PPVs.
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The Possum
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Post by The Possum on Jan 19, 2013 19:46:13 GMT -5
As drudgingly long as a few of his runs were, Triple H made the belt seem glorious and important.
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Sparkybob
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Post by Sparkybob on Jan 19, 2013 19:50:38 GMT -5
Well my favorite was JBL. I really enjoy his promo's and the ways he survived title matches with the title. He wasn't my favorite, but the ways he kept holding on to the title like when he was chokeslammed through the ring and crawled out from under it in a cage match to keep the title was pretty innovative at the time I am aware that most of JBL's title matches were awful but he is the one that entertain me the most, thought I know he has no shot of winning this.
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Post by Magic knows Black Lives Matter on Jan 19, 2013 19:50:54 GMT -5
Not the "best" so much as he was my favorite but Batista. No, I'm not talking about Douchetista. I'm talking about cocky "I want my rematch" face Batista. He's probably the most "emotionally invested" I've ever been in a World Champion.
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Post by Citizen Snips on Jan 19, 2013 20:20:25 GMT -5
Hulkster
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Post by Clawley Race on Jan 19, 2013 20:41:26 GMT -5
I voted Savage. WM4-5 is probably my favorite perioud
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kidglov3s
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Post by kidglov3s on Jan 19, 2013 20:42:02 GMT -5
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Post by steamboat1 on Jan 20, 2013 0:17:59 GMT -5
I don't think anybody cared about being champion more than Bret Hart. The guy never took a day off from the first day of his first reign all the way to WM 12.
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Post by Aaron E. Dangerously on Jan 20, 2013 0:45:25 GMT -5
Y'know, when I think about what it means to be the best, I think either the one with the most memorable reign(s) or the wrestler who is most reliable as champion, and who drew huge or always will.
So I think of Steve Austin, John Cena, Edge, The Rock, HHH, Hulk Hogan, and CM Punk.
Out of those, I think I'd vote for Edge, particularly for his first reign. The way he punked Cena after the Elimination Chamber match, the Rated-R Superstar gimmick, Live Sex Celebration, the unique title, everything. It was only three weeks, but it was so special, and it totally elevated Edge to the main event. I was pissed when he lost it so quickly, but that title win did so much for both Edge and Cena, and for ratings. It was Great, with a capital G.
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repomark
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Post by repomark on Jan 20, 2013 9:07:48 GMT -5
Austin for me. Though that is more personal preference.
For this it is about eras - who was the guy who carried the belt and made it important/elevated its status during that era. So it goes
pre 80s - Bruno Sammartino was the man - he held the title for seven years, and then had I think a near two year second title reign. He carried the company for a long spell. The only other I would reference here is Superstar Billy Graham, as he hinted at ushering in a more flamboyant/entertainment aspect to the World Champion and held the title for a year as a heel (I think still the longest continuous heel run as champ in history). Bob Backlund beating him and holding the title for so long was an error in judgement, and only delayed the direction Vince Jr wanted to take the company. Nothing against Backlund, he held the title for five years or so - but he never had the charisma of Sammartino or especially Graham and was never going to elevate the company or title.
80s - Was mainly about Hulk Hogan, with Randy Savage also playing a key role late on. Hard to argue with Hogan though as he elevated wrestling (and with it the meaning of the WWF title).
Early - Mid 90s - The Ultimate Warrior flirted with taking Hogan's spot, but I don't think you could say he ever really elevated the belt/was an outstanding champion all be it the way he won it beating Hogan clean at WM6 is one of my favourite ever WWF moments. Ric Flair had a excellent (albeit) brief run during this phase as champ (twice), but again never really was around for long enough to make the difference he could have - albeit again the way he won it at the Royal Rumble was outstanding. There are two guys that stand out in the post Hogan era - Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Both were work horses, excellent in the ring, and both made the belt seem important albeit they were champs at a down time for the business.
Late 90s/early 2000s - The attitude era really was all about Austin - as he was the guy. The Rock took over when he was injured in late 99 - and Triple H in 2000 was a machine in terms of having great matches and making the belt seem like something he would die to keep. All three deserve a mention during this phase - and I would also have mentioned Mankind but for the briefness of his three title reigns. Undertaker's 1997 reign also deserves a mention.
Mid 2000 - Present - John Cena has been the man for a considerable length of time. Others like Batista, Edge, JBL, CM Punk, Randy Orton, Triple H have played a significant role during this time, but it has really been his time whether you like him or not.
So with that in mind, it goes: Sammartino, Hogan, Savage, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Austin, Rock, John Cena. With several honourable mentions.
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Celgress
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Post by Celgress on Jan 21, 2013 0:10:23 GMT -5
SCSA, imho
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2013 11:22:09 GMT -5
Kurt Angle. Every title win and defense, whether he was a cowardly unaware heel, a patriotic ultraface, or the 1000 mile glare maniac, just seemed right to me.
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Post by CM Parish on Jan 21, 2013 11:25:28 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2013 11:40:19 GMT -5
For a minute I thought this was a photoshopped image of Triple H after having the main plate of the WHC soldered to his fingers. "You'll literally have to rip this out of my cold dead hands if you want it!"
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kidglov3s
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Post by kidglov3s on Jan 21, 2013 12:05:38 GMT -5
Kurt Angle. Every title win and defense, whether he was a cowardly unaware heel, a patriotic ultraface, or the 1000 mile glare maniac, just seemed right to me. Kurt Angle was a teriffic champion. It's a shame he never got a truly substantial reign.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2013 12:18:46 GMT -5
Kurt Angle. Every title win and defense, whether he was a cowardly unaware heel, a patriotic ultraface, or the 1000 mile glare maniac, just seemed right to me. Kurt Angle was a teriffic champion. It's a shame he never got a truly substantial reign. If I rewrote history Angle would have beaten Cena in the second match they had during THAT awfully written feud and held the title for six months or so. Purely speaking as a fan, no other elements of booking considered, he was the better option as far as fan response goes.
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Post by Germansuplex on Jan 21, 2013 12:23:14 GMT -5
So Diesel is in this poll but Kurt Angle and Randy Orton are not?
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