WC Forums Top 50 Wrestlers (FULL LIST IS UP!)

[Johnny Danger (Godz)]

Great to see Arn on the list....I like the guy but had far too many I like more that I couldn't vote for Arn...

Also glad to see Punk wont rank any higher than he did. Ditto with Rey.

[bigHEADinc]

#35 - KANE

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Total Points: 90 Points
Total Votes: 9
Highest Placement: 6 (1 Vote)[/center]

Bio: At Survivor Series in 2003, Kane attacked Undertaker once again and buried him alive with a bulldozer. For the following months, the Deadman haunted his younger sibling before announcing that at WrestleMania XX, the two would meet one more time.

After that, Kane began randomly attacking anyone who crossed his path. He viciously assaulted Shawn Michaels, putting him out of action. He then began to make life miserable for Lita, with whom he seemed obsessed.

Thanks to victory in a “’Till Death Do Us Part” Match against Matt Hardy, Kane got what he wanted. He married an unwilling Lita, who was carrying Kane's child. But an in-ring incident on RAW injured Lita, causing her to lose the couple's unborn son and leaving Kane an emotional and angry mess. He swore vengeance on Gene Snitsky, who he held responsible.

At Taboo Tuesday, Kane faced Snitsky in a “Weapon of Choice” match. Wielding a steel chain, Kane delivered a brutal beating. But Snitsky eventually gained the upper hand, crushing Kane's throat with a steel chair. After recuperating, Kane haunted Snitsky until he exacted some measure of revenge. Then he began tormenting Trish Stratus — Lita’s nemesis — and through doing so is seemingly finally gaining his wife’s favor. In a shocking moment the April 11, 2005 edition of RAW, Kane and Lita kissed. It was the first time both parties had done so willingly and passionately. After aligning briefly with Kane, Lita has changed her allegiances now to Edge in an act of ruthless betrayal.

Kane had a hard time dealing with Lita's betrayal. Lita took it even further and continually made out with Edge in front of Kane and even flushed her wedding ring down the toilet. Edge and Lita even had their own wedding ceremony, but Kane would not allow it to go down quietly. Kane came up through the altar and chased off the couple. Kane and Edge then fought in a series of brutal matches including a Steel Cage Match and a Stretcher Match. Lita was the one who ended up needing the stretcher, though, as Kane Tombstoned her on the stage.

After a brief hiatus, Kane returned just prior to Taboo Tuesday. Because he lost out in the voting for the Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship to Shawn Michaels, he was paired up with Big Show to face World Tag Team Champions Trevor Murdoch & Lance Cade. Big Show & Kane proved to be just too much size and strength to overcome for the young tag team, and Kane won his ninth World Tag Team Championship.

Kane and his tag team partner also played a huge role in the RAW vs. SmackDown rivalry that was brewing. They were key players on RAW's team at Survivor Series, but could not lead their brand to a victory. But at Armageddon they challenged SmackDown's WWE Tag Team Champions, Rey Mysterio & Batista, to a match. Even though it was a SmackDown pay-per-view, Kane & Big Show reigned victorious in the rare Champions vs. Champions Match.

The Big Red Monster and Big Show turned back the challenge of Carlito & Chris Masters at WrestleMania 22. But just one night later, on RAW, they faced Kenny and Mikey of the Spirit Squad. If it was just a two-on-two match, the tag champs surely would have retained the gold. But the other three members of the Spirit Squad - Mitch, Nickey and Johnny - all got involved. The numbers proved to be too much to overcome, and Big Show was pinned.

That’s when things started going horribly wrong for the Big Red Monster. Kane thought that the madness and the voices would stop once May 19 came and went. Leading up to that day, the same day that Kane's adopted parents died in a fire, the Big Red Monster was hearing voices that drove him to the brink of insanity. But it didn't stop after May 19. Things only got stranger for Kane. On the May 29 edition of RAW, Kane came face to face with what appeared to be a mirror image of himself. The mysterious being was dressed like the Kane of old, complete with his old ring attire and mask. After a stare-down, the unknown man chokeslammed Kane.

Kane continued to be attacked by his “clone” until they finally met in a match at Vengeance where he found himself on the receiving end of all of his own moves. Bringing new meaning to “being your own worst enemy,” the imposter Kane defeated the real Kane with a thunderous chokeslam, Just one day later, though, Kane chokeslammed the imposter on the stage at RAW and then threw him out of the arena.

Whether it is Tag Team or singles, whether he is facing himself or someone else, one thing is for sure: Kane is an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.

Video Link: Kane Tribute

[MGH]

joshwoodrum said:

seriously.... fans are stupid..... Ten Bucks says everyone voted for some ROH favorite... and not guys WHO ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING...... like Bruno..... Hogan.... Triple H....

Seriously....you flame way too much to still be here.

[bigHEADinc]

#34 - WILLIAM REGAL

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Total Points: 91 Points
Total Votes: 8
Highest Placement: 3 (1 Vote)[/center]

Bio: Normally, William Regal is one of WWE’s most smug and haughty Superstars. A distinguished Englishman, Regal finds most others crass and downright unworthy of his time. While presenting himself as a dignified man away from the ring, Regal is a sadistic mat wrestler inside the squared circle, taking great pleasure in torturing his adversaries with stiff strikes and brutal submission holds.

Learning the ropes as a young teenager, the native of Blackpool, England traveled across the United Kingdom wrestling as part of carnivals. Facing off against challengers from the carnival circuit as well as from the crowd, Regal quickly earned a reputation as a lethal opponent, with fists of iron and dozens of different holds to render his adversaries helpless. Always interested in sharpening his tools as a wrestler, Regal traveled across the world, winning several championships in Europe, the Middle East and Japan before landing in WCW in 1993. There, Regal held the WCW Television Championship on four occasions; he also nearly won the WCW Tag Team Championship on several occasions with Bobby Eaton and Squire David Taylor, and also had a memorable rivalry with Finlay that saw the Irish brawler break Regal’s nose during a match in 1996. Regal came to WWE for a short time in 1998, but headed back to WCW shortly thereafter.

Regal finally hit it big when he returned to WWE in 2000. Less than a month after his return, Regal defeated Al Snow for the European Championship that October. In April 2001, he would defeat Snow again to earn a different title: WWE Commissioner. Regal earned several chances at the Intercontinental Championship that summer; he was unsuccessful, but after enlisting Tajiri as his assistant, Regal became a key figure in WWE’s battle with the ECW/WCW Alliance.

Video Link: William Regal Tribute

[4real]

Woo hoo!! Regal. Who i don't remember voting for.... what the heck was i thinking?

Good to see Kane in there, that guy deserves a lot of respect.

[bigHEADinc]

#33 - SABU

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Total Points: 91 Points
Total Votes: 9
Highest Placement: 6 (1 Vote)[/center]

Bio: Sabu is known globally as the Suicidal, Homicidal, Genocidal, Death-Defying Maniac who at one time held the ECW World Title and ECW World TV Championship simultaneously. Without a doubt, Sabu is the most fearless and dangerous competitor ever to compete in ECW and arguably, all of sports-entertainment. One look at Sabu's scarred and charred flesh and people know that Sabu is no ordinary man. Like The Sheik, his uncle who trained him, Sabu is an uncontrollable violent being that enjoys inflicting pain on his opponents.

Sabu has wrestled with broken knuckles, fingers, arms, ribs and a broken jaw at various times in his brutal career. He has repeatedly treated his own barbed wire lacerations with Krazy Glue and athletic tape, resulting in horrific scars that scare children and adults. Once, during a no-ropes barbed wire match against Terry Funk, Sabu tore open his bicep early in the contest, creating a wound that would later need over 100 stitches to close. Sabu's manager, Bill Alfonso, simply taped Sabu's arm and he inexplicably won the bloodbath of a match to win the ECW World Title.

Video Link: Sabu vs. Terry Funk - Barbwire Match

[Arturo Classico]

yep i voted for him! Not that high though.

[bigHEADinc]

#32 - RODDY PIPER

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Total Points: 93 Points
Total Votes: 11
Highest Placement: 5 (1 Vote)[/center]

Bio: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper is one of the most colorful personalities ever to hit World Wrestling Entertainment. The Hot Rod, as he came to be known, began his WWE career as one of the most-hated villains WWE fans have ever seen. Although Piper got his start in the NWA in the late 1970s, Piper rose to new heights when he battled with Hollywood Hogan in the 1980s. Piper became Hogan’s main rival, and the two engaged in some of the most-entertaining interview segments WWE has ever seen.

The two Superstars also had some classic battles in the ring. They had a memorable encounter at the War to Settle the Score on MTV, which set up their even more famous main event at the first-ever WrestleMania. Piper teamed up with “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff and had "Cowboy" Bob Orton in his corner, and their opponents were Hollywood Hogan and Mr. T. Piper’s team came up on the short end of the stick, but the match lived up to the hype and will go down as one of the marquee moments in WWE history.

Piper also hosted perhaps the most memorable interview segment in WWE history: Piper’s Pit. An unforgettable moment in Piper’s Pit history came when Hot Rod brutally attacked his guest, Jimmy Snuka, and laid him out with a coconut. This set off a brutal and bloody rivalry, which WWE fans still talk about today. Piper had another memorable contest at WrestleMania III, but this time he was adored by the fans. Hot Rod was set to meet the late “Adorable” Adrian Adonis at the Pontiac Silverdome, and in the weeks leading up to the match, he announced it would be his last time in the ring. Piper defeated the adorable one with a Sleeper Hold and shaved his nemesis’ head, earning him one of the biggest ovations in WWE history as the record-breaking crowd at the Silverdome erupted.

Piper went on to pursue a career in acting, but even the glitz and glamour of Hollywood couldn’t keep Hot Rod away from the squared circle. On Jan. 19, 1992, Piper defeated The Mountie for the Intercontinental Championship. This was Piper’s first-and-only taste of WWE gold in his career. His title reign wasn’t a lengthy one, but he couldn’t have lost it in more impressive fashion. He took on Bret “Hit Man” Hart in another classic match at WrestleMania VIII. Piper almost reverted back to his dastardly tactics, as he contemplated using the ring bell once the referee was knocked out, but the fans steered him in the right direction and he played by the rules. Hart ended up winning the match, but Piper was still a winner in the fans’ hearts.

After another brief hiatus, Piper came back as interim President of WWE in 1996. He went on that same year to face the bizarre Goldust in a Hollywood Backlot Brawl at WrestleMania XII. Piper beat Goldust from pillar to post as Hot Rod once again seemed to hold the crowd in the palm of his hand. It’s very rare that a Superstar can be versatile enough to be one of the most-hated Superstars in WWE history, as well as one of the most beloved. But Piper pulled it off, and he now has a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Video Link: Roddy Piper vs. Bret Hart (WM8) Part 1 / Part 2

[Dave FCIC]

bigheadinc said:

#50 - GREGORY HELMS

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Highest Placement: 6 (1 Vote)[/center][/quote]

bigheadinc said:

#48 - SHELTON BENJAMIN

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Highest Placement: 2 (1 Vote)[/center][/quote]

bigheadinc said:

#42 - RAVEN

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Highest Placement: 4 (1 Vote)[/center][/quote]

bigheadinc said:

#38 - CM PUNK

[/b]

Highest Placement: 3 (1 Vote)[/center][/quote]

All Me :-)

[bigHEADinc]

#31 - JUSHIN "THUNDER" LIGER

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Total Points: 95 Points
Total Votes: 7
Highest Placement: 7 (1 Vote)[/center]

Bio: Yamada was an amateur wrestler while studying in high school. He applied to New Japan Pro Wrestling to become a professional wrestler in the early 1980's. He was not accepted because he did not meet the height requirements they had at that time. Yamada was determined not to give up his dream of becoming a professional wrestler, so he left for Mexico and began his training there. By his own account, he was almost starving while studying there, so NJPW officials who were visiting took pity on him and asked him to come back to Japan. While continuing his studies, he had his debut match in December 1984 at the age of 20. He began studying various martial arts styles because he wanted to add something new and different to his wrestling style, which is how he learned his Rolling Koppou Kick.

He left for England in 1986 where he wrestled for All-Star Promotions as "Flying" Fuji Yamada. After returning to Japan, he debuted his Shooting Star Press in 1987, for which he had gotten the idea from reading a manga. He left for Canada early 1989, where he wrestled in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling under his real name. He also trained under Hart in Hart's legendary "Dungeon." His experiences there led him to refer to Hart as a "very, very tough man". NJPW called him back to Japan, as they needed him for a gimmick based on an extremely popular anime superhero, Jushin Liger, created by celebrated mangaka Go Nagai. NJPW had done this previously with Tiger Mask, which had become a huge success. Yamada was given a superhero-like full body costume & demonic looking mask, resembling the superhero type featured in tokusatsu and anime programs.

Jushin Liger debuted in April 24, 1989 in NJPW. In his debut match, he defeated Kuniaki Kobayashi. The "Thunder" moniker was later added to distinguish him from the anime character. He quickly became one of NJPW's top Junior Heavyweights, eventually capturing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title eleven times among numerous other titles and accolades while wrestling around the world. When appearing without his mask on, Yamada blocks his appearance by covering his face with one hand. Early on, Yamada's style mostly consisted of high flying. Later on, he started adapting more power moves and started focusing more on grappling and telling a story in the ring.

Jushin Liger also made appearances with WCW during the 90's. He made his debut in 1991 against Brian Pillman, and would later face many other opponents such as Chris Benoit, Ricky Steamboat, Rey Mysterio, Jr., and Juventud Guerrera.

In 1996, Yamada was diagnosed with a brain tumour which cost him his hearing in one ear. Weeks later, he recovered and returned to action. He adapted his wrestling style to help reduce the strain it was putting on his body. He adopted more of a ground-based style and to his credit, he was able to keep up an intensity that other wrestlers who have made a similar change were unable to maintain.

Liger has won two Super J Cup tournaments - the 1995 and 2000 events.

Currently, Liger is the leader of the NJPW heel stable Control Terrorism Unit (CTU) along with Hirooki Goto, Minoru Tanaka, Black Tiger IV, Gedo, Jado and briefly James Gibson.

On June 28, 2006, Liger was announced as a participant in the 2006 G-1 Climax, the third time he has appeared in the tournament.

Video Link: Jushin "Thunder" Liger Tribute

[Arturo Classico]

Yeah! Liger!

[bigHEADinc]

#30 - KENTA KOBASHI

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Total Points: 101 Points
Total Votes: 7
Highest Placement: 5 (1 Vote)[/center]

Bio: Throughout his school days, Kenta Kobashi dreamed of becoming a professional wrestler. The dream came true when he joined All Japan, debuting in February, 1988. He trained very hard to become a good wrestler, and by 1993, he was already one of the world's best. He evolved from being Mitsuharu Misawa's young disciple to one of Misawa's greatest rivals, winning the Triple Crown for the first time in 1996. His third reign was also All Japan's last before the much documented NOAH split, of which Kobashi was a major part. Years of hitting moonsaults from the top rope damaged Kobashi's knees seriously, and at the start of 2001, he took an extended leave of absence from wrestling, having countless surgeries on both knees. After an unsuccessful return to action in February, 2002, which re-injured him, he took more time off to fully recover. At last, in July, 2002, he made his full-time return after all the pain and hard work, and it took him only months to capture the GHC Heavyweight Title and become NOAH's leading man. Kenta Kobashi's fighting spirit and great energy have won him much fanfare over the years. He has fought in many epic matches, courageously wrestling through terrible injuries. His "burning spirit" billing is no character or gimmick, it's reality. Shortly after his return to puroresu from further knee surgery, Kobashi captured the GHC Heavyweight Title from Mitsuharu Misawa at the 3/13/03 Budokan show. With the title by his side, Kobashi was been a dominant champion. After holding the belt for over two years, Kobashi was finally defeated by Takeshi Rikio on the 3/5/05 Budokan show.

Video Link: Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (Clipped Match)

[bigHEADinc]

CORRECTION!!!! I SCREWED UP! KEVIN NASH IS ACTUALLY #40, EVERYBODY YOU'VE SEEN SINCE IS ONE SPOT UP! I WILL CORRECT AS NECESSARY... HERE'S THE TRUE #40...

#40 - KEVIN NASH

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Total Points: 80 Points
Total Votes: 6
Highest Placement: 1 (1 Vote)[/center]

Bio: Kevin Nash is one of the most dominant big men in professional wrestling history. Standing at 7 feet tall with an ominous presence, most opponents likely felt defeated inside even before the initial tie-up with “Big Kev.”

Throughout his long and illustrious career, Nash has had much experience holding championship gold. He has been a multi-time World Champion for several organizations. He also excelled in the tag team ranks, capturing the World Tag Team titles for several organizations. In fact, for several years, Nash wrestled as one half of one of the greatest tag teams of all time, The Outsiders. Along with former partner Scott Hall, The Outsiders went on to dominate the tag team wrestling scene for years, garnering several World Tag Title Championships.

Armed with several powerful moves in his wrestling repertoire, Nash is also complimented by a tremendously quick wit. Kevin Nash simply has no equal when it comes to laying it on the line and getting a point across. His skills in the ring and on the microphone have also translated into success in the entertainment industry, as he has had numerous roles in Hollywood, including “The Longest Yard,” as well as, “The Punisher.”

Although Kevin will still lace up the boots on occasion, Nash now seems to have taken more of a mentoring type role within TNA, and specifically, the X Division. In his quest to pass on his knowledge as a dominant ring general to the likes of Alex Shelley and Austin Starr, he not only is aiding their careers personally, but he stands to help elevate the X Division as a whole.

Video Link: Kevin Nash/Scott Hall vs. Rock/Hogan

[Fandjango Unchained]

Come on Hennig...

[bigHEADinc]

#29 - TED DIBIASE

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Total Points: 102 Points
Total Votes: 9
Highest Placement: 6 (1 Vote)[/center]

Bio: Ted DiBiase has been involved in the world of professional wrestling his entire life. His stepfather, wrestler "Iron Mike" DiBiase, began the tradition and had a strong influence on him as a child. He died in the ring when Ted was fifteen. Shortly after, his mother slipped into a depression and turned to alcohol. Ted moved into a little town in southern Arizona to live with his grandparents. After Ted's junior year in college at West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas, he stepped into the squared circle to follow in his father's footsteps.

After wrestling in Amarillo, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Ted moved to Atlanta to continue his wrestling career. While there he met his future wife Melanie and they were married in 1981. Ted's wrestling engagements kept him away from her, while ego, pride, and money took center stage. After the birth of their first son Teddy, the DiBiase's moved to Mississippi where he continued wrestling for Mid-South Wrestling. Ted was hoping that the World Wrestling Federation (WWE) would take notice of his talent. The WWE did take notice. They had an idea for a new character and developed Ted into the "Million Dollar Man" and he was surrounded by money, limousines and life in the fast lane. Through hard work and much determination he quickly rose to the top of his profession where he has remained for the past twenty years.

Ted's career as a wrestler has taken him all over the world; all over Europe, Japan, India, Canada, and all of the fifty states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Ted has held many wrestling titles over his expansive career not withstanding, "The World Championship Title." He has wrestled alone, as part of a tag team, and in recent years as the role of manager. You may also have heard him at times behind the camera as he often commentated and did color commentating for World Championship Wrestling.

Due to a neck injury several years ago, Ted was forced to give up the physical side of professional wrestling. He acted as a ringside manager in both the WWE (Andre the Giant, Steve Austin) and WCW (Steiner Brothers). While with WCW, Ted appeared on Ted Turner's cable networks "Monday Nitro" and "Thursday Thunder" TV programs, and acted as creative consultant to EA Sports for their WCW Mayhem video game designed for the Sony Saturn and N64 game systems. He also traveled the Nascar circuit as a WCW representative. Ted's WCW contract expired in 1999, and since then, Ted has taken on new roles outside of professional wrestling. He is a spokesperson for the Sunshine Foundation, an organization that grants wishes for critically ill children, and has founded Heart of David Ministries (for which he travels the world as an evangelist furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Also through Heart of David Ministries, Ted shares his prayer of hope all over America in motivational assemblies speaking out against the results of drug and alcohol abuse - warning America's youth about the trap of being addicted to drugs and alcohol. He also encourages them to stay in school, set reachable goals and pay whatever price it takes to become the best that they can be. Ted's speaking ministry is not focused only on youth. He actually has an even stronger message for "macho men" and struggling married couples. He speaks at men's meetings, whole church congregations, and special events. He has started his own small federation which is run as an outreach of Heart of David Ministry. Along with this he is presently considering starting his own wrestling school.

Video Link: Million Dollar Push-Up Challenge

[Fandjango Unchained]

HAHAHAHAHA

Money money money money money-y-y-y-y-y-y-y

[bigHEADinc]

#28 - AJ STYLES

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Total Points: 102 Points
Total Votes: 13
Highest Placement: 6 (1 Vote)[/center]

Bio: The Phenomenal AJ Styles is an X Division pioneer and the most athletically gifted wrestler in the world today. Possessing an impressive combination of speed and power, Styles nearly always finds himself coming out of each match with the victory. He is man who finds himself at home within the confines of the six sided ring and no matter the type of match at hand, AJ is always prepared for battle.

AJ Styles is not only familiar with winning matches, but also with winning world titles, as he has been a triple crown winner within TNA on multiple occasions. Often adored by his legions of fans, AJ has also been crowned the MVP of TNA for several years.

Having been locked in memorable feuds with Jeff Jarrett, Abyss, Christopher Daniels and the Samoan Submission Machine Samoa Joe, AJ finds strength through adversity and is able to use his motivation to more often than not, overcome the odds.

Video Link: Best of AJ Styles in ROH

[bigHEADinc]

#27 - BRITISH BULLDOG

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Total Points: 106 Points
Total Votes: 10
Highest Placement: 3 (1 Vote)[/center]

Bio: The wrestling world mourned the passing of Davey Boy Smith on May 17th, 2002. Known to many fans as The British Bulldog, Smith was the first-ever WWF European Champion. Smith also held the WWF Intercontinental, Tag-Team, and Hardcore Championship.

Born in the United Kingdom where he participated in rugby and amateur style wrestling, David Smith was trained by Ted Betley in the UK and first gained notoriety in pro wrestling in Japan where he wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). He was part of a team known as Ishingun, a "rebel" group similar to the nWo in WCW. Also in this group was the Dynamite Kid, a future world tag team champion partner with Davey.

After developing the reputation as an excellent wrestler overseas, Smith headed to Calgary, Alberta, where he competed in Stu Hart's Calgary Stampede Promotion. Here, he worked alongside longtime WWF stars Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Jim Neidhart, and fellow Ishingun member, the Dynamite Kid. It was also here in Calgary that Smith met his wife Diana, the sister of Bret and Owen Hart. Smith and the Kid (who is also English) had their share of matches in Calgary, but it was when they began teaming up and took on the name "The British Bulldogs" that they would rise to new heights.

The Bulldogs made their way to the WWF in late 1985. They were a smaller team than others in the WWF, but had aerial moves that wowed audiences the world over, and teamwork that was unmatched. It was also around this time that the Bulldogs took on legendary manager Captain Lou Albano. Despite the size disadvantage, they were beating bigger teams like King Kong Bundy/Big John Studd and others, and soon got a shot at the tag team championship, held by the "Dream Team" of Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake. The first encounter between these teams came on Saturday Night's Main Event in early 1986. Although the Dream Team was victorious, the Bulldogs had earned a tremendous amount of respect for the tough time they gave the champs. Then came Wrestlemania II, which held matches in three different cities. As part of the Chicago card, the Bulldogs once again challenged the Dream Team for the gold. And right there, on April 2, 1986, the British Bulldogs defeated the Dream Team for the WWF tag team championship.

Davey Boy and Dynamite held the titles for several months, beating all comers. They also took on a mascot, a bulldog named Matilda. Then on January 26, 1987, the Bulldogs defended the gold against two men they were very familiar with from their days in Calgary, Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart (known as the Hart Foundation). The Dynamite Kid went into the match with a severely bad back, and Davey Boy had to wrestle the entire bout himself. Smith put up a galiant effort, as he had to deal not only with the Hart Foundation, but with their manager Jimmy Hart as well as controversial referee Danny Davis. However, the odds were too great, as Smith was beaten, and the Bulldogs relinquished the gold to the Harts.

For over a year following the loss, the Bulldogs remained top contenders. They battled the Hart Foundation several times (and scored non-title victories over the champs) as well as new-champs Demolition in 1988. But they were unable to take the titles. The Dynamite Kid's back problems continued, and before 1988 was out, the Bulldogs left the WWF. They wrestled some independent promotion cards, and also took a few trips to Japan. But it wasn't long before Dynamite's ongoing back injuries forced him to the sidelines.

In December of 1990, Davey Boy Smith returned to the WWF. However this time, many things had changed. For one, he was now tackling the singles ranks. For another, he had a new mascot, a bulldog named Winston. But the main change was his appearance. He sported long hair tied in dreadlocks. And he also sported a hugely muscled physique. The Bulldog carried approximately 275 pounds on his 5'11" frame. He was one of the thickest and strongest men in the WWF, and he immediately waged a war with the huge Warlord. Their feud came to a climax at Wrestlemania VII in 1991, during which the Bulldog was victorious.

Next up for Davey Boy was the Intercontinental championship, then held by Curt Henning. The Bulldog was unsuccessful in winning the title in his attempt, and at Summerslam '91 Bret Hart used his opportunity to the best of his advantage, and earned the IC gold from Henning. It soon came out that Bret and the Bulldog were brothers-in-law. Davey Boy again expressed his desire to take the Intercontinental title.

In the summer of 1992, the WWF went to Davey Boy's home country of England. It was there that Summerslam was held, inside the famous Wembley Stadium. Over 80,000 people watched as the British Bulldog defeated Bret Hart for the Intercontinental title.

Davey Boy held the IC title for only two months before losing it to Shawn Michaels in October '92 as part of Saturday Night's Main Event. Soon after this, the Bulldog ran into ongoing steroid abuse problems, and then left the WWF for a second time.

The Bulldog popped up in WCW during 1993. It was a brief stint, with his biggest match being a tag match during the summer of that year, alongside Sting against Vader and Sid. The Bulldog just didn't fit in in WCW, and it wasn't long before he left the company.

In the summer of 1994, Davey Boy appeared at Summerslam, as a spectator during the Bret Hart/Owen Hart cage match for the WWF title. Smith was interviewed beforehand, during which he said he was solidly behind Hart. At the end of this match, the Bulldog would come to Bret's assistance after the Hitman was attacked by Owen and Jim Neidhart.

The British Bulldog was back. He wrestled alongside his brother-in-law Bret, and rapidly climbed the ranks. He teamed up with Lex Lugar as "The Allied Powers", and came within a hair of taking the tag titles from Owen Hart and Yokozuna. Then one night on Raw, Davey Boy asked then-WWF champion Diesel to team with him in a match against Men on a Mission. The Bulldog surprised the world by turning on Diesel in this match, and for the first time in his career, Davey Boy became a heel.

Smith took on Jim Cornette as his manager, and reunited with brother-in-law Owen Hart, as well as Yokozuna as part of Camp Cornette. The Bulldog cut off his hair, and soon got himself a WWF title shot at Diesel at IYH in 1995. The Bulldog won by DQ when Bret Hart interfered. After Hart defeated Diesel for the title at the Survivor Series in 1995, Smith got a title shot again, and came very close to defeating the Hitman, cutting Hart's head open during the match. But again, he was unsuccessful. Then after Shawn Michaels defeated Bret at Wrestlemania 12 in 1996, the Bulldog once again got himself a title shot in mid-96 at IYH. This time, the Bulldog pinned Shawn and was declared the champion, but video replay showed the Smith's shoulders had been down as well. They had a rematch, with Smith coming up on the short end of the stick.

In the fall of 1996, Smith and Owen Hart formed a tag team. Then on September 22, 1996 at IYH, the Bulldog and Owen defeated the Smoking Gunns for the tag team championship.

During their tag title reign, the WWF announced the introduction of the European championship. Owen and Bulldog took part in the tournament. Then ironically, on March 3, 1997, the two met in the tourney finals in Berlin, Germany, and Davey Boy defeated Owen for the title.

Davey Boy and Owen had their share of problems, and in the late spring of 1997, while they were still technically tag champions, the two met on Raw in a grudge match. It was a wild battle, but then Bret Hart ran in to straighten things out between them. Thus, the Hart Foundation was formed, which included Bret, Owen, Davey, Brian Pillman, and the returning Jim Neidhart.

On May 6, 1997, the Bulldog and Owen defended the tag titles against Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin in a challenge match. And after holding the titles for 8 months, the two Hart Foundation members lost the gold. Michaels forfeited his half of the title, and it was announced that a tag tournament would be held, with the winners to meet Steve Austin and a partner of his choice. The Bulldog and Owen continued their winning ways, taking the tournament. Then on July 14, 1997, the Bulldog and Owen met Steve Austin and his partner (Dude Love) for the titles on Raw. But the two Hart members were unable to win the belts. Davey Boy continued to hold on to the European title while he took part in tag matches with Owen Hart. He didn't defend it often, but did take part in tough defenses against Goldust (on Raw) and Ken Shamrock (at Summerslam '97) among others. With all his activity, the wear and tear started to take its toll on the Bulldog. He developed knee problems, and began to wear a right knee brace.

On September 20, 1997, in front of his home country in the UK, the Bulldog defended the European title against Shawn Michaels as part of a big "One Night Only" show. Smith again faced huge odds, as he had to contend not only with Michaels, but also with Michaels' "gang members" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna, and Rick Rude. His knee problems also gave him trouble, and Smith eventually blacked out while locked in a Michaels' figure four. The referee stopped the match, and awarded the title to Michaels.

Following the "double cross" involving Bret Hart at the 1997 Survivor Series in Montreal, Quebec, Davey Boy Smith requested his release from the WWF. The request was granted, and the Bulldog promptly signed with WCW, where he spent most of his time on the sidelines with ongoing knee injuries. The Bulldog then suffered a serious back injury when he was bodyslammed onto the area of the WCW ring that contained a hidden "trap door" used for appearances by the Warrior. The injury sidelined Davey for several months and he nearly became paralyzed. WCW released him while he was in the hospital, but the Bulldog recovered and in a surprising move, re-signed with the WWF.

On the September 9, 1999 episode of WWF Smackdown!, the Bulldog's first night back, he won the Hardcore title from the Big Bossman, but forfeited the title to Al Snow in a goodwill-type gesture. Davey Boy then made his intentions clear; to win the WWF world championship. He then set his sights on the main eventers, including The Rock and Triple H. The Bulldog subsequently turned heel, and accidentally injured Stephanie McMahon during a WWF UK PPV when he threw a trash can in frustration and it struck Stephanie.

Despite his many accolades, the Bulldog failed to live up to expectations in his last WWF stint. Perhaps he wasn't the wrestler he once was, or maybe he was too old school. But the Bulldog went from a main eventer vying for the WWF Title to a low midcard wrestler that for a period of time was partnered with the Mean Street Posse. The Bulldog had one last run as Hardcore Champion when he defeated Crash Holly on May 6, 2000 at the UK pay-per-view Insurrextion in London. In the Spring of 2000 the Bulldog was admitted into a rehab center in Atlanta, seeking treatment for his addiction to pain killers. He checked himself out of rehab and subsequently returned to the WWF, but he reportedly failed in his attempt to overcome his addiction, and eventually the WWF was forced to release him. The Bulldog had planned to launch his own wrestling school in Calgary prior to his death.

Video Link: British Bulldog vs. Bret Hart (SS '92) Part 1 / Part 2

[bigHEADinc]

#26 - ANDRE THE GIANT

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Total Points: 110 Points
Total Votes: 8
Highest Placement: 6 (2 Votes)[/center]

Bio: At 7'4" and 500 pounds, Andre the Giant could have been famous for his size alone. His drive, talent and ambition, however, proved to be as big as Andre himself, and the wrestler became legendary for his achievements in and out of the ring.

Andre was born Andre Rene Roussimoff in Grenoble, France on May 19, 1946. His parents, Boris and Marian Roussimoff, and four siblings were of average size. Andre, however, suffered from acromegaly, a disease that results in an over abundance of growth hormones. Also known as Giantism, this disease caused Andre's body to continue growing his whole life, and by the time he was 17 he stood 6'7".

Due to his immense stature it seemed inevitable that Andre would excel in the wrestling world. He had just started to make a name for himself in the ring as "Monster Eiffel Tower" or "Monster Roussimoff" when French-Canadian wrestler Edouard Carpentier first laid eyes on him. Carpentier was impressed with Andre's raw talent and decided to bring him to North America. Andre began wrestling under the name Jean Ferre in Canada for Grand Prix Promotions. In a short time Andre went from the undercard to being a headlining name. Inspired by the movie King Kong he acquired the nickname, "The 8th Wonder of the World," which stayed with him for the rest of his career.

By the time Andre had performed in front of 20,000 wrestling fans in Montreal, his legend had reached Vince McMahon, Sr. at the World Wide Wrestling Federation's (WWWF) headquarters. McMahon would forever alter Andre's life. In 1972, McMahon signed Andre to wrestle for the WWWF and changed his name to capitalize on his colossal size. "Andre the Giant" became one of the most recognizable names in wrestling. Andre performed under his new name at Madison Square Garden, where he easily defeated his opponent Buddy Wolfe without breaking a sweat. Before long, Andre's venues were sold out and wrestlers lined up to perform in his shadow. As Andre's fame grew to stardom, he was featured in Sports Illustrated in the largest feature they had ever published.

In 1987 Andre drew the biggest crowd in WWF (formerly WWWF) history thus far. A record 90,000 fans packed the Pontiac Silver Dome in Detroit, Michigan to watch Andre wrestle fellow legend Hulk Hogan in the main event of WrestleMania III. In all, Andre participated at six WrestleManias and faced some of the toughest opponents in the business, including Big John Studd and Jake "The Snake" Roberts. For many years he was known as the "Uncrowned Champion," until he found his place in infamy and held the WWF title for the shortest reign in history. This wasn't the only championship Andre captured - he also won titles in the (NWA), (IWA) and the WWF Tag Team Championship.

Andre's fame also opened the door to Hollywood. He made his acting debut in 1975 as "Big Foot" in The Six Million Dollar Man. Andre enjoyed the experience and went on to appear in television shows including B.J. and the Bear, The Fall Guy and The Greatest American Hero, and movies such as Conan the Destroyer, Micki and Maude, and Trading Mom. His favorite role, and the one for which he is best remembered, was the lovable giant "Fezzik" in Rob Reiner's classic The Princess Bride.

Andre's last television appearance was on a celebration of 20 years of NWA/WCW wrestling on TBS. Sadly, over the years the effects of acromegaly had continued to wear down his body. Eventually his immense size was just too much for his heart, and Andre the Giant died in Paris, France in his hotel room on January 27, 1993. His ashes were later taken home and spread over his North Carolina ranch.

Though professionally Andre will always be remembered as The 8th Wonder of the World, he is known and loved by fans across the globe as The Gentle Giant.

Video Link: Andre vs. Hogan (WM3) Part 1 / Part 2

[Spankymac is sick of the swiss]

I'm not surprised that AJ Styles made the list, but I'm shocked that he made it this high.