Roo Returns
Skjeikspeare No More
I've been talking to friends about the top ten wrestlers recently.
What are yours?
I'll take a crack at this list and why. In no particular order
1) Ric Flair-career spanned over five decades. Did it in the South (Crockett/WCW), did it up North (WWF). Could be a face or heel. 16x World Champ. He's mainstream.
2) Hulk Hogan-Wrestling isn't mainstream if not for him. Limited in ring ability but charisma and looks off the charts. Helped get wrestling mainstream in two decades.
3) Shawn Michaels-Top 3 greatest in ring performers ever. Could work with anyone in any style. Only downside is his singles push started in late 92/early 93 when the WWF was about to experience a slump, and he was champ during a tough time for WWF. So many memorable matches and moments in his career both good, and notorious.
4)Undertaker-The phenom. He began his WWF run during the old school era, and also was one of the main people of the attitude era. Had several different incarnations but always memorable and always loved.
5)Ricky Steamboat-Like Shawn Michaels, one of the most athletically gifted wrestlers and could work with anyone in any situation. His match at WMIII with Savage and his 89 feud with Flair two of the greatest ever. Only downside was his original WWF run was cut short and when he came back in 91, they literally made him a Dragon.
6)Stone Cold Steve Austin-the Hulk Hogan of the Attitude Era. His popularity made WWF mainstream again after about five years of struggling. Downside was his in ring work was limited to brawling due to injuries. His WCW in ring work >>>> his WWF in ring work until he had the neck fusion. Then he was great but had the limited shelf life due to injury.
7) The Rock-He transcended wrestling and became a main stream movie star/celebrity. He also gets bonus points for incredible charisma, and becoming popular after the fans initially hated him. The only loss of points to me is his in ring work during his peak (98-02) was awful. Punch, punch, punch, punch. People's Elbow. His match with Undertaker and King Of The Ring 99 is unwatchable. He actually got better after he left for Hollywood.
8) Arn Anderson-The blue collar meat and potatoes guy. He could do singles, tag, etc. Solid worker. Could be put in any situation. Only problem was he was always in Flair's shadow which wasn't his fault.
9)Shane Douglas-Basically started ECW and was literally The Franchise. He helped make ECW a legit #3 to WWF/WCW for about 6-7 years and because of ECW, WWF started The Attitude Era.
10)Bret Hart-Longevitiy, champ in both feds, tag champ, great in ring work, charisma. Worked as both a face and a heel. He wasn't as colorful or intense as some of the WWF Golden Era characters, but I appreciate him more now than then.
Honorable mentions: Gotta give props to Harley Race and Dusty Rhodes. Sabu, Taz, RVD, Macho Man, and many of the great tag teams, too many to name. I loved Ultimate Warrior as a kid. Kerry Von Erich as well but his national exposure was so late in his career. Curt Henning. Rick Rude. Jerry Lawler. I'm not a HHH fan. He's done a lot but never liked his in ring work plus his character seemed to have no consistency: is he a blue blood? is he playing himself? Terry Funk. And of course...Mick Foley.
What are yours?
I'll take a crack at this list and why. In no particular order
1) Ric Flair-career spanned over five decades. Did it in the South (Crockett/WCW), did it up North (WWF). Could be a face or heel. 16x World Champ. He's mainstream.
2) Hulk Hogan-Wrestling isn't mainstream if not for him. Limited in ring ability but charisma and looks off the charts. Helped get wrestling mainstream in two decades.
3) Shawn Michaels-Top 3 greatest in ring performers ever. Could work with anyone in any style. Only downside is his singles push started in late 92/early 93 when the WWF was about to experience a slump, and he was champ during a tough time for WWF. So many memorable matches and moments in his career both good, and notorious.
4)Undertaker-The phenom. He began his WWF run during the old school era, and also was one of the main people of the attitude era. Had several different incarnations but always memorable and always loved.
5)Ricky Steamboat-Like Shawn Michaels, one of the most athletically gifted wrestlers and could work with anyone in any situation. His match at WMIII with Savage and his 89 feud with Flair two of the greatest ever. Only downside was his original WWF run was cut short and when he came back in 91, they literally made him a Dragon.
6)Stone Cold Steve Austin-the Hulk Hogan of the Attitude Era. His popularity made WWF mainstream again after about five years of struggling. Downside was his in ring work was limited to brawling due to injuries. His WCW in ring work >>>> his WWF in ring work until he had the neck fusion. Then he was great but had the limited shelf life due to injury.
7) The Rock-He transcended wrestling and became a main stream movie star/celebrity. He also gets bonus points for incredible charisma, and becoming popular after the fans initially hated him. The only loss of points to me is his in ring work during his peak (98-02) was awful. Punch, punch, punch, punch. People's Elbow. His match with Undertaker and King Of The Ring 99 is unwatchable. He actually got better after he left for Hollywood.
8) Arn Anderson-The blue collar meat and potatoes guy. He could do singles, tag, etc. Solid worker. Could be put in any situation. Only problem was he was always in Flair's shadow which wasn't his fault.
9)Shane Douglas-Basically started ECW and was literally The Franchise. He helped make ECW a legit #3 to WWF/WCW for about 6-7 years and because of ECW, WWF started The Attitude Era.
10)Bret Hart-Longevitiy, champ in both feds, tag champ, great in ring work, charisma. Worked as both a face and a heel. He wasn't as colorful or intense as some of the WWF Golden Era characters, but I appreciate him more now than then.
Honorable mentions: Gotta give props to Harley Race and Dusty Rhodes. Sabu, Taz, RVD, Macho Man, and many of the great tag teams, too many to name. I loved Ultimate Warrior as a kid. Kerry Von Erich as well but his national exposure was so late in his career. Curt Henning. Rick Rude. Jerry Lawler. I'm not a HHH fan. He's done a lot but never liked his in ring work plus his character seemed to have no consistency: is he a blue blood? is he playing himself? Terry Funk. And of course...Mick Foley.
