Top Ten Professional Wrestlers

[TofuNinja]

Ok I know there are a lot of Wrestling Fans. I just watched Bret's new DVD set and well I got to thinking it might be fun to compare who we, the fans, think are the top ten wrestlers of our era. This is just personal oppinion so there are no wrong picks. It is just who you liked. So here is mine.

10. The Rock and Jake "The Snake" Roberts (tie)
9. Sting and Kurt Angle (tie)
8. Rey Mysterio Jr.
7. Stone Cold Steve Austin
6. The Undertaker
5. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
4. "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan
3. "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair
2. "The Heart Break Kid" Shawn Michaels
1. Bret "Hitman" Heart

In my mind there has been no greater wrestler than the Hit Man. He could make anyone look good in the ring.

[ArkiStan]

Sorry, no offense, but I still don't see what people find interesting about fake fighting. I know enthusiasts say "you gotta watch it like a drama!" But at least they could make it look convincing. Then, of course you're gonna say " But they get hurt, bleed and even die sometimes!" So can sitcom comedians.

I'm really sorry to crap your thread like this. I respect your interest. But, I just can't help but to wonder each time it's brought up.

[MikeD]

How are you rating these guys? Technical skills? Mic skills? Total package? Entertainment value?

I think you gotta have The Rock higher than #10. I'd have to bump Steamboat out of the top 5 and have The Rock in there.

I like your list though. I like the top 5, though it's tough with Hart/Michaels #1-2 because they're so similar. I wouldn't have Mysterio anywhere near the top 10. I'd lose Sting and Jake the Snake too.

What about Foley? With all his personas, he was one of the best.

HHH would have to be in there as well. The guy is a beast...

You had 12 in your list. I'd lose Roberts, Sting, Mysterio, and Angle. That makes 8...add Foley and HHH, and you've got it.

Just my $.02...

[brainsmile]

what about the ulitmate warrior?

[DarkFury]

Sorry, no offense, but I still don't see what people find interesting about fake fighting. I know enthusiasts say "you gotta watch it like a drama!" But at least they could make it look convincing. Then, of course you're gonna say " But they get hurt, bleed and even die sometimes!" So can sitcom comedians.

I'm really sorry to crap your thread like this. I respect your interest. But, I just can't help but to wonder each time it's brought up.

It's just a "man's soap opera"... and just leave it at that.

This is why it is now called "Sports Entertainment"... you got action, aggression, comedy, and drama all rolled up into one complete package... So pretty much you just have to let your "rational overthinking" side take the night off and just enjoy the spectacle.

------------------------------------


As far as my list... "Hulk Hogan" will always be the #1 Legend in my book.... he pretty much was the single person I would say was accountable of bringing "wrasslin'" to the mainstream and revolutionizing the "merchandising" of it.

Of course I'm all for "The Rock" as well... he just cracks me the hell up. (IF YOU SMEEEEEEELLLLL....)

Ric Flair, Stone Cold, and the Undertaker are also on the list.... however let us not forget the OLDER legends.... like Andre the Giant, Sgt. Slaughter, Bullet Bob Armstrong, Ole and Arn Anderson (the Minnesota Wreckin' Crew), Dusty Rhodes (the American Dream), Superstar Billy Graham, Terry Funk and Mick Foley.

Those guys were truly "hardcore" when Wrasslin' was pretty much more real and not for "show".

[zenbooty]

Jimmy "Superfly" Snooka
Rowdy Roddy Piper
Mr. Fuji
"Superstar" Tony Atlas
Macho Man Randy Savage
Ultimate Warrior
Ric Flair
George "The Animal" Steele
Andre the Giant
Hulk Hogan
The Magnificent Morocco
"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorf
The Honky Tonk Man

[TofuNinja]

Sorry, no offense, but I still don't see what people find interesting about fake fighting. I know enthusiasts say "you gotta watch it like a drama!" But at least they could make it look convincing. Then, of course you're gonna say " But they get hurt, bleed and even die sometimes!" So can sitcom comedians.

I'm really sorry to crap your thread like this. I respect your interest. But, I just can't help but to wonder each time it's brought up.

Do you like Kung Fu movies? Bruce Lee? Jet Li, Jackie Chan? That's "fake fighting" too No offense taken

[TofuNinja]

I liked Sting because he was WCW. He was what Hart should have been to WWE, the flag ship. Sting's Crow gimmick was one of the best things to come from WCW.

Robert's is in there because he was ahead of his time in how he did things in the ring. Out of the ring he is a crack head. The way Jake cut a promo, how he did his moves in the ring. Art. But true I probably give him too much credit.

Rey is there because for such a little guy he hits like a main eventer. He can make people look good.

Angle can do great things, if he gets focused. He has the mat skills.

Steamboat is in there because he also made people look good. Heck he took part in what some people call the best match of all time. The Dragon vs. Macho Man at Wrestlemania 2 I believe. The only thing RIcky could not do was be a heel.

The Rock is so low because he turned his back on his fans. If he were to return to the ring I'd rank him 5 five.

[bachviet]

I don't know who is number #1 but Ultimate Warrior should be in the top 10. Kurt Angle and Ray Mysterio Jr. won't make my list.

[ArkiStan]

Do you like Kung Fu movies? Bruce Lee? Jet Li, Jackie Chan? That's "fake fighting" too No offense taken

I guess that's true. But don't you think those are much cooler since these martial artists are performing acrobatic feats that are nearly superhuman? Pro wrestlers are just buff people, aren't they? Oh well. I should stop blabbering. They're buffer than me, that's for sure .

DF, it's funny, I specifically remember having this same argument with you a long time ago!

[DarkFury]

DF, it's funny, I specifically remember having this same argument with you a long time ago!

At least I'm consistant... huh?

But seriously... where else can you see someone get hit with a flaming barbed wire bat and nobody goes to jail.... Hmmm...

ECW! ECW! ECW!

Now THAT's entertainment....

[ArkiStan]

At least I'm consistant... huh?

you're just a sucker for World Wide Entertainment! (or is it World Wrestling Entertainment?? )

[zenbooty]

I guess that's true. But don't you think those are much cooler since these martial artists are performing acrobatic feats that are nearly superhuman? Pro wrestlers are just buff people, aren't they?

No, wrestling is a skill that involves acrobatics, timing, and lots and lots of training. To say wrestling is fake is a bit of a misnomer. Sure the match outcomes are all predecided and the moves choreographed. But when a guy gets slapped in the chest he's getting pounded, so that slap can get heard all the way in the back of the arena. When a guy get's suplexed there's no faking getting lifted up, tossed over and landing hard on your back. They train in acrobatics tobe able to make those moves and roll with the hits and not seriously injure themselves.

There are wrestling schools just like martial arts where people learn to do this stuff.

[DarkFury]

you're just a sucker for World Wide Entertainment! (or is it World Wrestling Entertainment?? )

Nah... it just entertains me.

Just like going to the strip club... I can watch all I want, don't mean that I actually believe that those girls are goin' home with me. They're just "entertainment".

[zero2dash]

I don't know if I can pick out a top 10 and leave out so many favorites I have but I can name a few...

-In terms of "technical" and being good because of their skill/moves, I'd probably say Ric Flair = #1. There's a couple other guys that are excellent when it comes to moves/technical...Dean Malenko (wasn't too popular but he could reverse out of every move), AJ Styles (now with TNA; his matches are incredible)...Eddie Guerrero was very talented also (and I'm not just mentioning his name 'cause he passed away on Sunday).

As for "showmanship" and being a fan favorite - 2 way tie between Hulk Hogan (when I was a kid) and Stone Cold Steve Austin (as an adult). I used to cheer for Hulk like nuts when I was a kid (and almost cried when the Mega Powers - Hogan/Savage tag team - broke up over Miss Elizabeth), but as an adult, no other wrestler brought more smiles to my face than SCSA. Who could forget him driving a beer truck to the ring and spraying Vince, Shane, and a heel Rock in the ring with beer...? Or when Vince was in the hospital and Austin hit him in the head with the bed pan? F'n hilarious.

I went through a few years of not watching wrestling, and started again a few months ago...then I stopped watching WWE a few weeks ago and have been watching TNA. TNA wrestling is awesome...TNA actually has wrestling during 98% of their shows instead of having 98% of mic work/talking/scandal like the WWE has nowadays. TNA reminded me what wrestling was all about again...skilled guys in the ring performing cool moves and giving people 110%...instead of a bunch of whining on a microphone 'calling someone out' and then running out of the ring.

[DarkFury]

Yeah... TNA wrasslin' is fun to watch.

It reminds me alot of the ECW (not to mention that most of the folks from ECW are now on TNA...)

[cadetevon]

Jimmy "Superfly" Snooka

I just saw him in San Diego for Taboo Tuesday. It was kind of sad.

I got four free tickets and took, my son, his best buddy and the best buddy's little brother. OMG, thay had so. much. fun.

[zenbooty]

I just saw him in San Diego for Taboo Tuesday. It was kind of sad.

Why? What's happened to him?

[DarkFury]

Why? What's happened to him?

He got old...

On Taboo Tues, he was supposed to have a fight with Randy Orton the "Legend Killer" along with a few other "Legends".

[cadetevon]

He got old...

On Taboo Tues, he was supposed to have a fight with Randy Orton the "Legend Killer" along with a few other "Legends".

Exactly. It was sad to see him out there trying to hang with the kids. Sad that he needed the $$ and/or the fame so bad as to pull such a thing.

Just sad.

[TofuNinja]

I guess that's true. But don't you think those are much cooler since these martial artists are performing acrobatic feats that are nearly superhuman? Pro wrestlers are just buff people, aren't they? Oh well. I should stop blabbering. They're buffer than me, that's for sure .

DF, it's funny, I specifically remember having this same argument with you a long time ago!

Ever watch Japanese or Mexican Wrestling? Those Cruiser Weights can fly man.

[TofuNinja]

I don't think Snuka needed the money. I think he really wanted to be in the ring again, more so a WWE Ring.

It is like anything that you did or do and were good at it at one time or another. I think Snuka just loves the Business.

[sizemic1]

I only remember Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, and Sgt Slaughter when I was in junior high. hehe