Vince McMahon's list of the top 5 wrestlers of all time...

HomerSimpson31 said:

As for Hogan, he was the first one that crossed my mind and to most would be a clear cut number one best wrestler of all time. I personally skipped him because I think overall he is overrated because all he really has is a big boot and leg drop for a finisher lol. But he did basically mke the WWF fun and draw in millions of fans so he was very electric but as a wrestler I just think he was overrated,but that's me being biased and overlooking the fact that that was the basic style of wrestling back then.

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You make great points... And again, I'm not a Hogan-fan myself.

But keep in mind, Pro Wrestling isn't about "Wrestling". And the wrestling aspect has gradually decreased since the time Hogan first won the WWF belt.

The most important aspect is the ability to draw... That's always been important and is probably more so now.

The ability to work the mic– another critical skill.

Charisma– Again, it's always been an component but even more so over the 30 years.

And the ability to make your opponent look credible is a fundamental skill that the great ones share.

All this went goes into creating the "story" and yeah, Hogan couldn't wrestle a lick, but he had charisma by the buckloads... he could work the mic and in his own way could put opponents over. Hogan learned the "Jerry Lawler technique" of putting guys over by letting them beat the blazes out of you for several minutes and then doing the herculean comeback. Most other wrestlers would do that by letting their opponent do what they want to with them for a few moves, kick out from a pin attempt and they would take over the match for a few moves– back & forth, back & forth.

Hogan's matches were generally short so there wasn't much back & forth. Maybe a little at the beginning but then the heel would punish Hogan for several minutes, Hogan would come back, leg-drop, pin.

I thought his matches sucked but obviously most ate it up. The guy could draw.

No doubt in my mind that Hogan is one of the top-10 greatest of all time. Ahead of Austin. Ahead of HHH. Ahead of Cena. Ahead of the Undertaker. Ahead of the Rock.

There are only a few guys I would put ahead of Hogan.

Larry Matysik, who's about a professional wrestling historian if there ever was one (and has written several outstanding books on the topic) offers the following top 10:

10. Frank Gotch
9. Gene Kiniski
8. Buddy Rogers
7. Jim Londos
6. Stone Cold Steve Austin
5. Bruno Sammartino
4. Hulk Hogan
3. Ed "Strangler" Lewis
2. Ric Flair
1. Lou Thesz

That's a pretty good list.

I agree fully with the 1, 2 & 3.

The others not as much but my list wouldn't vary too much from this except I would drop Hogan and "Stone Cold" down some and Harley Race would be in my top 10.

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Just thought I'd throw this out there in case some wrestling fans here wasn't sure how it is or works. I learned about it through friends at work because I wasn't sure if it was any good but it's great.

MichaelWinicki said:

Larry Matysik, who's about a professional wrestling historian if there ever was one (and has written several outstanding books on the topic) offers the following top 10:

10. Frank Gotch
9. Gene Kiniski
8. Buddy Rogers
7. Jim Londos
6. Stone Cold Steve Austin
5. Bruno Sammartino
4. Hulk Hogan
3. Ed "Strangler" Lewis
2. Ric Flair
1. Lou Thesz

That's a pretty good list.

I agree fully with the 1, 2 & 3.

The others not as much but my list wouldn't vary too much from this except I would drop Hogan and "Stone Cold" down some and Harley Race would be in my top 10.

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What's his criteria? Wrestling ability? Drawing Power?

Manwiththeplan said:

What's his criteria? Wrestling ability? Drawing Power?

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You touched upon two of them...

-Drawing power

-Wrestling ability has some relevance but not nearly as important as the above one or the below ones...

Which are:

-"Work" in the ring ("working" and wrestling ability are two different things)

-Ability to put your opponent "over"

-Mic skills

-Charisma

-Lasting affect on the profession

-World Championship titles held and length of run

ugh, I just can't take a list that has Rick Flair at #2 seriously. Yes he's an all time great, but I'd consider him as someone who wrestled in the modern era of wrestling and he only had ok success in the WWF and WCW had their best run when he was not used as a main eventer

Manwiththeplan said:

ugh, I just can't take a list that has Rick Flair at #2 seriously. Yes he's an all time great, but I'd consider him as someone who wrestled in the modern era of wrestling and he only had ok success in the WWF and WCW had their best run when he was not used as a main eventer

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The list Larry Matysik put together is ALL-TIME. Meaning all wrestling organizations... not just the WWF/WCW. Keep in mind that Flair started wrestling in the AWA (learning the craft under then World Champion of the AWA, Verne Gagne) in 1972. He then went to the Mid-Atlantic territory of the NWA in '74.

The whole "WCW" thing didn't occur until 1988 and by that time Flair had already held numerous titles in the NWA, including World Champion for several years... And he had some amazing bouts with folks like Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat, Bruiser Brody, Roddy Piper and the Funk Brothers.

Not to mention, the "Four Horseman" gimmick started in this era and went over like gang-busters.

Heck by 1988, Flair was already a "Top-50" wrestler and he kept inching up the ladder from then.

Wrestling history is much more than the WWE/WWF.

MichaelWinicki said:

Larry Matysik, who's about a professional wrestling historian if there ever was one (and has written several outstanding books on the topic) offers the following top 10:

10. Frank Gotch
9. Gene Kiniski
8. Buddy Rogers
7. Jim Londos
6. Stone Cold Steve Austin
5. Bruno Sammartino
4. Hulk Hogan
3. Ed "Strangler" Lewis
2. Ric Flair
1. Lou Thesz

That's a pretty good list.

I agree fully with the 1, 2 & 3.

The others not as much but my list wouldn't vary too much from this except I would drop Hogan and "Stone Cold" down some and Harley Race would be in my top 10.

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I find the lack of big-name Puroresu wrestlers disturbing...but from the looks of it, this list is based of North American wrestling?

BanditHiro said:

I find the lack of big-name Puroresu wrestlers disturbing...but from the looks of it, this list is based of North American wrestling?

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Yes, I apologize. I should have clarified that. Just North American wrestling.

Obviously there have been some great professional wrestlers all around the globe.

Shawn Michaels #1 no way!

diehard2294 said:

Shawn Michaels #1 no way!

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you have to get into the mind of Vince to understand the pick...Vince absolutely loves Shawn more than any wrestler he has worked with despite being a real ******* in the past because he didn't leave for WCW with his friends.. He was really the only thing keeping the company a float.

If he left than they lose the Monday Night War. Yeah they could still run with Stone Cold Steve Austin but he would not have been ready nor would one of the greatest feuds of all-time, Austin v McMahon would not have probably occur because the creation of the Mr McMahon character was a result of the Montreal Screwjob.

It is not like it's a terrible pick anyway. If we are talking best in-ring performer in WWE history than Shawn is probably it.

BanditHiro said:

you have to get into the mind of Vince to understand the pick...Vince absolutely loves Shawn more than any wrestler he has worked with despite being a real ******* in the past because he didn't leave for WCW with his friends.. He was really the only thing keeping the company a float.

If he left than they lose the Monday Night War. Yeah they could still run with Stone Cold Steve Austin but he would not have been ready nor would one of the greatest feuds of all-time, Austin v McMahon would not have probably occur because the creation of the Mr McMahon character was a result of the Montreal Screwjob.

It is not like it's a terrible pick anyway. If we are talking best in-ring performer in WWE history than Shawn is probably it.

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stone cold all day for me for entertainment..the coors light truck stint was a classic

diehard2294 said:

stone cold all day for me for entertainment..the coors light truck stint was a classic

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Good article about the WWE Network... this actually sounds really cool, if for no other reason the archives.

http://grantland.com/features/welcome-to-the-wwe-network/

And a good read about Bruiser Brody's murder and Colon's involvement.

http://www.solie.org/articles/brodeath.html

Kilyin said:

Good article about the WWE Network... this actually sounds really cool, if for no other reason the archives.

http://grantland.com/features/welcome-to-the-wwe-network/

And a good read about Bruiser Brody's murder and Colon's involvement.

http://www.solie.org/articles/brodeath.html

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Great read, thanks! I think I am going to take the plunge and sign up then I will have 10 days to get other people to sign up to get free $25 gift cards to the WWE Store

Then again...

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dis...n-loses-350-million-third-his-fortune-one-day

If anyone can turn it around though, it's ole MoneyGrubber McMahon.

Top 3 undertaker , stone cold , Sean michaels .

pjtoadie said:

Great read, thanks! I think I am going to take the plunge and sign up then I will have 10 days to get other people to sign up to get free $25 gift cards to the WWE Store

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I signed up for WWE Network just a few days before WrestleMania, just to get that PPV, which made it worth the 6-month cost instantly. I watched the PPV a few weeks ago on it. And there's Payback PPV coming up in a few weeks or so. Definitely worth the cost just for the PPVs, even if you don't watch anything else on it (which I haven't).

Phoenix said:

I signed up for WWE Network just a few days before WrestleMania, just to get that PPV, which made it worth the 6-month cost instantly. I watched the PPV a few weeks ago on it. And there's Payback PPV coming up in a few weeks or so. Definitely worth the cost just for the PPVs, even if you don't watch anything else on it (which I haven't).

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Yeah I just signed up on Monday. Even if I don't watch a lot of the other content getting it for the PPV's is worth the $9.99 a month. I have watched the Royal Rumble from 1990 and 1991 and the Warrior special so far.