500 Greatest Wrestlers of the 70's,80's and 90's

[MattitudeV2]

I was wondering about a list of the 500 greatest wrestlers so you could give me your list or say how much you like or hate my picks(Not my name.)

[shamelessposer]

Dude. Are you honestly expecting everyone to post their top five hundred picks to this thread?

[MattitudeV2]

Originally Posted by shamelessposer

Dude. Are you honestly expecting everyone to post their top five hundred picks to this thread?

Not really just where some guys need to go.

[BIGJOSH]

Either Shawn Michaels or Ric Flair should be number one...no questions asked IMO.

[MattitudeV2]

Originally Posted by BIGJOSH

Either Shawn Michaels or Ric Flair should be number one...no questions asked IMO.

Yeah that is definite.

[shamelessposer]

Originally Posted by BIGJOSH

Either Shawn Michaels or Ric Flair should be number one...no questions asked IMO.

Keiji Mutoh's more deserving of the #1 spot than Michaels. And Mutoh doesn't deserve it. Flair... you could definitely make an argument for, but I'd be more inclined to put Hulk Hogan or The Rock in the top spot. Hogan brought wrestling into the mainstream and The Rock is a big earner in addition to being a better ambassador from wrestling to the real world than the industry could ever have hoped for.

[BIGJOSH]

Originally Posted by shamelessposer

Keiji Mutoh's more deserving of the #1 spot than Michaels. And Mutoh doesn't deserve it. Flair... you could definitely make an argument for, but I'd be more inclined to put Hulk Hogan or The Rock in the top spot. Hogan brought wrestling into the mainstream and The Rock is a big earner in addition to being a better ambassador from wrestling to the real world than the industry could ever have hoped for.

If you're simply voting by "popularity" and kayfabe record then I would agree, but when you consider popularity, titles held, match quality and kayfabe win/loss record I would have to say Flair of Michaels undoubtedly. I would also probably lean towards flair being my number one.

[MattitudeV2]

Originally Posted by shamelessposer

Keiji Mutoh's more deserving of the #1 spot than Michaels. And Muto doesn't deserve it. Flair... you could definitely make an argument for, but I'd be more inclined to put Hulk Hogan or The Rock in the top spot. Hogan brought wrestling into the mainstream and The Rock is a big earner in addition to being a better ambassador from wrestling to the real world than the industry could ever have hoped for.

Well he could be in the top 5.

[shamelessposer]

Originally Posted by BIGJOSH

If you're simply voting by "popularity" and kayfabe record then I would agree, but when you consider popularity, titles held, match quality and kayfabe win/loss record I would have to say Flair of Michaels undoubtedly. I would also probably lean towards flair being my number one.

In that case I would be inclined to give the top spot to Flair, in large part because it wasn't until 2001 that Chris Jericho became Undisputed Champion. Michaels is disqualified for vacating a world championship over a lost smile and never having been a draw in his life.

[BIGJOSH]

Originally Posted by shamelessposer

In that case I would be inclined to give the top spot to Flair, in large part because it wasn't until 2001 that Chris Jericho became Undisputed Champion. Michaels is disqualified for vacating a world championship over a lost smile and never having been a draw in his life.

Bret Hart fan?

[shamelessposer]

Originally Posted by BIGJOSH

Bret Hart fan?

Not even a little bit. It's just that when I compose a "greatest wrestler" list I leave off guys whose biggest career accomplishments include being a prima donna, not making money, and being a founding member of nWo Junior Junior (not a typo).

[scorpion]

There's no way Shawn Michaels gets the top spot, He's not even Top 5 in my opinion. If you are talking about 90's alone, maybe, but not including all three decades. Top spot goes to Hogan or Flair. Those two guys carried their respectful companies on their backs. I have a preference toward Flair, but Hogan did draw a lot more money. Right behind them I would put Andre the Giant. He was a huge draw everywhere he went. Prior to his body breaking down he was also a heck of a worker. After that I would have put more thought into who would be ranked where, but those are the top three to me.

[MattitudeV2]

Originally Posted by scorpion

There's no way Shawn Michaels gets the top spot, He's not even Top 5 in my opinion. If you are talking about 90's alone, maybe, but not including all three decades. Top spot goes to Hogan or Flair. Those two guys carried their respectful companies on their backs. I have a preference toward Flair, but Hogan did draw a lot more money. Right behind them I would put Andre the Giant. He was a huge draw everywhere he went. Prior to his body breaking down he was also a heck of a worker. After that I would have put more thought into who would be ranked where, but those are the top three to me.

Well if I'm looking at it,Hogan never wanted to job to certain guys while Flair would.HBK is a case of a WWE name that earned his stripes from the rockers,to the turn on Jannetty,Intercontinental and European title reigns,his numerous world title wins.

[Self]

Shawn is really good, but when the company was on his back, it hardly thrived like when Hogan or Austin were on top. Not totally his fault, but it's a mark against him. I don't know much about 70's and 80's, but I'd have Austin and Rock up there, ahead of Shawn.

I never got Flair. He amused me, but I never connected with him, so wouldn't presume to comment.

I get my 90's and my 00's mixed up a lot though. Time flies.

[scorpion]

Originally Posted by MattitudeV2

Well if I'm looking at it,Hogan never wanted to job to certain guys while Flair would.HBK is a case of a WWE name that earned his stripes from the rockers,to the turn on Jannetty,Intercontinental and European title reigns,his numerous world title wins.

The great thing about doing top lists is that everyone will disagree, and thats fine. I think if you are looking at only the '90s, Shawn Michaels is top 3. But with three decades worth of workers to look at, I just can't put him up there. I think you are looking at Hogan from a more inside view than I would. I look at it this way, Babe Ruth was a womanizing alcoholic, but that doesn't change the fact that he was the greatest of his time, maybe all time. Without Hulk Hogan there would be no WWE, at least not at the level it is today. Had Wrestlemania failed, Vince would have lost the company. Plus Hogan and Andre drew the biggest house ever. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Hogan mark, I just respect what he did in the business. Plus, its not like Shawn ever refused to job.