Wrestling thread

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Warlord Wrote:For me, as far as my list goes, impact (or popularity) is only one aspect of my ranking. For instance, certain wrestlers thrived on gimmicks that were created by the promotion they worked for, and no based on any inherent abilities that they possessed.

Scott Hall and Kevin Nash both wrestled in WCW (Scott Hall started as "The Diamond Stud" I believe, under Diamond Dallas Page, and Nash wrestled under the handle "Vinnie Vegas.") but had none of the popularity or success that they would go on to have wrestling in the WWF under gimmicks created for them by that promotion.

(I'm in no way shitting on Hall or Nash, by the way, as they were both favorites of mine.)

Kane was a jobber in WCW, nothing more. His career took off in the WWF, again, with a gimmick created by the WWF writing staff. Triple HHH was a hair above jobber in WCW as well. But again, WWF saves the day with a heel gimmick for him.

So, for me, using popularity ("impact") as the sole deciding factor when ranking wrestlers is a little unfair, because wrestlers aren't always responsible for the success or failure of a gimmick.

I think you've also got to take into consideration their in-ring abilities, achievements, value to respective organization, etc...

Hogan trumps every wrestler when it comes to popularity, but his actual in-ring performances were absolute shit when compared to pros like Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels.

Absolutely, bro.

The only thing I can say about that is that Hogan and Rock (and COUNTLESS other) "popular" guys also played heels.

Hogan was a heel until he came out and whipped the Iron Shiek's ass.

Andre the Giant played a heel

Eddie Guerrero played a heel, and I guess somehow along the way he got popular...but he was a scrub for a long time as I remember it.

Razor Ramon? I mean, when he came out it was like, "Are you serious, dude?".

You're absolutely right, a lot of these guys can't be held responsible, as they're playing their parts of a greater whole that is the WWF, WWE, ECW, WCW, NWA. Im just saying, charisma seems to be the one common trait that transcends. Charisma begets popularity, even when you play a heel.

Guys like Hogan, the Rock, Ric Flair, Andre the Giant...hell, to a lesser extent, even a Big John Stud...they are these "bigger than Life" type of guys - good or bad.

I appreciate a lot of the guys on a lot of the lists here - they were great for filling up weekend cards, etc.

But for me, only a few guys really transcended the sport.

As an aside, I am almost convinced that Vince McMahon is acting every time he steps in front of ANY camera....i.e. when he goes on Leno, or any other non-affiliated show. Almost as if he loves playing the heel

As another aside, if you guys haven't already, you should youtube some of the hall of fame induction speeches from guys like The Rock, Hogan, ESPECIALLY Ric Flair, and others. They are really really moving, and pretty fucking cool. Those guys put a LOT of work into what they do, and take a motherfucking BEATING doing it. I guarantee if you have time to burn, you will get sucked in to watching those youtubes for hours.

http://www.youtube.com/v/hqlHJgtX0M0 I mean, watch these guys, the ultimate perfomers. Watching wrestling was such a HUGE part of my youth, and luckily I had a younger brother to rassle with every damn night and try out all the special moves. The Figure Four, the Sleeper Hold, the Camel Clutch...

...I even developed my own as a kid - "The Luscious Leg". It was an ultimate submission move.

Shit, I grew up watching The Rock's old man, Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas.