And the list rolls on.
This is a 3 website joint effort. Here were the contributors:
www.thebalrogslair.com
www.xheadlines.com
www.saltyham.com
A while back, we sent out the call to the internet writers from these three websites and gave them instructions on sending in their list of their top 100 wrestlers. They were told that whatever criteria they wanted to use was fine. If they based their great wrestlers on in-ring ability, legacy, or entertainment value or whatever – they could decide that for themselves. We then took all the lists we got back from these writers and gave points to each wrestler based upon the rankings. We then totaled up the points and what we had was the cumulative and definitive list of the Top 100 wrestlers of all time.
So, let’s not waste any more time. This week we present to you: The Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All Time: #70 to 61:
#70
Roland: I have to admit to being a bit shocked to see Trish on this list. I didn’t rank her, but others did – and at first, I was a tad annoyed by it. But the more I think about it, something has to be said for the fact that this one woman kept the Women’s Division interesting. It would have been easy for her to have been Torrie Wilson – another pretty face with a fake body whose sole purpose is to serve Vince McMahon’s perverted fantasies. But Trish wasn’t satisfied with that and she developed herself into a very entertaining wrestler. And for that, I respect the heck out of her. Is #70 too high for her? In my opinion, yes – but I have to admit, even though she didn’t make my list, I’m glad she made it and I hope she comes back.
Joe Balrog:Trish deserves a better ranking on this list. She entered the wrestling business at a time when women’s wrestling was declining (especially in WWE). The focus was shifting to “tits and ass” over wrestling ability. Trish was the first woman wrestler to combine both of these successfully. Her popularity catapulted her to a record 5 WWE Women’s Championships and a legacy that allowed her to leave the squared circle in a more dignified manner than any other recent WWE wrestler.
Dones: I didn’t rank her because, well, I wasn’t ranking chicks. But she turned herself into a very good wrestler, and of all the divas, she was the hottest. Seriously, she was f8&^% smoking. (dr-NOT RANKED)
#69
Gorilla Monsoon
Joe Balrog: If “influence on future generations” is a factor in being on the Top 100 Wrestlers list, then Gorilla Monsoon should be in the Top 15 of this list. Gorilla was so influential to men like Vince McMahon that he actually has a position named after him (the “Gorilla Position”).
Dones: A pioneer. I was very sad when he died. The best commentator of all time. (dr-#32)
Roland: While I’m not old enough to claim I remember watching Monsoon, I always enjoy hearing stories about him. My generation of wrestling fans remembers Gorilla as the voice of the WWF (and part of the best two-man booth of all time with Jesse Ventura), but many forget his dominance in the ring. For a large man, Monsoon possessed great athleticism and was actually feared in the early days of the WWWF. He feuded with some of the greats (Bruno Sammartino, Superstar Billy Graham, ect.), but my favorite story is his match with a young Hulk Hogan in New York. Vince Sr. told the heel Hogan to beat the babyface Monsoon in under a minute – and after it was over, the crowd was so angry; they chased Hogan out of the arena and overturned his car. That’s an OVER babyface.
#68
Goldberg
Roland: I know wrestling purists will immediately call this list bogus because Goldberg is on it – but before you click off the page – think for a second about Goldberg’s legacy. He was Brock Lesnar before Lesnar was ever thought of. He could have saved WCW, if the management over there could have gotten their collective heads out of their posteriors for two seconds. He was the big monster we all wanted to see. He was a DRAW. And how many wrestlers can even claim that these days? I believe that if Bill Goldberg actually wanted to have anything to do with the wrestling business aside from draw a paycheck, he could have been up there with the biggest names ever mentioned. But alas, he used wrestling as a stepping stone. But do think he was relevant enough to warrant his placement on this list.
Dones: Sucked. (dr-#48)
Joe Balrog: f*** Goldberg.
#67
Jim Duggan
Dones: HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! (dr-#86)
Joe Balrog: Duggan is another solid worker in the ring that has managed to overcome a life-threatening bout with stomach cancer. The remarkable part is that he actually is wrestling again after beating the cancer! Incredible.
Roland: Good Lord, I hated Jim Duggan. Everything about that gimmick drove me crazy. I remember watching that stupid tongue and thumbs up and two-by-four and flag waving and wanting to claw my own eyes out. Then I saw him getting over with that nonsense and getting scared to death they were going to make him a main event contender. Thank the heavens that never happened.
#66
Sabu
Joe Balrog: I might be a little bit too rough with some of these rankings but I have to believe that in an “all-time” list of the Top 100 Wrestlers, Sabu just doesn’t rank at all – or if he does, it’s in the 90’s and not the 60’s! Sabu has done a great amount to advance the “extreme” style of wrestling that WWE rapes every Tuesday night. Other than that, he’s been an okay worker in the ring.
Roland: Sabu has a legacy of two things: 1) being insane and; 2) being a bit of a knucklehead. I give Sabu credit for not getting himself killed during his more insane runs with ECW. He’s a bit tamer now (either that or his shtick has grown more palatable since many have imitated the moves he innovated). But you have to admit that without Sabu, ECW wouldn’t have been what it was.
Dones: Insane. Not the greatest wrestler, but with the right guys, is truly a pleasure to watch. (dr-#44)
#65
Dustin Rhodes
Dones: When it was a serious gimmick, the Goldust angle was one of my favorites. He was just creepy. I felt him get in MY head. Then they made him retarded. (dr-#68)
Roland: I’ll give Dustin the credit for being entertaining no matter what he was saddled with. He’ll always be remembered for Goldust, and that’s both a blessing and a curse for the guy. Like his daddy, I don’t think Dustin was much of what you would consider a “good wrestler,” but he was serviceable. It kind of pains me that he gets this high up on the list (has this guy really had a greater legacy than Jerry Lawler, Berry Windham, Tully Blanchard, Superstar Billy Graham, Lex Lugar, Stan Hansen, and Gorilla Monsoon?), but that’s more likely due to him being more recently relevant than anything else.
Joe Balrog: The artist formerly known as Goldust was fun. Right? RIGHT?!? Dustin is another one of these consummate professionals in terms of taking care of those in the ring with him. He strives to be an entertaining performer and much credit must be given to him on two accounts. First, he was one of the rare “cowboys” in professional wrestling to break out of that stereotype with the Goldust character. Second, he made a ridiculous character like Goldust work!
#64
King Kong Bundy
Roland: I think Bundy gets more recognition for headlining Wrestlemania 2 than for being that impressive a wrestler. And that cage match with Hogan might be one of the worst cage matches I’ve ever had the misfortune of watching (having never had the stomach to view the Kennel in a Cell match). Sure, it was always fun to watch Bundy beat up some little people – but I wouldn’t (and didn’t) put him on this list.
Joe Barlog: I don’t know about #64 on this list for Bundy. Maybe 94, but this is a rather high ranking. Bundy wasn’t a solid worker in the ring, but he definitely was good for a fall here and there. I can’t beat him up too much, though. He was the first wrestler that my little brother and I got an autograph from many years ago (when my little brother was actually “little” and not the house that he is now).
Dones: He was big, and he wasn’t really boring. That goes a long way. (dr-#76)
#63
Davey Boy Smith
Dones: I enjoyed his matches. His back and forth match with Bret Hart at Summer Slam 1992 is one of my all time favorites. He and Dynamite Kid formed one of the top 5 tag teams of all time. His death is one of the many unfortunate wrestling deaths that hurt me.
Roland: While The British Bulldog never got the WWF Championship, he always wrestled like one. Another in the long line of Stu Hart graduates, Davey even joined the family. While I really don’t remember much about his two WCW stints, I can always remember his powerful (and somewhat stiff) matches in the Fed. Due to circumstance, politics, and drug problems, he never really reached his potential – but nobody can argue that Davey was great in the ring.
Joe Balrog: One of the more forgotten wrestling tragedies in recent history was the loss of the British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith. What made the event so tragic was the Bulldog was beginning to re-enter the wrestling business as his son’s protégé at the time. What a shame. Davey was a superhero in England as his SummerSlam match with Bret Hart proved.
#62
The Honky Tonk Man
Roland: Absolutely and without a doubt one of the most entertaining men to ever step in the ring. Forget his (insanely funny) ramblings on his website now, Tonk made the absolute most of his situation. And despite all the running around during his WWF run, Honky Tonk Man could put on a good match. Jeff Jarrett should bow at his feet, because without him, Jarrett wouldn’t have a character. His promos were akin to what Jericho and Christian are able to accomplish now. The greatest legacy that Honky has is, of course, his 15 month reign as Intercontinental Champion – which gave that belt some pretty big weight. I personally think this is way too low for a man who will always be known (and rightfully so) as “The Greatest Intercontinental Champion of All Time.”
Joe Balrog:Honky Tonk better thank the wonks at our websites for ranking him so well. Honky Tonk could certainly be on this list, but more preferably in the 91 – 100 range! As with Regal, the Honky Tonk Man had a great showmanship quality about his performances in the ring. He probably has himself too involved in the wrestling business as his miserable failure of an online feud with his cousin, Jerry Lawler, proved a few years ago.
Dones: I ranked him because he was funny as hell. But I didn’t rank him too high because for the most part, his matches involved him running away from his opponents. Oh, and Peggy Sue wasn’t that hot. (dr-#54)
#61
William Regal
Joe Balrog: Regal is great. He is one the most consistent workers in the industry today and he’s got a showman-like quality that not many other performers have in WWE, TNA, or anywhere. Much like Eddie Guerrero, William Regal is a success story in terms of defeating his personal demons and making a good name for himself in the wrestling industry.
Dones: Maybe he was never a superstar, but when ever Regal is on screen, he is relevant. Well, except when he was “a man’s man.” A guy I never minded being a champion, as well as a great heel and fun good guy. BUT- this does not mean I would rank him in the top 100. Regal is the very poor man’s Big Show, but since the Big Show is 7 feet tall, he makes my list-Regal does not. (dr-NOT RANKED)
Roland: Regal is an internet darling and for good reason. He possesses everything to make us love him: very good ring skills and very good mic skills. The one thing that holds Regal back is something that he can’t change – he’s not a draw with the marks. Some people have that and some people done – and Regal doesn’t. It isn’t his fault – he was born too late. You put Regal in the ring with Bob Backlund and you’d sell out Madison Square Garden in the 1970’s every time. But this isn’t the 60’s or 70’s, unfortunately for him. But give Regal credit – he makes the most of what he’s got.
See you next week with #60 to 51!
