Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All Time: #60 to 51

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: #60 to 51:

#60

Killer Kowalski

Roland: So, most of you probably have heard the name – but how many of you know that you can blame Kowalski for training Triple H? Also to the credit of his wrestling school were Perry Saturn, Chyna, A-Train, Kazarian, Kenny from the Spirit Squad, and Big John Studd. Kowalski was huge in Australia, becoming a household name there. He’s probably best known for his heel antics with Bruno Sammartino in the old WWWF. Another fun fact is that he once wrestled under the name “Big Ron Studd” – which is funny to me for no real reason. The guy is a legend, so deal with it.
Eddie T: When I think of old-school, brawling, grappling, sweating, biting, technical and beautiful type of wrestling, I think of Killer Kowalski. One of the best at the game, and definitely, also one of the better teachers of the game. His spot on the countdown is deserved, and the only negative most remember will probably be him showing Triple H those long historic tapes we’ve heard about in The Game’s promos.
Dones: He’s got a toy out-he’s gotta be good, right? (dr-NOT RANKED)

#59

Dynamite Kid

Eddie T: One of wrestling’s greatest, no question! The Dynamite Kid was something else. A breath of fresh air that the business deserved. A style that the industry wasn’t ready for until this man arrived at the scene. Some of wrestling’s greatest matches feature the Dynamite Kid. He is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best workers in the ring, and a man whose placement on the list is well-deserved, as he revolutionized the business in a huge way.
Dones: Another example of injury shortening an awesome career. (dr-#62)
Roland: I don’t quite understand how Dynamite Kid ranks higher than Davey-Boy Smith, but I suppose you could chalk it up to his skills in the ring being (I guess) better than the latter. Thomas Billington was also known for being stiff in the ring (as all those who read Foley’s book will remember), but he did have certain spark in the ring and I understand his inclusion on this list.

#58

John Cena

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Dones: Yea, this is about right. (dr-#47)
Roland: I have no idea where John Cena will end up after it’s all said and done for his career – but I do know one thing – he should not be on this list yet. I don’t know if he should ever be on this list. Cena can be entertaining (maybe not as much when he’s impersonating a Marine…both as an actor and as a wrestler) on the mic and in the ring. And it should be noted that I do like Cena. I just don’t think he has the pedigree to make this list…yet. When Cena acts like himself, he shows the potential to become something special, but all too often, he resembles a Rock knock off or a fake military man.
Eddie T: The “business” machine. It’s hard to believe how much Cena has accomplished in such little time. The WWE Champion has worked one of the most grueling schedules and through it all, remains the top guy in the company, two years after having won the championship belt. While many have grown to dislike Cena, a lot of that has to do with WWE’s booking of the man, and not with Cena himself. Sure, he’s not the best wrestler inside the ring, but his charisma, microphone ability (which has now been reduced to pre-scripted lame jokes), and look turned him into a huge business machine, as he was definitely the money maker and money draw in the company last year. It’s unfortunate that he’s gone down the drain, character wise, but he still remains a force to reckon with.

#57

Jim Neidhart

Roland: It is interesting to me to see Neidhart on this list. But I also think it shows a guy who made a living in a supporting role does get noticed. Neidhart was always the other guy in the tag team, the other guy in the faction, the other guy you had to deal with – but his ability was always solid and his ring style was always passable. Plus, he had that wicked goatee.
Dones: Awesome to watch in the Hart Foundation. Anytime he was doing anything else, however, he was awful. Whoever told him it would be a good idea to wrestle in checkered parachute pants should be shot. (dr-#69)
Eddie T: The pre-excellence of execution. A lot can be said about Jim Neidhart, and a lot has been said about him. A good wrestler, hard worker, and a solid guy. A part of one of the best tag teams of all time, and an all-around good guy, really. To put it simple, Jim was one of those guys that went to work and cared mostly about that – work.

#56

Don Muraco

Eddie T: “Conan the Barbarian, I wasn’t.” Indeed he wasn’t, but in his run with WWF, Don Muraco certainly left his mark on the industry. In a stranger time period for WWF, his top-tier feuds were welcomed into the business by the fans, and he certainly work hard to earn his spot on the countdown.
Dones: He was the Rock before the Rock was cool. Also did Fuji Vice. (dr-#94)
Roland: Don Muraco was an incredible heel with just solid, solid work. Sure, Snuka gets all the credit for leaping off the cage – but who was the guy willing to lay there and let him? Muraco. The Rock was sadly underused when he was with the WWF and only won the IC belt once. But he was the very first King of the Ring winner. He was one of my favorite heels, especially when he was managed by Fuji, but his face run with Billy Graham was ugly. I’m glad he made this list and I think this is a good place for him.

#55

Antonio Inoki

Dones: Is he that unlockable guy in WWF: No Mercy for Nintendo 64? (dr-NOT RANKED)
Roland: It’s hard for me to think of Inoki as a wrestler, since he had so much more influence in Mixed Martial Arts. The guy did fight to a draw with Ali, so that’s something worth noting. I understand why he’s here, I’m just not sure of what to classify him as.
Eddie T: The money-maker. One can write books on Antonio Inoki, a man whose career both inside and outside the ring has proven for so much controversy and memorable moments that I couldn’t possibly fit them all in one paragraph. From his runs in Japan and America as both wrestler and promoter, to the unforgettable match and bragging rights with Muhammad Ali, to the ridiculous promoting in Japan and 200-hour DVD sales, Antonio Inoki remains a legend in the professional wrestling business, and rightfully so. You simply have to read about this guy to understand what he’s all about, or what his purpose in the industry has been, and still is. Amazing.

#54

Dean Malenko

Roland: For a small guy, Malenko made the most of his career as a tough, solid wrestler. Like I’ve said before, if you were ever a part of The Four Horsemen, that brings you credibility you might not have had otherwise. Malenko had a great WCW run and a good run in the WWE with The Radicalz. And does anyone remember “Double Ho Seven?”
Eddie T: “The man of a thousand and one holds.” Dean Malenko did a lot for cruiserweight wrestling in a way nobody really expected. While the typical cruiserweight of the 80s and 90s was either a high-flyer, or a gimmicked luchador, Malenko came into the business and grappled. He came in as a real wrestler, who did truly know a thousand holds, perhaps. His memorable run in ECW did a lot to establish the fact that the lightweights can not only fly – they can wrestle. His run with the Radicalz helped establish real wrestlers into the WWF of the time. I am yet to see a bad Dean Malenko match, as this guy can work a wonderful bout no matter who you pair him up with on the card. Definitely a wrestling great, and deserves to be this countdown.
Dones: Another guy that didn’t do it for me. He has weird feet. (dr-NOT RANKED)

#53

Brian Pillman

Dones: I didn’t like him. Just didn’t. (dr-NOT RANKED)
Roland: While I do think some of us add legend to Brian Pillman that probably wouldn’t have been there had he not died early, Pillman was an innovator in the ring. His career will always have a touch of sadness to it, but his loose cannon persona was very entertaining while he could maintain it (and until it became too true).
Eddie T: The loose cannon. I recommend you pick up the Brian Pillman DVD that WWE put out. That’s all that needs to be said.

#52

Lou Thesz

Eddie T: The originator. Thesz was by far one of wrestling’s legends, as well as one of the people that were in the business for such a long time that can be called the “originator.” He certainly wasn’t the oldest pick out there, but Thesz has done it all from wrestling to promotion, to being a major part of a darker side of the business in the NWA ages. Historically, this man has been involved in more wrestling history than probably the rest of the entries in this subset combined!
Roland: Boy, this is WAY too low for Thesz. The six-time world champion invented the aptly named Lou Thesz Press, the STF, and the Powerbomb. So many wrestlers today owe so much to this guy that it really saddens me too many wrestling fans don’t know their history as well as they should. Of course, with the WWF/E-isation of wrestling history (to the victor goes the spoils, I guess), it really isn’t the average fans fault he doesn’t know enough about Thesz. But it’s a crime the guy can’t break the top 50.
Dones: Just because someone steals your move doesn’t make you awesome. (dr-NOT RANKED)

#51

Sgt. Slaughter

Dones: Just another guy who was awesome, you slime. (dr-#29)
Roland: How many wrestlers can say they had a G.I. Joe character? Slaughter can. And man, look at that chin. The times I most liked Slaughter were when he was heel, because I think he was very ahead of his time when the character turned on America. The reasons were soon turned cartoonish (hey, it was the WWF, after all), but the idea that this man, who could have easily been the top face in the company and embodied the American Spirit was pushed aside for the flashier Hogan was great fuel for fodder in their WM match. It’s too bad he was never seen as a real threat during those times, but I give the man props for a great and legendary character.
Eddie T: And that’s.. aaan order! While Sgt. Slaughter realizes that he was a gimmick of the time that fit perfectly into the scheme of things, Sarge has turned into a true veteran, and a helpful guy within WWE. One of wrestling’s caricatures of the time, Slaughter did have a shot or two at being a legitimate draw, and knew how to play his part to perfection. So atten-hut! Listen up maggots, Sarge is at #51, and you better like that because that’s… aan order!

Join us next week as we crack the Top 50!