Here we are with part two of this very special edition of the ESSENTIALS. It's hard to argue just who are the greatest sports entertainers to ever live, but we here at GN9NEZWWE have done our best to come up with a list of the Top Ten Wrestlers who are the true elite.
In Part One, I posted everyone's list and while there were some variations, there were 10 performers who's names appeared the most. In order to rank the wrestlers who's names appeared the same amount of times, I used some math to determine what order their names should be placed. I have to say, while it may be controversial, I do believe we've come up with quite the unique list of the best wrestlers of all time.
Find out which superstars rank amongst the Best of the Best after the jump!
*NOTE: With each superstar, I will reveal some interesting stats about them. Here are the stats and their explanations:
Foley has carved a unique niche for himself with his brutal style. While many critics bash Foley for his dependence on violence and stunt choreography, it's these same traits that place him amongst some of the most beloved men in the history of the sport. In an entertainment genre that is often bashed for it's lack of realism, Foley brings the type of shock value and resiliency needed to legitimize it. Cactus Jack and Mankind are two of the more notable Foley characters and both individually, should be considered amongst some of the best ever. It doesn't hurt that Foley was easily one of the top ten promo men ever in any organization. It's a rare find to have a competitor who can make nearly anything work, but if there ever was a guy who could do it, it was Mick Foley.
The People's Champ stands alone as by far the greatest entertainer ever to grace a wrestling ring. His promos are the stuff of legend and his charisma and crossover appeal are second to none. Perhaps only rivaled by Hulk Hogan in terms of mainstream status, The Rock's successful transition into the film industry only furthers his value. There have been many great athletes and dozens of technical wizards, but The Rock showed just how important having that intangible "X" factor is in terms of staying power in an entertainment genre that is constantly evolving. As a wrestler, Rock will never be confused with Ray Stevens, but he is one of the more underrated talents of all time. Perhaps only because his most memorable work was done outside of the ring.
The Cerebral Assassin has always been a lightening rod for controversy due to his relationship with the first family of pro wrestling, but his accolades speak for themselves. 13 times the world champion, a 5 time IC champion, a 3 time Tag Team Champion, a Royal Rumble win, the 1997 King of the Ring and 10 Wrestlemania main events. Love him or hate him, you'd be hard pressed to find a resume more impressive. Many naysayers will chalk this up to political influence, but he's got a list of classic matches that runs deeper than almost everyone. It's hard to deny the fact that the King of Kings' success can mostly be attributed to his unmatched work ethic and drawing power. His 2000 WWE title run, is also one of the all-time best.
The Hitman's legacy will live forever through his consistently brilliant work in the ring. He is easily the greatest storyteller to ever lace up a pair of boots and should be credited with bringing true legitimacy to the WWE title. The true definition of a workhorse champion, Bret took pride in the fact that he could have a damn near five star match with any opponent and he held himself to that standard for his entire career. The result? He competed in 5 five star matches from 1990-1999 alone (three of them in ONE year!). Not many other WWE competitors can lay claim to doing such an amazing feat. If it were not for the unfortunate events surrounding his retirement, one has to wonder if he'd rank even higher.
The current Best In The World forever changed the landscape of professional wrestling and will probably rank even higher on this list when it's all said and done. Never has there been a wrestler with a more well-rounded combination of mic work, in-ring ability, charisma and true passion for the sport. Punk re-established the WWE Championship as the most prestigious title in North America through his dedication and hard work ethic. His persona brought about the critically acclaimed "Reality Era", throwing the gimmick heavy WWE blueprint out the window. He's relatable, undeniably gifted and on track to become arguably, the best ever.
Chris Jericho is one of the most polarizing figures amongst the IWC. Many feel that he is the best performer alive today. Others, see Jericho as an overrated, yet still talented wrestler who peaked in his feud with Shawn Michaels in 2008. Whichever side of the fence you are on, it's hard to deny the facts. Jericho brings a level of creativity to all of his work that earns him the distinction of being one of the most debated greats in any form of entertainment. His complex and often, over-the-top persona is his best and worst attribute at the same time. I feel as if Jericho will be appreciated much more with time. Kind of like Nick Bockwinkel. He may be way over most people's heads, but he still manged to snag a spot in our top five. Most likely due to the fact that an act like Jericho is a show all unto his own.
Flair is professional wrestling's gold standard. He wrote the book on the modern day superstar and is the bar by which every athlete since is compared. His record 16 world titles may never be broken and he's easily the greatest world champion to ever live. He's the only superstar to have back to back title defenses each earn a five star rating and he did not need chairs, cages or ladders to do so. To date, no one has had a greater impact on the sport in terms of quality and perhaps no one ever will. Flair is in a class of his own and if you asked the other superstars on this list, I'm sure they would all tell you they learned a thing or two from the Nature Boy.
Edge is universally beloved amongst WWE audiences, but I'm not sure if he's ever been fully acknowledged as one of the all-time greats outside of the company. It seems that when on the topic of the best ever, his name is often shortchanged. Perhaps his opportunistic ways have soured many on his amazing run. Still, it's hard not to recognize the fact that he's won more championships than anyone else in WWE history (Jerry Lawler excluded) and is currently, the most accomplished WWE superstar of all-time. He's an 11 time world champion, a 5 time IC champ, a former US champ, an incredible record 14 time Tag Team Champion, Hardcore champion and has won every major WWE endurance test including The Royal Rumble, the first ever Money In The Bank, The King of the Ring and The Elimination Chamber. Too soon for the Hall of Fame? Not with a rap sheet like that.
Kurt Angle is unarguably, the greatest athlete to ever compete in professional wrestling. The Olympic Gold Medalist tore through the WWE landscape and set a new standard for the company in terms of ring work. In the ring, Angle is second to no one and his 4 five star matches in just only seven years with the company, is a WWE record for that time frame. Kurt left an unbeatable streak of pure technical wrestling matches that may never be touched and he continues to be the standard bearer for rival company TNA, even though he has lost a step or two in his run there. It's safe to say that every superstar who got in the ring with Angle from The Rock and Shawn Michaels to Samoa Joe and AJ Styles, came out a better athlete just from being in the ring with the Wrestling Machine.
Shawn Michaels takes our number one spot with a landslide by earning a spot on nine out of ten of our contributor's lists. He earned seven out of ten top five appearances as well, which is also more than anyone else. I think it's safe to say that no matter who you ask and no matter who their favorites are, Shawn Michaels is nearly universally acknowledged as the greatest WWE superstar of all time. His record 8 five star matches from this blog and seven Match of the Year wins (as voted by PWI readers) are both records that may never be touched. No other wrestler has ever out-performed Shawn Michaels. And he's going to go down in the history books among the plethora of firsts he's managed to be a part of. He was the first winner of the Elimination Chamber match, The Hell In A Cell match and the Ironman match. He also competed in the first ever Ladder match and was the first superstar to win two Royal Rumbles. He's done it all, and no one has ever done it better.
Controversially, Hulk Hogan made only one appearance in our staff's Top Ten Lists
In Part One, I posted everyone's list and while there were some variations, there were 10 performers who's names appeared the most. In order to rank the wrestlers who's names appeared the same amount of times, I used some math to determine what order their names should be placed. I have to say, while it may be controversial, I do believe we've come up with quite the unique list of the best wrestlers of all time.
Find out which superstars rank amongst the Best of the Best after the jump!
*NOTE: With each superstar, I will reveal some interesting stats about them. Here are the stats and their explanations:
Ranked: This represents the number of times the superstar appeared in one of our Top Ten lists.
Highest Rank: Represents the highest spot the superstar earned in one of our lists.
Number of 5 Star Matches: This is the number of 5 Star Matches each superstar has received from this blog (to date).
Standout Year: Was the year that heralded some of the superstar's best work.
Number 10: Mick Foley
Ranked: 4 times
Highest Rank: 5
Number of 5 Star Matches: 0
Standout Year: 1999
Foley has carved a unique niche for himself with his brutal style. While many critics bash Foley for his dependence on violence and stunt choreography, it's these same traits that place him amongst some of the most beloved men in the history of the sport. In an entertainment genre that is often bashed for it's lack of realism, Foley brings the type of shock value and resiliency needed to legitimize it. Cactus Jack and Mankind are two of the more notable Foley characters and both individually, should be considered amongst some of the best ever. It doesn't hurt that Foley was easily one of the top ten promo men ever in any organization. It's a rare find to have a competitor who can make nearly anything work, but if there ever was a guy who could do it, it was Mick Foley.
Number 9: The Rock
Ranked: 4 times
Highest Rank: 1
Number of 5 Star Matches: 0
Standout Year: 2001
The People's Champ stands alone as by far the greatest entertainer ever to grace a wrestling ring. His promos are the stuff of legend and his charisma and crossover appeal are second to none. Perhaps only rivaled by Hulk Hogan in terms of mainstream status, The Rock's successful transition into the film industry only furthers his value. There have been many great athletes and dozens of technical wizards, but The Rock showed just how important having that intangible "X" factor is in terms of staying power in an entertainment genre that is constantly evolving. As a wrestler, Rock will never be confused with Ray Stevens, but he is one of the more underrated talents of all time. Perhaps only because his most memorable work was done outside of the ring.
Number 8: Triple H
Ranked: 4 times
Highest Rank: 2
Number of 5 Star Matches: 2
Standout Year: 2000
The Cerebral Assassin has always been a lightening rod for controversy due to his relationship with the first family of pro wrestling, but his accolades speak for themselves. 13 times the world champion, a 5 time IC champion, a 3 time Tag Team Champion, a Royal Rumble win, the 1997 King of the Ring and 10 Wrestlemania main events. Love him or hate him, you'd be hard pressed to find a resume more impressive. Many naysayers will chalk this up to political influence, but he's got a list of classic matches that runs deeper than almost everyone. It's hard to deny the fact that the King of Kings' success can mostly be attributed to his unmatched work ethic and drawing power. His 2000 WWE title run, is also one of the all-time best.
Number 7: Bret Hart
Ranked: 4 times
Highest Rank: 1
Number of 5 Star Matches: 5
Standout Year: 1994
The Hitman's legacy will live forever through his consistently brilliant work in the ring. He is easily the greatest storyteller to ever lace up a pair of boots and should be credited with bringing true legitimacy to the WWE title. The true definition of a workhorse champion, Bret took pride in the fact that he could have a damn near five star match with any opponent and he held himself to that standard for his entire career. The result? He competed in 5 five star matches from 1990-1999 alone (three of them in ONE year!). Not many other WWE competitors can lay claim to doing such an amazing feat. If it were not for the unfortunate events surrounding his retirement, one has to wonder if he'd rank even higher.
Number 6: CM Punk
Ranked: 5 times
Highest Rank: 2
Number of 5 Star Matches: 2
Standout Year: 2012
The current Best In The World forever changed the landscape of professional wrestling and will probably rank even higher on this list when it's all said and done. Never has there been a wrestler with a more well-rounded combination of mic work, in-ring ability, charisma and true passion for the sport. Punk re-established the WWE Championship as the most prestigious title in North America through his dedication and hard work ethic. His persona brought about the critically acclaimed "Reality Era", throwing the gimmick heavy WWE blueprint out the window. He's relatable, undeniably gifted and on track to become arguably, the best ever.
Number 5: Chris Jericho
Ranked: 5 times
Highest Rank: 3
Number of 5 Star Matches: 1
Standout Year: 2008
Chris Jericho is one of the most polarizing figures amongst the IWC. Many feel that he is the best performer alive today. Others, see Jericho as an overrated, yet still talented wrestler who peaked in his feud with Shawn Michaels in 2008. Whichever side of the fence you are on, it's hard to deny the facts. Jericho brings a level of creativity to all of his work that earns him the distinction of being one of the most debated greats in any form of entertainment. His complex and often, over-the-top persona is his best and worst attribute at the same time. I feel as if Jericho will be appreciated much more with time. Kind of like Nick Bockwinkel. He may be way over most people's heads, but he still manged to snag a spot in our top five. Most likely due to the fact that an act like Jericho is a show all unto his own.
Number 4: Ric Flair
Ranked: 5 times
Highest Rank: 2
Number of 5 Star Matches: 5
Standout Year: 1989
Flair is professional wrestling's gold standard. He wrote the book on the modern day superstar and is the bar by which every athlete since is compared. His record 16 world titles may never be broken and he's easily the greatest world champion to ever live. He's the only superstar to have back to back title defenses each earn a five star rating and he did not need chairs, cages or ladders to do so. To date, no one has had a greater impact on the sport in terms of quality and perhaps no one ever will. Flair is in a class of his own and if you asked the other superstars on this list, I'm sure they would all tell you they learned a thing or two from the Nature Boy.
Number 3: Edge
Ranked: 6 times
Highest Rank: 1
Number of 5 Star Matches: 1
Standout Year: 2006
Edge is universally beloved amongst WWE audiences, but I'm not sure if he's ever been fully acknowledged as one of the all-time greats outside of the company. It seems that when on the topic of the best ever, his name is often shortchanged. Perhaps his opportunistic ways have soured many on his amazing run. Still, it's hard not to recognize the fact that he's won more championships than anyone else in WWE history (Jerry Lawler excluded) and is currently, the most accomplished WWE superstar of all-time. He's an 11 time world champion, a 5 time IC champ, a former US champ, an incredible record 14 time Tag Team Champion, Hardcore champion and has won every major WWE endurance test including The Royal Rumble, the first ever Money In The Bank, The King of the Ring and The Elimination Chamber. Too soon for the Hall of Fame? Not with a rap sheet like that.
Number 2: Kurt Angle
Ranked: 7 times
Highest Rank: 4
Number of 5 Star Matches: 3
Standout Year: 2003
Kurt Angle is unarguably, the greatest athlete to ever compete in professional wrestling. The Olympic Gold Medalist tore through the WWE landscape and set a new standard for the company in terms of ring work. In the ring, Angle is second to no one and his 4 five star matches in just only seven years with the company, is a WWE record for that time frame. Kurt left an unbeatable streak of pure technical wrestling matches that may never be touched and he continues to be the standard bearer for rival company TNA, even though he has lost a step or two in his run there. It's safe to say that every superstar who got in the ring with Angle from The Rock and Shawn Michaels to Samoa Joe and AJ Styles, came out a better athlete just from being in the ring with the Wrestling Machine.
Number 1: Shawn Michaels
Ranked: 9 times
Highest Rank: 1
Number of 5 Star Matches: 8
Standout Year: 1996
Shawn Michaels takes our number one spot with a landslide by earning a spot on nine out of ten of our contributor's lists. He earned seven out of ten top five appearances as well, which is also more than anyone else. I think it's safe to say that no matter who you ask and no matter who their favorites are, Shawn Michaels is nearly universally acknowledged as the greatest WWE superstar of all time. His record 8 five star matches from this blog and seven Match of the Year wins (as voted by PWI readers) are both records that may never be touched. No other wrestler has ever out-performed Shawn Michaels. And he's going to go down in the history books among the plethora of firsts he's managed to be a part of. He was the first winner of the Elimination Chamber match, The Hell In A Cell match and the Ironman match. He also competed in the first ever Ladder match and was the first superstar to win two Royal Rumbles. He's done it all, and no one has ever done it better.
I really think this list gives an accurate representation of what wrestling is all about. legends with all different styles and all embody why we love wrestling. Good list.
ReplyDeleteThat was our goal so Im glad you feel that way.
DeleteGod damn what a Essentials, a great read my favorite blog site keep up the work.
ReplyDeleteWow. Thank you very much!
DeleteMy favorite read was Edge. Stick it right to the haters, great Essentials and Edgehead 4 life.
ReplyDeleteHaha Spear! Spear! Spear!
DeleteJust one of my favorite wrestling articles I've ever read. Big fan of your work!
ReplyDeleteThanks I truly appreciate the kind words.
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