DR Ackermann

I'm going to watch the first Clash match with Sting tomorrow and I'll keep all of that in mind when I do.

I like the idea of what you said before about variance in Flair's chops, but I've never picked up on any of that. Likewise, I've never seen the level of nuance in Flair's work in general that others have raved about. On the other hand, I love Lawler's punches and I feel like he adjusts them to milk dramatic moments in a way that is very gratifying. There's somewhat of a catharsis to them which I think is in large part to Lawler's timing as the same effect is there when he is working heel and on the receiving end of a comeback flurry from somewhat like Dundee.

According to Bret Hart, wrestler who throw chops are idiots. So are wrestlers who let other guys chop them. I guess it's Lawler's punch then.

A number 1 vote for Scorpio??? He was around my number 50.

I'm not partial to one hour draws and expected somewhat of a snoozer based on your critique. I was pleasantly surprised and the match ended when I thought there was still another 20 minutes or so to go. I think one of us is misremembering the match.

Also, I'm not critiquing a match based on what was said in some shoot interview or something. I'm critiquing it based on what was on the screen. If Valentine had limitations because of his stamina, its that much more impressive that they found a way to work so compellingly around them.

Because the match is still great. I think you are overemphasizing the headlock spot. It really isn't that long and it is something they play off of, going back to it multiple times without just sitting in it. It is still an action-packed match.

I believe Terry Funk was the inspiration for both Flair and Steamboat's chopping style, so that has to count for something as well.

Have you seen his hour draw with Valentine?

Yeah kind of a dumb question on my part. So what was the criteria for your ballot?

One thing I've learned is that Ricky Jackson didn't base his list on in ring work.You're right I didn't Did it play a role, or was it a complete non-factor?

Tenryu for sure. I've talked shit about Steamboat's offense in the psst but I love the way he would utilize his chops and pace them to fit the moment.

Hogan has some good stuff in the AWA too.

One thing I've learned is that Ricky Jackson didn't base his list on in ring work.

You just listed 29 guys, not 25.

Ikeda was my gateway into Battlarts and the rest of those guys. He clicked with me immediately in a way that Ishikawa and Otsuka didn't. That said, I have Ishikawa higher. Ikeda did seem to coast a bit in NOAH, but he is still great when he pops up today.

I think Flair is great. He finished in my top 50.

Chicana is the first guy from my top 20 to go. I believe he was somewhere in the 11 to 15 range. Incredible brawler and seller. If we had more footage from the 80s he might be a top 10 guy.

I voted for Sano & Maeda. Yamazaki & Kroffat were two of my final 20 cuts or so.

Thanks! Replaced Brisco with Takada

Here are the wrestlers that made the top 100 in the 2006 SmarksChoice Poll that won't be making it this time around. 1. Adrian Adonis 2. Akira Maeda 3. Antonio Inoki 4. Chigusa Nagayo 5. Dan Kroffat 6. Dean Malenko 7. Devil Masami 8. Dory Funk Jr. 9. Dump Matsumoto 10. Dynamite Kansai 11. El Samurai 12. Great Sasuke 13. Kazuo Yamazaki 14. Kyoko Inoue 15. Lioness Asuka 16. Lou Thesz 17. Jaguar Yokota 18. Marc Rocco 19. Mariko Yoshida 20. Masahiro Chono 21. Mayumi Ozaki 22. Naoki Sano 23. Nobuhiko Takada 24. Psicosis 25. Shiro Koshinaka 26. TAKA Michinoku 27. The Rock 28. Tiger Mask 29. Tommy Rogers 30. Toshiyo Yamada 31. Ultimo Dragon

Dropoffs from the 2006 List Adrian Adonis Akira Maeda Antonio Inoki Chigusa Nagayo Dan Kroffat Dean Malenko Devil Masami Dory Funk Jr. Dump Matsumoto Dynamite Kansai El Samurai Great Sasuke Jack Brisco Kazuo Yamazaki Kyoko Inoue Lioness Asuka Lou Thesz Jaguar Yokota Marc Rocco Mariko Yoshida Masahiro Chono Mayumi Ozaki Naoki Sano Nobuhiko Takada Psicosis Shiro Koshinaka TAKA Michinoku The Rock Tiger Mask Tommy Rogers Toshiyo Yamada Ultimo Dragon

More guys in the top 100 who didn't make it the last time around: Chicana, Fujiwara, Dundee, Andre, Buddy Rose, Valentine, Breaks, Ishikawa...this is going to be fun

Looking at the 2006 list there are actually a lot of guys that didn't make that one that will be there this time around. A lot of guys are finally getting their due. The future looks bright...

Despite my disappointment on a few workers not making the top 100, I'm excited to see that guys like Pillman, Scorpio, Santana, Garvin, Chicana, Virus and Ikeda are going to make it.