BackToBionic

Well if there was any lingering doubts about an invasion of voters who only follow modern American wrestlers, Hansen appearing on 84% of the ballots should silence those fears. I think this year's top 10 is pretty balanced and represents a lot of the best of wrestling. I do wish a woman could have appeared and I wouldn't have complained if that woman was Aja (she was certainly on my list). But I think if nothing else, we can reasonably expect one next time around.

It does seem crazy that Nakamura would actually rise when he's had a stagnant last decade but maybe just the exposure he's gotten in that time has shined a light on what he was doing pre-2016? Barry Windham is now the highest wrestler from my list that I've lost. I had him at 14. Just a guy who was good at everything. I'm currently re-watching 1992 and he's a real American highlight.

I have 65 remaining. My highest ranked to go was my #24 and conversely, my lowest ranked wrestler still in play is my #96.

Ok, just to get a feel for what kind of non-nominated stuff was voted for, I investigated the list of non-nominees to receive votes because I only glanced at it before and some surprising names were there, on both ends of the quality spectrum. But Corey Maclin getting at least one vote really drills home the need for some kind of protocol.

I'm really glad the nomination requirement exists. Even with it people have been wondering if some of these votes are trolls. I'd assume if it was lifted people would really have to mull over whether the person voting 1)Roadblock 2)Steve McMichael or whatever, was serious. (Although that person would be very interesting to talk to at least)

MJF was my #99. Even if he stops wrestling tomorrow, he's still done enough to be looked at as a great wrestler. The versatility is really refreshing, plus I value the ability to talk people into the building which is really at least half of what pro wrestling is, imo.

He was high voter on quite a few of the WWE Samoans so yeah. Again, if everyone had the same list or only slight variants, this would be pretty boring so I get it. I mean we've had the Lulu Pencil and a Russian backyard death match guy as number ones so it's not mind-blowing that someone would select the guy that has been at the center of the largest company in the world for the last decade as their number one. I just find the reasoning to be strange but who am I to doubt TribalCheifofRhodeIsland? I've had about a quarter of my list gone already, unsurprisingly. This 120-250 range was where I lost a lot of guys last time too and looking at my list I'm just wondering how many I'll take into the top 100. 30-40 I'd assume. I also won't be having any high votes, bar my number one.

Yeah, I mean I think there's room for all sorts in a ranking like this and I'd even argue that's the whole point of it but man, we're straying pretty far if someone is number one because "he beat everyone!" in predetermined matches. By this guy's own metric (length of title run and beating every big name thrown at you) you might as well throw Hogan at number one.

We were so close to getting Homicide at 187

I laughed at the Triple H name and shame. If I made a giant list, 250 is probably about the range he'd land in so fair enough.

Athena is a huge favorite of mine so I'm pleased not only with her relatively high placement, but also that I wasn't even close to being the top voter. I had her at 41 which I thought could be a high vote. At this point I don't think I'll be a high voter on anyone (besides number one of course) which is fine with me. I think in 2016 I was highest on quite a few people. I have Mercedes higher than Athena but only just. I'm assuming Mercedes will be the highest ranked American woman unless I'm forgetting someone. I can think of only a few left and I'd imagine she beats them all.

I was just watching this and was it is pretty shocking even 25 years later. Even more surprising is that this took place in an ELEMENTARY school gymnasium. Cornette's wild for this one.

Today is the first day I had anyone drop and I had 4 go today, including my all-time favorite wrestler, Chris Candido. I guess I remove some level of emotion from my ranking (as much as possible) and try to think about metrics when ranking. He is my favorite wrestler and has been for almost 30 years now but I'm aware that there's a little bit of nostalgia as well as personal interactions with the man that make him my favorite. I know he isn't the "greatest" if I'm being non-biased. But seeing other people's lists, I'm sorta bummed I didn't just rank my favorites, or at the very least rank them much higher. I do wonder if the 06 and 16 lists weren't slightly more "vote with your head and not your heart" but then I do remember the 2016 reveal having some really wacky stuff too. Not quite Russian backyard wrestler wacky, but wacky nonetheless.

I also feel further away from knowing who Lulu Pencil is after reading that blurb.

Meltzer reported quite a bit about NAWA at the time. Apparently they were drawing larger cards than USWA could even dream of in Dallas. Mostly because of the venue and atmosphere. I think Dave reported that they did a show earlier in the evening and allowed kids in and it pissed off the regulars so that show actually did worse. I also remember they were trying to get Tully in around this time but I don't know if they ever did.