WingedEagle

I think they feel like they already did when he was in The Shield. Yeah? Rock was a lot more over in The Nation than Reigns ever was in The Shield, and they gave him more than a courtesy heel singles run. Not comparing the 2 for many reasons, but relying on the group run to that extent seems like one hell of a shortcut in thinking on their part.

I know they don't want to go there because of the Cena model and digging in their heels, but it seems like a no brainer to give Reigns a heel run before positioning him as ace babyface. Will grow as a performer, recondition the audience and is a path that many have followed to success.

Its over 20 minutes but take this for a spin if you can. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x26n828_hiroshi-tanahashi-vs-minoru-suzuki-njpw-king-of-pro-wrestling-10-08-2012_sport

Definitely solid matches but nothing I'd remember the next day.

NXT Sasha Banks was pretty good in 2015. Yet to see anything special in WWE rings.

One could, and I've made the case myself. However, remember that this isn't designed to be a "fair" system, it's designed to be a system that measures the six things that *I* think the GWE should have. It started with the case I made for Flair, taking into account the arguments put forward by Will for Lawler and by Dylan for Funk, and worked backwards. My argument against Misawa and co is *specifically* that the scope of their careers is narrow, so it is not entirely innocent that they are getting fucked in the A category. (lol "fucked in the A", ha ha). Chad also knows this, of course. And I'd expect him to make the counters he is. But it's also the case that he does not value that A category as much as other people. Its a fair point and while I obviously don't value Funk's runs relative to the AJ crew quite so highly, its your system and subject to your opinions and evaluations. It just so happens you've peeled back the curtain on your process so you're getting more pointed questioning than other folks.

Playing devil's advocate, couldn't one make a case penalizing Funk for not lasting as long in place as top stars in All Japan or elsewhere? Undoubtedly kept himself and things fresh by moving around, but on the other hand where did he stick it out every week and month through ups and downs?

I'd think Akiyama would earn a heel point for his work as a blonde in New Japan G1 alone. Great stuff there.

Thanks, will check it out.

Post-WCW he'd be a lock for my worst 100. So slow. Has to pull everything so much that it all looks ridiculously fake. I suppose part of a few big moments and decent matches, but who with that push through the years hasn't? Pretty clear I'm in the minority but just so awkward and immobile, without any kind of stellar selling, bleeding or other hitch to make the performances special.

Parv, is this the '81 Breaks-Grey match above?

Perhaps in some circles it may validate him? He would've been a fringe candidate in my eyes before the New Japan run. That may have been entirely off base and subjecting him to the stink of Dixieland, but the last 2 years entrenched him on the list and looking back at TNA/ROH work is pushing him higher.

Here's hoping for a HOF worthy speech from Hayes.

Really enjoy Casas and never come away from a match thinking he delivered a bad performance, but usually feel that I'm watching someone excelling at playing the role of professional wrestler rather than excellent wrestler. Undoubtedly a hitch that holds back a lot of lucha for me, which in watching footage over this time is something I've come to accept. Sometimes it clicks but more often it doesn't, even if I can appreciate the level of skill. There'll be times where on the right night (Dandy, Santo, certain tags) it feels as though I'm watching one of the best wrestlers ever. But far too often it feels like a staged performance. That said he'll be one of the few luchadores I rank and don't imagine it'll be any kind of token ranking, but he won't sniff Liger territory.

He had his moments as a character and relished being a heel with heat. Also threw a stiff lariat and seemed to really enjoy roughing people up, which made for some solid moments but never really elevated the matches themselves. I also never saw the Cena & Eddie matches as classics but rather good title bouts that benefited from some all time blade more than anything else. That just doesn't translate to much memorable from his era, let alone from an all time perspective.

Will easily slot in at 5-10 here. Hopefully he's not overlooked due to a lack of discussion compared with other top of the ballot names, but it seems as though there's just not much to argue about here.

That was my big problem with Memphis. Felt like a hell of a TV run but not something that held up well in comparison with territories churning out regular classics. Midsouth's '85 wipes the floor with the decade in Memphis in my eyes. Hope you enjoy the Savage stuff. Never been as high on him as others but didn't think it was in the same league as Lawler's feuds with Dundee, Funk, Flair, Idol, Bock, Kerry, etc.

Ha much appreciated. No more translation required!

I've always liked the bios of older stars because I'm less familiar with them.

Cena, Brock, Styles and Dustin are the only locks.

Seems more like standard wrestling booking. Just the latest who management wouldn't get behind 100%. There will be others to follow.

Curious where people are on Tanahashi after another stellar year in 2015 and a 2016 already including what to me was the best Tanahashi-Okada match yet and a solid Omega match. I can't imagine anyone who wasn't sold on him when this thread was busy in '14 have changed teams here, but how high are his fans going?

Really enjoying this. Kobashi's also a strong #1 contender in my book and I've been going back to some of his NOAH run lately. While I knew it before, it was striking how big a contrast there is from GHC Kobashi to All Japan rising star. He's older, thicker and often looks like Hansen has permanently shut his eye, but is just at a completely different level from just about anyone who ever lived when it comes to selling, in-ring charisma and ability to perfectly time his big spots. It'll be interesting to see what mood I'm in when Mania comes and its time to turn in a list, as that'll be about the only way to rank my top 3.

Parv, don't forget Misawa & Kobashi.