WingedEagle

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.

Parv, which Kane/Big Show matches with Taker did you rate that highly?

Do we know yet if Shane is back in some capacity beyond special attraction at Mania to plug the gap created by injuries?

Absolutely subscribe to this. We give people much too much credit for things that just occur in the course of folks going about their business and looking out for themselves.

This seems plausible. But it also seems perfectly normal for the wrestling business, where bookers have their favorites and pet projects. This "political hit" talk makes it sound a whole lot more atypical and sinister than what is likely just the latest round of deciding who to push.

#whywrestlinggetstheadvertisersitgets

I've probably enjoyed most things he's done on TV. Don't know why, but he's entertained me. I also think he's a lot better choice than dozens of prior nominees. But would still kill myself rather than rank him.

Haven't made a list but would be very surprised to see him there.

Kobashi & Takayama would top this one in '04. Should also check out Misawa-Takayama from the following year. 4/15/01. A real classic. 4 3/4 in my book.

Wow times are tough. No pyro for Brock.

Yes, I think Shane is a world's better option and will make for a more interesting match than Strowman ever would. But still not sold its going down like that. If it is, Taker has clearly entered the Rasheed Wallace phase of his career.

So I firmly believe it will not be Taker vs. Shane at Mania. I really don't believe that. Maybe I'm crazy but just don't see that as the end game. On the other hand, I like Shane in a cell a lot more than Strowman or any similar ideas. The roster is barren of credible opponents. Might as well make a spectacle of it.

Don't buy it for a second. Cena will be slotted in there within a week or 2 if not by the end of the night.

Can't wait for the Warren Commission report on this one.

I thought Jericho looked pretty bad last night and brought the match down a ton, though AJ looked very uncomfortable as well. But I don't understand for a second how we know what match anyone wanted to have last night, much less whether they had the leeway to go in their own direction. Unless I'm missing something I don't see how we can come to any conclusions about that kind of intent.