North South Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 My rough list so far (not in order, just who came into my head first): 1. Bret Hart 2. Kenta Kobashi 3. Toshiaki Kawada 4. Ric Flair 5. Javier Cruz 6. CM Punk 7. Brock Lesnar 8. The Great Sasuke 9. El Hijo Del Santo 10. Shawn Michaels 11. Dynamite Kid 12. Randy Savage 13. Rey Mysterio Jr. 14. Jeff Jarrett 15. El Dandy 16. Jumbo Tsuruta 17. Terry Funk 18. The Destroyer 19. Billy Robinson 20. Steve Austin 21. Dustin Rhodes 22. Chris Benoit 23. Juventud Guerrera 24. Jushin Liger 25. Stan Hansen 26. Pirata Morgan 27. Giant Baba 28. Hulk Hogan 29. Chris Hero 30. Akira Maeda 31. Dick Murdoch 32. Ricky Steamboat 33. Steven/William Regal 34. Rob Van Dam 35. Kurt Angle 36. Blue Panther 37. Negro Casas 38. Curt Hennig 39. Nick Bockwinkel 40. Bob Backlund 41. The Undertaker 42. Manami Toyota 43. Eddie Guerrero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkdoc Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 someone with backlund and RVD on the same list??? i'm diggin this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badlittlekitten Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 This will raise a few eyebrows. Bear in mind I've still got some puro, indies and all lucha to get through by 2016. Abdullah The ButcherAkira HokutoAkira Taue Andre the Giant Antonio InokiArn AndersonBarry WindhamBill Dundee Bill Eadie Billy Rosbinson Brian PillmanBob BacklundBobby EatonBret HartBrock LesnarBuddy RoseBull NakanoCarlos ColonChigusa NagayoCM PunkDaniel BryanDean AllmarkDean AmbroseDevil MasamiDump MatsumotoDustin RhodesDusty Rhodes Eddie Kingston Fit Finlay Giant BabaGrado Great MutaGreat Sasuke Greg GagneGreg Valentine Harley RaceHulk HoganJaguar Yokota Jake RobertsJerry BlackwellJerry LawlerJim BreaksJohn CenaJohnny SaintJumbo Tsuruta Jushin LigerKenta KobashiKevin SullivanLex LugerMadison EaglesMark HenryMarty JonesMick FoleyMick McManusMicky Whiplash Minoru SuzukiMitsuharu Misawa Myumi OzakiNick Bockwinkle Ole AndersonOwen HartPortia PerezRandy SavageRed LightningRey MysterioRic FlairRicky MortonRicky SteamboatRiki Chosu Robbie DynamiteSara Del ReyShawn MichaelsSheamusSid CooperStan HansenStan LaneSteve AustinSteve WilliamsSuper DelphinTaka MichinokuTatsumi Fujinami Ted DibiaseTerry FunkTommy RichToshiaki KawadaTracy SmothersTully BlanchardUltimate WarriorVader Vordell WalkerWilliam RegalYumi Ikeshita There was a thread called "do you separate greatest from personal favourite". I find it difficult to be fully objective with these things. Putting together a list of 'greatest wrestlers ever' is twice as hard and half as fun to me, although I greatly appreciate those that do it that way. 'Favourites' themselves are a hard thing to measure. I guess my list will reflect those that I have the most desire to watch right now. Them 90s All Japan matches were awesome and exciting and Misawa, Taue and Kobashi have a place towards the bottom of my list (Kawada will be higher). But when I go to youtube I'm going to want to watch Abdullah stabbing someone's ear off. Kevin Sullivan doing some batshit 'word association' game on SMW Tv is more entertaining than Tito Santana's entire career. I'm willing to back all my choices btw. Part of me wanted to include Jackie Pallo - the funniest wrestler I've ever seen - but ranking someone off the back of one recorded match is perhaps a step too far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSR Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 An awful lot of those aren't even eligible yet so you may want to stick some reviews up and get nominating them. I've never seen him wrestle, but I totally don't get the Grado hype in the slightest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheapshot Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 The Grado one is a rib, it has to be. Charismatic as hell. Yep. But wouldn't even factor in to a top 1000. I can think of at least 25 UK guys better than Grado currently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danish Dynamite Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 Got a long, long way to go before I come close to finishing this, and as was mentioned by others: Changing your mind on the inclusions and ranking is both part of the fun and the point of this. But some who are close to sure things on my list would be (and not in any particular order right now): Randy Savage Stan Hansen Jumbo Tsuruta Terry Funk Ric Flair Bret Hart Jerry Lawler Jack Brisco Harley Race Sgt. Slaughter Kerry Von Erich Ted DiBiase Nick Bockwinkel Tully Blanchard Ricky Steamboat Big Van Vader Andre the Giant Mitsuhara Misawa Steve Austin Tatsumi Fujinami Arn Anderson The Undertaker Curt Hennig Greg Valentine Rick Rude Kurt Angle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffey Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 My biggest problem areas are a lack of Lucha & having a tough time equating current guys to past guys. Also a lot of stuff before 1981. Stan Hansen Terry Funk Ric Flair Mitsuharu Misawa Toshiaki Kawada Kenta Kobashi "Dr. Death" Steve Williams Big Van Vader Bret Hart Rick Rude Ted DiBiase Randy Savage Jerry Lawler Ricky Steamboat Tito Santana Eddie Guerrero Ricky Morton Rey Mysterio, Jr. Dusty Rhodes Dustin Rhodes Harley Race Nick Bockwinkel Bobby Eaton Barry Windham Curt Hennig Arn Anderson Jushin "Thunder" Liger The Undertaker Shawn Michaels Daniel Bryan Steve Austin Rick Martel Greg Valentine Cactus Jack and I'll have zero issue putting Stan Hansen at #1. Also, for whatever it's worth, when talking about this on Twitter, I'll use #ProWrestlingOnly & #Top100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjaminkicks Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 I discovered this forum pretty recently, but I really like this project and am going to attempt to contribute a list. That only gives me a year to do lots of research, but hell, I watch a ton of wrestling already, so might as well have some purpose to it. I've looked over the list of wrestlers nominated, and here are the ones who, at this point, I can definitely see making my top 100: AJ Styles Akira Taue Andre the Giant Arn Anderson Austin Aries Bam Bam Bigelow Barry Windham Bob Backlund Bret Hart Brian Pillman Brock Lesnar Bruno Sammartino Cesaro Chris Benoit Chris Jericho Christian Christopher Daniels CM Punk Curt Henning Daisuke Sekimoto Daniel Bryan Dustin Rhodes Dusty Rhodes Eddie Guerrero Edge Greg Valentine Genichiro Tenryu Giant Baba Hiroshi Hase Hiroshi Tanahashi John Cena Jumbo Tsuruta Jun Akiyama Jushin Thunder Liger Katsuyori Shibata Kazuchika Okada Keiji Mutoh KENTA Kenta Kobashi Kevin Steen Kota Ibushi Larry Zbyszko Masa Chono Masato Tanaka Mick Foley Mitsuharu Misawa Owen Hart Paul Orndorff Prince Devitt Randy Orton Randy Savage Rey Mysterio Jr. Ric Flair Rick Rude Ricky Steamboat The Rock Sami Zayn Samoa Joe Shawn Michaels Shinjiro Ohtani Shinsuke Nakamura Shinya Hashimoto Stan Hansen Steve Austin Steve Williams Steven Regal Sting Takashi Sugiura Tatsumi Fujinami Terry Funk Tomohiro Ishii Toshiaki Kawada Triple H Tully Blanchard The Undertaker Vader Yoshinari Ogawa Yuji Nagata As of right now, I don't think I've watched nearly as much stuff as most people on this board (I'd argue I've watched more than the average 20 year old smark, but I don't think that's really saying much), but I hope to remedy that while I watch more footage for this project. So far there's a bunch of really noticeable gaps in my knowledge if you take a glance at that list. No lucha, no joshi, and a definite skew towards more modern wrestlers. Hopefully I'll be able to discover some new wrestlers to fill out the rest of the list. And I still have no idea how I'm going to even begin to definitively rank all these guys. If you asked me right now "who's the greatest wrestler ever?", I'd probably give you like 20 different names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjaminkicks Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 I'd love some suggestions on where to start by the way. Any names that stick out as not being on my list that make you think "Holy shit, where's *INSERT WRESTLER HERE*? You gotta check him out, here's some of his good stuff." Or something like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Waco Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Lots of lucha workers. Casas, Virus, Santo, Panther, Satanico, El Dandy are all guys who you should seek out (there are others, but those are the first six to jump to mind). Would suggest Casas v. Panther hair v. hair from a couple of years ago as it gives you a glimpse at both guys quickly. Virus v. Guerrero Maya Jr. in either of their title matches is a good starting point. Feel like OJ should be the one to recommend a Satanico match though I have an absolute favorite. Perhaps this would be better served in the pinned thread where we recommend five matches for individual workers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryvonKramer Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Distinct lack of Ted DiBiase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjaminkicks Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Lots of lucha workers. Casas, Virus, Santo, Panther, Satanico, El Dandy are all guys who you should seek out (there are others, but those are the first six to jump to mind). Thanks, I'll definitely keep those in mind. I've heard great things about all of them, but I've never really sought out their matches before now. Lucha has always been my biggest blind spot. Something about the style has never really resonated with me, but I hope to change that with this project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjaminkicks Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Distinct lack of Ted DiBiase. I've only really seen DiBiase's late 80's/early 90's WWF stuff. I've always liked him and his work, but I think I need to watch him in some other environments before I can properly rank him. He's definitely on the "must watch more stuff" list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkdoc Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Feel like OJ should be the one to recommend a Satanico match though I have an absolute favorite. lemme take a guess...the gran cochisse one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steenalized Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 To just name names for the most part, no order to this other than how they came to mind. It's nowhere near 100 either. Terry Funk Stan Hansen Ric Flair Ricky Steamboat Genichiro Tenryu Mitsuharu Misawa Jun Akiyama Akira Taue Toshiaki Kawada Steve Austin Bret Hart Jerry Lawler Bill Dundee Rey Mysterio, Jr. CM Punk Daniel BRyan Jushin Liger Yoshinari Ogawa Shinjiro Otani Arn Anderson William Regal Shinya Hashimoto Samoa Joe Mick Foley Randy Savage Barry Windham Dustin Rhodes Nick Bockwinkel Bobby Eaton Kenta Kobashi Minoru Suzuki Eddie Guerrero Cesaro Chris Hero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryvonKramer Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Distinct lack of Ted DiBiase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steenalized Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Why would a rate the third best member of Legacy that high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elliott Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 If I had to turn in my ballot right this second, this is what I came up with. I still have lots of gaps I'm trying to fill and this would be totally different if I did it again tomorrow. I feel ok about the top 20. My bottom 15 are really guys I'm pretty sure will make my final final list but I want to see more to have a better feel on where to rank them. Stan Hansen Jerry Lawler Satanico Jumbo Tsuruta Ric Flair Negro Casas Terry Funk Toshiaki Kawada Mitsuharu Misawa Sangre Chicana Hijo del Santo Genichiro Tenryu Tatsumi Fujinami Nick Bockwinkel Buddy Rose Rey Mysterio Jr Shinya Hashimoto Akira Hokuto Bill Dundee El Dandy Pirata Morgan Riki Choshu Eddie Guerrero Chigusa Nagayo Ricky Morton Steve Regal Blue Panther Volk Han Atlantis Kenta Kobashi Giant Baba Daniel Bryan Vader Dustin Rhodes Akira Taue Perro Aguayo Jaguar Yokota Jack Brisco Bull Nakano Dick Murdoch Bobby Eaton Randy Savage Ricky Steamboat Arn Anderson Jushin Liger Kerry von Erich Villano III MS-1 Yoshiaki Yatsu Gran Hamada Billy Robinson Akira Maeda Naoki Sano Rick Martel Jun Akiyama John Cena Kiyoshi Tamura Barry Windham Ted Dibiase Tully Blanchard Michael Hayes Fuerza Guerrera Tajiri Devil Masami Masa Fuchi Bret Hart Chris Adams Steve Austin LA Park Dynamite Kansai Andre the Giant Curt Hennig Ron Garvin Bobby The Brain Heenan Mick Foley Fit Finlay Sgt Slaughter Terry Gordy Jerry Blackwell Steve Williams Dusty Rhodes Hulk Hogan Brian Pillman Tommy Rogers La Fiera Tommy Rich Mocho Cota Dutch Mantell Yoji Anjo 2 Cold Scorpio Emilio Charles Jr Espanto Jr Shinobu Kandori Roddy Piper Buzz Sawyer Kantaro Hoshino Carlos Colon Dump Matsumoto Mad Dog Vachon Yoshiaki Fujiwara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryvonKramer Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Interesting list. Questions / comments Satanico What would you point to for him? Negro Casas Ditto. I still really feel like I need to get into Lucha and might just beeline straight to all the highend stuff. Toshiaki Kawada Mitsuharu Misawa Interesting that you have these guys below Flair. Sangre Chicana Hijo del Santo As with the other Lucha guys. Genichiro Tenryu Tatsumi Fujinami Nick Bockwinkel Buddy Rose This back half looks strong. Ricky Morton Steve Regal Super high for these two. Kenta Kobashi Giant Baba Very high placement for Baba, interesting. I saw him doing well in mine but not that well. Kobashi a fair bit lower than Misawa / Kawada. Daniel Bryan Vader Dustin Rhodes Super high for Dustin here. Jack Brisco Nice to see him making people lists. Bobby Eaton Randy Savage Ricky Steamboat Arn Anderson Interesting run here. None of them look out of place. Jushin Liger Kerry von Erich Super high for Kerry. I need to see more high-end Liger. Yoshiaki Yatsu Yay. I love Yatsu too, but this is pretty high. Billy Robinson Seems low relative to Brisco and Baba. Interesting. Robinson is the 70s guy I'm looking forward to exploring the most . Rick Martel High rating. Barry Windham Ted Dibiase Tully Blanchard Michael Hayes Interesting run of guys here. Barry over both Ted and Tully interesting, but I can see all this is ballpark. With the exception of the Lucha and Memphis guys, our lists would look quite similar so far. Tajiri Is this the Tajiri from the Monday Night Wars?! Masa Fuchi Bret Hart Chris Adams Steve Austin In isolation this run looks strange to me. Fuchi better than Bret, Chris Adams right there with them. With Austin right there behind them. This would be my biggest disagreement so far. Andre the Giant Curt Hennig Ron Garvin Bobby The Brain Heenan Mick Foley Fit Finlay Sgt Slaughter Terry Gordy Jerry Blackwell Steve Williams Dusty Rhodes Hulk Hogan Brian Pillman This run is starting to look more mish-mash, but I can see you trying to get in guys you like. I think a lot of people will do this in their 70-100 range. Tommy Rogers Interesting that you ranked Rogers. I think he might just miss out for me. Mocho Cota Interested in how much Cota is out there beyond what is on the 80s set. Is there really enough? Cool list though man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Good list Elliott. Just based on that, I need to see more Tenryu and Choshu, and rewatch some Sangre Chicana. I know I need to see more Jumbo, Baba and Fujinami. Misawa, Kawada, Kobashi are going to be big problems for me. (I still kind of want to put Taue in front of all of them, but I've seen less than twenty matches). The biggest problem with this project in general is that I have maybe 2-3 hours a week to watch wrestling, and once I get past wrestling obligations I have, that means just a couple of matches, especially if the matches are over 20 minutes and the ones with most of the wrestlers I have to look at are. So certain guys are going be hampered (or benefit) from what I can do. Funk and Hansen are issues for me too. I'm not saying I'm ready to write off Hansen, but from what I've seen, no way does he make my top 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryvonKramer Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 I can't really see you being that high on Hansen, Matt, since 90% of his matches are worked following a similar structure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 I deeply appreciate what he does, but appreciating it and valuing it are two different things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryvonKramer Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 One of my deepest loves is guys hitting each other very very hard. Wahoo might make my list for that ability alone. Hansen is the stiffest of all. Have you seen that match me and Steven went gaga for vs. Kawada yet? If you have limited time, stick that one on the top of the pile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 For Hansen, I need to see a few of those early 90s matches, and I also need to see some of his big late 70s work. I think I saw a 92 Kawada vs Hansen match which I did like, but it wasn't a revelation. I found Kawada working as an underdog a lot more interesting than what Hansen did, but Hansen was effective in his role. I definitely like uneven Hansen matches more than even ones, whether it be him playing chickenshit to Bock or dominating a younger wrestler. The Hansen and some other bull charging at each other for twenty minutes thing doesn't do much for me at all. I will admit that there's a very natural sort of storytelling to both guys working very hard, being unyielding, and any selling that's done (or advantage taken) being completely earned, but it's sort of an accidental storytelling and it's not my favorite sort of wrestling. When I do like it, it's in more holds-based matches than unrelenting stiffness based matches, if that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryvonKramer Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Have you seen his matches against Inoki circa 81? I think those might be interesting for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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