Your Top Texans & Cowboys

[Grimmas]

We are a year out at this point, so I thought it was time to start looking at some categories and ranking those.

 

I thought we'd start with the Texans.We have some prominent Texans here (Pete & Will at the least). I've always been a fan of the cowboy gimmick. From first seeing Ron Bass to being into Terry Funk, Stan Hansen, etc..

 

At this point, how do you rank them?

 

Note: I included all the West Texas State guys and anyone who felt like a Texas guy (Dutch Mantell?) and a few Texans were left off because they didn't seem to fit (ie Eddie Guerrero).

 

Nominees at this point:

 

Barry Windham

Bob Orton Jr.

Bruiser Brody

Dick Murdoch

Dory Funk jr.

Dustin Rhodes

Dusty Rhodes

Dutch Mantell

James Storm

Kerry Von Erich

Kevin Von Erich

Mark Henry

Stan Hansen

Steve Austin

Ted DiBiase

Terry Funk

Tito Santana

Tully Blanchard

 

I may had missed some, but this is a great list. It could contain the battle of number one (Hansen vs Funk).

 

What do you have and what are you thinking?

[Exposer]

This is a great list although Dutch is a Tennessee guy. He spent too much time in Memphis, SMW, and Tennessee indies.

[Grimmas]

This is a great list although Dutch is a Tennessee guy. He spent too much time in Memphis, SMW, and Tennessee indies.

He worse a cowboy hat, poncho and had a cow whip!

[Grimmas]

At this point in time I would go with this ranking:

 

1. Stan Hansen

2. Terry Funk

3. Dustin Rhodes

4. Barry Windham

5. Steve Austin

6. Tully Blanchard

7. Tito Santana

8. Ted DiBiase

9. Mark Henry

10. Dick Murdoch

11. Kerry Von Erich

12. Dutch Mantell

13. Dory Funk jr.

14. Dusty Rhodes

15. Kevin Von Erich

16. James Storm

17. Bob Orton Jr.

18. Bruiser Brody

Obviously things are subject to change. I really need to watch some Dory, for example.

However Hansen vs Funk is a struggle. They might be my 1-2. I will watch a lot more of them, it's a hard call.

[JerryvonKramer]

Could you add Bill Watts to the list maybe? His nickname was "The Cowboy".

 

1. Terry Funk

2. Stan Hansen

3. Ted DiBiase

4. Dory Funk Jr.

5. Barry Windham

6. Tully Blanchard

7. Dick Murdoch

8. Dustin Rhodes

9. Bob Orton Jr (based solely on "whenenver I've seen him pop up")

10. Kerry von Erich

11. Steven Austin

12. Dusty Rhodes

13. Tito Santana

14. Dutch Mantell

15. Mark Henry

16. Bruiser Brody

 

Kevin Von Erich - over David? Don't feel like I've seen enough Kevin.

 

James Storm -- ?? Huh? Who?

[Dylan Waco]

David Von Erich sucks.

 

If I was turning in a ballot now I don't think Storm would make my list, but he'd be above several people on the list above, including Dory. There is a thread where I talk about him in this forum.

[Grimmas]

Could you add Bill Watts to the list maybe? His nickname was "The Cowboy".

 

1. Terry Funk

2. Stan Hansen

3. Ted DiBiase

4. Dory Funk Jr.

5. Barry Windham

6. Tully Blanchard

7. Dick Murdoch

8. Dustin Rhodes

9. Bob Orton Jr (based solely on "whenenver I've seen him pop up")

10. Kerry von Erich

11. Steven Austin

12. Dusty Rhodes

13. Tito Santana

14. Dutch Mantell

15. Mark Henry

16. Bruiser Brody

 

Kevin Von Erich - over David? Don't feel like I've seen enough Kevin.

 

James Storm -- ?? Huh? Who?

David isn't nominated.

 

James Storm is a guy from TNA.

 

Parv I think you need to watch more Mark Henry.

[Champagne]

Here's a few more to consider: Ron Bass, Black Bart, Bobby Duncum Sr. and Jr., Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza, Scott Irwin, Billy and Bart Gunn, Sam Houston

[Grimmas]

Here's a few more to consider: Ron Bass, Black Bart, Bobby Duncum Sr. and Jr., Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza, Scott Irwin, Billy and Bart Gunn, Sam Houston

None are nominated. Are they worthy for a top 100 GWE spot? I can't see a case for any of them.

[JerryvonKramer]

The idea of James Storm being above Dory sickens me to my stomach. But it's all cool, everyone is entitlted to their opinions.

 

I feel I've seen enough Mark Henry, by the way, he's not making my 100.

 

I've fallen lower on Tully for some reason, and I'm trying to work out why. I think it's because I don't like the structure of a lot of his singles matches.

[JerryvonKramer]

Actually Tully above Windham, what am I thinking?

 

I think Dory's overall body of work is stronger than both at this point by the way. He's taken a big upswing for me recently.

[Dylan Waco]

You don't even know who Janes Storm is so your opinion on that subject has no value to me.

[JerryvonKramer]

I was being facetious of course. I think I've actually seen James Storm live, possibly it was against Bobby Roode, possibly ... can't really remember. There's absolutely no way he has a stronger body-of-work than Dory Jr. Or are you about to tell me I should have been watching TNA all of these years?

 

I'd rather not rehash any of my old arguments about him or anyone else though. I feel people know my positions well, I'd rather hear from other contributors.

[Champagne]

 

Here's a few more to consider: Ron Bass, Black Bart, Bobby Duncum Sr. and Jr., Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza, Scott Irwin, Billy and Bart Gunn, Sam Houston

None are nominated. Are they worthy for a top 100 GWE spot? I can't see a case for any of them.

 

You're probably right. I just didn't want to be presumptuous.

[Grimmas]

 

 

Here's a few more to consider: Ron Bass, Black Bart, Bobby Duncum Sr. and Jr., Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza, Scott Irwin, Billy and Bart Gunn, Sam Houston

None are nominated. Are they worthy for a top 100 GWE spot? I can't see a case for any of them.

 

You're probably right. I just didn't want to be presumptuous.

 

Feel free to nominate them, if you want to watch the footage.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Could you add Bill Watts to the list maybe? His nickname was "The Cowboy".

 

1. Terry Funk

2. Stan Hansen

3. Ted DiBiase

4. Dory Funk Jr.

5. Barry Windham

6. Tully Blanchard

7. Dick Murdoch

8. Dustin Rhodes

9. Bob Orton Jr (based solely on "whenenver I've seen him pop up")

10. Kerry von Erich

11. Steven Austin

12. Dusty Rhodes

13. Tito Santana

14. Dutch Mantell

15. Mark Henry

16. Bruiser Brody

 

Kevin Von Erich - over David? Don't feel like I've seen enough Kevin.

 

James Storm -- ?? Huh? Who?

Kevin Von Erich is fucking awesome. I don't know if he is better than Kerry per se (they are very different), but he is my favorite Von Erich. He is totally all fight, all the time. My favorite spot recently was Flair was about to do a backbreaker so he just punched him in the side of the head. He just has a "fuck it, let's brawl" attitude to him. I once heard him described as if no one smartened him up to the fact that business is a work the way he wrestles. It really fits to a tee (clearly he knew it was a work), but he did a great job wrestling like it was a shoot. I really wish he got a money babyface run in a different territory. He would have been a great WWF Champion for Vince Sr.

[Exposer]

 

This is a great list although Dutch is a Tennessee guy. He spent too much time in Memphis, SMW, and Tennessee indies.

He worse a cowboy hat, poncho and had a cow whip!

 

As someone from Tennessee I refuse to accept Dutch in this category. I get why you put him in there though.

[Jetlag]

Great thread.

 

Guaranteed to make my top 100:

 

1. Terry Funk

2. Stan Hansen

3. Dick Murdoch

4. Barry Windham

5. Tully Blanchard

 

On the edge

 

6. Steve Austin

7. Kerry von Erich

8. Dusty Rhodes

 

Probably won't/need to rewatch

 

9. Mark Henry

10. Dory Funk Jr.

11. Dusty Rhodes

12. Cowboy Bob Orton

13. Bruiser Brody

 

Guys I need to see more of before I can rank them

- Dutch Mantell

- James Storm

- Ted DiBiase

- Tito Santana

- Kevin von Erich

[Wade Garrett]

Top 3 Cowboys-Texans. All will rank VERY HIGH on my list.

 

1. Terry Funk

2. Stan Hansen

3. Dick Murdoch

 

Others in no particular order. Don't know if all make my list at this point.

 

Barry Windham

Tully Blanchard

Ted Dibiase

Dusty Rhodes

Dustin Rhodes

Dory Funk Jr.

Kerry Von Erich

Kevin Von Erich

Steve Austin

Bob Orton Jr.

Dutch Mantell

Blackjack Mulligan

[BillThompson]

Cool idea,

 

Locks

Dustin Rhodes

Terry Funk

Stan Hansen

Steve Austin

On the Bubble

Dory Funk Jr.

Mark Henry

Tito Santana

Tully Blanchard

Need to See More

Barry Windham

Bruiser Brody

Dick Murdoch

Dutch Mantell

Kerry von Erich

Kevin von Erich

James Storm

No Chance

Bob Orton Jr.

Dusty Rhodes

Ted Dibiase

[JerryvonKramer]

DiBiase is no chance? Why?

[BillThompson]

I've never been impressed by his WWF and AJPW stuff. He's a decent hand, at times, but he's also dreadfully monotonous and boring for long stretches of his career. Great character work, but his character work only carries him so far. I'm more than open to his Mid-South work blowing me away, but I don't think there's enough there for him to suddenly catapult into contention.

[DR Ackermann]

Barry Windham is getting seriously underrated here by some of YOU PEOPLE.

[JerryvonKramer]

I've never been impressed by his WWF and AJPW stuff. He's a decent hand, at times, but he's also dreadfully monotonous and boring for long stretches of his career. Great character work, but his character work only carries him so far. I'm more than open to his Mid-South work blowing me away, but I don't think there's enough there for him to suddenly catapult into contention.

 

[DR Ackermann]

My list at this point would be

 

GOATS

Terry Funk

Stan Hansen

Second tier

Barry Windham

Dustin Rhodes

Around the top 50 mark

Dick Murdoch

Between 60-100

Tito Santana

Steve Austin

Tully Blanchard

Possibly top 100, not likely

Mark Henry

Not quite there

Ted Diabiase

The Leftovers

Bob Orton Jr.

Bruiser Brody

Dory Funk jr.

Dusty Rhodes

Dutch Mantell

James Storm

Kerry Von Erich

Kevin Von Erich