Perfectly Straightedge Posted August 5, 2023 Report Share Posted August 5, 2023 Bill Goldberg Billy Boy Butterbean Chiharu Chilly WIlly CIMA Danny Doring Dennis Rodman Don Fye Droz Ernest "The Cat" Miller Evan Karagias James Storm Justin Gabriel Kazuki Lodi Magnum Tokyo Matt Bloom (Albert) Michael Cole Molly Holly Nan Nakahara Naoya Ogawa Rene Dupree Rie Tanabe Ricky Banderas Rikiya Fudo Rob Conway Rocky Romero Ron Killings Seiya Morohashi Shoici Ichimiya Snitsky Teddy Hart Test Togii Makabe Tony Kozina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff5819 Posted August 6, 2023 Report Share Posted August 6, 2023 Cowboy James Storm debuted in 1997 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr JMML Posted August 7, 2023 Report Share Posted August 7, 2023 The 1997 rookie class has some great wrestlers for Battlarts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLB Posted August 7, 2023 Report Share Posted August 7, 2023 Probably ought to cross off Prince Iaukea since I believe WCW selected him in the 1996 draft. Teddy Hart is a 1997 eligible rookie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Control21 Posted August 7, 2023 Report Share Posted August 7, 2023 The Top Ranked Pro Wrestlers by Rookie Year-1997 (ainsworthsports.com) Some other wrestlers making their debuts in 1997: CIMA Rocky Romero Togi Makabe Magnum Tokyo Rob Conway Snitsky Ricky Banderas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLB Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 More '97 rookies: Shark Boy Luther Reigns Nathan Jones    Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLB Posted August 25, 2023 Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 Another noteworthy rookie debut in 1997 is Super Dragon. Others I've found: Former ROH Champion Xavier Volador Jr. Giant Silva Bam Neely Sickboy Tyson Dux Lufisto Otto Schwanz (Bo Dupp) Ricky Reyes "Hot Shot" Johnny Devine Dragon Kid "Lowlife" Louie Ramos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLB Posted August 25, 2023 Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 Note: A small correction, Teddy Hart debuted in July of '95 and not '97, and he should be considered a free agent currently available. Per Wiki - "Hart debuted in 1995 at Rockyford, Alberta, where he tagged up with his late brother Matthew Annis for the first time, facing his cousin Harry Smith and T.J. Wilson" I guess this means Harry Smith and T.J. Wilson are also eligible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Control21 Posted August 25, 2023 Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 Harry Smith would have been 11 in 1996. Teddy Hart was like 15 or 16 when he debuted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perfectly Straightedge Posted August 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 Which I mean in real life Jeff Hardy was doing under work underage for WWF. I don’t know I mean I’ll never sign Teddy Hart no matter what. So I that’s up to you all. If someone wants him be my guest. I can either add him here and or make him available for whoever wants him  As for Harry Smith and TJ Wilson. I think we give them a few more years and revisit later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLB Posted August 25, 2023 Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 I didn't do the math with Harry and TJ's ages. TJ was 16 in 1996 and wrestled on a WWF house show. Most sites have Harry debuting in 2000. Concerning Teddy, yeah, I might take him at some point. I already have Jeff Hardy, so it kinda feels like that spot is filled, but I love Teddy. He was *neck and neck* with AJ Styles at one time! I really loved his YouTube IRL show with Maria Manic a few years ago (I hope Maria's well). That said, I understand Teddy brought a ton of heat onto himself. You can tell by my roster that I don't have the highest moral standards when it comes to wrestlers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLB Posted September 6, 2023 Report Share Posted September 6, 2023 I have to say that 1997 was a very weak draft class outside of Goldberg, I mean it's almost undraftable. 1993 was another really bad year in terms of debuts that was headlined pretty much by Christopher Daniels, which tells you all you need to know about that year. 1998 is loaded with AJ Styles, Kurt Angle, Chris Hero, Low Ki, Jun Kasai, Necro Butcher, Naomichi Marufuji and Kofi Kingston becoming active.  In 1999 we hit the motherload: John Cena, CM Punk, Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson, Batista, Nigel McGuiness, Nick Gage and Lita. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff5819 Posted September 6, 2023 Report Share Posted September 6, 2023 I disagree cause you have James Storm, Test, Albert, R-Truth, Renee Dupree and Rob Conway, who are all great fits as talent to build to upper mid-card/lower main event for such as WWF/WCW but for the likes of ECW, SMW they can easily be built to be Main Eventers and major champions, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLB Posted September 6, 2023 Report Share Posted September 6, 2023 Those are good wrestlers for sure, @jeff5819. But you can see things really pick up in 1998. Look at the debuts in 2000 compared to Test and Albert: Kenny Omega, Brock Lesnar, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, Trish Stratus, Claudio Castagnoli, Alberto Del Rio, The Briscoes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Control21 Posted September 6, 2023 Report Share Posted September 6, 2023 I think the 1997 class is solid. You just have to look a bit deeper than usual. CIMA, Dragon Kid, and Magnum Tokyo would be great additions for anyone looking to build a junior division over the long term. Then you have guys like Snitsky, Naoya Ogawa, and Ron Killings who could be fun additions to any roster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLB Posted September 6, 2023 Report Share Posted September 6, 2023 Yeah, you have the beginnings of Dragongate and I'm personally stoked for Super Dragon. It's not that bad but there's all-star classes in the following years of 1998-2000. 1993 wasn't really that awful with Jeff Hardy, Bob Holly and Homicide in that class. Some years are more fruitful than others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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