GWE 2026 Reaction Thread

[Garbage]

I wouldn't ever vote for him but I may need to rep a bunch of Chavo Jr. tv matches in nine years so he gets higher than 800-something. Very reliable worker practically his entire WWE run with some of the best junior-style matches of the 2000s. 

[ohtani's jacket]

So, yeah, Muhammed Ali...

Time has not been kind to Chavo Jr.

Poor Kido.

WoS guys not doing well, as predicted by many. 

I think my favorite pick from this batch is Islander Tama. Nice choice. 

 

 

[Garbage]

Wow I feel dirty not properly considering Tama/Tonga Kid now, he's way too electric to get this little attention. 

I'm glad Ivan Putski is winning some people over, he's actually really fun in the right setting and throws a super mean looking strike. Maybe he was a sloth for most of his run but it's a consensus I'd like to challenge one day. 

A bit wild how much los Traumas just disappeared off people's radars these past ten years. 

[El Dragon]

Some thoughts on the first wave.

 

Fidel Sierra would have been a big beneficiary if there actually was voting being done on the Portland 80's set. I have a ballot made if we ever turned one in, and Rose vs. Destroyer (Sierra) would have been my 9, and Assassin/Hennig Coal Miners Glove would have been my 12. Probably the only 2 other wrestlers that would have gotten as big of a boost would have been Billy Jack (Who was real fun on that set, even if not elite) and Bret Wayne Sawyer (Who legitimately was damn good just too short to work almost anywhere else)

Jeremy Wyatt is awesome and I love he got a vote, has been one of the backbones of the midwest indy scene for years, specifically for St. Louis Anarchy were his title run a few years ago was amazing. Not going to send matches to watch for everyone, but this match was something I loved during COVID

 

Pete Roberts was my 101, and was on my list 5 minutes before I turned in a list before I realized I forgot someone I had to include. Really fun in Japan, really fun in England, a really good career I appreciate greatly, but not greatly enough apparently. That 20 year drop is pretty brutal.

[Tetsujin]

My boy Taichi still alive and well hell yeah

[highflyflow]

1 hour ago, Garbage said:

I'm glad Ivan Putski is winning some people over, he's actually really fun in the right setting and throws a super mean looking strike. Maybe he was a sloth for most of his run but it's a consensus I'd like to challenge one day. 

Agree, found him surprisingly fun and engaging when I was watching 1980 footage

[highflyflow]

5 minutes ago, Tetsujin said:

My boy Taichi still alive and well hell yeah

I will venture to guess you will not see Taichi’s name come up for a while

[MidasGloves]

Taichi was genuninely a late cut for me so I'm happy if he takes a while to pop up.

[KB8]

During the GME project I decided to be a stupid idiot and comment on every one of the matches that received a vote so I'm going to engage in more stupidity and do the same for this. I apologise in advance. 

 

#865

Chris Hamrick

Anyone who has a particular bump named after them deserves at least one vote. Big fan of this as a #100 pick.

#865

Darius Lockhart

Would be lying if I said I know who this is.

 

#865

"Cuban Assassin" Fidel Sierra

Amazing hair and beard combo.

 

#865

"Iron" Mike Sharpe

I've seen more fun Iron Mike performances than bad ones. Worthy of a singular #100 vote.

 

#865

Jado

Last Jado match I watched he got beaten up and down the place in his gold pajamas by Tenryu. Who books New Japan, him or the other one?

#865

Johnny Ace

Oh boy.

 

#865

Killer Karl Kox

Surprised he only got one vote. Watched his match as The Spirit v Destroyer a couple months ago and he was really fun. A very, very decent pro wrestler. 

 

#865

Ronda Rousey

That rookie year is still one of the best rookie years ever. You know, maybe. The debut match is the miracle of all miracles, but also maybe not a miracle because she was pretty great for a minute there. Then I don't know what happened, really. 

 

#865

Taro Yamada

I don't know who this is, I'm afraid. 

 

#865

Yasha Kurenai

Yasha rules. Not afraid to bring a stick to a gunfight and just hit people repeatedly with the stick. A great cheapshotting lower-ranked partner to a Kandori - the Kitahara to Kandori's Tenryu - during inter-promotional matches but also has a few truly awesome underdog babyface performances where she's getting stabbed in the head with a sickle by Shark Tsuchiya and those deviants. A great pick. 

 

 

#860

Wellington Wilkins Jr.

The Fujiwara match ruled. 

 

#860

Waldo Von Erich

I don't think I've seen a Waldo match. 

 

#860

Scott Lost

The PWG guy? Boy it's been a while. 

 

#860

"No Class" Bobby Bass

Deserves a vote for the name alone. 

 

#860

Antonio Koinoki

Can't say I've seen the feller. 

 

#859

Jeremy Wyatt

Did he bounce around with the lantern and goat mask too or is he from a different Wyatt family?

 

 

#858

Frank Shamrock

Yeah fuck it why not.

 

 

#855

"Tennessee Stud" Robert Fuller

I haven't watched a Fuller match in forever. Always had a cool hat.

 

#855

Michel Saulnier

A late cut, based purely on two matches. The Rabut match from 6/65 is a MOTDC and he's a sensational base for Le Petit Prince. I should've made time for more Saulnier over the last few months.

 

#855

Kim Duk

I can't remember anything about a Kim Duk match but I must've seen at least a couple when he was teaming with Fuji. 

 

#854

Andreza Giant Panda

No clue.

 

 

#852

Osamu Kido

Kido rules and I'm glad he got at least one vote. Has a sneaky long list of awesome matches across singles, tags and multi-mans. Bit of an unassuming fella but one who'd twist your head 180 degrees and make you watch and he booted you up the arse. Maybe I should voted for him, actually. 

 

#852

Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Not as good as his old man, or perhaps anybody else in his family who decided to do the pro wrestling, but being the worst Guerrero is hardly a knock (probably). The Rey match from 2004 Great American Bash is stellar and he has a bunch of really good stuff. I'd list him higher than 852, put it that way. 

 

 

#851

Trauma I

Los Traumas were still awesome the last time I watched them and I loved the 2010 stuff when BTJr was putting it on youtube back then. He was actually one of my favourite wrestlers in the world around that point, and the Canis Lupus apuestas match from a decade back is sensational. Might've considered him for a 200, or even 150. 

 

 

#850

Muhammad Ali

Sure, go for it. 

 

 

#847

Phil Hickerson

Always a fun time in Memphis.

 

#847

Joey Ryan

The sex pest?

 

#847

Kazuki Niimura

Do not have a clue. 

 

#847

Huracan Castillo Jr.

I could not tell you the last time I watched Huracan Castillo Jr. Probably the Puerto Rico 80s set. 

 

#846

Bobby Fish

I liked the AEW match with Punk. 

 

 

#845

Tadao Yasuda

Seen maybe one match.

 

#844

"Polish Power" Ivan Putski

His reckless energy is pretty spectacular. Knew what he was about and the crowd bought it 1000%. 

 

 

#840

Trauma II

I like his brother more but the Zatura match from 2009 is terrific. 

 

#840

James Mason

Not sure who this is. I apologise deeply. 

 

#840

Chris Harris

I liked at least one American's Most Wanted match. Unless that was another guy. 

 

#840

Dennis Koslowski

I can't remember a thing about the UWFi run but I know I watched some of it. Did he work PWFG?

 

 

#839

"The Z-Man" Tom Zenk

I liked the Can-Ams for a minute there. 

 

 

#836

Duane Koslowski

Maybe it was Duane who worked PWFG.

#836

Arkángel de la Muerte

Really fun mat worker. Been a minute. 

 

#836

Albert Sanniez

Another French Catch guy I should see more of. The Petit Prince match from 77 ruled and Sanniez turning into a cheapshotting prick was great stuff. 

 

#835

Steve Wright

Should probably watch more. 

 

 

#834

Takaku Fuke

Pretty fun midcard shoot style guy. 

 

#833

Johnny Kincaid

I can't even pretend to have a handle on the WoS guys. 

 

 

#832

Andrei Kopylov

Every Kopylov match is a treat and he has at least one corker against Han. Cool pick. 

 

 

#831

"Kangaroo" Al Costello

I've been meaning to watch the Jesse James match for ages. 

 

Okay that's enough for now. I'll spoiler tag it next time so it doesn't leave the page running for seventeen miles. 

[Grimmas]

Love the reactions @KB8

[cad]

3 hours ago, cad said:

Baron Scicluna didn't drop today. That means someone else voted for him. There goes my only shot at being anybody's lone supporter.

Proven wrong pretty quickly. I thought Kincaid was a late nomination, though. Figured that meant someone had decided to vote for him and realized he wasn't available yet.

[Ricky Jackson]

1 hour ago, KB8 said:

#860

Waldo Von Erich

I don't think I've seen a Waldo match. 

This is the only one anyone needs to see, really

[KB8]

Yeah fair enough, I can see why someone would have the username Waldo > Fritz. Being pinned by a relative no-name and still garnering that sort of reaction is quite something. 

 

Spoiler

#830

Aquiles O Matador

Maybe I should watch that chain match with the Argentina fella. 

 

#828

The Patriot

I haven't watched a Patriot match in probably 20 years. 

 

#828

Seichi Ikemoto

Sorry, fiends, but not a clue. 

 

 

#827

Islander Tama

My boy. I was the high voter in 2016, I'm the high voter now, and I'll probably be the high voter in 2036. An absurdly fun pro wrestler. Awesome fired-up babyface who could play face in peril or come in off the hot tag with energy that's through the roof. Amazing shit-talking heel who'd bump and stooge like a maniac. His slingshot bump from the apron into the ring is one of one and he'd routinely fly over the top rope and careen wildly into the barricade. STUPID athletic. Brilliant working the apron. Just got this whole nonsense immediately and the Piper match from MSG is tremendous, as is the follow-up tag where he teams with Snuka against Piper and Orton. Should've been a megastar. Alas, he will have to settle for being my #87.

 

 

#826

Jamie Dundee

PG-13 ruled and so did JC Ice. 

 

 

#821

Tetsuhiro Kuroda

I don't remember any of his FMW stuff, which unfortunately means I don't remember any Tetsuhiro Kuroda. I think he's still going, though!

 

#821

Pete Roberts

The Tiger Mask match is a hoot. Cool pick. 

 

#821

Hiroshi Watanabe

I've honestly never heard of him. 

 

#821

Alberto del Rio

I liked his wee manager buddy. 

 

#821

Alan Kilby

I actually watched a Kilby match not too long ago. 

 

[Boss Rock]

3 hours ago, KB8 said:

#865

Jado

Last Jado match I watched he got beaten up and down the place in his gold pajamas by Tenryu. Who books New Japan, him or the other one?

Gedo's the booker.

[NotJayTabb]

Iron Mike Sharpe had been my lock for spot #100 since the start of this project. The ultimate knew-his-role guy.

Second GWE in a row that I've been pleasantly surprised not to be the only Tom Zenk voter.

Chavo Jr being this low is a bit of a surprise, even though I didn't vote for him. Long career on TV, always "good" as a minimum, half of a beloved tag team. I suspect we'll see a few people with similar, but less impressive, careers finish above him

[oldcasper]

Kido is one of those wrestlers who if the line was drawn a little higher at maybe the 200 mark would finish a lot higher.  He's great in the first UWF, and I think he's bags of fun in the New Japan / WAR feud.

Am glad to see Alan Kilby got a vote, I can't say I have seen tons of his work but what I have is very good.  Like many he'll suffer from a lot of early career footage not being around.

It is at this stage where a handful of people's #100 picks for more personal reasons stick out if they get more than the odd vote.

[oldcasper]

Kido is one of those wrestlers who if the line was drawn a little higher at maybe the 200 mark would finish a lot higher.  He's great in the first UWF, and I think he's bags of fun in the New Japan / WAR feud.

Am glad to see Alan Kilby got a vote, I can't say I have seen tons of his work but what I have is very good.  Like many he'll suffer from a lot of early career footage not being around.

It is at this stage where a handful of people's #100 picks for more personal reasons stick out if they get more than the odd vote.

[club]

7 hours ago, KB8 said:

#833

Johnny Kincaid

I can't even pretend to have a handle on the WoS guys. 

A top-tier shithouse.

Nominated him, then didn't vote for him. Glad someone else did.

[ohtani's jacket]

Yeah, everyone should watch the Caribbean Sunshine Boys. It got out of hand and they had to break them up shortly afterwards. 

Pete Roberts had plenty of great matches in his career. He seem a bit boring at first, but he was incredibly skilled and had a bit of the angry redhead to him. If you've ever doubted that Roberts could be entertaining check out his great TV match with Indio Guajaro. His feud with Wayne Bridges was fantastic too. 

I was surprised that Steve Wright didn't get more votes. He's a bit lacking in the matches department, though his 1986 bout against Marty Jones (as Bull Blitzer) is a classic WoS bout. 

 

[ohtani's jacket]

It's a bit sad to see the French guys falling so soon. I guess Catch fans don't have much reach, though I know Matt tries his best. I was a non-believer as far as Rene Ben Chemoul goes until I saw film clips of him from earlier in his career. I have no doubt that in his prime he was one of the best ever. What we have from television is basically his post-prime, which people still find to be very good.

Tejero deserves to be on everyone's radar as one of the great foils in wrestling history. 

I love El Signo. Texano was the best of the Misioneros, but Signo was the glue. i have a lot of time for Joe Malenko as well. Malenko vs. Fujiwara is a joy. 

[Matt D]

2 hours ago, ohtani's jacket said:

I was surprised that Steve Wright didn't get more votes. He's a bit lacking in the matches department, though his 1986 bout against Marty Jones (as Bull Blitzer) is a classic WoS bout. 

We’ve gotten something like 20 new Wright matches in the last year or two. I find him a little unwilling to insert real stakes into his matches, but he is very good and I almost voted for him anyway.

[Grimmas]

Everyone shifted down a number or two, it turns out I didn't account for a few people in my rankings. All good now, should be smooth sailing.

[HowtobeaMark]

Few guys who are out that would have come in my 101-200 range

Johnny Kincaid

Pete Roberts

Michel Saulnier

Tonga Kid (this one hurts the most)

And possibly Killer Karl Kox

[ohtani's jacket]

Javier Cruz' drop off from #120 in 2006 is huge. I think we were watching a lot of 1990 EMLL at the time and he played a prominent role that year. Nice to see a lot of IWRG guys I haven't thought about it in donkey years. Chico Che!

I was the other voter on Rene Lasartesse. Nice to see Matt and me on the same page. 

Not sure how I feel about Alex Wright being ahead of his dad. Actually, I do know how I feel. 

My favorite pick goes to Jim Brunzell. A fine wrestler. 

[El-P]

20 minutes ago, ohtani's jacket said:

Not sure how I feel about Alex Wright being ahead of his dad. Actually, I do know how I feel. 

Did Steve Wright ever dance like his son to the sound of some eurotrash beat ? I don't think he did.