GWE 2026 Reaction Thread

[Ma Stump Puller]

47 minutes ago, Stephen- said:

What a neat result. Danielson is on for 2036. Though I doubt he performs this well again. This was his year, and he failed.

He'll be probably lower than #2 by then, I think this was his one real big moment with his final retirement stint fresh in people's minds to get the #1 spot and that's passed. If he does maybe come back for a match or two will perhaps decide that, but for now this is I believe going to be his peak. If they prove me wrong 10 years later feel free to meme about it with this for as long as you want lol

But yeah quick aside, I joined the forums in 2021 to pass the time during COVID, had a lot of fun building up to this GWE by pushing my favourites with agenda posting and been very happy seeing people like Keita Yano or Carlos Amano inexplicably not only rank but do so pretty well all things considered with dozens of ballots cast with them featured. Job's not done until I see them on the top 100 though as with a couple of others, so I will be still at work here to make that happen.

In all seriousness though thanks to everyone who voted as well as those who were involved in vetting ballots and nominations (one of which included me apparently). It's a huge effort and definitely not for the faint of heart. Hopefully we'll still be around for 2036

 

 

 

[Control21]

Big thanks to @Grimmas and everyone else involved in running this project. This was a massive behemoth, and seeing it through despite the difficulties that come up with something like this is very commendable. 

I'm very happy with how this list turned out. I would take it over 2016's list any day of the week. I thought Danielson would take the #1 spot, but I guess I underestimated the depth and universality of Funker's appeal. No complaints though!

[Microstatistics]

#2

"American Dragon" Bryan Danielson

My #7. Ah, if it wasn't going to be Kobashi, I was hoping at least Bryan would win the whole thing but what can you do? He actually doesn't have an all-time classic like the rest of my Top 10 do so I wasn't entirely certain about placing him in that company. But the sheer volume of high-end quality against a wide array of opponents made him hard to deny. Despite the superfluous elements of that run, I think he was already an all-time great by the time he left ROH and the WWE & AEW runs are personally just bonuses.

#1

Terry Funk

I should have trusted my first instinct when I said he was going to win. Obviously my biggest omission, even if I do think he was great wrestler. The old "where are the matches?" specter obviously doesn't apply for nearly 95% of voters but it did for me, unfortunately. Not that he doesn't have truly high-end output (like Flair GAB or Hansen 83 AJPW), it's just that there wasn't enough for me to warrant a Top 100 spot. Still, his adaptability and longevity can't be denied and he was always doing something entertaining. All in all, I understand why he won and rather convincingly too.

 

[KB8]

44 minutes ago, El-P said:

Holy shit Terry won ! Incredible ! That's pretty much the perfect winner. I'm sure Danielson himself would agree too.

The top 25 for each decade is fun. Unsurprisingly, I'm more in tune with the people who started watching in the 2020's despite having started in 1990 myself, considering the last 15 years (more or less) are the best pro-wrestling I've ever seen. Funny (and cool) to see Omega being rated top 20 by the oldest demo ! (and of course not by the 80's/90's people, who really are the peak of the pro-wrestling internet forums demo)

Anywoo. The Funkster won. Like he should, really. Funk you all !

I clocked this too and immediately I was like what in the hell?? Very cool and not something I'd have expected. I hope it's from a bunch of people in their 70s going "that fella came back from a stomach ulcer, I like him!" 

[KB8]

EDIT: Posted twice. Terry Funk rules!

[El-P]

12 minutes ago, KB8 said:

I hope it's from a bunch of people in their 70s going "that fella came back from a stomach ulcer, I like him!" 

😁

(from the old ECW fan in me)

[ohheylook]

@Grimmasyou have gotta delete peoples emails out of the google sheet, cmon. 

[Grimmas]

3 minutes ago, ohheylook said:

@Grimmasyou have gotta delete peoples emails out of the google sheet, cmon. 

OOPS! ONIT

[Grimmas]

Done....

[Jmare007]

Hell yeah God won! . 

I feel like the 2036 version of this (whatever it might be) will have vastly different results so I'm happy Funk got 1 and 2 in two different decades. As undeniable as you can get. 

Very interesting how versatility was such a key factor on this. You read the blurbs on both him and Dragon and a lot of people mention very similar traits for both. 

50 minutes ago, Ma Stump Puller said:

He'll be probably lower than #2 by then, I think this was his one real big moment with his final retirement stint fresh in people's minds to get the #1 spot and that's passed. If he does maybe come back for a match or two will perhaps decide that, but for now this is I believe going to be his peak. If they prove me wrong 10 years later feel free to meme about it with this for as long as you want lol

I tend to agree with this. But at the same time, I can't help but feel like If he gets like some MOTYCs as a part time veteran/legend in the next 10 years I think his case might get stronger. Specially if he gives a couple of standout performances in the 2030's, that would give him three decades worth of elite showings. I wonder if he becomes the new Flair, in the sense of the older fans wanting to defend his case and having all that footage available to prove their point and other fans just getting sick of reading about him being the best and having all the footage available to prove their point, lol. 

[Boss Rock]

Tenryu being third for 2020's viewers. Awesome to see.

[ZubazKid]

Danielson voter but who could be mad about the Funker taking the big prize? Funk was my #7 and both had similar cases of longevity & versatility, having great matches over decades with a wide variety of opponents.

Thanks to @Grimmas for all the work you put in & for all that participated. In an unfortunate cruel trick my browser has posted photos from the entries blocking the top 5 picks of voters from the 00s-20s, so I may never know.

Last night I decided to watch a match from everyone in the top 10. Got through Misawa v. Kawada 6/3/94, Bret vs. Austin from Survivor Series, Hansen vs. Kobashi 7/29/93 & Tenryu vs. Hashimoto 8/1/98.

I might watch a couple each for the top 5. And between Bret match & recently rewatching the ‘97 Roumble I thought that Austin is pretty f’n good (even if I’m not sure top 5 but pretty f’n good.)

[Microstatistics]

The pre-1980s voting block is by far the most intriguing one. Hogan, Andre, Inoki and especially Bruno and Dusty being high makes sense but Shawn, Muto, Omega, Bull being featured is cool as hell.

[KB8]

40 minutes ago, Boss Rock said:

Tenryu being third for 2020's viewers. Awesome to see.

My hope is that by 2036 goodhelmet has come out of retirement with that monster 78-disc Tenryu set and the 2020s voters propel him to #1. 

[KB8]

15 hours ago, ohtani's jacket said:

I think Terry Funk is a great wrestler. One of the best ever. However, it would be nice if one or two matches dropped from his prime because when I see people comment that other people aren't volume workers it always makes me wonder why Terry gets a past on this. To me, he's a total performance-based candidate (including promo ability, if I'm being honest.)  I know we have great Terry Funk matches on tape, but I wonder if I'm the only one who raises half an eyebrow at this. 

 

I touched a little on this in Terry's nominee thread back in 2021:

Quote

I suppose the counterpoint to him as a number 1 contender is a relative lack of seven star superclassic matches. Or just, like, "great matches" or whatever terminology we're using. It's kind of hard for me to actually articulate this, but I completely understand that point and it's one I probably would've agreed with once. Like, I think Terry has lots of great matches, but they're not necessarily the sort of matches I could see other people thinking are great. They don't feel "conventionally great" or whatever. That's not me trying to sound galaxy brain or smarter than your average fan, because in reality I'm pretty much a dipshit and I have awful taste in everything and nobody should listen to me anyway, but, for example, I could see someone thinking something like Terry/Hansen (pick one) doesn't qualify for classic status because it's only about 13 minutes long and doesn't really have a finishing stretch and ends in a riot. In comparison, Flair has tonnes of matches that have all the hallmarks of what would typically qualify as a great match. I'm not even explaining this very well but basically I understand why people would think Terry doesn't have as many great matches as, say, Flair. Especially not guys like Misawa, Kawada, Kobashi, even Jumbo or Tenryu or Hansen or a Danielson. Same goes for any of the modern New Japan folks. I've seen the argument that he doesn't have as many great matches as Samoa Joe, and even if I disagree I get where that argument is rooted and think it's perfectly valid. It's just that I have a very different idea of what a great match is now than I did 15 years ago and in keeping with that idea Terry Funk has lots of matches I'd happily call great.

That's still where I'm at with Funk five years on. I've seen a handful of Terry Funk matches I'd absolutely call great since then as well (that I never would've known about if not for the Wrestling Playlists) and that played a part in why I had him at #4, even if his case was made up of the NOT-great matches, the ones against your Sal Bellomos or Cougar Jays of the world, as much as the great ones against your Hansens and Flairs and Tsurutas. 

[SirSam]

FOREVER!

[DR Ackermann]

Could we also see the number of voters from each decade?

[Microstatistics]

I agree with the "journey, not destination" sentiment for this project. I'm satisfied with my list I submitted (especially the top end), but the process of getting there was the real reward. It helped me refine my tastes, re-define priorities, and, importantly, optimize my GME collection which is what I really value.

[Grimmas]

33 minutes ago, DR Ackermann said:

Could we also see the number of voters from each decade?

Started Watching	Total
Pre-1980s	5
1980s	68
1990s	124
2000s	163
2010s	108
2020s	10

 

[ZubazKid]

16 minutes ago, Microstatistics said:

I agree with the "journey, not destination" sentiment for this project. I'm satisfied with my list I submitted (especially the top end), but the process of getting there was the real reward. It helped me refine my tastes, re-define priorities, and, importantly, optimize my GME collection which is what I really value.

Co-sign all of this.

[El Boricua]

54 minutes ago, Grimmas said:

 

Started Watching	Total
Pre-1980s	5
1980s	68
1990s	124
2000s	163
2010s	108
2020s	10

 

I'd probably make it 80s and before and 2010s plus due to base size.

[Grimmas]

1 minute ago, El Boricua said:

I'd probably make it 80s and before and 2010s plus due to base size.

Cause you are the smarter Esteban.

[Scarletlikesounds]

@Grimmas Thank you so much for running this project, it's given me a way to discover so much new wrestling so quickly and develop my tastes in ways that will have lasting impact on my pro-wrestling fandom. This project and the server have given me so much. 

[Scarletlikesounds]

3 hours ago, Jmare007 said:

I tend to agree with this. But at the same time, I can't help but feel like If he gets like some MOTYCs as a part time veteran/legend in the next 10 years I think his case might get stronger. Specially if he gives a couple of standout performances in the 2030's, that would give him three decades worth of elite showings. I wonder if he becomes the new Flair, in the sense of the older fans wanting to defend his case and having all that footage available to prove their point and other fans just getting sick of reading about him being the best and having all the footage available to prove their point, lol. 

I definitely think Danielson isn't retired for good and I imagine we'll see him for a couple more individual matches. I think he has staying power but let's see how he turns out. Regardless, I don't think he's gonna win the big one next time.

Seeing how much has happened since 2016 and imagining what 2036 could look like is wild, mainly because 2036 actually doesn't seem that far from now to me strangely??? Dunno why. Guess now that 2026 is over it's time to start nominating and looking ahead to the next one! Or take a break lolllll.

[El Boricua]

2 hours ago, Grimmas said:

Cause you are the smarter Esteban.

Nah, just the Puerto Rican one. 🙂