The Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All Time

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

*Spoilers ahead for the book*

 

I just picked up the book and it's a really good read, great photos and nicely written articles, though some of them overlap each other. The book was based on a number of factors, including in-ring skill, drawing power, longevity, entertainment factor and a number of others. Take a look and discuss.

 

1. Ric Flair

2. Lou Thesz

3. Rikidozan

4. Antonio Inoki

5. Hulk Hogan

6. Andre the Giant

7. El Santo

8. Giant Baba

9. Steve Austin

10. Buddy Rogers

11. Frank Gotch

12. Jim Londos

13. Ed Lewis

14. Stan Hansen

15. Bruno Sammartino

16. The Rock

17. Goregous George

18. Bruiser Brody

19. Riki Choshu

20. Mitsuharu Misawa

21. Verne Gagne

22. Jumbo Tsuruta

23. Terry Funk

24. Mil Mascaras

25. Bret Hart

26. Dory Funk Jr.

27. Tiger Mask

28. Blue Demon

29. Perro Aguayo

30. Nick Bockwinkel

31. Dusty Rhodes

32. Johnny Valentine

33. Freddie Blassie

34. Vader

35. George Hackenschmidt

36. Jushin Liger

37. Toshiaki Kawada

38. Keiji Muto

39. Jack Brisco

40. Harley Race

41. El Hijo del Santo

42. Tatsumi Fujinami

43. Danny Hodge

44. Akira Maeda

45. Chigusa Nagayo

46. Ricky Steamboat

47. Shawn Michaels

48. Shinya Hashimoto

49. Ray Stevens

50. Randy Savage

51. Gene Kiniski

52. Nobuhiko Takada

53. Mick Foley

54. Genichiro Tenryu

55. The Crusher

56. Dick the Bruiser

57. Canek

58. Antonio Rocca

59. The Sheik

60. Den Leo Jonathon

61. Dynamite Kid

62. The Undertaker

63. El Solitario

64. Billy Graham

65. Jerry Lawler

66. Roddy Piper

67. Ultimo Dragon

68. Billy Robinson

69. Jaguar Yokota

70. Lioness Asuka

71. Bobo Brazil

72. Karl Gotch

73. Bert Assirati

74. Salvador Gori Guerrero

75. Bill Longson

76. Killer Kowalski

77. Mildred Burke

78. Abdullah the Butcher

79. The Destroyer

80. Atsushi Onita

81. Ted Dibiase

82. Earl McCready

83. Pat O'Connor

84. Fritz Von Erich

85. Wahoo McDaniel

86. Billy Watson

87. Leroy McGuirk

88. Mad Dog Vachon

89. Yvon Robert

90. Bronko Nagurski

91. Dos Caras

92. Edouard Carpentier

93. Rayo de Jalisco

94. Stanislaus Zbysko

95. Sting

96. Pat Patterson

97. Masahiro Chono

98. Dara Singh

99. Jess Ventura

100. Eddie Graham

 

Well, there ya have it. Overall a very good list, with some people I thought being higher lower and lower got higher. My one main beef is Jumbo Tsuruta at #22. He had everything you'd think to be a top 10 guy, longevity, skill, athleticism, drawing power, influence. Live Audio Wrestling in Toronto has the author John Molinero on in a few weeks and I'm gonna call in and call him on that, because I'm curious about that one.

[Guest BAR]

I thought Dynamite should have been higher but looking at what the factors the list was based on, maybe he shouldn't.

[Guest razazteca]

#93 Rayo de Jalisco, I hope this is the orginal one not the fat slob on current tv.

[Guest Dopey]

Hulk Hogan #5??? Retarded. He's at least 2. I don't care what critiia you use, the biggest name ever in 'sports entertainment' does not deserve #5.

 

I'm going to borrow it from Dangerous A. I will not buy it.

 

To the Authors

[Guest CED Ordonez]

Picking 100 wrestlers based on the thousands upon thousands of wrestlers that have wrestled worldwide throughout history is probably one the hardest wrestling lists to compile. This is going to be an interesting read for explanations of why they feel wrestlers fell into certain spots.

 

I'm a bit disappointed that of the 4 women on the list (Nagayo, Yokota, Asuka, Burke), Akira Hokuto isn't one of them, but it's their list and it's based on so many factors, so the list is bound to step on a few toes.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

They purposely put Hogan at #5. They will rationalize it that Thesz, Rikidozan, and Inoki had more impact on the industry but let's call a spade a spade: these guys are flair marks. All 3 of em (Marek and Meltzer edited). That makes them automatically anti-hogan so they put him at #5 for the sake of putting him at #5.

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

This list looks like drawing power was factored about 75% to 90% in the rankings. And I don't give a damn what you factor into it, but Dusty Rhodes better than Kawada at anything positive is bullshit.

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

If drawing power was a factor I don't know if Buddy Rogers or Frank Gotch would've gotten ranked as high as they did.

 

Flair being #1 was terribly, annoyingly predictable, as he seems to be hallowed ground when it comes to #1 lists, untouchable and unquestionable. People more often then not say Flair out of fear of being ragged on or because they don't know better, which bothers me beyond measure.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Saying Flair was not the best wrestler ever is sort of akin to saying Wayne Gretzky was not the best NHL player of all time.

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

Kahran- I'm confused. What are you getting at? That Flair shouldn't be questioned?

 

Also, you could easily make a case for Gordy Howe as best NHL player of all time. I wouldn't, but I know many who would.

[Guest treble charged]

Personally, I'd say that either Mario Lemieux or Bobby Orr are better than Gordie Howe and would therefore have more 'right' to challenge Gretzky for #1 of all time.

 

But anyway, more on topic, it's no secret that Meltzer and Marek (who I dislike tremendously) don't like Hogan at all, so I think them putting Hogan at #5 (which I guess they themselves really didn't do, as they weren't the authors) is kind of just a nod to his drawing power. Because, really, in terms of 'wrestling', that's all Hogan's really got going for him.

[Guest Andy]

I would have put Dynamite Kid higher up.

 

Cheers,

 

Andy

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Hokuto really should've been on there.

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

At the back of the book there's a section called "The Next Ten" which I suppose is all the ten who will next have a chance at making the list. In no order, they are:

 

Jun Akiyama

Kurt Angle

Chris Benoit

HHH

Chris Jericho

Kenta Kobashi

Yuji Nagata

Satoshi Kojima

Manami Toyota

Kazushi Sakuraba

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

If drawing power was a factor I don't know if Buddy Rogers or Frank Gotch would've gotten ranked as high as they did.

 

Flair being #1 was terribly, annoyingly predictable, as he seems to be hallowed ground when it comes to #1 lists, untouchable and unquestionable. People more often then not say Flair out of fear of being ragged on or because they don't know better, which bothers me beyond measure.

Maybe they only used the drawing power factor on certain people, who else can you explain Hogan, Andre, Baba ahead of great workers that could actually draw as well like Jumbo, Misawa, and Kawada.

 

And I agree with you about Flair, he can't really touch Jumbo who was a draw in three individual decades, not to mention he put out MOTYC in every one of those decades, and he was hell of alot funer to watch than Flair too but that's just me.

[Guest ConspiracyVictim]

Maybe they only used the drawing power factor on certain people, who else can you explain Hogan, Andre, Baba ahead of great workers that could actually draw as well like Jumbo, Misawa, and Kawada.

 

And I agree with you about Flair, he can't really touch Jumbo who was a draw in three individual decades, not to mention he put out MOTYC in every one of those decades, and he was hell of alot funer to watch than Flair too but that's just me.

 

Here is how Meltzer would rationalize it. Sure Jumbo put on many freat MOTYC but Flair worked more consistently with a much harder schedule. You must remember Flair, at times, was working 2 or so shows a day and worked (according to Meltzer) 300 matches or more a year. Sure Jumbo was a draw for longer than Flair but Flair was a draw in NWA Mid Atlantic, AWA, Mid South, and WWF. Whether Flair was alot more fun to watch is really up to each person to decide for themselves. Many people will say that Flair was predictable and he worked the same match for just about every opponent, but then again, it worked for him. Some might even argue that there are better American wrestlers based on pure ability such as The Destroyer...but none of these guys had to work the same schedule as Flair and I think he deserves a place at the top of the list. Hogan on the other hand, should be where he is...#5. Flair and Inoki have both outdrawn Hogan by a good amount. Rikidozan had more of an impact that Hogan ever did and Thesz beats Hogan in Longevity and in ring skill. Im not putting down Hogan but I just think in reality he deserves his spot where he is on the list.

[Guest HartFan86]

Bret Hart at 25? The hell?

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

In case any of you go to the Wrestling Classics board, there's a really good thread that some guy started about Flair and whether or not he's a legend. Really good read, makes you think twice about Flair as G.O.A.T. The broomstick formula really gets exposed here as well.

[Guest Downhome]

In case any of you go to the Wrestling Classics board, there's a really good thread that some guy started about Flair and whether or not he's a legend. Really good read, makes you think twice about Flair as G.O.A.T. The broomstick formula really gets exposed here as well.

 

 

I hope you don't mind, but I "borrowed" your posting this and made a post about it over there to get their opinions on it, it should be interesting. I find it odd that The Dynamite Kid was not ranked at least a bit higher. I also find it somewhat odd that Chris Benoit isn't on there at all, but I can understand why he is not considering he has yet to have a really good run as a champion and the such.

[Guest Ravenbomb]

I don't know all the places, I just skimmed over it, but put Thesz at number 1 and Dynamite in the top 5 and I'm cool with it as far as I saw.

[Guest Downhome]

I wonder if HHH will blame Tough Enough for not making this list. :D

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

It's a good book and a good list but there are some things on it that baffles me, the exclusion of Benoit being on of them. The guy was never a draw or an ace champion for a company but there's a few things he has on everybody else in that book

 

1) Workrate- Unparalelled. Very few in that list can match or beat him.

2) Influence- Ask any JH wrestler in North America who their influences are and I guarantee the name Chris Benoit will come up.

 

Those two should be big enough for him to make the list, even if it's 94 but I guess not.

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

To be honest, I wouldn't put Dynamite over Austin or some of the other guys ahead of him. Also, I think Hogan is right where he should be, so I have no problem there.

 

I got beef with Taker being on the list since when you really think about it, he hasn't done jackshit during his tenure in the WWF/E.

 

And finally, no Eddy? What the fuck? If they are going to suggest that Angle and Jericho are going to be the next 10, then where the hell is Guerrero at?

[Guest Downhome]

I just want to know where in the living heck is Tiger Jeet Sighn on this list!?

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

APO- Taker makes the list because of longevity and drawing power. He was a good draw for WWE(F) and is the most enduring character in the federations history.

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

I disagree with that, though.

 

His longevity is due to the fact that he'd be completely worthless without the "Undertaker" gimmick and I don't evenr remember him drawing any significant amount of money unless he was hitched to more famous workers like Austin, Rock, and Hogan.

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

I disagree with that, though.

 

His longevity is due to the fact that he'd be completely worthless without the "Undertaker" gimmick and I don't evenr remember him drawing any significant amount of money unless he was hitched to more famous workers like Austin, Rock, and Hogan.

Well, the book is recognizing the work of Mark Calloway as The Undertaker. Agreed, he's be worthless without the gimmick, but you can't deny that his staying power in the WWF is nothing short of amazing.

[Guest snuffbox]

I have to agree, at least with the #1 spot. I know its gotten repetitive but I think Ric Flair deserves the top spot on any of these lists. He basically was the NWA for over 15 years, keeping it afloat, and somewhat successful, in the ocean of WWF's Hulkamania. The WWF was huge because it collectively caught the public imagination due to Vince's past business genius. Flair and the NWA thrived with wrestling, with workrate and storylines. He is probably the strongest touring champion of all time, based on his schedule and his performance. The WrestlingClassics thread poses several strong arguements for/against Flair. I definitly feel that the evidence, the history, shows that Flair is the best ever. Strong mic skills, good in ring workrate, adaptability (see brawls with Funk etc, and matchups with greatly varying challengers), capability of carrying almost any opponent to a good match, drawing power, unbelievable charisma, and his longevity.

[Guest Sassquatch]

*shakes head*

 

What kind of requirements and guidelines did this list use when ranking guys?

 

If it was based on money than Hogan is higher than Flair.

 

If it was based on wrestling ability than Flair is higher than Hogan.

 

Once you get past 50, the other rankings are meaningless because you have too many insignificant rankings that no one cares about.

 

These giant lists are all masturbatory and pointless.

[Guest dreamer420]

I can't agree with Jesse Ventura as 99. He was never much of a talent IMO and only really shined once he was in the broadcast booth.

 

I would also put Dynamite Kid higher on the list too. He was too great of a talent to not be higher.