Best "Total Package"?

[Guest Zarock]

Pretty much self-explanatory: who would you consider to be the best "Total Package" in terms of a combination of mat-working skills, mic work/charisma, and aerial maneuvers.

 

For me, it would have to be a toss-up of Eddy Guererro, Chris Jericho, and Kurt Angle. Now, obviously this doesn't mean who's the best at one thing, like Chris Benoit's workrate, nor does it mean it's alright if the guy has two (Ultimo Dragon, a lot of the X Division, among other voice-less in-ring gods) of the three. So yeah, make your picks.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Well I'm not sure if you mean currently or historically, but Steve Austin and Ric Flair certainly come to mind.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Nevermind, I see you said aerial maneuvers as well. Probably Kurt Angle then.

[Just John 0]

I don't know if it's fair to include aerial skills because that's not essential for being a good wrestler, and it limits lots of debate. It can help one be a good a wrestler, but most great wrestlers don't have a strong high-flying game.

 

If aerial skills must be included, then it's probably Eddie. He really can do it all. I don't know if I'd buy Kurt Angle under that definition. Yeah, he has a pretty moonsault, but that's it. If he had a larger sampling of mic time, I would throw out Rey Mysterio Jr, who for my money, is one of the more underrated workers in the last 10 years.

 

Without aerial skills, I think Steve Austin makes for a good choice.

[Jacques 0]

Shawn Michaels

[Guest]

Eddie or Jericho.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Probably Jericho or Angle.

[Guest]

Curt Hennig was a pretty good combination of mat work and mic skills before the back injury.

[Dandy 0]

I think you should replace aerial skills with ring psychology. That would be a better criterium when discussing well-rounded "total packages."

[Guest Zarock]

When I think "Total Package", I generally think a guy who can work any kind of match (U. Dragon), and has great mic work as well to get noticed ("Captain Charisma" era Christian). As for ring psychology, is that really all that different from good in-ring ability to warrant a separate category?

[Lil' Bitch 0]

Owen Hart

[The Mandarin 0]

Arn Anderson had it all other than looks. Aerial skills weren't overly necessary in wrestling then.

 

Also- Lesnar, Eddie, Angle, CM Punk, Trish Stratus, Tully Blanchard, Curt Hennig, Owen Hart, Roddy Piper.

[JST 0]

Bret Hart. Without being a Ric Flair on the mic, he could cut a perfectly acceptable promo, plus his technical skills aren't even in doubt. He'd even take it to the air with the occasional suicide dive or pescado.

 

As for the look; he made wearing pink cool. Nuff said.

[Dandy 0]

Yes, ring psychology is important and should have a category separate from mat skills. A worker can be very good at submissions, holds, reversals, and other aspects of mat work while he strings along moves that have no meaning in relation to each other. That is why ring psychology is different. Executing the moves is mat work/ability. Ring psychology is when he does the moves and why.

 

Aerial moves is not necessarily indicative of a good worker. Blitzkrieg in WCW did awesome aerial stuff. But it was just flips and highspots that made you ooh and ahh.

 

A well rounded "total package" worker should have the wrestling ability (including matwork), ring psychology (putting together a good match), and his promo and interview skills.

[alfdogg 0]

Right now, I'd have to go with Eddie. All-time, I think I'd have to say Randy Savage.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Tom Zenk.

 

Before you bash me...he formed good teams with Pillman and Martel.

 

He worked good matches against heavyweight. Take a look at him get an AWESOME effort out of Luger at Starrcade 91.

 

He worked technical guys well (Muta, Anderson).

 

He worked fliers well (Eaton, Pillman).

 

He could kinda cut decent promos.

 

Plus, what better way to PSYCHOLOGICALLY intimidate your opponent than being announced as...

 

"And...Voted The Most Sexiest Wrestler in WCW...The Z-Man!"

[Ravenbomb 0]

[Black Lushus 0]

re: Owen Hart and Rey Mysterio...both men severly lacked in the mic skills department so that takes them out of this equation...

[cawthon777 0]

Randy Savage pre 1993

[Black Lushus 0]

Randy Savage pre 1993

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

good call...86 thru 92 Savage is probably in my personal top 5 wrestlers of all time list...I'd have to think on the other 4, though!

[hbkhhhmark4life 0]

Shawn Michaels 91-early 93, 95-97 promos were great

[TheFranchise 0]

re: Owen Hart and Rey Mysterio...both men severly lacked in the mic skills department so that takes them out of this equation...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I don't think Owen was severly lacking on the mic.

[Black Lushus 0]

eh, I just don't think I could ever forgive Owen for his "kicked his leg out from under his leg" line or the spittle face following his win over Bret at WM10...

[pochorenella 0]

Shawn Michaels.

[Guest JMA]

If you take aerial skills out of the equation, Steve Austin is the best. A great mat wrestler, brawler, and he drew better than Hulk Hogan.

 

If you include aerial skills, I'd have to say Randy Savage in his prime as well.

 

As for Owen's mic skills, they vastly improved once he got into the grove of being a heel. The fans absolutely despised him--in a good way, of course.

[Dangerous A 0]

Total packages (for the sake of the criteria in this thread-aerial, mat, charisma, although I do agree ring psych should cancel out aerial and mat)

 

Randy Savage

Eddie Guerrero

Chris Jericho

Shawn Michaels

 

 

Internationally, you have to include Shocker, Ultimo Guerrero, Keiji Muto, Jushin Liger

[The Buzz 0]

I think Sting ranks up there high as he could do it all imo.

 

Of all time I'm giving it to Eddie Guerrero who I feel is the best wrestler I've ever seen and I've seen a lot of the greats.

[Paul Stanley 0]

Lex Luger.

 

 

 

....what?

[Rendclaw 0]

Total packages (for the sake of the criteria in this thread-aerial, mat, charisma, although I do agree ring psych should cancel out aerial and mat)

 

Randy Savage

Eddie Guerrero

Chris Jericho

Shawn Michaels

 

 

Internationally, you have to include Shocker, Ultimo Guerrero, Keiji Muto, Jushin Liger

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

My only problem with Keiji is the Shining Wizard. Its like Hogan's Axe Bomber in that once you get hit with it its over, and you can see it coming a mile away.

[Guest Rrrsh]

HBK

Savage

Owen