First off, a big thanks to the 103 people who voted and helped make this list!
Big massive thanks goto these pimps:
A heel, ahonen, airgreat, AmericanDragon1979, besteriz62, Boozed, Bossman, Brainbug, bullant, bumhunter, Carlos, chacalus, Chriswok, ChromeOutlaw, Cocuzzo, Colosso, conanjoe, Crazywierd, cycoburns, damagegirl, daro, dave201, dfz, ditch, dwarf877, ECDubECDub, ecw413, Edge_Head, edgemania, entersandman, ericwright, Ernest419, eyekantspele, Fahadmemon, Fleischmarkt, Floyd, folenenyel, FrankyFin, fudge, groundge, Hauttis, hel65, hbkkipup, herminator, J.B.L., iamjack, Insanic198, jasonmoon, Jesse McTunder, Kawada~1, KeepItFresh, Kerpelo, kdawg1079, Kliqhere, kylekalman, loves2spooge, loubat, Lyonhard619, MachoFan, malimal82, MD, murphgod, narziss, Nightwatch, Onita, Omar_Atlas, Oreol, Organon, Osmium, Paulielexx, poroster, punchinello, retask, rfury, Ricey, rickelectric, richardmoral, Robbie czw, robbrazier, royvedas, sefirivlin, Solarstorm, subz, TCU, Tequillin, TKD, theErcci, the_reject, thg, thunnis21, timdispute, topper1, TVDX, VivaLaWagner, weltenbaum, wrestlefancoug, wrestlefest, Wolfman, Yamada, yami777, YinYangGuy, zauron, zbutsam, Zombieshark
... If you didn't vote and bitch about a pick it's your own fault!
Some comparisons:
Number of users that voted
PWT 1.0 - 56
PWT 2.0 - 103
Number of wrestlers that received votes
PWT 1.0 - Number of wrestlers: 226
PWT 2.0 - Number of wrestlers: 480
Total Points Possible:
PWT 1.0 - 18,651
PWT 2.0 - 112,981
- I'll post a big list of all 480 wrestlers who were voted on after.
.........
HERE WE GO!
P.S. I know I wrote all the biographys in the first Top 100 poll, but I dunno if I'll have the energy this time. So Under the Bio's, I've Copied and pasted them from the link also listed (mostly wikipedia). So that page gets all props!
** Also I'd appreciate any help for the recommended matches from people.
*************************************************************
#100. Mil Máscaras (227pts / 9 votes)
The Man of a 1,000 Masks
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 2
Highest Vote: #4
Point Average: 25.2 (#26 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mil_Mascaras
Aaron Rodríguez Arellano (born July 15, 1942), best known as Mil Máscaras (meaning "One Thousand Masks" in Spanish), is a Mexican professional wrestler. He was born in San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico. He is also an actor.
He wrestled in the 70s for All-Japan were he had his most known international feud with American masked wrestler The Destroyer.
An interesting fact is Mil became popular in Mexico for being one of the first wrestlers to have a bodybuilder type body, he competed under the heavyweight division, a division that was dominated by foreigners in Mexico. It was also his size which permitted him to wrestle in the USA and Japan, where he took his lucha moves like top rope plancha and tope suicida to the outside of the ring, making him famous in the USA and Japan (and the lucha style of wrestling) as one of the first high flyers, something he was not considered in Mexico, where he fell under the mat-power wrestler category, compared to the speed and moves of the smaller luchadores (cruiserweights).
He is a controversial figure within the wrestling business, as multiple wrestlers have publicly complained of his unwillingness to "sell" moves (make them appear effective when performed on him), and an unwillingness to "put opponents over" (allowing them to win the match, or look good when in the ring with him). One of the most vocal critics was Mick Foley who, in his book "Have a Nice Day!" complained over Mascaras' refusal to sell moves in their match.
He is probably the best known Mexican luchador in the world, he is as popular as legends El Santo and Blue Demon in Mexico, El Santo is considered an icon of not only wrestling and cinema but also of popular culture.
His name means Thousand Masks, he almost always enters the ring wearing a different mask, which he removes to reveal his more known design mask. In Japan, he throws the mask he takes off when his name is announced to the public who go crazy trying to get it, something he does not do in Mexico. One of his favorite masks is the "Shark" mask.
Finishing Move:
Diving Crossbody
Recommended matches:
Mil Mascaras Vs. The Destroyer
Mil Mascaras Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
Mil Mascaras Vs. Harley Race
#99. Masahiro Chono (233pts / 10 votes)
N.W.O. For Life
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: 1
Highest Vote: #10
Point Average: 23.3 (#28 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masahiro_Chono
Masahiro Chono is a Japanese professional wrestler. He primarily wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), but has also made appearances for the now defunct World Championship Wrestling, as a member of the nWo. Chono, called Mister Black Jack when he first started as a heel, is one of the top heels in Japanese wrestling history. He is a former NWA and IWGP world heavyweight champion.
Finishing Move:
STF (Stepover Toe-Hold Facelock)
Recommended matches:
Masachiro Chono & The Great Muta Vs. Hiro Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (1990)
Masachiro Chono Vs. The Great Muta (G-1 finals 91)
Masachiro Chono Vs. Ric Rude (G-1 finals 92)
#98. Billy Robinson (235pts / 10 votes)
Straight Shooter
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: 1
Highest Vote: #10
Point Average: 23.5 (#27 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Robinson
Billy Robinson (b. 1939) is a British professional wrestler and Catch Wrestling instructor. Billy Robinson became popular in Japan where he has trained Mixed Martial Arts fighters in catch wrestling. Robinson is one of the few wrestlers who was successful in several continents (Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania), winning titles in promotions nearly everywhere he wrestled.
Robinson began his amateur wrestling career in England. He was British National Wrestling Champion in 1957, and in 1958 was European Open Wrestling Champion in the light heavyweight class, beating an Olympic bronze medal winner in the finals.
Billy Robinson also attended the fabled "Snake Pit" started by legendary trainer Billy Riley. The Snake Pit was one of the most respected Catch Wrestling training schools in all of the world. Legends such as Karl Gotch had trained in Catch Wrestling in the Snake Pit under Riley.
Robinson had to survive bare minimum amenities (luxuries such as a toilet were not provided at the Snake Pit), a very rough training environment (Billy Riley was very impatient with those who showed even the slightest bit of weakness on the mat) and rigorous conditioning. Robinson stayed at the Snake Pit for eight years.
Billy Robinson travelled to Japan where he became immensely popular as a legitimate wrestler versed in submission holds. He participated in a professional wrestling match against legendary Antonio Inoki in 1975. The match was billed as "The match between the world's top two technicians" by the Japanese press.
Apart of being one of the important "shooters" of the shoot style movement, Billy Robinson began training youngsters in catch wrestling at the UWF Snake Pit in Japan. Billy Robinson has contributed immensely in training several Mixed Martial Arts legends including Kazushi Sakuraba and Josh Barnett. Currently, he trains up and coming fighter Manabu Inoue.
Robinson was inducted into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003.
Finishing Move:
Bridging double underhook suplex
Recommended matches:
Billy Robinson Vs. Antonio Inoki (1975)
Billy Robinson Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (1977)
#97. Homicide (237pts / 11 votes)
Thug who will out mat-wrestle you before taking your wallet
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 1
Highest Vote: #5
Point Average: 21.5 (#29 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Erazo
Nelson Erazo (born March 20, 1977) is an American professional wrestler of Puerto Rican descent, better known by his ring name, Homicide. Homicide is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a former NWA World Tag Team Champion. In TNA, he is one-half of the Latin American X-Change with his partner, Hernandez. He is also known from his time in Ring of Honor, where he was an ROH World Champion.
Finishing Move:
Cop Killah
Recommended matches:
Homicide Vs. Samoa Joe
Homicide Vs. Steve Corino
Homicide Vs. Colt Cabana
CZW Vs. ROH Cage of Death
Homicide Vs. Bryan Danielson
Latin American Express Vs. AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels
#96. John Cena (251pts / 16 votes)
OK, We CAN see you now John
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: 1
Highest Vote: #8
Point Average: 15.7 (#35 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena (born April 23, 1977) is an American professional wrestler, hip hop musician and actor. He is signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), wrestling on its RAW brand, where he is the reigning WWE Champion. In WWE, he is also a three-time United States Champion and a one-time World Tag Team Champion.
Finishing Move(s):
F-U (Fireman's carry-Slam)
STF-U (Step-over Toehold Facelock Uhhhh)
Recommended matches:
John Cena Vs. Edge
John Cena Vs. Chris Jericho
John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels
#95. Nick Bockwinkle (253pts / 13 votes)
Thinking man’s wrestler
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: 2
Highest Vote: #8
Point Average: 19.5 (#31 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Bockwinkel
Nick Bockwinkel (born December 6, 1934) is a former American professional wrestler, mainly competing in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the United States. He is a former multiple AWA World Heavyweight Champion.
Bockwinkel was considered by his peers and many industry experts to be an excellent wrestler, known for his exceptional technical ability and ring psychology. He was also known for his calm, charismatic, articulate promos, which distinguished him from many of his contemporaries. Larry Zbyszko once commented, "If you asked Bockwinkel for the time, he'd tell you how to build a watch." Eric Bishoff has stated that the greatest feud in the history of professional wrestling was the feud between Nick Bockwinkel and Curt Hennig.
Finishing Move:
Piledriver
Sleeper
Recommended matches:
Nick Bockwinkle Vs. Hulk Hogan
Nick Bockwinkle Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
Nick Bockwinkle Vs. Curt Hennig
#94. Kane (254pts / 14 votes)
Hellfire and Brimestone
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: 1
Highest Vote: #10
Point Average: 18.1 (#33 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #49 [-45]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Jacobs
Glen Thomas Jacobs (born April 26, 1967) is an American professional wrestler better known by the ring name, Kane. He is currently performing for World Wrestling Entertainment on its SmackDown! brand. Kane is also known as "The Big Red Monster" and "The Big Red Machine".
On May 19, 1998, Kane was revealed to be the result of a furtive union between The Undertaker's mother and Paul Bearer, an employee at the funeral home in Death Valley owned by The Undertaker's parents. When Kane and The Undertaker were children, The Undertaker "accidentally" burned down the funeral home, killing their parents and hideously scarring Kane both physically and mentally (the parents of The Undertaker are supposedly buried somewhere on Long Island; during an episode of RAW taped on Long Island, Kane and Bearer ostensibly exhumed their bodies and brought them to the arena). Bearer, who survived the fire, hid Kane in a mental asylum as he grew up and went on to form an alliance with The Undertaker (the details of "Kane's" early life were recounted in the book Journey into Darkness). After suffering mistreatment at the hands of The Undertaker, Bearer opted to bring Kane in to the WWF in order to gain vengeance upon The Undertaker.
The Kane character is portrayed as being psychologically unstable: depressed, schizophrenic, extremely violent and quick to anger. Like his half-brother, Kane is supposedly able to summon fire and bolts of lightning at will (although this particular talent has been alternately emphasised or de-emphasised depending upon the creative direction of the WWF at the time
Finishing Move:
Chokeslam straight to hell by gawd!
Tombstone
Recommended matches:
Issac Yankem Vs. Bret Hart
Kane Vs. Steve Austin (1st Blood Match)
Kane Vs. The Undertaker (Inferno match)
Kane Vs. HHH (chain match)
#93. Dory Funk Jr. (267pts / 12 votes)
The Crazy one of the family
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 2
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 22.3 (#29 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dory_Funk,_Jr.
Dorrance Funk, Jr. better known as Dory Funk, Jr. (born February 3, 1942) is a professional wrestler and wrestling trainer. He is the son of Dory Funk Sr. and brother of Terry Funk. He is credited with the invention of the Texas cloverleaf submission hold, and runs the Funking Conservatory, a professional wrestling school. His students and friends participate in a wrestling show, local to Ocala, Florida, called !BANG!. To date, he is the second longest reiging NWA World Heavyweight Champion of all time, holding it for over 4 years.
Finishing Move:
Spinning Toehold
Delayed Double Underhook Suplex
Recommended matches:
Dory Funk Jr. Vs. Antonio Inoki
Dory Funk Jr. Vs. Jack Brisco
Dory Funk Jr. Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
The Funks Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Giant Baba
The Funks Vs. Brusier Brody & Jimmy Snuka
The Funks Vs. Hulk Hogan & The JYD
#92. The Ultimate Warrior (268pts / 8 votes)
Still fears liberals, coffins and Golddust.
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 5
Highest Vote: #5
Point Average: 33.5 (#17 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #26 [-66]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Warrior
Warrior (born James Hellwig on June 16, 1959) is a former American professional wrestler best known as The Ultimate Warrior of WWE and WCW fame. He legally changed his name to Warrior in 1993 and currently works as a motivational speaker.
World Wrestling Federation (WWF) superstar from the mid-'80s to the early '90s, the Ultimate Warrior was known for his high-energy wrestling style. The Ultimate Warrior's ring entrances featured him racing into the arena at full speed, bursting into the ring, and violently shaking the ropes up and down. He was also known for his distinctive pattern of face painting.
Finishing Move:
Warrior Splash
Recommended matches:
The Ultimate Warrior Vs. Ric Rude
The Ultimate Warrior Vs. Hulk Hogan (WM 5)
The Ultimate Warrior Vs. Randy Savage
#91. Shinjiro Ohtani (272pts / 12 votes)
Junior division bully
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 1
Highest Vote: #4
Point Average: 22.7 (#28 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinjiro_Ohtani
Otani was the first WCW Cruiserweight Champion, defeating The Pegasus Kid in a tournament final to be crowned champion on March 20, 1996. This was the start of his push as a legitimate junior heavyweight contender. Over the years, Ohtani earned the J-Crown and was also part of the first IWGP junior tag team champions with Tatsuhito Takaiwa.
Floyd adds: Ohtani was awesome in the 90's, particularly in 1996 where he may have been the best wrestler in the world. (JMO) He had great mat and submission skills and excelled as an actor in the ring, whether it's selling a beating or being a complete jerk as a heel.
Finishing Move:
Spiral Bomb
Recommended matches:
Shinjiro Ohtani & Chris Benoit Vs. The Great Sasuke & Black Tiger (SG Tag Tournament 94)
Shinjiro Ohtani Vs. Jushin Liger
Shinjiro Ohtani Vs. Ultimo Dragon
Shinjiro Ohtani Vs. El Samurai
#90. The Destroyer (274pts / 9 votes)
Ahead of his time
Top 5 Votes: 3
Top 10 Votes: 3
Highest Vote: #4
Point Average: 30.4 (#20 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/beyer.asp
When the topic among wrestling historians shifts to greatest masked wrestlers of all time, the name "The Destroyer" is guaranteed to be at the top of the list.
Dick Beyer, an amateur wrestling champion and Syracuse University football player from Buffalo, New York, became a pro wrestler under his real name in 1954. But, it was a transformation to the masked Destroyer some eight years later that changed his life and his career forever.
In 1962, while wrestling in Hawaii, Beyer crossed paths with the legendary Freddie Blassie. Blassie arranged for Beyer to wrestle on the Southern California circuit, but it was promoter Jules Strongbow who decided that Dick would wear a mask under the ring name "The Destroyer".
Thousands of wrestlers through the years have been "put under a mask" by promoters, but only a handful embrace it to the point of making it their identity. Dick Beyer became "The Destroyer."
A rivalry with Blassie, in which the Destroyer became WWA World Champion, drew sellout crowds in Los Angeles and gained the masked man national and international notoriety. His in-ring career skyrocketed.
In 1963, "The Destroyer" toured Japan for the first time. The trip to the Orient and his matches with Rikidozan, the father of Japanese pro wrestling, made him a household name in that country. A bout between the two was responsible for one of the biggest ratings in the history of Japanese television when 70 million people tuned in to watch.
After headlining for several years in Los Angeles, Japan, the Pacific Northwest and Texas, Beyer agreed to move his home base to the Midwest. At the insistence of promoter Verne Gagne, Beyer was billed as the masked Doctor X. In 1968, Doctor X became AWA World Champion.
Beyer's return to "The Destroyer" persona allowed him to capitalize on his international reputation as he began a world tour in 1970, when he wrestled in Samoa, New Zealand, Japan, India and Europe.
In 1973, "The Destroyer" began a six-year association with Giant Baba's All Japan Pro Wrestling, which resulted in an exclusive deal that forced him to move his family to Japan. His crossover celebrity status led to his hosting role on "Uwasa No Channel", Japan's top-rated live TV musical and comedy series.
"The Destroyer" returned to the States in 1979, but continued his regular wrestling tours of Japan until 1993, when he teamed with Baba and son Kurt Beyer in his retirement match.
Beyer, who earned a Masters degree in Education and was an assistant football coach at Syracuse in the 1950s, returned to an Akron, New York classroom in 1984 as a physical education teacher and as a high school football, wrestling and swimming coach.
Beyer's devotion to his community continues to this day with endless hours committed to local charities, Syracuse University related events, Toastmasters International and amateur wrestling.
In 2002 Beyer was inducted into the Hall Of Fame at the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Newton, Iowa. His induction into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005 in the TV-Era Division cements his reputation as a Hall Of Fame wrestler ... and a Hall Of Fame human being.
Floyd adds: An Awesome wrestler, in pretty much EVERY catergory you can think of. A surberb ring technician, he also knew how to play both good guy and bad guy roles for the greatest effect. He also became an cultural icon in Japan despite being not being a native there. He really paved the way for future foreigners to come and make careers in Japan. Any story telling of the foundation of Puro wrestling must include this Hall of Famer.
Finishing Move:
Figure-Four leglock
Recommended matches:
The Destroyer Vs. Rikidozen
The Destroyer Vs. Giant Baba
The Destroyer Vs. Mil Mascaras
#89. Lance Storm (275pts / 13 votes)
I’d like to be serious here for a minute..
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: 1
Highest Vote: #10
Point Average: 21.2 (#30 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lance_Storm
Lance Timothy Evers (born April 3, 1969), known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known in the western world for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling. He runs a pro wrestling school Storm Wrestling Academy in Calgary, Alberta.
Finishing Move:
Canadian Maple Leaf
Recommended matches:
Lance Storm & Chris Jericho Vs. The Heavenly Bodys
Lace Storm Vs. Justin Credible
Lace Storm Vs. Edge
#88. Barry Windham (285pts / 16 votes)
Could take Flair to the limit
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: 1
Highest Vote: #6
Point Average: 17.8 (#33 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Windham
Barry Windham (born July 4, 1960) is a professional wrestler and the son of wrestler Blackjack Mulligan. He is best known for his appearances with the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling. He is now currently employed by WWE as a producer.
Barry Windham is largely considered one of the best workers of his time by many true wrestling experts (which is ironic because when asked in a shoot interview who he thought was the most overrated worker, he said he felt it was him). Much of Barry's early career was in the Florida region of the NWA where Gordon Solie was the head announcer. He was a fan favorite for most of the early and middle periods of his career, having great success in singles and tag action. He held tag team championships with Mike Rotunda (collectively known as the US Express) in both the WWF and NWA. After leaving the WWF in 1985, he was outspoken in his criticism of the WWF's "Rock and Wrestling" style, which deemphasized traditional wrestling. He joined the NWA and enjoyed success there as one of the top draws on and off for the next decade.
Barry now resides in community of Fargo in the city of Homerville, Georgia and competes infrequently.
Finishing Move:
The Iron Claw
Superplex
Recommended matches:
Barry Windham Vs. Ric Flair
Barry Windham Vs. Lex Luger
Barry Windham Vs. Sting
#87. Jack Brisco (289pts / 14 votes)
If you’ve never seen him wrestle, then you don’t know jack
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: -
Highest Vote: #11
Point Average: 20.6 (#30 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Brisco
Freddie Joe Brisco known to most as Jack Brisco (born September 21, 1941) is a former professional wrestler who was popular and successful during the 1970s, and into the 1980s. Brisco turned down a football scholarship at University of Oklahoma to wrestle at Oklahoma State. He was the first Native American to win a NCAA National Championship. His first NWA World Heavyweight Championship reign came when he defeated Harley Race in Houston, Texas on July 20, 1973. Brisco was inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005. Brisco now lives in Florida where he owns an auto body shop.
Finishing Move:
Figure-Four Leglock
Recommended matches:
Jack Brisco Vs. Antonio Inoki
Jack Brisco Vs. Dory Funk Jr.
Jack Brisco Vs. Giant Baba
Jack Brisco Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
#86 Austin Aries (294pts / 13 votes)
Nash fears him
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 2
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 22.6 (#28 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #82 [-4]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Aries
Aries began training under Eddie Sharkey and Terry Fox in 2000 and debuted in November 11, 2000, facing "Sheriff" Johnny Emerald. He wrestled in the midwest for several years before his east coast wrestling career was jumpstarted after he progressed to the finals of the 2004 ECWA Super 8 Tournament, where he was defeated by Christopher Daniels.
Finishing Move:
450 Splash.
Recommended matches:
Austin Aries Vs. Samoa Joe
Austin Aries Vs. Bryan Danielson
Austin Aries Vs. Jamie Noble
#85. Matt Hardy (298pts / 18 votes)
Took Lita off his Christmas card list.
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: -
Highest Vote: #16
Point Average: 16.6 (#16 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Hardy
Matthew Moore "Matt" Hardy (born September 23, 1974) is an American professional wrestler, currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on their SmackDown! brand
He is also a former six-time World Tag Team Champion and one time WCW World Tag Team Champion with his younger brother and fellow wrestler Jeff Hardy where they were known as The Hardy Boyz.
Apart from his success as a tag team wrestler Matt has also won numerous singles championships. He is a former WWF/E Hardcore, European and Cruiserweight champion
Finishing Move:
Twist of Fate (Front Facelock swinger cutter)
Recommended matches:
The Hardyz Vs. The Serial Thrillerz (OMEGA)
TLC matches
Matt Hardy Vs. Rey Mysterio Jr.
Matt Hardy Vs. Edge
#84. Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy (299pts / 15 votes)
Adapted and Excelled in Two Hemispheres
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: -
Highest Vote: #13
Point Average: 19.9 (#31 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Gordy
Terry Gordy started wrestling in 1978 at the age of 16 as Terry Mecca. In early 1979, he changed his ring name to his real name of Terry Gordy and he formed the Fabulous Freebirds with Michael Hayes, Buddy Roberts was later added to the group. They were great heels and won titles everywhere they went. In 1984, the Freebirds went to World Class Championship Wrestling and had a legendary feud with the Von Erichs (David, Kevin, Kerry and Mike). They spent some time in the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions where they split to feud briefly but then reunited. They also spent a very brief time in the WWF but left when management tried to split them up.
Gordy died of a heart attack on July 16, 2001 due to a blood clot. His son Ray wrestles for WWE on its SmackDown! brand.
Finishing Move:
Powerbomb
Backdrop Driver
Recommended matches:
The Freebirds Vs. The Von Erichs
Terry Gordy Vs. Killer Khan
Terry Gordy & Stan Hansen Vs. Genchiro Tenryu & Toshiaki
Terry Gordy Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa
Terry Gordy & Dr. Death Steve Williams Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada
#83. Jerry Lynn (310pts / 16 votes)
Was too good for the WWF
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: -
Highest Vote: #14
Point Average: 19.4 (#32 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #35 [-48]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Lynn
Lynn started wrestling in 1988 in various independent promotions in the Minnesota area.
After the AWA folded, Lynn wrestled for the Global Wrestling Federation based in Dallas, Texas. While in GWF, Lynn captured the GWF Light Heavyweight Championship. Lynn also engaged in a two year feud with The Lightning Kid which gave both men considerable exposure.
Finishing Move:
Cradle piledriver
Recommended matches:
Jerry Lynn Vs. Sean Waltman
Jerry Lynn Vs. Rob Van Dam
Jerry Lynn Vs. Justin Credible
Jerry Lynn Vs. A.J. Styles Vs. Low Ki
#82. Bam Bam Bigelow (340pts / 21 votes)
Very agile for a mountain.
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: -
Highest Vote: #18
Point Average: 16.2 (#34 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #71 [-11]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bam_Bam_Bigelow
Bigelow was trained as a pro wrestler at Larry Sharpe's "Monster Factory" in Gloucestor Township, New Jersey. He debuted in Memphis, Tennessee in 1985. Moving on from the Memphis promotion, Bigelow adopted various ring names before settling on Bam Bam Bigelow.
Floyd adds: Bam Bam Bigelow passed away on Jan 19th, 2007
Finishing Move:
Greetings from Asbury Park (Piledriver)
Diving headbutt
Recommended matches:
Bam Bam Bigelow & Vader Vs. The Steiners
Bam Bam Bigelow Vs. Bret Hart
Bam Bam Bigelow Vs. RVD
Bam Bigelow Vs. Taz
#81. Brock Lesnar (348pts / 17 votes)
Brock – 1, Vince - 0
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 2
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 20.5 (#30 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #39 [-42]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brock_Lesnar
In 2000, after the successful end to his college, Lesnar signed up with the World Wrestling Federation, a professional wrestling promotion later known as World Wrestling Entertainment in mid-2002. Lesnar was sent to its developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling. There, Lesnar formed a tag team known as the Minnesota Stretching Crew with his former college roommate, Shelton Benjamin, in its Ohio Valley Wrestling territory. Lesnar and Benjamin won the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship on three occasions. Lesnar wrestled several dark matches in 2001 and 2002 before being called up to the main roster.
Finishing Move:
F5 (Swinging Fireman’s Carry Slam)
Shooting Brock Press
Recommended matches:
Brock Lesnar Vs. The Rock
Brock Lesnar Vs. The Undertaker
Brock Lesnar Vs. Kurt Angle
Brock Lesnar Vs. Eddie Guerrero
#80. El Santo (351pts / 12 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
The definition of "Icon"
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 2
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 29.3 (#22 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #92 [+12]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo
http://www.wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/wrestlers/elsanto2.html
Santo is the professional name of Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta (September 23, 1917 - February 5, 1984), more widely known as Santo, El Enmascarado de Plata ("Santo, the Silver-Masked Man" in English) who was a Mexican wrestler, film actor, and folk hero.
El Santo, along with Blue Demon & Mil Mascaras, is perhaps the most famous and iconic of all Mexican luchadores, or free wrestlers, and has been referred to as "the greatest legend in Mexican sports". His wrestling career spanned nearly five decades, during which he became a folk hero and a symbol of justice for the common man through his appearances in comic books and movies. He and Blue Demon are said to have popularized professional wrestling in Mexico just as Rikidozan did in Japan and Hulk Hogan did in the United States.
Born in Tulancingo in the Mexican state of Hidalgo, to Jesús Guzmán Campuzano and Josefina Huerta (Márquez) de Guzmán as the fifth of seven children, Rodolfo came to Mexico City in the 1920s, where his family settled in the Tepito neighbourhood. He practiced baseball and American football, and then became interested in wrestling. He learned Ju-Jitsu, then classical wrestling, and although accounts vary as to exactly when and where he first wrestled competitively, either in Arena Peralvillo Cozumel on the 28th of June 1934, or Deportivo Islas in the Guerrero colony of Mexico City in 1935, but by the second half of the 1930s, he was established as a wrestler, using the names Rudy Guzmán, El Hombre Rojo (the Red Man), El Demonio Negro (The Black Demon) and El Murcielago II (The Bat II). The last name was a rip-off of the name of a famous wrestler Jesus Velazquez named "El Murcielago" (The Bat), and after an appeal by the Bat to the Mexican boxing and wrestling commission, the regulatory body ruled that Guzmán could not use the name.
In the early 1940s, Guzmán married María de los Ángeles Rodríguez Montaño (Maruca), a union that would produce 10 children; their names were Alejandro, María de los Ángeles, Héctor Rodolfo, Blanca Lilia, Víctor Manuel, Miguel Ángel, Silvia Yolanda, María de Lourdes, Mercedes, and the youngest child Jorge, who also became a famous wrestler in his own right, El Hijo del Santo (Son of Santo). One of his grandsons (not a son of Jorge) wrestled under the name El Nieto Del Santo (Grandson of Santo), but after Son of Santo took legal action against him using the name Santo, he changed it to Axxel, but people still refer to him as Nieto del Santo.
In 1942, Rodolfo's manager, Don Jesús Lomelí, was putting together a new team of wrestlers, all dressed in silver, and wanted Rodolfo to be a part of it. He suggested three names, El Santo (The Saint), El Diablo (The Devil), or El Angel (The Angel), and Rodolfo chose the first one. On the 26th of June at the age of 25, he wrestled at the Arena Mexico for the first time as El Santo. Under this new name he quickly found his style, and his agility and versatility made him very popular.
One of Santo's greatest matches was in 1952, when he fought a tag-team known as Los Hermanos Shadow (which consisted of famed luchadors Blue Demon and the Black Shadow). Santo beat and unmasked The Black Shadow in the ring, which triggered Blue Demon's decision to become a técnico, as well as a legendary feud between The Blue Demon and Santo that culminated in Blue's beating Santo in a well-publicized series of matches in 1952 and again in 1953. Their rivalry never really ended in later years, although they appeared together in a number of action/adventure films, since Santo always remembered his defeat at the Blue Demon's hands.
Finishing Move:
The Santo Dive (Flying crossbody)
Recommended matches:
El Santo Vs. Blue Demon
El Santo Vs. Black Shadow
(I’ve actually never seen a Santo match..
)
#79. “Flying” Brian Pillman (358pts / 19 votes)
Loose Cannon
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: 1
Highest Vote: #8
Point Average: 18.8 (#32 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Pillman
Following the end of his football career, Pillman remained in Canada and began training as a wrestler under Stu Hart and his sons. He debuted under his real name in 1986 in Hart's Calgary, Alberta-based Stampede Wrestling promotion.
Some time during the night or early morning prior to the October 5, 1997 In Your House: Badd Blood pay per view in St. Louis, Pillman died in a Minnesota hotel room. While he had a documented history of abuse of prescription drugs, an autopsy found that a previously undetected heart condition - arteriosclerotic heart disease - had led to his death. Pillman did not know that he was about to become a father once again when he died.
Finishing Move:
Air Pillman (Springboard off the ropes Clothesline)
Recommended matches:
Brian Pillman Vs. Jushin Liger
Brian Pillman Vs. Ric Flair
Brian Pillman & Steve Austin Vs. Ric Flair & Arn Adnerson
10-man Canadian Tag Match
#78. Chris Hero (370pts / 14 votes)
Has Super Powers
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 3
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 26.4 (#25 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #65 [-13]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hero
Chris Spradlin (born December 24, 1979) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Chris Hero. He is a mainstay of many independent wrestling promotions, including IWA Mid-South, Combat Zone Wrestling, Juggalo Championshit Wrestling, CHIKARA, Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and Jersey All Pro Wrestling as well as Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan.
Finishing Move:
Hero's Welcome (Rolling Neck Cutter)
Recommended matches:
Chris Hero Vs. CM Punk
Chris Hero Vs. Bryan Danielson
CZW Vs. ROH Cage of Death
#77. “Dr Death” Steve Williams (377pts / 18 votes)
The Doctor is In.
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 1
Highest Vote: #5
Point Average: 20.9 (#30 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Williams_(wrestler)
Dr. Death" Steve Williams graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1981 after a stellar football career that saw him named an All-American. He also competed as an amateur wrestler losing in the finals of an NCAA tournament to future Olympic medalist Bruce Baumgartner.
Finishing Move:
Oklahoma Stampede (Running Powerslam)
Backdrop Danggggggggerooooouuuuuuuusssssss.
Recommended matches:
Steve Williams Vs. Kenta Kobashi
Steve Williams Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa
Steve Williams Vs. Toshiaki Kawada
#76. Booker T (386pts / 23 votes)
Hail to the King baby
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: -
Highest Vote: #16
Point Average: 16.8 (#34 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #98 [+22]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_Huffman
Robert Booker Tio Huffman (born March 1, 1965 in Houston, Texas), better known by his wrestling name Booker T, is an American professional wrestler. He is the owner of Pro Wrestling Alliance and is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on its RAW brand. Huffman's Booker T persona changed to King Booker upon winning WWE's King of the Ring tournament in mid-2006.
During his career in WCW and WWF/E Huffman won a total of six World Championships; a five time WCW Champion, and a one time World Heavyweight Champion. In a addition, he was the winner of the WWE King of the Ring tournament in 2006 and the sixteenth WWE Triple Crown Champion. He is also known for being one-half of the tag team Harlem Heat with his brother Lane Huffman where they were WCW World Tag Team Champions a record ten times together. Huffman is the most decorated tag team champion in wrestling history, winning a record 14 World Tag Team titles between WCW and WWF/E.
Finishing Move:
Scissors Kick
Bookend
Harlem Hangover (360 top-rope legdrop)
Spinaroonie (Dazzles opponent)
Recommended matches:
Booker T Vs. Chris Benoit
Booker T Vs. Jeff Jarrett
Booker T Vs. The Rock
#75. Rikidozan (388pts / 15 votes)
The God of Puro
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: 3
Highest Vote: #7
Point Average: 25.9 (#25 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rikidozan
http://www.wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/wrestlers/rikidozan2.html
Rikidozan (November 14, 1924 - December 15, 1963) was a professional wrestler, known as the "Father of Puroresu" and one of the most influential men in wrestling history. He was credited with bringing the sport of professional wrestling to Japan at a time when the Japanese needed a local hero to look up to and was lauded as a Japanese hero - although ironically was not Japanese at all, but Korean
Born Kim Sin-nak (or Kim Sin-rak) in South Hamgyong, Korea on November 14, 1924), he travelled to Japan and trained to be a sumo wrestler. Due to the discrimination against Koreans by the Japanese at the time, Shin-rak claimed that his name was Mitsuhiro Momota (Momota being the surname of the family from Nagasaki which adopted, but later disowned, him), and used the shikona of Rikidozan. He was runner-up to yokozuna Haguroyama in the tournament of June 1947. His highest rank was sekiwake.
Frustrated with neverending discrimination in matches and in his dojo, he gave up sumo in 1950 and made his professional wrestling debut in 1951 with a ten minute draw against Bobby Bruns. He established himself as Japan's biggest wrestling star by defeating one American wrestler after another. This was shortly after World War II, and the Japanese needed someone who could stand up to the Americans. Rikidozan thus became immensely popular in Japan. His American opponents assisted him by portraying themselves as villains who cheated in their matches. Ironically, Rikidozan was always booked himself as a villain when he wrestled in America.
Rikidozan gained worldwide renown when he defeated Lou Thesz for the NWA International Heavyweight Championship on August 27, 1958. In another match, Thesz willingly agreed to put over Rikidozan at the expense of his own reputation. This built up mutual respect between the two wrestlers, and Rikidozan never forgot what Thesz did. He would go on to capture several NWA titles in matches both in Japan and overseas. Rikidozan also trained professional wrestling students, including soon-to-be wrestling legends Kanji "Antonio" Inoki, Ooki Kintaro, and Shohei "Giant" Baba.
With his success in pro wrestling, Rikidozan began acquiring properties such as nightclubs, hotels and boxing promotions. He established the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA), Japan's first professional wrestling promotion, in 1953. His first major feud was against Masahiko Kimura, the famous judoka who had been invited by Rikidozan to compete as a professional wrestler. Other famous feuds included those against Thesz in 1957-58, against Freddie Blassie in 1962, and against The Destroyer in 1963. Two of his matches are still (as of 2002) in the top ten rated television programs of all time in Japan. His October 6, 1957 sixty-minute draw with Lou Thesz for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship drew an 87.0 rating, and his May 24, 1963 sixty-minute two out of three falls draw with The Destroyer drew a 67.0 rating, but a larger viewing audience (the largest in Japanese history) than the previous match, since by 1963 more people had television sets.
In 1963, he ran afoul of a rivalry between his friend Nicola "Nick" Zapetti, a yakuza boss who helped him fund the JWA, and a warring crime family. On December 8, 1963, while partying in a Tokyo nightclub, Rikidozan was stabbed with a urine-soaked blade by gangster Katsuji Murata. Reportedly, Rikidozan threw Murata out of the club and continued to party, refusing to seek medical help. Another report states that Rikidozan did indeed see his physician shortly after the incident, and was told the wound was not serious. He died a week later of peritonitis at the age of 39 on December 15.
Finishing Move:
Big Karate Chop
Recommended matches:
Rikidozan Vs. Lou Thesz
Rikidozan Vs. Freddie Blassie
Rikidozan Vs. The Destroyer
#74. Hayabusa (391pts / 16 votes – ONE #1 vote)
The Flying Assassin
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 4
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 24.4 (#27 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #100 [+22]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiji_Ezaki
Eiji Ezaki is a former Japanese professional wrestler better known as the masked Hayabusa (Falcon/Phoenix), who competed primarily for Atsushi Onita's Frontier Martial Arts promotion. He gained great popularity for his unique appearance and high risk style.
In October 2001, Hayabusa suffered an injury during a match against Mammoth Sasaki while attempting a springboard moonsault. His foot caught the ropes and he landed on his head, paralyzing him. The injury also provoked a very high fever and Hayabusa required surgery. Hayabusa was considered the heart and soul of FMW, and after his departure, FMW slowly folded.
Ezaki has stated that his goal is to stand in a wrestling ring once more without aid.
Finishing Move:
Phoenix Splash (Top rope corkscrew 450)
Falcon Arrow (Sitout Suplex)
Recommended matches:
Hayabusa Vs. Atsushi Onita (Exploding Bomb Cage match)
Hayabusa Vs. Mike Awesome
Hayabusa Vs. Masato Tanaka
Hayabusa Vs. Mr. Gannosuke
Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki Vs. Rob Van Dam & Sabu
Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama
#73. Rick Rude (399 pts / 19 votes)
What I would like to have right now is for all you fat, out of shape, Internet-surfing, Forum-reading, Coach Potatoing sweathogs. Keep the noise down while I take my robe off, and show the ladies what a real man is supposed to look like. Hit the music!
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 1
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 21.0 (#30 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #38 [-35]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Rood
Richard Erwin Rood (December 7, 1958 – April 20, 1999), better known by his ring name of "Ravishing" Rick Rude (to which Rood would legally change his name), was a professional wrestler who performed for many promotions, most notably World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation, in the 1980s and 1990s.
Finishing Move:
Rude Awakening (Reverse Hangman’s Neckbreaker)
Recommended matches:
Rick Rude Vs. Roddy Piper
Rick Rude Vs. The Ultimate Warrior
Rick Rude Vs. Sting
Rick Rude Vs. Ricky Steamboat
Rick Rude Vs. Masahiro Chono
#72. Manami Toyota (408pts / 17 votes – ONE #1 vote)
More 5 Stars matches than Hogan
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 2
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 24.0 (#27 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #91 [+19]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manami_Toyota
Manami Toyota is a professional wrestler best known for her work with the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) wrestling promotion. Following AJW's closure she has continued to work in other joshi promotions such as GAEA and NEO. Toyota is a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Manami Toyota is also the only woman to have competed in 5 matches that were given a 5-Star rating by the Wrestling Observer. She is arguably the greatest female wrestler of All-time.
Finishing Move:
Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex (Cross armed German suplex)
Recommended matches:
Manami Toyota Vs. Toshiyo Yamada
Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada Vs. Dynamite kansai & Mayumi Ozaki
Manami Toyota & Sakie Hasegawa Vs. Kyoko & Takako Inoue
Manami Toyota Vs. Aja Kong
Manami Toyota Vs. Akira Hokuto
Manami Toyota Vs. Kyoko Inoue
#71. The Great Sasuke (423pts / 19 votes)
Congress man.
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 1
Highest Vote: #4
Point Average: 22.3 (#29 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #94 [+23]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masanori_Murakawa
Masanori Murakawa, (born July 18, 1969), is a Japanese professional wrestler who is better known by his stage name The Great Sasuke. He has wrestled in Japan and in the United States in various wrestling promotions. He is said to have an incredible tolerance for pain, mainly in reference to the injuries he has had including a cracked skull on 2 occasions.
Finishing Move:
Thunder Fire Powerbomb
Sasuke Specials
Recommended matches:
The Great Sasuke Vs. El Samurai
The Great Sasuke Vs. Jushin Liger
The Great Sasuke Vs. Chris Benoit
The Great Sasuke Vs. Magnum Tokyo
#70. El Hijo Del Santo (438pts / 17 votes – THREE #1 Votes)
Went into the family business
Top 5 Votes: 4
Top 10 Votes: 8
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 25.8 (#25 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Hijo_del_Santo
El Hijo del Santo ("The Son of the Saint") is a Mexican professional wrestler and one of the most successful stars in Lucha Libre. He is the son of legendary wrestler/actor, El Santo, and his real name is Jorge Guzmán
"Santito," as he is sometimes referred, was the only one out of El Santo's eleven children to become a professional wrestler. He began wrestling without his father's consent in February, 1982 as "El Korak" but he made his official debut as "El Hijo del Santo" in October of that year after he earned his college degree in Communication Science as per his father's request. He shared his father's look, the silver mask, tights and cape, and moves but he was shorter and, although he would never become the same cultural icon, he would become a better in-ring performer than his father.
Finishing Move:
La de a Caballo (Camel Clutch)
Recommended matches:
El Hijo Del Santo Vs. Negro Casas
El Hijo Del Santo & Octagon Vs. Eddie Guerrero & Art Barr
El Hijo Del Santo Vs. El Dandy Vs. Negro Casas
El Hijo Del Santo Vs. Psicocos
El Hijo Del Santo Vs. La Parka
#69. KENTA (445pts / 20 votes)
MOTYC's seem to follow him around
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: -
Highest Vote: #11
Point Average: 22.3 (#29 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenta_Kobayashi
Kenta Kobayashi also known by his ring name KENTA, is a Japanese professional wrestler and one of the last two trainees of the All Japan Pro Wrestling dojo before the Pro Wrestling NOAH split, which he followed. He initially used his real name, but due to obvious potential confusion with his mentor Kenta Kobashi, he dropped his surname and began spelling his given name in Roman all caps. His style is a combination of aerial junior heavyweight wrestling and shoot style. Spunky, with an attitude reminiscent of Akira Maeda's, he has even challenged heavyweights like Mitsuharu Misawa and Genichiro Tenryu to staredowns and feuds despite often being on the losing end of attacks.
Finishing Move:
Go 2 Sleep (Fireman's carry dropped into a kick to the face)
Busaiku Knee Kick (Running Knee to da jaw)
Recommended matches:
KENTA Vs. Low Ki
KENTA Vs. Bryan Danielson
KENTA Vs. Naomichi Marufuji
KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji Vs. Takeshi Morishima &Takeshi Rikio
#68. Alex Shelly (446pts / 15 votes)
Chain and Submission Masta
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 6
Highest Vote: #5
Point Average: 30.3 (#21 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Shelley
Patrick Martin (born May 23, 1983), is an American professional wrestler currently wrestling for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He previously gained fame on the independent circuit, working most notably for Ring of Honor, as well as in Japan, for Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX, where he currently holds the ZERO-1 MAX International Lightweight Tag Team Championship with Chris Sabin.
Finishing Move:
Shellshock (Swinging Downward Spiral)
Recommended matches:
Alex Shelly Vs. Austin Aries
Alex Shelly Vs. Bryan Danielson
Generation Next Vs. CM Punk, John Walters, Jimmy Jacobs and Ace Steel
The Embassy Vs. Generation Next (Cage)
#67. Low Ki (454pts / 19 votes)
American Kickboxer
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 4
Highest Vote: #5
Point Average: 23.9 (#27 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Silvestry
Brandon Silvestry (born September 6, 1979), best known by the ring name, Low-Ki, is an American professional wrestler of Puerto Rican and Italian descent. He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as Senshi. He is also performing in the American independent circuit, most notably for Jersey All Pro Wrestling and IWA Mid-South.
Silvestry admits that the name "Low Ki", originally spelled Low-Key, came from the lyrics of the BLACKstreet song, No Diggity. In 2002 on an episode of WWF Metal he wrestled the then WWE European Champion Christian. Silvestry is considered one of the top independent talents and athletes in the world and is known for his use of various brutal strikes. Because of this, many people assumed that he legitimately knocked out opponent Dan Maff early in their main event match at ROH's Bitter Friends, Stiffer Enemies in 2003 with his Tidal Wave springboard enzuigiri, causing the match to be stopped. He is also known for his intensity, focus, and serious approach to wrestling, which he calls his "art." Ki is also known for keeping kayfabe, even outside of the wrestling ring, as well as pumping himself up before matches by kicking walls.
Finishing Move:
Ghetto Stomp
Ki Krusher
Dragon Clutch (Dragonsleep/ Camel Clutch)
Recommended matches:
Low Ki Vs. Bryan Danielson Vs. Christopher Daniels
Low Ki Vs. AJ Styles Vs. Jerry Lynn
Low Ki Vs. Samoa Joe
Low Ki & Samoa Joe Vs. Kenta Kobashi & Homicide
Low Ki Vs. KENTA
#66. Bruiser Brody (463pts / 23 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Lugar didn’t vote for him.
Top 5 Votes: 3
Top 10 Votes: 3
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 24.4 (#27 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruiser_Brody
Frank Goodish (June 18, 1946 - July 17, 1988) was a professional wrestler who earned his greatest fame under the name Bruiser Brody. He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Goodish was an All-State football and basketball player at Warren High School, Michigan and played football at West Texas State.
On July 17, 1988, Brody had finished a match with Abdullah the Butcher and Dan Spivey in Bayamón (a city near San Juan, Puerto Rico), when Jose Huertas, AKA Invader I (a fellow wrestler and booker) came up to him in the locker room and asked him to go into the shower to discuss business. It is contested by several wrestlers in the locker room that Huertas was holding a knife wrapped inside a towel when he was waiting for Brody to arrive to the locker room. At the time, Huertas was one of the men who made decisions at the WWC meetings and was also a good friend of Carlos Colón (WWC Promoter and main superstar), and it is rumored that Brody had upset him on numerous occasions by refusing to do jobs. It is also believed that Brody was planning to take control of WWC (as Brody apparently began to invest in the promotion), which may have additionally upset Huertas.
Huertas got into the shower area first and, when Brody bent his head to enter the shower area, Huertas allegedly grabbed his hair and stabbed Brody several times in the stomach and the chest. He was poisoned from his own bile. Brody was taken by ambulance to Centro Medico, the main hospital facility in San Juan, but he died hours later while undergoing a second surgery. Huertas, who always maintained his innocence, was tried for murder, but was acquitted by a jury of his peers, citing self-defense. Afterwards, a number of wrestlers refused to work in Puerto Rico in protest of the jury verdict, which temporarily crippled the Puerto Rican wrestling scene.
Finishing Move:
Running Knee Drop
Recommended matches:
Bruiser Brody & Jimmy Snuka Vs. The Funks
Bruiser Brody Vs. Antonio Inoki
Bruiser Brody Vs. Abdullah the Butcher
Bruiser Brody Vs. Ric Flair
Bruiser Brody Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
#65. Shohei “Giant” Baba (464pts / 19 votes)
I respect you booker man!
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 2
Highest Vote: #5
Point Average: 24.4 (#27 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #93 [+28]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shohei_Baba
http://www.wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/wrestlers/giantbaba2.html
Shohei Baba (January 23, 1938–January 31, 1999) was a professional wrestler and co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling. He was also known as Giant Baba. Baba, along with Antonio Inoki, became one of the most famous Japanese wrestlers of his era, with a popularity in Japan comparable to Hulk Hogan's in America.
Before entering professional wrestling he had been a professional baseball pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants. It was around this time when national wrestling hero and owner of the Japanese Wrestling Association Mitsuhiro Momota Sr. - better known as Rikidozan - began to feel the time was right for him to start grooming a successor in order to keep business strong. In April 1960 Baba began training in Rikidozan's dojo along with fellow student Kanji Inoki. The two trained together under Rikidozan and made their debuts on September 30th, 1960 at the old Daito Ku Gymnasium in Tokyo where Baba beat Yonetaro Tanaka and Inoki, renamed Antonio, lost to Korean star and fellow Rikidozan student Kintaro Oki. The period 1967-71 is best remembered by Japanese wrestling fans for the Baba and Inoki tag team that first won the NWA International Tag Team Titles on October 31st, 1967 beating Bill Watts and Tarzan Tyler, and would go on to hold the belts four times, a record that Baba would break later with another partner, Jumbo Tsuruta.
Finishing Move:
Running Lariatooooooo
Coconut Crush (Side headlock facebreaker knee smash)
Recommended matches:
Giant Baba Vs. The Destroyer
Giant Baba Vs. Gene Kiniski
Giant Baba Vs. Jack Brisco
Giant Baba Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. The Funks
Giant Baba Vs. Harley Race
Giant Baba Vs. Stan Hansen
#64. Bob Backlund (471pts / 25 votes)
Mark my words, he WILL be President one day
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: 1
Highest Vote: #9
Point Average: 18.8 (#32 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #64 [-]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Backlund
Robert Louis Backlund (b. August 14, 1950), better known as Bob Backlund is a retired American professional wrestler with an in ring career that spanned over 27 years and saw Backlund win two world championships for the World Wrestling Federation (known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation when Backlund won his first title). After retiring from in ring activity Backlund continues to work in the pro wrestling business in a non-wrestling capacity, currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Backlund was also an accomplished amateur wrestler wrestling for the North Dakota State University Bison in the late 1960s to early 1970s. In 2000, Backlund unsuccessfully ran for a Connecticut seat in Congress on a Republican ticket.
Finishing Move:
Atomic Drop of Doom
Crossface chickenwing
Recommended matches:
Bob Backlund Vs. Antonio Inoki
Bob Backlund Vs. Ken Patera
Bob Backlund Vs. Adrian Adonis
Bob Backlund Vs. Greg Valentine
Bob Backlund Vs. Nobuhiko Takada
#63. Kevin Nash (477pts / 24 votes)
Fingerpoke Survivor
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 4
Highest Vote: #4
Point Average: 19.9 (#31 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #43 [-20]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_nash
Kevin Scott Nash (born July 9, 1959) is an American professional wrestler and actor. Nash has wrestled under various ring names for World Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and, currently, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
Floyd: Gahhh. His bio is too big! So here's the short of it. Nash was a WWF World Champion and a multiple-time WCW World Champion. He was part of the NWO Invasion to WCW along with Scott Hall. He co-led the NWO for years then after WCW folded went to the WWF. He’s now a backstage guy in TNA.
Finishing Move:
Jackknife Powerbomb
Recommended matches:
Kevin Nash Vs. Bret Hart
Kevin Nash Vs. The Undertaker
Kevin Nash Vs. Shawn Michaels
#62. Jun Akiyama (481pts / 20 votes)
The All-Japan invasion of the list begins
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 2
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 24.1 (#27 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jun_Akiyama
Jun Akiyama is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling NOAH, where he currently holds one half of the GHC Tag Team Championship.
In junior high school Akiyama practised swimming and in senior high school he did freestyle amateur wrestling and judo. After high school he went to Senshu University in Tokyo. There he joined an amateur wrestling team that produced other professional wrestlers Riki Choshu), Hiroshi Hase and Manabu Nakanishi. He had great success as an amateur wrestler and so was scouted by All Japan Pro Wrestling scouts. He made his professional wrestling debut in september of 1992 against Kenta Kobashi. He gradually rose in rank, getting a trial series in January 1993 and eventually becoming Mitsuharu Misawa's tag team partner after he split with Kenta Kobashi at the end of 1995. He was closing in on the Triple Crown, getting his first shot in September 1997 and steadily rising in rank over the coming years before he left AJPW for Mitsuharu Misawa's newly created Pro Wrestling NOAH in mid-2000. He was quickly established as a top star of the company, becoming the second GHC Heavyweight Champion but failed to shine in the position with NOAH eventually being forced to abandon his push, using Yoshinari Ogawa to transition the title back to Misawa. In April 2004 he created the GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship Title. Late 2004 and much of 2005 were highlighted by his feud with protégé Makoto Hashi where Akiyama used "tough love" to toughen up young Hashi. On January 22, 2006, Akiyama defeated Akira Taue to become the GHC Heavyweight Champion for the second time, defending the title against Minoru Suzuki on March 5 and Masao Inoue on April 24. Akiyama was defeated by Naomichi Marufuji on NOAH's September 9 Nippon Budokan show in his third defense of the GHC Heavyweight Title.
Finishing Move:
Exploder 98'
Exploder Stern Dusts
Recommended matches:
Jun Akiyama, Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi Vs. Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue & Ogawa
Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Dr. Death Steve Williams & Johnny Ace
Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue
Jun Akiyama Vs. Kenta Kobashi
#61. Shinya Hashimoto (483pts / 15 votes)
Kicks people. Hard.
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 5
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 32.2 (#19 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinya_Hashimoto
Shinya Hashimoto (July 3, 1965 - July 11, 2005), was a Japanese professional wrestler. Along with Masahiro Chono and Keiji Mutoh, Hashimoto was dubbed one of the "Three Musketeers" that began competing in New Japan Pro Wrestling in the late 1980s and dominated the promotion in the 1990s.
He is one (the other being Keiji Mutoh) of the only wrestlers that has held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, the AJPW Triple Crown Championship and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. He is often compared to All-Japan's Toshiaki Kawada, the legendary Hashimoto was widely known for his stiff kicks and violent matches.
The Japanese wrestling world was shocked when Hashimoto died of a brain aneurysm in Tokyo, Japan, on July 11, 2005. He was only 8 days past his 40th birthday.
Finishing Move:
Brainbuster Suplex
Recommended matches:
Shinya Hashimoto Vs. Keiji Mutoh
Shinya Hashimoto Vs. Genichiro Tenyru
Shinya Hashimoto Vs. Nobuhiko Takada
Shinya Hashimoto Vs. Hiro Hase
#60. Dave “Fit” Finley (486pts / 23 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
The Comeback Kid
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 2
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 23.1 (#28 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fit_Finley
David Edward "Dave" Finlay (born October 20, 1958) is a British/Irish professional wrestler and road agent from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is currently wrestling on the SmackDown! brand of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) under the ring name Finlay.
Finishing Move:
The Finlay Roll
Emerald Erosion
Recommended matches:
Fit Finlay Vs. Marty Jones
Fit Finlay Vs. William Regal
Fit Finlay Vs. Chris Benoit
#59. Tully Blanchard (508pts / 22 votes)
Definition of a Heel: Tully Blanchard
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 3
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 23.1 (#28 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tully_Blanchard
Tully Blanchard (born January 22, 1954 in San Antonio, Texas) is a retired second generation legendary American professional wrestler. He is best known as an original member of the Four Horsemen.
Finishing Move:
Slingshot Suplex
Recommended matches:
Tully Blanchard Vs. Ricky Steamboat
Tully Blanchard Vs. Magnum T.A.
The Brainbusters Vs. Lex Luger & Barry Windham
The Brainbusters Vs. The Hart Foundation
#58. Bruno Sammartino (559pts / 23 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Is like 104 years old but could still kick your ass
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 5
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 24.3 (#27 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #57 [-1]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Sammartino
Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino (born October 6, 1935), is a former professional wrestler, best known for being the longest-running champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), holding the title across two reigns for over 12 years in total, as well as the longest World Heavyweight Championship reign in professional wrestling history.
"The Italian Strongman" has often been called "The Living Legend" of professional wrestling and is considered one of the greatest performers professional wrestling has ever known. Sammartino's actual wrestling ability was somewhat limited compared to "real" pro wrestlers like Lou Thesz, but his brawling style, power moves, and personal charisma, plus the fact that he came across as a genuinely nice guy, won him many fans, especially on the East Coast. During his career, Bruno was also known as "The Original Italian Stallion."
Finishing Move:
Bearhug
Standing Backbreaker
Recommended matches:
Bruno Sammartino Vs. Killer Kowalski
Bruno Sammartino Vs. Giant Baba
Bruno Sammartino Vs. Pedro Morales
Bruno Sammartino Vs. Larry Zbyszko
Bruno Sammartino & Tito Santana Vs. Adrian Adonis & Randy Savage
#57. Raven (566pts / 28 votes)
What about him? WHAT ABOUT RAVEN~!?
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 3
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 20.2 (#31 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #36 [-21]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Levy
Scott Anthony Levy (born September 8, 1964) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Raven. He is currently wrestling for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and is a former NWA and ECW World Heavyweight Champion. He is also the innovator of numerous types of "gimmick" wrestling matches, such as the Clockwork Orange House of Fun Match, the Raven's Rules Match, and the Hangman's Horror Match.
Finishing Move:
Raven Effect (DDT)
Recommended matches:
Raven & Stevie Richards Vs. The Pitbulls
Raven Vs. Chris Benoit
Raven Vs. DDP
Raven Vs. Rhyno
Raven Vs. CM Punk
#56. Genichiro Teryu (577pts / 21 votes)
Big Grouch
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 5
Highest Vote: #5
Point Average: 27.5 (#23 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genichiro_Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu (born February 2, 1950), is a Japanese professional wrestler. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling. "Tenryu" was his sumo fighting name or "shikona".
Finishing Move:
Powerbomb
53 Sai — 53 Years Old (Brainbuster Suplex)
Recommended matches:
Genchiro Tenryu & Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu
Genchiro Tenryu & Toshiaki Kawada Vs. Terry Gordy & Stan Hansen
Genchiro Tenryu Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
Genchiro Tenryu Vs. Shinya Hashimoto
Genchiro Tenryu Vs. Keiji Mutoh
#55. "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels (587pts / 27 votes)
A Religious man
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: 4
Highest Vote: #6
Point Average: 21.7 (#29 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #34 [-21]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Daniels
Daniel Christopher Covell (born December 24, 1971) is an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name in the United States, "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. He also wrestles as Curry Man, a masked persona which he portrays principally in Japan.
Daniels is currently performing mainly for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He also works regularly for many independent promotions.
Finishing Move:
Angel’s Wings (Double Underhook Facebuster)
Last Rites (Rolling Neck Cutter)
Best Moonsault Ever
Recommended matches:
Christopher Daniels Vs. Low Ki Vs. Spanky Vs. Doug Williams
Christopher Daniels Vs. Bryan Danielson Vs. Low Ki
Christopher Daniels Vs. CM Punk
Christopher Daniels & Elix Skipper Vs. America’s Most Wanted
Christopher Daniels Vs. AJ Styles
Christopher Daniels Vs. AJ Styles Vs. Samoa Joe
Christopher Daniels & AJ Styles Vs. The Latin American Express
#54. Ultimo Dragon (610pts / 29 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Collects belts
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 5
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 21.0 (#30 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #45 [-9]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshihiro_Asai
Yoshihiro Asai (born December 12, 1966 in Nagoya, Aichi), better known as Último Dragón, is a Japanese professional wrestler. In addition to having trained in Japan, Asai learned to wrestle in the lucha libre style while working in Mexico. Asai is credited with popularizing the "Asai Moonsault", although, contrary to popular belief, he did not invent the move
Finishing Move:
Dragon Sleeper
Asai DDT
Asai Moonsault
Recommended matches:
Ultimo Dragon Vs. Jushin “Thunder” Liger
Ultimo Dragon Vs. Shinji Ohtani
Ultimo Dragon Vs. The Great Sasuke
Ultimo Dragon Vs. Dean Malenko
Ultimo Dragon Vs. Rey Mysterio Jr.
#53. Andre the Giant (629pts / 29 votes)
Could even outdrink Jake Roberts!
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 5
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 21.7 (#24 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #28 [-25]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_the_giant
André the Giant was the stage name of André René Roussimoff, (May 19, 1946 – January 27, 1993) a French professional wrestler and actor. He was at least 2.09 metres (6 ft 10 in) tall and believed by many to have been over 2.13 metres (7 ft) at his tallest. His great size was a result of a condition known as acromegaly, and led to him being dubbed "The Eighth Wonder of the World"
Finishing Move:
André Driver (Kneeling belly-to-belly piledriver)
Recommended matches:
Andre the Giant Vs. Antonio Inoki
Andre the Giant Vs. Stan Hansen
Andre the Giant Vs. Hulk Hogan
#52. Sabu (630pts / 29 votes)
The Suicidal, Homicidal, Genocidal, Death-Defying Maniac.
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 3
Highest Vote: #5
Point Average: 21.7 (#29 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #24 [-28]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabu_(wrestler)
Terry Michael Brunk (December 12, 1964) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Sabu. He is perhaps best-known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) throughout the 1990s, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling from 2002 until 2006, and his recent tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment on its ECW brand, which lasted from April 2006 until May 2007.
Sabu's wrestling style is unorthodox, consisting mainly of aerial moves performed with the aid of tables (which he is famous for smashing opponents through) and chairs, which he uses as weapons and as launching pads for some of his more death-defying moves. He is also famous for the invention of his triple-jump techniques, which involve jumping from a set-up chair onto the ring ropes and then springing off onto an opponent with a flying attack of some sort.
Sabu is also notorious for continuing to wrestle matches even though he has suffered serious injuries that require medical attention. An example of this was during the Stairway to Hell match with The Sandman where Sabu's jawbone was broken when he landed face-first on the steel guardrail outside the ring. Rather than ending the match early, Sabu actually duct-taped his jaw shut and continued to wrestle the match to its scheduled conclusion. During the aforementioned "Born To Be Wired" match with Terry Funk, Sabu legitimately tore open his biceps on the barbed wire. He taped it up on the spot and continued the match.
Afterwards, he super-glued himself together to drive to the hospital where it took more than 100 stitches to close the wound. He refused to miss any matches because of that injury. This technique of using super glue to temporarily seal cuts would become an accepted, if not recommended, first aid practice in sport.
Sabu's famous signature gesture, Magician of Arabia, is pointing to the sky while looking upwards, especially when entering or exiting the ring, or before performing an especially dangerous move (the gesture is often referred to as Sabu pointing to the heavens in tribute to his uncle The Sheik, even though he had been using the gesture while the Sheik was still alive.
Finishing Move:
Flying Arabian Facebuster (Slingshot Legdrop)
Triple Jump Moonsault (Running Triple-Jump Moonsault)
Camel Clutch
Recommended matches:
Sabu Vs. Cactus Jack
Sabu Vs. 2 Cold Scorpio
Sabu Vs. Terry Funk
Sabu Vs. Rob Van Dam
Sabu Vs. The Sandman
#51. Lou Thesz (643pts / 22 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Wrestled ‘em all. And won too.
Top 5 Votes: 5
Top 10 Votes: 10
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 29.2 (#22 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #46 [-5]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz
Aloysius Martin Thesz (April 24, 1916 - April 28, 2002), better known as Lou Thesz, was a legendary professional wrestler and three time NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Combined, he held the NWA Championship for 10 years, three months and nine days (3,749 days total). Among his many accomplishments, he is credited with inventing popular professional wrestling moves such as the Lou Thesz press, STF and the original powerbomb.
Born in Banat, Michigan, Thesz moved to St. Louis when he was a young boy. His emigrant parents hailed from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. As a teenager, he trained in amateur wrestling with legendary shooter Ad Santel. Thesz made his professional wrestling debut in 1932, at the age of 16. He soon met Ed Lewis, the biggest wrestling star of the 1920s, who taught a young Lou the art of "hooking" (the ability to stretch your opponent with painful holds). The two formed a lasting friendship. By 1937, Thesz had become one of the biggest stars in the St. Louis territory, and on December 29 he defeated Everett Marshall for the National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title, the first of many World Heavyweight Championships. As a result, Thesz became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in history, at the age of 21. A record which stands to this day. Thesz dropped the title to Steve "Crusher" Casey in Boston six weeks later. He won the title again in 1939, once again defeating Marshall, and again in 1948, defeating Bill Longson.
In 1948, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) was formed, the purpose being to create one World Champion for all the various wrestling territories throughout North America. Orville Brown, the reigning Midwest World Heavyweight Title holder, was named the first champion. Thesz, at the time, was head of a promotional combine that included fellow wrestling champions Longson, Bobby Managoff, Canadian promoter Frank Tunney and Eddie Quinn, who promoted in the St. Louis territory where NWA promoter Sam Muchnick was running opposition. Quinn and Muchnick ended their promotional war, and Thesz' promotion was absorbed into the NWA. Part of the deal was a title unification match between Brown and Thesz, who held the National Wrestling Association's World Title. Unfortunately, just weeks before the scheduled bout, Brown was involved in an automobile accident that ended his career. He was forced to vacate the championship and the NWA awarded the title to the #1 contender, Thesz. Thesz was chosen for his skill as a "hooker" to prevent double crosses by would-be shooters who would deviate from the planned finish for personal glory.
Between 1949 and 1956, Thesz set out to unify all the existing World Titles into the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. In 1956 he defeated Baron Michelle Leone in Los Angeles for the California World Heavyweight title and became the first undisputed World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion since the days of Frank Gotch and Georg Hackenschmidt. Thesz finally dropped the Title to Whipper Billy Watson in 1956, and took several months off to recuperate from an ankle injury. He regained the title from Watson seven months later.
1957 was an important year for Thesz; on June 14, the first taint to Thesz' claim of undisputed Champion occurred in a match with gymnast-turned-wrestling star, Edouard Carpentier. The match was tied at two falls apiece when Thesz claimed a back injury and forfeit the last fall. Carpentier was declared the winner, but the NWA chose not to recognize the title change, deciding a championship could not change hands due to injury. Despite the NWA's decision, there were some promotions who continued to recognize Carpentier's claim to the World Heavyweight title. That same year, Thesz became the first wrestler to defend the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in Japan, wrestling Rikidozan in a series of 60 minute draws. Their bouts popularized pro wrestling in Japan, gaining the sport mainstream acceptance. Realizing he could make more money in the land of the rising sun, Thesz petitioned to the NWA promoters to regularly defend the belt in Japan. His request was turned down, and Thesz asked to drop the title to his own hand picked champion, Dick Hutton, rather than Thesz's real-life rival and the more popular choice, Buddy Rogers. Thesz would embark on a tour of Europe and Japan, billing himself as the NWA International Champion; this title is still recognized as a part of All Japan Pro Wrestling's Triple Crown.
In 1963, Thesz came out of semi-retirement to win his sixth World Heavyweight Championship from Buddy Rogers, at the age of 46. Legend has it that Rogers was having second thoughts about dropping the title, and Thesz responded by saying, "we could do this the easy way or the hard way" . He would hold the title until 1966 when, at the age of 49, he was dethroned by Gene Kiniski.
Legend has it that NWA officials wanted Bruno Sammartino to take the title off of Thesz because of his tremendous popularity in the northeast. At an NWA meeting, Bruno balked when told that he would be lucky to get one weekend off a month. At this point Sammartino was tired of getting only every other weekend off as WWWF champ. Kiniski was then picked to replace Thesz.
Thesz wrestled on a part-time basis over the next 13 years, winning his last major Title in 1978, in Mexico, becoming the inaugural Universal Wrestling Alliance Heavyweight Champion at the age of 62, before dropping the championship to El Canek a year later. Thesz officially retired in 1979, after a match with Luke Graham. He remained retired for the most part, before wrestling his last match on December 26, 1990 in Hamamatsu, Japan at the age of 73, against his protege, Masahiro Chono.
Finishing Move:
Greco-Roman Backdrop (Belly to back suplex)
STF (Stepover Toehold Facelock)
Recommended matches:
Lou Thesz Vs. Buddy Rogers
Lou Thesz Vs. Rikidozan
Lou Thesz Vs. Antonio Inoki
#50. Christian Cage (651pts / 32 votes)
Instant Classic
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: 3
Highest Vote: #6
Point Average: 20.3 (#31 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #41 [-9]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Reso
Jason "Jay" Reso (born November 30, 1973), is a Canadian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name, Christian Cage. He is currently performing for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling where he has won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on two separate occasions.
He is also well known for his work in World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment as Christian. Reso initially rose through the ranks as one half of the tag team Edge and Christian, alongside his kayfabe brother and real-life longtime friend Adam Copeland.
Finishing Move:
Unprettier (Inverted Double-underhook Face buster)
Impaler DDT
Recommended matches:
TLC matches
Christian Vs. Rob Van Dam
Christian Vs. Edge
Christian Vs. Chris Jericho
Christian Vs. Kurt Angle Vs. Rhyno
#49. Arn Anderson (662pts / 30 votes)
When no one was looking, quietly put together a Hall of Fame career
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 2
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 22.1 (#29 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #81 [+32]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arn_Anderson
Martin "Marty" Lunde, better known by his ring name of Arn Anderson (born September 20, 1958 in Rome, Georgia), is a retired American professional wrestler, regarded by some professional wrestling experts as the greatest professional wrestler never to have won a world title. His career has been highlighted by his alliances with Ric Flair and various members of the elite wrestling stable, "The Four Horsemen". He currently serves as the senior Producer for WWE's RAW brand.
Known as Double A or The Enforcer, Anderson is considered to be one of the greatest tag team wrestlers in professional wrestling. He held the NWA Tag Team Championship belts twice with different members of Ron Fuller's Stud Stable in Southeast Championship Wrestling in 1983 and 1984. In 1985, Arn Anderson left Georgia and formed the new version of Minnesota Wrecking Crew with Ole Anderson, and won the NWA National Tag Team Titles; Arn also held the NWA Television Championship throughout 1986, while still one-half of the NWA National Tag Team Champions, as well; the National Tag Team Titles were later vacated, and abandoned, after Dusty Rhodes and Road Warrior Animal injured Ole Anderson. He would become a founding member of the Four Horsemen with Tully Blanchard, Ole Anderson, James J. Dillon and Ric Flair in the NWA and was in each of the group's incarnations over the years. However, his ties with Ole Anderson grew sour after they lost to the Rock and Roll Express at Starrcade 1986, and Ole would take a vacation for two months. After turning on Ole Anderson in February 1987, Arn Anderson teamed with Tully Blanchard and both became the NWA Tag Team Champions. In October 1988, Anderson and Blanchard joined the World Wrestling Federation, and took Bobby Heenan as their manager, and even won the WWE Tag Team Titles in 1989 as well; while in the World Wrestling Federaton, Arn Anderson suffered a near fatal injury while facing the Rockers in October 1989. After working with the World Wrestling Federation, Anderson returned to WCW in December 1989, and reformed the Four Horsemen; Anderson remained as a wrestler with NWA/WCW until he officially retired from wrestling on the August 25, 1997 episode of WCW Monday Nitro. He was also a member of the Dangerous Alliance in WCW, which boasted some of the biggest talent in the future of professional wrestling. He was a member of the Old Age Outlaws in WCW in 2000 that battled the nWo. He also formed the Enforcers with Larry Zbyszko in WCW.
Along with a DDT for a finishing maneuver, Anderson utilized a familiar array of holds and throws during his career, highlighted by his powerful left-handed punch and a spinebuster. He was renowned for his ability to do interviews to further the storylines he participated in. His ability to improvise in interviews allowed him to coin the "Four Horsemen" moniker for the eventual stable, as he likened their coming to wrestle at an event and the aftermath of their wrath as being akin to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and the name stuck.
Anderson retired from wrestling in 1997 due to extensive neck and upper back injuries and is currently working as a Road Agent for WWE. He does show up from time to time on WWE television trying to, with the help of other WWE management, pull apart brawls. Soon after the WCW/ECW Invasion storyline happened, Anderson did color commentary for a WCW Heavyweight Championship match between Booker T and Buff Bagwell, which would be his only appearance as a commentator in the WWE. He made an appearance on RAW in 2002 delivering a video to Triple H before he was suppose to renew his wedding vows to Stephanie McMahon. He was also assaulted on RAW by the Undertaker leading up the Undertaker vs. Ric Flair match at Wrestlemania X8. During WrestleMania X8, he made a brief in-ring appearance during a match between Ric Flair and The Undertaker, delivering his signature spinebuster to the Undertaker. Several months later he attempted to help Flair gain sole ownership of the WWE during a match with Vince McMahon, but backed down from a confrontation with Brock Lesnar, who entered the ring to assist McMahon.
Finishing Move:
Spinebuster (Spinning belly-to-belly suplex)
DDT
Gourdbuster (Inverted suplex)
Recommended matches:
Wargames
The Brainbusters Vs. The Hart Foundation
Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko Vs. Ricky Steamboay & Dustin Rhodes
Arn Anderson Vs. Ric Flair
#48. Scott Hall (667pts / 29 votes)
Ay yo
Top 5 Votes: 6
Top 10 Votes: 8
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 23 (#28 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #32 [-16]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Hall
Scott Oliver Hall (born October 20, 1958) is an American professional wrestler and the current WWC Universal Champion. In the course of his career, which has spanned three decades, Hall has wrestled for the American Wrestling Association, the World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
Finishing Move:
The Razor’s Edge (Splash Mountain Slam)
Scott Hall Memorial Slam (Fallaway slam)
Recommended matches:
Razor Ramon Vs. Bret Hart
Razor Ramon Vs. Shawn Michaels
Scott Hall Vs. Goldberg
*************************************************************
#47. William Regal (667pts / 32 votes)
Owned Goldberg
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 3
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 20.8 (#30 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Regal
Darren Kenneth Matthews (born May 10, 1968) better known by his ring name William Regal, is an English professional wrestler. He is currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) where he serves as the General Manager on the RAW brand.
Finishing Move:
The Regal Stretch(Arm-trap STF)
Recommended matches:
William Regal Vs. Fit Finlay
William Regal Vs. Steve Austin
William Regal Vs. Chris Benoit
William Regal & Dave Taylor Vs. Paul London & Brian kendrix Vs. MNM Vs. The Hardy Boyz
#46. Jake “The Snake” Roberts (683pts / 27 votes)
Never trust a snake
Top 5 Votes: 3
Top 10 Votes: 5
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 25.3 (#26 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #40 [-6]
Bio:
Aurelian Jake Smith, Jr. (born on May 30, 1955), better known by his ring name of Jake "The Snake" Roberts, is a second-generation American professional wrestler, the son of former wrestler Grizzly Smith. Roberts is best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation from 1986 to 1992.
Roberts was known for his promos and his dark charisma, his extensive use of psychology in his matches, and for inventing the DDT finishing maneuver.
Jake Roberts is credited with training Diamond Dallas Page and Raven, as well as teaching much about wrestling psychology to Steve Austin and The Undertaker. Roberts and fellow wrestler Vader appeared on the ABC sitcom Boy Meets World for one episode.
Finishing Move:
DDT
Recommended matches:
Jake Roberts Vs. Ricky Steamboat
Jake Roberts Vs. Randy Savage
Jake Roberts Vs. Ted DiBiase
#45. “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith (688pts / 31 votes)
I couldn’t think of a line here. Very Good wrestler though.
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 4
Highest Vote: #4
Point Average: 22.2 (#29 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #58 [+13]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davey_Boy_Smith
David Boy ("Davey Boy" Smith (November 28, 1962 – May 18, 2002) was a British professional wrestler. Born in Golborne, Warrington (now in the Borough of Wigan), Smith is best known for his appearances in the United States of America with the World Wrestling Federation under his own name and under the ring name. The British Bulldog.. Smith's middle name really was "Boy". When he was born, one of his parents mistook the middle name field for the sex field on his birth certificate, and wrote "Boy".
Smith was trained by Ted Betley in Winwick, England before relocating to Calgary, Alberta, Canada to further his training under Stu Hart. While training with Hart, Smith met Stu and Helen Hart's youngest daughter Diana, whom he later married in 1984. They had two children, Harry (born on August 2, 1985) and Georgia (born on September 26, 1987). He and Diana were divorced in 2000.
Finishing Move:
Running Powerslam
Recommended matches:
The British Bulldogs Vs. The Hart Foundation
Davey Boy Smith Vs. Bret Hart
Davey Boy Smith Vs. Shawn Michaels
Davey Boy Smith Vs. Owen Hart
#44. Akira Taue (715pts / 24 votes)
Taue: “Made it Ma! Top of the World!”
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 5
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 29.8 (#21 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: UNRANKED
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_Taue
Akira Taue competed as a sumo wrestler (his shikona was Tamakirin) before becoming a professional wrestler. He debuted in a tag team match for All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1988, teaming with the legendary Giant Baba. As with Genichiro Tenryu, Hiroshi Wajima and Arashi before him, his debut was much hyped. Throughout the years he became one of AJPW's top stars, even holding the Triple Crown on one occasion in 1996.
However, he became better known for tag team wrestling. He won his first championship in 1990, the All Asia Tag Team Championship with Shinichi Nakano. He won the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship for the first time in 1992, teaming with Jumbo Tsuruta. He formed a tag team with Toshiaki Kawada, a team which ended up holding the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship 6 times. The team split when Taue left AJPW for Mitsuharu Misawa's new Pro Wrestling NOAH promotion, while Toshiaki Kawada decided to stay.
In NOAH Taue continued tag team wrestling, teaming mostly with Takuma Sano. On November 5, 2005, Taue was able to defeat Takeshi Rikio with his Ore ga Taue finisher to capture the GHC Heavyweight Championship, which he held into the new year before losing it to Jun Akiyama on January 22, 2006.
Finishing Move:
Ore ga Taue (Translated to I am Taue in English) (Back suplex chokeslam)
Nodowa Otoshi (Chokeslam)
Recommended matches:
Akira Taue & Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada
Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi
Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama
Akira Taue Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa
Akira Taue Vs. Naomichi Marufuji
#43. Rob Van Dam (741pts / 33 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
High Flyer
Top 5 Votes: 3
Top 10 Votes: 4
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 22.5 (#28 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #14 [-29]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Van_Dam
Robert Alexander Szatkowski (born on December 18, 1970 in Battle Creek, Michigan), better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam, is currently an inactive American professional wrestler. Van Dam is best known for his work with World Wrestling Entertainment and Extreme Championship Wrestling.
Finishing Move:
Five Star Frogsplash
Van Daminator (Kick to opponent who’s holding a chair by his face)
Van Terminator (Turnbuckle-to-Turnbuckle dropick)
Recommended matches:
Rob Van Dam Vs. Sabu
Rob Van Dam Vs. 2 Cold Scorpio
Rob Van Dam Vs. Jerry Lynn
Rob Van Dam Vs. Bam Bam Bigalow
Rob Van Dam Vs. Eddie Guerrero
#42. Antonio Inoki (794pts / 30 votes)
Ali feared this WWF World Champion
Top 5 Votes: 4
Top 10 Votes: 4
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 26.5 (#24 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #48 [+6]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Inoki
http://www.twc-wrestle.com/inokienglish.html
Antonio Inoki (born February 20, 1943) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides in New York City. His stage name was inspired by Antonino Rocca, a professional wrestler. In his career as a wrestler and later New Japan Pro Wrestling owner, Inoki is an icon in professional wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts.
One of the few professional wrestlers whose career lasted longer than 35 years, Inoki established the "strong style", using stiffness and realistic maneuvers borrowing from professional wrestling's original catch wrestling roots. Shoot style wrestling arose from Inoki's "strong style".
Finishing Move:
Enzuigiri
Octopus Hold
Recommended matches:
Antonio Inoki Vs. Dory Funk Jr.
Antonio Inoki Vs. Billy Robinson
Antonio Inoki Vs. Strong Kobayashi
Antonio Inoki Vs. Bob Backlund
Antonio Inoki Vs. Hulk Hogan
Antonio Inoki Vs. Tatsumi Fujiami
Antonio Inoki Vs. Riki Choshu
Antonio Inoki Vs. Vader
#41. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (842pts / 37 votes)
Proved men in skirts could kick your ass. Right Hogan?
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: -
Highest Vote: #11
Point Average: 22.8 (#28 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #30 [-11]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roddy_Piper
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (born Roderick George Toombs on April 17, 1954) is a Canadian professional wrestler, and film actor. Raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he is billed from Glasgow, Scotland and is known for his signature kilt and bagpipe entrance music. He earned the nickname "Rowdy" by displaying his trademark "Scottish" rage, spontaneity, and quick wit, and is also nicknamed "Hot Rod". He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment working on the RAW brand making special appearances.
Also:
Piper will be be the next Celebrity to have their likeness in a G.I. Joe figure. According to his Filecard, he will be a Trainer for Destro's Iron Grenadiers.
Finishing Move:
Sleeper
Piledriver
Recommended matches:
Roddy Piper Vs. Greg Valentine
Roddy Piper Vs. Hulk Hogan
Roddy Piper Vs. Ric Flair
Roddy Piper Vs. Bret Hart
#40. "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes (855pts / 41 votes)
Common Man
Top 5 Votes: -
Top 10 Votes: 2
Highest Vote: #8
Point Average: 20.9 (#30 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #89 [+49]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusty_Rhodes_(wrestler)
Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr. (born on October 12, 1945), better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment. He makes occasional on-air appearances on the RAW brand, and works as a backstage booker/producer on the ECW brand.
He is also the father of wrestlers Virgil Runnels III (Dustin Rhodes/Goldust/Black Reign), and Cody Runnels (Cody Rhodes).
Finishing Move:
Bionic Elbow
Flip-Flop-Fly
Recommended matches:
Wargames
Dusty Rhodes Vs. Superstar Billy Graham
Dusty Rhodes Vs. Harley Race
Dusty Rhodes Vs. Bob Backlund
Dusty Rhodes Vs. Ric Flair
Dusty Rhodes Vs. Tully Blanchard
#39. Ted DiBiase (883pts / 38 votes)
Everyone’s got a price
Top 5 Votes: 3
Top 10 Votes: 6
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 23.2 (#28 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #42 [+3]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_DiBiase
Theodore Marvin DiBiase Sr. (born Theodore Marvin Willis on January 18, 1954) is an American former professional wrestler who wrestled as the "The Million Dollar Man". He worked for World Wrestling Entertainment's SmackDown! brand as a booker and Producer until 2006 when he was released. He is also a Christian minister and a member of Alpha Tau Omega .
Finishing Move:
The Million Dollar Dream (Sleeper hold)
Recommended matches:
Ted DiBiase Vs. Ric Flair
Ted DiBiase Vs. Jim Duggan
Ted DiBiase Vs. Hulk Hogan
Ted DiBiase Vs. Randy Savage
Ted DiBiase Vs. Bret Hart
#38. C.M. Punk (894pts / 35 votes)
Face it Wellness Program, he’s better than you
Top 5 Votes: 3
Top 10 Votes: 9
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 25.5 (#25 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #47 [+9]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.M._Punk
Phil Brooks (born October 26, 1978), better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on its Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) brand.
Punk initially came to prominence through his career on the professional wrestling independent circuit, primarily as a member of the Ring of Honor (ROH) roster where he was an ROH Tag Team Champion, ROH World Champion, and the first head trainer of the ROH wrestling school. Along with Samoa Joe and Homicide, he was considered to be one of the three icons of ROH. Punk later accepted a contract from WWE and spent a year in their developmental promotion Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) during which time he won every championship in the promotion. When the ECW brand was revived in 2006 Punk was brought into the brands roster where he had several successes including being undefeated in singles competition for six months from his debut.
Consistently throughout his career Punk has used the gimmick of a straight edge culture follower, an idea he adopted from his real life following of the straight edge lifestyle. The straight edge gimmick is used irrelevant of alignment as a face or heel, however different aspects of the culture are emphasized in the different alignments to encourage the desired audience reaction.
Finishing Move:
Pepsi Plunge (Top Rope Pedigree)
Go 2 Sleep (Fireman’s Carry into a Face Kick)
Anaconda Vice
Recommended matches:
CM Punk Vs. Chris Hero
CM Punk Vs. Raven
CM Punk Vs. Samoa Joe
CM Punk Vs. Christopher Daniels
CM Punk Vs. Bryan Danielson
#37. Jerry “The King” Lawler (913pts / 36 votes)
The King Approaches
Top 5 Votes: 4
Top 10 Votes: 7
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 25.4 (#26 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #97 [+60]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Lawler
Jerry O'Neil Lawler (born November 29, 1949) is an American professional wrestler and wrestling commentator, known throughout the wrestling world as Jerry "The King" Lawler. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment working and wrestling on its RAW brand as the color commentator. He also wrestles and occasionally commentates for the Memphis Wrestling promotion.
Jerry Lawler has made history as being the wrestler with the most championship reigns of all time. He has won a total of 126 titles in his career; 30 of which were the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship. Lawler held the championship another 12 times when the National Wrestling Alliance controlled the title.
Lawler was initially set to wrestle Hulk Hogan at the PMG Clash of Legends, a Memphis Wrestling event, on April 27, 2007. WWE took exception to the match with the reasoning that WWE stars are NBC Universal talent and since footage of the events surrounding the match was being filmed for Hogan Knows Best, which airs on VH1, there was a conflict. WWE tried to force cancellation of the event. The event took place on April 27, 2007, with Paul Wight replacing Lawler. In response, WWE has pulled all its talent from Memphis Wrestling shows.
He was recently confronted by King Booker who claimed that he (Booker) was the only one entitled to be known as "King". After being defeated by Booker in the ring, Lawler was planned to be forced to crown his opponent at an August 13 show in Madison Square Garden, but during the ceremony, Lawler announced a new opponent for Booker (Triple H), ending in a brawl (kayfabe) between Lawler and an angry Booker.
Finishing Move:
Piledriver
Top Rope Fistdrop
Recommended matches:
Jerry Lawler Vs. Harley Race
Jerry Lawler Vs. Ric Flair
Jerry Lawler Vs. Andy Kaufman
Jerry Lawler Vs. Bill Dundee
Jerry Lawler Vs. Curt Hennig
Jerry Lawler Vs. Kerry Von Erich
Jerry Lawler Vs. Eddie Gilbert
#36. “The American Dragon“ Bryan Danielson (983pts / 42 votes – THREE #1 Votes)
Knows how to wrestle
Top 5 Votes: 4
Top 10 Votes: 10
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 23.4 (#28 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #90 [+54]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Danielson
Bryan Danielson (born May 22, 1981 in Aberdeen, Washington) is an American independent professional wrestler, known as American Dragon. He was the most recent head trainer of the ROH Wrestling Academy.
NOTE: PWT's 2007 Wrestler of the year
Finishing Move:
Cattle Mutilation – Bridging Double Chickenwing)
Recommended matches:
Bryan Danielson Vs. Low Ki Vs. Christopher Daniels
Bryan Danielson Vs. Paul London
Bryan Danielson Vs. Austin Aries
Bryan Danielson Vs. Samoa Joe
Bryan Danielson Vs. James Gibson
Bryan Danielson Vs. Roderick Strong
Bryan Danielson Vs. KENTA
Bryan Danielson Vs. Nigel McGuinness
#35. Harley Race (985pts / 40 votes)
Tough bastard
Top 5 Votes: 3
Top 10 Votes: 10
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 24.6 (#26 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #56 [+21]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley_Race
Harley Leland Race (born April 11, 1943), is a retired American professional wrestler and current promoter. During his career as a wrestler, he amassed eight National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Championship reigns at a time when wrestlers rarely repeated as champion, and worked for all of the major wrestling promotions, including the NWA, the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). His ring skill, legitimate toughness, and classic matches with the icons of professional wrestling make him a legend in the business
Finishing Move:
Piledriver
Diving Headbutt
Recommended matches:
Harley Race Vs. Terry Funk
Harley Race Vs. Giant Baba
Harley Race Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
Harley Race Vs. Dusty Rhodes
Harley Race Vs. Ric Flair
Harley Race Vs. Mil Mascaras
#34. Tiger Mask (Satoru Sayama) (1030pts / 36 votes)
Influenced Generation(s) of wrestlers
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 8
Highest Vote: #5
Point Average: 28.6 (#22 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #37 [+3]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satoru_Sayama
Satoru Sayama (born November 24, 1957) is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known as the original Tiger Mask. He's wrestled under his real name as well as the names Sammy Lee, and masked Super Tiger, Tiger King, (Original) Tiger Mask and The Mask of Tiger. He is the only man to hold the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship and the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship simultaneously.
Finishing Move:
Tiger Suplex
Space Flying Tiger Drop
Recommended matches:
Tiger Mask Vs. The Dynamite Kid
Tiger Mask Vs. Pirata Morgan
Tiger Mask Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi
Super Tiger Vs. Akira Maede
Super Tiger Vs. Yoshiaki Fujiwara
#33. Dean Malenko (1053pts / 45 votes)
The Iceman Cometh
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 9
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 23.4 (#28 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #68 [+36]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Malenko
Dean Simon (born August 4, 1960) is a retired professional wrestler best known by the ring name Dean Malenko. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment working on its ECW brand as the senior road agent.
Finishing Move:
Texas Cloverleaf (Sharpshooter)
Double Underhook Powerbomb
Recommended matches:
Dean Malenko Vs. Eddie Guerrero
Dean Malenko Vs. Chris Benoit
Dean Malenko Vs. Ultimo Dragon
Dean Malenko Vs. Rey Mysterio Jr.
Dean Malenko Vs. Chris Jericho
#32. Stan Hansen (1101pts / 36 votes)
Lariato!
Top 5 Votes: 4
Top 10 Votes: 10
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 30.6 (#20 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #79 [+47]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Hansen
John Stanley "Stan" Hansen (born October 12, 1949 in Borger, Texas) is a retired American professional wrestler. Hansen spent much of his career wrestling in All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. He is best known for his stiffness, which he attributes to his very poor eye sight, as he is nearly blind without glasses; as a result, in order to avoid his work from appearing too fake, he overcompensated with ultrareal strikes.
Finishing Move:
Western Lariet (Clothesline)
Brazos Valley Backbreaker (Boston Crab)
Recommended matches:
Stan Hansen Vs. Antonio Inoki
Stan Hansen Vs. Giant Baba
Stan Hansen Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy Vs. Genchiro Tenry & Toshiaki Kawada
Stan Hansen Vs. Toshiaki Kawada
Stan Hansen Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa
Stan Hansen Vs. Kenta Kobashi
#31. Jumbo Tsuruta (1109pts / 30 votes – FOUR #1 Votes)
Pretty Good Wrestler
Top 5 Votes: 17
Top 10 Votes: 21
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 37.1 (#14 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #72 [+41]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumbo_Tsuruta
http://www.wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/wrestlers/jumbotsuruta2.html
Tomomi Tsuruta (March 25, 1951 - May 13, 2000), better known by his ring name Jumbo Tsuruta, was a professional wrestler who wrestled for All Japan Pro Wrestling for most of his career.
Finishing Move:
Bridging belly to back suplex
High Knee
Recommended matches:
Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Dory Funk Jr.
Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Jack Brisco
Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Mil Mascaras
Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Terry Funk
Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Harley Race
Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Ric Flair
Jumbo Tsuruta & Genchiro Tenryu Vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu
Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Genchuiro Tenryu
Jumbo Tsuruta Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa
#30. Sting (1137pts / 48 votes)
Broods in the rafters
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 5
Highest Vote: #4
Point Average: 23.7 (#27 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #11 [-19]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sting_(wrestler)
Steve Borden (born March 20, 1959), better known as Sting, is an American professional wrestler, currently wrestling for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he is one half of the TNA World Tag Team Champions alongside Kurt Angle. He is arguably the highest profile wrestler not to have worked for WWE. In 1997, his merchandise sales were second only to Steve Austin.
Finishing Move:
Scorpion Deathlock (Sharpshooter)
Scorpion Death Drop (Inverted DDT)
Stinger Splash
Recommended matches:
Wargames
Sting Vs. Ric Flair
Sting Vs. Vader
Sting Vs. Ric Rude
Sting Vs. Cactus Jack
Sting Vs. Goldberg
#29. Hulk Hogan (1139pts / 46 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Whatsa gonna go PWT 100? Whatcha gonna do? When the Hulkster runs wild on you?
Top 5 Votes: 8
Top 10 Votes: 16
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 24.8 (#26 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #7 [-21]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulk_Hogan
Terrence Gene Bollea (born August 11, 1953) better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American actor and semi-retired professional wrestler. He currently stars on the VH1 reality show Hogan Knows Best.
Finishing Move:
Legdrop
Axe Bomber
Recommended matches:
Hulk Hogan Vs. Nick Bockwinkle
Hulk Hogan Vs. Antonio Inoki
Hulk Hogan Vs. Paul Orndroff
Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre the Giant
Hulk Hogan Vs. Randy Savage
Hulk Hogan Vs. The Ultimate Warrior
Hulk Hogan Vs. The Rock
Hulk Hogan Vs. Shawn Michaels
#28. Keiji Mutoh (aka The Great Muta) (1144pts / 40 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Creeps through the mist
Top 5 Votes: 5
Top 10 Votes: 10
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 28.6 (#22 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #29 [+1]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keiji_Mutoh
Keiji Mutoh (born December 23, 1962) is a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. He is mostly known for his work as The Great Muta in New Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1990s, but he has also competed in America, Puerto Rico, and Taiwan. He is the current President of All Japan Pro Wrestling, as well as being a full-time wrestler for the promotion since 2002. Mutoh is widely regarded as one of the greatest Japanese wrestlers of All-time, both in Japan and America.
Alter Ego:
The Great Muta, which he has wrestled as fairly continuously throughout his career, switching back and forth between this character and his real name. Great Muta is a mysterious gimmick where he spits green or red mist and plays mind games to distract his opponents. Muta was originally billed as the son of Japanese wrestler Great Kabuki who used a similar gimmick. The two are not related in real life. Originally he wore face paint, which was later exchanged for a mask after he shaved his head. The Great Muta gimmick is the gimmick most fans of the United States know Mutoh for, as he wrestled as The Great Muta throughout the late '80s and early '90s for the NWA, and in his later stints in WCW with it.
Finishing Move:
Moonsault
Shining Wizard
Figure-Four Leglock
Recommended matches:
The Great Muta Vs. Sting
Keiji Mutoh Vs. Masahiro Chono
The Great Muta Vs. Hiro Hase
The Great Muta Vs. Jushin Liger
Keiji Mutoh Vs. Shinya Hashimoto
Keiji Mutoh Vs. Genichiro Tenyru
#27. Vader (1202pts / 48 votes)
It’s Time!
Top 5 Votes: 1
Top 10 Votes: 6
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 25.0 (#26 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #33 [+6]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_White
Leon Allen White (born May 14, 1957) better known under his ring names Big Van Vader or Vader, is a professional wrestler, and was a top draw around the world in the 1990s. As a super-heavyweight wrestler capable of significant aerial maneuvers, he was both a face and a heel in several professional wrestling companies. He is also notable for his stiff style of wrestling and the injuries he caused other wrestlers. Many experts and fans consider Big Van Vader to be arguably the greatest "Big Man" in pro wrestling history.
Finishing Move:
Vader Bomb
Sky High Chokeslam (Top-rope chokeslam)
Vadersault (Top rope Moonsault)
Recommended matches:
Vader Vs. Stan Hansen
Vader Vs. Cactus Jack
Vader Vs. Antonio Inoki
Vader Vs. Sting
Vader Vs. Ric Flair
Vader Vs. Nobuhiko Takada
Vader Vs. Shawn Michaels
Vader Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa
Vader Vs. Kenta Kobashi
#26. A.J. Styles (1254pts / 47 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Human highlight reel
Top 5 Votes: 6
Top 10 Votes: 10
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 26.7 (#24 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #19 [-7]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.J._Styles
Allen Lloyd Jones (born June 2, 1978), better known by his ring name "The Phenomenal" A.J. Styles (also written AJ Styles), is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
Finishing Move:
Styles Clash (Belly to back inverted pedigree)
Spiral tap (Top rope Somersault Corkscrew Senton)
Recommended matches:
A.J. Styles Vs. Paul London
AJ Styles & The Amazing Red Vs. Mark & Jay Briscoe
A.J. Styles Vs. Low Ki Vs. Jerry Lynn
A.J. Styles Vs. Low Ki Vs. Jerry Lynn Vs. Psicosis
A.J. Styles Vs. Jeff Jarrett
A.J. Styles Vs. Samoa Joe Vs. Christopher Daniels
A.J. Styles Vs. Samoa Joe
A.J. Styles & Christopher Daniels Vs. The Latin American Express
Top 25 Time!
#25. Samoa Joe (1285pts / 45 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Despite Hogan jobbing to him in this poll, McMahon still thinks he’s too fat
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 11
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 28.6 (#22 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #44 [+19]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoa_Joe
Nuufolau Joel "Joe" Seanoa (born March 17, 1979), is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Samoa Joe, and currently performing for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). Prior to debuting in TNA, Joe was most well known for his achievements in Ring of Honor, most notably holding the ROH World Championship for a record long 21-months. In TNA Joe came to prominence after he sustained an 18-month long undefeated streak in which he never lost a match by being pinned or forced to submit.
Finishing Move:
Muscle Buster
Coquina Clutch
Island Driver
Recommended matches:
Samoa Joe Vs. Low Ki
Samoa Joe Vs. Bryan Danielson
Samoa Joe Vs. C.M. Punk
Samoa Joe Vs. Austin Aries
Samoa Joe Vs. Necro Butcher
Samoa Joe Vs. Kenta Kobashi
Samoa Joe Vs. A.J. Styles Vs. Christopher Daniels
Samoa Joe Vs. Kurt Angle
#24. Edge (1289pts / 49 votes)
For the benefit of those with flash photography
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 10
Highest Vote: #3
Point Average: 26.3 (#25 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #52 [+28]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Copeland
Adam Joseph Copeland (born October 30, 1973 in Orangeville, Ontario), better known by his ring name Edge, is a Canadian professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment, wrestling on the SmackDown! brand, however he is currently inactive due to a legitimate pectoral tear.
Copeland initially rose through the ranks as one half of the tag team Edge and Christian, alongside his real-life best friend and storyline brother Christian. He is noted for being one of the most decorated tag team champions in wrestling history, winning a record 12 tag team titles in WWE.
Finishing Move:
Spear
Edgecution (DDT)
Downward Spiral (Reverse Rock Bottom)
Recommended matches:
TLC matches + Ladder Tag matches
Edge & Rey Mysterio Jr. Vs. Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit
Edge Vs. Eddie Guerrero
Edge Vs. Kurt Angle
Edge Vs. Christian
Edge Vs. Shawn Michaels
Edge Vs. John Cena
#23. Rey Mysterio Jr. (1333pts / 61 votes)
Routinely breaks the Laws of Physics
Top 5 Votes: 2
Top 10 Votes: 5
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 21.9 (#29 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #16 [-7]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rey_Mysterio
Oscar Gutierrez (born December 11, 1974), better known by the ring name Rey Misterio, Jr. in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Rey Mysterio in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), is a Mexican-American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE wrestling on its SmackDown! brand. Despite competing as a cruiserweight for most of his career, he is a former World Heavyweight Champion, as well as an eight-time Cruiserweight Champion, the most is history.
Mysterio is known for having a high flying style, which helped kick-start the cruiserweight revolution in the United States of America in the late 1990s - during his time in WCW.
Finishing Move:
Top Rope Hurricanranna
619
Recommended matches:
Rey Mysterio Jr. Vs. El Hijo Del Santo
Rey Mysterio Jr. Vs. Psicosis
Rey Mysterio Jr. Vs. Jueventud Guerrero
Rey Mysterio Jr. Vs. Dean Malenko
Rey Mysterio Jr. Vs. Eddie Guerrero
Rey Mysterio Jr. Vs. Kurt Angle
Rey Mysterio Jr. & Edge Vs. Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit
#22. Owen Hart (1405pts / 51 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Had lots of Heart
Top 5 Votes: 3
Top 10 Votes: 10
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 27.5 (#23 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #15 [-7]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_Hart
Owen James Hart (May 7, 1965 – May 23, 1999) was a Canadian professional wrestler who was most known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Hart was born in Calgary, Alberta, the youngest of 12 children to wrestling promoter Stu Hart and Helen Hart. He was a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.
Finishing Move:
Sharpshooter
Recommended matches:
Owen Hart Vs. Jushin “Thunder” Liger
Owen Hart Vs. Chris Benoit
Owen Hart & Bret Hart Vs. The Steiners
Owen Hart Vs. Bret Hart
Owen Hart Vs. Davey Boy Smith
Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith Vs Steve Austin & Shawn Michaels
10-Man Canadian Tag
#21. Toshiaki Kawada (1502pts / 40 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Has had a few good matches
Top 5 Votes: 16
Top 10 Votes: 22
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 37.6 (#13 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #59 [+38]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshiaki_Kawada
Toshiaki Kawada is a professional wrestler who is most known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling. In 2005, he started freelancing in other promotions, including Pro Wrestling NOAH and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
His matches against Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi in the 90's are argued by many fans and experts in the industry as some of the greatest professional wrestling matches of all time. He is widely known for his extremely stiff wrestling style, and has the distinction of having competed in 17 matches that were given a 5-Star Rating by Wrestling Observer writer Dave Meltzer; he is third behind long-time rivals Kenta Kobashi (24) and Mitsuharu Misawa (20).
Finishing Move:
Powerbomb
Plum Stretch
Recommended matches:
Toshiaki Kawada & Genchiro Tenryu Vs. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy
Toshiaki Kawada Vs. Stan Hansen
Toshiaki Kawada Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa
Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi
Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama
Toshiaki Kawada Vs. “Dr. Death” Steve Williams
Toshiaki Kawada Vs. Kenta Kobashi
#20. “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig (1527pts / 51 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Wrestling Perfection
Top 5 Votes: 5
Top 10 Votes: 14
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 29.9 (#21 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #18 [-2]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curt_Hennig
Curtis Michael Hennig (March 28, 1958 – February 10, 2003), also known by his ring name Mr. Perfect, was an American professional wrestler who competed for the American Wrestling Association, World Wrestling Federation, and World Championship Wrestling promotions. A former World Heavyweight Champion, he also has the distinction of being the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of the 1990s. Hennig was generally considered one of the most charismatic and technically gifted professional wrestlers of his generation.
Finishing Move:
Perfectplex
Recommended matches:
Curt Hennig Vs. Nick Bockwinkle
Curt Hennig Vs. Jerry Lawler
Curt Hennig Vs. Tito Santana
Curt Hennig Vs. Bret Hart
Curt Hennig Vs. Ric Flair
#19. The Dynamite Kid (1571pts / 50 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Exuded Greatness
Top 5 Votes: 8
Top 10 Votes: 13
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 31.4 (#20 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #25 [+6]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamite_Kid
Thomas Billington (born December 5, 1958 in Golborne, Lancashire) is a retired English professional wrestler who competed in the World Wrestling Federation, Stampede Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling in the mid- to late-1980s. Billington was perhaps best known for being one-half (along with his cousin Davey Boy Smith) of the tag team British Bulldogs, as well as for his innovative feud with Tiger Mask.
Finishing Move:
Diving Headbutt
Superplex
Recommended matches:
The Dynamite Kid Vs. Bret Hart
The Dynamite Kid Vs. Bad News Allen
The Dynamite Kid Vs. Tatsumi Fujinami
The Dynamite Kid Vs. Tiger Mask
The Dynamite Kid Vs. The Cobra
The Dynamite Kid Vs. Davey Boy Smith
The British Bulldogs Vs. The Hart Foundation
The British Bulldogs Vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake
#18. Jushin “Thunder” Liger (1595pts / 53 votes)
Single handedly took the World Junior divisions to another level
Top 5 Votes: 6
Top 10 Votes: 16
Highest Vote: #4
Point Average: 30.1 (#21 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #23 [+5]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jushin_Liger
Keiichi Yamada (born November 30, 1964), better known as Jushin Liger and later, Jushin "Thunder" Liger is a Japanese professional wrestler who invented the Shooting Star Press. He also works for Dragon Gate.
Yamada was an amateur wrestler while studying in high school. He applied to New Japan Pro Wrestling to become a professional wrestler in the early 1980's. He was not accepted because he did not meet the height requirements they had at that time. Yamada was determined not to give up his dream of becoming a professional wrestler, so he left for Mexico and began his training there. By his own account, he was almost starving while studying there, so NJPW officials who were visiting took pity on him and asked him to come back to Japan. While continuing his studies, he had his debut match in December 1984 at the age of 20. He began studying various martial arts styles because he wanted to add something new and different to his wrestling style, which is how he learned his Rolling Koppou Kick.
He left for England in 1986 where he wrestled for All-Star Promotions as "Flying" Fuji Yamada. After returning to Japan, he debuted his Shooting Star Press in 1987, for which he had gotten the idea from reading the manga Fist of the North Star. He left for Canada early 1989, where he wrestled in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling under his real name. He also trained under Hart in Hart's legendary "Dungeon." His experiences there led him to refer to Hart as a "very, very tough man". NJPW called him back to Japan, as they needed him for a gimmick based on an extremely popular anime superhero, Jushin Liger, created by celebrated mangaka Go Nagai. NJPW had done this previously with Tiger Mask, which had become a huge success. Yamada was given a superhero-like full body costume & demonic looking mask, resembling the superhero type featured in tokusatsu and anime programs.
Jushin Liger debuted in April 24, 1989 in NJPW. In his debut match, he defeated Kuniaki Kobayashi. Afer using the Jushin Liger gimmic the anime progressed, and as the Go Nagai Anime progress the hero powered up and changed 3 times. as the hero changed so did Liger. First to Fire Liger then to the character gimmic he goes by today, Jushin Thunder Liger. He quickly became one of NJPW's top Junior Heavyweights, eventually capturing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title eleven times among numerous other titles and accolades while wrestling around the world. When appearing without his mask on, Yamada blocks his appearance by covering his face with one hand. Early on, Yamada's style mostly consisted of high flying. Later on, he started adapting more power moves and started focusing more on grappling and telling a story in the ring.
Jushin Liger also made appearances with WCW during the 90's. He made his debut in 1991 against Brian Pillman, and would later face many other opponents such as Chris Benoit, Ricky Steamboat, Rey Mysterio, Jr., and Juventud Guerrera.
In 1996, Yamada was diagnosed with a brain tumour which cost him his hearing in one ear. Weeks later, he recovered and returned to action. He adapted his wrestling style to help reduce the strain it was putting on his body. He adopted more of a ground-based style to compensate for this strain. Liger has won two Super J Cup tournaments - the 1995 and 2000 events.
Finishing Move:
Liger Bomb
Top Rope Brainbuster
Shooting Star Press
Recommended matches:
Jushin “Thunder” Liger Vs. Naoki Sano
Jushin “Thunder” Liger Vs. Chris Benoit
Jushin “Thunder” Liger Vs. Brian Pillman
Jushin “Thunder” Liger Vs. El Samurai
Jushin “Thunder” Liger Vs. The Great Muta
Jushin “Thunder” Liger Vs. Shinji Ohtani
Jushin “Thunder” Liger Vs. The Great Sasuke
Jushin “Thunder” Liger Vs. Ultimo Dragon
Jushin “Thunder” Liger Vs. Koji Kanemoto
Jushin “Thunder” Liger & Takehiro Murahama Vs. Naomichi Marufuji & KENTA
#17. Randy “Macho Man” Savage (1651pts / 56 votes – THREE #1 Votes)
Hogan was a man and did the clean job to Savage in this poll. Ooooooooooooooooohhhhhhh Yeeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Dig it!
Top 5 Votes: 8
Top 10 Votes: 17
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 29.5 (#21 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #22 [+5]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Savage
"Macho Man" Randy Savage (born Randall Mario Poffo (pronounced pOH-foh) on November 15, 1952 in Columbus, Ohio), is a retired American professional wrestler, of italian origin. Savage achieved prominence in the World Wrestling Federation and later World Championship Wrestling. For much of his tenure in the WWF, he was managed by his real life wife, "Miss Elizabeth" Hulette. He has won six World Heavyweight Championships over the course of his career.
Finishing Move:
Top Rope Elbow Drop
Recommended matches:
Randy Savage Vs. Jerry Lawler
Randy Savage Vs. Tito Santana
Randy Savage Vs. Ricky Steamboat
Randy Savage Vs. Hulk Hogan
Randy Savage Vs.The Ultimate Warrior
Randy Savage Vs. Ric Flair
Randy Savage Vs. Diamond Dallas Page
#16. Mick Foley (1773pts / 65 votes)
Put asses in seats
Top 5 Votes: 5
Top 10 Votes: 13
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 27.3 (#24 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #10 [-6]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. (born June 7, 1965) is an American author and professional wrestler. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), appearing on its RAW brand. Throughout his wrestling career, Foley has wrestled for many different promotions, under multiple different personas.
Finishing Move:
Mandible Claw
Double Arm DDT
Recommended matches:
Cactus Jack Vs. Eddie Gilbert
Cactus Jack Vs. Sabu
Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne/Kevin Sullivan Vs. The Nasty Boys
Cactus Jack Vs. Vader
Cactus Jack Vs. Terry Funk
Cactus Jack & Raven Vs. Tommy Dreamer & Terry Funk
Mankind Vs. The Undertaker
Mankind Vs. Shawn Michaels
Dude Love Vs. Steve Austin
Mankind Vs. The Rock
Cactus Jack Vs. HHH
Mick Foley Vs. Edge
#15. Terry Funk (1800pts / 67 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Most unselfish Legend ever?
Top 5 Votes: 5
Top 10 Votes: 15
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 26.9 (#24 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #21 [+6]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Funk
Terrance (Terry) Funk (born June 30, 1944) is an American professional wrestler, known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the later part of his career that inspired many later wrestlers, most notably Mick Foley. He is affectionately known as "The Funker".
Finishing Move:
Spinning Toehold
Piledriver
Recommended matches:
Terry Funk Vs. Harley Rave
Terry Funk Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
The Funks Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Giant Baba
Terry Funk Vs. Dusty Rhodes
Terry Funk Vs. Stan Hansen
Terry Funk Vs. Jerry Lawler
Terry Funk Vs. Ric Flair
Terry Funk Vs. Mick Foley
Terry Funk Vs. The Sandman Vs. Stevie Richards
Terry Funk Vs. Sabu
#14. Chris Jericho (1859pts / 64 votes)
PWT……is…….Jericho
Top 5 Votes: 3
Top 10 Votes: 16
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 29.0 (#22 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #17 [+3]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine (born November 9, 1970), better known by the ring name Chris Jericho, is an American-Canadian actor, radio host, rock musician, and professional wrestler. Jericho is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and is credited as being the first-ever WWF Undisputed Champion and a record-setting seven-time WWE Intercontinental Champion.
His father, Ted Irvine, is a former National Hockey League player. Despite his strong Christian beliefs, Jericho's stage name was not directly inspired by the ancient Biblical city of Jericho, but from the heavy metal album entitled Walls of Jericho by the German power metal band Helloween.
Finishing Move:
Liontamer / Walls of Jericho(Elevated Boston Crab)
Lionsault (Middle Rope Springboard Moonsault)
Recommended matches:
Chris Jericho & Lance Storm Vs. The Heavenly Bodies
Chris Jericho Vs. Chris Benoit
Chris Jericho Vs. 2 Cold Scorpio Vs. Pitbull #2 Vs. Shane Douglas
Chris Jericho Vs. Eddie Guerrero
Chris Jericho Vs. Rey Mysterio Jr.
Chris Jericho Vs. Dean Malenko
Chris Jericho Vs. Chris Benoit Vs. Kurt Angle
Chris Jericho Vs. HHH
Chris Jericho Vs. The Rock
Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit Vs. HHH & Steve Austin
Chris Jericho Vs. Chris Benoit Vs. Steve Austin
Chris Jericho Vs. Christian
Chris Jericho Vs. Rob Van Dam
#13. The Rock (1990pts / 64 votes – FOUR #1 Votes)
Finally.... THE ROCK.... HAS RETURNED to the P......W......T 100.
Top 5 Votes: 14
Top 10 Votes: 23
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 31.1 (#20 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #9 [-4]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_Johnson
Dwayne Johnson (born May 2, 1972) better known by his ring name The Rock, is an American actor and former professional wrestler. Originally known as Rocky Maivia, Johnson first gained mainstream fame as a standout in the World Wrestling Federation. During his professional wrestling career, he has been a nine-time World champion (seven WWF Championship and two WCW Championship reigns.)
Finishing Move:
Rock Bottom
The People’s / Corporate Elbow
The Scorpion King Deathlock (Sharpshooter)
Recommended matches:
The Rock Vs. HHH
The Rock Vs. Mankind
The Rock Vs. Chris Jericho
The Rock Vs. Kurt Angle
The Rock Vs. Steve Austin
The Rock Vs. Brock Lensar
The Rock Vs. Hulk Hogan
#12. Triple-H (2022pts / 66 votes – TWO #1 Votes)
Vince’s Favorite Son
Top 5 Votes: 11
Top 10 Votes: 24
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 30.6 (#20 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #12 [-]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_H
Paul Michael Levesque (born July 27, 1969) is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of his former Hunter Hearst Helmsley moniker. He currently wrestles for the RAW brand of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Before coming to World Wrestling Entertainment, Levesque began his wrestling career with World Championship Wrestling in 1993, wrestling under the name Terra Ryzin. He changed his gimmick to Jean-Paul Lévesque, before joining the World Wrestling Federation (now known as World Wrestling Entertainment) in 1995.
Since joining WWE, he has become a ten-time World Champion; five times a WWF Champion, and a five-time World Heavyweight Champion. He was also the winner of the 1997 King of the Ring and the 2002 Royal Rumble. He also became the seventh triple crown champion and the second grand slam champion. He was also the leader of the stables D-Generation X and Evolution.
He is the husband of Stephanie McMahon-Levesque and the son-in-law of WWE chairman Vince McMahon. Levesque is known to have considerable pull backstage, starting with his membership in the Clique.
Outside of wrestling, Levesque has made numerous guest appearances in film and on television. He is starring in the upcoming WWE Film Jornada del Muerto.
Finishing Move:
Pedigree (Double Underhook Facebuster)
Recommended matches:
HHH Vs. The Rock
HHH Vs. Steve Austin
HHH Vs. The Undertaker
HHH Vs. Cactus Jack
HHH & Steve Austin Vs. Chris Benoit & HHH
HHH Vs. Shawn Michaels
HHH Vs. Chris Jericho
HHH VS. Chris Benoit Vs. Shawn Michaels
#11. The Undertaker (2103pts / 68 votes – FOUR #1 Votes)
Dead Man Walking
Top 5 Votes: 11
Top 10 Votes: 20
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 30.9 (#20 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #8 [-3]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_undertaker
Mark William Calaway (born March 24, 1965) is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name The Undertaker. He is signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestling on its SmackDown! brand but is currently inactive due to an injury.
As of 2007, Calaway is one of the longest-tenured performers in WWE, having joined in 1990. He is one of only two wrestlers to have appeared on the very first episode of RAW is WAR who are still with the company today. The other is Shawn Michaels.
Before coming to World Wrestling Entertainment, Calaway began his wrestling career with World Class Championship Wrestling in 1984. He joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1989. When WCW never renewed Calaway's contract at the end of 1990, he joined World Wrestling Federation (now known as the World Wrestling Entertainment) in November of that year.
He is undefeated at WrestleMania with a 15-0 record and is a five-time World Champion; four times as WWF/E Champion, and a one-time World Heavyweight Champion. He was also the winner of the 2007 Royal Rumble.
Finishing Move:
Tombstone Piledriver
Last Ride
Chokeslam
Heart Punch
Recommended matches:
The Undertaker Vs. Hulk Hogan
The Undertaker Vs. Mankind
The Undertaker Vs. Bret Hart
The Undertaker Vs. Steve Austin
The Undertaker Vs. Shawn Michaels
The Undertaker Vs. Kurt Angle
#10. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat (2109pts / 71 votes)
Did he ever have a bad match?
Top 5 Votes: 7
Top 10 Votes: 21
Highest Vote: #2
Point Average: 29.7 (#21 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #20 [+10]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Steamboat
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, (born Richard Blood on February 28, 1953 in West Point, New York) is a former professional wrestler who went on to become a wrestling road agent. He was well-known among wrestling fans as being one of the few wrestlers who stayed a face throughout the expanse of a long career.
Steamboat was fired by WCW President Eric Bischoff via Federal Express package (while injured), thus ending a nearly two decade relationship with the Crockett/Turner wrestling organization. He retired for good in September 1994.
Finishing Move:
Flying Crossbody
Recommended matches:
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood Vs. Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle
Ricky Steamboat Vs. Randy Savage
Ricky Steamboat Vs. Ric Flair
Ricky Steamboat Vs. Mitusharu Misawa
Ricky Steamboat Vs. Lex Luger
Ricky Steamboat Vs. Rick Rude
Ricky Steamboat & Dustin Rhodes Vs. Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyzsko
Ricky Steamboat Vs. Steve Austin
#9. Mitsuharu Misawa (2116pts / 59 votes – FOUR #1 Votes)
Had a few good matches
Top 5 Votes: 22
Top 10 Votes: 33
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 35.9 (#15 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #27 [+18]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsuharu_Misawa
Mitsuharu Misawa is a Japanese professional wrestler. He became famous working for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Currently he owns, operates, and wrestles for Pro Wrestling NOAH, where he is the current GHC Heavyweight Champion and serves as the chairman of the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance.
Misawa was a successful amateur wrestler. Competing in the junior age group, he placed fifth at the 1980 freestyle World Championships.
Misawa was trained in professional wrestling by Dick "The Destroyer" Beyer, Shohei Baba, and Dory Funk, Jr. and made his professional debut on August 21, 1981 for All Japan Pro Wrestling.
Early in his career, Misawa wrestled as the second generation of Tiger Mask. On May 17, 1990, during a tag match against Yoshiaki Yatsu and Hiromichi Fuyuki, he told his partner and future rival, Toshiaki Kawada, to unmask him, revealing his true face. Weeks later, on June 8 Misawa defeated Jumbo Tsuruta in his first ever main event at Nippon Budokan. The match is seen as a turning point in the history of All Japan, with Misawa being established as a major threat and a new star. Misawa made his first challenge for the Triple Crown in July, losing to Stan Hansen in a decision match for the vacant titles after Terry Gordy was forced to vacate the belts. After losing to Jumbo in a rematch on September 1, he teamed with then-regular partner Toshiaki Kawada to place third in the Real World Tag League, beating the team of Jumbo & Akira Taue on the final day.
Misawa again challenged for the Triple Crown in April, but fell to Tsuruta for a second time. Misawa continued his growth throughout 1991, pinning Terry Gordy in successive months in June and July, the second coming in an AJPW World Tag Team Titles match, with Misawa winning the belts for himself and partner Kawada. The pair made their first defence against the team of Tsuruta & Taue on September 30 at Nippon Budokan, with Misawa historically submitting Jumbo to end the match.
Misawa then went on to dominate All Japan Pro Wrestling throughout the 1990s, with multiple Triple Crown and AJPW World Tag Team Title reigns. His rivalries with Jumbo Tsuruta, Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi are legendary, with many classic matches against them. His tag-team partners included Kenta Kobashi and Jun Akiyama.
Following the death of AJPW head booker Giant Baba and disagreements with his widow Motoko Baba, Misawa split from All Japan in mid-2000. He took all but two natives (Toshiaki Kawada and Masanobu Fuchi) to form Pro Wrestling NOAH
In 2005, Misawa and his long time partner Yoshinari Ogawa returned the GHC Tag Team belts to NOAH from the New Japan Pro Wrestling combination of Yuji Nagata & Hiroshi Tanahashi. Currently, Misawa continues to wrestle a full-time schedule, competing mostly in tag team matches. At the Nippon Budokan on December 10, 2006, he defeated Naomichi Marufuji to win his 3rd GHC Heavyweight Championship. Misawa has defended the GHC World Heavyweight Championship against Current ROH World Heavyweight Champion Takeshi Morishima, Takuma Sano & Top Gaijin Bison Smith. Misawa retained his title for the 4th time when he pinned Akira Taue after a Emerald Frosion Custom.
Finishing Move:
Tiger Driver
Tiger Driver 91’
Emerald Fusion/Frosion/Implosion
ELBOW!!!!!
Recommended matches:
Tigert Mask II Vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi
Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi Vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue
Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama Vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue
Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama Vs. “Dr. Death” Steve Williams & Johnny Ace
Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Stan Hansen
Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Toshiaki Kawada
Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Kenta Kobashi
Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Akira Taue
Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
#8. Kenta Kobashi (2215pts / 60 votes – SEVEN #1 Votes)
Fighting Spirit!
Top 5 Votes: 26
Top 10 Votes: 41
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 36.9 (#14 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #31 [+23]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenta_Kobashi
Kenta Kobashi is a professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling NOAH. He has previously worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling, and is known as the physically strongest fighter in Puroresu today.
Kobashi practiced Judo and rugby during high school in Fukuchiyama. He practised body building after his graduation while working "regular" jobs. He applied and was accepted to All Japan Pro Wrestling's dojo on June 20, 1987. He was trained there by Giant Baba, Dory Funk, Jr., Masanobu Fuchi, and Kazuharu Sonoda. Kobashi debuted as a professional wrestler in Ryuo, Shiga on February 26, 1988. He was booked by Shohei 'Giant' Baba to lose his first 63 matches (all singles bouts). It was all part of Baba's master plan: even in defeat, the fiery, charismatic Kobashi shined, and his gutsy, never-say-die efforts earned him the Rookie Of The Year award from the Japanese press. Kobashi won his first match in May 1989 (against Jim Crockett Promotions jobber Mitch Snow). Eleven months later he lifted his first title - the All-Asian tag team championship - with Tiger Mask (Mitsuharu Misawa). Over the next two years, Kobashi held the All-Asian belts with Johnny Ace twice and with Tsuyoshi Kikuchi once. The title win with Kikuchi over Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas in May 1992 came in one of the weakest matches that year.
During 1989, when the Road Warriors were in AJPW, they taught Kobashi how to train every day. He first gained some prominence as member of Mitsuharu Misawa's faction during Misawa's feud with Jumbo Tsuruta. Kobashi during this period played dual roles according to who his partners and opponents were. When teamed with the higher ranking Mitsuharu Misawa or Toshiaki Kawada, Kobashi would play the gutsy underdog. At the same time, when teamed with the much smaller Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, he would play a "big brother" role, coming in to try to save the day after Kikuchi had been worked on for a while by the opponents.
Finishing Move:
Burning Lariat
Brainbuster
Orange Crush
Burning Hammer
Recommended matches:
Kenta Kobashi Vs. Stan Hansen
Kenta Kobashi Vs. “Dr. Death” Steve Williams
Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue
Kenta Kobashi Vs. Toshiaki Kawada
Kenta Kobashi Vs. Mitsuharu Misawa
Kenta Kobashi Vs. Jun Akiyama
Kenta Kobashi Vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
Kenta Kobashi Vs. Kensuki Sasaki
Kenta Kobashi Vs. Samoa Joe
#7. Kurt Angle (2421pts / 78 votes – ONE #1 Vote)
Your Olympic Hero
Top 5 Votes: 21
Top 10 Votes: 35
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 31.0 (#20 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #4 [-3]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Angle
Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9, 1968 in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania) is an American professional wrestler and former Olympic amateur wrestler. He currently works for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he holds all three of the company's championships: World Heavyweight, Tag Team (with Sting), and X Division.
Angle was involved in amateur wrestling during both high school and college. In college, he won numerous accolades, including being a two-time National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I champion. After graduating, he won the 1995 World Championship tournament. Angle then competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he won a gold medal in heavyweight freestyle wrestling.
Initially turning down an offer to join the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), Angle signed a multi-year contract with the company. As part of the WWF (and later WWE), he was a WCW United States Champion, WCW World Heavyweight Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, four-time WWF/E Champion, WWF European Champion,WWF Hardcore Champion, WWF Intercontinental Champion, and WWE's World Heavyweight Champion. In addition, he was the winner of the King of the Ring tournament in 2000, the tenth Triple Crown Champion, and the fourth Grand Slam Champion.
After leaving WWE, Angle joined TNA, where he became the second wrestler in TNA to win the Triple Crown. Angle also makes appearances for the Japan based Inoki Genome Federation (IGF), where he is the current IWGP Third Belt Champion (recognized by IGF and TNA as the IWGP World Championship and by the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) as the NWA Japan Championship).
Finishing Move:
Anglelock (Anklelock)
Olympic Slam
Recommended matches:
Kurt Angle Vs. Edge
Kurt Angle Vs. Chris Benoit
Kurt Angle Vs. The Rock
Kurt Angle Vs. Shane McMahon
Kurt Angle Vs. Steve Austin
Kurt Angle Vs. Eddie Guerrero
Kurt Angle Vs. Brock Lesnar
Kurt Angle Vs. The Undertaker
Kurt Angle Vs. Shawn Michaels
Kurt Angle Vs. Samoa Joe
#6. Chris Benoit (2585pts / 72 votes – THREE #1 Votes)
Picked up where Dynamite Kid ended
Top 5 Votes: 17
Top 10 Votes: 19
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 35.9 (#15 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #5 [-1]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Benoit
Christopher Michael Benoit (May 21, 1967 – June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler who wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment. A World Heavyweight Champion in both WCW and WWE, he was widely regarded as one of the most popular and gifted technical professional wrestlers of his generation.
Finishing Move:
Crippler Crossface
Diving Headbutt
Recommended matches:
Chris Benoit Vs. Jushin “Thunder” Liger
Chris Benoit Vs. El Samurai
Chris Benoit Vs. The Great Sasuke
Chris Benoit Vs. Eddie Guerrero
Chris Benoit Vs. Dean Malenko
Chris Benoit Vs. Kevin Sullivan
Chris Benoit Vs. Chris Jericho
Chris Benoit Vs. Kurt Angle
Chris Benoit Vs. HHH Vs. Shawn Michaels
Chris Benoit Vs. HHH
Chris Benoit Vs. Fit Finlay
#5. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (2664pts / 78 votes – TWO #1 Votes)
Saved the WWF’s ass and Vince’s $$... all on a broken freakin’ neck!
Top 5 Votes: 18
Top 10 Votes: 35
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 34.2 (#17 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #6 [+1]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin
Steven James Williams (born Steven Anderson on December 18, 1964) better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American actor and semi-retired professional wrestler. Austin wrestled for many well known wrestling promotions such as World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, renamed World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002). In the late 1990s, Austin became extremely popular, portraying an anti-hero tough guy character who was "the blue collar, beer-drinking hero of every man who regularly defied his boss". He was forced to retire from the ring in 2003 due to neck, ankle and knee injuries sustained throughout his career.
Finishing Move:
Stone Cold Stunner by gawd
Lou Thesz Press by gawd
Stun Gun by gawd
Recommended matches:
Steve Austin Vs. Chris Adams
Steve Austin Vs. Ricky Steamboat
Steve Austin & Brian Pillman Vs. Ric Flair & Arn Anderson
Steve Austin Vs. Mark Mero
Steve Austin Vs. Ricky Steamboat
Steve Austin Vs. Bret Hart
Steve Austin Vs. The Undertaker
Steve Austin Vs. Shawn Michaels
Steve Austin Vs. The Rock
Steve Austin Vs. Dude Love
Steve Austin Vs. Kurt Angle
Steve Austin Vs. HHH
#4. Eddie Guerrero (2807pts / 85 votes – FOUR #1 Votes)
Wherever he went, that promotion kicked ass
Top 5 Votes: 19
Top 10 Votes: 36
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 33.0 (#18 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #13 [+9]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_guerrero
Eduardo Gory Guerrero Llanes (October 9, 1967 – November 13, 2005) better known by his ring name Eddie Guerrero, was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into a legendary Mexican wrestling family. He had a distinguished career, working for every major professional wrestling promotion in the United States: Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Guerrero's in-ring character was that of a crafty, resourceful wrestler who would do anything to win a match. His famous mantra became "Cheat to Win". Despite being a heel for much of his career, he became popular in and outside the ring. Another one of his famous sayings was "I Lie! I Cheat! I Steal!" He partly uses this phrase in his book "Stealing Life, Cheating Death"
Throughout his career, Guerrero encountered various substance abuse problems outside of wrestling, including alcoholism and an addiction to pain killers. His problems outside of the ring were sometimes integrated into his storylines. Notwithstanding these issues, Guerrero won numerous titles during his career, including the WWE Championship. He was also posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Finishing Move:
Frogsplash
Lasso From El Paso
The Three Amigos (Rolling vertical suplexes)
Recommended matches:
Eddie Guerrero & Art Barr Vs. El Hijo Del Santo & Octagon
Eddie Guerrero Vs. Jushin Liger
Eddie Guerrero Vs. Chris Benoit
Eddie Guerrero Vs. Chris jericho
Eddie Guerrero Vs. Shinjiro Ohtani
Eddie Guerrero Vs. Rob Van Dam
Eddie Guerrero Vs. Edge
Eddie Guerrero Vs. Rey Mysterio Jr.
Eddie Guerrero Vs. Dean malenko
Eddie Guerrero Vs. Kurt Angle
Eddie Guerrero Vs. Brock Lesnar
#3. “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels (3081pts / 87 votes – EIGHT #1 Votes)
Bumps like a pinball machine
Top 5 Votes: 29
Top 10 Votes: 48
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 35.4 (#16 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #2 [-1]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_michaels
Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965), is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Shawn Michaels. He performs on the RAW brand of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), though he is currently out of action because of a legitimate knee surgery. His absence is being portrayed on television as the result of a serious concussion inflicted by Randy Orton.
As of 2007, Hickenbottom is one of the longest-tenured performers in WWE, having joined in 1987. He is one of only two wrestlers to have appeared on the very first episode of RAW is WAR who are still with the company today. The other is The Undertaker. However, he was inactive in the company from 1998-2002 due to a severe back injury.
Before coming to World Wrestling Entertainment, Hickenbottom began his career in Mid-South Wrestling in 1984. He then went on to Texas All-Star Wrestling. He made his national debut with the American Wrestling Association in 1986. He signed with World Wrestling Federation in 1987 while still under contract with AWA. He returned to AWA, only to go back to World Wrestling Federation in 1988.
Hickenbottom is a four-time World Champion; three-time as WWF Champion, and a one-time World Heavyweight Champion. He was also the winner of the 1995 and 1996 Royal Rumbles.
Finishing Move:
Sweet Chin Music (Superkick)
Recommended matches:
Shawn Michaels Vs. Bret Hart
Shawn Michaels Vs. Tito Santana
Shawn Michaels Vs. Razor Ramon
Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker
Shawn Michaels Vs. Mankind
Shawn Michaels Vs. Steve Austin
Shawn Michaels Vs. Davey Boy Smith
Shawn Michaels Vs. HHH
Shawn Michaels Vs. Kurt Angle
ARGHHHHHHHHHHH I can't take it! Who will be the #1 Wrestler of All-time?
The envelope please...
#2. Bret “The Hitman” Hart (3209pts / 85 votes – NINE #1 Votes)
The the Best There is. The Best There Was. But he was only the 2nd Best There Ever Will be..
Top 5 Votes: 34
Top 10 Votes: 56
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 37.8 (#13 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #1 [-1]
Bio:
Bret Sergeant Hart (born July 2, 1957) is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, and part of the Hart wrestling family. In the course of his career, he is best known by his ring name Bret "Hitman" Hart. He also used the monikers "The Excellence of Execution" (originally dubbed as such by Gorilla Monsoon), "The Pink and Black Attack" (primarily while teamed with Jim Neidhart) and perhaps the most resounding, "The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be" (derived from the 1984 film The Natural, which starred Robert Redford).
Hart justifies this claim by citing three facts: that he never seriously injured an opponent through any fault of his own; that, in the course of his career with the World Wrestling Federation, he only ever missed two shows, both as a result of traffic and flight difficulties; and the claim that he rarely refused to job. He won seven World Heavyweight Championships over the course of his career.
Finishing Move:
Sharpshooter
Recommended matches:
Bret Hart Vs. The Dynamite Kid
Bret Hart Vs. Tiger Mask
The Hart Foundation Vs. The British Bulldogs
The Hart Foundation Vs. The Rockers
Bret Hart Vs. Randy Savage
Bret Hart Vs. Ricky Steamboat
Bret Hart Vs. Davey Boy Smith
Bret Hart Vs. Curt Hennig
Bret Hart Vs. Ric Flair
Bret Hart Vs. The Undertaker
Bret Hart Vs. Owen Hart
Bret Hart Vs. Kevin Nash
Bret Hart Vs. Steve Austin
.. Wait! Then that means.....
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
#1. “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (3548pts / 91 votes – TWENTY #1 Votes)
You see to “be the man”. You gotta “beat the man”. And nobody beat the man in this poll. WHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Top 5 Votes: 52
Top 10 Votes: 63
Highest Vote: #1
Point Average: 39.0 (#12 on a Top 50 list)
Previous PWT Top 100 Ranking: #3 [+2]
Bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ric_flair
Ric Flair (born Richard Morgan Fliehr, born on February 25, 1949 in Memphis, TN[1]), is a currently inactive American professional wrestler best known for his work with World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Also known as "The Nature Boy," Flair is considered by many as the best all-around pro wrestler ever, as he combined superlative ring skills with unparalleled showmanship while crafting the model for the ideal champion in the modern era. Flair is recognized by WWE as a 16-time World Champion although he is actually a 18 time world champion. In WCW, he also had two stints as a booker—from 1989-1990 and again in 1994.
Finishing Move:
Figure Four Leglock
Recommended matches:
Ric Flair Vs. Harley Race
Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat
Ric Flair Vs. Kerry Von Erich
Ric Flair Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
Ric Flair Vs. Dusty Rhodes
Ric Flair Vs. Barry Windham
Ric Flair Vs. Lex Luger
Ric Flair Vs. Terry Funk
Ric Flair Vs. Bret Hart
Royal Rumble 1992
Ric Flair Vs. Randy Savage
Ric Flair Vs. Vader
Ric Flair Vs. Hulk Hogan
24 comments:
WHAT ABOUT GOLDBERG??
Looks like Goldberg came in #114 with 9192 points / 14 votes)
Once again Goldberg jobs to Hogan and the NWO :-(
Big Fan of the concept of your list, HOWEVER...
It seems as though it was compiled exclusively by fans under the age of 25. Georgeous George, Pat O'Conner, Killer Kowalski, Ed "Strangler" Lewis, The Sheik, Buddy Rogers, Verne Gagne, not on the list but some jobber like Lo-Ki is, loses all credibility to this wrestling fan. Sorry.
I'm glad you enjoyed the countdown. I agree old school wrestlers like Buddy Rogers, Strangler Lewis and the like deserve to be recognized but sadly I think the lack of footage hurt those guys.
I was (pleasantly) surprised to see lots of 70's guys like Destroyer, Billy Robinson, Dory Funk Jr, etc.. get into the list.
Luckily Japan took better care of their footage and thanks to the Internet their getting their props with their matches getting around.
And speaking of old school, 50's trend maker Gorgeous George landed in at #116.
Think Dynamite Kid should definitely be top 10 seeing as he is a carbon-copy of Benoit, only using the most innovative moves 30 years ago. Bret Hart who's at number 2 also described Dynamite Kid as "P4P best wrestler there ever was." High-Praise indeed, and I don't see why so many TNA guys are in there, they're just doing what Japanese Junior heavyweights were doing 20 years ago. When Curt Hennig (Mr. Perfect) wrestled Dynamite he was left in awe.
I agree with Floyd. I was plesantly surprised that your list included a number of the older wrestlers. Your list wasn't completely objective, but then, how could it be? It was quite well done considering everything.
I'll just like to suggest viewing of the AJW Classic matches. Jaguar Yokota, Lioness Asuka and Chigusa Nagoyo more are certainly up there with Manami.
Way to go Floyd...great work indeed! You just brought back fond memories of the past...
thanks for compiling the list, seems pretty good, although it doesnt recognize many of the real oldschool guys like Frank Gotch, etc... I agree that too many young TNA stars (Daniels, Christian, Low Ki, etc) made this list while true legends are missing such as Gotch, Buddy Rogers, and the list could go on. I'm also a bit surprised that none of the Von Erichs made it to the list. But, it was a fun, solid read. Thanks. Thumbs up.
Ps. Dynamite over Benoit anyday of the week :p
Thank you for the comments! Sorry I didn't respond till now.
Names like Frank Gotch, Buddy Rogers and Ray Stevens would probably make any well-researched list, but man the lack of footage sucks. :-(
I agree Jaguar Yokota, Lioness Asuka and Chigusa Nagoyo are all fantastic and 80's AJW essential. Chigusa is probably my favorite of the three and 2nd fav women's wrestler of all time. That little girl could throw down.
Bret Hart is my 2nd favorite of all time & Ric Flair is the 1st so this turned out nicely for young Dyll here! :P
I AGREE THAT RIC FLAIR IS THE UNDISPUTED, GREATEST WRESTLER OF ALL TIME. NICELY DONE. I AM OBVIOUSLY DEALING WITH SOMEONE OF INTELLIGENCE HERE. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE INCOMPARBLE RIC FLAIR, THE OLD MID ATLANTIC CREW IS PRETTY POORLY REPRESENTED HERE. WHAT ABOUT WAHOO MCDANIEL? YES, KNOW HE WAS NOT A GREAT 'WRESTLER' IN TERMS OF BEING A MAT TECHNICIAN, BUT NEITHER WAS HULK HOGAN! BUT THE MAN COULD DRAW, AND HE WAS TOUGH AS HELL. ALSO, YOU GOTTA PUT GORGEOUS GEORGE IN THERE SOMEWHERE. HELL, HE WAS WRESTLING IN THE 50'S.
this is the worse list ever..
this is my top 10..
1. Hulk Hogan
2. Ric Flair
3. Macho Man
4. The Undertaker
5. Ultimate Warrior
6. Andre The Giant
7. Bret Hart
8. Shawn Michaels
9. Stone Cold Steve Austin
10.The Rock
it's too bad to see no "Judo" Gene LeBell, Ed "Strangler" Lewis, or "Killer" Kowalski on this list!
--------------------------
Anonymous said...
THE OLD MID ATLANTIC CREW IS PRETTY POORLY REPRESENTED HERE. WHAT ABOUT WAHOO MCDANIEL?
--------------------------
Anonymous said...
it's too bad to see no "Judo" Gene LeBell, Ed "Strangler" Lewis, or "Killer" Kowalski on this list!
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I agree Mid-Atlantic and the classic old school wrestlers (Especially pre-70's) are poorly represented. I chalk that up to the lack of footage, although more seems to pop up everyday.
And Wahoo's the man.
--------------------------
Anonymous said...
No where in your rambling incoherent post did you come close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. We are all dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul.
--------------------------
Dude is not Shakespeare it's raslin'.
Your dumber for having listened to it? It's text. Whatever voices your hearing is not related to this Top 100.
Hey wait, everything I typed up there came from wikipedia so they're the ones that received no points and need the mercy.
Thanks to everyone for their comments!
And a Happy New Year for 2010.
VALERIE put up her top 10. How about you? Whats your Top 10 list for the best Wrestlers of All-time?
Hey I'm about to run a Best of 2000s Matches list this year. It'll have the Top 100 matches from the decade (2000 - 2009). Voting ends June 30th or so..
john cena cant even wrestle he loses for practicaly the whole match then throws a punch and then hits a 5 move set and is told he can win because he is the wwe's poster boy but he cant wrestle he's just got charisma
hey, I liked your list and made me pretty inspired to make a list of my own, but I'm wondering why Randy Orton wasn't on the list and also I'm wondering how you made a poll like this?
Digging up my old results. Looks like Randy Orton came in #112th with 194pts / 12 votes.
This poll took place in 2007 so Orton had only been a one time champ then with the lame duck reign in 2004. If I redid this poll who knows he might make it.
Hi its me again, the one who asked for Randy Orton, I'm wondering if you could make a new poll?
hmmmm ok list as you put some real wrestling talent there but my top 10 would look this way 10. flair as he was good but his matches were almost the same every night. 9. Hogan the golden age of wrestling into mainstream but wrestled like the titanic sank 8. rock ditto but had killer mic work. 7. Sting what to say but he got stale with the crow gimmick and over stayed his welcome 7. Austin what else to say but injury prone 6. Kurt angle but tna and drugs botched his legacy 5. RVD ego from hell and see kurt angle for rest of comment 4. Bob Backlund never gave up see definition of towel 3. Undertaker 18-0 WM 2. HBK The Mainevent The Showstopper The Icon the born again christian
1. Bret Hart Class, never hurt anyone in ring, put over wrestlers who deserved it. Screwed in Montreal but in the end forgave everyone and did it with grace and dignity. There ya have it folks a real top 10
hello? can I see a larger list please? Thank You
rvd is the greatest of all time and bruno sammartino sucks .
he couldnt wrestle for anything .
he was a waste
What about D D P?
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