Fit Finlay's first match was in 1974 when he was 16. K.P. At that age and size, one bump is likely all he had left in him.. Although known nowadays as a coach at the WWE Performance Center, previously, Robbie Brookside had a very successful career as a performer. He was the biggest star in WCW, their most recognizable babyface, and the face of the company through its highs and lows. Brians bouts with Jushin Thunder Liger were extraordinary as was his tag team with Steve Austin. As long as you work hard and strive to improve yourself, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to. JOHN CLAPP. Hardy Boys 42. The Top Ranked Pro Wrestlers of the 1960s - AinsworthSports.com Electricity Steve Regal. Going from Ravens flunky to Hulk Hogans rival in a little more than a year, Kidman proved that a stacked resume is nice, but guts are more important. R.M. He letsBrock Lesnar F5 him, Kevin Owens headbutt him in the head, and Roman Reigns Superman Punch him! However, he showed his resilience and passion for his craft by making a full recovery and returning to active competition until the demise of WCW in 2001. In 2020, Triple H didn't wrestle one single match for the first time since signing with WWE. The Dragon is undoubtedly one of the most elite competitors of all time, and its safe to assume that win, lose or draw, if you were an opponent of Steamboat, you knew that you were going to be in for a battle. It was Nov. 3, 2017, and the target was Jos Manuel Villarejo Prez, a former government spy. Slaughter and Greg Valentine were successful in the NWA. Proclaiming himself "The Chosen One," Jeff Jarrett bashed countless guitars over opponents heads on his way to becoming a four-time WCW Champion. Although he only held WCWs Hardcore Championship, Meng was always willing to take on any and all challengers, making him one of WCWs toughest and most feared warriors. Best known as "The Undertaker" from World Wrestling Entertainment. If he were judged on his physique alone, Steiner would appear to be just another powerhouse, but his amateur background and creativity in the squared circle presented a challenger with a skill set not often seen in a grappler of his stature. PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! However, The Hulkster truly revolutionized sports-entertainment at the 1996 Bash at the Beach. Their union put WCW on the map as Hogan basked in the jeers that his villainous Hollywood persona elicited on his way to becoming a six-time WCW Champion. That was obvious from the moment he joined WCW as he captured the WCW Tag Team Titles and the United States Title in 1988. If you dont like me, bite me, he often exclaimed. Ric Flair Actor | WWE Monday Night RAW Richard Morgan Fliehr isn't what you'd expect from a professional wrestler. Deaths in 2023 - Wikipedia Another World of Sport favorite, Martin Austin Ruane, as Giant Haystacks, became a massive star in 1975 after teaming up with previously mentioned Big Daddy as one of the most dominant tag teams in British Wrestling history. Pat Patterson 2 of 26 When he joined the WWF in 1979, Patterson was an established heel. Matthewss extensive knowledge of wrestling holds aided him, even in some of Britains most ruthless towns. Focusing on Sting, he formed an alliance with fellow wild man Abdullah the Butcher, and the pair competed in a shocking Chamber of Horrors Match at Halloween Havoc, which remains one of the most infamous bouts in sports-entertainment history. Shawn Michaels was the one wrestler fans would point to when saying that someone would finally stick to a promise of never returning to the ring after retirement. British grappler Darren William Regal Matthews is one of the most well-regarded wrestlers in the business, though he never was able to land on his feet at the top of the professional wrestling mountain, where many believe he could and should have been. However, his unabashed use of brute force made him a mainstay in WCW. Free to wreak his particular brand of Philly havoc, the grunge rock Svengali busted more stop signs than a runaway school bus as he abused Perry Saturn and beat Diamond Dallas Page for the United States Title. He wrestled like one too. He is also a lifelong wrestling fan, watching since the territory days in the 1980s. As a wrestler, he is currently signed to WWE. Throughout his career, The Total Package shared a close friendship with Sting, often teaming with WCWs face-painted franchise and once winning the tag team titles. He also had many great matches against British wrestling greats such as Fit Finlay and Mick McManus. But the oldest female in the wrestling industry was Betty Wagner, the valet of Gorgeous George who lived to 98 years old in 2011. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_former_WWE_personnel&oldid=1147080992, Lists of professional wrestling personnel, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 28 March 2023, at 18:58. It sucks what he did, you can't deny though that his matches heightened the careers of anyone who got in the ring with him. Vader dominated the competition. Bill Goldbergwas 50when he wascompeting with Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship -- winning it at the age of 49. When he wasnt brawling in the womens bathroom of Corpus Christis Memorial Coliseum (True story. Some of WCWs best Cruiserweights left fans scratching their heads. Villarejo's name had been circulating in the Spanish press for years. He was trained by Hiro Matsuda. This shocking turn of events pushed Hall to the frontlines of the Monday Night Wars as his foundation of The New World Order alongside Kevin Nash and Hulk Hogan resulted in record television ratings for WCW. Instead, he relied on his judo background. His encyclopedic knowledge of moves led to a nickname being bestowed upon him The Man of 1,000 Holds. Then, WWE brought in Sting, and he wrestled his first match ever for the company at WrestleMania 31 -- a match he lost to Triple H. Sting then had a few more matches, but his career ended at the age of 56 when he took a bad bump in a match with Seth Rollins. [1] Former employees in WWE consist of professional wrestlers, managers, valets, play-by-play and color commentators, announcers, interviewers, referees, trainers, script writers, executives, and members of the board of directors. Hogan began his professional wrestling career in . The Iceman had WCW fans on the edge of their seats as he tried to wrench the sinews and tear the tendons of stars like Rey Mysterio, Psychosis and Eddie Guerrero. Now can you dig that, sucka? No less arrogant than he is today, The Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla backed up his brashness by being the first man the hold the Cruiserweight Championship on four occasions. Hennig time in WCW signified the in-ring renaissance of one of the 90s best talents, who had been sidelined with a back injury for the better part of three years. CRAIG TELLO. She and her childhood friend Lolo (Sherry Cola), a trash-talking free spirit making sex . It was that fortitude that earned him the moniker of WCWs Peoples Champion and helped him become a three-time, three-time, three-time WCW Champion, four-time tag team champion, two-time U.S. Champion and a one-time TV Champion. Cactus battled Ron Simmons over the WCW Championship, but is mostly remembered for his rivalry against Vader ( FULL STORY). GREG SPRINGER. We think Magnum T.A. Bret Hit Man Hart made his highly publicized WCW debut two weeks before Starrcade 1997. Almost as if it he sought out specifically to discredit claims of nepotism, Rhodes proved his mettle with intense battles against the likes of Steve Austin, Rick Rude and Arn Anderson. Nash was also the winner of 1998s World War 3. While Stevie Ray recovered from an injury, Booker T began his successful career as a singles competitor. Jerry Lawler 47. R.M. [Photo: @WrestlingIsKing on Twitter]In his first three years in wrestling, he claimed the Light Heavyweight Championship and the British Commonwealth Tag Team Titles with Marty Jones. There is no doubt that Booker T belongs amongst the greats of WCW. When WCW went under, Hogan wasn't finished. RYAN MURPHY. Kidman may have lacked the international pedigree of an Ultimo Dragon, but he made up for it with raw nerve and a Jushin Liger-inspired Shooting Star Press that was so audacious even some of the top Cruiserweights dared not attempt it. Kane retired in his late 40s when he decided to run for public office and won the election to become the Mayor of Knox County in Tennessee. This would prove to make him a crowd favorite in Britain throughout the 1970s and 80s. Beautiful Bobby, however, overcame the odds and upset Anderson in a classic bout to claim his only WCW singles championship. It can be argued that no one was more integral to WCWs success than Eric Bischoff. M.Z. The Kliq | 10 Tales of Their WWE Locker Room Stranglehold, Pat Roach: From the Wrestling Ring to the Silver Screen, The Respectful Side of Wrestling: Unexpected Friendships, Big Daddy Shirley Crabtree: Secret History of a British Giant, 10 Times WWE Changed Finishes at the Last Second, 10 Wrestling Championship Belts That Arent Recognized, 7 Times Wrestlers Lost Control on a Talk Show, William Regal: His Secret, Inspirational Story. 42,200 views made by Star Wars Superfan avg. Here is where he would meet Robbie Brookside. Yet, he doesnt get as much recognition outside of Britain. Eatons prowess as a tag team competitor made him a sought-after partner. That changed in 2018 when Michaels came out of retirement for one match in Saudi Arabia, where he teamed with Triple H to beat Kane and The Undertaker at Crown Jewel. During his third run with the title, The Total Package set the record as longest reigning U.S. Champion at 523 days. The Excellence of Execution didnt immediately make an impact, but he did make a decision as he aligned himself with WCW against The nWo. One of their biggest stars went by the name Big Daddy.. Ranking Explanations . The Genetic Freak held a number of titles during his WCW career, including seven WCW Tag Team Titles and the WCW World Title. Peter Thornleys version of the character remained a household name throughout Britain, but most Americans and Japanese fans associated the character mostly with Kazuo Sakuradas version. An icon of the joshi scene -- not to mention a huge draw -- Toyota's mix of fast-paced wrestling and a high-flying style has made her a . In 1998, Bagwell suffered a broken neck that nearly ended his career. Brookside was introduced as a man that Shane McMahon had personally seen take down six men by himself in a fight at a local pub! He is widely regarded as the most recognized wrestling star worldwide and the most popular wrestler of the 1980s. 100 names 1. He was also part of the biggest groups to come out during the '90s including the nWo and D-Generation X. The Ravishing Ones mind games worked, as he defeated Flair to win the title. Back in the 1970s, there were three main wrestling. Beautiful Bobby formed successful teams with Anderson and William Regal, becoming a three-time WCW Tag Team Champion along the way. K.P. Rude got into The Nature Boys head by putting the moves on his valet, Fifi. Actor | Mae Young was part of the comedic storylines involving Fabulous Moolah, as the two elderly female wrestlers began to compete with younger girls. Other Links > Pro Wrestling > Top Ranked Pro Wrestlers by Decade . MATT ZIMMER. Beginning his WCW career managing The Fabulous Freebirds, Page soon entered active competition and formed his own faction known as The Diamond Mine. WWE talent contracts range from developmental contracts to multi-year deals. He reiterates that it is all about the story and the wrestlers involved when making that decision. Lawler's heart stopped, but he was saved thanks to the medical personnel on hand. 12 Kane (53) Kane retired in his late 40s when he decided to run for public office and won the election to become the Mayor of Knox County in Tennessee. During his career, he held the European Heavyweight Championship and British Heavyweight Championship in the UK and won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship in Canada with the Dynamite Kid. Hayes tremendous in-ring career ultimately came to an end in WCW, but the proud southerner kept it rocking until the final bell rang. CM Punk, would be way higher than Cena but this is a continuation of a list I started awhile ago and I only remembered to add Punk in the end. A famously intense and fearless competitor, Savage captured the first of his four WCW World Championships by winning the inaugural World War 3 60-man, three-ring battle royal in 1995. His last full match came in 2019 when Randy Orton beat him in a match in Saudi Arabia. He would win tag team titles in All Star Wrestling alongside fellow Liverpudlian Doc Dean before eventually being signed to WCW in the mid-90s. ITVs World of Sport was a household name in Britain, where it saw millions of viewers weekly. Was it Jerry Flynn? 23. G.S. The North Ireland-born Finlay amassed twenty championship reigns throughout his career, including the United States Championship in WWE. The 25 Best Wrestlers of The 1980's, Ranked - ONE37pm By 2012, McMahon booked himself to wrestle CM Punk, and while the match was not official, McMahon was 67 when he stepped into the ring with Punk. K.P. Pro Wrestling Documentaries, Books, and Movie Reviews, HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! The fact that Billy Kidman won the WCW Cruiserweight Title while wearing a tank top and jean shorts didnt make him great although it did make him kind of awesome. Everyone in the Atlanta-based organization and around the world started to ask who would be next on the gladiator's exponentially growing list of crossed out names. Before long, he would be touring as far away as France, Japan, and eventually North America. Flair made his debut in WWE in 1991 as the "true world champion." The Top 100 Wrestlers - IMDb Brian Pillman had one of the highest IQs Ive ever encountered and was a creative genius. Whether he was known as The Enforcer or Double A, Arn Andersons name was always synonymous with WCW. There is no face more recognizable or more closely associated with WCW than the man called Sting. The Tongan warrior known as Meng was one of the most intimidating forces in WCW. And before the bolted to the WWF, names like Piper and Sgt. He was even involved in a feud for the ECW Championship in 2009 at the age of 51. K.P. What's in a name? Raw results, July 10, 2023: The Judgment Day stand united in their victory over Rollins, Owens and Zayn, SmackDown results, July 14, 2023: Asuka survives Bianca Belair and a near cash-in from IYO SKY, WWE NXT results, July 11, 2023: The Judgment Day stand tall over Trick Melo Gang, Roman Reigns survives Cody Rhodes with controversial victory at WrestleMania, Damian Priests rise to Seor Money in the Bank, Top moments from SummerSlam 2022: WWE Top 10, July 9, 2023, 45 minutes of Superstar returns in 2023 so far. 28 Ray Stevens Ray Stevens had two very different gimmicks and both of them made him a star. The punishment Foley endured including a Texas Death Match in the main event of Halloween Havoc ultimately endeared him to the fans, and he captured the WCW Tag Team Championship before departing in 1994. While entangled in a rivalry with The Man of 1,000 Holds Dean Malenko, Jericho anointed himself The Man of 1,004 Holds in a memorable Nitro moment. Decades before he became a WWE Hall of Famer, Ron Simmons was making history. Top 50 professional wrestlers of the 1990's using win-loss - IMDb A medical student at Minnesota University (his father was a doctor, his mother an actress), Flair dropped out college to train for the mat wars under legendary former AWA World champ Verne Gagne. What she did after that is unknown, but she showed up in WWE in 1999. Haystacks Calhoun One of the first true giants in professional wrestling, Haystacks Calhoun weighed more than 600 pounds making him one of the biggest wrestlers of all time. Jerry "The King" Lawler is 69-years-old, and he still wrestles today for independent wrestling promotions. Oftentimes, young competitors looking to become full-timers were forced to face Meng in order to test their mettle and true desire. Title bout rather than a WCW World Title contest. After a brief stint in WWE, Double A returned to what had become WCW and branched out on his own. Shawn was 53 in that match and he said after it ended that he would not return to the ring to wrestle again. When The New World Orders power expanded, Flair went after Eric Bischoff, defeating The nWos corporate leader to become WCW President in 1998. (Use code PWS for a nice surprise). Straight from the Rocky Mountains came The Man They Call Vader. Kane has not ruled out a return after his days as a mayor ends. Follow him on Twitter @sslealos. While that rarely happens today, due to injury concerns, there are moments when the WWE pulls out some elder statesmen. He would have memorable feuds against the Von Erichs alongside Gino Hernandez as the Dynamic Duo in the World Class Championship Wrestling promotion, where he joined in 1983. R.M. However, before he changed the wrestling game, the powerhouse from Warner Robbins, GA., made up one half of Doom with Hacksaw Butch Reed and won the WCW Tag Team Championships with the aid of their manager, Theodore Long. Both John Cena, Chris Jericho, and Kane still rock the ring between personal and creative projects but not as often as they used to. Nash is a five-time WCW Champion with his first title victory controversially ending Goldbergs undefeated streak. Training under Marty Jones, Matthews made his pro wrestling debut at the age of 15 for a local promotor at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The former NFL defensive tackle-turned-World Heavyweight Champion plowed through Hugh Morrus on Sept. 22, 1997, and gained momentum weekly with the indiscriminate obliteration of Raven, Hollywood Hogan, Curt Hennig and a lion's share of The New World Order roster. Triple H turned 52 in 2021, and he has not ruled out a return to the ring in the future. Excelling in both the singles and tag ranks, Stunning Steve traded the Television Title with WCW greats like Barry Windham and Ricky Steamboat, but he was at his best alongside the fantastic Brian Pillman. Rob Parkers Stud Stable. Shinmai Maou no Testament Departures, Actor | Rankings were based on everything from longevity to cultural impact. Professional Wrestling: The 50 Greatest Wrestlers of the 1980s He would still wrestle for WWE if they allowed him to. B.M. During his impactful time in Atlanta, Hall was a Television Champion, a two-time United States Champion and a seven-time WCW Tag Team Champion. He became a worldwide sensation as Mankind in WWE, but Foleys true notoriety began in WCW. H.F. Capturing the WCW Television Championship in 1989, Muta helped pave the way for other Japanese competitors to find success in America. Us Yanks havent looked at the Brits the same way since. For those of us that loved Brian, he will never be forgotten. Before leaving WCW for WWE, Saturn captured the WCW Tag Team Titles on two occasions, further cementing his legacy in the Atlanta-based organization. K.P. But who was the most influential? That match took place when Jerry Lawler was 62, and it was the last time WWE allowed him to compete in their ring. . The Official Destination for WWE Superstars | WWE Air Force 1 x Tiffany & Co. Air Force 1 1982 . Turns out the man once billed from the Iron Gates of Fate wasnt just stupid tough, he was wicked smart. The following year, he got in the middle of a rivalry between Hulk Hogan and WCW Executive Vince Russo and laid down in the ring for Hogan. Shane McMahon 43. You can learn more about this fearless trendsetter here. is a boss, but he was never part of WCW from 1988-2001. He competed as Steel, Oz and Vinnie Vegas before leaving the Atlanta-based organization in favor of WWE. Here, Matthews would go by Steve Regal a name he had used going back to 87, and a name he had seen in an American wrestling magazine in use by another wrestler named Mr. Hulk Hogan began his career in the 1970s and then became the biggest star in WWE during the Rock and Wrestling era of the 1980s. The 50 greatest stars in WCW history | WWE A spoiled rich kid who sulked in corners and hid behind a band of toadies he dubbed The Flock, Raven could be as loathsome and emotionally draining as a Smiths record, but few competitors were as psychologically captivating as this Bowery punk. List of Former WWE programs | Pro Wrestling | Fandom The 50 greatest ring names ever! Breaking away from original partners Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts, Hayes found success in the tag team arena in 1989 with a new Freebird by the name of Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin. The self-proclaimed " Living Legend, Larry Zbyszko was one of WCWs most familiar faces for more than a decade both inside the squared circle and from the broadcast booth. However, Mysterio wasnt limited to Cruiserweight competition and stood up to challenges from larger competitors, earning victories against the likes of Kevin Nash and Scott Norton The Giant Killer even challenged Ric Flair for the WCW World Title in 1999. After a six-month tenure from 1989-1990, Cactus returned in 1991 with a more vicious persona. Prestons unchoreographed no-sells to McManus strikes led to McManus reacting and throwing legitimate strikes to get the referee to disqualify him during the match, thus giving Preston the unscheduled technical victory. His wrestling ability is something that people in the modern-day wouldnt be overly impressed with, but back in his time, he could captivate the audience at his command, which enabled him to be the star he was. He continued to make a name for himself as one of the most recognizable faces among WCWs Cruiserweights on both Monday Nitro and Thunder. He was a top heel and was renowned for bending the rules so the crowd would despise him as much as humanly possible. Hey, yo! Mark Calaway Actor | Suburban Commando Born on March 24, 1965. G.S. Wrestler Movie Appearances You May Have Missed! Stars Scott Hall Reginald Lisowski Curt Hennig See production, box office & company info Watch on Peacock S22-23 with subscription Add to Watchlist 8 User reviews Episodes 5 Browse episodes 4 years Photos WCWs success rested on the shoulders of experienced competitors and high-flying young ring warriors. With original maneuvers like The Flatliner a front Russian legsweep Kanyon climbed the WCW ranks, becoming a two-time WCW Tag Team Champion as a member of The Jersey Triad alongside Diamond Dallas Page and Bam Bam Bigelow. His win streak eventually was ruined by opponent Peter Preston. Fate and injuries prevented that from occurring over the long haul for Flyin Brian, but while his star did shine, it was brilliant. During his WCW tenure, The Giant was also a three-time tag champ and the winner of the 1996 World War 3 battle royal. Fit Finlay David "Fit" Finlay began his wrestling career in 1974, though his first mainstream exposure came when he debuted as the Belfast Bruiser in WCW in 1996. Actor | JEFF LABOON. Although Flair left WCW in favor of WWE in 91, he returned home in 1993 and went right back to styling and profiling as the leader of The Four Horsemen. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . K.P. Guerrera eventually lost his hood in a Cruiserweight Title vs. KEVIN POWERS. After a long battle with dementia, Rocco sadly passed away on July 30th, 2020. Rikidozan, who was considered by most to be the father of Japanese Professional Wrestling, was a huge international star and draw. Along with Scott Hall, Kevin Nashs unexpected appearance on WCW Monday Nitro in 1996 is often credited with raising the Monday Night Wars to a fever pitch. Thesz continued to dominate until the next era of wrestlers entered in the 1950s and 1960s. So, while WWE fansmay remember him for being a wrecking ball in The APA, understand that Ron Simmons paved the way for Superstars like The Rock, Booker T, and Mark Henry. Randy always treated his opponents as if they were on the same level, Diamond Dallas Page once told WWE.com. Mr. McMahon 39. He later would become a regular performer on WCW Saturday Night and WCW Thunder. The 13 Most Influential Wrestlers Of The '90s - TheSportster

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