Who is the Real "Best in the World"

[Mustang Sally]

As always with this type of subject, the definition of "best in the world" needs to be explained, and everyone you listen to sees it differently. Personally, I see it not necessarily as the best technical wrestler nor the best performer, but rather as the one who inspired the most people to want to see them in the ring. Then, we have to determine whether we're talking about the best of all time......or the best right now.

To that end, Hulk Hogan would be my pick for best of all time in terms of getting people to watch him, even as much animosity as I have for what he's become. As for best in the world according to whom I wanted to watch, I'd say Randy Savage because I couldn't keep my eyes off him and his antics when he was in WWE. As a heel or a face, he kept me at the edge of my seat. He scared me too, which was part of the appeal.

Best in the world today IMO is John Cena, hands down. If there are 43 guys in the ring, I watch no one but him because of the way he acts, the way he moves, his work ethic and his overall presence. He's #1 in WWE for a reason......in fact, for a lot of reasons.

If you want to choose the guy who was the best technical wrestler.....that is, the one who would come out on top if every match were a shoot, I'd admire guys like Kurt Angle, Bob Backlund and Lou Thesz.....and I'd pick Ken Shamrock, whom I feel would be devastating if wrestling was "real."

Yes, I'm sure that's not a popular pick, but can you imagine him going at it if his life really depended on it?

[18dionlyone]

Originally Posted by grantedisme

Fantastic list, and I agree with everything on there. I'd probably add in Piper, Sting, Undertaker, The Rock, and Austin somewhere in the middle of the list if I were making a long list, though. On a side note, I firmly believe that CM Punk and Orton will be considered among the best after they retire (hopefully before), barring a tragic injury.

As for today, I think CM Punk has the whole package right now, followed by Cena and Orton (if I'm leaving out part-timers).

EDIT: ..and Bret Hart... there are so many amazing people to list. This is such an unfair question!!

Yeah I was going to add sting..I mean the best to never go to WWE hands down

then taker..Who while hes larger than life and his streak is amazing and has more mania moments than anyone..i woldnt put him in my top 7 top 20 def just my personal opinion
Orton And Punk are great at what they do and are sure fire HOF'ers buttt they still dont have that "larger than life feel to them" well Orton kinda does not really CM Punk..not dissing him or anything I think hes pretty cool but just not best in the world


then We get to the Rock...again growing up..I was not a fan of the Rock at all..never saw the appeal..I was a huge HHH fan and wanted him to e the biggest star..but with that said I cant deny his larger than life persona and feel to him Its just for me personally hes not in my top 10..top 20 yes I guess I was a HHH mark lol Side note I was at Summerslam 2000 when I was 10 years old and cried my eyes out when HHH lost to the rock lol

[Mustang Sally]

Originally Posted by Kenneth

Kurt Angle hasn't retired. He is at TNA and I think he's training to compete in the Olympics this summer.

Yes, but the poster you quoted wrote: "Best 'Wrestler' today, even though he's retired, I think HBK is still the best."

He wasn't referring to Kurt Angle.

Incidentally, Angle was recently quoted as saying his chances of making the Olympic team were slim.

[The Eighties]

The three that were the best all round talents in the history of the business are HBK, Macho Man and Ric Flair IMO. Right now I'd say CM Punk as his in ring work, his character, his mic skills and his popularity are all very strong, he has the charisma to back up his skills.

If you isolated it to best in the ring then I think Cody, Dolph and Bryan can all challenge him for that credit, I leave out Jericho because I don't see him being back for long.

If you are talking pure star power then Cena is still the guy but Punk is catching, and Cena and Triple H are the only ones that can match him on the mic right now.

[Wrestlemania 20-0]

it's an difficult question cos when you see the entire history of wrestling,many wrestlers are the best in the world.
An guy like Lou Thesz was the greatest wrestler of all time,when he debuted in this sport.
Bruno sammartino was good and don't forget the one and only Gorgeous george,Snuka was an good athlete in the 80's.
to make an list was too long for to describde the best wrestlers in the world.

[jacdnwarrior]

Best in the World is really dependent on each person's point of view. If I'm going for workers in the ring, people who could work on the mat, add their own unique moveset and be a great storyteller, my list (just off the top of my head) would be:

Technicians/ Storytellers
1) Randy 'Macho Man' Savage RIP
2) Bret ' The Hitman' Hart
3) Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat
4) Chris Benoit
5) Kurt Angle
6) Ted 'the Million Dollar Man' DIbiase
7) Tito Santana
8) Edge

Current in WWE
1) Daniel Bryan
2) Chirs Jericho
3) Dolph Ziggler
4) C M Punk
5) Triple H
6) Miz

Greatest Entertainers/ Box Office Stars
1) Hulk Hogan
2) Stone Cold Steve Austin
3) The Rock
4) Rick Flair
5) John Cena
6) Triple H
7) Roddy Piper

The term best is truly hard to define in wrestling. So many tremendous performers have come and gone and so many have been unseen, that any list you make just seems incomplete.

[Wrestlemania 20-0]

your list is good but one men misses to this that, it's Stu Hart he makes good trainor with Owen Hart,Bret,Tyson Kid,Natalya he has revolutionned the world of wrestling.

If he wasn't here many wrestlers are not on the top of theirs carreers respectives,Steven brisco was an good name 'too.

[Mark Gallows]

Bare in mind I judge this PURELY on their WRESTLING performance, not on any personal issues outside the ring. Any my defintion of what "working" is may clash with some of you ROH fans..

Living: Ric Flair
No Longer with us: Macho Man Randy Savage (the nWo run)