10. Chief Jay Strongbow (1970.-1977, 1979-.1983)
9. Ivan Putski (1974-.Early 80s)
8. Lex Luger (1993.-1995)
7. “The Magnificent” Muraco (1981.-1988)
6. “Big” John Studd (1982.-1986, 1988-.1989)
5. King Kong Bundy (1985.-1988, 1994.-1995)
4. “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka (1982.-1985, 1989.-1992)
3. Scott Steiner (1992.-1994, 2002.-2004)
2. Goldust (1995.-1999, 2001.-2003, 2005.-2006, 2008.-2012 & 2013.-14)
1. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (1984.-1987, 1989.-1996, 2003 & 2005.)
What do you all think of Vince Russo's list?
As for people wondering why no DiBiase, Perfect or Rude, well, he posted only his opinion. We have enough of the "greatest superstar who was never WWE champion" threads that has 20 pages of people posting same 4 guys over and over again.
It's nice for a change having someone posting guys like Strongbow, Putski or Rhodes. That doesn't mean that Russo doesn't see guys like Rude or DiBiase as world champion material, he only posted the 10 guys he would book as champions first, that doesn't mean that for example someone like Hennig isn't in his top 20
I first discovered Chief Jay Strongbow when I was about ten years .old, and as with everything in professional wrestling, it was his entertainment value that hooked me. With his Native American gimmick, which you believed despite the fact that Joe Scarpa was a full.blooded Italian, Chief Jay would do his war dance around the ring... – after you p*ssed him off – with the grace of a Cheryl Burke two.-step that you could see her perform weekly on Dancing With The Stars.
The fans loved Strongbow, especially in the New York area. His monumental feuds with such greats as Jimmy Valiant and Superstar Billy Graham were some of the most important and significant bouts during that era. In fact, Chief was involved in one of the first “angles” I had ever seen on a professional wrestling show, when his then partner, Spiros Arion, turned on him and stuffed his traditional tribal headdress down his gullet. That incident still scars me today.
One other thing I’d like to tell you about Joe is that he was involved in one of my favorite “gimmick” matches of all. time: Chief actually fought his opponent to the death inside a . . . . shark cage. A BRILLIANT booking for its time.
So the question... is, why wasn’t Chief Jay Strongbow ever given the honor of becoming the WWWF World Heavyweight Champion? The answer is simple: there was just another main eventer standing in his way through his tenure in the Federation. His name – ...Bruno Sammartino.
9. Ivan Putski (1974-.Early 80s)
In the era of professional wrestling, especially the 60’s and the 70’s, the nationally that a wrestler represented was very important to the sport. With Bruno Sammartino as the WWWF Champion from 1963.-1971, and again from 1973.-1977, Vince McMahon had just about every Italian that walked the face of this planet buying tickets and pulling for Bruno. In an effort to then capitalize on the Polish market, Vince Sr. hired, “Polish Power” Ivan Putski to hopefully bring his people into the house... – much like Bruno did his.
And... the experiment worked; at 5’6”, 250 pounds, Putski wasn’t only loved by the Polish People, but he was in favor with everybody who ever saw him step into a ring. With a smile that stretched from ear. to. ear, and the raw, brute strength of a stubborn ox – much like Chief Jay Strongbow in fact – Putski became the second biggest baby face behind Champion Sammartino. Later, Putski would fall in line behind then Champion Bob Backlund, when he came back for a second tenure with the federation.
You see, back then when you won the title... it actually meant something. Not like when Vince Russo began writing 20 years later and he started flip-flopping the gold as if it were a dead trout at a fish market!!!
Always the best man... – never the groom.
8. Lex Luger (1993.-1995)
Interestingly, in 1993, Lex Luger jumped WCW’s ship and headed towards Vince McMahon’s World Bodybuilding Federation; remember that little piece of history? Then unfortunately for Lugar, he suffered a bad motorcycle accident, and by the time he was healthy enough to return back to work..., the WBF was already out of business. So, with no other options he pulled up his trunks, and became a WWF “Superstar” on the roster.
With the departure of Hulk Hogan in 1993, Luger was handed the moniker.. “Made in the USA”, given a monster push, and as the new jewel of the company was flown by helicopter to the USS Intrepid where he body-slammed 600 pound Yokozuna on the deck. That would be shortly followed by putting Lex in a bus, fittingly named the Lex Express, which travelled around the country promoting his upcoming World Title match against Yokozuna at SummerSlam 93’.
At this point, there was no doubt that Lex was being groomed to be the next Hogan, however, to the shock of the entire world..., Luger beat Yokozune... via count-out at Summer Slam, winning the match... but not the coveted WWF title. In the collected words of everyone watching… huh?
To this day, I have no idea why all that built up hoopla went down with a single whimper. You would think that Vince may have decided at the last minute not to put the title on a WCW guy..., but that can’t be assumed. Next time I cross paths with Lex, I’ll have to ask him that question myself.
7. “The Magnificent” Muraco (1981.-1988)
A two.-time World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Champion, and the winner of the inaugural King of the Ring, Muraco was not only one of the greatest wrestlers of all.-time, but perhaps also one of the most entertaining.
Managed by The Grand Wizard of Wrestling, Captain Lou Albano, and the great Mr. Fuji, Muraco no doubt learned how to be a great performer from those three minds, as he later starred in some of the most memorable vignettes in the history of the Federation: Fuji Vice, Fuji Bandito and Fuji General, were some of the greatest comedic skits in the history of television. Maybe that’s why the “Magnificent One” made my list . . .or . . . maybe not.
During his prime, Muraco had some epic matches with some of the all.-time greats of his generation. As a matter of fact, Mick Foley himself has publically stated that it was Muraco’s steel cage match against “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka in 1983 at Madison Square Garden...that made him want to be a professional wrestler.
Here’s a little tidbit very few know: for months I had the gimmick “The Rock” in my head before actually presenting it to the great Dwayne Johnson. Why did I wait so long? Because I didn’t want to show any disrespect to the original “Rock” Don Muraco, who had called himself that a decade prior.
6. “Big” John Studd (1982.-1986, 1988-.1989)
When you were the size of a “Big” John Studd, and could do what he could in a wrestling ring, there always had to be an “issue” as to why somebody with clearly Main Event status never became the World Wrestling Federation Champion. In Studd’s case, the little “issue” was a man by the name of Andre The Giant.
Much like Strongbow and Putski before him, the “money” baby face is what limited Studd’s un.limited potential. At the end of the match there was only going to be one giant left standing, and that was usually Andre.
Who would ever forget Studd’s “Bodyslam Challenge”, where the great Bobby “The Brain” Heenan would put up 10 Grand of his own money if anybody could slam his protégé? What about the classic feuds with Andre, and later Hulk Hogan? Or, even better yet the unstoppable force when Studd teamed up with the 468. pound King Kong Bundy?
Yes ..it was all there for the taking . . . again . . . had there not been a bigger Giant standing in the way.
5. King Kong Bundy (1985.-1988, 1994.-1995)
I had the distinct pleasure of working with King Kong Bundy during his second run in the Federation from 94./95, and he was one of the funniest and kindest human beings you will ever want to meet. Bundy was a force when he first came on the scene in 1985, defeating everyone they put in his path, not with just a three count, but with a five count!!
At the first WrestleMania Bundy defeated “Special Delivery” Jones in 9 seconds (though it was really 24), a record that would stand until Kane crushed Chavo Guerrero at 2008’s WM in only eight. Here’s a good one for you... – during the peak of his career, Bundy was actually traded from “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart to Bobby “The Brain” Heenan for “Adorable” Adrian Adonis and the Missing Link.... How great is that?!
Unfortunately, like Studd, Andre stood in the way of Bundy’s crowning achievement...; to become the World Wrestling Federation Champion. Damn that Andre!!
4. “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka (1982.-1985, 1989.-1992)
I can’t explain how this one fell through the cracks..., I really can’t.
To this day, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka is one of the greatest high flyers and risk takers in the history of the wrestling business. And, keep in mind... he was doing it in an era where nobody else was. That’s what made him stand out... – he was special. So special, in fact, that the fans turned him from baby face to heel in the early 80’s, when that practice just didn’t take place.
Colorful, flamboyant, and capable of cutting a helluva promo, there was NOTHING that Snuka couldn’t do – except... win the World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion. Now, the excuse will always be suggested that he just didn’t need it, and thats fair. But did Hogan need it? Did Andre need it? Did Austin? Or The Rock? You see, sometimes that theory works, and ...sometimes it doesn’t.
The two things that Snuka will forever be known for, is taking the “coconut shot” from Piper in his Pit, and being the first victim of the Undertaker’s immortal streak at WrestleMania VII.
3. Scott Steiner (1992.-1994, 2002.-2004)
If you know Scott Steiner... – the REAL Scott Steiner... – then you not only love the man, you love the father. The problem is, that Scott doesn’t let anybody in, mainly because he doesn’t trust anybody, so all there is to “judge” of Scott Steiner is the “character, and who they believe he really is.
And that, is what leads to the undeserving heat that Scott sometimes get. People are afraid of Scott, and fear Scott, so they never do what they really need to do with him.
I wasn’t really watching World Wrestling Entertainment from 2002.-2004, but it doesn’t really matter. I don’t have to know who was on the roster at the time, or who was the Champion, because I know that Scott was better than them all. If I had it my way—I would put my money on Scott Steiner every single time. Nobody is as impressive as Big Bad Booty Daddy: not only in physique, but in the promo and charisma departments as well.
The most valuable tool that Scott had... – and still has – ...is that he is perhaps the most believable guy that I ever worked with, and somewhat ironically... that has become his Achilles’ heel.
2. Goldust (1995.-1999, 2001.-2003, 2005.-2006, 2008.-2012 & 2013.-14)
There is perhaps no sports entertainer that I ever worked closer with than Dustin Runnels, aka Goldust. During Dustin’s hottest run, the two of us worked hand-.in.-hand, as I would write practically 100% of his verbiage and produce all his backstage pre.-tapes, vignettes, and in.-rings, and he would just go out there and perform his ass off!. Together..., we were Goldust – I wrote, he performed... – and it was a match made in Hollywood.
Using innuendo to psyche his characters out of their boots, Goldust was RED HOT in the late 90’s, as even Stone Cold Steve Austin just attested to on his podcast. Dustin had more juice than any other heel or... baby face on the roster at the time, and the crowd response was DEAFENING every place he went. Goldust was a star, and dare I say maybe one of the biggest in the Federation’s history.
But then... the homophobes attacked. Even though Dustin was speaking strictly innuendo – I know because I wrote the sh*t - certain groups saw it as something else. Thus, the phone calls started, then the protests, then the sponsors, then the USA Network, and shortly after that... the character was quietly put to rest.
Without that, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Goldust could have been perhaps the GREATEST HEEL CHAMPION in the history of the WWE.
1. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (1984.-1987, 1989.-1996, 2003 & 2005.)
I think even Hulk Hogan would agree that there would be no Hulk Hogan without the “Hot Rod”, Roddy Piper.
During his championship years, Piper was Hogan’s main nemesis, and together, the two carried the World Wrestling Federation to National prominence. And, it was with those larger-than.-life personas, that wrestling’s “Dynamic Duo” literally, almost double-handedly not just put WrestleMania on the map, but made it a household name for the next three decades to come.
Piper and Hogan perhaps complimented each other better than any baby/heel had before . . . or since. One could only wonder, could the popularity of the business at the time have reached even higher levels had Piper beaten Hogan for the belt... and it was the Hulkster doing the chasing for a while?Better yet, if that did indeed happen, would we have seen a “heel” version of the “Hulkster” 10 years prior to there ever being an NWO?
Sadly, I guess we’ll never know!
What do you all think of Vince Russo's list?
As for people wondering why no DiBiase, Perfect or Rude, well, he posted only his opinion. We have enough of the "greatest superstar who was never WWE champion" threads that has 20 pages of people posting same 4 guys over and over again.
It's nice for a change having someone posting guys like Strongbow, Putski or Rhodes. That doesn't mean that Russo doesn't see guys like Rude or DiBiase as world champion material, he only posted the 10 guys he would book as champions first, that doesn't mean that for example someone like Hennig isn't in his top 20
