Favorite European Wrestlers

[mr. krinkle]

well, thought i would add this alongside the Japanese and Lucha threads...there has been many great wrestlers to come out of Europe over the years and i also know that the indie scene over there isnt bad, so who are your favorites?

i'm not gonna front like i am familair with what is going on over there, but i have seen Jodie Fliesch, Jonny Storm, Doug Williams, and Spud wrestle, to name a few...but i guess the guy have been MOST impressed with is
Nigel McGuiness

this guy is a beast...throws the most nasty lariats i have ever seen, and they can come from anywhere...everything i have seen from him in ROH has been just awesome... i wouldnt be suprised to see him in WWE or TNA one day

 

[Shadowmancer]

In no particular order as always

-William Regal- Look at what he can do in a match look at his matches with Benoit to see this, He made Goldberg look idiotic in the Ring so he got fired from WCW.

-Finlay- He is a veteran that knows how to work, he is one of those guys that can put over the new guys well, without losing any credibility whatsoever.

Nigel McGuiness- I haven't seen much of his work but I have been impressed by what I have seen.

Dynamite Kid- No need to say much here, one of the best of all time

Davey Boy Smith- Again not much needed to say, the most well known member of the British Bulldogs.

 

[RRated3114]

Santino Marella

 

[Prax]

lol at the last poster.

Just out of curiosity... how old is Finlay exactly? He must be at least well into his forties if not older, and he can still bring it! I don't remember him being out with an injury once since being brought into WWE, and the man wrestles main events constantly.

Never thought someone his age could keep up with WWE's schedule wrestling the matches he does. I think he's very possibly one of my favorite wrestlers period these days.

Also, I haven't seen much of him, but anyone know anything about Dave Taylor? He's like over 50 I think but he can bring it too. JBL constantly praises him yet I've never really heard much about him.

 

[Shadowmancer]

He was in WCW as a part of the Blue Bloods with Lord Steve Regal. Finlay was born in 1958. so he is 49. Dave Taylor is 50 on the 1st of May. There is not much on Wikipedia about him. He was a trainer in DSW, before being called up to tag with Regal.

 

[Prax]

Thanks for the info.

Still amazing how both of them have so much longevity. Must've protected their bodies really well. That or there's something in the watter in the UK.

 

[X]

Check out some of Dave Taylor's WCW stuff guys, he impressed me back in those days, but haven't really seen much of him since he came to the WWE and started tagging with Regal. Again, no particular order...

1. Dynamite Kid - Okay, this one is in order, this guy is the best wrestler to ever come out of Europe and possibly the best ever. His matches with Tiger Mask are all five star classics that are absolutely required viewing for any real wrestling fan.

2. Davey Boy Smith/British Bulldog - Another guy that did nothing but amaze me during his career. Whether it be his matches tagging with Dynamite Kid or his feuds with Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, the guy always delivered fantasticly. Damn shame he never won the WWF title, he deserved it. RIP

3. William Regal - Technical God, if all you've seen is his WWE work you haven't seen the guy wrestle. Like mentioned before, he made Goldberg look like a complete ass in the ring (still one of the funniest things I've ever seen). His WCW work was all just marvelous, infact almost all of his work is. Right up there with Benoit, Jericho and Bret Hart in my book in terms of technical wrestling.

4. Finlay - Criminally underrated and underappreciated, this guy has worked his ass off longer then just about anybody in WWE right now. He's comin' up on fifty and still delivers great matches always. Once again, a guy you really had to see in WCW to appreciate, his matches were always highlights on usually dismal cards.

5. Paul Burchill - Not exactly one of the greats, but he's got amazing talent and he's definately going to be huge soon enough. Couldn't really think of another European wrestler, and this guy has impressed me whenever I've seen him. Fuckin' WWE giving him a pirate gimmick...sons of bitches.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Thanks for the info.

Still amazing how both of them have so much longevity. Must've protected their bodies really well. That or there's something in the watter in the UK.

There very grounded wrestlers. They wrestle the style that Angle addopted so he didn't have to bump as much.

Tom Billington is my all time favourite wrestler. He had everthing. Like Rick Rude he was one of the wrestlers that was lost in WWE because of the Hogan era.

There's load's of great Cruiserweight talent in the U.K. There's Jody Fleisch, Jonny Storm, Pac, Spud, Darkside and a few others.

 

[showtyme27]

There are so many guys I like I don't know where to stop(lol) but here's my short list in no order....

1. "The Dynamite Kid" Tom Billington: One of the greastest wrestlers to ever grace a ring, he had a certian intensity wrestlers don't have anymore, he had skill well beyond his years and I think if he had been born in this time he would have been a WAY bigger star than he was back than.

2. "Gentleman" Christopher Adams: Forget Shawn Michaels this is the man that MADE the Superkick one of the most popular moves in the states and IMO had a more effective Superkick than Ol' HBK and lets not forget he trained Stone Cold(Who is a better technical wrester than most think), IMO Adams had it all he was charismatic, had a ton of technical skill, well-rounded, soild mic skills, and he's one of my favorite wrestlers of all-time also did that crazy Flying Superkick for those of you that remember that move was awesome.

3. "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith: Truly was underrates through out his career, one of the most raw talented guys I have every seen but he never really got the respect I thought he deserved, sure he went on great runs but never got to the top, which I think was a mistake by WWE and WCW as he was a true great.

4. "The Human Torture Device/The Anarchist" Doug Williams: What can't I say about this guy he has quickly became one of my favorite wrestlers right now an impressive technical skill set, and I think the sky's the limit and sooner or later this guy will catch fire and become a huge star(hopefully)be sure to check him out if you have some time on your hands.

5. Paul Burchill: You know people will disagree with this but Burchill is one of the most impressive wrestlers i've seen in the last few years, he has a certain drive to make it and I think he will someday, it shockd me that WWE put him in that shit gimmick and ruined his credibilty, hope he receive's a strong push when he return to the main WWE roster.

6. Nigel McGuinness: As many of you already know he is quite impressive in the ring, I will say i'm not as high on him as most but I can't deny that he is an incredible talent that deserves to shine.

7. "Little Guido" James Maritato: Also known as Nunzio(at times), This is one of the best technical wrestlers ever, he just never gets the chance to truly shine in the WWE, if you have seen this guy in the independents and ECW than you probably already know why he's on my list, one of the most underrated wrestlers peroid right now.

8. "Double C" Claudio Castagnoli: Very talented I wasn't shocked to here that WWE wanted to sign this guy, a truly impressive talent that I enjoy watching alot hope WWE re-signs him but this time sign Hero also so they can re-energized WWE's sorry tag division.

9. Darren Mattews: Better known as "Lord" Steven/William Regal again this is one of the best technical wrestlers period, and he's also very underrated as he is an elite type wrestler, he should have been given some form of Main Event or Upper Mid-Card Push but as usual WWE dropped the ball.

10. David "Fit" Finlay: Most people can't understand just why an old man by the name of Finlay is receiving the kind of push he has gotten but i'll tell you this at 48 years old he is still an incredible wrestler (unlike Ric Flair and many of the other legends that continue to wrestle...) he still has the ability to give us a five or four star match with that said I say as long as he can put out quility matches than WWE should continue to push him, always love this guy and glad he's became a force in the WWE.

 

[X]

Damn I completely forgot about Little Guido! Definately one of the greatest of all time IMO, he never gets any respect and he deserves a ton. The guy's got so many styles, he's one of the best high flyers and can do lucha like almost no one else, and then he can turn around and lock you into some crazy technical moves.

Truly one of the most underappreciated guys ever.

 

[Lee]

There's load's of great Cruiserweight talent in the U.K. There's Jody Fleisch, Jonny Storm, Pac, Spud, Darkside and a few others.

Totally agree, I'm a bit biased towards Pac, I used to be very good friends with him though I aint seen him in years he is an incredible wrestler, check himout on you tube

 

[Slick Ric]

Doug Williams, Dave Finley, Regal, Jody Fleish, Johnny Storm & Burchill
All great wrestlers got to give props to Darren Mattews (Regal) Met him twice and a real stand up guy who spent a lot of time with my little brother who has Down Syndrome.

 

[HHH_HBK_MARK]

nunzio is not from europe he is from brooklyn

 

[showtyme27]

Nunzio is a true Italian and that mean's Itally is in Europe and that make's him a European Wrestler, and actually he's from Queen's NY,NY for the record.

 

[Shadowmancer]

We are talking European and just European style. This is to see if people woud be interested in an International section, like the Lucha and Japanese threads. It will be based on the number of responses and look ins people give these threads and other similar threads throughout the Forum.