First Round: Dallas - Ricky Steamboat vs. Larry Zbyszko

[klunderbunker]

This is a first round matchup in the Dallas Subregion. The ring and arena are universal throughout the first round and the organization is not a factor. There is a 20 minute time limit. Vote using any criteria you like. Most votes in the poll at the end of the time period wins. In the case of a tie we will go off of the number of written votes. In the case of a second tie, both are eliminated.

Location: Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas.

Ricky Steamboat

Vs.

Larry Zbyszko

Voting is open for 4 days.

 

[Ferbian]

Ricky is definitely going over in this one.
He put on awesome matches with Ric Flair during the 80's 30-60 minute draws at house shows (I believe it was house shows, either way, he still wrestled 60 minute matches on a regular basic)
Ricky could put on a show like very few guys could back then, has provided us with very memorable moments, and a very important thing even though it's not in his prime, he's still able to put on a good match (Wrestlemania 25 and a few weeks (or was it the week) after Wrestlemania on RAW)
While Zbyszko certainly was able to do stuff, he's just nothing compared to the dragon in my eyes.

Edit: Just remembered, it was Snuka who did the dive..

 

[Theo Mays]

The Living Legend will bow down here to Steamboat. The Dragon is one of the best stars the business has seen and he was brought into everyone's eyes last year during his awesome showing at Mania and a couple shows afterwords. Zbyszko was entertaining, but he was nowhere near the talent that Steamboat was.

 

[ZeroVX]

Steamboat has put on 5-star level matches with almost anyone he's faced. I could stop there and that would be reason enough. Steamboat's in-ring skills are legendary, and all anyone has to do is see his match against Chris Jericho at Backlash last year to see that. He's way past his prime there, was retired for years due to a back injury, and was still able to put on a classic. Zbyszko can't say that. Steamboat wins here.

 

[Dr. Stinger A. Zoidberg]

Ricky Steamboat

He is one of the most under-rated superstars to ever compete in a Wrestling Ring. NWA Champion by beating the best in wrestling at the time in Ric Flair. He also put on the greatest Wrestlemania match ever at WM III against Randy Savage. Hell, even when he wrestled last year in his feud with Jericho, He could damn well still go. As for Zybysko, what the hell has he done? Nothing thats what.

 

[CynicSteve]

You're breaking my heart with this one. I'm a Pittsburgh native, I've seen Larry wrestle many times. He is very impressive even today. I'm the proud owner of a "One way ticket to Larry-land t-shirt. To the person who said he has done nothing all I will say is you need to seriously watch Larry in his prime.

All this being said I still can't vote for him over Steamboat. Ricky is the best of all time in my eyes. Ricky takes it but I think it would be an epic encounter.

 

[FunKay the Inevitable]

Larry was good but he was no Ricky Steamboat. This guy could hang with the best of them, his matches with Flair are legendary and well known for lasting an hour, and yes I do know this match lasts 20 minutes or bust but look at him vs. Savage from WrestleMania in fact here, take a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W4Z6I-HQas
Look at that. Ricky Steamboat deserves to progress.

 

[deem]

I love Steamboat and respect Zybsko. On long-term standing legacy, ringwork, relavence and overness within this tournament, kayfabe, everything I could possibly vote for, Steamboat wins.

I really expect Steamboat to go far in this, personally I hope he upsets Ric Flair when they meet.

 

[GenMe]

Steamboat will get my vote here.

Steamboat was an awesome in-ring competitor, he will always turn the match around and make a 5 star match. I have tons of respect for Larry, but IMO he wasn't that much as a wrestler than was steamboat was. So that's way Ricky Steamboat get that W in my book.

 

[Mantaur Rodeo Clown]

Steamboat, Steamboat, Steamboat. If Wrestlemania 25 is any indication of just how damn good Ricky Steamboat is, when Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper were hobbling down the ramp, Ricky Steamboat was too busy stealing the goddamn show, just as he had done 22 years earlier in one of the greatest Wrestlemania matches of all time.

Zbyszko can't touch Steamboat in terms of match quality or ability, and that's what I'm voting on.

 

[Mr. TM]

One of the, if not the greatest match at the greatest pay per view of all time? Yeah, that was Steamboat. I voted Steamboat for that, I voted for Steamboat for always being a great talent in wrestling, and I voted Steamboat for another reason, My respect for the guy was incredibly high after I saw him at Wrestlemania XXV in such good shape, and still having it despite his age and being away for so long. Mad Respect.

 

[Straight Edge Loyalist]

Ricky Steamboat is the shit. He gets my vote. He has put on some of the most entertaining matches I've ever seen in my life, such as with Randy Savage and The Nature Boy. I can't remember a good Larry Zbyzko match, because it never happened.

 

[gd]

65-0, and Zbysko still has too many votes. Why did so many people vote him in? Ricky Steamboat may have not won a lot of titles and the like throughout his career, but he was sure as hell fun to watch. Even as an old man, he showed he was better than a good amount of the current WWE roster. Zbysko hasn't really done a ton of note. I'm not sure he'd go over anyone in this tourney.

 

[X]

Oh MAN haha I voted for Steamboat but holy fuck 67-0?!?! Not ONE vote for The Living Legend? Aw that's pretty damn funny. Not sure why so many always disliked Zbysko, yeah he was mildly annoying as color commentator during the peak of Nitro and yeah he was never really a top notch worker or true main event level talent (despise his nickname), but he had a good career and took part in one of the most legendary feuds in wrestling history against Bruno Sammartino in 1980, ending in one of the most satisfying cage matches you'll ever see in front of thousands and millions on closed circuit television at Shea Stadium. He had a solid run with WCW during the 80s as well before eventually retiring and becoming an on-screen personality, but yeah, not sure why so many people dislike him. I mean, seriously he deserves atleast ONE vote.

Unfortunately Ricky Steamboat is just better in basically every facet you could judge a professional wrestler, though an argument could be made that Zbysko was a bigger draw. That's really the only argument that could be made, and it's not enough to convince any of us to vote against the Dragon, one of the best to ever lace 'em up. Ricky takes this one around the fifteen minute mark.

 

[Tastycles]

Steamboat had two defining moments in his career. The first was beating Randy Savage for the IC title after a lengthy feud and finally beating him. The second was when he beat Ric Flair for the NWA Championship. Both wins were a long time coming, but he got them in the end. Compare that to Zbyszko, who's career defining moment was losing repeatedly to Bruno Sammartino, and I think you have the right outcome.

 

[Muffin Top Merkley]

Steamboat proved why he is one of the greats when he surprised everyone at WrestleMania 25 against Chris Jericho.

Steamboat was in such great shape, and dispite being out of the ring for so long, was still full of talent. And it was only a sliver of what The Dragon could do in his prime.