Not needing someone works both ways. If Santo really was a draw then why didn't anyone else in the world seem to attempt to use him as one except Mexico North? He is untested against true top guys which the Rock undoubtedly is. Gory was a 27 seed in this tournament, did Eddie Graham even get a vote?
Not true at all. Santo worked the States, and he worked Japan. He had matches with the likes of Antonio Inoki and Verne Gagne, so other countries weren't hesitant about using his star power to their advantage.
I'm what ? Making this last part up? Because as far as I can tell he was a heel for a long time as you allude to later and once he changed over due to fortuitous marketing efforts among other thing he did spend significant time putting over up and coming wrestlers before going into a period where he worked mostly tag matches. I know you Brits love to think being a legend that is a pop culture hit who wins tag matches makes someone a great singles wrestler but that isn't really the case. It seems like arguably his most famous singles match is a loss to Blue Demon, a 16 seed in this tournament. The Rock is a 2 seed.
Rock was a heel for an extended period before he became a face. And once he did and was on top, that's when the momentum of the revenue generated by the Attitude Era started to cease. Then it stagnated and started to decline. Then Rock left for Hollywood. Santo - regardless of what he did or became - remained a large star and influential figure in the sport until his death.
Seeding is irrelevant, because no one on this site is a true "expert." Region and location are irrelevant, because they promote biased assumptions; which have been rampant this year. The fact that Demon was a 16th seed says how underrated he is.
This isn't a luchas de apuestas though. Even if it was, the Rock doesn't have a mask or hair. I am not saying those accomplishments aren't meaningful in his career, just that they have fuck all to do with who wins this match.
And its not WWE either. So that mindset works both ways. What is fact is that Santo was a bigger star than the Rock. He drew more people to the sport, was a bigger crossover name in movies, and he remained relevant for far longer.
Not knocking his pop culture accomplishments, just questioning how that helps him win a 15 minute Iron man match vs a larger opponent that is a worldwide star.
Rock is a worldwide star because WWE is a worldwide promotion... but it wasn't 13 years ago when the Rock was in his prime and wasn't making Hollywood movies.
The Rock of 2000 would most surely job to the El Santo of the 50's and 60's. Why? Because Santo was the bigger star when comparing primes.
What do you mean by fleeing wrestlers? Care to name names? Rikidozan beat Thesz multiple times including wins both in and out of his home region.
Rikidozan drew Thesz more times than either of them won; the same can be said of Santo when he faced off against big names like Antonio Inoki.
NWA World Welterweight days reigned: Blue Demon 2197, Gory Guerrero 803, Santo 639. Santo won the title then held it for around a year before dropping it to American born Jack O'brien in Mexico city who then held the belt for three years. Later Santo got the belt back by beating some mexican I have never heard of and then held the belt for a little less than a year again before losing it to Blue Demon, who then held it for 7 years. Santo is 7th all-time in the NWA middleweight days reigned significantly far behind several notable Mexican wrestlers. Even though he did have a lengthy reign with that belt, the person he lost it to had a longer reign. It appears once again popularity over actual in-ring accomplishments for the Saint.
The Rock is an 8 time WWE champion, but he's held the title for a combined 360 days. He's 13th on a list that includes several other stars that weren't in his popularity league. The whole argument of who held what for how long is irrelevant here. The point is that Santo was the biggest star in a major nation of pro wrestling. The Rock wasn't the biggest star in the States. In a face vs face dream match like this, Santo would most surely advance.
It has convinced me that my assumptions about this guy are true, so that is something I guess.
Just about every assumption that you've made about Santo, I can make about the Rock...
The Rock is only a world wide star because WWE is a worldwide brand.
The Rock has held the WWE title less than weaker draws like Bret and Shawn so he's inferior.
The Rock left the WWE when ratings and revenue began to drop and went to Hollywood.
None of the movies that Rock has starred in have garnered any critical acclaim, so I guess that makes him a flop of a movie star.
See, I can make assumptions too but they don't hold that much water. Anyone being on the fence with this match should consider the following... as good as the Rock was, could he ever be considered the greatest wrestling star of his country? No, he couldn't. Santo was... and not only as a wrestler, but a crossover star too. That's why he would win.
