I want people to rack their brains and try to come up with answers to this question. I just watched the WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time on Netflix and it leads me to this... Awhile back, there was a Mount Rushmore of the WWE thread. I want to make it harder. Let's all pretend one of these days professional wrestling fizzles out and comes to an end. Now I doubt that will really happen, but for the sake of argument, professional wrestling ceases to exist someday. If you could make a Mount Rushmore of Wrestling if wrestling were dead and gone tomorrow.... what 4 faces would you put on it and why?
In no particular order...
Vince McMahon- it's obvious. He built the biggest company in the business, he created Wrestlemania, he beat WCW, and was still in some of the most entertaining angles in wrestling history. Look at what he did with Hogan, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and of course... Stone Cold. He's obvious a legend. Sure some people had to get the business to the level it was for Vince to be able to grab the reigns himself, but he revolutionized the business. Hands down.
Hulk Hogan- arguably the biggest name in the history of the business. Even if you never watched a professional wrestling match in your entire lifetime, you know the name Hulk Hogan. You can argue whether or not he was any good in the ring as far as wrestling talent goes, but he was the first big mainstream star in the history of the business. Hulk Hogan was a household name in the 80's. He is still a household name today. The red and yellow, the music, the flexing, all of it defines Hulk Hogan. He also made arguably the biggest turn of all time and he was still amazing. Yes, Hogan was a little power hungry in his day, but anybody who revolutionized the business the way he did, that can happen. As fans, we could look past it. We have all been Hulkamaniacs at one point in our lives. You can't deny it. He's one of best.
Kurt Angle- I'm sure every person that replies would have an argument to disagree with me on this one, but that's cool. There is solid argument out there against Kurt Angle. But here's my argument for him... Kurt Angle could be the greatest pure athlete to ever step between those ropes...ever. The man has it all. Strength, stamina, personality, charisma, drive, technique, and the ability to make you love him or hate him at the snap of your fingers. He could outlast you. He could overpower you. Hell, sometimes he could even outfly you. I don't think we've ever seen someone so good at all of those things in history. Hence, him being the greatest pure athlete to step inside the ring. He's also won an Olympic Gold Medal with a broken freakin' neck!!! He's one of my favorites of all time because you couldn't find a match with Kurt Angle that will ever bore you. Okay... maybe 1 in TNA, but I haven't seen it.
Ric Flair- this man defines wrestling. Sure he took some points from guys like Gorgeous George and Buddy Rogers, but he made them his own. He just oozed charisma and personality and could back it up in the ring every single time. Even after Ric Flair is long gone from the business (if that ever happens), people will scream "WOOOOOO" for as long as the wrestling business exists. His aura just drew you in. His quotes are legendary. "The limo ridin' jet flyin' kiss stealin' wheelin dealin' son of a gun!" and who can denounce "To be the man... WOOOOO, You gotta BEAT, the man." Ric Flair was cool, before cool was cool. Plus, to survive the injury he sustained in the plain crash to do what he did is nothing short of amazing. He performed better in his 50's than many young stars can do when they're coming up into the business.
So there you have it. MY personal Mount Rushmore of wrestling. Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, and Ric Flair.
Let's hear yours.
In no particular order...
Vince McMahon- it's obvious. He built the biggest company in the business, he created Wrestlemania, he beat WCW, and was still in some of the most entertaining angles in wrestling history. Look at what he did with Hogan, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and of course... Stone Cold. He's obvious a legend. Sure some people had to get the business to the level it was for Vince to be able to grab the reigns himself, but he revolutionized the business. Hands down.
Hulk Hogan- arguably the biggest name in the history of the business. Even if you never watched a professional wrestling match in your entire lifetime, you know the name Hulk Hogan. You can argue whether or not he was any good in the ring as far as wrestling talent goes, but he was the first big mainstream star in the history of the business. Hulk Hogan was a household name in the 80's. He is still a household name today. The red and yellow, the music, the flexing, all of it defines Hulk Hogan. He also made arguably the biggest turn of all time and he was still amazing. Yes, Hogan was a little power hungry in his day, but anybody who revolutionized the business the way he did, that can happen. As fans, we could look past it. We have all been Hulkamaniacs at one point in our lives. You can't deny it. He's one of best.
Kurt Angle- I'm sure every person that replies would have an argument to disagree with me on this one, but that's cool. There is solid argument out there against Kurt Angle. But here's my argument for him... Kurt Angle could be the greatest pure athlete to ever step between those ropes...ever. The man has it all. Strength, stamina, personality, charisma, drive, technique, and the ability to make you love him or hate him at the snap of your fingers. He could outlast you. He could overpower you. Hell, sometimes he could even outfly you. I don't think we've ever seen someone so good at all of those things in history. Hence, him being the greatest pure athlete to step inside the ring. He's also won an Olympic Gold Medal with a broken freakin' neck!!! He's one of my favorites of all time because you couldn't find a match with Kurt Angle that will ever bore you. Okay... maybe 1 in TNA, but I haven't seen it.
Ric Flair- this man defines wrestling. Sure he took some points from guys like Gorgeous George and Buddy Rogers, but he made them his own. He just oozed charisma and personality and could back it up in the ring every single time. Even after Ric Flair is long gone from the business (if that ever happens), people will scream "WOOOOOO" for as long as the wrestling business exists. His aura just drew you in. His quotes are legendary. "The limo ridin' jet flyin' kiss stealin' wheelin dealin' son of a gun!" and who can denounce "To be the man... WOOOOO, You gotta BEAT, the man." Ric Flair was cool, before cool was cool. Plus, to survive the injury he sustained in the plain crash to do what he did is nothing short of amazing. He performed better in his 50's than many young stars can do when they're coming up into the business.
So there you have it. MY personal Mount Rushmore of wrestling. Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, and Ric Flair.
Let's hear yours.
