TNA Region, Shanghai Subregion, Second Round: (5) Harley Race vs. (12) Billy Graham

[klunderbunker]

This is a second round match in the TNA Region, Shanghai Subregion. It is a standard one on one match held under TNA Rules. It will be held at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Shanghai, China.

#5. Harley Race

Vs.

#12. Billy Graham

​

Polls will be open for four days following a one day period for discussion. Voting will be based on who you feel is the greater of the two competitors. Post your reasons for why your pick should win below. Remember that this is non-spam and the most votes in the poll win. Any ties will be broken by the amount of posts of support for each candidate, with one vote per poster.

Assume that all wrestlers are at full strength after their first round matches.

Also remember that this is a non-spam forum. If you post a response without giving a reason for your selection, it will be penalized for spam and deleted.

 

[It's...Baylariat!]

This match happened... and it went to time limit draws each time.

We all know Race is a 7-time NWA World Champion, has beaten the likes of Dory Funk, Jr., Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, both Briscos, Jerry Lawler, and pretty much anyone who challenged him in his era... except Billy Graham.

Graham was the WWWF champion after beating Bruno Sammartino, who hadn't lost is six or seven years. After that, he beat Bruno, Dusty Rhodes, Tony Garea, Mil Mascaras, and Bob Backlund in those title defenses. He also helped innovate a style that was emulated by the likes of Jesse Ventura, Hulk Hogan, and Scott Steiner.

I'm torn at the moment. Someone needs to make a case for somebody in this.

 

[Blade]

I would love to make a case for either men, cause this is easily the most difficult decision of round two.

So I'm just going to say that I like Billy Graham better. I will always prefer a flamboyant, heart-on-his-sleeve kind of a guy to a no-nonsense ass-kicker. They just appeal to me a lot more. And I just happen to like Graham better than Race.

But vote for whomever you want.

 

[It's...Baylariat!]

I went with Race in this one... due to me preferring him more as a wrestler, and that he was the traveling NWA World's Heavyweight Champion. As good as Graham was, he was a regional champion at the time. WWWF wasn't on the national scene until after Graham lost his belt.

Race's resume's slightly better, too.

But this is closer than the wide margin of voting we have here.

 

[Tastycles]

Both hugely influential wrestlers who were world champions about the same time and used to draw against each other all the time. Graham changed pro wrestling, but so did Race. So who to vote for? I went with Race, by virtue of the fact that the NWA champion of that time would have had a far more varied and wide range of matches than the still largely territorial WWWF. Race to win.

 

[HBsam31]

This was a tough one, but have been convinced to vote race due to the importance of him being the traveling NWA champion while Graham was just a regional champion at the time.

 

[DarksideEric]

I knew Graham wasn't going to win, despite how close their careers were as Lariet stated, but I voted for him anyway because of the two I just personally liked him better than Race.

 

[The Brain]

Good match here. I'm going with Race. He's got the better resume and more success over a longer period. They did happen to match up during their primes with neither getting a win over the other. Race just had the longer and more impressive prime.