What defines a wrestler´s prime? matches, titles or spot on the company?

[pepentorresHHH]

I was watching Isenberg and Labar´s argument and the one thing that came to mind is how they couldnt agree on HHH or Kane´s prime because of different factors. Lets use the undertaker

Matches: is a wrestler´s prime whenever he is in the best shape of his life and is giving us the best matches in his career? I can see how this is a good argument, because in wrestling is not aways about winning titles but giving us great matches or giving us matches people will remember and talk about for years to come like shawn´s second run. You dont need to be the world champion for people to respect you and consider you the best
Using the Undertaker, you could say his prime was from 1998 till 2002 because that IMO is when he had his best matches.

spot in the card: Other say your prime is whenever you´re the most over, or you have the best spot in your entire career or whenever you make the most money. this could be a great argument, because whenever youre on the top spot is whenever people remember you the most, the company is relying on you, its also when the fans think you are at your best, after all why wouldnt you? youre main eventing, youre maybe winning titles, so you gotta be the best since you are bringing your A game.
Using the Undertaker again, his prime might be consider the last 5 years, because although he´s always been considered among the top guys in the company you could say he hasnt been on top till now. he was not on top during the hogan years, the bret years, the shawn years, the stone cold years the triple h years, and the start of the cena years, he was considered the best in the wwe as the streak got more and more impressive arguably in the last 5 years.

titles: it might be a little confusing with the spot on the card but you can win a lot of titles and not be the man in the wwe. In this business, every wrestler should aspire to be the number one guy and to be the number one guy you need to become the champion on raw. I know championships come and go but whenever you are consistently on the title picture and winning titles you might be considered the best.
Using the undertaker again, he won 3 titles in the 90s alone, but he won the title in 2002 once and he won the title 3 times in the last year 5 years.

So wrestling fans, what do you consider the biggest factor when considering a wrestler's prime?

 

[ヒュー　G.　レックション]

Combination of the three really, but mostly the last two. Punk would be a good example I suppose. Inring he has had better days but no doubt he is in his prime right now.

 

[iwinulose]

The whole making money thing determineshow over you are, nothing to do with being in your prime. Titles come when you earn them by working your ass off, and being way over helps, as well as being a rather large individual. Honestly I consider the prime of a restler to be when that person is pumping out the best material, the best promos, the best mathes, moving around good, just looking fantastic, some people are in their prime at a quicker pace, others slowly escalate, you can be in the company for 20 years, first 5-7 being so-so, years 8-12 being fantastic (arguably the prime of their career), then 13-20 their role goes down to putting new guys over (kane), or just as a attraction (HHH, Undertaker). But you get what I'm saying, to me, to be in one's prime is when you are pumping out the best material.

 

[mikde_]

I think it's being relevant more than anything. You don't need to be a great worker and have classic matches to determine your prime. You are in your prime when you are socially relevant. Right place right time so to speak.

 

[HBsam31]

Interesting thread. Let's take Steve Austin. He was in his prime essentially in the last 5 or so years of his career. He skyrocketed after beating HBK for the title at Mania 14 and stayed super over until what 02 03. He was having great matches in WCW in the midcard, but I really would call that his prime. So a combination of all 3 things I would say with a little more emphasis on the last 2.

 

[Rayne]

Professional wrestling is about making money. Like a pimp's set of prostitutes, whoever brings in the most money gets the best billing. Your prime comes down to whenever you brought in the most money.

If people thought they were making art, there might be other considerations, but professional wrestling is lowest common denominator theater. I'll take a guy whenever he's selling more t-shirts over when he had his best championship run- titles might lie, but the money never does.