Who in The WWE has the best IN RING ability

[Rzarectah]

MODERATOR COMMENTS (Lord Sidious)

This thread requires you to analyze talent for their technical wrestling ability. Please do not simply say that "I think Shawn Michaels because he is the best in-ring wrestler the WWE has" or "Shelton Benjamin because he is such a pleasure to watch in the ring". These are spam-type responses. You are going to have to analyze specifically WHAT the wrestler you nominate does inside the ring that not only entertains you, but EXACTLY what you feel makes him worthy of being the BEST wrestler with the BEST in-ring ability. If you can't do that, then please don't post in here, but instead feel free to post something in the Wrestling Spam Zone.

Thank you.

All I wanna know is this, who do you guys think the best male in ring perfomer is in the WWE? When I think of the best in ring performers, I think of Tyson Kidd, John Morrison, DH Smith, Shelton Benjamin, Chris Jericho, Jack Swagger, Kofi Kingston, Randy Orton, Ted Dibiase, and Rey Mysterio. But what do you guys think?

 

[Chopper]

tough choice but, for all-round talent I'd go for Shelton. Although he is underrated and terribly used (thought he'd be WWE Champ by now).

Jericho, although is getting old is still amazing and capable of a 5 star match every time he wrestles.

 

[Klown_Karnage]

With this one, I'd have to separate them into three categories...or possibly drink sizes as those work better: small, medium, and large.

For the small category, I'd say although he's getting on in his years (as wrestler's years go) Rey Mysterio is still the best in the smaller category and is definitely in the top five all around, even with dealing with old injuries. In earlier times, I'd have put him at the top all 'round.

For medium, I'd put John Morrison at the top, at least at this time. His athleticism and versatility are, in a word, phenomenal.

Speaking of phenomenal, my selection for large is The Undertaker. This is not simply because the WWE continuously makes him the Phenom, but because of his versatility even with his size. He can play the obvious power game, can take to the air on occasion, has incredible balance, can go slow or fast depending on the story, can brawl or take it to the mat, the guy still has it all despite his years.

Of these three...I don't know. It'd have to come to a triple threat match to decide.

 

[CoolioCM]

HBK, hands down.

Who will ever have as many good matches and performances as him? He is in a league all to himself. Even at his age, he still tears it up. Not to mention, he does every style, and does it all well. He made high flying famous in the states, can brawl with the best of them, and can even trade hold for hold with even the most technical of workers. He's by far the best in-ring talent in WWE, if not of all time even.

 

[X]

HBK, hands down.

Who will ever have as many good matches and performances as him? He is in a league all to himself. Even at his age, he still tears it up. Not to mention, he does every style, and does it all well. He made high flying famous in the states, can brawl with the best of them, and can even trade hold for hold with even the most technical of workers. He's by far the best in-ring talent in WWE, if not of all time even.

Look I'm as big of an HBK fan as the next guy, but he's nowhere near the best in-ring talent the WWE has right now. He can still go, but there are far more talented in-ring performers in the company right now.

The main three that come to mind are Chris Jericho, CM Punk, and the recently signed Bryan Danielson. Jericho can still deliver a downright masterpiece of a match as his match with Rey at the Bash this year proved, Punk is one of the most insanely talented in-ring performers in the entire company and he only is able to use maybe half of his moveset from his ROH days, and Bryan Danielson is one of the top five in-ring talents in the world today, no doubt about it. If Danielson receives a solid push it'll be no time before everyone is agreeing with me there, I mean if we're talking about just raw talent inside of the ring to put on a great match, Danielson has most of the roster beat, including my beloved HBK.

 

[Motor City Jeezy]

Ooh. Bryan Danielson is an excellent pick. However, we've yet to see how much the WWE will actually let him do.

From the current WWE roster, I would have to pick Shelton Benjamin. He's technical, he can fly, he can outpower you. The man can do just about every move you can name off.

 

[Tougie]

One hell of a challenge trying to pick one guy. I think best in ring ability would be Jericho. Even though he is getting older he still has a great match night in and night out, still great on the mic (yeah I know the question is about in ring ability), just all around he is the best. But then you have guys like Taker and HBK who have been on the top of their game for who knows how long now and still produce great matches. And the new and sometimes under rated or misused guys like Shelton and John Morrison. I honestly don't know why Benjamin hasen't been champ, but it seems as though Morrison is following in his path of winning the mid card titles. If Morrison wins a world title before Benjamin (Which considering the fact Morrison is getting a damn DVD in February when he hasen't done S*** compared to guys like Orton and many others) I wouldnt be surprised. But IMO Chris Jericho is still the best in ring performer WWE has. Once we actually see Bryan Danielson my opinion will change.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I think this is a pretty tough choice because there are a lot of guys on the WWE roster that are damn good in the ring. I don't think I can really wittle it down to a single guy at this point. When I look at the roster and wonder who is "the best" overall in the ring, guys like John Morrison, Chris Jericho, CM Punk, HBK, Christian and some others are among the names that just pop out.

Bryan Danielson is a name that keeps getting tossed around, but I'll have to see it to beleive it. I dunno much about the guy, other than he's an IWC darling and Dave Meltzer has a perpetual hard on for him.

 

[jazzua]

I just want to say Shawn, but as Ecko said, it just isn't ture these days. My pick is Christian. There is nobody that I can think of that puts on a good match damn near everytime out like Christian does, save for Jericho. Christian is on a wrestling brand doing just that. Raw could benefit greatly from having him on their show. He could be the backbone of the whole show in my opinion.

I know everyone is high on Danielson, I enjoy most of his work as well. It is most interesting to see what they expect of him. I think we may be seeing a fairly watered down Danielson, which is why I was surprised he took the call in the first place. But, if they allow him to be him, with the people he will get to work with no doubt he can be placed at the top of the list as well.

 

[InterestingDrug]

Three names come to mind.. Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin and Randy Orton. At this time these three can work with anyone. They make their opponents better and tell a story every time they work.

HBK is another one that comes to mind, but at this point he's not as good as the 3 above. HBK has had some wonderful matches over the past five years however.

I dont understand this obsession people on this site have with Ted Dibiase. He has a bright future, but he's green green green and has yet to work any high profile matches. No way he should be mentioned in the likes of these other wrestlers.

 

[SickJames]

HBK and everyone knows why. And if you need a reason, well damn just look at his match against The Undertaker. I was there live for that one, my first ever Mania and HBK/Taker didnt disappoint.

Shawn's match was BIGGER than the Main Event!!

He does still have it, never lost it, can have a great match with anyone. Even Hornswoggle maybe. He's just great.


I'd definately list Jericho & Morrison next followed by Kofi
they are all extremely athletic and have great in-ring ability
and that ladder moonsault by Morrison was just awesome as is his finisher
Kofi is like a monkey in the ring. He's all over the place, has great stamina, always delivers a great match in the ring and I'm entertained everytime he steps into the ring

Jericho is easily 2nd best to HBK. And the match they had at WrestleMania 19 was one of the best in the history of WrestleMania, some say the best of that night's event

Lastly if I had to put someone in 5th place it'd be Shelton who is no way at all entertaining on the mic, but he can springboard and take a crash through a ladder. But he's also great in the ring not just springboarding high risk moves. And I had to point out the extreme points. This guy crashed through a ladder atleast 3 times or 2.

 

[goodlay]

HBK was the best 15 years ago, not anymore. Im a huge HBK guy, and he's still damn good, but it doesn't compare to what he could do back in the mid 90's. HBK arguably carried the WWF through the mid 90's by himself while everyone else was going to WCW, that's how good he was. I also feel similarly about Rey Mysterio. I love the guy, but he was miles better in ECW/WCW, some of the shit he could do was just insane.

As for the best current in-ring performer, some names that come to mind are: Punk, Jericho, Morrison, and Christian. Jericho has proven throughout his whole WWE career that he can work a great match with just about anyone, and that continued this year with his feud with Mysterio. Morrison surprises me every time I watch him, he continues to wow me. I don't know if he'll be a main eventer because his mic skills are awful, but the guy is a damn good wrestler. I've been a big Christian guy ever since he teamed with Edge and wrestled in some of the greatest TLC matches. Im waiting for him to get moved over to Raw or SD and get a main event push, because the guy proved he could main event in TNA, and it's just a matter of time before he's there in WWE. And then there's my favorite wrestler on the current roster: CM Punk. I think he's the best right now, however unfortunately he's currently stuck in the mid-card. His work with Hardy was the best of 2009 imo. This is the same guy who wrestled countless 60 and 90 minute matches in ROH and on the Indy circuits. Hopefully Punk will soon be back in the main event in WWE, because the guy certainly has the skills.

 

[brochester8]

I have to say Jericho agree with him, he is the best today. HBK still works awesome matches still proving he is the showstopper. Rey is always fun to watch. DH Smith and Tyson Kidd both are very good in the ring. Morrison is very impressive and so is Dolph Ziggler.

Altogether my pick is Jericho.

 

[AKacz121]

I would have to say the Wrestler with the most in ring ability would have to be The Game, The Cerebral Assassin, The King of Kings, The 13 Time World Champion Triple H because hes a amazing athlete with so many good Wrestling Skills. Hes a 15 year veteran at the game. He knows this business inside and out. Nobody gives him enough credit because all the credit goes to John Cena. Triple H has an amazing Resume a 5 Time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 8 Time WWE Champion, 5 Time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, 2 Time WWE European Champion, 2 Time WWE World Tag Team Champion, 1997 WWE King of the Ring Tournament Winner, and 2002 WWE Royal Rumble Match Winner. Not a lot of Wrestlers can say they accomplished that much but Triple H has. He will be in the WWE Hall of Fame someday.

 

[Blue Chipper]

This is subjective, because in-ring ability is undefined. It all depends on what you personally look for in a wrestler. Some think great in-ring ability is using a variety of moves, some think it's doing spotty flips, some think it's having a technical style, etc. I believe , however, that great in-ring ability is the ability to tell a story. Great in-ring ability is the gift to tell intricate, complex stories that the audience can get involved in. I told what my interpretation of great in-ring ability is, now let me tell you who I think is the best current WWE wrestler (i.e., John Cena). John Cena undoubetedly can tell a story well. His storytelling is also diverse, which was showcased by his matches with opponents of a variety of styles. He wrestled good matches with Umaga, HBK, Edge, and Bobby Lashely, and he told a different story each time. John Cena can get a crowd involved like no other, rather positive or negative. If you think wrestling ability is the prowess to perform a variety of technical, traditional moves, than you will probably disagree violently with my entire post, so let me reiterate that this is subjective.

John Cena is the best current WWE wrestler in terms of in-ring ability.

 

[why bother]

Well the most challenging thing here is considering the WWE in ring style. They really put a figurative straight jacket on the guys. 1)Shawn Michaels, I think thats correct but after that I believe everyone on the list is buried way down the card! Let's daydream for a second, picture Low Ki (now Kaval) getting called up along with Bryan Danielson in time for Wrestlemania. Now throw them in a 3 way with Tyson Kidd (who many wrestlers themselves admit among each other is beyond incredible). Give them some time and watch Wrestling take the next evolutionary leap! Hell throw Harry Smith and Shelton together without the Sports Entertainment limitations and you get perhaps a different, but equally amazing match! Ok I guess I've lost my mind!

 

[Paradox]

Three names come to mind.. Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin and Randy Orton. At this time these three can work with anyone. They make their opponents better and tell a story every time they work.

What the hell are you talking about... I'll give you the first two. I'm still suspect on Benjamin. Orton though? You can't be serious. The guy is one of the most awful in ring performers of the last three years. The guy is lazy, has forty different headlocks so the match doesn't get boring. The only matches that Orton has had this year that were remotely good were where he was able to use a weapon. If that is the only thing that you can do to be entertaining then you aren't that good of an in ring performer.

Anyways. I'm going with Punk. There was not one match of his that I watched this year that I did not find entertaining. He had some of the best matches of the year, and the series of matches that he and Hardy put on was phenomenal. While he seems to be stuck in the mid card as of now he still is putting on great matches. He is the most constant wrestler that WWE has. Plus the fact he's only able to use about half of his move set from ROH. When and if he is able to bring some of those moves in it will be amazing. The man is by far the best in ring performer today.

 

[Blue Chipper]

What the hell are you talking about... I'll give you the first two. I'm still suspect on Benjamin. Orton though? You can't be serious. The guy is one of the most awful in ring performers of the last three years. The guy is lazy, has forty different headlocks so the match doesn't get boring. The only matches that Orton has had this year that were remotely good were where he was able to use a weapon. If that is the only thing that you can do to be entertaining then you aren't that good of an in ring performer.

I think you're overreacting to how bad Orton's in-ring ability is; he's actually fairly good. He's not lazy, he is just working a slow, methodical style, because that is heel tendencies. You wouldn't expect Orton to be doing flashy spots that would generate pops, do you? He does so many headlocks, because generally people give a negative response, and he knows the fans don't like it, which just makes him a better heel. He's had plenty of fairly good matches, but in each he plays a pretty good heel, so I can see why you don't like them. He's also great at telling a story, something that is severely underrated in the IWC. So, Orton is not a bad as you think.

 

[CardiffCam]

I'd say as good wrestler can go into a few categories-

Brawling, Technical Wrestling, Phsychology, Athletisicm and storytelling would probably be the main ones.

So taking all of those into account, I'd say its a tie between Jericho and Orton.

As far as brawling goes, both can get into a good, convincing fist fight with anyone, both know how to use a weapon, and both can take hardcore offense from anyone.

Both are very technical wrestlers with very diverse movesets, though the WWE wouldn't want you to think so. Jericho is, as we all know, the man of 1,004 holds, and Orton can put on a great match with anyone any day of the week, as long as he isn't restricted by the WWE.

Jericho has great heel phsychology, and Orton has possibly the best phsychology out of everyone in the WWE. His facial expressions are phenomenal, and he can get you into a match in a second.

As far as athleticism- just watch either of them do a dropkick. Amazing stuff.

And storytelling, is where Jericho shines the most. All of his matches have a structure, a story, a meaning, and the same goes for Orton. While people blast Orton's wrestlemania match with Triple H, there was really nothing wrong with it, apart from the outcome, and the fact it had to follow Taker vs Michaels. Hes a great storyteller in the end.

No other wrestler really fills out both criterias, Taker has a lack of athleticism, Michaels a lack of brawling, and others multiple failures. Sio I say Orton and Jericho.

 

[wrestler36]

I would have to say Jericho is the most versatile based on his wrestling background. I like guys like Morrison and Shelton because of their athleticism, but Jericho has been all around the world. Each country has different styles of wrestling and Jericho's been to them all: Canada, Mexico, Germany, Turkey, Japan, US etc. He can have an exciting match with ANYBODY. He may not be a huge PPV draw like some other guys, but based on ability and style alone, how can you argue against the guys who's been Around the World in Spandex?

 

[maar130]

Well for me someone who can actually fill most criterias is not active right now, that Man is Edge.

He can be hardcore, he can be technical, he can brawl, he can act as a crazy bastard, as an opportunist (even if the character was becoming stale, his ring ability is not), he can act like a coward or as a sadist, has changed his move set with time but if the time requires it, he can bring some old moves back.

He has made Cena, Batista, Hardy and almost everyone look like they can take him down and still look good, He even made Ric Flair (of course Flair could hold his own on almost everything) look amazing in a match Ric had never participated before, a Ladder match.

He can make any kind of match look good, regular, ladder, HIAC, you name it.

for me that is the guy who is the best performer in the WWE, even if I am a Taker Fan, I have to give it to Edge that he is the most well-around man in the company.

 

[Nightmare_2109]

Your all forgetting guys like Chavo and Finley, other than that all good choices =)

 

[fredstephenson]

small def rey mysterio
medium has got to be shawn michaels he still the man
big definatly undertaker can you think of any other near seven foot guy in his 40s who can do a running suicide dive over the top rope although i do reckon kane if he was given a chance could have rivalled the deadman remember his early matches when he was more agile but now its definatly taker most big men just stomp around the ring like there in slow motion ect big show.

 

[Rzarectah]

John Cena is the best current WWE wrestler in terms of in-ring ability.

No no no no, I'm talking about in-ring ability. Not the ablilty to tell a story in the ring. For example, Dynamite kid has good in ring ability because he knows many wrestling holds and styles and has a technically, sound non sloppy match with fairly difficult wrestling holds and moves.

 

[Blue Chipper]

No no no no, I'm talking about in-ring ability. Not the ablilty to tell a story in the ring. For example, Dynamite kid has good in ring ability because he knows many wrestling holds and styles and has a technically, sound non sloppy match with fairly difficult wrestling holds and moves.

You're completely wrong, storytelling is in-ring ability. And I consider the ability to tell a story above the qualities such as technical moves or the number of moves one does. Perhaps you don't, but that is what I enjoy more, and that is what wrestling was always meant to be. John Cena is the best WWE wrestler today, because his storytelling ability is untouchable.