WWF Wrestler of the Year: 1991

[Shocky]

This is a retroactive approach to things to determine Wrestler of the Year for the WWF only. There will be no polls, because it's getting to the point where too many people are hiding behind a button and not giving any reasons. If you want your opinion known, say it, don't hide.

PWI proclaimed Hulk Hogan as there over all wrestler of the year in 1991. Bret Hart was the second highest WWF Star finishing overall #3 for the year.

I think that this is a fairly easy year to decide Wrestler of the year, and it's Hulk Hogan, and by a mile. He started off the year by winning his second straight Royal Rumble. He went into Wrestlemania 7, won the title, and held it until Survivor Series before losing it to the Undertaker, and then won the belt back in less then a week. Two WWF Titles and a Royal Rumble win, (especially when the belt wasn't used like the prop it was during the Attitude Era) is damn impressive.

Should Bret be considered as highly as he is, I'm not sure. He started the year as a tag champion, and ended the year as an IC champion, defeating Mr. Perfect in arguably the greatest IC title match of all time. That's a pretty solid year as well.

I think you could make an argument for guys like Warrior, Taker and Slaughter. The three all held the title at some point throughout the year. Granted the Warrior, outside of one match at Mania, was terrible, the Undertaker really didn't do much, and Slaughter played the role of evil heel terrifically.

So I would say Hogan is easily the wrestler of the year in 1991 for the WWF, and that Bret is number two, with a nice log jam of guys including Taker, Warrior, Slaughter and Mr. Perfect fighting for that third spot.

 

[HBK-aholic]

I don't think you're going to get much argument of Hogan being first if you ask me. In 1991 Hogan was great, much like he was for the majority of his career actually. I always remember the match at WM 7 with Sgt Slaughter. I think it's really underrated actually, and of Hogans matches it's a favourite of mine although I cannot pinpoint why.

As for second, in my opinion it'd go to Slaughter. This was one of the best years for him I think, and here's, again, a hugely underated wrestler.

Bret Hart would come thrid. Because he had much better years thean this, and really when you put it next to them this doesn't seem so much like "Second best wrestler ever" stuff. Him and Slaughter are tied in a way. But for Hart this isn't his best, whereas with Slaughter it is, give or take a couple other times.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Freaking awesome thread, Shockey. My Old School loins are tingling.

Hogan, no doubt in 1991. He had a freakishly good year, partially because nobody else could take the reigns with any longevity.

Slaughter was the definitive transitional heel. Warrior got an experimental run with the belt, drew so-so (though they booked him against Rude, which wasn't interesting), and WWF wanted to get the belt back on the proven guy without making Warrior look week.

Undertaker was also transitional in 1991, and I personally feel existed only to draw heat on the potential Hogan / Flair match-up.

Hogan wins 1991 in a landslide.

 

[Slim Pickns]

Hulk Hogan was no doubt the wrestler of the year for WWF in 1991. Not only was he involved in one of the most emotional matches ever, but he was getting the belt back after putting over Warrior, mainly because the fans showed they wanted him to have it. Today, when a champion has the belt for six months people go nuts. Hogan had it for four years, one year off, then another year and fans were still screaming for him more than anyone. Times were different back then, but was the man. He was still the focal point of the Royal Rumble, even without the belt.

Second place is close between Hart and Slaughter. Slaughter seems the logical choice because he feuded with Hogan even after losing the belt to him at Mania. However, the IC and Tag Belts were highly regarded during those years so Bret Hart's reigns cannot go unnoticed. I don't know who to pick for second but its irrelevant, Hogan is so far number one that number two shouldn't feel too special.

 

[rockofhysteria]

My pick for WWF wrestler of the year in 1991 is Ric Flair for the simple fact that in my opinion he had the biggest impact he came in with controversy showing up with the NWA title on WWF television then at survivor series he helped cost Hogan the title giving the Undertaker his first of many world title reigns He also started feuds with Savage and Piper and he did it all in less than a year in the WWF. Sure Hogan Warrior, Slaughter and a slew of other in the WWF had great years but In my opinion Flair was the 91 wrestler of the year.

 

[Monkey_Mania]

If anybody thinks that Hulk Hogan should not be 1991's wrestler of the year, then they seriously need to rethink that statement. I mean Hogan was red hot at this point. His feud with Slaughter was insane. Him coming out with the American Flag at WM7 is beyond amazing. It really showed that he was ready to whoop that Iraqi sympathizers ass. Beyond that though he still had a great year.

Hart should be a close second as he was really coming into his element. But no one could even touch Hogan in 1991.

 

[klunderbunker]

This really has to be Hulk Hogan. I read the thread title, and literally no one else popped into my mind. I couldn't even think of another wrestler in this time frame. You had 4 champions in this year: Warrior- Champion for less than a month at the beginning of the year, this was the tail end of his run, and him against Slaughter was only for the Iraqi War. Slaughter- Same thing. There was nothing special about this title run. It was simply due to what was going on in real life, can't give it to him either. Undertaker- Champion for what, a week? He was pure transitional. THen you have Hulk Hogan. He was champion for 8 months out of the year. He was the Real American, he had it all going for him and Hulkmania was still reigning on high. Bret Hart was still with the Anvil until WM and probably a bit after. He was starting to grow, but nothing noteworthy. This goes to Hogan hands down. He was huge, everyone was drooling for Hogan vs. Flair. There was no one close, it has to be the Hulkster.

 

[BigDaddyKewl]

I think Warrior deserves to be mentioned. He was still red hot at the time and got huge pops from the crowed. His matches with Slaughter and Savage are fun to watch and lots of outside interference . I mean Macho Man busting the ceptre over his head looked like it hurt. Warrior throwing Savage at Sherri was pretty amusing. He had the match of the night at both Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania.

 

[KingNick]

If I had to put it in order, I would say


1) Hogan

2) Flair

3) Undertaker

4) Bret Hart

5) Slaughter

6) Sid Justice

7)Warrior


Reasons:

HOGAN - Obvious, just see the rest of the thread

FLAIR - I agree with the last comment. It was so huge then with him coming on with the NWA world title, plus he went about 60minutes in the rumble and won the title. He's Ric Flair, 'nuff said

UNDERTAKER - UT is my favorite of all time. Yes, he only held the title a week, but he was the youngest champion at the time on only with the company for a year. This was different from Flair b/c Flair had tons more exprience back then. His character was (and still is) so over that people were cheering for him even as a Heel. The best of all time IMO.

HART - Again, obvious reasons. He went from Tag Champ in the beginning of the year to Intercontinental Champ by Summerslam, a HUGE transition that would bring him to the world title just over a year later.

SLAUGHTER - The reason I put Slaughter so far down is because he was hot from around the Rumble till the Mania. They really used him just for the main event. Shortly after that he was back to his original character and out of the limelight. Slaughter is great tho, no doubt

SID JUSTICE - It may sound weird, but here was a guy who was with the company LESS than a year and was already involved in the main events. I've heard a lot of other wrestlers talk about how he's not great in the ring, well, I'd buy a ticket to see him and plenty of other people did.

WARRIOR - He lost the title right in the beginning of 91, had a great match at WM7, got fired by Summerslam, and came back by 1992. Just look at the order, that's why I'm not putting him so high. I was always a huge fan of Warrior. I don't know the guy personally so I'm not going to judge him by what other people say but I would have then and still would buy a ticket to see him. But I don't think this was his greatest year.

There's my take!