Who is the greatest 'wrestler' of all time?? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brad Russ · 07-11-2009, 07:36 AM

I put wrestler in quotes because that's what I'm focusing on, the actual greatest in ring technician. I've been going back and forth between 3 different guys, Chris Benoit, Bret Hart, and Ric Flair. In the end I had to go with Ric Flair. The reason is because Ric Flair was still a great technician at the end of his career, but he was amazing during the beginning and middle of his career. He's famous for being known as the one hour man because of all the times he went an hour or over in the ring with his opponents. He once even said that you could put him in the ring with a broom, and he'd still thrill the fans, and I believe that. I also believe that Flair had the best opponents overall. While Bret mainly faced the best of the 90's when he became big, Flair fought the best of the 70's, 80's, 90's, and 2000's. The who's who of who Flair has faced, and defeated is nothing short of extraordinary. So that's my opinion, Ric Flair the greatest wrestler of all time. Who's your guys' pick??

GARFIELDKOOL · 07-11-2009, 09:59 AM

I would say Flair as well. When wrestling was territorial, he would travel to every territory and face the top champ of that area. Like you mentioned and Flair often said, he's a 60 minute man. That 45 minute match against Sting at the first Clash was classic, and the 54 minute match against Ricky Steamboat a year later was awesome. I watched both matches live as it happened. The Steamboat match was better. Flair faced some legends in the sport from many generations, so that makes him the greatest wrestler of all-time. Brett Hart is a good wrestler, but nowhere near the greatest in my opinion.

MrCleveland · 07-11-2009, 10:18 AM

I would say...a guy that you didn't consider in your top-3.

Hulk Hogan.

Zoneboy · 07-11-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

I would say...a guy that you didn't consider in your top-3.

Hulk Hogan.

You have got to be kidding! Like I've said many times, Hulk Hogan couldn't wrestle his way out of a paper sack. All he ever did was throw someone against the ropes, put a boot in their face and then a leg drop on the chest and 1-2-3. Hogan would never make my top 100 list as a wrestler because he was a brawler not a ring technician.

Brad Russ · 07-11-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

I would say...a guy that you didn't consider in your top-3.

Hulk Hogan.

I can't tell if you're joking with your answer or not, but I emphasized the word wrestler for a reason. Hulk Hogan was a great sports entertainer, but his wrestling ability was lacking to put it mildly. Hogan's wrestling was a joke, and the best wrestlers of the day usually had trouble making him look good in a match. Hogan would make my least wrestling ability list, but to put him on a level with Benoit, Hart, and Flair is a slap in the face to all three of them. Comparing Hogan to those three as far as wrestling ability goes is like comparing Michael Jordan to Muggsy Bogues. Hogan being Bogues of course.

Brad Russ · 07-11-2009, 11:20 AM

I think another great and underrated wrestler was Curt Hennig/Mr. Perfect. That guy was a great technician, and he had a few matches with Bret Hart which stand out as my favorites of all his matches.

Zoneboy · 07-11-2009, 11:36 AM

Flair, Benoit, Hennig & Hart are all good choices and I would also add:

Jushin "Thunder" Liger
Dory Funk Jr
Ricky Steamboat
Jack Brisco
Mr Wrestling, Tim Woods
Tiger Mask 1 & 2
Jerry Brisco
Johnny Weaver

etc.....

Brad Russ · 07-11-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Flair, Benoit, Hennig & Hart are all good choice and I would also add:

Jushin "Thunder" Liger
Dory Funk Jr
Ricky Steamboat
Jack Brisco
Mr Wrestling, Tim Woods
Tiger Mask 1 & 2
Jerry Brisco
Johnny Weaver

etc.....

I agree with you about Liger, and Steamboat. From his match at Wrestlemania 3 vs the Macho Man, to his matches with Flair, to his WCW feud with a young up and coming Steve Austin, that guy always gave the fans their money's worth. He even proved that he still has it at Wrestlemania 25 earlier this year against Jericho. Obviously his skills aren't what they once were, but he could still probably out wrestler half of the WWE superstars of today.

Unfortunately my age really shows with some of the wrestlers you mentioned, as I simply haven't seen enough of them to fully acknowledge their great talents. I just thank God for the internet, and WWE Classics On Demand for introducing me to many of the greats you mentioned. I'm learning alot about the history of wrestling, and am really enjoying it.

lilhave · 07-11-2009, 01:18 PM

Don't know about the importance of technician. There were many good tecnicians in the ring but soon fell by the wayside because they couldn't generate heat. Be it a heel or face, the most important aspect of longevity is the ability to get the crowd going.

In that regard I must travel back in time to the original Shiek. His real name was Ed Farhat, from Philly but no one and I mean no one could flame the crowd like him. He had the plastic fork, fire thumb, Camel trot, his female servant and his pointing to allah. The fans went wild as he approached the ring. He had legendary bouts across the country wih Bobo Brazil.

In those days of territories, a villain would come to Capital arena and wrestle for four straight thursdays in "stretcher matches', where his opponent would be carried out of the ring. On the fifth week he would wrestle at the garden against Bruno for the title. Bruno would lose because of excessive bleeding, or couldn't continue. Of course no title passed hands. 4 more weeks of stretcher matches, followed at the Garden in a rematch where Bruno would win, but a tainted win. Again 4 more easy wins for the Shiek. They would wrestle for third time, with the clause of there must be a winner. Took my wife to be to see this match. 15,000 fans went nuts. The Shiek held nothing back, as the fans were in a frenzy, foaming from the mouth. Of course Bruno won and when he did, you would have thought Japan surrended.
To me the Shiek was the best worker, closely followed by Killer Kowalski and the Crusher.

Harvey

GARFIELDKOOL · 07-11-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

You have got to be kidding! Like I've said many times, Hulk Hogan couldn't wrestle his way out of a paper sack. All he ever did was throw someone against the ropes, put a boot in their face and then a leg drop on the chest and 1-2-3. Hogan would never make my top 100 list as a wrestler because he was a brawler not a ring technician.

Plus, most of his matches lasted 10-15 minutes. Hogan's matches were predictable, you knew he was going give you that boot at some point.

GARFIELDKOOL · 07-11-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Flair, Benoit, Hennig & Hart are all good choices and I would also add:

Jushin "Thunder" Liger
Dory Funk Jr
Ricky Steamboat
Jack Brisco
Mr Wrestling, Tim Woods
Tiger Mask 1 & 2
Jerry Brisco
Johnny Weaver

etc.....

Hmmm, seeing that you live in North Carolina, and looking at the wrestlers you mentioned, I could tell you grew up on Mid-Atlantic wrestling, right?

Zoneboy · 07-11-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

Hmmm, seeing that you live in North Carolina, and looking at the wrestlers you mentioned, I could tell you grew up on Mid-Atlantic wrestling, right?

That's true and I lost most interest in it after Jim Crockett sold out to Ted Turner.

comedyfreak · 07-11-2009, 03:31 PM

I would go with Ric Flair as the greatest of all time, he's also known as the 60 minute man. I'd vote Hogan as most popular of all time, if it wasn't for Hogan the current top wrestlers wouldn't be getting paid as much as they are now.

GARFIELDKOOL · 07-11-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

That's true and I lost most interest in it after Jim Crockett sold out to Ted Turner.

I know, but Crockett was out of money, he did what he had to do. I myself liked it better when Crockett owned it. When Ted bought it, and it became WCW, it was getting too cartoonish like the WWF.

Brad Russ · 07-11-2009, 07:01 PM

Speaking of great wrestlers, did anyone hear about the legendary Japanese wrestler Mitsuharu Misawa dying a few weeks ago in the middle of the ring?? I just found out about it, and saw the video of it on youtube. I guess he died of a heart attack after receiving a belly to back suplex. So sad. R.I.P. Mr. Misawa.

07-11-2009, 07:36 AM	#1
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	Who is the greatest 'wrestler' of all time?? I put wrestler in quotes because that's what I'm focusing on, the actual greatest in ring technician. I've been going back and forth between 3 different guys, Chris Benoit, Bret Hart, and Ric Flair. In the end I had to go with Ric Flair. The reason is because Ric Flair was still a great technician at the end of his career, but he was amazing during the beginning and middle of his career. He's famous for being known as the one hour man because of all the times he went an hour or over in the ring with his opponents. He once even said that you could put him in the ring with a broom, and he'd still thrill the fans, and I believe that. I also believe that Flair had the best opponents overall. While Bret mainly faced the best of the 90's when he became big, Flair fought the best of the 70's, 80's, 90's, and 2000's. The who's who of who Flair has faced, and defeated is nothing short of extraordinary. So that's my opinion, Ric Flair the greatest wrestler of all time. Who's your guys' pick??
	__________________ St. John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Currently my favorite song.

07-11-2009, 10:18 AM	#3
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,235	I would say...a guy that you didn't consider in your top-3. Hulk Hogan.
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

07-11-2009, 11:36 AM	#7
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,474	Flair, Benoit, Hennig & Hart are all good choices and I would also add: Jushin "Thunder" Liger Dory Funk Jr Ricky Steamboat Jack Brisco Mr Wrestling, Tim Woods Tiger Mask 1 & 2 Jerry Brisco Johnny Weaver etc.....
	Last edited by Zoneboy; 07-11-2009 at 11:58 AM.

07-11-2009, 01:18 PM	#9
lilhave Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 03, 2004 Location: N.Y.C. Posts: 2,294	Don't know about the importance of technician. There were many good tecnicians in the ring but soon fell by the wayside because they couldn't generate heat. Be it a heel or face, the most important aspect of longevity is the ability to get the crowd going. In that regard I must travel back in time to the original Shiek. His real name was Ed Farhat, from Philly but no one and I mean no one could flame the crowd like him. He had the plastic fork, fire thumb, Camel trot, his female servant and his pointing to allah. The fans went wild as he approached the ring. He had legendary bouts across the country wih Bobo Brazil. In those days of territories, a villain would come to Capital arena and wrestle for four straight thursdays in "stretcher matches', where his opponent would be carried out of the ring. On the fifth week he would wrestle at the garden against Bruno for the title. Bruno would lose because of excessive bleeding, or couldn't continue. Of course no title passed hands. 4 more weeks of stretcher matches, followed at the Garden in a rematch where Bruno would win, but a tainted win. Again 4 more easy wins for the Shiek. They would wrestle for third time, with the clause of there must be a winner. Took my wife to be to see this match. 15,000 fans went nuts. The Shiek held nothing back, as the fans were in a frenzy, foaming from the mouth. Of course Bruno won and when he did, you would have thought Japan surrended. To me the Shiek was the best worker, closely followed by Killer Kowalski and the Crusher. Harvey
	__________________ My List http://www.freewebs.com/lilhave/index.htm

07-11-2009, 03:31 PM	#13
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	I would go with Ric Flair as the greatest of all time, he's also known as the 60 minute man. I'd vote Hogan as most popular of all time, if it wasn't for Hogan the current top wrestlers wouldn't be getting paid as much as they are now.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

07-11-2009, 09:59 AM	#2
GARFIELDKOOL Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 02, 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 7,204	I would say Flair as well. When wrestling was territorial, he would travel to every territory and face the top champ of that area. Like you mentioned and Flair often said, he's a 60 minute man. That 45 minute match against Sting at the first Clash was classic, and the 54 minute match against Ricky Steamboat a year later was awesome. I watched both matches live as it happened. The Steamboat match was better. Flair faced some legends in the sport from many generations, so that makes him the greatest wrestler of all-time. Brett Hart is a good wrestler, but nowhere near the greatest in my opinion.

07-11-2009, 11:20 AM	#6
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	I think another great and underrated wrestler was Curt Hennig/Mr. Perfect. That guy was a great technician, and he had a few matches with Bret Hart which stand out as my favorites of all his matches.

07-11-2009, 07:01 PM	#15
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	Speaking of great wrestlers, did anyone hear about the legendary Japanese wrestler Mitsuharu Misawa dying a few weeks ago in the middle of the ring?? I just found out about it, and saw the video of it on youtube. I guess he died of a heart attack after receiving a belly to back suplex. So sad. R.I.P. Mr. Misawa.