Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2014 4:08:45 GMT -5
Some of you guys are nuts. We're talking the Greatest of All Time, not the greatest of your lifetime.
1. Ed "Strangler" Lewis - The first wrestler to truly embrace wrestling as a work. As 1/3 of the Gold Dust Trio (along with promoters Toots Mondt and Billy Sandow), he realized that there was more money to be made in losing the title and promoting a rematch (or cheating the face, as the case may be) than in holding the title exclusively to inflate one's ego. It was during this time that the Gold Dust Trio invented the first wrestling storylines by creating kayfabe feuds between wrestlers. He invented the sleeper hold.
2. Lou Thesz - Simply put, Lou Thesz is the greatest professional wrestler of all time. Thesz invented the powerbomb, the STF, the Thesz Press, the belly-to-back wrist lock suplex and dozens or more maneuvers. Thesz is the youngest world champion in wrestling's history at 21 years old. He was trained by "Strangler" Lewis. Between 1949 and 1956, Thesz traveled the country uniting every "World" championship in the US under the banner of the NWA World Championship. He became the first undisputed World Champion since Jim Londos. He was one of the biggest television stars in the nation during the 1940's and 50's during television's "Golden Age".
3. Rikidozan - Rikidozan brought professional wrestling to Japan and is often referred to as, "the Father of Puroresu". He is one of the greatest heroes in the history of Japan. His match with Lou Thesz for the NWA Championship in 1963 drew and 87.0 television rating while another match with The Destroyer drew a 67.0 television rating. He trained both Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba (the founders of New Japan and All Japan, respectively).
4. Ric Flair - Many call Flair the greatest of all time. He is recognized as a 16 time world champion (although he has actually won 21 world championships, some exchanges are not recognized). Flair has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice. He has been active in the professional wrestling industry for 4 decades. Flair is a member of the NWA Hall of Fame. He main evented the largest wrestling event in history, Collision in Korea, in front of 190,000 fans with Antonio Inoki in Pyongyang, North Korea. Flair is a founding member of the 4 Horseman and is recognized as the first WCW World Champion.
Honorable mentions. I almost added Gorgeous George, Hulk Hogan, El Santo, Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino, Verne Gagne or George Hackenschmidt to the list, but none of them felt right. Ultimately, I'm very happy with my choices and think the four men that I've named are the four greatest figures in wrestling's history.
1. Ed "Strangler" Lewis - The first wrestler to truly embrace wrestling as a work. As 1/3 of the Gold Dust Trio (along with promoters Toots Mondt and Billy Sandow), he realized that there was more money to be made in losing the title and promoting a rematch (or cheating the face, as the case may be) than in holding the title exclusively to inflate one's ego. It was during this time that the Gold Dust Trio invented the first wrestling storylines by creating kayfabe feuds between wrestlers. He invented the sleeper hold.
2. Lou Thesz - Simply put, Lou Thesz is the greatest professional wrestler of all time. Thesz invented the powerbomb, the STF, the Thesz Press, the belly-to-back wrist lock suplex and dozens or more maneuvers. Thesz is the youngest world champion in wrestling's history at 21 years old. He was trained by "Strangler" Lewis. Between 1949 and 1956, Thesz traveled the country uniting every "World" championship in the US under the banner of the NWA World Championship. He became the first undisputed World Champion since Jim Londos. He was one of the biggest television stars in the nation during the 1940's and 50's during television's "Golden Age".
3. Rikidozan - Rikidozan brought professional wrestling to Japan and is often referred to as, "the Father of Puroresu". He is one of the greatest heroes in the history of Japan. His match with Lou Thesz for the NWA Championship in 1963 drew and 87.0 television rating while another match with The Destroyer drew a 67.0 television rating. He trained both Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba (the founders of New Japan and All Japan, respectively).
4. Ric Flair - Many call Flair the greatest of all time. He is recognized as a 16 time world champion (although he has actually won 21 world championships, some exchanges are not recognized). Flair has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice. He has been active in the professional wrestling industry for 4 decades. Flair is a member of the NWA Hall of Fame. He main evented the largest wrestling event in history, Collision in Korea, in front of 190,000 fans with Antonio Inoki in Pyongyang, North Korea. Flair is a founding member of the 4 Horseman and is recognized as the first WCW World Champion.
Honorable mentions. I almost added Gorgeous George, Hulk Hogan, El Santo, Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino, Verne Gagne or George Hackenschmidt to the list, but none of them felt right. Ultimately, I'm very happy with my choices and think the four men that I've named are the four greatest figures in wrestling's history.