LogFAQs > #942117858

Well he isn't in this batch...

24. Edge
Score: 104
# of Lists: 7
Highest Vote: ZeroSignal/Nick, 4th place

Im not sure what you think of first for Edge its probably Ladder matches, or the hilarious Edge & Christian segments. It could be the Smackdown Six era, or the Lita scandal and subsequent angle. Maybe its the first Money in the Bank cash in and Cena feud. Or even the years he spent anchoring Smackdown before his career ended abruptly in 2011. I think when we look back on all of wrestling history, because of the stagnant product at the time in 2000s WWE, theres not a lot of Edges career that comes up but if you are watching 2000s WWE, theres no doubt without Edge it would be a lot less fun.

Edge debuted in the WWF in June 1998 and before long would be paired with his tag partner from the independents, Christian. The pair would become stars when they wrestled the Hardy Boyz at No Mercy in 1999 in the first WWF tag team ladder match and the match that would set a new standard for the ladder match. This was a rare WWF match which got all the competitors involved a standing ovation afterwards, and so was born the legend of Edge in the ladder match.

Obviously shortly thereafter the Dudley Boyz would also be thrown in the mix and wed see more crazy, high risk matches from the three teams the ladder match at Wrestlemania 2000 and the first TLC matches at Summerslam 2000 and Wrestlemania X-7 would each outdo the last, with perhaps the most iconic image of all being Edge spearing a dangling Jeff Hardy out of the air. These matches, as well as the matches in between would bring tag team wrestling to a level of popularity it hadnt been in WWF since the 80s, and would never reach again afterwards.

During the tail end of this era, Edge and Christian would really begin to find their characters, and their interactions with Mick Foley and Kurt Angle remain among my fondest wrestling memories. Over time Edge develops into one of the most convincing actors the WWE had, an important part of making his character so compelling later on.

Edges singles run begins in earnest at King of the Ring 2001, where he defeats Kurt Angle and kicks off a feud that would end his tag team with Christian. From there it takes him some time to find his footing as a singles he doesnt get over at the level WWE hoped initially but around this time he is part of the infamous Smackdown Six; Edge, Mysterio, Benoit, Angle, Eddie and Chavo. These six in various iterations were having great matches on both TV and PPV through most of Heymans run in charge of Smackdown in 02-03, and from a personal standpoint this is one of my favourite eras of television ever. Most notably in this run is one of the best WWF tag matches of all time Edge and Rey Mysterio vs. Angle and Benoit, from No Mercy (again!) 2002.

What really kicked off Edges rise to main eventer though, was Lita. Both the real life heat on the pair as knowledge of their affair got out, and then their chemistry on screen propelled the act to a main event heel level and from that point on, Edge would be one of the companys top heels until the final year or two of his career. First as the Rated R Superstar and then shifting more to the Ultimate Opportunist gimmick, Edges presence on the show was always a highlight, and he portrayed the character with a conviction few can muster in todays wrestling.

For all you might consider this worth Edge has more 4-star rated PPV matches in WWE than anybody in Observer history (This is a stat I learned a few years ago and maybe has changed, do not @ me). He might not have the 5-star match you pinpoint to talk about as one of the greatest ever, but when you look at the decade of the 2000s theres an argument that hes WWEs best all around performer. Where does that rank in the annals of all time? Well, we can tell you today, definitively 24th.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xz6sw9; Edge and Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle (October 20, 2002)
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4vsukj; Edge vs. The Undertaker, Hell in a Cell (August 17, 2008)

23. Hulk Hogan
Score: 105
# of Lists: 7
Highest Vote: junk_funk/tennis, 5th place

(Guest writeup: Eddv)

Sometimes there's just no avoiding the obvious angle. Hogan is synonymous with wrestling. Even still 20 years after his peak the very first image most have of wrestling is of the george Hamilton tanned, blonde skullet wearing Hulkster.

But what made him truly great was his ability to read what the crowd wanted and give it to them. In New Japan and in the higher workrate era of the early 80s in general he worked hard and gave good psychology driven high workrate matches.

But as he came to define a new era and really to define Vince McMahons vision of a larger than life superhero as the centerpiece of a wrestling promotion Hulk learned how to take the basics of wrestling psychology and stretch them to comical proportions thar fit the high octane, everything in excess attitude of the 80s. He carried WWE to its place as a global level promotion and he ensured that when he left the WWF would have to start from 0.

He then re invented himself taking the things that once made him a hero, twisting them and becoming an iconic villain once more giving the crowd exactly what they asked for and getting them coming back for more. What's notable to me about Hogan is that he had the same superpower as John Cena to take just horrible ideas and get them over with the crowd.

As an aside, I actually did not think he would make this list due to his pretty disgusting personal life. I think growing up with Hogan as your hero is a great way to break yourself of the habit of hero worship.

Still as the platonic ideal of what wrestling is as a cultural thing he is probably a top 4 figure in terms of historical importance even without the NWO run.

So here have a match between Hogan and Ed Leslie because its what we all deserve.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5xux27; Hulk Hogan vs. "The Butcher" Ed Leslie

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Maniac64