Board 8 > B8's Greatest Wrestlers Ever Ranking

(+) Yeah! (+)

Here is mine with the ones that we know/I suspect arent on the list.

+25
+24 Dr Wagner
+23
+22
+21
+20
+19
+18
+17
+16
+15
+14
+13
+12 Satoshi Kojima
+11
+10
+9
+8 Bobby Eaton
+7
+6 Matt Jackson
+5 Fenix
+4
+3 Cody Rhodes
+2 Gail Kim
+1

There are two more I strongly suspect arent on the list but might be so I left them off.

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Darn I wish I'd made a list. We could've had Khali even higher.

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Two very different batches of names today.

68: Kevin Nash / Diesel
Score: 26
# of Lists: 3

Big Sexy's run on top of WWF may have been one of their worst eras ever, but that can be forgiven to an extent when you're one half of one of the biggest angles of all time. Nash may have been lazy, injury prone, and responsible for holding back a lot of younger talent (especially once given the book) - but that's what being a Pro Wrestler was back then, would be unfair to hold that against him really. Had a good match with Michaels one time.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xlms0k; Diesel vs. Shawn Michaels, April 28 1996

66 (tie). Roddy Piper
Score: 27
# of Lists: 2

While Hogan was WWF's biggest babyface star in the 80s, the heel side was ruled in large part by Roddy Piper. One of the best at delivering a promo, even if he never made a lick of sense, and responsible for the first "talk show" segment in wrestling.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7iwcil; Roddy Piper vs. Bret Hart, April 5 1992

66 (tie). Nigel McGuinness
Score: 27
# of Lists: 2

Before the BritWres boom of the 2010s, I think Nigel had pretty firmly established himself as the best British wrestler of all time - owing entirely to his work in Ring of Honor (ok, there was good Desmond Wolfe stuff but it was so short lived). Rising to prominence as the only person to really make the Pure Title rules work, he'd establish himself as a top name in ROH in the Pure/World title unification match with Bryan Danielson in the UK, before eventually capturing the title from Takeshi Morishima and having his own excellent title reign. SIgned to WWE the same day as Bryan Danielson, and in the process revealed the medical issues which would cut short his in ring career - who knows how much higher he could have ended up.

https://www.bilibili.com/video/av45830703/; Nigel McGuinness vs. Tyler Black, March 16 2008

63 (tie). Scott Steiner
Score: 27
# of Lists: 3

While many may know Scott in 2020 for his nonsensical promos and his last 20 years or so of mailing it in, early in his career Scott and his brother Rick were one of the great tag teams of their day, working in both America and Japan, WWF and WCW. Scott in particular was a freak athlete - lending to his ability to create and perfect the Frankensteiner in a way nobody has ever come close to.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3aej73; Rick & Scott Steiner vs. Lex Luger & Sting

63 (tie). Ricky Steamboat
Score: 27
# of Lists: 3

There aren't many workers from his day who could fit in today's era of wrestling with the increased focus on workrate, but you don't even have to watch old Steamboat to figure it out - in 2009 he had 3 televised matches in WWE and was one of the best workers in the company then. A timeless babyface, Steamboat was perhaps at his best when the heel did all the talking - but with heels like Flair and Savage opposite him, there was no shortage of great programs for him in the 80s, and it led to him being part of some of the best matches of all time.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xz7ctr; Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair, February 20 1989

63 (tie). Booker T
Score: 27
# of Lists: 3

One of WCW's most decorated champions, Booker was perhaps the biggest beneficiary from WWF buying WCW, as due to the nature of the contracts of all the real top stars, Booker ended up being the face of WCW through the invasion. Strangely his WWE tenure hit its greatest success working the King of the Ring gimmick - which nobody else in history has ever gotten over with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGqx9iXvFTQ; Booker T vs. Steve Austin, December 13 2001

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I went to Cracker Barrel in Georgia with my mom when I was around 10 years old. She had a knee brace on from a surgery she just had a month prior. We got sat next to Kevin Nash and a friend of his. He talked to my mom about her knee rehab and gave her tips for about 15 minutes. I said almost nothing, cause I was being a kid and was a little awestruck.

That interaction always made me like him more than I should though. He was +2 on my list.

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Nash might be the most annoying inclusion on this list for me so far, but at least Nigel beat him.

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NBIceman posted...

Nash might be the most annoying inclusion on this list for me so far, but at least Nigel beat him.

even though he sucks at least there's an argument based on influence etc. i didn't know this beforehand but after trying to find stuff to say and share for Booker I feel like he's a worse entrant <_<

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The argument COULD be made that he was the best wrestler of the main event scene in WCW at the end, but that's not much.

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Nah - Steiner Jarrett and Sid were alot better

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scarletspeed7 posted...

the best wrestler of the main event scene in WCW at the end,

i may get desperate for words to say but never this desperate

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I think some of you are neglecting a major aspect of professional wrestling (the #1 aspect in my opinion) and that's senseless awesomeness. Nash, Hall, Ultimate Warrior all had it

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MarkS222222222222222 posted...

I think some of you are neglecting a major aspect of professional wrestling (the #1 aspect in my opinion) and that's senseless awesomeness

ed literally listed sid and steiner!

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MarkS222222222222222 posted...

I think some of you are neglecting a major aspect of professional wrestling (the #1 aspect in my opinion) and that's senseless awesomeness. Nash, Hall, Ultimate Warrior all had it

The thing is I don't think they are awesome. I mean I can see why people think Nash and Hall are awesome, but for me, Ultimate Warrior is the same as Ryback.

Man you weren't 4 years old when Warrior was the big thing clearly.

As a kid he was so cool

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RPGlord95 posted...

As a kid he was so cool

as a kid a lot of stupid shit is cool that i don't like now

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and most of that stuff isn't extremely homophobic and racist either

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Hogan was always better than Warrior anyway

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As a matter of fact, I was exactly 4 when WM6 happened.

But yeah I wasn't really watching wrestling until 1998. By then Ultimate Warrior was just some old dude in Hogan's mirror. Even then I thought it was lame

Steiner you just need to feel the power of the warriors floating through your veins.

I suggest the anabolic warriors

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One of these things is not like the others...

62. Konnan
Score: 28
# of Lists: 2

A big star in Mexico, Konnan's great legacy will be as a key part of the introduction of luchadors to American television in WCW. He's long been the mediator between the American and Mexican wrestling scenes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_YjX6KePOo; Konnan vs. Juventuud Guerrera, September 15 1996

61. Kota Ibushi
Score: 28
# of Lists: 3

Perhaps the most freakish athlete of an era known for freakish athletes, Ibushi can do it all. For several years in the late 00s he was known as the best high flier in wrestling - since then he's developed an incredible striking game to go along with that. Few wrestlers in history are as capable of big fireworks displays as Kota.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxrcim; KENTA & Taiji Ishimori vs. Kota Ibushi & Naomichi Marufuji, July 15 2007

60. Tetsuya Naito
Score: 29
# of Lists: 2
First place votes: 1

Our first entrant on the list to receive a first place vote! Naito certainly had some shaky years early in his New Japan push, but ever since the fans rejected him at WK10 and he adopted his new Ingobernables persona, he's become the most popular wrestler in Japan. While he did hold the IWGP belt before, he finally had his career defining Tokyo Dome main event win over Kazuchika Okada to kick off his current reign in what is sure to be the high point of 2020 (considering its current trajectory!)

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4p33wy; Tetsuya Naito vs. Kenny Omega, August 13 2016

57 (tie). Tomohiro Ishii
Score: 30
# of Lists: 3

Ishii is the embodiment of the modern brawler. Like Suzuki earlier, Ishii is another wrestler more beloved by Western fans than their home crowd - there's something that appeals to us about a tough guy, and nobody portrays toughness more than Big Tom. The man is 44 years old, about 5 foot tall and has basically no charisma to speak of - but delivers in the ring as consistently as anybody ever has in wrestling.

https://www.bilibili.com/video/av28537024/; Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kenny Omega, August 4 2018

57 (tie). Orange Cassidy / Fire Ant
Score: 30
# of Lists: 3

Steiner: Funny
[Don't worry Steiner, I got this one]
Maniac: Orange Cassidy is a truly unique character even in the wild world of pro wrestling. Playing a non-chalant guy who doesn't actually like or care about wrestling, he is a talented comedy act who truly works his gimmick into his matches. Most of the time he is slow to move or act, but once he gets going he can really go. CHIKARA fans know full well how talented of a high flyer he is, and like most Wrestle Factory grads he is also a skilled technical wrestler. Orange started his career as a masked wrestler and still wrestles as two very different characters, but its his recent time on AEW that has launched Orange into the wrestling spotlight and made him one of the most popular wrestlers on a stacked roster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A32sT1c-btU; Orange Cassidy vs. Kylie Rae, April 17 2019

57 (tie). Bruno Sammartino
Score: 30
# of Lists: 3

Bruno established the WWWF - I can probably stop there. The biggest draw in the history of the most iconic building in wrestling, nobody has more MSG sellouts to their name than Bruno.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXRSIQ1i9Qk; Bruno Sammartino vs. Stan Hansen, August 7 1976

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I voted Konnan, again if for no other reason than his incredible influence in spreading the Lucha style.

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Eddv posted...

I voted Konnan, again if for no other reason than his incredible influence in spreading the Lucha style.

I'm the other Konnan voter btw.

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Gonna celebrate the small victories on this list, like how Orange Cassidy at least didn't make the top 50.

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Ishii is criminally low.

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NBIceman posted...

Gonna celebrate the small victories on this list, like how Orange Cassidy at least didn't make the top 50.

Wait until you learn that Heath Slater is in top 40

illuminatusbubu posted...

Wait until you learn that Heath Slater is in top 40

#hitslatersmusic

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Maniac64 posted...

[Don't worry Steiner, I got this one]

i was being lazy like orange!

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Maniac64 posted...

Bruno established the WWWF - I can probably stop there. The biggest draw in the history of the most iconic building in wrestling, nobody has more MSG sellouts to their name than Bruno.

shit did i fall asleep mid writeup? this wasn't meant to be done ah well sorry can't win em all

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Steiner posted...

i was being lazy like orange!

I really should have realized that.

Oops

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i normally do a few extra writeups at this time before i go to bed but all the stuff happening in british wrestling today has exhausted me and made me not really want to gush about any wrestlers right now. sorry if i slow down for a couple days.

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Its fine. worse case they get posted with minimal weiteups and you can post one for them later if you want.

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This would've been my list BUT I decided against it.

+25 Melina
+24 Chris Daniels
+23 Frankie Kazarian
+22 Undertaker
+21 Austin Aries
+20 Victoria
+19 Torrie Wilson
+18 Katie Lea Burchill
+17 Awesome Kong
+16 Alex Riley
+15 Edge
+14 Bray Wyatt
+13 Erick Rowan
+12 The Miz
+11 Trish Stratus
+10 Jerry Lawler
+9 JBL
+8 Maven
+7 Randy Orton
+6 Taya Valkyrie
+5 John Morrison
+4 Scotty 2 Hotty
+3 Alicia Fox
+2 Paige
+1 AJ Lee

Prestnun posted...

+10 Jerry Lawler
+9 JBL

I wonder if either of these two guys made the list. I'm thinking no.

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Yay my Orange Cassidy

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something about orange and bruno tying amuses me greatly

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Weird time to be ranking wrestlers. Write-ups today thanks to Steiner and Eddv!

56. Will Ospreay
Score: 31
# of Lists: 5 (first person on more than 3 lists!)

Ospreay is a super difficult to discuss right now, in my opinion, as he's currently the best wrestler in the world, has been great for a few years, but is STILL getting better and hasn't reached the main events he's clearly destined for yet. That said, I couldn't in good faith leave him off my own list - for my money he's already the best British wrestler of all time (reflected by this list!) and is still getting better. If we redo this list in 10 years and Ospreay isn't a top 10 contender, something went horribly wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPTemrD73-w; Will Ospreay vs. WALTER, October 13 2018

54 (tie). Seth Rollins
Score: 33
# of Lists: 3

One of the only stars WWE has managed to make in the past decade, for all the criticism Seth gets now there's no denying he was one of the few people carrying wwe's in ring product for a few years there. Like Ambrose/Moxley earlier, his WWE high points may be the Shield tags - but he also has one of the better WWE title matches in recent memory (the Cena/Lesnar triple threat) and a memorable Wrestlemania ending moment to his name. Personally I'll always rate Tyler Black higher than Seth Rollins - his run in ROH was maybe at the peak of my own fandom, and I was desperate for him to win the title in the first shot at Nigel.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2kvpmh; Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena

54 (tie). Samoa Joe
Score: 33
# of Lists: 3

American Wrestling outside of WWE in the 00s was two promotions; TNA and ROH. To me, Joe was the best in each of those promotions for a time. His ROH title run, specifically the Punk series, is what first switched me onto independent wresting (shoutout @PepsiPlunge), and he brought a sense of toughness and legitimacy that was far from the norm for indie wrestling at that point. Then he went to TNA, where he is a part of both of the most beloved matches in TNA history - the three way with AJ and Daniels, and the cage match with Angle. His NXT run was a little disappointing but he at least got a few great moments on Raw eventually when he got the Brock program.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7n1q2q; Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi, October 1 2005

53. Atlantis
Score: 34
# of Lists: 2

(Guest writeup by Eddv): CMLL's standard bearer for more or less the entire period it has existed under that name, Atlantis is the prototypical tecnico/masked babyface. His run on top will remind cynical onlookers of Hogan and Cena but with one important caveat - he has never ever lost the support of the Mexico City crowds. He debuted in 1983, held his first middleweight title in 84 and was the undisputed top star by 1990 and has only temporarily relinquished the role since then

Other stars have risen and fallen but Atlantis has reigned eternal only slowing down somewhat when the 2010s hit. Even in his 50s he is still a staple of CMLLs shows with high profile, high drama Mask matches highlighting his late career, to include a pair of incredible matches where he took Ultimo Guerreros mask in 2014 and immediately took La Sombras mask prior to La Sombra leaving for WWE the next year in 2015

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Maniac64 posted...

If we redo this list in 10 years and Ospreay isn't a top 10 contender, something went horribly wrong.

Oh what a difference a day makes.

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Yeah I thought the same thing reading that line.

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Prestnun posted...

+8 Maven

A mediocre Tough Enough winner with a dropkick or rollup for a finisher and a surprisingly good entrance theme?

Nah.

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scarletspeed7 posted...

Oh what a difference a day makes.

Did I miss something with Ospreay specifically or is this just a comment on how things can change with a wrestler in the space of a couple hours?

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Just the reigniting of controversy about Ospreay defending some of the accused.

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scarletspeed7 posted...

Just the reigniting of controversy about Ospreay defending some of the accused.

Didn't just defend him. Also helped him get work on the down low.

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i'm as sickened by the abusers being revealed as anybody but i struggle to tar ospreay with the same brush. he's a fucking moron who stood with his friend, but as many of us already made peace with ranking lawler, flair, hogan and a litany of others, i wouldn't imagine that is the line we're going to draw here

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Tag.

Considered making a list but I havent really watched much wrestling in the last couple of years, just occasional matches from G1 and some AEW as I was considering going to a PPV but chose not to.

I think I would have put some of the names so far in my list, just from looking at this page Naito/Steamboat/Ishii fit the bill. Possibly Joe or Ospreay or Ibushi.

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Not gonna be able to post any today. Sorry.

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^

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I'm giving Steiner a little time to do write-ups and giving us a little distance from the mass of wrestlers getting in trouble atm.

Will start up this week sometime.

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feeling a bit more able to write now, may have a batch today

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not quite. almost definitely in the morning

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We are back and making it to the Top 50!

52. Asuka / Kana
Score: 35
# of Lists: 3

The first joshi to be signed to NXT, Asuka has been one of the best workers in the entire company since day 1. Her NXT title run alone is more success than I could have imagined for a joshi in WWE, and now a few years in to her main roster run it seems like she may actually start being treated as a big deal there too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO_GeYiRjw4; Kana vs. Sara Del Rey (October 8, 2011)

51. Randy Orton
Score: 36
# of Lists: 2

Orton is as close to a purely WWE wrestler as there is, wrestling 2 matches before entering the WWE system in that OVW class and 20 years later it's hard to imagine him doing anything else. Orton is what WWE wanted you to think Bryan was in 2013 - a B+ player, but his longevity and the fact he's been a star for so long elevates him in the eyes of WWE fans.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x151y2f; Randy Orton vs. Cactus Jack (April 18, 2004)

50. Curt Hennig / Mr. Perfect
Score: 36
# of Lists: 3

Known to WWF fans as Mr. Perfect, Hennig was another in the series of WWF signing the best workers in the country in the 80s and giving them the larger than life characters many fans would remember their careers by - but perhaps none suited their gimmick as well as Hennig, who really was an incredible natural talent.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1nwwgy; Curt Hennig vs. Nick Bockwinkel (November 15, 1986)

That seems like a good place to stop as we ease back into it.

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The List so far

50 Curt Hennig / Mr. Perfect
51 Randy Orton
52 Asuka/Kana
53 Atlantis
54 Samoa Joe
54 Seth Rollins
56 Will Ospreay
57 Bruno Sammartino
57 Orange Cassidy
57 Tomohiro Ishii
60 Tetsuya Naito
61 Kota Ibushi
62 Konnan
63 Booker T
63 Ricky Steamboat
63 Scott Steiner
66 Nigel McGuinness
66 Roddy Piper
68 Kevin Nash
69 Zack Sabre Jr.
70 Katsuyori Shibata
70 Scott Hall/Razor Ramon
70 Shinsuke Nakamura
73 Matt Jackson
74 Dr Wagner Jr.
75 Minoru Suzuki
76 Drew McIntyre
76 LA Park
76 Lioness Asuka
79 Jeff Hardy
80 Claudio Castagnoli/Cesaro
80 Tommaso Ciampa
82 Goldberg
83 Tiger Mask
84 Shinya Hashimoto
85 Iron Sheik
86 Ultimo Dragon
87 Chris Benoit
87 Ronda Rousey
87 Ultimate Warrior
90 Genichiro Tenryu
91 Big Van Vader
91 Hiromu Takahashi
91 Nick Jackson
94 Harley Race
94 Keith Lee
96 David Starr
96 Great Khali
96 Riki Choshu
99 Jon Moxley
100 Lou Thesz

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