Together, the cocky duo battled legendary teams like Doom and The Steiner Brothers during their reign as WCW Tag Team Champions. Whether he was good or evil, Konnan engrained himself in the minds of WCW fans forever. After testing his trade in carnivals and holiday camps, Darren soon gained exposure working for ITVs World of Sport, like many others on this list. Styles), scar Gutirrez (born December 11, 1974), better known by his ring name Rey Mysterio, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand. ITVs World of Sport was a household name in Britain, where it saw millions of viewers weekly. Not the ears! so that opponents would avoid his cauliflower ears. Beginning his WCW career managing The Fabulous Freebirds, Page soon entered active competition and formed his own faction known as The Diamond Mine. Mr. McMahon 39. Z.L. His glam rock looks and in-ring ability instantly attracted attention from the fans and cemented his place as a top heel. Updated on August 13, 2021, by Shawn S. Lealos: Some wrestlers dont know when to call it a career. The Greatest Pro Wrestlers of All Time - Ranker Top WWF Professional Wrestlers from the 70s | Groovy History Free to wreak his particular brand of Philly havoc, the grunge rock Svengali busted more stop signs than a runaway school bus as he abused Perry Saturn and beat Diamond Dallas Page for the United States Title. Despite being over 50, he was still turning in solid matches on SmackDown against young stars like Drew McIntyre and John Morrison. Mask Match against Chris Jericho at SuperBrawl VIII. He also had many great matches against British wrestling greats such as Fit Finlay and Mick McManus. CRAIG TELLO. Since this articles initial publication, some wrestlers have returned for more matches, making them even older during their last WWE appearances. By the time he arrived in WCW in 1995, he was an international wunderkind who had enraged the Mexican faithful as a brash member of Los Gringos Locos and thrilled the Japanese under the mask of Black Tiger. Disgusting yes, but it proved just how far the big man was willing to go for sports-entertainment. The University of Michigan wrestling standout was introduced to fans as a member of Kevin Sullivans Varsity Club, where he teamed with former Syracuse grappler Mike Rotundo. Hailing from Tokyo, Japan, Mutas epic battles with WCWs face-painted franchise, Sting, are what truly gave rise to his legend. Mae Young began her career in 1939 at the age of 16. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event, your favorite shows, new movies, live sports, and more. In Atlanta, he became United States Champion, but hes best remembered as a swaggering cruiserweight who nearly unmasked Rey Mysterio before leading a luchador uprising he dubbed the Latino World Order. Brians bouts with Jushin Thunder Liger were extraordinary as was his tag team with Steve Austin. [2] They primarily appeared on WWE television programming, pay-per-views, and live events, and talent with developmental contracts appeared at NXT (formerly Florida Championship Wrestling), or they appeared at WWE's former training facilities: Deep South Wrestling, Heartland Wrestling Association, International Wrestling Association, Memphis Championship Wrestling, Ohio Valley Wrestling, or others. With accolades like these, Big Sexy is without a doubt one of the most influential figures in WCW history. Believe it or not, there was a time when Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin and John Cena were not the focal point of the wrestling universe. Bobo Brazil existed at a time when wrestling was full of big name stars like The Sheik, Dic the Bruiser, Buddy Rogers and Bruno Sammartino. When talent is released from their contract, it could be for a budget cut, the individual asking for their release, for personal reasons, or retirement. Despite fans begging him to return for dream matches against young stars, he refused. So, while WWE fansmay remember him for being a wrecking ball in The APA, understand that Ron Simmons paved the way for Superstars like The Rock, Booker T, and Mark Henry. She was the NWA women's champion starting in 1956 and held the title for 28 years. 24. When he wasnt brawling in the womens bathroom of Corpus Christis Memorial Coliseum (True story. H.F. Throughout his tenure, The Stinger amassed six WCW World Titles, three WCW Tag Team Championships, two WCW International World Titles and two United States Championships before battling his longtime rival Ric Flair on the final Nitro. The Hardcore Legend isnt just an arbitrary nickname. 50 names 1. In 1982, Dynamite Kid had an instant classic with Tiger Mask for the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 1 Stone Cold Steve Austin 5,636 votes Whatever Happened To Stone Cold Steve Austin? 12 Kane (53) Kane retired in his late 40s when he decided to run for public office and won the election to become the Mayor of Knox County in Tennessee. Dubbed The Franchise of WCW, Sting was one of the few major stars to never join WWE, remaining one of WCWs most popular grapplers throughout his career. He has been with WWE since 1990. Sign up for BINGE to watch. David Fit Finlay began his wrestling career in 1974, though his first mainstream exposure came when he debuted as the Belfast Bruiser in WCW in 1996. WWE Power Rankings: The 25 Greatest Superstars of the '60s and '70s The Ravishing Ones mind games worked, as he defeated Flair to win the title. Vader dominated the competition. WCW is the greatest rival WWE has ever faced. Bagwell would go on to win the WCW Tag Team Championships with four different partners, proving his worthiness to the team sport. Collecting the Television Championship, U.S. Championship, and the WCW World Championship, Booker became one of a select few who achieved the Triple Crown in WCW. whose real name was Robert Herman Julius Friedrich began wrestling when he was 14 years old,..Read More. Beautiful Bobby formed successful teams with Anderson and William Regal, becoming a three-time WCW Tag Team Champion along the way. She then worked all over the world from then until 1968. Whether teaming with Dennis Condrey or Stan Lane, Eaton was the glue that held the team together. Of course, that only meant that there were no rules. He letsBrock Lesnar F5 him, Kevin Owens headbutt him in the head, and Roman Reigns Superman Punch him! Even as a member of the legendary Four Horsemen, it was clear that Sid Vicious was his own man. By now we all know the story the busted tricep, the dismissive FedEx from Eric Bischoff, the glorious rebirth in WWE but lets not overlook the time before Steve Austin turned Stone Cold.. Professional Wrestling: The 50 Greatest Wrestlers of the 1980s In 1999, he led the formation of the nWo 2000 a watered-down version of the original. He typically only faced WCWs top ring warriors in addition to The Stinger, including Ric Flair, Lex Luger and Arn Anderson. Once sporting colorful face-paint and ring attire, the charismatic competitor went through a drastic transformation in 1996, becoming a silent avenger of WCW as The nWos power expanded. He continued to make a name for himself as one of the most recognizable faces among WCWs Cruiserweights on both Monday Nitro and Thunder. The show lasted from May 20, 1972 until 1986. J.C. The Iceman had WCW fans on the edge of their seats as he tried to wrench the sinews and tear the tendons of stars like Rey Mysterio, Psychosis and Eddie Guerrero. It featured all the stars of the WWF, interviews and championship matches. It also doesn't help that McMahon feels he can do anything, as he still takes bumps to this dayat the age of 73. It is said that his disillusion with his career direction led to a return to the Texas independent scene in late 99. The Official Destination for WWE Superstars | WWE Already a sports-entertainment icon by the time Ted Turner launched WCW, Ric Flair continued along his path of success in the Atlanta-based promotion. He has written for websites such as Mersey Sports Live and is now taking his degree in sports journalism from John Moores University into the wrestling business. Kanyon debuted in WCW as the mysterious Mortis, a masked competitor decked in green and covered with skulls. His explosive top-rope Alabama Jam legdrop brought him success in whatever he did in the ring, even as a singles competitor. A man of few words, Bobby Eaton was the anchor of one of the greatest tag teams in history, The Midnight Express. Fit Finlay's first match was in 1974 when he was 16. The 50 greatest ring names ever! | WWE The oldest female wrestler was Princess Bonita (1919-2014), aged 94 years, 273 days. Making an impactful debut at that years Halloween Havoc, he competed as the masked WCW Phantom and demolished Tom Zenk in minutes. However, before he changed the wrestling game, the powerhouse from Warner Robbins, GA., made up one half of Doom with Hacksaw Butch Reed and won the WCW Tag Team Championships with the aid of their manager, Theodore Long. Courted by multiple factions upon his shocking WCW debut in June 1997, Hennig chose his alliances carefully and changed sides frequently. Although accomplished, Jarrett is certainly one of the most polarizing figures in WCW history. While that rarely happens today, due to injury concerns, there are moments when the WWE pulls out some elder statesmen. The 50 Greatest Women Superstars: photos | WWE He then set his sights on Ric Flair and the WCW International World Championship. His thrilling rivalries with Psychosis, Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero made the San Diego-native the most popular flyer in the Atlanta-based organization as he became the face of the Cruiserweight division and a five-time champion. An icon of the joshi scene -- not to mention a huge draw -- Toyota's mix of fast-paced wrestling and a high-flying style has made her a . In 2020, Triple H didn't wrestle one single match for the first time since signing with WWE. Both an ally and an enemy of The Four Horsemen early on, Luger became a dominant United States Champion. Undertaker is one year older than Hulk Hogan andoutlasted him in WWE. R.M. The fact that Jones was responsible for training a young William Regal speaks to this. Bill Goldbergwas 50when he wascompeting with Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship -- winning it at the age of 49. A key figure in ECWs rise to cult status in the mid-90s, the skuzzy brawler saw to it that all his WCW bouts were contested under Ravens Rules when he joined the Atlanta organization in 97. He enjoyed stints with The Four Horsemen and The nWo before forming his own stable, The West Texas Rednecks, whose rivalry with the Master P-led No Limit Soldiers produced the stunningly popular and infectious earworm, Rap is Crap.. The Top 50 Wrestlers of All Time - IMDb Billed from Wherever He Damn Well Pleases, the big man did what he wanted when he wanted. Although some of the wrestlers we detail below broke through to major promotions during their time in the business, often, they arent given the recognition they deserve. In 1997, Luger was the first WCW wrestler to defeat Hollywood Hogan for the World Title, reclaiming The nWo branded championship for WCW. You can learn more about this fearless trendsetter here. He later would become a regular performer on WCW Saturday Night and WCW Thunder. 28 Ray Stevens Ray Stevens had two very different gimmicks and both of them made him a star. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . Manami Toyota wasn't just considered one of the standouts of 1990s All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling -- many have even gone so far as to say that she's the greatest wrestler of all time. While he has continued to wrestle into his fifties and remains in amazing shape, his retirement from 2004-2015 meant he onlyhad a little over a decade of professional wrestling experience and very little in the way of bumps breaking his body down. As a staple of WCW Nitro, Mengs vicious kicks, brutal clotheslines and sweet fro were unmistakable. He has worked as a journalist for over 20 years, first in the world of print journalism before moving to online media as the world changed. Stars Scott Hall Reginald Lisowski Curt Hennig See production, box office & company info Watch on Peacock S22-23 with subscription Add to Watchlist 8 User reviews Episodes 5 Browse episodes 4 years Photos Jerry Lawler 47. Ric Flair Actor | WWE Monday Night RAW Richard Morgan Fliehr isn't what you'd expect from a professional wrestler. Shawn is also a published author, with a non-fiction book about the Stephen King Dollar Baby Filmmakers. By the time The Undertaker had accrued six wins at WrestleMania in WWE, Goldberg was more than 400 days into his impressive streak. When it comes to big men in the world of sport-entertainment, no one can match the ability possessed by the seven-foot monster, The Giant. Visit Sony LIV to sign in or sign up and enjoy WWE's premium content. Ricks power and mat skill complemented Scotts agility and helped the pair pick up seven WCW Tag Team Championships, overcoming teams like Harlem Heat, The Fabulous Freebirds and The Outsiders. One of the top tag teams in history, the duo held the WCW Tag Team Champions a record 10 times. He was ahead of his time, innovating a level of athleticism unlike most before him. Ken Shamrock 49. Joining forces with Arn Anderson in 1991, the duo known as The Enforcers captured the WCW Tag Team Titles and joined Paul E. Dangerously's Dangerous Alliance. Of course, P.S. was universally known as the anchor of The Fabulous Freebirds. Brian Pillman was special. Flair returned to WWE multiple times; by the time he lost his retirement match to Shawn Michaels in 2008, he was 59. Hey, yo! One of their biggest stars went by the name Big Daddy.. Then an overconfident neophyte with thinning blond hair and neon bicycle shorts, Austin may have looked like a Venice Beach con artist, but he wrestled with the unmistakable spitfire of a Texas kid chasing his dream. He was 52. If you dont like me, bite me, he often exclaimed. Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. He was also a trainer at the WWE Performance Center, where he trained the newest batch of WWE superstars. Having traveled the world before arriving in Atlanta, he learned many different ways to stretch opponents to submission. Dean Malenko may have been one of the smaller competitors in WCW, but that didnt make him any less dangerous. His tag team with Dustin Rhodes had one of the most memorable matches in WCW history at a November 1993 Clash of the Champions against Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas. Z.L. If there is one lesson to be taken away from Curt Hennigs tenure at WCW, its that perfection never rusts. score: 23 of 126 (18%) required scores: 1, 2, 3, 4, 51 list stats leaders vote print comments How many have you heard of? However, in 1996, Hogan had a career revival and became the leader of the NWO and one of the most hated villains in wrestling (helping WCW finally beat WWE in the ratings). We've put together this list of current wrestlers over 40 from all the different promotions, and that includes a lot of the oldest wrestlers in the WWE. The following month, he won the United States Championship, and became a two-time WCW Champion within the span of two days in January of 2000. Survey says, "One more for the Bad Guy!". That was in 2012 when Lawler teamed up with Randy Orton to beat CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler. In the United States, in the First Golden Age of professional wrestling was in the 1940's and 1950's. G.S. Proving that he was WCW's elder statesman, the former TV Champion continued to compete on and off in 1999 and 2000. Villarejo's name had been circulating in the Spanish press for years. Giant Haystacks was one of the best-known wrestlers on the British wrestling scene in the 1970s and 1980s. Thornley was the original performer who used the Kendo Nagasaki character, but other variations have been used over the years. Actor | However, the loss of his coveted mask did not faze the high-flying competitor. By beating Sleazy-E at Starrcade, Larry released the black and white clad group's tight grip on Nitro and returned control of the program to WCW. B.M. In 1999, McMahon was the oldest wrestler to ever win the WWE World Championship at the age of 54. As a wrestler, he is currently signed to WWE. Matthews trained as a shooter (a wrestling term that describes a wrestler with a legitimate fighting background), and he often defended prize money against members of the public. Take a look at the evolution of your favorite WWE Superstars, from Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins to The Miz and Bayley, with photos from their first WWE photoshoot and their most recent one. An example is Kazuo Sakurada, a Japanese wrestler who used the gimmick in the late 80s. Guerrera eventually lost his hood in a Cruiserweight Title vs. As a TV personality, he is. Mysterio went on to become a member of both The No Limit Soldiers and Filthy Animals and won the WCW Tag Team Titles twice before the end of WCW in 2001. The sports-entertainment game changed when Hulk Hogan joined WCW in 1994. is a boss, but he was never part of WCW from 1988-2001. Proclaiming himself "The Chosen One," Jeff Jarrett bashed countless guitars over opponents heads on his way to becoming a four-time WCW Champion. Without question, Terry Funk is one of the greatest to ever represent WCW or any organization for that matter JIM ROSS. In 1997, Ravens band of misfits known as The Flock added a former U.S. Army Airborne Ranger and ECW competitor to their ranks.
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