Wednesday, April 6, 2011
10 Matches That Are Better Than Melina vs. Alicia Fox
Earthquake vs. Damien
Chavo vs. Kane
King Kong Bundy vs. SD Jones
Eric Bischoff vs. Reid Flair
Bob Backlund vs. Diesel
The Rock vs. Big Bossman
Sheamus vs. Zack Ryder
William Regal vs. Sean Stasiak
Chris Benoit vs. Orlando Jordan
Rey Mysterio vs. JBL
Bonus Entry:
Shockmaster vs. The Wall
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Top Twenty Townes Tunes
Today being the 14th anniversary of Townes Van Zandt's passing, I am going to take a look at his top twenty songs. I was only going to do ten, but it was hard enough narrowing it down to 20. They are in order, but that order might change from day to day.
If you have never listened to Townes, I implore you to take a few minutes and listen to some of these songs in their entirety. All of his work is available on iTunes and Amazon, so spring for a few bucks and make yourself a sampler. That's how I got started, and now I own everything he ever did in the studio and much of his live work.
20. Tower Song
19. Tecumseh Valley
18. At My Window
This is the first five minutes of the film "Be Here to Love Me." It's interesting because it is intercut with his early idea for the song. The actual song starts at about 1:00. Below is a live performance of the song.
17. A Song For
I actually prefer the studio version, but it won't allow embedding. But if you go to youtube, you can find it.
16. Colorado Girl
15. (Quicksilver Daydreams of) Maria
There are two studio versions of this. The best one isn't on youtube, but can be found on the album "Townes Van Zandt."
14. Brother Flower
13. Delta Momma Blues
12. Buckskin Stallion Blues
"This song is half about a horse and half about a girl...and I still miss the horse."
If you've read my previous post, you already know the name of the horse.
11. Rake
10. Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold
Warning: Off Color Joke Precedes Song
9. Waiting Around to Die
8. Rex's Blues
7. For the Sake of the Song
The video lies. This version is from the album "Townes Van Zandt."
6. Only Him or Me
5. Flyin' Shoes
The studio version is on the album "Flyin' Shoes," and is really cool.
4. No Place to Fall
3. To Live is To Fly
2. Pancho and Lefty
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard made this song a hit, but Townes wrote it.
1. If I Needed You
Emmy Lou Harris made this a hit, but Townes wrote it.
Top Ten Townes Tales
(For the record, the above picture does not represent my feelings on the use of alcohol.)
Townes Van Zandt passed away on January 1, 1997. In honor of his memory, here are the Top Ten Townes Tales. Check back later today for the Top Ten Townes Tunes.
One thing you should know about Townes: he is a legend. Which means that the stories about him have grown and changed over the years, and one is never sure which details actually happened. But it doesn't matter.
10. First Death
Townes was declared DOA after an overdose (presumably from inhaling airplane glue). He said that that was why his brains were scrambled. Two doctors sat over him and argued over whether or not he could be revived. After an hour of arguing, the older doctor’s shift ended, and he left. The younger doctor used the defibrillators and brought Townes back.
9. Desert Travel
Joe Ely was out driving, and saw Townes, a stranger to him, carrying a guitar out on the edge of town. He said he had just been in San Francisco recording a record and was heading back to Houston. He gave him a ride to the other side of town. When he dropped him off, Townes opened his backpack and pulled out a record and gave to Joe. Joe points out that the backpack had no clothes or other belongings, only records. He took the record to his friend Jimmy Gilmour, and they played it over and over for weeks, and it made them rethink songwriting.
8. Heckling Steve
Steve Earle recalled the first time he played at The Old Quarter. Townes Van Zandt, a hero of Steve’s was in the crowd. All night, he kept heckling Steve and requesting songs. Steve decided that he needed to shut him up, so he played Townes’ own song “Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold,” a very difficult song to play. Townes stopped heckling him, and they later became very close.
7. Pancho and Lefty Cops
Townes was pulled over for speeding. He also had an expired driver’s license. The police were set to arrest him, and even put him in the back of the police car. They asked Townes what he did for a living, and he replied that he was a songwriter. They asked what songs he had written, and he told them “Pancho and Lefty.” At first they didn’t believe him, but eventually were convinced and decided to let him go. He stopped and asked why they had decided to let him go, and they told him that at the dispatch center, they were known as Pancho and Lefty. Townes couldn’t help but ask which one was Pancho and which one was Lefty. It turned out that the white cop was Pancho, and the Hispanic one was Lefty.
6. Falls
Townes stood on the balcony of his fourth floor apartment. He wanted to know what it felt like at that moment when you knew you were going to fall, and he realized that the only way to know would be to fall. So, he leaned back real slowly until he fell. He landed flat on his back.
5. Frat
When Townes was in college, he joined a fraternity. He decided to attend one of their parties, and brought a few friends along. He was drunk and shirtless. One of the frat members started telling him how he was a terrible member and a disgrace. Townes reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his pledge badge. He pinned it through his shirtless chest and turned to the man. He said nothing, just stared at him, blood running down his chest.
4. Record Exec.
One of Townes’ proudest moments was when he intentionally sabotaged his chance at a big record deal. He and his manager were set to go sign the contract over dinner with the record executive. They arrived, and the exec. answered the door. He told the two that he had sent the help home, and that his wife had cooked their dinner. Townes said, “I don’t want to eat your wife’s slop.” The exec. ripped up the contract on the spot.
3. Predicts Death
They say that Townes predicted his own death. Since he is a legend, the story has grown and evolved, and nobody is sure of the truth. He may have just predicted that he’d die young. His wife said that he predicted that he wouldn’t finish his work, and sure enough, he died in the middle of recording an album. Others say that he knew that he would die at 52, which he did. His son says that Townes knew he would die on New Year’s Day, which he did. The truth may never be known.
2. Angel’s Wings
Townes was performing in Alaska. He was drunk. After the show, he said to his wife and daughter that the only thing that kept him from falling off the barstool was an angel, who was standing behind him with her wings wrapped around him. Later, an Inuit man in the crowd approached Townes. He told him, in front of Townes’ wife and daughter, that he had seen an angel standing behind Townes, with her wings wrapped around him, and that she was the only thing that kept him from falling off the stool.
1. Steve’s Ghost Story
Steve Earle tells this story.
“Townes spent his summers in Colorado and his winters in Texas and Tennessee…He had a buckskin horse named Amigo, and he kept him…in Aspen, Colorado. Every summer he’d pick Amigo up and ride across the mountains…and I thought that was the coolest thing I’d ever heard. But then the seventies wound down and times got hard, and Townes had to let Amigo go. I believe that he began to die that day. A few years back, I decided to tour the Rocky Mountains in the dead of winter…we made the trip back on my birthday, so it was the middle of January, and ran from Crested Butte back over to Aspen…probably 58 miles…as the crow flies. Trouble was, we wasn’t crows. It’s normally a three-and-a-half, four hour drive, but we ran into one of those snow storms that snows on your mountain and no place else. It took us eight hours. As the snow was blowing across the road, I’m sitting up front…cuz I couldn’t sleep anyway. It looked like ghosts, and I swear to God I saw Townes and Amigo about five times that night coming over the mountain.”
Here is one of many videos of Steve telling the story and playing "Rex's Blues."
I didn't start listening to Townes until about ten years after his death. Nevertheless, Townes, we miss you.
Monday, December 27, 2010
The Top 100 WWE Superstars (Part 10 of 10)
10. Rowdy Roddy Piper
Roddy Piper is the greatest wrestler to never win a world title. Piper was one of Hulk Hogan’s greatest adversaries, and they feuded for the better part of 1984 and 1985. Piper was a great talker- perhaps the best ever. He held the WWF Intercontinental Title and the WCW/NWA US Title (twice). Piper is a Hall of Famer, and is loved by millions, even though the prime of his career was spent as a heel.
9. Bret Hart
Bret “Hit Man” Hart called himself “The Best There Is, The Best There Was, and The Best There Ever Will Be,” and that’s not far from the truth. Bret Hart began his WWF career teaming with his brother-in-law, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, to form the original Hart Foundation. After winning 2 WWF Tag Team Championships, Bret struck out on his own, where he won 2 Intercontinental Titles. He followed those up with 5 WWF World Titles. He also won the King of the Ring twice (one was untelevised) and co-won the Royal Rumble. He led the stable of The Hart Foundation, which consisted of himself, Jim Neidhart, Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, and Brian Pillman. He had several of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time, most notably with his brother Owen, Steve Austin, and Shawn Michaels. He also had feuds with Ric Flair, Mr. Perfect, Yokozuna, The Undertaker, Roddy Piper, and many more. In WCW, he won The US Title 4 times, the Tag Title once (with Goldberg), and the World Title twice. Bret later returned to WWE to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and later to compete in one last WrestleMania match against his biggest rival, Vince McMahon. He also one the now WWE US Title for a 5th time.
8. Undertaker
The Undertaker made his debut as an evil heel. However, fans soon learned to love the deadman. The Undertaker has had a stellar career, which has included a few heel runs, but mostly filled with the cheers of adoring fans. The Undertaker has enjoyed several World Championships, and feuds with every top star in the WWE. He is the only man to have taken the title off of Hulk Hogan on two separate occasions. He has never lost at WrestleMania, and has won 18 times (several of those matches being main events). Undertaker has reinvented himself several times, always evolving his character and adding new maneuvers to his repertoire. Some of his best matches have been later in his career against the likes of Batista, Kurt Angle, Edge, and Shawn Michaels.
7. Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels began his wrestling career in the AWA as part of the Midnight Rockers tag team. The team soon joined the WWF and dropped the Midnight from their name. It wasn’t long before Michaels broke away from his partner, Mary Jannetty, and began an amazing career. Michaels has been and Intercontinental, Tag Team, European, and World Champion. He is known for being a founding member of D-generation X, but he is more known for his incredible performances at WrestleMania. It seems that every year, you can count on Shawn Michaels giving a match-of-the-year candidate. After taking several years off due too back injuries, he returned a better performer than nearly every other wrestler. In fact, he has put on better matches since his return, due to his improved understanding of ring psychology. He has had legendary feuds with Razor Ramon, Bret Hart, Triple H, The Undertaker, and more.
6. Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Sammartino only won the WWWF Title twice. His first reign, however, lasted for nearly 8 years. He was a huge draw for Vince McMahon, Sr.’s company during the ‘60s. After a fallout with Vince, Jr., Bruno has not been involved in the WWE for many years. He is not in the WWE Hall of Fame, though he has been asked several time. Bruno is truly one of the greats.
5. The Rock
“Finally, The Rock has come back to the WWF!” The Rock may not have been the most talented in terms of wrestling, but he was the most entertaining. His matches were always fun to watch, but his interviews were more fun to listen to. He had a seemingly endless stream of catchphrases, and whether he was a heel or a face, he always got a reaction from the crowd. He was the only person who could match Austin in terms of fan favorites, and most would say he passed Austin. The Rock won the WWE Title 7 Times and the WCW Title twice. He has also been a Tag Champion and an Intercontinental Champion. He has eclipsed both his father’s (Rocky Johnson) and grandfather’s (Peter Maivia) achievements in wrestling, and cemented himself as one of the biggest stars of all time. He had great rivalries with Austin, Triple H, Chris Benoit, and Hulk Hogan.
4. Stone Cold Steve Austin
When Stunning Steve Austin was fired by WCW, after winning their Tag Titles (with Brian Pillman) and their US Title, many may have thought his time in the spotlight was over. However, after a brief stint in ECW, Austin showed up on WWF TV, accompanied by Ted DiBiase. Soon enough, Austin broke away from DiBiase and his career took off. He shined on the mic and was good in the ring. He was booked as a heel, but the fans loved him. After defeating Jake Roberts in the finals of the King of the Ring, Austin began a new phenomenon by stating that “Austin 3:16 says, ‘I just whipped your ass!’” Austin was foul-mouthed and out of control, and the fans loved it. Austin went on to win the Royal Rumble 3 times, the Intercontinental Title, and the WWF World Title a number of times. He is also a Hall of Famer. He was the company’s top baby-face for several years, and was a big part of the revitalization of wrestling in the late ‘90s. He main evented several WrestleManias, and was one of the best of all time. “And that’s the bottom line, ‘cuz Stone Cold said so!”
3. Andre the Giant
Andre was the biggest man in wrestling (both literally and figuratively) for many years. He stood 7 feet 4 inches, and weighed around 500 pounds. He toured the world and was the WWF’s main attraction for much of the ‘70s and into the ‘80s. He would often take on multiple opponents and participate in battle royals. For many years, he was never pinned and he never submitted. He never needed a world title. He and Hulk Hogan main evented the biggest card of all time: WrestleMania III, where Andre suffered his first pinfall defeat. Less than a year later, Andre would win his first and only World Title when he defeated Hogan. He only held the title for a minute or so before he handed it over to his boss, Ted DiBiase. He is still one of the most beloved wrestlers of all time. He was the first ever WWF Hall of Famer.
2. Ric Flair
“The Nature Boy” has won more World Titles than anyone else in the business- a whopping 16! Wait…I’m sorry. Stop. I can’t do this anymore. Ric Flair has not won 16 World Titles. It’s just not true. He won the NWA Title 11 Times. He won the WCW Title 8 times. He won the WWF Title twice. Ric Flair has won no less than 21 World Heavyweight Championships! Wooooo! He is also a WWE Hall of Famer. Flair was great in the ring, and better on the mic. He was the leader of The Four (Wooo) Horsemen. He worked well as a face and as a heel. He’s held virtually every major title in existence, something only Bret Hart and Chris Benoit can match him on. His endless stream of catchphrases can only be matched by The Rock. He participated in numerous great matches, including his steel cage match with Harley Race, his three matches with Ricky Steamboat, his WrestleMania matches with Randy Savage and Shawn Michaels, and many, many more. And on top of all that he was “a wheelin’, dealin’, kiss-stealin’, limosine ridin’, jet flyin’, son of a gun!”
1. Hulk Hogan
If you were a wrestling fan at any time after 1984, you can probably thank Hulk Hogan. He is the biggest star in the history of the industry. He sold out the HUGE Pontiac Silver Dome (93,000 people) for his WrestleMania III match with Andre the Giant. He’s been in numerous WrestleMania main events against the likes of Andre, Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, Yokozuna, Sid, Sgt. Slaughter, and The Rock. He has been the WWF/WWE Champion 6 times, and the WCW Champion 7 times. He is also a WWE Hall of Famer. He became a household name in the ‘80s. He reinvented himself as a heel in the ‘90s. His abilities to work a crowd and to talk on the mic overshadowed his lack of in-ring skill. So, what’cha gonna do, brother, when Hulkamania runs wild on you???
Roddy Piper is the greatest wrestler to never win a world title. Piper was one of Hulk Hogan’s greatest adversaries, and they feuded for the better part of 1984 and 1985. Piper was a great talker- perhaps the best ever. He held the WWF Intercontinental Title and the WCW/NWA US Title (twice). Piper is a Hall of Famer, and is loved by millions, even though the prime of his career was spent as a heel.
9. Bret Hart
Bret “Hit Man” Hart called himself “The Best There Is, The Best There Was, and The Best There Ever Will Be,” and that’s not far from the truth. Bret Hart began his WWF career teaming with his brother-in-law, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, to form the original Hart Foundation. After winning 2 WWF Tag Team Championships, Bret struck out on his own, where he won 2 Intercontinental Titles. He followed those up with 5 WWF World Titles. He also won the King of the Ring twice (one was untelevised) and co-won the Royal Rumble. He led the stable of The Hart Foundation, which consisted of himself, Jim Neidhart, Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, and Brian Pillman. He had several of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time, most notably with his brother Owen, Steve Austin, and Shawn Michaels. He also had feuds with Ric Flair, Mr. Perfect, Yokozuna, The Undertaker, Roddy Piper, and many more. In WCW, he won The US Title 4 times, the Tag Title once (with Goldberg), and the World Title twice. Bret later returned to WWE to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and later to compete in one last WrestleMania match against his biggest rival, Vince McMahon. He also one the now WWE US Title for a 5th time.
8. Undertaker
The Undertaker made his debut as an evil heel. However, fans soon learned to love the deadman. The Undertaker has had a stellar career, which has included a few heel runs, but mostly filled with the cheers of adoring fans. The Undertaker has enjoyed several World Championships, and feuds with every top star in the WWE. He is the only man to have taken the title off of Hulk Hogan on two separate occasions. He has never lost at WrestleMania, and has won 18 times (several of those matches being main events). Undertaker has reinvented himself several times, always evolving his character and adding new maneuvers to his repertoire. Some of his best matches have been later in his career against the likes of Batista, Kurt Angle, Edge, and Shawn Michaels.
7. Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels began his wrestling career in the AWA as part of the Midnight Rockers tag team. The team soon joined the WWF and dropped the Midnight from their name. It wasn’t long before Michaels broke away from his partner, Mary Jannetty, and began an amazing career. Michaels has been and Intercontinental, Tag Team, European, and World Champion. He is known for being a founding member of D-generation X, but he is more known for his incredible performances at WrestleMania. It seems that every year, you can count on Shawn Michaels giving a match-of-the-year candidate. After taking several years off due too back injuries, he returned a better performer than nearly every other wrestler. In fact, he has put on better matches since his return, due to his improved understanding of ring psychology. He has had legendary feuds with Razor Ramon, Bret Hart, Triple H, The Undertaker, and more.
6. Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Sammartino only won the WWWF Title twice. His first reign, however, lasted for nearly 8 years. He was a huge draw for Vince McMahon, Sr.’s company during the ‘60s. After a fallout with Vince, Jr., Bruno has not been involved in the WWE for many years. He is not in the WWE Hall of Fame, though he has been asked several time. Bruno is truly one of the greats.
5. The Rock
“Finally, The Rock has come back to the WWF!” The Rock may not have been the most talented in terms of wrestling, but he was the most entertaining. His matches were always fun to watch, but his interviews were more fun to listen to. He had a seemingly endless stream of catchphrases, and whether he was a heel or a face, he always got a reaction from the crowd. He was the only person who could match Austin in terms of fan favorites, and most would say he passed Austin. The Rock won the WWE Title 7 Times and the WCW Title twice. He has also been a Tag Champion and an Intercontinental Champion. He has eclipsed both his father’s (Rocky Johnson) and grandfather’s (Peter Maivia) achievements in wrestling, and cemented himself as one of the biggest stars of all time. He had great rivalries with Austin, Triple H, Chris Benoit, and Hulk Hogan.
4. Stone Cold Steve Austin
When Stunning Steve Austin was fired by WCW, after winning their Tag Titles (with Brian Pillman) and their US Title, many may have thought his time in the spotlight was over. However, after a brief stint in ECW, Austin showed up on WWF TV, accompanied by Ted DiBiase. Soon enough, Austin broke away from DiBiase and his career took off. He shined on the mic and was good in the ring. He was booked as a heel, but the fans loved him. After defeating Jake Roberts in the finals of the King of the Ring, Austin began a new phenomenon by stating that “Austin 3:16 says, ‘I just whipped your ass!’” Austin was foul-mouthed and out of control, and the fans loved it. Austin went on to win the Royal Rumble 3 times, the Intercontinental Title, and the WWF World Title a number of times. He is also a Hall of Famer. He was the company’s top baby-face for several years, and was a big part of the revitalization of wrestling in the late ‘90s. He main evented several WrestleManias, and was one of the best of all time. “And that’s the bottom line, ‘cuz Stone Cold said so!”
3. Andre the Giant
Andre was the biggest man in wrestling (both literally and figuratively) for many years. He stood 7 feet 4 inches, and weighed around 500 pounds. He toured the world and was the WWF’s main attraction for much of the ‘70s and into the ‘80s. He would often take on multiple opponents and participate in battle royals. For many years, he was never pinned and he never submitted. He never needed a world title. He and Hulk Hogan main evented the biggest card of all time: WrestleMania III, where Andre suffered his first pinfall defeat. Less than a year later, Andre would win his first and only World Title when he defeated Hogan. He only held the title for a minute or so before he handed it over to his boss, Ted DiBiase. He is still one of the most beloved wrestlers of all time. He was the first ever WWF Hall of Famer.
2. Ric Flair
“The Nature Boy” has won more World Titles than anyone else in the business- a whopping 16! Wait…I’m sorry. Stop. I can’t do this anymore. Ric Flair has not won 16 World Titles. It’s just not true. He won the NWA Title 11 Times. He won the WCW Title 8 times. He won the WWF Title twice. Ric Flair has won no less than 21 World Heavyweight Championships! Wooooo! He is also a WWE Hall of Famer. Flair was great in the ring, and better on the mic. He was the leader of The Four (Wooo) Horsemen. He worked well as a face and as a heel. He’s held virtually every major title in existence, something only Bret Hart and Chris Benoit can match him on. His endless stream of catchphrases can only be matched by The Rock. He participated in numerous great matches, including his steel cage match with Harley Race, his three matches with Ricky Steamboat, his WrestleMania matches with Randy Savage and Shawn Michaels, and many, many more. And on top of all that he was “a wheelin’, dealin’, kiss-stealin’, limosine ridin’, jet flyin’, son of a gun!”
1. Hulk Hogan
If you were a wrestling fan at any time after 1984, you can probably thank Hulk Hogan. He is the biggest star in the history of the industry. He sold out the HUGE Pontiac Silver Dome (93,000 people) for his WrestleMania III match with Andre the Giant. He’s been in numerous WrestleMania main events against the likes of Andre, Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, Yokozuna, Sid, Sgt. Slaughter, and The Rock. He has been the WWF/WWE Champion 6 times, and the WCW Champion 7 times. He is also a WWE Hall of Famer. He became a household name in the ‘80s. He reinvented himself as a heel in the ‘90s. His abilities to work a crowd and to talk on the mic overshadowed his lack of in-ring skill. So, what’cha gonna do, brother, when Hulkamania runs wild on you???
Sunday, December 26, 2010
The Top 100 WWE Superstars (Part 9 of 10)
20. Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho was one of the best heels in WCW. While there, he won the Cruiserweight and Television Titles. His skills on the mic were unmatched. After leaving the company and going to the WWF, his career took off. He was allowed to shine on the mic and in the ring, showing off his incredible talent in both areas. He has won the Intercontinental Title more times than anyone. But his crowning moment came when he defeated both Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock in the same night to become the Undisputed WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Jericho later left WWE, only to return and reinvent himself as an arrogant heel. During this time, he showed why he is one of the best of all time. He also captured the World Title again.
19. Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit was the wrestling fans’ favorite. They watched him work his way through ECW and WCW, constantly hearing that he was too small to be a World Champion. At the end of his WCW run, he seemingly proved the world wrong by winning the title. One day later, he was gone from WCW. In the WWF/WWE, he showed, night after night, that he was the most talented wrestler on the planet. His intensity and his talent came through in feuds with Triple H, Steve Austin, The Rock, Brock Lesnar, Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle, and many, many others. Finally, years after his arrival in the WWE, Benoit won the main event at WrestleMania and the World Heavyweight Championship. This time, he stuck around to defend it. He was also an Intercontinental, Tag Team, and United States Champion. The event surrounding his and his families’ deaths will always mar his career, but his work in the business is enough for me to keep him high on the list.
18. Buddy Rogers
When “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers lost his NWA World Title to Lou Thesz, Vince McMahon, Sr. refused to recognize the loss. He began his own promotion, the World Wide Wrestling Federation, with Buddy Rogers as its first champion. Rogers was a hated heel, but was incredibly talented. After Rogers retired, he became a manager in the WWWF. As a manager, he turned Jimmy Snuka from a hated heel to a beloved baby-face.
17. Dusty Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes spent the better part of his career wrestling in the NWA. There, he won the World Title on three occasions. Despite his weight, he showed as much energy and charisma in the ring as someone half his size. On the mic, despite his speech impediment, he was golden, cutting some of the best promos of all time. His nickname, “The American Dream,” was a good one. It embodied his personality perfectly. He has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
16. “Superstar” Billy Graham
Let’s just put it like this: No Billy Graham=No Hulk Hogan. And No Billy Graham=No Jesse Ventura. Billy Graham was everything Hogan was and more, only he was a bad guy. And when Hogan turned heel in 1996, he was a virtual clone of Billy Graham. Billy Graham was the longest running heel champion in WWE history, though he was only the World Champion one time. He was known for his feather boas, tie-dye, and catchphrases. Not to mention his physique. He’s a Hall of Famer, and “the man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour!”
15. “Macho Man” Randy Savage
“Ooooooh, yeah.” Randy Savage because famous during his Intercontinental Title feud with Ricky Steamboat, which culminated at WrestleMania III, where Savage lost the title. One year later, Savage was crowed the WWF World Champion at WrestleMania IV. Savage held the World Title in both the WWF and WCW several times over the next decade. He feuded with Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, and most notably, Ric Flair. “The Macho Man” was known for his elaborate robes and capes, his manager Miss Elizabeth, and his flying elbow drop, which won him many matches.
14. “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig
Curt Hennig was the son of the great Larry “The Axe” Hennig. Curt overshadowed his father early in his career when he won the AWA World Heavyweight Title. He left the AWA, however, for the WWF. There, his career took off. He became “Mr. Perfect,” an arrogant heel with the talent to back up his talk. He won the Intercontinental Title several times, and had great feuds with Bret Hart, Kerry Von Erich, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, and more. He elevated the Intercontinental Title to almost the same level as the World Title, and fans remember him as one of the greatest to carry the title. He is now a Hall of Famer.
13. Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle was an NCAA National Heavyweight Champion, an Olympic Gold Medalist, and a World Amateur Champion. Then he turned pro. As a professional wrestler, he impressed with his melding of the amateur and professional styles, as well as his skill on the mic. He was a world champion within his first year. He carried the Smackdown brand of WWE on his shoulders for well over a year. He has been a WWE, WCW, and TNA World Heavyweight Champion. And he alone has changed the style of wrestling that is popular today.
12. Harley Race
Harley Race was the NWA Champion 8 times. He was a methodical wrestler who could handle any opponent. Many would say that his greatest match came against Ric Flair in the steel cage, and it would be hard to argue. He also had feuds with the Funk Brothers, Dusty Rhodes, Rick Martel, and many others. In the ‘80s, Race entered the WWF, where he became “King” Harley Race. He is now a WWE Hall of Famer.
11. Triple H
After the Austin/Rock era was over, Triple H stepped up to the plate, so to speak. Triple H, after feuding with those two for years, now had the job of leading the WWE into the next century. He has been the promotion’s top performer for several years, and has been a World Champion for them more than 10 times. He main events WrestleMania nearly every year, often putting over a new champion. He was the leader of two very successful stables- D-generation X and Evolution.
AND NOW, PLEASE COMMENT ON WHO YOU THINK MADE THE TOP TEN, AND WHAT ORDER THEY ARE IN.
Chris Jericho was one of the best heels in WCW. While there, he won the Cruiserweight and Television Titles. His skills on the mic were unmatched. After leaving the company and going to the WWF, his career took off. He was allowed to shine on the mic and in the ring, showing off his incredible talent in both areas. He has won the Intercontinental Title more times than anyone. But his crowning moment came when he defeated both Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock in the same night to become the Undisputed WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Jericho later left WWE, only to return and reinvent himself as an arrogant heel. During this time, he showed why he is one of the best of all time. He also captured the World Title again.
19. Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit was the wrestling fans’ favorite. They watched him work his way through ECW and WCW, constantly hearing that he was too small to be a World Champion. At the end of his WCW run, he seemingly proved the world wrong by winning the title. One day later, he was gone from WCW. In the WWF/WWE, he showed, night after night, that he was the most talented wrestler on the planet. His intensity and his talent came through in feuds with Triple H, Steve Austin, The Rock, Brock Lesnar, Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle, and many, many others. Finally, years after his arrival in the WWE, Benoit won the main event at WrestleMania and the World Heavyweight Championship. This time, he stuck around to defend it. He was also an Intercontinental, Tag Team, and United States Champion. The event surrounding his and his families’ deaths will always mar his career, but his work in the business is enough for me to keep him high on the list.
18. Buddy Rogers
When “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers lost his NWA World Title to Lou Thesz, Vince McMahon, Sr. refused to recognize the loss. He began his own promotion, the World Wide Wrestling Federation, with Buddy Rogers as its first champion. Rogers was a hated heel, but was incredibly talented. After Rogers retired, he became a manager in the WWWF. As a manager, he turned Jimmy Snuka from a hated heel to a beloved baby-face.
17. Dusty Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes spent the better part of his career wrestling in the NWA. There, he won the World Title on three occasions. Despite his weight, he showed as much energy and charisma in the ring as someone half his size. On the mic, despite his speech impediment, he was golden, cutting some of the best promos of all time. His nickname, “The American Dream,” was a good one. It embodied his personality perfectly. He has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
16. “Superstar” Billy Graham
Let’s just put it like this: No Billy Graham=No Hulk Hogan. And No Billy Graham=No Jesse Ventura. Billy Graham was everything Hogan was and more, only he was a bad guy. And when Hogan turned heel in 1996, he was a virtual clone of Billy Graham. Billy Graham was the longest running heel champion in WWE history, though he was only the World Champion one time. He was known for his feather boas, tie-dye, and catchphrases. Not to mention his physique. He’s a Hall of Famer, and “the man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour!”
15. “Macho Man” Randy Savage
“Ooooooh, yeah.” Randy Savage because famous during his Intercontinental Title feud with Ricky Steamboat, which culminated at WrestleMania III, where Savage lost the title. One year later, Savage was crowed the WWF World Champion at WrestleMania IV. Savage held the World Title in both the WWF and WCW several times over the next decade. He feuded with Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, and most notably, Ric Flair. “The Macho Man” was known for his elaborate robes and capes, his manager Miss Elizabeth, and his flying elbow drop, which won him many matches.
14. “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig
Curt Hennig was the son of the great Larry “The Axe” Hennig. Curt overshadowed his father early in his career when he won the AWA World Heavyweight Title. He left the AWA, however, for the WWF. There, his career took off. He became “Mr. Perfect,” an arrogant heel with the talent to back up his talk. He won the Intercontinental Title several times, and had great feuds with Bret Hart, Kerry Von Erich, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, and more. He elevated the Intercontinental Title to almost the same level as the World Title, and fans remember him as one of the greatest to carry the title. He is now a Hall of Famer.
13. Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle was an NCAA National Heavyweight Champion, an Olympic Gold Medalist, and a World Amateur Champion. Then he turned pro. As a professional wrestler, he impressed with his melding of the amateur and professional styles, as well as his skill on the mic. He was a world champion within his first year. He carried the Smackdown brand of WWE on his shoulders for well over a year. He has been a WWE, WCW, and TNA World Heavyweight Champion. And he alone has changed the style of wrestling that is popular today.
12. Harley Race
Harley Race was the NWA Champion 8 times. He was a methodical wrestler who could handle any opponent. Many would say that his greatest match came against Ric Flair in the steel cage, and it would be hard to argue. He also had feuds with the Funk Brothers, Dusty Rhodes, Rick Martel, and many others. In the ‘80s, Race entered the WWF, where he became “King” Harley Race. He is now a WWE Hall of Famer.
11. Triple H
After the Austin/Rock era was over, Triple H stepped up to the plate, so to speak. Triple H, after feuding with those two for years, now had the job of leading the WWE into the next century. He has been the promotion’s top performer for several years, and has been a World Champion for them more than 10 times. He main events WrestleMania nearly every year, often putting over a new champion. He was the leader of two very successful stables- D-generation X and Evolution.
AND NOW, PLEASE COMMENT ON WHO YOU THINK MADE THE TOP TEN, AND WHAT ORDER THEY ARE IN.
The Top 100 WWE Superstars (Part 8 of 10)
30. Rey Mysterio, Jr.
Rey Mysterio took up his uncle’s gimmick and name, and his career took off from there. He was introduced to the US in ECW, where he was noticed by WCW. In WCW, he lead the Cruiserweight division into popularity. He had great feuds with Dean Malenko, Psichosis, Juventud Guerrera, Eddie Guerrero, and Chavo Guerrero. After WCW went out of business, Rey Mysterio was picked up by the WWF. While there, Mysterio amazed new fans who hadn’t seen anyone so athletic. He quickly became hugely popular. After the death of his good friend, Eddie Guerrero, Rey was given the push he deserved, and became the World Heavyweight Champion, even though he weighs well under 150 pounds.
29. Scott Hall
“You know who I am, but you don’t know why I’m here!” Scott Hall’s famous words began the NWO storyline in WCW. But Hall was already a big name in wrestling, having been a tag team champion in the AWA (with Curt Hennig) and an Intercontinental Champion in the WWF. Hall was known as Razor Ramon in the WWF, where he had some of the best feuds of all time. His best match was against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania X, and it was a ladder match. In WCW, Hall was part of the Outsiders with Kevin Nash, and together they made up the core of the NWO.
28. The Road Warriors: Animal and Hawk
Animal and Hawk have the distinction of being the only tag team to reach the same level of fame as the singles wrestlers on this list. The Road Warriors started out in the AWA, where they own the Tag Team Titles. They later won titles in the NWA, WWF, and WCW. They are the greatest tag team in history.
27. John Cena
A few years ago, I wasn’t sure if Cena deserved to be this high. However, he has shown that he does. He gets great crowd reactions every time he walks through the curtain. He cuts great promos and has some of the most entertaining interviews. He has a great deal of respect for the business, and was the ultimate representative of the business in the wake of the Benoit tragedy. He has become the face of WWE, and even had a title reign of over a year, the longest since Hulk Hogan’s four-year reign, and something that Austin, The Rock, Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Keven Nash, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, and many others never achieved.
26. “Ravishing” Rick Rude
Rick Rude was one of the great heels of all time. He was hated by fans for his cockiness. He claimed to be the sexiest man alive. He was one of the greatest Intercontinental Champions, and had great feuds with Jake Roberts, the Ultimate Warrior, and many others. When he went to WCW, he won his only world title, the WCW International World Heavyweight Title.
25. Bob Backlund
Bob Backlund was a pure baby-face in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Backlund was the champion for the better part of 6 years, losing the title twice, and only briefly, during that time. He was a technical wrestler. He later returned to wrestling and became the WWF Champion for a fourth time at the age of 45, and this time, he was a heel.
24. Ted DiBiase
Ted DiBiase was a mid-carder in the WWWF in the late ‘70s. When he came back a few years later, he was a seasoned veteran with a new gimmick- “The Million Dollar Man.” DiBiase was a great arrogant heel. He even attempted to buy the WWF World Title from Hulk Hogan. Hogan, wouldn’t have it, so DiBiase hired Andre the Giant to beat Hogan for the title. Andre was successful (with the help of a hired referee), and gave the belt to DiBiase. DiBiase is not recognized as a former champion, but he was announced as champion for several weeks after the incedent. DiBiase main evented WrestleMania that year, losing to Randy Savage. DiBiase would later be a Tag Team Champion, along with Irwin R. Schyster. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
23. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
Those who were lucky enough to see Ricky Steamboat’s first feud with Ric Flair in the late ‘70s knew even then how good Steamboat was. When he was in the WWF in the ‘80s, he was one of the most talented and popular superstars, and many thought he was due for a World Title. He never got it, so he left for the NWA. There, he resumed his feud with Ric Flair, and the two put on three classic matches, all considered some of the greatest of all time. In the first of these, Steamboat won the NWA World Heavyweight Title, and in the last, he lost it. When Steamboat returned to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, he also stepped into the ring and showed that he still had much of the same skill that made him great years earlier.
22. Mick Foley
Mick Foley dreamed of being a professional wrestler, and he worked hard to make that dream come true. He worked his way through the independent circuits, WCW, and ECW as Cactus Jack. He signed with the WWF, who dubbed him “Mankind.” As Mankind, he showed his sadistic side to the world. He had no problem putting his own body at risk, often falling on thumbtacks, or worse, from the roof of a 15 foot cage to the floor. Foley has taken more sick bumps than anyone. He was rewarded for this hard work with the admiration of the fans, and with 3 WWF World Championships.
21. Eddie Guerrero
Eddie Guerrero came from a wrestling family. People who watched him wrestle in ECW and WCW knew that he was one of the most talented wrestlers in the world. WCW allowed Eddie to leave the company, and he arrived in the WWF (along with Benoit, Malenko, and Perry Saturn). Eddie worked great feuds with many top WWF/WWE stars. He also worked through his addictions, and even through getting fired by the company. Upon his return, Eddie was better than ever. Not long after, Eddie was getting more cheers than anyone in the company. Finally, Eddie Guerrero beat Brock Lesnar to win his only World Title. He successfully defended it against Kurt Angle at WrestleMania. After his tragic death, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Rey Mysterio took up his uncle’s gimmick and name, and his career took off from there. He was introduced to the US in ECW, where he was noticed by WCW. In WCW, he lead the Cruiserweight division into popularity. He had great feuds with Dean Malenko, Psichosis, Juventud Guerrera, Eddie Guerrero, and Chavo Guerrero. After WCW went out of business, Rey Mysterio was picked up by the WWF. While there, Mysterio amazed new fans who hadn’t seen anyone so athletic. He quickly became hugely popular. After the death of his good friend, Eddie Guerrero, Rey was given the push he deserved, and became the World Heavyweight Champion, even though he weighs well under 150 pounds.
29. Scott Hall
“You know who I am, but you don’t know why I’m here!” Scott Hall’s famous words began the NWO storyline in WCW. But Hall was already a big name in wrestling, having been a tag team champion in the AWA (with Curt Hennig) and an Intercontinental Champion in the WWF. Hall was known as Razor Ramon in the WWF, where he had some of the best feuds of all time. His best match was against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania X, and it was a ladder match. In WCW, Hall was part of the Outsiders with Kevin Nash, and together they made up the core of the NWO.
28. The Road Warriors: Animal and Hawk
Animal and Hawk have the distinction of being the only tag team to reach the same level of fame as the singles wrestlers on this list. The Road Warriors started out in the AWA, where they own the Tag Team Titles. They later won titles in the NWA, WWF, and WCW. They are the greatest tag team in history.
27. John Cena
A few years ago, I wasn’t sure if Cena deserved to be this high. However, he has shown that he does. He gets great crowd reactions every time he walks through the curtain. He cuts great promos and has some of the most entertaining interviews. He has a great deal of respect for the business, and was the ultimate representative of the business in the wake of the Benoit tragedy. He has become the face of WWE, and even had a title reign of over a year, the longest since Hulk Hogan’s four-year reign, and something that Austin, The Rock, Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Keven Nash, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, and many others never achieved.
26. “Ravishing” Rick Rude
Rick Rude was one of the great heels of all time. He was hated by fans for his cockiness. He claimed to be the sexiest man alive. He was one of the greatest Intercontinental Champions, and had great feuds with Jake Roberts, the Ultimate Warrior, and many others. When he went to WCW, he won his only world title, the WCW International World Heavyweight Title.
25. Bob Backlund
Bob Backlund was a pure baby-face in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Backlund was the champion for the better part of 6 years, losing the title twice, and only briefly, during that time. He was a technical wrestler. He later returned to wrestling and became the WWF Champion for a fourth time at the age of 45, and this time, he was a heel.
24. Ted DiBiase
Ted DiBiase was a mid-carder in the WWWF in the late ‘70s. When he came back a few years later, he was a seasoned veteran with a new gimmick- “The Million Dollar Man.” DiBiase was a great arrogant heel. He even attempted to buy the WWF World Title from Hulk Hogan. Hogan, wouldn’t have it, so DiBiase hired Andre the Giant to beat Hogan for the title. Andre was successful (with the help of a hired referee), and gave the belt to DiBiase. DiBiase is not recognized as a former champion, but he was announced as champion for several weeks after the incedent. DiBiase main evented WrestleMania that year, losing to Randy Savage. DiBiase would later be a Tag Team Champion, along with Irwin R. Schyster. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
23. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
Those who were lucky enough to see Ricky Steamboat’s first feud with Ric Flair in the late ‘70s knew even then how good Steamboat was. When he was in the WWF in the ‘80s, he was one of the most talented and popular superstars, and many thought he was due for a World Title. He never got it, so he left for the NWA. There, he resumed his feud with Ric Flair, and the two put on three classic matches, all considered some of the greatest of all time. In the first of these, Steamboat won the NWA World Heavyweight Title, and in the last, he lost it. When Steamboat returned to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, he also stepped into the ring and showed that he still had much of the same skill that made him great years earlier.
22. Mick Foley
Mick Foley dreamed of being a professional wrestler, and he worked hard to make that dream come true. He worked his way through the independent circuits, WCW, and ECW as Cactus Jack. He signed with the WWF, who dubbed him “Mankind.” As Mankind, he showed his sadistic side to the world. He had no problem putting his own body at risk, often falling on thumbtacks, or worse, from the roof of a 15 foot cage to the floor. Foley has taken more sick bumps than anyone. He was rewarded for this hard work with the admiration of the fans, and with 3 WWF World Championships.
21. Eddie Guerrero
Eddie Guerrero came from a wrestling family. People who watched him wrestle in ECW and WCW knew that he was one of the most talented wrestlers in the world. WCW allowed Eddie to leave the company, and he arrived in the WWF (along with Benoit, Malenko, and Perry Saturn). Eddie worked great feuds with many top WWF/WWE stars. He also worked through his addictions, and even through getting fired by the company. Upon his return, Eddie was better than ever. Not long after, Eddie was getting more cheers than anyone in the company. Finally, Eddie Guerrero beat Brock Lesnar to win his only World Title. He successfully defended it against Kurt Angle at WrestleMania. After his tragic death, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Friday, December 24, 2010
The Top 100 WWE Superstars (Part 7 of 10)
40. Bobo Brazil
Bobo Brazil was one of the first successful African-American wrestlers. He won numerous titles over the years, including an unrecognized reign as NWA World Champion. He wrestled for over 40 years, and passed away in 1998.
39. Pat Patterson
Pat Patterson’s most famous win came in a match that didn’t happen. Pat Patterson was the first ever Intercontinental Champion, and he won it in a fictional tournament. Patterson’s matches with Sgt. Slaughter are legendary. He is one of the most respected people in the entire business, and is known as a great teacher. Patterson has one of the all time great wrestling minds.
38. “Classie” Freddie Blassie
Fred Blassie won the NWA Southern Heavyweight title on numerous occasions. He also won the WWA World Title, though he never won a major world title. Blassie wrestled all over the world, and was always considered one of the greats. After retiring from wrestling, he became one of the great managers, managing such stars as Mr. Fuji, Nikolai Volkov, Jesse Ventura, Peter Maivia, The Iron Sheik, and Sterling Golden. What, you’ve never heard of Sterling Golden? Maybe you’ve heard of him by his other name- Hulk Hogan.
37. Jerry “The King” Lawler
Jerry Lawler made a name for himself in Memphis. Though Lawler only ever won one major world title- the AWA’s- he is the most decorated wrestler of all time. He has held the Southern Heavyweight Title 43 Times, and has held a total of 129 titles. His most famous feud may be with comedian Andy Kauffman, which gave him mainstream attention. He is now one of the favorite announcers of fans.
36. Killer Kowalski
What do you get when you accidentally sever a man’s ear during a match? You get to be called “Killer” for the rest of your life! Kowalski won numerous titles during his career, including several minor World Championships. He worked in nearly every major promotion, and was a top heel. Since retiring, he has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, and he has been running a wrestling school. His most notable student was Triple H.
35. Randy Orton
Randy Orton is the youngest World Champion in WWE history. He is a perennial contender for the WWE World Title, and has held it on several occasions. He was a member of Evolution, and the first to leave the group. He is the son of Cowboy Bob Orton.
34. Dory Funk, Jr.
Dory Funk, Jr. WAS in the WWF, but few people remember. He was known as Hoss Funk, Terry’s brother, during the ‘80s. He really is Terry’s brother, but he was great for what he did in the ‘70s under his real name. Dory Funk, Jr. won numerous titles, usually in the NWA. He even won the NWA World Heavyweight Title. He was also a Tag Team Champion, along with his father, Dory, Sr. (duh).
33. Terry Funk
Terry Funk was the first hardcore wrestler. He spent most of his career in the NWA, where he was a World Champion. In the ‘80s, he spent some time in the WWF, and then returned to the NWA. There, he feuded for the World Title, but never won it again. In the ‘90s, he was an ECW Champion, and he returned to the WWE to team with Mick Foley. The two made for an insane team, always taking huge bumps. Terry Funk has retired from wrestling. Several times.
32. Edge
In high school, Adam “Edge” Copeland was voted “most likely to win the WWF Championship.” Edge began his WWF career as a tag team wrestler with his “brother” Christian. However, when he broke off on his own, he became an Intercontinental Champion, a King of the Ring, a Tag Champion (including many with Christian), and a WWE World Heavyweight Champion, fulfilling his high school destiny. He has worked both face and heel, but is best known as a heel. He has had great matches with John Cena, Eddie Guerrero, Mick Foley, and The Undertaker.
31. Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Jake Roberts wrestled in many promotions during his career, but he became famous as a heel in the WWF. He was known to bring his pet snake, Damien, to the ring. Roberts was charismatic and believable as a sadist. He invented the DDT. When asked what DDT stood for, Jake never gave a straight answer. My favorite: “The end.” He feuded with The Honky Tonk Man, Andre the Giant, Rick Rude, Ted DiBiase, and many others during this career.
Bobo Brazil was one of the first successful African-American wrestlers. He won numerous titles over the years, including an unrecognized reign as NWA World Champion. He wrestled for over 40 years, and passed away in 1998.
39. Pat Patterson
Pat Patterson’s most famous win came in a match that didn’t happen. Pat Patterson was the first ever Intercontinental Champion, and he won it in a fictional tournament. Patterson’s matches with Sgt. Slaughter are legendary. He is one of the most respected people in the entire business, and is known as a great teacher. Patterson has one of the all time great wrestling minds.
38. “Classie” Freddie Blassie
Fred Blassie won the NWA Southern Heavyweight title on numerous occasions. He also won the WWA World Title, though he never won a major world title. Blassie wrestled all over the world, and was always considered one of the greats. After retiring from wrestling, he became one of the great managers, managing such stars as Mr. Fuji, Nikolai Volkov, Jesse Ventura, Peter Maivia, The Iron Sheik, and Sterling Golden. What, you’ve never heard of Sterling Golden? Maybe you’ve heard of him by his other name- Hulk Hogan.
37. Jerry “The King” Lawler
Jerry Lawler made a name for himself in Memphis. Though Lawler only ever won one major world title- the AWA’s- he is the most decorated wrestler of all time. He has held the Southern Heavyweight Title 43 Times, and has held a total of 129 titles. His most famous feud may be with comedian Andy Kauffman, which gave him mainstream attention. He is now one of the favorite announcers of fans.
36. Killer Kowalski
What do you get when you accidentally sever a man’s ear during a match? You get to be called “Killer” for the rest of your life! Kowalski won numerous titles during his career, including several minor World Championships. He worked in nearly every major promotion, and was a top heel. Since retiring, he has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, and he has been running a wrestling school. His most notable student was Triple H.
35. Randy Orton
Randy Orton is the youngest World Champion in WWE history. He is a perennial contender for the WWE World Title, and has held it on several occasions. He was a member of Evolution, and the first to leave the group. He is the son of Cowboy Bob Orton.
34. Dory Funk, Jr.
Dory Funk, Jr. WAS in the WWF, but few people remember. He was known as Hoss Funk, Terry’s brother, during the ‘80s. He really is Terry’s brother, but he was great for what he did in the ‘70s under his real name. Dory Funk, Jr. won numerous titles, usually in the NWA. He even won the NWA World Heavyweight Title. He was also a Tag Team Champion, along with his father, Dory, Sr. (duh).
33. Terry Funk
Terry Funk was the first hardcore wrestler. He spent most of his career in the NWA, where he was a World Champion. In the ‘80s, he spent some time in the WWF, and then returned to the NWA. There, he feuded for the World Title, but never won it again. In the ‘90s, he was an ECW Champion, and he returned to the WWE to team with Mick Foley. The two made for an insane team, always taking huge bumps. Terry Funk has retired from wrestling. Several times.
32. Edge
In high school, Adam “Edge” Copeland was voted “most likely to win the WWF Championship.” Edge began his WWF career as a tag team wrestler with his “brother” Christian. However, when he broke off on his own, he became an Intercontinental Champion, a King of the Ring, a Tag Champion (including many with Christian), and a WWE World Heavyweight Champion, fulfilling his high school destiny. He has worked both face and heel, but is best known as a heel. He has had great matches with John Cena, Eddie Guerrero, Mick Foley, and The Undertaker.
31. Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Jake Roberts wrestled in many promotions during his career, but he became famous as a heel in the WWF. He was known to bring his pet snake, Damien, to the ring. Roberts was charismatic and believable as a sadist. He invented the DDT. When asked what DDT stood for, Jake never gave a straight answer. My favorite: “The end.” He feuded with The Honky Tonk Man, Andre the Giant, Rick Rude, Ted DiBiase, and many others during this career.
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