[EaglesinPhilly]

1. The Undertaker is the BEST big man in the history of this business. That being said, in terms of in-ring talent, it's about as useful as being the skinniest fat kid at fat camp. He is a great big man, but he is not a top 10 wrestler, and will be remembered more for his gimmick, and persona, than his in-ring ability.

2. Ric Flair is a 16-time world champion, and a real living legend in our business, but, Larry Zbysko has a patent on the term "living legend" and it is illegal for anyone to make any public statements about anyone else being as such.

3. The Iron Sheik is the greatest heel in the history of wrestling, bar none. No wrestler was hated more than him. He is the perfect storm of the right character, being in the right time, at the right place. He made Hulk Hogan the biggest star of the era.

4. I've had the chance to see Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, and John Cena all wrestle live, and I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt out of all three, Steve Austin will be remembered for being the biggest star, biggest draw, and biggest money maker in the history of wrestling.

5. Ric Flair is a drunk. It's not slander, it's true. Look at his arrest record.

5B. Ric Flair and the 4 horseman were the NWO before there even was an Eric Bischoff. The NWO was a group of guys who thought they were bigger than wrestling. They monopolized the top spots in the business because in reality, they didn't know what they were doing, and didn't realize they had to get the next generation ready. The horseman did the same thing. It didn't last quite as long, but it was the same idea. Four guys (or really like thirty with the revolving door of members), who always had the best titles in the NWA, who made sure they had enough political power backing them so that they got what they wanted at all times.

6. Bret Hart and Vince McMahon are BOTH to blame for Montreal. I am a huge Bret fan, but if you look at all the available literature, the only conclusion is that both sides were doing what was best for them.

7. The Rock is the smartest wrestler in the history of the world. He took his gimmick, and got himself out of wrestling before he was too beat up to walk. He has a movie career now, and will have money for the rest of his life. Kudos.

8. Dusty Rhodes is an example of how kissing RAINBOW, gaining political power, and being able to spit an interview can make up for lack of ability, physical fitness, and looks.

9. Shawn Michaels is a fake piece of garbage that will be remembered for being the greatest in ring performer of all time. It seemed Shawn was making a turn around, and becoming a good guy, all the way up until his WM main event match with John Cena, where when plans were changed at the last minute, and he found out he wouldn't be winning, he got in the ring, and very vocally told John and the ref "Let's get this DOODOO show on the road." It's nice to know some things don't change.

10. Wrestling is as Mick Foley said "more real than the real world. It's a reflection of our society's time." Well said.

[creativemunky]

You forgot #11: Paul Heyman and ECW changed the way wrestling was forever by introducing us to more adult oriented characters and storylines forcing Vince and Eric to copy his ideas and they profited BIG TIME from it! And sadly even though he was very influential in changing the game from a tiny Bingo Hall in Philadelphia, he will only be remember for it by a few and the rest will remember the carbon copy "Attitude" era.

[dj nowhere]

creativemunky Wrote:You forgot #11: Paul Heyman and ECW changed the way wrestling was forever by introducing us to more adult oriented characters and storylines forcing Vince and Eric to copy his ideas and they profited BIG TIME from it! And sadly even though he was very influential in changing the game from a tiny Bingo Hall in Philadelphia, he will only be remember for it by a few and the rest will remember the carbon copy "Attitude" era.

So true.