King K Cool
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WWE.com Presents....
Top 50 good guys in wrestling history
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Some folks might try to tell you it’s the villains that make sports-entertainment fun. And why not? It’s the baddies in the black hats who get to throw fireballs, electrocute millionaires and run people over with monster trucks. But it’s the good guys who give the fans something to believe in, a hero to look up to and a reminder that, more often than not, good does triumph over evil.
In compiling our list of the 50 greatest good guys in sports-entertainment history, WWE Classics extended our gaze beyond WWE history, paying specific attention to local heroes who made an impact in smaller territories across the country in the days before television. Popularity was important, but so was character — there was a special place on this list for those who never strayed far from the path of righteousness. More than anything, though, we were just looking for heroes, those inspiring competitors worthy of being enshrined on a tattered poster on a kid’s bedroom wall.
Here, we present the 50 Superstars that wrestling fans grew up admiring — and still do today.
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#50
Diamond Dallas Page
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Diamond Dallas Page’s career in sports-entertainment is well-documented — from the moment he drove the Pink Cadillac carrying Rhythm & Blues to the ring at WrestleMania VI, to his legendary rivalry with “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Beloved by WCW fans and the WWE Universe, the New Jersey native represented a working class hero — a tireless competitor who earned every accolade.
Following the formation of The New World Order, DDP was one of the first WCW competitors to stand up to the notorious faction, becoming an “everyman hero” as he outright refused to join their ranks. During his heated rivalry with “Macho Man,” Page defended both his honor and that of his wife, Kimberly, against Savage’s brutish, nWo-inspired tactics. No matter the odds, DDP never backed down from a fight, earning the moniker of “WCW’s People’s Champion.” (WATCH)
If Page proved one thing throughout his career, it was that respect is earned, and his hard-working demeanor and support of friends, family and WCW made him a true good guy. — KEVIN POWERS
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#49
Rocky Johnson
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Rocky Johnson earned his place in sports-entertainment history on Nov. 15, 1983, when he teamed with Tony Atlas to become one-half of the first African-American World Tag Team Champions. (WATCH) But the nimble, magnetic “Soul Man” had been thrilling audiences since the mid-60s when he transitioned from boxing to wrestling and brought the fleet footedness and sharp tongue of Muhammad Ali with him.
Quick and agile despite being one of the most muscular grapplers of his era, Johnson’s smooth moves helped him become a popular attraction in areas of the country that were still struggling with segregation. The racial barriers Johnson broke are remembered today, but “Soul Man” wasn’t motivated by politics — he just wanted to entertain. “What set my dad apart from a lot of guys wasn’t the fact that he was this incredible black wrestler,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson once said of his WWE Hall of Fame father. “It was just that he was a great wrestler.” — RYAN MURPHY
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#48
Bob Armstrong
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“My dad was a local hero,” The Road Dogg said of his legendary father, Bob Armstrong. A major star in Alabama and Georgia during the ’60s and ’70s, the WWE Hall of Famer’s “salt of the earth” appeal endeared him to Southern fans who favored substance over style. “He was one of them,” WWE official Scott Armstrong added. “He came from very humble beginnings and never hid that. He got up in the morning and had fried eggs and grits and gravy and did his thing.”
A champion not only to folks in Dixie, but to his four sons — Brian, Brad, Scott, and Steve — the blue collar "Bullet” had his boys behind him when he took on rivals like Roddy Piper (WATCH) and Bobby Duncum, who he battled in a 1973 gorefest in The Omni Coliseum. “My father had a white singlet on and it was stained red,” Road Dogg vividly remembered. “He had to go the hospital and have a blood transfusion, but my father won and we won a 1974 Cadillac.” — R.M.
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#47
Trish Stratus
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With stunning beauty matched only by her incredible athleticism, Trish Stratus set the standard for all Divas that would come after her. Debuting in 2000 as the sultry manager of Test & Albert, the curvaceous Canadian eventually set her sights on in-ring competition, determined to connect with the WWE Universe not merely as eye candy, but as a true ring warrior.
That dedication paid off, with Trish earning a record-shattering seven Women’s Championships, the last of which was won against Lita at Unforgiven 2006 in Toronto. In front of her hometown fans packed inside the Air Canada Centre, Trish made Lita tap out to fellow Canadian Bret “Hit Man” Hart’s Sharpshooter in her final bout as a full-time Diva. (WATCH)
Thankfully, Trish hasn’t strayed too far from the WWE Universe’s orbit since her emotional farewell as Women’s Champion. The iconic Diva has returned to clown around with D-Generation X and battle Team Lay-Cool alongside Snooki at WrestleMania XXVII. — JAMES WORTMAN
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#46
Danny Hodge
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In the 1960s — long before cable television or pay-per-view — most of us only saw one locally produced hour of wrestling each week. The local star of my weekly program in Oklahoma was Danny Hodge. Hodge was a legit sports star in our part of the world because he was a three-time national amateur wrestling champion, who had never lost at Oklahoma University. Hodge was also the national Golden Gloves heavyweight boxing champion and was the first wrestler to ever grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. Dan was a star on the sports pages long before he turned to professional wrestling, but remained a naturally modest and likable sportsman.
Hodge carried himself like a true champion, because he actually was one. His honest, humble demeanor came across organically to fans of all ages. Because of his amazing tendon strength, Hodge could smash apples and break pliers with his grip. It usually took only one handshake for anyone to discover that Danny Hodge was everything that he portrayed. — JIM ROSS
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#45
Tommy Dreamer
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I couldn’t write this piece about Tommy Dreamer objectively if I wanted to. I’ve known The “Extreme Original” for more than 20 years. Now that we are “grown-ups” (by our standards anyway), our wives and children are friends as well. I think my son has a crush on his twin daughters.
As a wrestler, Tommy’s persona always put what was morally right before what was right for him personally. This course of action did not garner Tommy a litany of championships, but it did earn him the respect, admiration, and loyalty of fans when he won the ECW Title that mattered most to him.
Frankly, anyone can play a selfless character in wrestling or Hollywood and actually be selfish. Tommy Dreamer was, and is, the same man you’ve been entertained by for more than 20 years. When the original ECW went bankrupt in 2001, Tommy went down with the ship, rather than board a WWE lifeboat full of money.
Tommy’s loyalty caused a temporary setback to his career, but I doubt he remembers that six month period. Tommy joined WWE as part of the ECW Invasion, then worked in WWE’s corporate offices in Talent Relations, then laced up his boots again for WWE’s necromancy of ECW. Tommy selflessly helped make Zack Ryder a star when he left WWE and always enjoyed helping younger wrestlers as his mentor Terry Funk had done with him in the original ECW. (WATCH)
Today, Tommy wrestles every weekend on independent events across North America, owns a wrestling school and is starting his own New York-based wrestling promotion. Whoever coined the phrase “nice guys finish last” probably finished behind Tommy Dreamer. — JOEY STYLES
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#44
Pedro Morales
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From the Puerto Rican island of Culebra came one of the greatest Hispanic performers that ever donned a pair of tights — Pedro Morales. A rugged, no-nonsense individual once the bell rang, Morales first gained prominence on the West Coast in the 1960’s before venturing east to continue his blossoming career. That career hit full bloom on Feb. 8, 1971, when Morales won the WWE Championship from Ivan Koloff. (WATCH FULL MATCH) His popularity soared, especially with the Latino fans that he represented so well.
In 1972, Morales battled challenger Bruno Sammartino to a curfew draw at New York’s Shea Stadium in what Morales said was the greatest match of his career. And he also had the honor of becoming WWE’s first ever Triple Crown Champion, winning the WWE, Intercontinental, and World Tag Team Championships during his career. The WWE Hall of Famer valued the support he received from his fans, and proved time and time again that once the bell rang, he was ready for any kind of action. — HOWARD FINKEL
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#43
Kofi Kingston
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A high-flying, dreadlocked dynamo, Kofi Kingston burst on the scene in 2007, dazzling crowds on ECW with his high-energy offense. The Ghanaian Superstar immediately connected with the WWE Universe, encouraging them to clap along as he prepared to take flight and floor his opposition with a devastating Boom Drop or Trouble in Paradise kick.
Kingston’s ever-present smile has made him popular among his fellow Superstars. The former Intercontinental Champion has become a sought-after tag team partner, winning tandem titles with CM Punk, Evan Bourne and R-Truth.
He truly earned the respect of his peers in 2009, when he stood up to Randy Orton and Legacy. After preventing The Viper from cheating to win the WWE Title, Kingston became a target for Orton. Rather than back down, Kofi brought the fight to WWE’s Apex Predator, destroying a custom stock car presented to Orton as a gift and driving The Viper through a table with a huge Boom Drop in Madison Square Garden. (WATCH) — BOBBY MELOK
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#42
Ivan Putski
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The Superstar known as “Polish Power” will go down as one of the most popular competitors in WWE history. Hailing from Krakow, Poland, Ivan Putski joined the ranks of WWE in the mid-1970s. His bright smile and positive attitude immediately made him a fan-favorite.
Once the bell rang, however, there were no smiles. Putski’s muscular frame made it near impossible for opponents to lift him. While he wasn’t a master of mat wrestling, his pure power gave him the ability to throw foes around the ring with ease. (WATCH)
Putski finished off his opponents with a clubbing blow to the chest, named the Polish Hammer in tribute to his homeland. Though he was never a singles champion, he and Tito Santana silenced the loudmouth Valiant Brothers to capture the World Tag Team Titles in 1979. His unwavering popularity among the WWE Universe earned him a place in the WWE Hall of Fame. — B.M.
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#41
Tommy Rich
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In the late 1970s and early ’80s, a blond Tennessee boy with a big smile took the Georgia territory by storm. Much like Sherman’s March to the Sea razed through the Peach State, Tommy Rich’s popularity spread like “Wildfire.”
The baby-faced grappler battled with a tenacious spirit that endeared him to fans. He stood up to villains like Ole Anderson and Harley Race without hesitation. And he shocked the wrestling world in April 1981 when he upset Race to become the NWA World Champion. Though he only held the title for four days, Rich’s fans were elated that he carried one of sports-entertainment’s most prized possessions.
Rich went on to have one of the most brutal rivalries in history with “Mad Dog” Buzz Sawyer. (WATCH) The two warred for nearly two years before officials said “no more.” They were given one last opportunity to fight, locked inside a roofed steel cage for a vicious war dubbed “The Last Battle of Atlanta.” Despite Sawyer’s best attempts to put out “Wildfire,” Rich tamed the “Mad Dog” to end the bitter rivalry. — B.M.
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#40
Lex Luger
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The impressive physique and raw strength of “The Total Package” Lex Luger made him a star from the moment he made his NWA debut in 1987. Originally an associate of The Four Horsemen, Luger was betrayed by Barry Windham and the wicked faction, turning The Total Package into a competitor that fans could rally behind.
In WWE, Luger initially debuted with a self-centered demeanor, but soon embraced the fans and his pride in America. Touring around the nation in the Lex Express, The Total Package became an inspiration to millions of fans around the world. Luger’s ultimate display came on the deck of the USS Intrepid when the Chicago native picked up and slammed Yokozuna. (WATCH)
Eventually returning to WCW, Luger became a stalwart of the organization during the struggle with The New World Order. At times, Luger aligned himself with shady competitors, but his close friendship with Sting always ensured he would uphold his own moral code. — K.P.
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#39
Wahoo McDaniel
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Who says good guys can’t hit hard? Certainly not Wahoo McDaniel, the rugged Choctaw-Chickasaw Indian from the oil fields of Midland, Texas who clobbered opponents on the AstroTurf as a star with the New York Jets and in the ring as the “Master of the Indian Strap Match." (WATCH)
A terror on the gridiron in the early ’60s, Wahoo tomahawk chopped his way to stardom in Hawaii, Houston, and Minneapolis when he became a fulltime grappler at the end of the decade. But the powerful Native American made his biggest impression in the Mid-Atlantic region where he battled rival Johnny Valentine in blistering matches that reddened the mat long before anyone put the letters ECW together. Late in his career, Wahoo brought the fight to young antagonists like Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, and Greg Valentine, helping to establish the promising upstarts as the next generation of great ring villains. — R.M.
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#38
Eddie Guerrero
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WWE Hall of Famer Eddie Guerrero was never shy about cheating to win, so why did we feel like cheering for him every time he did it? Charismatic, resourceful and able to outwit opponents thrice his size, the son of Mexican grappler Gory Guerrero honed his skills in Mexico and Japan before dazzling crowds in classic bouts stateside in ECW and WCW, most notably against fellow ring technician Dean Malenko.
It was alongside The Iceman that Guerrero journeyed from WCW to WWE in 2000, becoming affectionately known as “Latino Heat” by the WWE Universe for his uncanny affect on women. After taking a hiatus from the ring to battle personal demons, Guerrero made an inspirational return to WWE in 2002 and attained his greatest successes ever. With renewed focus, Eddie captured the United States Championship and enjoyed four WWE Tag Team Title reigns before becoming WWE Champion at No Way Out 2004 in an emotional main event. (WATCH) — J.W.
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#37
Antonino Rocca
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For WWE Superstars, being able to stand out from the other guys in the locker room has always been a key to success. Antonino Rocca did just that and then some. Unleashing an arsenal of aerial maneuvers long before high-flying was common in sports-entertainment, the acrobat from Treviso, Italy, thrilled packed houses across both North and South America. And his trademark “Argentine Backbreaker” spelled defeat for many opponents.
In the 1950s, when wrestling discovered television and vice versa, Rocca was one of the genre’s most popular stars. Barefoot and limber, Rocca formed a highly successful tag team with Miguel Perez in 1957, and their legendary battles against The Graham Brothers headlined Madison Square Garden no less than seven times in the late ’50s. At the height of his popularity in the early ’60s, the WWE Hall of Fame inductee even appeared in ink on the cover of a Superman comic. — H.F.
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#36
Mr. Wrestling II
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Journeyman grappler Johnny Walker barely made a dent in the Southern wrestling scene as the contorting “Rubberman.” But he became an indelible icon to the old-fashioned folks in the “Bible Belt” when he yanked on the white mask with black trim of Mr. Wrestling II in 1972. (WATCH)
First introduced as a protégé of the original Mr. Wrestling, Walker quickly overshadowed his predecessor as he knocked off top villains like “Big Cat” Ernie Ladd and The Masked Superstar with his trademark Million Dollar Knee Lift. Before long, Mr. Wrestling II was Georgia's most popular competitor and United States President and Peach State native Jimmy Carter was among his biggest fans. As the story goes, Carter personally invited his favorite wrestler to the White House to attend his 1977 inauguration, but the competitor declined when he found out that he would be required to remove his hood by the Secret Service. When the two men finally did meet, Carter slapped a good-natured headlock on the masked man. The resulting photograph became one of sports-entertainment’s most iconic images. — R.M.
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#35
Jerry "The King" Lawler
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Known for his acerbic wit as a broadcasting mainstay for nearly 20 years, Jerry Lawler has become one of the most beloved figures in sports-entertainment history. But long before he gained fame as a color commentator, “The King” earned his crown as the top hero in his hometown of Memphis, Tenn. (WATCH)
Taking on the era’s greatest villains including “Superstar” Billy Graham, “Dirty” Dutch Mantell and Jesse “The Body” Ventura, the WWE Hall of Famer became as revered in Memphis as another king, Elvis Presley. Lawler rose to national prominence in 1982 when his legendary rivalry with comedian Andy Kaufman resulted in a notorious encounter on “Late Night with David Letterman.” Their pro wrestling saga broke pop culture barriers, and paved the way for other celebrity involvement in sports-entertainment.
When “The King” suffered a heart attack on Raw in 2012, the WWE Universe suffered a scare of what a world without Jerry Lawler might look like. Thankfully we didn't have to find out. — ZACH LINDER
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#34
Tito Santana
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As one of WWE’s longest-tenured Superstars, Tito Santana fired up the WWE Universe during his 15-year career with his rallying cry of “Arriba!” A tag champ alongside Ivan Putski shortly after his debut, he became embroiled in a heated rivalry with The Magnificent Muraco, ending the Hawaiian’s yearlong Intercontinental Title reign.
After dropping the title to Randy Savage, Santana re-entered the tag team ranks with youngster Rick Martel. The combination of Martel’s speed and aggression and Santana’s technical know-how and experience paid off quickly for the duo known as Strike Force. They defeated The Hart Foundation to capture the World Tag Team Titles just weeks after becoming a team.
After Martel decided to split his time between wrestling and modeling, Santana went back into the singles ranks. (WATCH) Santana is one of two Superstars that can say he appeared on each of the first nine WrestleManias, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. — B.M.
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#33
Verne Gagne
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An amateur standout at the University of Minnesota, a World War II veteran and a former Green Bay Packer, Verne Gagne became a true Midwestern celebrity when he formed the American Wrestling Association in 1960.
Instantly establishing himself as the AWA’s top hero, Gagne battled noted antagonists like “The Crippler” Ray Stevens, Maurice “Mad Dog” Vachon and Larry “The Axe” Hennig. But it was his bitter rivalry with the dangerous Nick Bockwinkel that solidified Gagne in all-time ring lore. Trading wins back and forth with their signature Sleeper Holds, Verne and “Wicked Nick” were the only two competitors to hold the AWA Championship for 15 years. The crowd always hoped the title would land around Gagne’s waist, and it often did. (WATCH)
As the AWA’s proprietor, Gagne was also one of wrestling’s revered teachers and trained grappling greats like Ric Flair, The Iron Sheik and Ricky Steamboat. A dynamic performer and respected businessman, Verne is a true sports-entertainment hero. — Z.L.
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#32
Rob Van Dam
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Utilizing an innovative arsenal of aerial attacks and martial arts, Rob Van Dam was spectacular and he knew it. But ECW crowds didn’t mind the cocky ways of the self-proclaimed “Mr. Monday Night.” He captured the ECW Television Championship and held it for an astonishing two years before relinquishing it due to serious injury in a heartbreaking moment for his legions of fans.
After the demise of ECW, RVD took sports-entertainment by storm. He won the Intercontinental Championship, unified it with the European and Hardcore Championships, and also captured the WWE Tag Team Championship and World Tag Team Championship. In 2006, RVD achieved his career-defining victory when defeated John Cena for the WWE Championship inside an emotionally charged Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. (WATCH) The rowdy Big Apple crowd was firmly in Mr. Pay-Per-View’s corner as he pinned the champion to win the title in one of the most memorable moments in WWE history. — Z.L.
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#31
Chief Jay Strongbow
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He never held the WWE Title, but Chief Jay Strongbow was dubbed “The People’s Champion” by the WWE Universe long before The Rock ever laid the smackdown. For nearly 15 years, the Pawhuska, Okla., native entered the squared circle and battled it out with the likes of “Superstar” Billy Graham and Spiros Arion in front of a wildly passionate fanbase. (WATCH)
The people believed in the Chief. A very humble man, he never bragged or boasted about himself, and let his talking be done inside the ring. And if an opponent rubbed him the wrong way, then you could be sure that Strongbow’s war dance was forthcoming, which more times than none culminated in a sleeper hold for a victory. A four-time World Tag Team Champion, Strongbow was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. — H.F.
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#30
Jack Brisco
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Jack Brisco became one of the all-time great fan-favorites after a stellar NCAA Championship–winning career at Oklahoma State University. A modern-day Jim Thorpe, “Handsome Jack” was everything that one could want in a hero in his era. He spoke softly, but distinctly and honestly with his rich, baritone voice, had movie star good looks, was in magnificent condition, never bragged or lied to his fans and could wrestle or fight with the best in the world. (WATCH)
Jack’s reign as the NWA World Champion was stellar as no NWA Champion was ever more athletic or skilled than Jack Brisco. Jack’s wrestling role models were Lou Thesz and Danny Hodge — two globally recognized fan-favorites whose exploits young Jack read about in the monthly wrestling magazines. Jack, with no father in the home, grew up a wrestling fan and is considered by his peers and fans alike to be one of the most popular and prolific wrestlers of all time. — J.R.
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#29
"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan
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Americana personified, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan was a rugged competitor whose code of ethics was sturdier than the two-by-four he carried to the ring. Everyone’s favorite “tough guy” was never a particularly polished grappler, but audiences forgave Duggan for his lack of grace, because he was always the first to volunteer his services whenever an evil-doer espoused an anti-American sentiment. Plus, his blue-collar offense always seemed to get the job done. (WATCH)
Before defending Old Glory against The Iron Sheik and Boris Zhukov in WWE, Duggan was one of the most beloved fighters in Mid-South Wrestling, earning the territory’s Athlete of the Year award in 1984. The accolade scored Duggan a handsome pair of Lucien Piccard cufflinks but also bred envy in Duggan’s former ally, Ted DiBiase. The ensuing rivalry culminated with Duggan besting DiBiase in an epic Loser Leaves Town, Coal Miner’s Glove on a Poll, Tuxedo Steel Cage Match in New Orleans in 1985. — JOHN CLAPP
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#28
Bob Backlund
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He never was a purveyor of glitz and glamour, nor did he ever exhibit a flashy style. But the one thing that endeared Bob Backlund to the WWE Universe was his grass roots approach toward the mat game and toward the people. And that took the Princeton, Minn., native to his first WWE Championship on Feb. 20, 1978, as he defeated “Superstar” Billy Graham in Madison Square Garden. (WATCH)
Known for his great stamina and physical conditioning, Backlund was one of a select group of men who won an NCAA Championship in college, then parlayed that into a successful career in the pro ranks. An unwavering do-gooder, Backlund’s humble Midwestern manner sometimes seemed out of place in the wild world of sports-entertainment, but the technician’s fire and fervor were undeniable in his bouts against rivals like Greg Valentine, Sgt. Slaughter and Don Muraco. — H.F.
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#27
Mil Mascaras
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If you were a wrestling fan growing up in Mexico in the late 1960s, you believed that Mil Mascaras was more than just a man in tights. In the eyes of those kids that lined up outside of movie theaters in Guadalajara and San Luis Potosi, Mil Mascaras was a superhero concocted in a laboratory by a team of scientists, a masked marauder against hordes of the undead and the man who saved Mexico from an alien invasion.
In the years before he became the first masked man to compete in Madison Square Garden, Mil Mascaras was a movie star in his native country. His success in pictures allowed “The Man of 1,000 Masks” to become the first Mexican wrestler to succeed on a global scale as he introduced the lucha style to Japan and became a major attraction in territories across America. (WATCH) The WWE Hall of Famer’s agility and colorful masks inspired Tiger Mask and Jushin Liger while his international breakthrough opened doors for future stars like Rey Mysterio. — R.M.
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#26
The Road Warriors
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At first, fans were terrified of Hawk & Animal. But as time went on, crowds began anticipating the Chicago natives coming in and destroying everything in their path. Eventually, the crowds began cheering the two massive, face-painted monsters in spiked shoulder pads who unleashed hell on the poor saps unlucky to be standing across from them.
Hawk warned everyone that The Road Warriors “snacked on danger and dined on death,” but some were still willing to step up to the tall task of taking on the muscular pair. Those brave souls usually ended up crumpled in a heap after feeling the tandem’s Doomsday Device finishing maneuver.
In addition to being the only team to hold the AWA, the NWA and the WWE World Tag Team Titles, The Road Warriors were so popular and so dominant that Dusty Rhodes hand-picked them to enter WarGames with him and Nikita Koloff against The Four Horsemen. (WATCH) The anything-goes mentality made the WWE Hall of Famers a perfect fit for “The Match Beyond.” — B.M.
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