The Best Of The Other Horsemen

[FourFifty]

When most people hear The Four Horsemen, 5-6 names comes to mind.

Ric Flair
Arn Anderson
Tully Blanchard
Barry Whindam
J.J. Dillon
Ole Anderson

But what about the other Horsemen? I'm not going to tell you what the above names have brought to the most legendary stable in pro wrestling. You should know this by now. However, the "other" Horsemen may have brought something to the table. Who's the best of the other Horsemen?

"The Total Package" Lex Luger
This guy brought a great look to the Horsemen. While he didn't reach his peak before or after his snit with The Four Horsemen, he was a great physical force to be reckoned with.

Sting
He was perhaps one of the oddest people to be a part of the stable. Now I'm not to sure about his history with The Four Horsemen, but he would have fared better as a Horseman as Steve "Sting" Borden without face paint. It would be like putting a guy like CM Punk in Evolution. All the talent in the world, but not the right look.

Sid Vicious
(see Lex Luger)

Paul Roma
This lump of coal never became a diamond. He could have been the Randy Orton to Evolution. He had a name people knew, and a good build... I'm not convincing anyone, am I.... not even myself....

Brian Pillman
The Loose Cannon, The Ticking Timebomb, Flyin' Brian Pillman was another guy that could have brought the world to the Horsemen, but didn't have the right look or style... However you could show Brian Pillman eating oatmeal and it'll be for good tv. Pillman was fantastic behind the mic, and unlike Sting he could have been molded to the Horsemen style.

Chris Benoit
(See Paul Roma, minus how I'm not convincing anyone)

Jeff Jarrett
He had a name that everyone knew, and unlike the other people who I've said that about, he had WWE credentials behind him. In addition to being a skilled wrestler he brought class, a pedigree, good promo skills, and fantastic skills. WCW could have very well retired Ric Flair and made Jeff Jarrett the new leader of The Four Horsemen, complete with the Figure Four.

Curt Henning
See what I said about Jeff Jarrett? Take that, add a bigger fan base, take away the Figure Four, and mention that be took Arn Anderson's spot. Henning could have single highhandedly revitalized The Four Horsemen, if WCW didn't take a giant shit on it.

Dean Malenko
Not the biggest guy, not the best promo, but kinda like Chris Benoit, he could get away with "Silent but Violent." The Texas Cloverleaf done by the man of 1,001 holds is still one of my favorite submissions. However, Malenko could be seen as another fish in a big pond. It was bad timing, but by the time Malenko and Benoit the Four Horsemen that name wasn't quite as relevant.

Steve McMichael
I left him for last because this thread was going to be just singing his praises as a Horsemen. He wasn't the best wrestler, wasn't the best promo, but he embodied what The Four Horsemen was all about- being the best. Having a super bowl ring in a stable known for championships just looks cool. While he would never be nothing more than a threat to the world title, his super bowl ring, championship attitude, and his gimmick could have made him a better enforcer than Henning was.

So, who is the best of the other Horsemen?

[Tazz Dan]

Benoit, Malenko, Hennig. We didn't get a great deal of WCW shown here, but these three stood out for me.

[DLVH84]

Pillman, Benoit, Malenko, and Hennig. Those four have the credentials of being a Horsemen. Too bad Pillman and Hennig didn't last as long.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

I'd have to go with either Baby Doll, Woman or Miss Elizbeth. Just wanted to note that not everybody in the Four Horseman was a man. They weren't just eye candy and they had to be taken just as seriously as the male members of the Horseman.

[Tom Guycott]

I was shocked that after the announcement, there wasn't a whole slew of "Fuck that shit..." comments, and pictures of McMichael everywhere.

Oddly, I don't remember Jarrett ever being a Horseman, yet I agree with your accessment. At the time, it likely could have worked. As for Henning* taking "Arn's spot", I think they should have made that less literal and more figurative and it would have worked better. Malenko/Benoit would have made a better "Enforcer".

Also:

...if WCW didn't take a giant shit on it.

...seems to be the mantra of what was WCW. There were a lot of things that were successful and made them a boatload of money. However, there were a lot MORE things that just kind of fizzled and evaporated, often with no reason.

[Captain of Fun]

Wasn't Jarrett only a horsemen for like two weeks?

I think the two things that are important in being a horseman, is the right image, and being able to wrestle. That disqualifies most of the list. In the end I'd say it's between Benoit and Malenko. Went with Malenko just because I thought he was the better talent at that time. Curt Henning would have topped them both, but he was never really a horseman in the first place.

[Rammsteinmad]

Benoit & Malenko. Two of my all-time faves. :y:

[Destor]

Benoit is the only answer here.

[itsmeJD]

Sting's history with the Four Horsemen was basically that he saved Ric Flair from an attack by the J-Tex Corporation in 1989. Due to his assistance, Flair wanted to make him a Horsemen though Ole and Arn weren't as keen on the idea. Later in the year, Sting won a battle royal to be named #1 contender to the title held by Flair, and the Horsemen wanted him to lay down for Flair. Sting, at the Clash of the Champions (insert number here) declined to due so and got his ass whipped, thus ending his affiliation with the group and Sting winning the gold at Great American Bash 1990.

[itsmeJD]

Also for the record, the reason I voted Sid is I think few remember how much of a fucking beast he was in WCW in the early 90's. While Arn was the "Enforcer", I still fondly remember Sid powerbombing "Flyin" Brian unconcious during War Games and thinking that was the one Horsemen I wouldn't wanna fuck with.

[Hanso Amore]

I feel like Dean was a Perfect fit. Just wish his run started earlier and lasted longer. I voted him as I am a huge Dean mark....then I realized I passed on Benoit...I think Destor is right, anything else isnt close.

PS

I FUCKING LOVED J TEX

[Indifferent Clox]

Benoit

[Tom Guycott]

... notice nobody even mentioned "Romeo" Roma (thank you, Bobby Heenan) in this argument. Even Jarrett with his cup-of-coffee tenure ranks higher.

And I never answered the question, which is a tough one. Yeah, Benoit had the requisite attitude and intensity to be a Horseman. Malenko, however, while riding on the "Arrive. kick ass. leave." Iceman gimmick, was a little more laid back, and in that way, had the look to fit in as a Horseman.

Remember, part of the deal was image. Benoit never really looked right in a suit. Dean looked like he had the right combination of class AND badassery.

[Theo Dious]

No way you put Hennig in a "who's the best" poll and I don't vote for him.

[Emperor Smeat]

Touch choice between Benoit and Malenko. I would have included Pillman and Henning but neither lasted as long as the other two guys.

Went with Benoit because while he was similar to Malenko in style, Benoit managed to feel like a greater threat with the Crippler Crossface submission.

[DLVH84]

I'd have to go with either Baby Doll, Woman or Miss Elizbeth. Just wanted to note that not everybody in the Four Horseman was a man. They weren't just eye candy and they had to be taken just as seriously as the male members of the Horseman.

Good point.

[XCaliber]

Malenko for sure Benoit is a disgrace.

[Destor]

i was wondering how long that would take

[FourFifty]

I don't see why there's not love for Mongo. He had the persona of being a the best because of his football background. It's not like he played on a team once. He played on a super bowl winning team. He had the class. Was the the best technical wrestler? No. Hell, on that list, he's one the worst. But what sort of class did Benoit bring to the Horsemen? He looked funny in a suit. All Sid did for the Horsemen was bring a huge body who has half a brain. Even a guy like Pillman, who I adore, couldn't bring as much to the Horsemen as Mongo did.

And who the hell voted for Paul Roma? That was the only wrong answer.