Best Wrestler #13: Semi Final #1

[Supreme Olajuwon]

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/935/936/MachoManRandySavage1_display_image.jpg?1305328743
"Macho Man" Randy Savage

vs.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2HVYs3frBo/T9iKyI0F5CI/AAAAAAAAAgw/rKd4MnXWrS4/s1600/dwayne-johnson-workout.jpg
The Rock




3 days.



<select><option selected="selected">Best Wrestler Tournament History</option><option>ROUND 1</option><option>#1. Randy Savage vs. Taz (72-4)</option><option>#2. The Undertaker vs. Steve Austin (42-42)</option><option>#3. Chris Jericho vs. Jake Roberts (52-15)</option><option>#4. Bret Hart vs. CM Punk (44-24)</option><option>#5. Curt Hennig vs. The Rock (27-31)</option><option>#6. Mick Foley vs. Kurt Angle (18-41)</option><option>#7. Eddie Guerrero vs. Shawn Michaels (13-50)</option><option>#8. Chris Benoit vs. Hulk Hogan (28-36)</option><option>ROUND 2</option><option>#9. Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan (41-18)</option><option>#10. The Undertaker vs. Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels (14-22-26)</option><option>#11. Chris Jericho vs. Kurt Angle (30-27)</option><option>#12. Bret Hart vs. The Rock (32-34)</option><option>ROUND 3</option></select>

[Shisen Kopf]

first vote for the macho man...OOOOOOH YEAH!

[Kane Knight]

IF YA SMELLLLLLLLLLLLLLALALALALALALALA

[Corporate CockSnogger]

Went with The Rock because I'm more familiar with him.

[Cool King]

Oh boy, if we thought Bret vs Rock was good, then this should be insane.

[Joesgonnakillyou]

I'm gonna vote for whoever's got the best chance against HBK.

Ah screw it, No one's gonna beat HBK :(

[Heisenberg]

can't lose with this match up

[Cool King]

I'm gonna vote for whoever's got the best chance against HBK.

Ah screw it, No one's gonna beat HBK :(

I actually think Savage will win the whole thing.

The final will most likely be Savage vs Michaels.

[Shisen Kopf]

after seeing this compelling footage, I'm not so sure about Savage now.

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[Rammsteinmad]

Loved Savage when I was a kid, but overall I went with the Rock.

[Emperor Smeat]

Really tough choice but went with The Rock.

Looking back, both guys were basically the #2 man of their era with Hogan as the main for the 80s and Austin for the Attitude Era. The Rock did manage to been seen as a legit equal or #1 guy for a lot longer in his era than Savage could in his own era.

Both guys were great with the promos and entertaining with their characters. Savage was better in terms of wrestling skills while the Rock was better in terms of showman skills.

[Wishbone]

Rocky gets my vote here simply because he ate more pie than Macho ever did.

[ooTin]

The Rock makes LEsnar look like Regal in that pic. #JackedAsFuck

[Rollermacka]

Oh man, these two are my deam Wrestlemania match. Even if it was 2000 when Savage left WCW the match would have been beyond amazing. This is a tough one because Rock is one of the main reasons WWE attracted so many fans durring the Monday Night Wars and made wrestling appeal to the average person with his charisma out of the ring. On the other hand though, Savage revolutionized the industry, brought WCW to that next level to compete with the WWE and proved he could get a decient match out of anyone (even Rodman)

[loopydate]

can't lose with this match up

Yeah. This is one where I'll be happy with either outcome, because they're both right.

[Pintint]

after seeing this compelling footage, I'm not so sure about Savage now.

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:rofl:

I went with Savage.

[whiteyford]

Savage, genuinely feel he was the better wrestler in every regard.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I went with the person who was bitten by more snakes.

[Nicky Fives]

The battle of the second-fiddles (Savage with Hogan and Rock with Austin)....gotta go Savage, solely because Rock left.....still a little resentful I guess.....

[KaosDarksol]

I voted for the Rock... for the Rock

[Pintint]

Miss Savage...everytime he is mentioned I keep remembering that he passed, but my first thought is always "hope he makes an appearance".
:( suck that he never returned even for one night to the WWE

[KyleEmmott]

OH YEAH

[Ultra Mantis]

Bonesaw McGraw > Some character Rock has played in a blockbuster movie

[Ultra Mantis]

I'd say Boxer Santaros but I'm not sure I would class Southland Tales as a movie.

[MoFo]

gahhhhhhh

Probably The Rock b/c he was the reason I got into wrestling although Savage wears bright shiny colours and him v Jake Snake was awesome.

[Mercenary]

Macho Man had the Oh Yeah dig it catch pharse

Rock had had so many they became a tired promo.

Macho Man was a perfectionist at his job. Making sure his matches went well,

Rock can't even put on the sharpshooter right.

So yeah I went with Macho Man.

[XCaliber]

The Rock proved he could be the face of the company whereas Savage was always 2nd fiddle even when he feuded with Flair so Rocky it is.

[Heisenberg]

Both in their prime was awesome.

Both have left at disappointing times, with Savage going to WCW and Rock going to Hollywood.

Both have used their elbows for finishers.

Good match up

[Gertner]

I'm not gonna look at who's winning. I'm going to vote for The Rock and pretend you all aren't retarded.

[Ruien]

I'm not gonna look at who's winning. I'm going to vote for The Rock and pretend you all aren't retarded.

[Rock Bottom]

Looks like Savage vs. Michaels. Just another example of how popularity and drawing power lose out to the more balanced wrestler who's also really good in the ring. Rock, Hogan and Austin are out, which are 3 of the biggest names and attractions in history.

I'd liked to have seen Kurt Angle in the company of Michaels and Savage. I look forward to Jericho being eliminated because he's not in this league at all. Nothing against Jericho. He's just not as good as the guys that are left.

[Kane Knight]

Bonesaw McGraw > Some character Rock has played in a blockbuster movie

The Tooth Fairy>You.

[Kane Knight]

Looks like Savage vs. Michaels. Just another example of how popularity and drawing power lose out to the more balanced wrestler who's also really good in the ring. Rock, Hogan and Austin are out, which are 3 of the biggest names and attractions in history.

I'd liked to have seen Kurt Angle in the company of Michaels and Savage. I look forward to Jericho being eliminated because he's not in this league at all. Nothing against Jericho. He's just not as good as the guys that are left.

OMG POPULAR PPL GET MORE VOTES IN A POPULARITY CONTEST!!!!!!!!!!

[Curd]

Rock is a far more prolific movie star than Savage was, having cameo'd in Spider-Man and in a few television shows (most memorably for me, doing a voiceover of a wrestling space alien who took on some cartoon monkey on Dexter's Laboratory or some other Cartoon Network show around 1996).

However, Savage participated in a 1993 WWE/F ballads album and released his own cheesy-but-likable album ten years later! Rock has done voiceovers in the various mixes of his theme for WWE albums, but most of that creativity was Jim Johnston. Plus, Savage had a 5-year Slim Jim spokesman contract, although arguably this may be balanced by Rock's movie franchise involvement.

So for me, this leaves their in-ring legacy as the primary difference in overall impact. Savage got over in Florida Championship Wrestling with pretty much the same gimmick as what he brought to the WWE/F. Rock was thrown into WWE/F straight away after football and managed to get over within two years of debuting despite an early feud with the Sultan and being lost in the shuffle most of his time in the Nation of Domination. So points to Savage for finding himself in the original FCW, and roughly the same points to Rock for convincing the McMahon and the writers to let himself be a more organic character on his own.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but IIRC, Savage and Rock had 5 World Title reigns each among their WWWE/F and WCW / World Heavyweight reigns. The primary distinction I see between their accomplishments is that Savage has a wider breadth of non-title accomplishments such as wrestling for non-WWE promotions (WCW and TNA) as well as having at least three valets (Elizabeth Huett, Sherrie Martel, and Stephanie Bellars). While I understand that Rock could get his wife on camera if he or she wanted, I believe that Savage really showed talent by involving his valets in feuds over the years without letting himself be over-shadowed.

Plus, Savage's reinvention in 1999 really showed some initiative; it's too bad that his contract ran out before the New Blood angle, but I'm sure Russo would have fouled it up anyway. But besides all that, I liked Savage's sunglasses slightly better than the Rock's -- just my opinion!

[#1-norm-fan]

... That was the greatest analysis of anything ever.

[Kane Knight]

Yes, but he left out one thing:

Who sang better in the shower

[Ultra Mantis]

The Tooth Fairy>You.

I'll be sure to remember that when I'm up against The Rock in an online poll

[Rock Bottom]

OMG POPULAR PPL GET MORE VOTES IN A POPULARITY CONTEST!!!!!!!!!!

you're beginning to sound extremely stupid kane knight

and i know you try hard to make it not so, so im just givin you the warning buzzer

[#1-norm-fan]

you're beginning to sound extremely stupid kane knight

Wh-whaaaaa???

[Cool King]

I've cast my vote.

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2384/ididitfortherock.png
I DID IT FOR
THE ROCK

[itsmeJD]

Fuck the Rock.

[Cool King]

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[Curd]

... That was the greatest analysis of anything ever.

Thank you, #1 WWF Fan! I have never heard a live or recorded performance of Savage or the Rock singing in the shower, and hence I cannot comment.

[itsmeJD]

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itsmeJD is not impressed with your opinion of his opinion.

[Rock Bottom]

Rock is a far more prolific movie star than Savage was, having cameo'd in Spider-Man and in a few television shows (most memorably for me, doing a voiceover of a wrestling space alien who took on some cartoon monkey on Dexter's Laboratory or some other Cartoon Network show around 1996).

However, Savage participated in a 1993 WWE/F ballads album and released his own cheesy-but-likable album ten years later! Rock has done voiceovers in the various mixes of his theme for WWE albums, but most of that creativity was Jim Johnston. Plus, Savage had a 5-year Slim Jim spokesman contract, although arguably this may be balanced by Rock's movie franchise involvement.

So for me, this leaves their in-ring legacy as the primary difference in overall impact. Savage got over in Florida Championship Wrestling with pretty much the same gimmick as what he brought to the WWE/F. Rock was thrown into WWE/F straight away after football and managed to get over within two years of debuting despite an early feud with the Sultan and being lost in the shuffle most of his time in the Nation of Domination. So points to Savage for finding himself in the original FCW, and roughly the same points to Rock for convincing the McMahon and the writers to let himself be a more organic character on his own.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but IIRC, Savage and Rock had 5 World Title reigns each among their WWWE/F and WCW / World Heavyweight reigns. The primary distinction I see between their accomplishments is that Savage has a wider breadth of non-title accomplishments such as wrestling for non-WWE promotions (WCW and TNA) as well as having at least three valets (Elizabeth Huett, Sherrie Martel, and Stephanie Bellars). While I understand that Rock could get his wife on camera if he or she wanted, I believe that Savage really showed talent by involving his valets in feuds over the years without letting himself be over-shadowed.

Plus, Savage's reinvention in 1999 really showed some initiative; it's too bad that his contract ran out before the New Blood angle, but I'm sure Russo would have fouled it up anyway. But besides all that, I liked Savage's sunglasses slightly better than the Rock's -- just my opinion!

Johnson is widely considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.[12][13] He won a total of 16 championships in WWF/E. This included nine World Heavyweight Championships (the WWF/E Championship seven times and the WCW/World Championship twice), two WWF Intercontinental Championships, and five times as co-holder of the WWF Tag Team Championships. He was the sixth WWF/E Triple Crown Champion, and the winner of the 2000 Royal Rumble.

[Kane Knight]

you're beginning to sound extremely stupid kane knight

i expect that to happen when im imitating u rock bottum

[Rock Bottom]

The Rock has headlined four Wrestlemanias, two of them with Stone Cold Steve Austin (3 matches, Austin also headlined four), and one with Cena. Cena's headlined more than either of them. Savage did two. Dunno how many Hogan did, but I'm pretty sure he's up there. These are obviously some of the biggest stars in wrestling. It's kind of apples and oranges.

[Rock Bottom]

I gotta admit though, in Savage's day, the IC title was way over.

[Keith]

The Madness.

[#1-norm-fan]

I gotta admit though, in Savage's day, the IC title was way over.

Probably more over than the World Heavyweight Title is now.

[#1-norm-fan]

The Rock has headlined four Wrestlemanias, two of them with Stone Cold Steve Austin (3 matches, Austin also headlined four), and one with Cena. Cena's headlined more than either of them. Savage did two. Dunno how many Hogan did, but I'm pretty sure he's up there.

If you count the impromptu WrestleMania IX main event, 8. If not, 7.

[Keith]

There was a point where the feuds for the IC Title got more exposure and were more entertaining than whatever was going on with the WWF Championship.

Case in point: WrestleMania 10. Bret won the Championship, yet everyone remembers that ppv because of HBK and Razor's Ladder Match for the IC Title.

[Lock Jaw]

Dunno. I feel like maybe I should be voting for The Rock, but then I get all nostalgiac and remember how much I loved Randy Savage as a kid.... and it makes me vote for him.

[#1-norm-fan]

There was a point where the feuds for the IC Title got more exposure and were more entertaining than whatever was going on with the WWF Championship.

Case in point: WrestleMania 10. Bret won the Championship, yet everyone remembers that ppv because of HBK and Razor's Ladder Match for the IC Title.

The IC Title did used to get more exposure than the WWF Title, mainly in the early days of Raw. I think that actually made the WWF Title even more over. The IC Title was regularly the main event on Raw. Tons of exposure and treated like a big deal. The WWF Title was more over as you had to pay to see it defended. It was like it was too big for free TV. Gave it that "aura" while the focus on the IC Title made it huge as well.

[Keith]

The Rock on his best day can't cut a promo like Randy Savage could.

I mean, we can turn back the clock, go back to the Attitude Era, bring back that Rock, and his promo wouldn't even touch what the Macho Man could do.

[Keith]

The IC Title did used to get more exposure than the WWF Title, mainly in the early days of Raw. I think that actually made the WWF Title even more over. The IC Title was regularly the main event on Raw. Tons of exposure and treated like a big deal. The WWF Title was more over as you had to pay to see it defended. It was like it was too big for free TV. Gave it that "aura" while the focus on the IC Title made it huge as well.

Well yeah, because back then WWF had the WWF Champion go out and wrestle jobbers in a squash match.

I really liked that, btw. I loved seeing the Champion go out and wrestle a nobody.

It made whoever was the Champion look good.

[Rock Bottom]

The Rock on his best day can't cut a promo like Randy Savage could.

I think we have a hater here.

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[Keith]

Thank you for proving my point, sir.

You have a great night, now.

[Rock Bottom]

I gotta admit, that made you look reeeeeeeeeeeally smart!

[Keith]

Your little "I'm gonna push that Rock is better on the mic than Savage, so I'm gonna post a 9 minute video of The Rock on the mic and a 2 minute video of one Macho Man promo" thing made you look "reaaaaaaaaaaally" smart, too.

And still, Macho comes out the winner.

[Rock Bottom]

Fuck, man. You said his best day. Now I'll never prove to you that The Rock is better on the microphone than Randy Savage! You dumb fuck!

[Keith]

LMAO the video you posted is titled "The Rock's Best Promos".

That should be the money video, the one that dispells all doubts as to why The Rock is so much better than Savage on the mic.

Yet it didn't.

And Rock is not.

That's all.

[#1-norm-fan]

To be fair, I don't remember ever thinking Rock sold a match on the mic. He was pure comedy and charisma. Even during the Cena feud, ever single time I remember thinking "Cena is selling the shit out of this match and making me kinda more hyped for it." and "Rock is... being silly."

[Keith]

Randy Savage's promos were all unique, sometimes unexpected.

The Rock always starts off with "FINALLY!", goes on to try to come up with several different phrases that he thinks are funny, gets a few laughs, and that's it.

"Monkey Ass", "Ass", "Boots to Asses", "Bring it". The whole repertoire.

He might, however, end on a serious/intense note, depending on what's going on.

That's about it.

Oh, and how could I forget "IF YOU SMEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL WHAT THE ROCK IS COOKIN!"?

[Supreme Olajuwon]

You gotta watch some of Macho Man's WCW work. There was some real garbage in there. Way worse than anything Rock did in this recent comeback.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Still voted for Savage btw. My first "favorite wrestler."

[Keith]

Can't be any worse than "We will Rock you".

That's my measuring stick.

[Kane Knight]

Probably more over than the World Heavyweight Title is now.

doesn't help that these days, we have like a dozen people who are considered "above" the big belts.

I gotta admit, that made you look reeeeeeeeeeeally smart!

All he has to do to look really smart is stand next to you. Hell, that's all anyone has to do to look smart.

[Mercenary]

Fuck the Rock.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e224/Merc500/rockfunny.gif

[Kane Knight]

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e224/Merc500/rockfunny.gif

that expression...So creepy....His eyes...Boring a hole in my soul!

[Double D]

I think this match-up may cause me to have an aneurysm. Two of my all-time faves, it's incredibly hard to pick one over the other. I feel like I turned heel on myself for doing it, but I went with The Jabroni-Beating, Pie-Eating, Eyebrow-Raising, Trailblazing, Heart-Stopping, Elbow-Dropping, People's Champ, The Rock! I love The Macho Man, but when I think hard about it, there are more things I like about The Rock. Barring the shitty Sharpshooter he does, that is. Without The Rock, the world would not have Poontang Pie. That settled it for me ;)

[Bocephus Black]

Bocephus Black believe you be a bustah baby. Boo to you. Boo to you.

[Rock Bottom]

All he has to do to look really smart is stand next to you. Hell, that's all anyone has to do to look smart.

If it were that easy, why post 150,000 times in the red and yellow wrestling forum? All you had to do was ask.

[Kane Knight]

If it were that easy, why post 150,000 times in the red and yellow wrestling forum? All you had to do was ask.

Because nobody needs to look smart compared to you.

[Joesgonnakillyou]

Sentimental vote for Macho Man.

But Rock haters suck

[Keith]

I'm not so much hating on The Rock as I'm building up the case for Randy Savage being better than him.

[Rock Bottom]

Because nobody needs to look smart compared to you.

I'm a smart feller, and you're a fart smeller.

(Lies)

You are an obvious Rock hater, or you're the head in charge of TPWW's "Be A Tard" campaign.

(because it rhymes with be a star)

Macho Man's promos were mostly random babbling and made little sense. You just don't drink the Rock's kool aid. And hey, you don't have to! But you toss these baseless statements so brashly about, that it appeals to the retard patrol in me. You just keep repeating yourself, rather than saying anything that makes any sense. But hey, if Macho Man did it, and you think he's better than The Rock on the mic, it explains a lot!

[Road Warrior]

If it's like this for Rock vs. Savage, this place will explode for Jericho vs. HBK.

[itsmeJD]

I'm a smart feller, and you're a fart smeller.



You are an obvious Rock hater, or you're the head in charge of TPWW's "Be A Tard" campaign.

(because it rhymes with be a star)

Macho Man's promos were mostly random babbling and made little sense. You just don't drink the Rock's kool aid. And hey, you don't have to! But you toss these baseless statements so brashly about, that it appeals to the retard patrol in me. You just keep repeating yourself, rather than saying anything that makes any sense. But hey, if Macho Man did it, and you think he's better than The Rock on the mic, it explains a lot!

Star and Tard do not rhyme. Tar, yes. Tard, no.

[Joesgonnakillyou]

If it's like this for Rock vs. Savage, this place will explode for Jericho vs. HBK.

Nah man, HBK will be virtually unanimous

[Curd]

The Rock has headlined four Wrestlemanias, two of them with Stone Cold Steve Austin (3 matches, Austin also headlined four), and one with Cena. Cena's headlined more than either of them. Savage did two. Dunno how many Hogan did, but I'm pretty sure he's up there. These are obviously some of the biggest stars in wrestling. It's kind of apples and oranges.

I just had to thank you for mentioning the Rock's stats for comparison. Although I still like Savage a smidgen better, I always appreciate having more facts in the open.

[#1-norm-fan]

Well yeah, because back then WWF had the WWF Champion go out and wrestle jobbers in a squash match.

I really liked that, btw. I loved seeing the Champion go out and wrestle a nobody.

It made whoever was the Champion look good.

I agree. Nowadays people go insane if they aren't getting "PPV competitive" matches on weekly free TV.

[Road Warrior]

Nah man, HBK will be virtually unanimous

Don't underestimate the Jerchiholic Ninjas

[Bocephus Black]

Don't underestimate the Jerchiholic Ninjas

Betta believe it baby! BOOYAH!

[The Condor]

Grew up loving Warrior and Savage, stopped watching mid-90's ( you know, Mantaur,) and got back into it around 97. Loved the Rock, especially when he was leader of the Nation. But Savage it is.

[Destor]

The 1st seed randy savage has made it to the finals!

[Bocephus Black]

Baby Baby baby, Bocephus Black be a big fan of tha Macho King!