View Full Version : The Best Technical/In Ring Performer of All Time?
Kurt Angle
Bret "The Hitman" Hart
Ric Flair
"Macho Man" Randy Savage
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
Chris Benoit
Shawn Michaels
Eddie Guerrero
Chris Jericho
Danny Hodge
Bruno Sammartino
Harley Race
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
Arn Anderson
Jack Brisco
Lou Thesz
Verne Gagne
Nick Bockwinkel
Nicky Fives
10-02-2009, 10:59 AM
technical and in-ring performer are not the same.....
technically, no one is better than Kurt Angle, but as a performer, Shawn Michaels trumps them all
Swiss Ultimate
10-02-2009, 11:02 AM
Chris Jericho.
...but as a performer, Shawn Michaels trumps them all
Ugh, Ric Flair, really?
You might add Hogan then as well.
Ugh, Ric Flair, really?
You might add Hogan then as well.
Flair was very good technically, especially in the 1980's. How many 1 hour matches did the guy have where you weren't on the edge of your seat the entire time? I really liked his matches with Steamboat in '89, and his matches with Barry Windham, and the match with Sting at the Clash of Champions in '88 was awesome too.
DaveBrawl
10-02-2009, 11:31 AM
My vote is for the Hitman, but I'm surprised the Dynamite Kid isn't on here.
Ermaximus
10-02-2009, 11:39 AM
No Regal on this list? Hmmmmm. Guess I'll go with the obvious choice then.
Rammsteinmad
10-02-2009, 11:39 AM
I'm guessing he generally means best pound-for-pound wrestler in the ring, in which case my vote goes to Chris Benoit.
Whilst there's some names there can definitely hold that claim, such as Hart, Angle, Jericho, Guerrero and Michaels, I say Benoit because his execution and style was flawless. Everything he did looked and felt real. And he easily adapted to any style of wrestling.
Flair was very good technically, especially in the 1980's. How many 1 hour matches did the guy have where you weren't on the edge of your seat the entire time? I really liked his matches with Steamboat in '89, and his matches with Barry Windham, and the match with Sting at the Clash of Champions in '88 was awesome too.
He wasn't that good technically in my opinion. I always saw him as very charismatic but not much else. Although most his matches that I've seen were from 90s and later, so feel free to recommend me some more except those two you mentioned.
Gertner
10-02-2009, 11:44 AM
Paul Roma
Ermaximus
10-02-2009, 11:45 AM
I'm guessing he generally means best pound-for-pound wrestler in the ring, in which case my vote goes to Chris Benoit.
Whilst there's some names there can definitely hold that claim, such as Hart, Angle, Jericho, Guerrero and Michaels, I say Benoit because his execution and style was flawless. Everything he did looked and felt real. And he easily adapted to any style of wrestling.
:y: Benoit was indeed one of the best at what he did. There is no arguing that.
Italian $tallion
10-02-2009, 11:52 AM
Prototype....
Doing the same moves over and over and almost in the same order no matter how well you do them cannot seriously be considered among best in ring performer because that is just one step away from being Cena.
Ermaximus
10-02-2009, 12:34 PM
Doing the same moves over and over and almost in the same order no matter how well you do them cannot seriously be considered among best in ring performer because that is just one step away from being Cena.
Only 2 wrestlers come to mind after reading this. One of which is of course Cena.
Joesgonnakillyou
10-02-2009, 01:08 PM
I've been lurking around for a while now, waiting for the right thread to weigh in on. Congrats, this is that thread.
Poll is null and void as it doesn't have Dean Malenko as an option.
Ermaximus
10-02-2009, 01:24 PM
So? It doesn't have Regal either, but I still made a vote based on what's there.
Lock Jaw
10-02-2009, 02:04 PM
Kirk Angle.
James Steele
10-02-2009, 02:57 PM
Triple H?
Storer50
10-02-2009, 03:33 PM
Bushwhacker Luke
Gertner
10-02-2009, 04:28 PM
I took Bockwinkel.
Droford
10-02-2009, 04:35 PM
Im going with Gilberg
AJHayes
10-02-2009, 09:27 PM
I had to go with Hart due to the in ring performer option being thrown in there.
Were it just technical wrestler I think I may have gone with Lou Thesz.
Nark Order
10-02-2009, 09:53 PM
I don't know what it is about Bret having smarks by the balls. The correct answer is clearly Randy Savage.
I'm actually surprised HBK doesn't have more votes.
Fignuts
10-02-2009, 11:18 PM
The Destroyer
Vastardikai
10-02-2009, 11:21 PM
Is it wrong that I was upset by the lack of Billy Robinson?
As it is, I went with Lou Thesz.
Fignuts
10-02-2009, 11:23 PM
No. Billy Robinson was amazing. Although I think destroyer edges him out.
Fignuts
10-02-2009, 11:29 PM
Most people here prolly wouldn't know who destroyer or billy robinson is tho. Hell, I wouldn't either if I hadn't randomly stumbled upon some videos of them.
Gertner
10-03-2009, 12:58 AM
Billy Robinson was incredible.
Anybody Thrilla
10-03-2009, 12:59 AM
Bret Hart's matches always made sense, pretty much from move to move. I've never tried it, but I'd figure that if you watched a Bret Hart match with no sound, you wouldn't have any question as to why he was doing what he was doing. He told stories through his actions, and I feel like no one has ever done it better.
That being said, I vote for Prince Iaukea.
Nah, Hitman for me.
FourFifty
10-03-2009, 12:59 AM
.........I don't see El Dandy on this list...... Who are you to doubt El Dandy?
Anybody Thrilla
10-03-2009, 01:00 AM
Then there's that. Bret Hart knows not to doubt El Dandy.
El Dandy mowed my lawn once.
As it stands as of this reply, Bret Hart leads with 11 votes, second is Chris Benoit with 8? Wonder if he can catch up
I am just pissed that certain people voting have HBK ahead of Kurt Angle 5 to 4. What kind of bullshit is that? Anyone in their right mind could clearly see that Angle is the better wrestler. If you doubt that, just put in the DVD of Wrestlemania 21, HBK tapped to Angle. So he is the man. Don;t get me wrong, HBK is awesome too, but Kurt Angle he isn't.
Verbose Minch
10-03-2009, 06:22 AM
Benoit all the way!
Anybody Thrilla
10-03-2009, 06:57 PM
As it stands as of this reply, Bret Hart leads with 11 votes, second is Chris Benoit with 8? Wonder if he can catch up
I am just pissed that certain people voting have HBK ahead of Kurt Angle 5 to 4. What kind of bullshit is that? Anyone in their right mind could clearly see that Angle is the better wrestler. If you doubt that, just put in the DVD of Wrestlemania 21, HBK tapped to Angle. So he is the man. Don;t get me wrong, HBK is awesome too, but Kurt Angle he isn't.
I need to know...what percentage of this post were you serious about?
Stickman
10-03-2009, 08:37 PM
Where the fuck is Mr. Perfect? It's Hart, but Perfect was absolutely perfect.
just put in the DVD of Wrestlemania 21, HBK tapped to Angle. So he is the man.
Fuck the percentage. Tell me about that specific part.
The Jayman
10-03-2009, 09:13 PM
i have to go with Benoit. His intensity was unmatched
Fuck the percentage. Tell me about that specific part.
Great match between Angle and HBK at Wrestlemania 21, Angle got the ankle lock on HBK, held it forever, then made it better with the leg grapevine, HBK tapped in their only meeting. Angle is the man!
Where the fuck is Mr. Perfect? It's Hart, but Perfect was absolutely perfect.
There has been a shit ton of great wrestlers in history, and I will admit I made a mistake by not putting him on there because Mr. Perfect was greatness.
i have to go with Benoit. His intensity was unmatched
The intensity wouldn't be the steroids or wife/child strangling would it?
Heyman
10-04-2009, 01:42 AM
technical and in-ring performer are not the same.....
technically, no one is better than Kurt Angle, but as a performer, Shawn Michaels trumps them all
THIS
FourFifty
10-04-2009, 02:26 AM
El Dandy mowed my lawn once.
You sure it wasn't Juan?
James Steele
10-04-2009, 03:10 AM
Triple H?
Seriously, you have to respect the shit out of someone who would wear this at WrestleMania:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_p6rNRFR0WNM/SjcpgWSO9aI/AAAAAAAAAHE/AsXFqI6JeVQ/s400/triple-H_Thor.jpg
Seth82
10-04-2009, 03:16 AM
Kinda surprised some of you have actually heard of Billy Robinson
For my money nobody was better pound for pound then Lou Thesz
Danny Hodge was a helluva great worker as well with an outstanding amateur background
He at one time could crush apples with one hand he was so strong
Jack Brisco was a great amateur wrestler who turned out to be NWA Champ and was a great worker
Nick Bockwinkel was fantastic in the ring as well
James Steele
10-04-2009, 03:19 AM
I am glad we have so many pre-hippies era fans of wrestling.
Anybody Thrilla
10-04-2009, 12:00 PM
Great match between Angle and HBK at Wrestlemania 21, Angle got the ankle lock on HBK, held it forever, then made it better with the leg grapevine, HBK tapped in their only meeting. Angle is the man!
How old are you, buddy?
Triple H?
Seriously, you have to respect the shit out of someone who would wear this at WrestleMania:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_p6rNRFR0WNM/SjcpgWSO9aI/AAAAAAAAAHE/AsXFqI6JeVQ/s400/triple-H_Thor.jpg
Ok, what the fuck is that? I mean, what was that all about?
The Gold Standard
10-04-2009, 12:11 PM
Bret Hart 100%
Stickman
10-04-2009, 01:01 PM
Kinda surprised some of you have actually heard of Billy Robinson
For my money nobody was better pound for pound then Lou Thesz
Danny Hodge was a helluva great worker as well with an outstanding amateur background
He at one time could crush apples with one hand he was so strong
Jack Brisco was a great amateur wrestler who turned out to be NWA Champ and was a great worker
Nick Bockwinkel was fantastic in the ring as well
Have you really seen much of their work? If so, please post the vids.
I sometimes wonder which part of wrestling do gay people mostly enjoy.
Ok, I don't, just came to my mind right now.
How old are you, buddy?
Old enough. I don't want to confuse you. I never have believed professional wrestling is real, I know the outcomes are pre-determined, I was simply stating what happened in the match in response to another person in the forum. Thats all. Great day to ya!
Anybody Thrilla
10-05-2009, 12:46 AM
Great day to you too, my retarded friend. :wave:
Great day to you too, my retarded friend. :wave:
There is no reason to be acting like that. Grow the fuck up
Jordan
10-05-2009, 01:35 AM
I would say the best would be a tie between Bret and Owen Hart, with Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit, and Ricky Steamboat (in no particular order) be right behind them.. A lot of other guys get that praise and don't deserve it. Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, Chris Jericho, and Eddie Guerrero don't really cut it to that echelon for me because their styles and basic performances are not as legitimate-looking or realistic enough. People can argue that on both sides but Ric Flair, Chris Jericho, and Eddie often have moves that don't look that painful, and sometimes it's because of weak delivery. Kurt Angle is tarnished for me because to me him going to TNA is like a trajic car crash like Magnum TA. Kurt Angle is the Magnum TA of our time in a sense. TNA history cannot compete with WWE's history or it's present.
Bret and Owen are simply the best for me in every type of situation. And in some instances where one lacks the other delivers. Owen by the time of his death was in my opinion the most complete wrestler in WWE history. He was a Japan experience Super Junior, who could fly off the top rope with ease and skill. He could do any wrestling style WWE has ever used... He was super great as a heel and could have gotten over huge in 1998 if they would have had a huge match at Wrestlemania with HBK vs Owen Hart. But anyway... he was the shit through and through. And Bret's history speaks for itself. I just think Owen was better with a mic.
I will agree with you that Owen Hart was a great wrestler, but for you to basically say that Kurt Angle is not in Owen Hart's league is ridiculous.
Nark Order
10-05-2009, 02:50 AM
In ring Performer: The Macho Man Randy Savage
Best Technician: Kurt Angle
Old enough. I don't want to confuse you. I never have believed professional wrestling is real, I know the outcomes are pre-determined, I was simply stating what happened in the match in response to another person in the forum. Thats all. Great day to ya!
Only the outcomes?
Rammsteinmad
10-05-2009, 09:09 AM
Great match between Angle and HBK at Wrestlemania 21, Angle got the ankle lock on HBK, held it forever, then made it better with the leg grapevine, HBK tapped in their only meeting. Angle is the man!
Pretty sure they had a rematch...
Bret HART No1
10-05-2009, 03:28 PM
BrEt mOtHeRfUckInG HaRt!
Nicky Fives
10-05-2009, 04:01 PM
BrEt mOtHeRfUckInG HaRt!
WhY aRe YoU wRiTiNg LiKe ThIs?
Jordan
10-05-2009, 05:00 PM
I will agree with you that Owen Hart was a great wrestler, but for you to basically say that Kurt Angle is not in Owen Hart's league is ridiculous.
Kurt Angle today is predictable as a rainy day. In the WWE he was unique and creative with his matches now he has ruined that reputation in my eyes, and sunk below his former skill. Owen never did that, and also never went crazy with addictions that slowed his in ring performance.
Close race between Bret Hart and Chris Benoit
Executioner
10-06-2009, 10:28 PM
Then there's that. Bret Hart knows not to doubt El Dandy.
Those who have faced El Dandy know not to doubt him.
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