TPWW Forums - View Single Post - Top 10 most influential wrestlers from 1995-2000

**The One** · 04-12-2007, 10:56 AM

#10 Bret Hart
He was popular with WWE fans, and was McMahon's go to guy after the steroid scandel.

#9 Sting
Crow Sting was the savior against the evil nWo. The man had the company history and the overness combined with the right character turn at the right time to create the one man image who could topple the nWo. The fact that when that time came it got butched was sad, but it doesn't change the fact that his show down with Hogan was so incredibly built up, it probably in my opinion was Hogan's biggest match of all time. Plus it was really the first time that someone took their character, and TOTALLY repackaged it, paving the way or guys like The Undertaker to become far more cultish.

#8 'The Game' Triple H
He was a heel's heel. A man you loved to hate. He played the character so perfectly, and inside the ring the man was so smooth, it was like watching some beautiful ballet of carnage. He was an incredible bad guy, so bad that when he began his feud with Mr. McMahon in late 2000, he made McMahon a face ater years of Austin/McMahon hatred already built up. I would argue the single greatest heel of all time. I don't know what else to say about him other than people paid to see Rock and Austin, but once they were in the gate, all they wanted after that was for Hunter to get his ass kicked.

#7 The Rock
There were times when I was convinced whoever walked out first between The Rock and Austin would get the loudest pop simply because after the first one came out, the crowd would have blown out there voices and had nothing left for the second guy. Seriously, his character was so perectly fit to be the biggest supporting character ever to Austin's lead. When Austin had to get surgery, Rocky did a damn fine job of running with the ball. Popular, of course.

#6 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan
If it wern't for him going bad, the nWo wouldn't have been as popular.

#5 'Heartbreak Kid' Shawn Michaels
Between his role in front of the camera, and maybe even more because of his role behind it, Shawn Michaels is one of the most influential wrestlers of all time. On a personal level, his performances was the ONLY thing that got me to watch WWE after Flair and Tully left. On a business level, he was one of the most over stars of all time. Behind the scenes, his attitude and actions lead to the birth of DX (a MAJOR factor in the ultimate victory WWE enjoyed) and had it not been or HBK/Hart, we wouldn't have gotten Montreal, which in tern gave us the Mr. McMahon character. Also, he get's the legacy of passing the New Generation torch to Steve Austin's waiting Attitude hands.

#4 Bill Goldberg
The streak, the chants, the spear. Thrown together, he was like WCW's second comming of Christ. Undoubtfully one of the most charismatic superstars ever. While he wasn't single handedly enough to keep WCW in the spot of supremecy, he did always carry with him a leagon of die hard fans.

#3 'Mankind' Mick Foley
Was voted to be People's Magazine's Man of the Year. Man of the fucking Year! An incredibly underrated talent in the ring, but if he truly is nothing more than a glorified stunt man (which I disagree with, but whatever) than he is the best stunt performer of all time. Realsed a book which pre-released was scoffed at and laughed, post release it was a #1 New York Times Best Seller, and a damn fine peice of work. When ever anybody covered a story on pro wrestling, Foley was always featured, and that fall rom the cage (which I think got a lot of people to tune in) was always shown. Plus he made Hardcore Wrestling popular.

#2 'The Ousiders' Kevin Nash & Scott Hall
The basis for the nWo. Without the Outsiders, Hogan would have gone his entire WCW run with the red and yellow. They're jumping to WCW paved the way for WCW to rise to their position of power. Also, they arrival in WCW sparked one of the (debatably, the single) biggest angle in professional wrestling history. Not only that, but their friendship on air was one of the most interesting on screne relationships in that everyone knew they were real life friends so when they were buddy buddy you truly felt it, and when they had their short little rivalries in 1998 or so, it was something truly interesting. But unquestionably the biggest contribution was being the birth and driving force of the nWo.

#1: 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin
Brought forth the Attitude Era. If there was one single person who not only changed the Monday Night Wars forever, but also brought professional wrestling to a new level of popularity nurivaled by even the Hogan era of the 80's, it was Austin. Basically, the single biggest force in professional wrestling from 1997 clear through to his ultimate injury departure in late 2000.

04-12-2007, 10:56 AM	#14
The One Boss Posts: 17,611	#10 Bret Hart He was popular with WWE fans, and was McMahon's go to guy after the steroid scandel. #9 Sting Crow Sting was the savior against the evil nWo. The man had the company history and the overness combined with the right character turn at the right time to create the one man image who could topple the nWo. The fact that when that time came it got butched was sad, but it doesn't change the fact that his show down with Hogan was so incredibly built up, it probably in my opinion was Hogan's biggest match of all time. Plus it was really the first time that someone took their character, and TOTALLY repackaged it, paving the way or guys like The Undertaker to become far more cultish. #8 'The Game' Triple H He was a heel's heel. A man you loved to hate. He played the character so perfectly, and inside the ring the man was so smooth, it was like watching some beautiful ballet of carnage. He was an incredible bad guy, so bad that when he began his feud with Mr. McMahon in late 2000, he made McMahon a face ater years of Austin/McMahon hatred already built up. I would argue the single greatest heel of all time. I don't know what else to say about him other than people paid to see Rock and Austin, but once they were in the gate, all they wanted after that was for Hunter to get his ass kicked. #7 The Rock There were times when I was convinced whoever walked out first between The Rock and Austin would get the loudest pop simply because after the first one came out, the crowd would have blown out there voices and had nothing left for the second guy. Seriously, his character was so perectly fit to be the biggest supporting character ever to Austin's lead. When Austin had to get surgery, Rocky did a damn fine job of running with the ball. Popular, of course. #6 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan If it wern't for him going bad, the nWo wouldn't have been as popular. #5 'Heartbreak Kid' Shawn Michaels Between his role in front of the camera, and maybe even more because of his role behind it, Shawn Michaels is one of the most influential wrestlers of all time. On a personal level, his performances was the ONLY thing that got me to watch WWE after Flair and Tully left. On a business level, he was one of the most over stars of all time. Behind the scenes, his attitude and actions lead to the birth of DX (a MAJOR factor in the ultimate victory WWE enjoyed) and had it not been or HBK/Hart, we wouldn't have gotten Montreal, which in tern gave us the Mr. McMahon character. Also, he get's the legacy of passing the New Generation torch to Steve Austin's waiting Attitude hands. #4 Bill Goldberg The streak, the chants, the spear. Thrown together, he was like WCW's second comming of Christ. Undoubtfully one of the most charismatic superstars ever. While he wasn't single handedly enough to keep WCW in the spot of supremecy, he did always carry with him a leagon of die hard fans. #3 'Mankind' Mick Foley Was voted to be People's Magazine's Man of the Year. Man of the fucking Year! An incredibly underrated talent in the ring, but if he truly is nothing more than a glorified stunt man (which I disagree with, but whatever) than he is the best stunt performer of all time. Realsed a book which pre-released was scoffed at and laughed, post release it was a #1 New York Times Best Seller, and a damn fine peice of work. When ever anybody covered a story on pro wrestling, Foley was always featured, and that fall rom the cage (which I think got a lot of people to tune in) was always shown. Plus he made Hardcore Wrestling popular. #2 'The Ousiders' Kevin Nash & Scott Hall The basis for the nWo. Without the Outsiders, Hogan would have gone his entire WCW run with the red and yellow. They're jumping to WCW paved the way for WCW to rise to their position of power. Also, they arrival in WCW sparked one of the (debatably, the single) biggest angle in professional wrestling history. Not only that, but their friendship on air was one of the most interesting on screne relationships in that everyone knew they were real life friends so when they were buddy buddy you truly felt it, and when they had their short little rivalries in 1998 or so, it was something truly interesting. But unquestionably the biggest contribution was being the birth and driving force of the nWo. #1: 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin Brought forth the Attitude Era. If there was one single person who not only changed the Monday Night Wars forever, but also brought professional wrestling to a new level of popularity nurivaled by even the Hogan era of the 80's, it was Austin. Basically, the single biggest force in professional wrestling from 1997 clear through to his ultimate injury departure in late 2000.