|
Of the past 10 years?
Stone Cold Steve Austin...
I've seen one too many promotions build on the authority-defying character that he perfected all too well...I even think the metamorphosis of Taz in ECW from a disposable gimmick into an extremely badass precursor to Kurt Angle's WWE persona is reminiscent of Austin (though that was happening concurrently)
granted, a lot of that edge came from WCW and ECW, but I think it's gotta be Austin, ever since then...the "do-your-finisher-to-the-boss" shtick has been recycled and recycled.
before then...
Ric Flair comes to mind. Perhaps Bret Hart, but except for Benoit, and other Hart Dungeon-graduates I don't see too many wrestlers emulating him. With Ric Flair, I see more of him in The Rock than I do HHH (whose recent emulation of Ric Flair has been kinda dry).
|