Greatest wrestler ever: debate

**Indifferent Clox** · 02-05-2007, 04:10 AM

http://forums.rajah.com/showthread.php?t=122111

http://forums.rajah.com/showthread.php?t=122179

I thought it'd be a great Idea if we did something like this over here. So how about it. I'd like Destor, Kane Knight, Alienoid, fallen angel, and corkscrewed to definetly do this.

Check out that^ if you can but if not

Basically we nominate 10 or so guys who are willing to write ESSAYS on why someone is the best wrestler of all time and then write arguements as to why their wrestler is better than another. Point Counterpoint. and it's done in a tournament form.

**Bad Company** · 02-05-2007, 04:30 AM

**Jeritron** · 02-05-2007, 04:51 AM

We each nominate 10 guys? As "wrestlers", as "superstars" or all around?
I'm going to nominate Shawn Michaels off the bat.

**Impeccable** · 02-05-2007, 04:58 AM

By different guys, do you mean Posters? And they pick their own wrestlers to talk about?

**D Mac** · 02-05-2007, 05:01 AM

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**Cuzziebro** · 02-05-2007, 07:24 AM

So wait, can this essay be in point form? Dot points are so much easier to read and write.

**Indifferent Clox** · 02-05-2007, 11:54 AM

Well, ten posters nominates one wrestlers each. Ten is a tentative number.

IT really is meant to be in Essay form. I mean how many books are written in point form?

It may be easier to read but a well written essay flows. So just seperate paragraphs well enough and only two people will be posting at a time. So for instance.

poster 1,
I think Bryan Danielson is the greatest wrestler of all time. (goes on for about a page)
poster 2.
I think Boogieman is the greatest wrestler of all time. (goes on for about a page)
1.
Well, you my friend are wrong. And I will show you why in an informed Essay. (goes on for a while)
2.
I must give you the proverbieal nuh uh! Here is why Bryan Danielson isn't that great.
1.
YOu've made interesting points, here are my counter points.

2.
You have made no points at all, I can easily outargue you.

and so on.

Then at the end we vote not on who we think the better wrestler is but who we thought argued best.

**Indifferent Clox** · 02-05-2007, 11:55 AM

Also we show YouTube pictures of your wrestler and such.

**The One** · 02-05-2007, 12:17 PM

OK.

Ric Flair is the greatest ever.

There, I stated it, I supported it with facts (Ric Flair [who is the greatest ever] + the greatest ever [who happens to be Ric Flair]) and it is unquestionably true. Therefore, this is now a pointless debate.

**The Show Off** · 02-05-2007, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The One

OK.

Ric Flair is the greatest ever.

There, I stated it, I supported it with facts (Ric Flair [who is the greatest ever] + the greatest ever [who happens to be Ric Flair]) and it is unquestionably true. Therefore, this is now a pointless debate.

I second, so this thread is done now right?

**The One** · 02-05-2007, 12:18 PM

This kind of reminds me of my old 2001 thread "Give me one reason to dislike Billy Gunn and I will give you 2 reasons he is awesome."

**Russenmafia** · 02-05-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The One

This kind of reminds me of my old 2001 thread "Give me one reason to dislike Billy Gunn and I will give you 2 reasons he is awesome."

you got a link to the thread at all? I want to see the reasons for defending the Mr Ass gimmick.

**The One** · 02-05-2007, 12:18 PM

Long story short, I would toss my name in the hat to do something like this, under the conditions I would be representing Flair, Nash or JBL.

**Chuck Jones** · 02-05-2007, 02:31 PM

I'd be down for this...

**St. Jimmy** · 02-05-2007, 04:58 PM

This thread is SO not over. TOVO, you're on NOTICE.

**Indifferent Clox** · 02-05-2007, 05:53 PM

Would someone copy and paste one of the debates from Rajah over here? I would but my computer is fucking up, I'm running it in safe mode right now.

**Destor** · 02-05-2007, 09:34 PM

I'd do this, but TOVO has already taken the greatest of all time.

**BigDaddyCool** · 02-05-2007, 09:43 PM

I'll represent anyone but AJ "Faggot" Styles or Chris Benoit. I would preffer someone who truely rules at wrestling, like Nash or JBL.

**BigDaddyCool** · 02-05-2007, 09:44 PM

Better yet, I want a challenge. I want the One to debate why Nash or JBL is awesome, then I want to have to figure out how they aren't.

**The One** · 02-05-2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDaddyCool

Better yet, I want a challenge. I want the One to debate why Nash or JBL is awesome, then I want to have to figure out how they aren't.

I would accept this challenge except that it would be totally useless as your side has no supporting facts.

**BigDaddyCool** · 02-05-2007, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The One

I would accept this challenge except that it would be totally useless as your side has no supporting facts.

Coward. Plus, since when did I need facts. My opinion holds more wait than facts.

**Destor** · 02-05-2007, 09:46 PM

AJ "faggot" Stlyes can rot.

**Flair Wooo** · 02-05-2007, 09:48 PM

Bret Hart.

**BigDaddyCool** · 02-05-2007, 10:49 PM

Fine, whatever. I'll make any wrestler look like a golden god.

**Jeritron** · 02-05-2007, 10:52 PM

I'm certainly in. I'll represent just about anyone nominated thats worthy of being nominated.
I could definitely do this, by now you guys have probably picked up that I'm full of hot air.

**Chuck Jones** · 02-05-2007, 11:04 PM

To rate someone as the best in the world, one must look at the full gamut of factors which have put a wrestler beyond his or her peers. I know some in the tournament have used videos to back up their points, so I�ve constructed a video which is found at the end of this post, giving some examples of the factors I�m going to be discussing. It�s nothing fancy, but it does the job well enough for those who don�t want to watch the multiple matches that are included later.

Let�s get ring work out of the way first. The Rock had a very exciting in-ring style. His offensive style was hard-hitting, flashy and pulled the crowd into the action. His athleticism was especially good at highlighting the impact of not only his own moves, but the offensive flurry of an opponent. The former is most notable in the Armageddon HIAC - Rock almost floats through the air as he connects with his flying clothesline and DDT. Also shown in the video is several examples of The Rock�s selling - using his shoulders and back, he could make a move look devastating, both in a realistic fashion or in an exaggerated fashion. A Stone Cold Stunner would send The Rock reeling to the other side of the ring. A gore from Rhyno would turn him inside out. Rock had a perfect stature, in that he was big enough to battle toe-to-toe with monsters like Kane, but athletic enough to take a hurricanrana from Chris Jericho. While Rock was on the defensive, he actively drew fans into his struggle. Survivor Series 2000 featured an injured Rock desperately seeking revenge on Rikishi, and not only did Rock wince in pain from Rikishi�s assault, but Rock�s own offence became short bursts of fire, as it took so much out of him. It was perhaps the comeback style that was the key to Rock�s success as an in-ring competitor - the way he threw a punch and then dropped to one knee, beckoning the fans to cheer him on as he tried to string together a combo of punches. His wrestling style was first and foremost about maintaining the fans� interest in the match and making them care about his well-being.

What�s even more impressive is the way The Rock continually developed his in-ring style as he became a main eventer. His offensive arsenal utilized several methods of connecting with the fans. He began to incorporate the sharpshooter as an effective crowd-pleasing transitional moment in a match, by means of punishing the heel and setting up the next few minutes of the match. In late 2000, he added a flying clothesline to his comeback routine, which became a fantastic element of his offence after getting the hot tag. In 2001, he began to use the kip-up which introduced a sense of unpredictability in his matches. This was most prominent at Summerslam 2001, where Rock kipped up and took Booker by surprise with the Rock Bottom. During the same time period, he began to mock his opponents mannerisms during matches, which perfectly tied in with his arrogant character. For example, he�d take the time to do RVD�s thumb-pose before delivering the spit-punch. He even gradually modified his existing move set. The People�s Elbow used to be executed fairly quickly. But then The Rock began to make the move more dramatic by pausing to �smell� the fans, adding atmosphere to the sequence. The best wrestlers are those who manage to change their routine, if even slightly, in order to keep their performances fresh.

The most predictable category in my debate is The Rock�s promos. He produced some incredible comedy over the years, through impersonations and put-downs. He could also cut a very serious promo, quickly summarising both the situation he was in and his own arrogant intentions. The Rock�s promo style was very innovative, once again focusing on fan participation. He would look off-camera, as if he could see the fans chanting his name. He�d stop in mid-sentence if the fans began to cheer or boo. He could go on a tangent whilst the interviewer was wearing a shirt over his head or picking his nose. This style of promos catered to both the live audience and the audience watching at home. And we see a lot of current wrestlers trying to emulate that style. Notice how John Cena attempts to mix comedy with a serious promo? Notice how Randy Orton pauses to allow the fans to react to what he�s said? Notice how Ken Kennedy really wraps his tongue around the words he says, to add emphasis and expression? Even regular bridging phrases used by today�s WWE wrestlers, such as �the fact of the matter is�.� and �without a shadow of a doubt�, can be found in many of The Rock�s promos.

I�d be remiss to talk about promos, and not mention The Rock�s catchphrases. God did he have a lot of them. �It doesn�t matter�, �Just bring it�, �the People�s Champion�, �the most electrifying man in sports entertainment�, �The Great one�, Know your role�, etc, etc. Much is made of repetition in wrestling these days - fans are craving for wrestlers to change things up a bit, be it in the ring or on the mic. But The Rock did something truly remarkable - he used repetition and predictability to make his promos and catchphrases even more fan-interactive. Telling Shane McMahon after Wrestlemania 15 that he was �three seconds away, and The Rock means��, followed by the fans shouting �Three seconds away!�. The fun was knowing that it was coming. Those phrases allowed him to hold the crowd in the palm of his hands. There is no better example than The Rock�s meeting with police officers in Indianapolis in 1999, just after Stone Cold was knocked down, in which Rock declares that the fans would chant his name in 4 seconds. Guess what - they did. Few wrestlers could sustain their popularity with such repetitiveness, especially over such a long period of time. But it was the expectation which made his catchphrases so entertaining.

Now we come to one of the biggest reasons why The Rock has his stake to the claim of best wrestler in the world. He had one of the most entertaining and multi-dimensional characters of any wrestler I�ve seen. Everything about him dripped with personality and charisma. From his cocky, arrogant demeanour, both towards interviewers and his fellow wrestlers, to even his fashion sense and speaking in the third person, The Rock made a concerted effort to stand out from the crowd. What�s more important is how he channelled his character into everything he did. During his heel run in 1999, the fans loved to repeat his catchphrases, sometimes even before he could utter them. Rather than just going with the flow, he used this reaction to solidify his heel character. He would appear annoyed and berate the fans for their �sing-along with the Great One�. He made it known that the fans actually meant something and that their reaction could affect him; either by inflating his ego as a face or annoying him as a heel.

As I said earlier, his character became an element of his ring work. During his feuds with Mankind and Austin in 1999, he�d carry out some trash-talking on commentary; Backlash 1999 is a particularly good example, as Rock took the time to steal a camera and insult Austin on the announce table. The character-driven ring work was even evident in matches where he played the face. At both Summerslam 2002 and Wrestlemania 18, the fans got on his case despite him playing the role of the good guy. Did he just ignore it and soldier on, like most wrestlers would? Nope. He conveyed that he was genuinely upset with the reaction, and it affected everything from the pace of his wrestling to his treatment of his opponent. At Wrestlemania for example, he glares at the fans chanting �Rocky sucks� and slowly walks towards Hogan to deal out more punishment, only for Hogan to catch him off guard with a low blow. The Rock may have leaned toward the sides of both good and evil throughout his career, as all wrestlers have, but overall he was a truly individual character, whose attitude and emotions could be different depending on the crowd.

His character and mannerisms were also excellent for creating atmosphere. As I�ve highlighted in the video, The Rock�s entrance alone portrayed his emotions and the big-fight feel of the match. At Summerslam 2002, for example, he rushed to the ring to duke it out with Lesnar, after weeks of mind games. But in other scenarios, such as Backlash 2000 against HHH, The Rock stood poised on the top turnbuckle, burning a hole through his opponent with his eyes. This also occurred at No Mercy 2001, with Rock locking eyes with Chris Jericho for quite some time. Not only did it make for epic camera shots and allow the announcers to discuss how the feud came to a head, but it illustrated the magnitude of the match. Going back to the Jericho example, their stare-down perfectly illustrated the clash of personalities and the desire to be WCW Champion. When The Rock was involved, a main event felt like a big deal. It�s a testament to The Rock�s talent that he was so skilled behind a microphone, yet could portray his intentions and emotions so easily with body language; whether it�s a simple stare or a particular posture.

A wrestler can have all these qualities, but they don�t mean anything if the wrestler was unable to express them to the full extent. So what has The Rock done? In terms of his own career, his star began to take off once he was allowed to be himself in 1997, during the Nation of Domination angle. He had several good bouts with Ken Shamrock (particularly KOTR 1997) and HHH (Summerslam 1998) over the Intercontinental Title, before moving into the main event in late 1999. There, he served as the perfect foil against Mankind and Stone Cold Steve Austin, the latter feud rivalling Austin/McMahon and Austin/Hart in terms of Austin�s most memorable adversaries. His character became so popular that Rock turned face, and his �This is your life� segment with Mankind was the highest rated full quarter hour in cable wrestling history In 2000, The Rock became the premier face, competing in several great clashes against the likes of newcomer Chris Benoit and now-fellow main eventer HHH. By the end of his main event run in 2002, he was the first-ever 7 time WWE Champion, a Royal Rumble winner (albeit under shady circumstances ), a Wrestlemania main eventer 3 times in a row and he was one of the few men to hold the WWF/WCW Undisputed Title (before the brand split featured separate World Titles).

In terms of influencing other wrestlers� careers, it was Rock who was chosen to be the man to give Mankind, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho and Brock Lesnar their first World Title wins (technically Chris Benoit as well ). The Rock�s versatility as a performer has also been effective in his dealings with the mid-card; helping to reinforce Rikishi, Christian and Test�s heel turns in 2000 and 2001 respectively, battling Rhyno and the Dudleys during the Invasion angle, and working with the Hurricane in 2003 to produce not only some great comedy but a serious popularity boost for the superhero (that sadly was never capitalised on). The Rock was a major influence up and down the roster. And how can we forget the arrival of �Smackdown!�, a show named after one of The Rock�s very own catchphrases. In typical fashion, The Rock would claim that it was his show anytime he appeared. WWE's decision to name a second television show after one of his catchphrases was just one example of how big The Rock became. To this day, he�s still one of the few real draws in terms of name value and popularity, and while his movie career perhaps shortened what could have been a longer career in wrestling, those 5 -6 years are a collection of great matches, great promos and proof that some guys can become that good in a very short space of time.

**BigDaddyCool** · 02-05-2007, 11:16 PM

So, what are we waiting for, or should we just go for it? I'm going to do Nash.

**Jeritron** · 02-05-2007, 11:21 PM

I call Shawn Michaels if its just first come first serve.

**BigDaddyCool** · 02-05-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeritron5000

I call Shawn Michaels if its just first come first serve.

Yeah, totally do a no brainer.

**Jeritron** · 02-05-2007, 11:24 PM

Alright... who would you suggest I argue on behalf of?

**BigDaddyCool** · 02-05-2007, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeritron5000

Alright... who would you suggest I argue on behalf of?

Judy Bagwell.

**FakeLaser** · 02-05-2007, 11:28 PM

No essays are required, everyone knows the answer is Bret Hart.

**The One** · 02-05-2007, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FakeRazor

No essays are required, everyone knows the answer is ~~Bret Hart~~Ric Flair.

By the way, this will NEVER fly. Do people not realise TPWW has a 3 serious post per topic limit. It will end up being an essay, an Alienoid response, and then we're off to Sean O'Haire in a cage.

**Flair Wooo** · 02-06-2007, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FakeRazor

No essays are required, everyone knows the answer is Bret Hart.

**BigDaddyCool** · 02-06-2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FakeRazor

No essays are required, everyone knows the answer is Bret Hart.

Bret Hart is a whiney bitch.

**The One** · 02-06-2007, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDaddyCool

Bret Hart is a whiney bitch.

**El Fangel** · 02-06-2007, 12:20 AM

Damn the Rock is taken

. I could try Undertaker, but yeah...

**Jeritron** · 02-06-2007, 12:26 AM

I'd love to write a 10 page essay on how luger can draw a nickel, but struggles with the dime, and the human response.

**Chuck Jones** · 02-06-2007, 12:42 AM

I'll take Undertaker...unless someone else wants him.

**The One** · 02-06-2007, 12:49 AM

I have changed my mind. If I do this I need someone who could possibly stretch my incredible mind. I would need someone like Harvey Whippleman for this to be anywhere close to a fair contest.

02-05-2007, 11:04 PM	#26
Chuck Jones The Thread Killer Posts: 477	An essay on Rajah about the Rock...just an example To rate someone as the best in the world, one must look at the full gamut of factors which have put a wrestler beyond his or her peers. I know some in the tournament have used videos to back up their points, so I�ve constructed a video which is found at the end of this post, giving some examples of the factors I�m going to be discussing. It�s nothing fancy, but it does the job well enough for those who don�t want to watch the multiple matches that are included later. Let�s get ring work out of the way first. The Rock had a very exciting in-ring style. His offensive style was hard-hitting, flashy and pulled the crowd into the action. His athleticism was especially good at highlighting the impact of not only his own moves, but the offensive flurry of an opponent. The former is most notable in the Armageddon HIAC - Rock almost floats through the air as he connects with his flying clothesline and DDT. Also shown in the video is several examples of The Rock�s selling - using his shoulders and back, he could make a move look devastating, both in a realistic fashion or in an exaggerated fashion. A Stone Cold Stunner would send The Rock reeling to the other side of the ring. A gore from Rhyno would turn him inside out. Rock had a perfect stature, in that he was big enough to battle toe-to-toe with monsters like Kane, but athletic enough to take a hurricanrana from Chris Jericho. While Rock was on the defensive, he actively drew fans into his struggle. Survivor Series 2000 featured an injured Rock desperately seeking revenge on Rikishi, and not only did Rock wince in pain from Rikishi�s assault, but Rock�s own offence became short bursts of fire, as it took so much out of him. It was perhaps the comeback style that was the key to Rock�s success as an in-ring competitor - the way he threw a punch and then dropped to one knee, beckoning the fans to cheer him on as he tried to string together a combo of punches. His wrestling style was first and foremost about maintaining the fans� interest in the match and making them care about his well-being. What�s even more impressive is the way The Rock continually developed his in-ring style as he became a main eventer. His offensive arsenal utilized several methods of connecting with the fans. He began to incorporate the sharpshooter as an effective crowd-pleasing transitional moment in a match, by means of punishing the heel and setting up the next few minutes of the match. In late 2000, he added a flying clothesline to his comeback routine, which became a fantastic element of his offence after getting the hot tag. In 2001, he began to use the kip-up which introduced a sense of unpredictability in his matches. This was most prominent at Summerslam 2001, where Rock kipped up and took Booker by surprise with the Rock Bottom. During the same time period, he began to mock his opponents mannerisms during matches, which perfectly tied in with his arrogant character. For example, he�d take the time to do RVD�s thumb-pose before delivering the spit-punch. He even gradually modified his existing move set. The People�s Elbow used to be executed fairly quickly. But then The Rock began to make the move more dramatic by pausing to �smell� the fans, adding atmosphere to the sequence. The best wrestlers are those who manage to change their routine, if even slightly, in order to keep their performances fresh. The most predictable category in my debate is The Rock�s promos. He produced some incredible comedy over the years, through impersonations and put-downs. He could also cut a very serious promo, quickly summarising both the situation he was in and his own arrogant intentions. The Rock�s promo style was very innovative, once again focusing on fan participation. He would look off-camera, as if he could see the fans chanting his name. He�d stop in mid-sentence if the fans began to cheer or boo. He could go on a tangent whilst the interviewer was wearing a shirt over his head or picking his nose. This style of promos catered to both the live audience and the audience watching at home. And we see a lot of current wrestlers trying to emulate that style. Notice how John Cena attempts to mix comedy with a serious promo? Notice how Randy Orton pauses to allow the fans to react to what he�s said? Notice how Ken Kennedy really wraps his tongue around the words he says, to add emphasis and expression? Even regular bridging phrases used by today�s WWE wrestlers, such as �the fact of the matter is�.� and �without a shadow of a doubt�, can be found in many of The Rock�s promos. I�d be remiss to talk about promos, and not mention The Rock�s catchphrases. God did he have a lot of them. �It doesn�t matter�, �Just bring it�, �the People�s Champion�, �the most electrifying man in sports entertainment�, �The Great one�, Know your role�, etc, etc. Much is made of repetition in wrestling these days - fans are craving for wrestlers to change things up a bit, be it in the ring or on the mic. But The Rock did something truly remarkable - he used repetition and predictability to make his promos and catchphrases even more fan-interactive. Telling Shane McMahon after Wrestlemania 15 that he was �three seconds away, and The Rock means��, followed by the fans shouting �Three seconds away!�. The fun was knowing that it was coming. Those phrases allowed him to hold the crowd in the palm of his hands. There is no better example than The Rock�s meeting with police officers in Indianapolis in 1999, just after Stone Cold was knocked down, in which Rock declares that the fans would chant his name in 4 seconds. Guess what - they did. Few wrestlers could sustain their popularity with such repetitiveness, especially over such a long period of time. But it was the expectation which made his catchphrases so entertaining. Now we come to one of the biggest reasons why The Rock has his stake to the claim of best wrestler in the world. He had one of the most entertaining and multi-dimensional characters of any wrestler I�ve seen. Everything about him dripped with personality and charisma. From his cocky, arrogant demeanour, both towards interviewers and his fellow wrestlers, to even his fashion sense and speaking in the third person, The Rock made a concerted effort to stand out from the crowd. What�s more important is how he channelled his character into everything he did. During his heel run in 1999, the fans loved to repeat his catchphrases, sometimes even before he could utter them. Rather than just going with the flow, he used this reaction to solidify his heel character. He would appear annoyed and berate the fans for their �sing-along with the Great One�. He made it known that the fans actually meant something and that their reaction could affect him; either by inflating his ego as a face or annoying him as a heel. As I said earlier, his character became an element of his ring work. During his feuds with Mankind and Austin in 1999, he�d carry out some trash-talking on commentary; Backlash 1999 is a particularly good example, as Rock took the time to steal a camera and insult Austin on the announce table. The character-driven ring work was even evident in matches where he played the face. At both Summerslam 2002 and Wrestlemania 18, the fans got on his case despite him playing the role of the good guy. Did he just ignore it and soldier on, like most wrestlers would? Nope. He conveyed that he was genuinely upset with the reaction, and it affected everything from the pace of his wrestling to his treatment of his opponent. At Wrestlemania for example, he glares at the fans chanting �Rocky sucks� and slowly walks towards Hogan to deal out more punishment, only for Hogan to catch him off guard with a low blow. The Rock may have leaned toward the sides of both good and evil throughout his career, as all wrestlers have, but overall he was a truly individual character, whose attitude and emotions could be different depending on the crowd. His character and mannerisms were also excellent for creating atmosphere. As I�ve highlighted in the video, The Rock�s entrance alone portrayed his emotions and the big-fight feel of the match. At Summerslam 2002, for example, he rushed to the ring to duke it out with Lesnar, after weeks of mind games. But in other scenarios, such as Backlash 2000 against HHH, The Rock stood poised on the top turnbuckle, burning a hole through his opponent with his eyes. This also occurred at No Mercy 2001, with Rock locking eyes with Chris Jericho for quite some time. Not only did it make for epic camera shots and allow the announcers to discuss how the feud came to a head, but it illustrated the magnitude of the match. Going back to the Jericho example, their stare-down perfectly illustrated the clash of personalities and the desire to be WCW Champion. When The Rock was involved, a main event felt like a big deal. It�s a testament to The Rock�s talent that he was so skilled behind a microphone, yet could portray his intentions and emotions so easily with body language; whether it�s a simple stare or a particular posture. A wrestler can have all these qualities, but they don�t mean anything if the wrestler was unable to express them to the full extent. So what has The Rock done? In terms of his own career, his star began to take off once he was allowed to be himself in 1997, during the Nation of Domination angle. He had several good bouts with Ken Shamrock (particularly KOTR 1997) and HHH (Summerslam 1998) over the Intercontinental Title, before moving into the main event in late 1999. There, he served as the perfect foil against Mankind and Stone Cold Steve Austin, the latter feud rivalling Austin/McMahon and Austin/Hart in terms of Austin�s most memorable adversaries. His character became so popular that Rock turned face, and his �This is your life� segment with Mankind was the highest rated full quarter hour in cable wrestling history In 2000, The Rock became the premier face, competing in several great clashes against the likes of newcomer Chris Benoit and now-fellow main eventer HHH. By the end of his main event run in 2002, he was the first-ever 7 time WWE Champion, a Royal Rumble winner (albeit under shady circumstances ), a Wrestlemania main eventer 3 times in a row and he was one of the few men to hold the WWF/WCW Undisputed Title (before the brand split featured separate World Titles). In terms of influencing other wrestlers� careers, it was Rock who was chosen to be the man to give Mankind, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho and Brock Lesnar their first World Title wins (technically Chris Benoit as well ). The Rock�s versatility as a performer has also been effective in his dealings with the mid-card; helping to reinforce Rikishi, Christian and Test�s heel turns in 2000 and 2001 respectively, battling Rhyno and the Dudleys during the Invasion angle, and working with the Hurricane in 2003 to produce not only some great comedy but a serious popularity boost for the superhero (that sadly was never capitalised on). The Rock was a major influence up and down the roster. And how can we forget the arrival of �Smackdown!�, a show named after one of The Rock�s very own catchphrases. In typical fashion, The Rock would claim that it was his show anytime he appeared. WWE's decision to name a second television show after one of his catchphrases was just one example of how big The Rock became. To this day, he�s still one of the few real draws in terms of name value and popularity, and while his movie career perhaps shortened what could have been a longer career in wrestling, those 5 -6 years are a collection of great matches, great promos and proof that some guys can become that good in a very short space of time.

02-05-2007, 04:51 AM	#3
Jeritron Get a poke on Posts: 35,234	We each nominate 10 guys? As "wrestlers", as "superstars" or all around? I'm going to nominate Shawn Michaels off the bat.

02-05-2007, 04:58 AM	#4
Impeccable Tag Team Wrestling Mark! Posts: 2,340	By different guys, do you mean Posters? And they pick their own wrestlers to talk about?

02-05-2007, 05:01 AM	#5
D Mac Posts: 21,603	You are not logged in or you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons: 1. You are not logged in. Fill in the form at the bottom of this page and try again. 2. You may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system? 3. If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.

02-05-2007, 07:24 AM	#6
Cuzziebro '11&'15 RWC CHAMPIONS Posts: 1,569	So wait, can this essay be in point form? Dot points are so much easier to read and write.

02-05-2007, 11:54 AM	#7
Indifferent Clox emerge Posts: 16,710	Well, ten posters nominates one wrestlers each. Ten is a tentative number. IT really is meant to be in Essay form. I mean how many books are written in point form? It may be easier to read but a well written essay flows. So just seperate paragraphs well enough and only two people will be posting at a time. So for instance. poster 1, I think Bryan Danielson is the greatest wrestler of all time. (goes on for about a page) poster 2. I think Boogieman is the greatest wrestler of all time. (goes on for about a page) 1. Well, you my friend are wrong. And I will show you why in an informed Essay. (goes on for a while) 2. I must give you the proverbieal nuh uh! Here is why Bryan Danielson isn't that great. 1. YOu've made interesting points, here are my counter points. 2. You have made no points at all, I can easily outargue you. and so on. Then at the end we vote not on who we think the better wrestler is but who we thought argued best.

02-05-2007, 11:55 AM	#8
Indifferent Clox emerge Posts: 16,710	Also we show YouTube pictures of your wrestler and such.

02-05-2007, 12:17 PM	#9
The One Boss Posts: 17,611	OK. Ric Flair is the greatest ever. There, I stated it, I supported it with facts (Ric Flair [who is the greatest ever] + the greatest ever [who happens to be Ric Flair]) and it is unquestionably true. Therefore, this is now a pointless debate.

02-05-2007, 12:18 PM	#11
The One Boss Posts: 17,611	This kind of reminds me of my old 2001 thread "Give me one reason to dislike Billy Gunn and I will give you 2 reasons he is awesome."

02-05-2007, 02:31 PM	#14
Chuck Jones The Thread Killer Posts: 477	I'd be down for this...

02-05-2007, 04:58 PM	#15
St. Jimmy Last of a Dying Forum Posts: 16,215	This thread is SO not over. TOVO, you're on NOTICE.

02-05-2007, 04:30 AM	#2
Bad Company Mad Posts: 26,228

02-05-2007, 05:53 PM	#16
Indifferent Clox emerge Posts: 16,710	Would someone copy and paste one of the debates from Rajah over here? I would but my computer is fucking up, I'm running it in safe mode right now.

02-05-2007, 09:34 PM	#17
Destor I am the cheese Posts: 51,428	I'd do this, but TOVO has already taken the greatest of all time.

02-05-2007, 09:43 PM	#18
BigDaddyCool Pelvic Sorcerer Posts: 64,762	I'll represent anyone but AJ "Faggot" Styles or Chris Benoit. I would preffer someone who truely rules at wrestling, like Nash or JBL.

02-05-2007, 09:44 PM	#19
BigDaddyCool Pelvic Sorcerer Posts: 64,762	Better yet, I want a challenge. I want the One to debate why Nash or JBL is awesome, then I want to have to figure out how they aren't.

02-05-2007, 09:46 PM	#22
Destor I am the cheese Posts: 51,428	AJ "faggot" Stlyes can rot.

02-05-2007, 09:48 PM	#23
Flair Wooo Posts: 2,901	Bret Hart.

02-05-2007, 10:49 PM	#24
BigDaddyCool Pelvic Sorcerer Posts: 64,762	Fine, whatever. I'll make any wrestler look like a golden god.

02-05-2007, 10:52 PM	#25
Jeritron Get a poke on Posts: 35,234	I'm certainly in. I'll represent just about anyone nominated thats worthy of being nominated. I could definitely do this, by now you guys have probably picked up that I'm full of hot air.

02-05-2007, 11:16 PM	#27
BigDaddyCool Pelvic Sorcerer Posts: 64,762	So, what are we waiting for, or should we just go for it? I'm going to do Nash.

02-05-2007, 11:21 PM	#28
Jeritron Get a poke on Posts: 35,234	I call Shawn Michaels if its just first come first serve.

02-05-2007, 11:24 PM	#30
Jeritron Get a poke on Posts: 35,234	Alright... who would you suggest I argue on behalf of?

02-05-2007, 11:28 PM	#32
FakeLaser continental drift Posts: 46,731	No essays are required, everyone knows the answer is Bret Hart.

02-06-2007, 12:20 AM	#37
El Fangel ELF ANGEL Posts: 39,476	Damn the Rock is taken . I could try Undertaker, but yeah...

02-06-2007, 12:26 AM	#38
Jeritron Get a poke on Posts: 35,234	I'd love to write a 10 page essay on how luger can draw a nickel, but struggles with the dime, and the human response.

02-06-2007, 12:42 AM	#39
Chuck Jones The Thread Killer Posts: 477	I'll take Undertaker...unless someone else wants him.

02-06-2007, 12:49 AM	#40
The One Boss Posts: 17,611	I have changed my mind. If I do this I need someone who could possibly stretch my incredible mind. I would need someone like Harvey Whippleman for this to be anywhere close to a fair contest.