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#1 |
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Posts: 24,540
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Who are the five most popular wrestlers in the history of wrestling?
By popularity, I guess I mean a combination of those who were the most, well, popular during their time with their respected company, combined with overall name familiarity and how much of an impact they actually had in making wrestling mainstream.
I was thinking about this earlier, and the list I came up with was: The Rock Hulk Hogan Stone Cold Steve Austin Goldberg Sting I picked those guys mainly because their names individually seemed to have transcended farther than just being associated with the WWF or WCW while still being associated with them. I don't know if I am describing this efficiently or logically at all really. Take Ric Flair, for example. He has been a gigantic star in the wrestling industry for many years, but his name doesn't seem to travel far beyond the connotations of the promotion he was with. People who watch wrestling regularly know all about him, as do many casual onlookers, but he isn't the first person the average person would have thought of if you were to mention wrestling to them. I also feel the same way about Shawn Michaels to a certain extent. You all might think differently on those issues, though. I haven't watched wrestling regularly since Chris Jericho left, so maybe a guy like John Cena would be on this list now, I am not sure. Just post your list and your reasoning for it. |
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#2 |
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TPWW's HHH Mark Since '04
Posts: 29,886
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Ric Flair would be on that list instead of Sting (in the South anyway).
Hogan,Austin,Rock,Goldberg,Flair Sting would be #6 most likely though. Last edited by James Steele; 08-01-2007 at 10:22 PM. |
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#3 |
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It's a blood match!
Posts: 27,385
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In order...
Hogan Austin Flair Sammartino The Rock |
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#4 |
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It's a blood match!
Posts: 27,385
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I'd say the Rock is the most famous but he wasn't around nearly as long as any of the other guys except Austin. Sammartino led WWF for like 10 years or more. Flair was a draw everywhere he went, and Austin may have drawn more than Hogan but Hulk was a draw for nearly 20 years.
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#5 |
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RAPTURE READY.
Posts: 31,936
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Hogan
Austin The Rock Flair #5 is a huge toss up between alot of people |
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#6 |
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I'm A Tazz Dan Guy
Posts: 735
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i agree with JamesSteele with the Ric Flair...but i would take out Goldberg and put in Triple H
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#7 |
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RAPTURE READY.
Posts: 31,936
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lol Triple H
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#8 |
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RAPTURE READY.
Posts: 31,936
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Bret Hart over Triple H anyday
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#9 |
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I'm A Tazz Dan Guy
Posts: 735
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damn..i was just getting ready to correct myself
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#10 |
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Mr. Slack A Lack Jack!
Posts: 4,390
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In no order
Austin Rock Flair Goldberg Hogan |
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#11 |
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▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬
Posts: 16,011
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Top 4 Easy:
Hogan Rock Austin Bret Hart Others: Shawn Michaels Undertaker Andre the Giant |
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#12 | |
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It's a blood match!
Posts: 27,385
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Quote:
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#13 |
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Eine Katze mit Stiefeln
Posts: 391
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Hogan
Rock Austin Benoit I dunno for 5. Rock, Austin and Hogan all lead their company when they were with them. They are mainstream names that anybody outside of wrestling knows as well. Rock and Hogan have been in movies, and Austin was so huge in his time that people outside of wrestling know him as well. To be honest, I put Benoit for a few reasons. People who watch wrestling know who Benoit was. He was a great wrestler, worked for years, albeit never at the top, but he was always a pretty popular guy. Then he makes some decisions, and the whole world hears about him. Benoit's just as popular as Austin, although in a different light. |
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#14 | |
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▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬
Posts: 16,011
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#15 | |
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Over Like Rover
Posts: 38,444
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#16 |
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RAPTURE READY.
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Actually, I'd put Undertaker up there
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#17 | |
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It's a blood match!
Posts: 27,385
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#18 |
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RAPTURE READY.
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on an unrelated note: alot of the artsy people I know seemed to like the Ultimate Warrior
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#19 |
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TPWW's HHH Mark Since '04
Posts: 29,886
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I love how people talk about how great of an international draw Bret Hart was. WCW did a international tour in 2001 that broke profit records (until WCW ending up fucking up on accounting or something and ended up losing money).
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#20 |
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TPWW's HHH Mark Since '04
Posts: 29,886
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Not many people other than New Englanders would know who Sammartino is.
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#21 |
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Boss
Posts: 17,611
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Steve Austin
The Rock Hulk Hogan Andre The Giant Ric Flair |
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#22 |
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Boss
Posts: 17,611
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And while I'm kind of near the topic, a poll was done in 1999 about the top 5 most recognizable wrestlers of all time...kind of along these lines I guess...Anyway I know for a fact that Nash made the list, though I can't off the top of my head remember the other ones. I just recall being a bit surprised that Nash beat out other somehow seemingly more likely workers.
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#23 | |
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Posts: 61,634
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Quote:
The top five would probably be: Stone Cold Steve Austin Hulk Hogan The Rock Goldberg The Undertaker That is if we are talking about outside recognition and shit. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan and The Rock are easy. I owned a Goldberg product even before I knew who he was. All I knew from friends was that he was "really tough." The Undertaker joins the list because he is just so striking, that anyone who knows wrestling probably remembers the guy who was a zombie. I recognised his name before I became a fan. Andre the Giant comes close, but I think that might be a generation thing, and you could very easily substitute Goldberg for Andre. Bret Hart is a name that is coming up, and I'm not too sure about that, but I'd assume that's a generation thing. Perhaps the most meaningful indicator of his recognition was that he got to guest star in an episode of The Simpsons, didn't he? That they chose Hart over some others must have meant something at the time. Ric Flair would not make my list. Legendary, yes, but if I didn't watch wrestling, there is no way I would have any clue who he is. Sting has a better shot, in my opinion. He is another that I knew from around the place before I started watching. |
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#24 | |
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Posts: 61,634
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#25 |
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Posts: 18,357
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Hogan
The Rock Austin easily And then, from there, it's a bit harder. I'd go: Ric Flair and um.... The Undertaker I dunno who I'd pick for #5.
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#26 |
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Forever
Posts: 23,569
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Hogan
Austin Flair The Rock Andre |
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#27 |
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It's a blood match!
Posts: 27,385
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Sting is probably up there, Goldberg I agree with too.
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#28 |
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TPWW Since '04
Posts: 4,195
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JEEZ this is hard. I'd have to agree with all the names brought up.
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#29 |
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Posts: 58,604
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Hulk Hogan
Stone Cold Steve Austin The Rock Ric Flair Bret Hart |
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#30 |
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TPWW Since '04
Posts: 4,195
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^ Whats the story behind your Avatar? Is that Pac-man?
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#31 |
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You can't teach that
Posts: 19,337
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Hogan
Austin Rock Andre the Giant Rick Flair |
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#32 |
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1/2 Optimist 1/2 Amazing
Posts: 12,427
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Hogan
Taker Rock Austin Andre the Giant Mainly based on the fact that they were all known outside of hardcore wrestling fans through other forms of media, with exception of Taker, but when I was younger anyone older than me would always talk about Taker. The other 4 have all done films giving them more mainstream |
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#33 |
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Pelvic Sorcerer
Posts: 64,762
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Um, you guys are way off. Kevin Nash is the 5 most popular wrestlers ever.
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#34 | |
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They/Them
Posts: 15,331
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#35 |
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Last of a Dying Forum
Posts: 16,215
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Hogan
Flair Rock Austin HBK |
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#36 | |
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Pelvic Sorcerer
Posts: 64,762
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#37 |
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They/Them
Posts: 15,331
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Austin
Rock Hogan Foley HBK |
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#38 | |
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Boss
Posts: 17,611
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Quote:
...sadly over 2,000 people were killed that day due to mob mentality and murders with the intent of taking someone else's ticket... |
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#39 |
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Cranky Kong
Posts: 78,671
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Bret Hart wasn't just on The Simpsons. He was also on Lonesome Dove and MAD TV a few times.
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#40 |
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Stickman
Posts: 15,119
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Was Ric Flair really a draw? Watching some old footage you see a tonne of empty seats. I'd say Hart was a bigger worldwide draw than Flair by far.
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