HBK:The Greatest WWE legend ever?

[Loose Cannon]

Putting drawing power aside for a minute, I would argue Bret Hart was the most valuable wrestler the WWE has ever had. Bret Hart was in the WWE for about 13 years. He missed one show, one show through his whole career. He was over in not just the United States, but the rest of the world too. And not many guys in the WWE were over in other countries back then. When someone was dropping the ball as champ, (i.e. Diesal, HBK,) they would put Bret Hart with those guys and give Bret the Title back. Bret was like a quick fix for the company when it came to the Title. The WWE always thought they could replace Bret with someone else, but he always kept coming back.

Also, Bret defended the Title against anyone without no complaints. He fought guys like 123 Kid, Hakushi, Pierre Lafeit (sp) for the Title and still put asses in the seats, eventhouth those guys were mid-carders. You think Hogan, Austin, HBK would of done that?

Bret worked his ass off for 13 years and never gave you anything less then 110%. When Davey Boy showed up at Summerslam 92 all blown up and completely out of shape, Bret carried that match to a 5* match. When Backlund was given the oppurtunity to have one last run with the Title in 94, Bret gladly stepped down. When HBK got to go home before Wrestlemania 13 and work out and rest every single day for a couple of months before Wrestlemania, Bret was still working in the WWF with guys like Taker and Diesal. How did they expect Bret to go one hour when he's working with these slower guys? Bret didn't get the rest for that Iron Man match and still gave a great preformance. Bret was about as hard a worker as the WWE has ever had. PERIOD.

[Nowhere Man]

Amen, LC.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by Loose Cannon Putting drawing power aside for a minute, I would argue Bret Hart was the most valuable wrestler the WWE has ever had. Bret Hart was in the WWE for about 13 years. He missed one show, one show through his whole career. He was over in not just the United States, but the rest of the world too. And not many guys in the WWE were over in other countries back then. When someone was dropping the ball as champ, (i.e. Diesal, HBK,) they would put Bret Hart with those guys and give Bret the Title back. Bret was like a quick fix for the company when it came to the Title. The WWE always thought they could replace Bret with someone else, but he always kept coming back. Also, Bret defended the Title against anyone without no complaints. He fought guys like 123 Kid, Hakushi, Pierre Lafeit (sp) for the Title and still put asses in the seats, eventhouth those guys were mid-carders. You think Hogan, Austin, HBK would of done that? Bret worked his ass off for 13 years and never gave you anything less then 110%. When Davey Boy showed up at Summerslam 92 all blown up and completely out of shape, Bret carried that match to a 5* match. When Backlund was given the oppurtunity to have one last run with the Title in 94, Bret gladly stepped down. When HBK got to go home before Wrestlemania 13 and work out and rest every single day for a couple of months before Wrestlemania, Bret was still working in the WWF with guys like Taker and Diesal. How did they expect Bret to go one hour when he's working with these slower guys? Bret didn't get the rest for that Iron Man match and still gave a great preformance. Bret was about as hard a worker as the WWE has ever had. PERIOD.

No one is taking anything away from Bret's workrate or talent, but that aside he really has nothing else going for him, other than he has remained in our minds as one of the best wrestling technicians ever.

Hart is easily a legend, but I wouldn't say he's the best ever. He deserves a lot of credit for what he did, but that's inside the wrestling circles, outside of it Hart is just "one of the best ever".

[Nowhere Man]

Just wondering, Alienoid, what exactly are the other needed criteria besides workrate and talent in order to be a legend?

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by Nowhere Man Just wondering, Alienoid, what exactly are the other needed criteria besides workrate and talent in order to be a legend?

None, I said Hart is a legend, but he's not the greatest ever. You can't exactly measure somebody by who's better technical-ability wise anyway. A lot of people think Bret is the best wrestler ever, but some people will argue Angle over him. Guys like Hogan and Austin are single-handedly responsible for increasing wrestling's popularity. These two will get my vote for greatest ever (Austin takes first place, because he was the better wrestler, IMO), while Hart, Angle, Michaels, Benoit, etc. will go down as legends, in my book, but they'll be only honourable mentions next to Hogan and Austin.