This series of highly regarded matches would also lead to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) contacting Rocco, leading to the birth of the "Black Tiger" persona and some of the most highly rated matches in Japanese television history against Sayamas Tiger Mask. Nash was 31 when he signed with WCW and started competing, and by the time he retired, his knees were in terrible shape. Joining forces with Arn Anderson in 1991, the duo known as The Enforcers captured the WCW Tag Team Titles and joined Paul E. Dangerously's Dangerous Alliance. During his third run with the title, The Total Package set the record as longest reigning U.S. Champion at 523 days. Eddie Guerrero may not have been born great, but he was raised to be. Ric Flair Actor | WWE Monday Night RAW Richard Morgan Fliehr isn't what you'd expect from a professional wrestler. A man of few words, Bobby Eaton was the anchor of one of the greatest tag teams in history, The Midnight Express. After testing his trade in carnivals and holiday camps, Darren soon gained exposure working for ITVs World of Sport, like many others on this list. He would still wrestle for WWE if they allowed him to. Kanyon finally broke out from under his mask after Raven denied his attempts to join The Flock, Ravens group of cronies. If there is one lesson to be taken away from Curt Hennigs tenure at WCW, its that perfection never rusts. It was that fortitude that earned him the moniker of WCWs Peoples Champion and helped him become a three-time, three-time, three-time WCW Champion, four-time tag team champion, two-time U.S. Champion and a one-time TV Champion. . Throughout his tenure, The Stinger amassed six WCW World Titles, three WCW Tag Team Championships, two WCW International World Titles and two United States Championships before battling his longtime rival Ric Flair on the final Nitro. He would win tag team titles in All Star Wrestling alongside fellow Liverpudlian Doc Dean before eventually being signed to WCW in the mid-90s. However, in 2021, in front of the Thunderdome audience on Monday Night Raw, Triple H returned to the ring to fight Randy Orton again in an unsanctioned match at the age of 51. The Kliq | 10 Tales of Their WWE Locker Room Stranglehold, Pat Roach: From the Wrestling Ring to the Silver Screen, The Respectful Side of Wrestling: Unexpected Friendships, Big Daddy Shirley Crabtree: Secret History of a British Giant, 10 Times WWE Changed Finishes at the Last Second, 10 Wrestling Championship Belts That Arent Recognized, 7 Times Wrestlers Lost Control on a Talk Show, William Regal: His Secret, Inspirational Story. Mixing equal parts Snake Pit submissions and carnie survival tricks, the four-time Television Champion bested Ricky The Dragon Steamboat, fought Fit Finlay in a parking lot and left Bill Goldberg embarrassingly befuddled in the center of the ring on live television. One of their biggest stars went by the name Big Daddy.. R.M. We think Magnum T.A. In 1999, Hart captured his first WCW World Title by winning a tournament at Mayhem, defeating the likes of Sting, Saturn and Kidman. This meant that her close friend Mae Young was able to eclipse her and became the oldest wrestler to ever compete in a WWE ring. 3. Ric Flair Actor | WWE Monday Night RAW Richard Morgan Fliehr isn't what you'd expect from a professional wrestler. He returned to WWE in 2002 and again in 2005. He has worked as a journalist for over 20 years, first in the world of print journalism before moving to online media as the world changed. That changed in 2018 when Michaels came out of retirement for one match in Saudi Arabia, where he teamed with Triple H to beat Kane and The Undertaker at Crown Jewel. Nash is a five-time WCW Champion with his first title victory controversially ending Goldbergs undefeated streak. However, he soon became an associate of the faction before winning his first of four U.S Titles in 1998. In Atlanta, he became United States Champion, but hes best remembered as a swaggering cruiserweight who nearly unmasked Rey Mysterio before leading a luchador uprising he dubbed the Latino World Order. But Kevin Sullivan was at his best when the Halloween theatrics of his Taskmaster persona were set aside in favor of the Boston bad boy who lurked underneath. Rob Van Dam 44. Pat Patterson 2 of 26 When he joined the WWF in 1979, Patterson was an established heel. He was trained by Hiro Matsuda. After a hiatus due to injury, Macho Man returned in 1999, once again winning the World Championship and commanding the respect of his opponents. RELATED:Ranking Every Goldberg Match Since His WWE Return. Collecting the Television Championship, U.S. Championship, and the WCW World Championship, Booker became one of a select few who achieved the Triple Crown in WCW. Already a decorated competitor in his home country, he added the U.S. Mae Young was part of the comedic storylines involving Fabulous Moolah, as the two elderly female wrestlers began to compete with younger girls. During his impactful time in Atlanta, Hall was a Television Champion, a two-time United States Champion and a seven-time WCW Tag Team Champion. The former NFL defensive tackle-turned-World Heavyweight Champion plowed through Hugh Morrus on Sept. 22, 1997, and gained momentum weekly with the indiscriminate obliteration of Raven, Hollywood Hogan, Curt Hennig and a lion's share of The New World Order roster. A typical entry reports information in the following sequence: Name, age, country of citizenship at birth, subsequent nationality (if applicable), what subject was noted for, cause of death (if known), and reference. Names like Bockwinkle and Martel and the Road Warriors were cool and hip. Sign up for Peacock to watch. From Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks to Chyna and Alundra Blayze, see who made the cut on The 50 Greatest Women Superstars, available to stream anytime on demand on Peacock and WWE Network. Hardy Boys 42. After one of his shows on December 2nd, 1997, he died from a stroke. Thesz continued to dominate until the next era of wrestlers entered in the 1950s and 1960s. By now we all know the story the busted tricep, the dismissive FedEx from Eric Bischoff, the glorious rebirth in WWE but lets not overlook the time before Steve Austin turned Stone Cold.. Undertaker has been wrestling for a long time, his career starting at the age of 19 in World Class Championship Wrestling before he moved on to Memphis, WCW, and finally WWE as The Undertaker. score: 23 of 126 (18%) required scores: 1, 2, 3, 4, 51 list stats leaders vote print comments How many have you heard of? To round out his history making career, Booker T became the second African-American to hold the prestigious World Heavyweight Championship after Ron Simmons. When he revealed his identity later that night, Rude became the centerpiece of Paul Heymans Dangerous Alliance. His thrilling rivalries with Psychosis, Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero made the San Diego-native the most popular flyer in the Atlanta-based organization as he became the face of the Cruiserweight division and a five-time champion. It also doesn't help that McMahon feels he can do anything, as he still takes bumps to this dayat the age of 73. However, The Hulkster truly revolutionized sports-entertainment at the 1996 Bash at the Beach. Teaming with The Hulkster at both the 97 and 98 Bash at the Beach events, The Worm proved himself to be a charismatic antagonist in the ring. He made his ring debut in 1977 and rose to prominence in wrestling during the 1980s as: Hulk Hogan; Terry Boulder; The Super Destroyer; Sterling Golden; Mr. America; Hulk Machine and as Hollywood Hogan. British wrestling legend Kendo Nagasaki. This perfect combination of fury and cunning made Rude a force to be reckoned with in WCW. On April 7th, 1986, at WrestleMania 2, The Bulldogs dethroned Greg The Hammer Valentine and Brutus Beefcake, successfully capturing the WWF World Tag Team Championships. At first, he was a heel, but later turned face, around WrestleMania VIII (1992). As a wrestler, he is currently signed to WWE. Ashley Park stars as Audrey, a successful lawyer adopted from China as a little girl by white parents. [2] They primarily appeared on WWE television programming, pay-per-views, and live events, and talent with developmental contracts appeared at NXT (formerly Florida Championship Wrestling), or they appeared at WWE's former training facilities: Deep South Wrestling, Heartland Wrestling Association, International Wrestling Association, Memphis Championship Wrestling, Ohio Valley Wrestling, or others. From, 1983-1993, Hogan was the world champion almost consistently, the most over babyface in professional wrestling history. This was during the Rock and Wrestling Era of WWE, and she held the title for two years. Yet, he doesnt get as much recognition outside of Britain. By the time his WWE run came to an end and Hogan left for WCW in 1994, he was already 41. He almost immediately captured the WCW Television Title, then formed championship teams with both Larry Zbyszko and Bobby Eaton. The average age of most of the WWE talent is around the mid-thirties, with a few in their twenties and a few more in their early forties. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy! Best known as "The Undertaker" from World Wrestling Entertainment. He letsBrock Lesnar F5 him, Kevin Owens headbutt him in the head, and Roman Reigns Superman Punch him! Here are the oldest active wrestlers in company history. This ultimately proved to be a waste of his ability during a time when he didnt have many years left in the squared circle as a performer. CRAIG TELLO. There are so many old wrestlers who are great at what they do, but we need you to vote up the best active wrestlers who are 40 and older who are still truly the best of the best! The youngest son of Gory Guerrero the Vlad Dracula of Mexican wrestling little Eduardo was rolling around in the ring before he was old enough to brush his own teeth. During the Loose Cannons time in Atlanta, he turned heads athletically and with some of the eras most riveting and compelling promos. Kieran Hamilton finds joy in all things wrestling. Beginning his WCW career managing The Fabulous Freebirds, Page soon entered active competition and formed his own faction known as The Diamond Mine. Inevitably, though, he wound up with Ric Flair once again, re-forming The Horsemen for one last run before injuries forced him into retirement. The oldest female wrestler was Princess Bonita (1919-2014), aged 94 years, 273 days. By the time Hulk Hogan wrestled his final match in WWE, he was 53 years old. Whos next? soon became whats next? as the intense titan with incalculable strength amassed boons and recognition the likes of which few WCW warriors ever attained. I helped bring the undersized All American defensive lineman to WCW in 1989 from Calgary. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Shahid. [1] Former employees in WWE consist of professional wrestlers, managers, valets, play-by-play and color commentators, announcers, interviewers, referees, trainers, script writers, executives, and members of the board of directors. Manami Toyota wasn't just considered one of the standouts of 1990s All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling -- many have even gone so far as to say that she's the greatest wrestler of all time. Sporting arms the size of small children and a web of red straps gripping his face, The Mastodon was as imposing as they come. AI-Generated Photos of Wrestlers: So Accurate Its Scary! At that age and size, one bump is likely all he had left in him.. Bret Hit Man Hart made his highly publicized WCW debut two weeks before Starrcade 1997. The Top Ranked Pro Wrestlers of the 1960s 101 YOUR RATING Rate Action Sport Syndicated series featuring wrestling matches as promoted by the American Wrestling Association (AWA). An endlessly talented individual, his presence through the years in WCW was multi-dimensional as he found success as an in-ring competitor, manager, musician and commentator. He is widely regarded as the most recognized wrestling star worldwide and the most popular wrestler of the 1980s. By beating Sleazy-E at Starrcade, Larry released the black and white clad group's tight grip on Nitro and returned control of the program to WCW. Hulk Hogan is one of the most well-known names in WWE wrestling. Thanks to his massive size, Haystacks Calhoun became an instant hit during the golden era. The punishment Foley endured including a Texas Death Match in the main event of Halloween Havoc ultimately endeared him to the fans, and he captured the WCW Tag Team Championship before departing in 1994. Instrumental in the formation of The nWo, Nash helped change the landscape of sports-entertainment forever. Watch every Premium Live Event and get unlimited access to WWE's premium content - available to you anywhere, anytime, on any device. Winning a raffle to fill a vacant spot to challenge for the WCW Title, Simmons entered the ring, scoop slammed then-champion Vader and changed the world. K.P. B.M. J.C. R.M. He competed at the second WrestleMania when he was 42. is a boss, but he was never part of WCW from 1988-2001. It was an oddly humanizing end to the heros WCW run, but it didn't make him any less phenomenal. At the Chi-Town Rumble that same year, Steamboat defeated Flair to capture the championship. Mark Calaway Actor | Suburban Commando Born on March 24, 1965. His patented Death Valley Driver made him a formidable competitor as he captured the World Television Championship early in his WCW career. During the 1980s and 90s, it was common to see wrestlers from Japan grapple with American competitors. J.R. After a six-month tenure from 1989-1990, Cactus returned in 1991 with a more vicious persona. His potential and ability have been often overlooked despite his influence on wrestling. Big Daddy regularly prevailed in his bouts, commonly using his star-studded finisher, The Big Splash.. Hey, yo! Although accomplished, Jarrett is certainly one of the most polarizing figures in WCW history. From his time as Col. Parkers bodyguard to his tenure in the Dungeon of Doom, the mighty savage was an immovable mountain of a man that no one wanted to face. Although Flair left WCW in favor of WWE in 91, he returned home in 1993 and went right back to styling and profiling as the leader of The Four Horsemen. ?," take a moment to read the guidelines the WWE.com team followed when compiling this list. However, he never got his break in what was, at the time, the top promotion in the world, WWE. That would be Lawler's last match ever in WWE because, after the match, Lawler returned to commentary and suffered a heart attack. Already a sports-entertainment icon by the time Ted Turner launched WCW, Ric Flair continued along his path of success in the Atlanta-based promotion. Eatons prowess as a tag team competitor made him a sought-after partner. Their union put WCW on the map as Hogan basked in the jeers that his villainous Hollywood persona elicited on his way to becoming a six-time WCW Champion. Title to his mantle shortly after his arrival. Different versions of this character would form in the years to follow, showing the personas longevity, but none lived up to the original. WWE is an American professional wrestling promotion and entertainment company based in Stamford, Connecticut. He was the biggest star in WCW, their most recognizable babyface, and the face of the company through its highs and lows. Honoring his roots, he adorned his trophies with Canadian flag stickers, renaming them the Canadian Heavyweight Championship, the 100kg and Under Championship and the Saskatchewan Hardcore International Title. Bill Goldbergwas 50when he wascompeting with Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship -- winning it at the age of 49. Back before he was the biggest thing in WWE, the tough Texan was a Million Dollar Man protg glumly named "The Ringmaster." But the NBA Hall of Famer wasnt just another grinning "Hollywood" Hogan lackey. Some consider this match one of the greatest matches of all time. However, he never got to show his full potential and was often placed in comedy segments alongside his leprechaun sidekick, Hornswoggle. There is no doubt that Booker T belongs amongst the greats of WCW. Here is the ridiculous truth about Terry Funk -- he became the NWA World Champion in 1975 by beating Jack Brisco for the title. WCW's success rested on the shoulders of experienced competitors and high-flying young ring warriors. While that rarely happens today, due to injury concerns, there are moments when the WWE pulls out some elder statesmen. A volatile and physically dominating competitor, Steiner is certainly one of WCWs most memorable characters. 1. She and her childhood friend Lolo (Sherry Cola), a trash-talking free spirit making sex . Kane came back when he was 52 and won the 24/7 title from R-Truth and teasedmore wrestling matches when Bray Wyatt attacked him. H.F. The Madness remained at the top of his game in The nWo, eventually sparking Hogans jealousy over the World Title, prompting Savage to form the nWo Wolfpac alongside Kevin Nash. R.M. He would have memorable feuds against the Von Erichs alongside Gino Hernandez as the Dynamic Duo in the World Class Championship Wrestling promotion, where he joined in 1983. From there, Konnan joined Kevin Sullivans evil Dungeon of Doom and adopted a new look, embracing the Mexican street culture. The Wrestlers: Land of a Thousand Dances. British wrestler Dynamite Kid Tom Billington was one of the best to lace up a pair of wrestling boots. The self-proclaimed " Living Legend, Larry Zbyszko was one of WCWs most familiar faces for more than a decade both inside the squared circle and from the broadcast booth. Electricity Steve Regal. He first came to the WWF in 1990 as Ted DiBiase 's mystery partner at The Survivor Series (1990). In the wake of the nWos success, Bischoff emerged as its evil power hungry dictator, becoming sports-entertainments first villainous authority figure. These accomplishments impressed the infamous nWo a faction he would eventually join. He worked in Brixton offices by day but would become a villain by night. Together, the cocky duo battled legendary teams like Doom and The Steiner Brothers during their reign as WCW Tag Team Champions. Along with his accolades, he was one of the first to incorporate a female valet into his act. Proving that he was WCW's elder statesman, the former TV Champion continued to compete on and off in 1999 and 2000. Whos the competitor that turned sports-entertainment upside down when he appeared on WCW Monday Nitro in 1996 while still presumably under contract with WWE? 1. So, while WWE fansmay remember him for being a wrecking ball in The APA, understand that Ron Simmons paved the way for Superstars like The Rock, Booker T, and Mark Henry. Here are twelve British wrestlers who were critical to the evolution of British wrestling and influenced some of the very best of today. Training under Marty Jones, Matthews made his pro wrestling debut at the age of 15 for a local promotor at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Still in great shape, never count out Triple H coming back again in the future. Actor | Finlay retired from in-ring competition in 2012 and is now a backstage producer for the WWE. Even as a member of the legendary Four Horsemen, it was clear that Sid Vicious was his own man. Going from Ravens flunky to Hulk Hogans rival in a little more than a year, Kidman proved that a stacked resume is nice, but guts are more important. R.M. MATT ZIMMER. Look it up. A hell of a lot, as it turns out. Some of WCWs best Cruiserweights left fans scratching their heads. When Jericho made his highly anticipated debut in WWE, his arrival was significant due to his tremendous ability to entertain as showcased in WCW. At The Great American Bash 1996, a young luchador named Rey Mysterio made his WCW debut and challenged Dean Malenko for the Cruiserweight Championship. During his career, he held the European Heavyweight Championship and British Heavyweight Championship in the UK and won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship in Canada with the Dynamite Kid. There was a time when Americans thought English guys were nothing but a bunch of mincing Hugh Grants with funny accents and questionable oral hygiene. Okay, now that that's out of the way, here are the 50 greatest Superstars in WCW history as decided by a team of editors, a WWE Hall of Famer and the simple, widely-known fact that Sid is the ruler of the world. However, like many on this list, his potential was not pursued to its extent as he tragically died in 2001 at the age of 46 due to being shot to death after a dispute with his former roommate. Getting a fresh start in Atlanta, The Hulkster hit pay dirt in his first WCW match, winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship from Ric Flair at Bash at the Beach. The Gentleman, as he was known, still did get his due in other less mainstream promotions such as the Global Wrestling Federation, where he won the GWF Heavyweight Championship twice in 1994. After jumping from WCW to run roughshod over the WWE roster, Sid returned to terrorize once again, taking on the likes of Kevin Nash, Hollywood Hogan and Goldberg. Making his NWA/WCW debut in 1987, The Stinger remained with the Atlanta-based organization until it was acquired by WWE in 2001. B.M. Rankings were based on everything from longevity to cultural impact. Matthews trained as a shooter (a wrestling term that describes a wrestler with a legitimate fighting background), and he often defended prize money against members of the public. Ranking Explanations . With accolades like these, Big Sexy is without a doubt one of the most influential figures in WCW history. Focusing on Sting, he formed an alliance with fellow wild man Abdullah the Butcher, and the pair competed in a shocking Chamber of Horrors Match at Halloween Havoc, which remains one of the most infamous bouts in sports-entertainment history. However, as DDP can attest, it was his defiance of The New World Order and his legendary rivalry with Macho Man Randy Savage in 1997 that truly launched his career. Hennig time in WCW signified the in-ring renaissance of one of the 90s best talents, who had been sidelined with a back injury for the better part of three years. Its just too bad he didnt bring his toothless security guard, Ralphus, with him. Beautiful Bobby, however, overcame the odds and upset Anderson in a classic bout to claim his only WCW singles championship. Hogan began his professional wrestling career in . K.P. Although known nowadays as a coach at the WWE Performance Center, previously, Robbie Brookside had a very successful career as a performer. Among Bischoffs game-changing contributions included substantially growing the budget to compete with WWE and the revolutionary concept of The nWo. Legendary British wrestling anti-hero Mick McManus. Before leaving WCW for WWE, Saturn captured the WCW Tag Team Titles on two occasions, further cementing his legacy in the Atlanta-based organization. McManus has been described as the greatest name in British wrestling history, yet he remains mostly unknown outside of the United Kingdom. That was in 2012 when Lawler teamed up with Randy Orton to beat CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler. This list will answer these questionsand your vote matters. However, the loss of his coveted mask did not faze the high-flying competitor. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_former_WWE_personnel&oldid=1147080992, Lists of professional wrestling personnel, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 28 March 2023, at 18:58. Hailing from Tokyo, Japan, Mutas epic battles with WCWs face-painted franchise, Sting, are what truly gave rise to his legend. Storm also formed Team Canada, whose membership curiously included Americans like Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Mike Awesome, and engaged in memorable rivalries with the Misfits in Action and Filthy Animals. Making his WCW debut in 1995, The Worlds Largest Athlete immediately went after Hulk Hogan and his World Title. The Monday Night War is one of the most pivotal battles in the history of sports-entertainment. Throughout his years in WCW, he found himself embroiled in bitter rivalries with Sting and Road Warrior Hawk. Very few people in the wrestling industry are made like Michael Hayes. K-Dawg served as the hypeman for the outlaw group, riling up crowds and showing them how to be bout it, bout it and rowdy rowdy. He also proved himself to be a true leader, taking charge of groups like Master Ps No Limit Soldiers and The Filthy Animals. Let's take a look at 10 of the most important pro wrestlers of the 1980s. CM Punk, would be way higher than Cena but this is a continuation of a list I started awhile ago and I only remembered to add Punk in the end. However, Mysterio wasnt limited to Cruiserweight competition and stood up to challenges from larger competitors, earning victories against the likes of Kevin Nash and Scott Norton The Giant Killer even challenged Ric Flair for the WCW World Title in 1999. Jim Niedhart YouTube The Niedhart legacy these days is carried on through current WWE superstar Natalya, but her father frequently known as The Anvil had cemented his heroic status long before she began fighting. He, John Felix Anthony Cena Jr. (; born April 23, 1977) is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and TV personality. 23. He was soon promoted to Executive Vice President, took control of WCW and eventually became the companys President.