So, you’re probably wondering how someone even begins to tackle a list like the “top 100 professional wrestlers of all time.” Lemme tell ya, it ain’t like picking your favorite ice cream flavor. This thing nearly broke my brain, and I’ve been watching wrestling since before most of you were born, probably.
It all started, like most good (or bad) ideas, with an argument. Me and a couple of buddies, jawing about who was really the best. You know how it goes. One guy says Flair, another says Hogan, then someone throws in a Stone Cold or a Rock. And then I thought, heck, I should just make my own list. Put it all down. Sounds easy, right? Wrong.
The Messy Beginnings
First thing I did? Just started scribbling names. On napkins, backs of envelopes, anywhere I could. Filled up a whole notebook, easy. Hundreds of names. Guys I loved, guys I hated but respected, guys I barely remembered but someone else mentioned. It was a total mess, a real dog’s breakfast. I looked at that pile of names and thought, “What have I gotten myself into?”
Then I tried to get a bit more organized. Started thinking, okay, what makes a wrestler “top”? Is it just in-ring skill? ‘Cause if so, some flashy guys might rank high but couldn’t draw a dime. Is it charisma? Sure, but some charismatic dudes were, let’s be honest, not exactly Bret Hart in the ring. Championships? Well, some guys held belts forever and were boring as paint drying.
Going Down the Rabbit Hole
So, I figured I had to consider a bit of everything: ring work, talking ability (promo skills, as they say), how much money they drew, their impact on the business, and just that “it” factor, you know? That magic. I started pulling out old tapes – yeah, actual VHS tapes, some DVDs too – and then, of course, firing up the old internet to watch stuff I hadn’t seen in ages or stuff from before my time. Hours and hours, man. My wife thought I’d lost it. “You watching more wrestling?” she’d ask. Yep, I was. It was research, I told her!
I made a big ol’ spreadsheet. Columns for different things. Trying to be all methodical. But wrestling, it ain’t always methodical, is it? It’s about feeling. How did a wrestler make you feel? Did they have you on the edge of your seat? Did you genuinely hate their guts as a heel or cheer like a maniac for them as a babyface?
The Agony of Ranking
Then came the hardest part: the actual ranking. Moving guys up, moving guys down. This was brutal. How do you compare a Lou Thesz to a Kenny Omega? Different eras, different styles, different everything. It’s like comparing apples and, I dunno, chainsaws. You just gotta go with your gut, based on all that “research” and what you value.
This is where it got personal. I’d have a guy at number 20, sleep on it, then wake up and think, “No way, he’s gotta be higher!” Or, “What was I thinking putting him above her?” (Yeah, had to consider the women too, they’ve had some absolute legends). There were days I just stared at the list, completely stuck. I’d have my top 10, then I’d look at numbers 11-20 and think half of them could be top 10 material too.
- Trying to be objective was a joke. We all got our favorites, right? Guys we grew up with. I had to consciously push some of my sentimental picks down a notch if they didn’t stack up across the board. That hurt.
- Then there’s the guys who were amazing for a short burst versus the guys who were consistently great for decades. How do you weigh that?
- And don’t even get me started on controversies outside the ring. Do you ignore ’em? Does it affect their “professional wrestler” status? I decided to mostly stick to their impact as wrestlers, but it’s always in the back of your mind.
The Final Cut (Sort Of)
Eventually, I had something that looked like a list of 100. It took weeks, maybe months, of tinkering. I showed it to a few trusted pals, the ones who wouldn’t just scream at me but actually give some thought. Got some good feedback, made a few more tweaks. Some guys got bumped off entirely, which felt like kicking a puppy. There are probably another 50 names that could have been on there, easy.
So, when I finally hit “publish” or, you know, just decided “this is it,” it wasn’t with a feeling of triumph. It was more like, “Okay, that’s my take. It’s done. For now.” Because let’s be real, a list like this is never truly “done.” Ask me next year, and a few names might shift. That’s the fun of it, I guess. And also the torture.
Sharing it was the whole point. Getting people talking, arguing (respectfully, hopefully!), and remembering all these incredible performers. That’s what this whole crazy wrestling world is about, ain’t it? Sharing that passion. Even if my list makes you wanna throw your phone, at least it made you think about it.
