The Piledriver Report 6.06.07: The All-Time Fantasy Wrestling Federation
Posted by Ronny Sarnecky on 06.06.2007
It started out as an innocent comment by Jim Ross on WWE 24/7. JR briefly mentioned a top ten wrestlers of all-time. This week’s Piledriver Report would like to know who the fans think should be the Top Ten singles wrestlers and Top Ten Tag Teams picked for an All-Time Wrestling Federation.
On WWE 24/7's "Legend Roundtable," the panel of Mick Foley, Eric Bischoff, Jerry Lawler, Michael Hayes, and Jim Ross were discussing their favorite rivalries. Jim Ross started to talk about his favorite rivalry of all-time, that being Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes. While talking about the two combatants, Jim Ross mentioned something very interesting. Ross said that "if you were to have a draft where you could pick ten wrestlers from any time period, these two men would have to be on the top of that list."
This got me thinking. If there were to be an All-Time Wrestling Federation created, who would the top ten wrestlers selected for the company be? However, why stop at singles wrestlers? After all, despite what the WWE would like you to believe, tag team wrestling is a very important aspect of wrestling history. With that in mind, to go along with our ten singles wrestlers, this fantasy league would not be complete without selecting the top eight tag teams from any era to be apart of our federation.
Sounds like a simple task, but looks can be deceiving. While there are a handful of "automatics," there are a large group of wrestlers who can either fall in the top group, or out of it.
Who are the contenders that make up the top ten singles wrestlers and top eight tag teams of all time to join this All-Time Wrestling Federation? Since there have been millions of wrestlers over time, I'm going to give you some possible names. Their names are displayed by the era were they made their greatest impact. The first era would be pro wrestling's first real boom period since becoming a "worked" sport. This era is the "TV Era" of the late fifties and sixties. Wrestlers from this era include:
Lou Thesz, Pat O'Connor, Buddy Rogers, Gene Kiniski, Bruno Sammartino, Verne Gagne, Fritz Von Erich, Crusher Lisowski, Dick the Bruiser, Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon, Antonio Rocca, Miguel Perez, Karl Gotch, and Killer Kowalski.
Tag teams of the era: Larry Henning/Harley Race
The seventies, which served as the last golden decade of the old territory system, featured wrestlers like:
Dory Funk, Jr., Jack Brisco, Terry Funk, Pedro Morales, "Superstar" Billy Graham, Gorilla Monsoon, Harley Race, Stan Hansen, Nick Bockwinkel, Larry Zybyzko, The Sheik, Wahoo McDaniel, "Chief" Jay Strongbow, and Killer Khan.
Tag teams of the era: the Minnesota Wrecking Crew of Gene/Ole Anderson, the Blackjacks of Lanza & Mulligan, Toru Tanaka & Mr. Fuji, Pierre & Eric Yukon Lumberjacks, Johnny & Jerry Valiant, Mad Dog/Butcher Vachon, Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens, Crusher & Dick the Bruiser, Texas Outlaws of Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch, and Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens.
In the eighties, the territories gave way to national wrestling companies. With this national exposure, wrestlers became famous "superstars. Some men who fall under this category include:
Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Andre the Giant, Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, Roddy Piper, Ted DiBiase, Randy Savage, Bob Backlund, Curt Henning, Rick Martel, Jimmy Snuka, Sgt. Slaughter, Rick Rude, Paul Orndorff, "Big" John Studd, Jesse Ventura, Ken Patera, Iron Sheik, Barry Windham, Magnum T.A., Jerry Lawler, Nikita Koloff, and Kerry Von Erich.
Tag teams of the era: East-West Connection of Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura, High Flyers of Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell, the Road Warriors, the Killer Bees of Jim Brunzell/B. Brian Blair, the Russians of Krusher Kruschev & Ivan/Nikita Koloff, the Fabulous Freebirds of Terry Gordy, Buddy Roberts, & Michael Hayes, the Von Erichs, the Nasty Boys, the Midnight Rockers/Rockers of Marty Jannety & Shawn Michaels, the Hart Foundation, Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff, Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham, the Moondogs of Spot, Rex, and King, the Wild Samoans of Afa & Sika, Tony Garea & Rick Martel, Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito, Jay & Jules Strongbow, Demolition Ax & Smash, the British Bulldogs, Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson, Midnight Express, Rock n Roll Express, Jerry and Jack Brisco, Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood, Jaques & Raymond Rougeau, Fabulous Ones of Stan Lane & Steve Keirn, the Fantastics of Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers, Sheeperherders of Butch & Luke, Powers of Pain of the Barbarian & Warlord, Sky Scrapers of Danny Spivey & Sid Vicious, and the Islanders/Samoan Swat Team.
The boom period of the eighties started to die down as the nineties started. Wrestling was in a state of flux, and the major promotions were starting to lean towards younger wrestlers to help carry their brands. However, by the end of the decade, thanks to the Monday Night Wars, and a small rebellious company based in South Philadelphia, the wrestling industry faced another boom period. This boom period was stronger then any boom period before it. This "Attitude" era combined veterans and new stars to create a new excitement in the industry. The wrestlers who would fall under this category would include:
Steve Austin, The Rock, Mick Foley, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Goldberg, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, the Undertaker, Kane, Diamond Dallas Page, The Big Show, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Jeff Jarrett, Goldust, Sid Vicious, Sabu, TAZ, Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer, Raven, Shane Douglas, Sandman, Big Van Vader, Sting, and the Ultimate Warrior.
Tag teams of the era: Steiner Brothers, Nasty Boys, Hollywood Blondes of Steve Austin & Brian Pillman, Sabu & Rob Van Dam, the Eliminators of Saturn & Kronus, the Dudley Boys of Bubba Ray & D-Von, Public Enemy of Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge, the Gangstas, Money Inc of Ted DiBiase & Mike Rotundo, New Age Outlaws of Billy Gunn & Jesse James, Kevin Nash & Scott Hall, and Matt & Jeff Hardy.
This latest decade saw the destruction of competition in the wrestling world. Gone were both ECW and World Championship Wrestling. The WWF, now World Wrestling Entertainment, was the sole ruler of the North American wrestling landscape. To fill in for the two defunct companies, new organizations, such as Ring of Honor and TNA were born. This is the era of wrestling is being headlined by such wrestlers as:
Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, Edge, John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista, Triple H, Samoa Joe, CM Punk, Brian Danielson, Rey Mysterio, Jr., Carlito, JBL, AJ Styles, Abyss, Rhino, Christopher Daniels, Nigel McGuiness, Homicide, Chris Hero, Harry Smith, Ken Kennedy, and Christian.
Tag teams of the era: The World's Greatest Tag Team of Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas, MNM of Johnny Nitro & Joey Mercury, Edge & Christian, Harlem Heat, America's Most Wanted, LAX, the Briscos, Austin Aries & Roderick Strong, and Paul London & Brian Kendrick.
While all of these wrestlers may make some people's lists, others may not. There are thousands of wrestlers not given as an example above, which some people may include on their top ten singles and top eight wrestlers of all-time.
Now is the time to do some homework. Who do you feel should be the top ten singles wrestlers and the top eight tag team wrestlers to join the All-Time Wrestling Federation? Please respond by 12pm on Sunday afternoon June 10th to ronnysarnecky@hotmail.com with your selections. Remember, these wrestlers can be from ANY era. The results along with my top ten singles and top eight tag teams of all-time will be listed in next week's column.
