This is a good list. I really can't argue too much with your choices. I appreciate how you list the guys' most important and impacting accomplishments because so often people just give fluff. "Oh, he's the greatest because I like him or he's really good." Those statements say nothing, but you give factual information on what they did for the business to support your choices. This makes your list hard to argue. I would move some people up, such as Bret, Shawn, Jericho, and Angle, but I am clearly showing my bias and age. Overall, your list is good, though.

I'm not a Hogan fan at all but I'm glad to see you put him number 1 as he's obviously the correct answer.

Great list, Kevin. This was much better than WWE's and didn't include anyone who obviously had no business being on the list.

Thanks for the list Kevin. I enjoyed reading it. I was a bit surprised not to see Pedro Morales though. Happy New Year.

RESPONSE FROM KE: Pedro was one of about 10 guys I strongly considered for a spot.

No real thoughts on the list overall aside from it showing a very good understanding of the history of professional wrestling, I think. Enjoyed following it.

30 championships including 10 World Titles just doesn't mean much these days. Doesn't even put you in the top 50.

I know I'll probably catch a lot of flak for this but I would have had the Rock down the list closer to Cena. He definitely had the mic skills and some of his comments are used in common everyday talking in some form today (smell what's cookin' or, it doesn't matter ...). It's his longevity that I think should have cheapened him a little on the list. That being said, putting Gagne in the Top Ten was a pleasant surprise to me. I'd have put Ric ahead of Bruno based on his success all over the world rather than just in the northeast. All in all, it's a great list, Kevin.

No Curt Hennig, no list.

Maybe I missed him, but where's Antonio Inoki?

RESPONSE FROM KE: In Japan I would assume.

Got to disagree with Hogan being number 1. Flair is always going to be number one. You betray your northeast bias by having him and Bruno Sammortino above Ric. Lou Thesz I can make a case for. But Hogan and Bruno? Nah, got to call bias on that one.

RESPONSE FROM KE: Even Flair himself has said that Hogan is the biggest star of all time (Flair believes that he is the greatest "wrestler" of all time). Yes, Bruno's territory was the Northeast, but he did venture outside the territory and the country from time to time and he was a draw. Also, why is having Hogan ahead of Flair a Northeast bias? When both men were on top in the '80s, both the WWF and NWA were national promotions. I probably saw Flair defend the title in Baltimore more than Hogan.

Ok, I HAVE to stop and say this right here....how on EARTH is Verne Gagne a bigger star than The Undertaker??

Go around the world and ask people if they know who the heck he is or what he looks like. Most fans didn't even know who he was until he was announced for the Hall of Fame a few years back and even then were apathetic to him in general. Verne was an AWA legend, but that's like calling a baseball player a minor league legend.

RESPONSE FROM KE: When you say that fans don't know Gagne or what he looks like, you're talking about younger fans who obviously don't know their wrestling history. The AWA at one time was a major promotion and being the AWA world champion was a big deal. Gagne was on top for about 20 years, which is about how long Undertaker has been in WWE. Undertaker was always a top star but how often was he THE top guy in WWE? Not very often. First it was Hogan and Warrior, then Hart, Michaels and Diesel, then Austin and Rock, then Triple H and Cena, etc. Gagne was every bit as big a star in his day -- even a little bigger in my opinion -- than Undertaker in his.

Jake the Snake didn't make the top 50?

Hey what about Ted Dibiase??? Come on when you talk of heels, one of the wrestler that automatically comes into your mind is Ted Dibiase. He should have been in the list. Anyways, this is your list, so you can put anybody in any place you like. :D

A very happy new year to you and your family.

Thanks for bringing back lots of memories Kevin. I agree with your list, some of my
favorites not on your list were the road
warriors, haystacks calhoun, and Jake
the snake Roberts.

No Doink the Clown, Berseker, or Duke "The Dumpster" Droese? I say we riot!! Seriously, though, I do wish your criteria had made it possible for the Robbinsdale, MN trio - Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, and Tom Zenk - to be included. They were all incredibly underrated. Happy new year.

Great list, Kev, but just wondering how Edge could be left off this list when Randy Orton is on it? Hasn't Edge accomplished more over the years, while also being a better worker?

Thanks and Happy New Year!

RESPONSE FROM KE: Better worker is a matter of opinion. More titles? Absolutely. But bigger star? I think a slight edge (no pun intended) goes to Orton.

Having Hogan at number one adds a tonne of credibility to your list, but I still think Bret Hart should be higher than HHH.

Kevin, great list. While I don't agree with your overall order, I think the list is pretty accurate. I am probably twice your age, watching wrestling shows from as far back as the old Baltimore Coliseum and it was nice to see some of my favorites like Rocca and Bobo Brazil make your list. Based on your criteria, woul;d have included Dr. Jerry Graham, Pedro Morales, Ivan Koloff and, most definitly, the Fabulous Moolah.

I love these lists and hope one day soon you will print a top 50 tag team list. I'll be interested to see if teams like Sailor Art Thomas/Bearcat Wright, Bob Orton/ The Great Scott, Skull Murphy/Brute Bernard, The Grahams, Handsome Johnny Barend/The Magnificent Maurice (whom I was named after) and The Fabulous Kangaroos are on it. Keep up the great work Kevin and Happy New Year.

Hey Kev,

The global brand product with its quick energy and need for freshness is not the product WWWF put on years ago because it didn't met their target market needs so I wouldn't have put all the golden oldies above the superstars post '1996' as you put it yourself in an earlier response.

Also The Rock above HBK????

Whose career meant more to the product, fans and world of wrestling??? So what if Rock is starring in Mickey Mouse built a house 3, this is a wrestling list.

Your entitled to your view though.

Your list definitely has got people reacting so good work.

RESPONSE FROM KE: I think HBK's career meant more to diehard wrestling fans, but Rock's meant more overall because he helped to bring in the casual fan and make the product more mainstream.

Flair is much too high, in my opinion. Sure, in the 1980's he was very popular among fans who wanted an alternative to WWE, and generally known to fans who didn't. However, did his name have any mainstream recognition? Twenty-five years ago, had you asked someone who couldn't have cared less about wrestling who Hulk Hogan was, they could have told you, but would the same have been true of Flair? Even within the wrestling world, the bottom line was not always good when Flair was on top. The National Wrestling Alliance didn't fare well financially with him as its top star. If those peaks and valleys are applicable elsewhere on this list - regardless of the surrounding circumstances - then they should be applicable here, too.

Great Column. Although I have quibbles like everyone else, it's tough comparing legends in different time eras. Hulk is the right choice for number one.

Eck, your list is right on despite some of these comments. There could be a few debates on some others or slight change in places but in terms of historical perspective, you nailed it.

A couple names keeping coming up in comments that seem to be stirring up controversy but shouldn't.

Curt Hennig: It's a name from the heart but if you look at Curt's career as a whole and his impact on wresting, it just doesn't hold up. After Curt left the AWA he was on a roll in WWE until his back gave out and spent quite a while managing and commentating. But after recovered, he kept finding ways to derail himself.

While he did have some success in WCW, he probably would have gone to greater heights in the WWE and he was never going to get on top in Turnerland. When he did get another shot in WWE, he blew it on the "Plane Ride from Hell" and was clearly having drug issues which held him back and eventually took his life.

As for Bret Hart, if you really take a hard look at his career you'll see that Bret's great strength was being able to put other wrestlers over. Because of his technical ability and name, beating Hart lauched others into stardom. His most memorable matches in the ring launched Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin to superstardom and put over Davey Boy Smith, Yokozuna and of course his brother Owen.

Bret was good on the mic but never cut promos that you wouldn't forget. He was techinically amazing in the ring but never really gave those "wow" moments because of his style. And his reputation was tarnished by the Montreal Screw Job.

I think both of these guys would have been higher had they stayed in the WWE. WWE had a much better understaning of wrestling history and knew exactly how to handle guys like them.

One question for you, Eck - when you made your list, did you find that there was a major line between the top 10 and everyone else? When I listed my top 10 earlier in a comment, I just had a feeling that no one outside of these guys had a realistic chance to crack that group. It almost had a Mt. Rushmore-esque feel to it.

Happy New Year, Kevin and great job!

RESPONSE FROM KE: Yes, the top 10 came together relatively painlessly.

I've got to agree with Jason above. The Undertaker might not have been on top for 20 years but his impact have been larger than Verne Gagne. The way I see it, a captain in a large army is worth more than a general in a small army. Or, to put it another way, the fifth-best team in the highest league is still better than the top team in a lower league. Verne Gagne and most of the other stars might have been big players back when professional wrestling was still a small-scale, regional, territorial thing. But the Undertaker, the Rock, Austin, Hart, etc. are the big players when professional wrestling became a global phenomeon. Your own criteria states that "wrestlers who were on top when the wrestling industry was hot received more credit than those who were on top when the industry was not as popular." But you don't seem to applying that criteria at all. The fact remains more people know of the Undertaker or the Rock when they were on top than there were people who know of Verne Gagne when he was on top. That makes them the bigger stars.

RESPONSE FROM KE: Here's the thing: The wrestling business was hot during periods of the territorial days. It's all relative. That's what I meant when I said that being on top meant different things in different eras. Pay per view wasn't around when Gagne wrestled. However, staying on top in a territory consistently for decades isn't something that Undertaker or Rock ever did either.

Terrific job, Mr. Eck.

I do, however, feel compelled to briefly quibble over one omission from the list -- Gorilla Monsoon.

Mostly remembered now for his broadcasting, ironically Monsoon was the classic (for the time) monstrous, menacing, barely-human foreign heel during the bulk of his in-ring career -- even had Wild Red Berry as his manager/mouthpiece to maintain that illusion.

By the early 70's (I was a following things by then), Gorilla was winding down, so turned into a good guy, dropped about 100 pounds in billed weight, and appeared performing all kinds of "odd duties" in the shows at the old Boston Garden -- putting over the next contender; special ref; even teaming with Haystack Calhoun (Oy!) a time or two. In hindsight, it seems as if he was almost babysitting the company (protecting his own financial interests as well) for Vince's daddy and the WWWF.

Speaking of the company's interests, back when the McMahons got involved with promoting that Antonio Inoki vs. Muhammad Ali travesty and Ali appeared at a WWF taping to help drum up business, Monsoon was given the job to hoist Mr. Man onto his shoulders and drop him onto the mat. (That was also the first time I ever heard Gorilla use his "This guy doesn't know a wristlock from a wrist watch" classic.)

Soon enough "Doctor" Monsoon (and his ankle to ear sternum) was calling matches, kinda again putting over the heels, Ventura and Heenan this time.

Regarding Gorilla's omission from the list, I guess you could argue that his real noteriety stems from the microphone (and the Gorilla Position and its inherent duties) and that his in-ring work doesn't merit inclusion. But I think that argument is more applicable to the aforementioned Ventura and Heenan. Monsoon was a top-line bad guy for a good portion of the '60's, and did his jobs (pun definitely intended) later. I don't contend he belongs in the Top 20, but (without naming names) I think he's at least as worthy as some who made the cut.

Yes...I feel better after that!!!

Of course these lists will always create discussion and are so subjective and difficult to do. I can agree with most of the names but there is one glaring omission in my eyes and that is Bruiser Brody. I would easily have him in my top 10 and possibly top 5. I realize the argument is that he was bigger in Japan than the US but he was still huge in the States. Back when the NWA traveling champ was drawing the biggest money in the businesss, Brody was making roughly the same kind of money because of his drawing power. Notoriously difficult to deal with for promoters, he was still able to secure booking after booking and put more butts in the seats than almost anyone in the business because of how talented he was. He was a legit 300 pounder that was extremely athletic and could brawl all over the building or go an hour using wrestling moves if that was what was needed to make a town pop. His hour brodway with Flair in St Louis is legendary as being one of the greatest matches of Flairs career (including any with Steamboat) and even Dave Meltzer puts that match over as being one of the greatest matches that he has ever seen. Brody was a master of psychology and by that facet was one of the greatest workers of all time. Brody influenced so many guys like John Nord, Leon White to name a few and though he has been often imitated, to steal a line from Lou Albano he was never, ever duplicated. The rage that he carried with him and the fear both kayfabe and legit that he put into the hearts of fans and opponents alike is unique to Brody. He main evented everywhere he went and had so many legendary battles in St Louis, Indianapolis, Texas, Florida, and even New York for Vince "Sr." Hard for me to think that a guy like Brody (who fits all criteria you listed) didn't make your list. Of course this is not a rant but rather an attempt to put over someone who in my opinion is one of the most important figures in the history of the sport.

as always a great list Kev but I wish you would have shown a little more love to the japanese wrestlers like Jushin Lyger & the great muta who had good short runs in the US. Muta who wrestled in the territories in the 80's under different gimmickc and Lyger who help really usher in the light heavyweight division helping Brian Pilman go to the next level so we could marvel at future stars such as Rey misterio.

Great list Kevin! To see your list compaired to the WWE list there is no comparison. Your list appeared to be unbias as opposed to there list which was clearly focused on WWE stars in good standing with the company and a slap in the face of those that were not mainly Hogan and Flair. I have always been a Hogan fan and always thought he was number 1 but I felt I was just very bias. But your list helps confirm what I had always thought. But seriuosly no David Arquette he was WCW champ, after all but so was Russo right. Oh yeah thats why WCW folded. Keep up the good work your the man.

Great list, but I do disagree with not having Edge on this list somewhere. Is it true that his 30 championship titles are the most that anyone in WWE / WWF / WWWF has ever collected? Do you know if there was anyone in the history of professional wrestling who won more titles in US / Canada?

On another note, it's so sad to think that there are only 2 wrestlers in the top 50 who are "active" with any significant time left in their careers. Cena and Orton are already getting stale in my book.

All things considered, where do you put their respective ceilings? Where do you envision they may end up on your top 50 when you write in 10 years from now?

Hulk Hogan is the reliable and long-standing box office attraction in wrestling history - during the 1984-1989 "Golden Age", and 1996-1998 NWO reign of terror, his name guaranteed a sell-out, and a box office gate nobody could compare too. Its one of the reasons (the many reasons, some good, some bad) that he was walking away with $15m a year at his peak in WCW. The man carried the WWE, and ruined his body in the process during their boom years, and then did the same for WCW, albeit with a lighter schedule and less committments - he is the biggest star in the history of this industry, past or present, and as he said in Chicago, 2002, there'll never ever be a bigger star in the wrestling business than Hollywood Hulk Hogan - DA MAN.

Having seen your whole list now, Kevin, let me just say that it is well done, and hard to argue with. I think you did a great job (and continue to do so in the comments sections) putting into perspective how big a performer might have been in his day.

Quick question about HBK: where do you think he would have ranked without his comeback? I think he'd have to be much lower down, certainly below Bret Hart. The knock against Shawn was always that he didn't draw as champ, and that his title reigns were some of the biggest flops in history, despite the quality of matches. I really think his second phase, where he was able to put together compelling feud after compelling feud without being in the title picture, really cemented him as among the elite of the elite. Not to mention that he continued to put on great matches.

He definitely belongs behind the Rock, though, because the Rock DID draw, hugely. Based on just star power alone, the Rock is probably behind only Hogan in wrestling history. Yes, even ahead of Austin.

Anyway, again, great list, and thanks for all your good work this last year.

RESPONSE FROM KE: Without the comeback, I would have put Michaels somewhere in the 30s.

Man, there are many wrestlers I wanted to see on there that aren't (JYD, Benoit, Guerrero, Dynamite Kid, Hennig), but examining them I realize that by the criteria you set out, your list is pretty damn hard to argue with overall.

I actually feel like you will get fewer comments BECAUSE your list is so definitive and well thought-out... I am really impressed by the list, although I (maybe just sentimentally) would have liked to see Macho a little higher... he was a crossover figure in a big way and still iconic in pop culture.

I also feel like Austin should be higher, but I don't see anyone above him that I'd bump down for him... so I guess he's in the right place.

Outstanding job...

Good list Kevin

But where some of the good old jobbers like the Bushwhackers, Red Rooster LOL

I think you should seriously do Tag Teams next.

Is there anyone in the wwe who you think in ten years time will crack this list? Maybe CM Punk for example?

Fun list...

P.S. I would still have put HBK higher.

Great list, Kev. I would like to give an old-school honorable mention to Ed "Strangler" Lewis. Considered by some to be the inventor of the sleeper hold, Lewis was the most dominant wrestler of the 1920s and early '30s (and perhaps of all time); he wrestled in 6,200 matches and was defeated only 33 times.

Great list. It makes me want to learn more about the older wrestlers. Do you have any plans for making a list for the female wrestlers?

great list Kev, of course any list like this will open debate and most lists are opinions. Hogan number 1 should be the result of any list,I would of Had Flair number 2 tho.

Aside from Pedro Morales, who were the other "about (9) guys" that were strongly considered for a spot?

RESPONSE FROM KE: Well, since you are not the only one who has asked, I am going to list them in a separate post.

WHAT!?!?!?!?! Disco Inferno isnt in the top 10?!?!

By your own criteria, Edge should be over Orton simply because of the Slim Jim commericals.

Not that it matters but my boys like Edge better than Orton, so there. (No, they have not seen all the naughty stuff Edge did with Lita on t.v.)

I for one am thankful for the pg era as I can watch WWE with my kids.

Unrelated to this poll, my oldest was cheering for Del Rio over R-Truth tonight. I think I have corrupted him.

Great job on this list. One day you should write a book about pro wrestling, Mr. Eck. You're a very good writer and you have a deeper understanding of wrestling's history than many of your contemporaries. I'd buy it.

Tio Pepe?

Good list but Rock didn't wrestle long enough to earn a top 10 spot. in my opinion. But this is one of the best list I've seen. Good job.

I think their is only 1 man that should truly hold the number 1 spot. He is the most electrifying man in all of sports entertainment.

Thats right, Doink the Clown