Since several people have asked which wrestlers were considered but ultimately didn’t make my Top 50 Wrestling Stars of All Time list, I’ve decided to reveal them.

Of course, I know by doing so that I’m opening up a whole other can of worms because people will want to know why so-and-so isn’t on this list. That’s why I’ve always hated doing honorable mentions, because where do you draw the line?

While a case could certainly be made for a number of other wrestlers to receive a mention here, the following names were the ones who were on my original list, which I eventually pared down to 50.

Here they are, in alphabetical order:

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10. VERNE GAGNE – He parlayed his considerable skills as an amateur wrestler into a career in pro wrestling that spanned four decades. Gagne won the then-prestigious AWA world championship nine times between 1960 and 1980, retiring as the champion in 1981.

9. THE ROCK – Only a handful of wrestlers in the history of the industry have achieved as much mainstream recognition as The Rock. Although his wrestling career lasted just eight years, “the most electrifying man in sports entertainment” left an indelible mark and was a key figure in the wrestling boom that began in the late ’90s.

8. STEVE AUSTIN – For the first seven years of his career, he was a successful and respected wrestler, but main event status was elusive. Then he adopted the “Stone Cold” persona and became the top star during the industry’s biggest boom period. At his peak, Austin sold more merchandise than even Hulk Hogan at his peak. Unfortunately, chronic neck injuries forced him into retirement in 2003 at age 38.

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20. TRIPLE H – He’s been one of the industry’s biggest stars for well over a decade. In addition to being a 13-time world champion, Triple H has participated in world title matches at eight WrestleManias and was on top during WWE’s peak year of 2000. He also was a member of DX, one of the most famous factions of all time.

19. RANDY SAVAGE – The colorful and intense “Macho Man” was one of the most recognizable performers of the ’80s and ’90s. He worked memorable programs on the big stage with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, and his WrestleMania III match against Ricky Steamboat is considered by many to be the greatest in the history of the marquee event.

18. JACK BRISCO – A national amateur wrestling champion at Oklahoma State, the two-time NWA world champion was one of the top stars of the ’70s. He also formed a highly successful tag team with his brother, Jerry.

Continue reading "Top 50 wrestling stars countdown: Nos. 11-20" »

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30. JOHN CENA – Love him or hate him, almost every fan is passionate about him. The industry’s biggest star over the past five years and one of the top stars of the past decade, he also has become somewhat of a crossover celebrity.

29. HARLEY RACE – Rugged, no-nonsense wrestler is regarded as one of the legitimate tough guys in the business. He also is one of the most accomplished, having won the NWA world title eight times between 1973 and 1984.

28. BOBO BRAZIL – Often referred to as “the Jackie Robinson of pro wrestling,” he is credited with breaking the color barrier in the industry and becoming its first African-American superstar. One of the leading babyfaces in the ’60s and ’70s, Brazil technically was the first black world champion, as he won the NWA title in 1962, but the change was never officially recognized.

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40. MIL MASCARAS – A legend in his native Mexico, Mascaras also was a popular attraction in the U.S. in the late ’60s, ’70s and early ’80s, especially in areas with large Hispanic audiences.

39. FRITZ VON ERICH – The patriarch of wrestling’s most famous family and the master of the Iron Claw was one of the leading heels of the ’50s and ’60s.

38. KILLER KOWALSKI – One of the top villains in wrestling for three decades, his reputation as a sadistic heel was established in the early ‘50s when he “ripped off” a portion of his opponent’s ear.

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50. CHRIS JERICHO – The first undisputed world champion since the 1950s was one of the industry’s top stars of the past decade.

49. RANDY ORTON – The youngest world champion in WWE history is among the biggest stars of the post-Attitude era.

48. GOLDBERG – His time in the spotlight was short, but Goldberg was a key player during wrestling’s boom period in the late ’90s. Even now, more than six years after his last match, fans still speculate as to whether he will make a comeback.

Continue reading "Top 50 wrestling stars countdown: Nos. 41-50" »

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With WWE recently releasing its Top 50 Superstars of all Time DVD, I have decided to compile my own list.

Beginning later today and concluding Friday, I will count down my top 50 wrestlers of all time.

Continue reading "Top 50 wrestling stars of all time countdown" »

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