Last night, for the first time in more than a year, I tuned into the shenanigans and drama of World Wrestling Entertainment. During my latter elementary school years, professional wrestling was the preferred form of entertainment among my friends. I recollect our Cub Scout meetings where we would perform the evening’s task and then relish our final 15 minutes where we would watch professional wrestling. We idolized and imitated the likes of Sting, Hulk Hogan and Diamond Dallas Page (DDP). As I grew older, wrestling turned into entertainment during fits of boredom. The likes of Sting, Hogan and DDP were soon replaced by The Rock, Triple H and Brock Lesnar, who were eventually replaced by John Cena, CM Punk and Jack Swagger. With the constant turnover among the professional wrestling ranks, it caused me to wonder, who truly are some of the best wrestlers of all time?
The Rock
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson arguably was one of the most charismatic and athletically gifted men to ever step foot into a professional wrestling ring. He established himself through feuds with the likes of Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H, which eventually helped The Rock take his charismatic skills to Hollywood, where he has established a successful career, starring in films like The Scorpion King and Gridiron Gang.
Andre the Giant
Standing at a massive 7″4 and 540 pounds, Andre the Giant was the epitome of a monster in the ring. He truly gave the impression that he could squash anyone that stood in his path. The WWF was able to successfully market him as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” and thereby attracted many by his raw size.
Hulk Hogan
Many remember Hogan as a legend in the wrestling business. His presence in the 1980s helped bring the industry to new heights. He provided wrestling with a superhero role model figure that children could follow and want to emulate. While his in-ring skills were poor, his charismatic microphone skills were undeniable, helping him become a larger than life figure and establish a career beyond the wrestling mat that included a reality television show and guest appearance in Rocky III.
Lou Thesz
There arguably would not have been professional wrestling without Lou Thesz. While The Rock, Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan all brought professional wrestling to a mainstream audience, Lou Thesz built the foundation they used to achieve this during the 1930s and 1940s. He was an 18-time world heavyweight champion, helping make him one of the most decorated of all time.
These are just four of many men who helped shaped the business. They often become idolized by kids and find themselves using their wrestling fame to have successful careers elsewhere. I will say that for one 25-year-old man, to write about professional wrestlers for a short period is a nice escape from the stressful reality of graduate school and teaching.
References:
“Lou Thesz.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz.
“Ranking the 25 Greatest Wrestlers of All Time.” Bleacher Report. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/723945-ranking-the-25-greatest-wrestlers-of-all-time#/articles/723945-ranking-the-25-greatest-wrestlers-of-all-time/page/25.