Well ya know something Mean Gene…”

#7: Hulk Hogan
480 Points (25 of 43 lists)
Highest Rating: #1 by HRHomer, YourRealDad, Juices World, Osiris
Real Name: Terry Gene Bollea

When Terry Bollea debuted in wrestling in 1977 as a masked wrestler called “The Super Destroyer”, who would think that 32 years later he would still be making headlines? Yet in just two weeks time, we’ll see the return of Hulk Hogan as he debuts in TNA wrestling, trying to take down the house he built in World Wrestling Entertainment.

And if there’s one thing we’ve learnt from the career of Hulk Hogan, it’s that you can never count him out – he usually always finds a way to get what he wants. [Continue...]

“The Heartbreak Kid won’t lay down for anybody”

#8: Shawn Michaels
478 Points (29 of 43 lists)
Highest Rating: #1 by Stack of Porn, Stapes, Buckdiddy, Cheekbone
Real Name: Michael Shawn Hickenbottom

Despite being one of the greatest wrestlers spanning two decades, putting on a ton of 5 star matches and recovering from a serious back injury to revive his career, Shawn Michaels is only able to weigh in at #8 on NPPs Top 50 Wrestlers of All Time list.

One can only assume that the backstage politics and the whiny, crybaby attitude held Shawn back from breaking the top 5, because Shawn, a Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame inductee, has been one of the WWFs top wrestlers for many years, with numerous WWF championships to his name, and numerous Wrestling Observer awards. Oh and he also won the Slammy Award for Best Slammin’ Jammin Entrance which should not be forgotten. [Continue...]

“Nobody beats Mr. Perfect. Nobody!”

#9: Curt “Mr Perfect” Hennig.
411 Points (26 of 49 lists)
Highest Rating: #2 by YourRealDad & Skooch
Real Name: Curtis Michael “Curt” Hennig
(In)Famous Gimmicks: Mr. Perfect

Son of Larry Hennig, Curt debuted in 1980 for the AWA as “Cool” Curt Hennig. He had some huge shoes to fill, with the AWA being the promotion that made Larry Hennig a star. Yet Curt managed to do that and then some, quickly becoming the AWAs top star and then having a great career that involved the WWF, WCW and TNA. He is without a doubt one the greatest in-ring performers in the history of wrestling, even though he had severe back problems for a large part of his career. [Continue...]

“Oooh, yeah!”

 

Debuting in 1973, Randy “Macho Man” Savage wrestled in 4 separate decades before retiring in 2004.  Savage was a second-generation wrestler, with his father being Angelo Poffo.  Savage was constantly a main eventer and put on some amazing matches, in a career that spawned the likes of GCW, ICW, WWE, WCW and TNA. [Continue...]

“I’m the greatest technical wrestler in the WWE.

PROVE ME WRONG.”

#11: Chris Benoit
391 points (23 out of 43 lists)
Highest Rating: Lucas & Stapes at #2

Real Name: Christopher Michael Benoit

(In)Famous Gimmicks: The Pegasus Kid, The Crippler, The Rabid Wolverine.

When you look back at every wrestlers in-ring career, it’s hard to picture a wrestler more deserving of being a household name than Chris Benoit.  Voted Best Technical Wrestler 5 times by the Wrestling Observer, Benoit was one of the extremely rare wrestlers that never phoned it in, and could have a great match with anybody.  Well, except Billy Gunn.  Chris Benoit was undoubtedly one of the most amazing performers in the history of wrestling, and he ultimately did become a household name, even more famous than the likes of Hulk Hogan or “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

Unfortunately, it was for all the wrong reasons. [Continue...]