Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circle?

[sportznut02]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

It`s hard to pick between The Rock, Hogan, and Austin. I guess if I had to pick one it would be Hogan.

[SouthernBrick]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

The Rock of course. He was mostly the reason I watched this sport years ago.

[DC]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

Tiger Mask

Puro fan?

[PantherBeast_OS]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

3 guys I cn speak of is Ric Flarir, The Rock, and Stone Steve Austin.

[hartman9er]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

hands down. its JIMMY WANG YANG

[Laettner32]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

I'm quite a bit older than most of you. I stopped watching 'rasslin in around '87. Rock, Stone Cold, Cena....all to "young" for me.

Growing up in Texas in the '80s only one name mattered...Von Erich. It was a toss up between Kevin and Kerry. But when the Rush song came on and Kevin would leap over the top rope and enthusiastically thrust his hands up with the "Hook 'em Horns" sign....it just didn't get any better than that for a 10-12 year old.

I was a huge Ric Flair fan also watching on TBS back in the day. But like another poster said...I loved him, but "electric" just doesn't fit him IMO, just semantics though.

[Man O'War]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

Rob Van Dam for the wrestling & The Rock & Stone Cold for the entertainment.

[S2S]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

Without a doubt I've got to go with The Rock over Stone Cold and Hogan. But Stone Cold is definately second in my opinion. People always say Hulk Hogan was the Icon of the sport, What did he do? Except lift a bigger guy than him and body slam him. Isn't that what Cena does nowadays? o_O Way over emphasized but he was probably the Cena of today always getting pushed to the title and what not. It might come off as a ***** of Hogan but I've got to be honest, What was his moves? I only saw him do the work up when he'd be down, Point his finger at a guy " BROTHER! ", Give a clothesline, A big boot and then the leg drop. EVERYTIME. That got so boring to me man. And not to mention his reality show and the way he acts off screen is so obnoxious. Stone Cold was the man who didn't give a flying you know what to anybody and people rode that a long way and his entrance was bad aswell. But look at what all The Rock did in his time there. He was the guy you went to for on the mic, the funny stuff that he just threw out on the fly, The crap talk he'd give to guys in the ring. His music would hit and you'd know it was go time and he'd carry that match as far as you wanted it to go. I mean who else could steal Hogan's legdrop, Triple H's pedigree, Austin's stunner and walk around wearing Austin's vest, Come on now. It's a no brainer. Not to mention all the poontang!!!!!!!

One last example, I'll always remember this one spot The Rock did and it was so amusing. He just came back and was a heel and The Hurricane kept following him and stuff.

The Rock: " Who are you? "
The Hurricane: " I'm the Hurricane! "
The Rock: " You're 5' nothing! "
The Rock: " A 100lbs. of nothing! "
The Rock: " Oh hold on a sec, Hold on a sec... It's my phone ringin' " -flips it open-
The Rock: " KIKAW!!! Hello? "
The Rock: " Hey it's Nothing, He says he knows you! "



But I do give big props to Austin cause the dude messed his neck up and finished the match

[AndyBernard]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

If we're going by pops then you should definitely listen to the pop Bret's music gets here . . . now that's a pop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7DOcHRgQMo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFnmK_4AveA

Andy can't find the whole match, but ^ is a pop

[jtdribbles25]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

Like that one dude said, it depends on when you grew up and watched wrestling at one point. But put it this way, without Hogan there is no Rock/Stunnin Steve. Without the "electricity" that he brought to the sport to put it on another level, well....nuff said. He's 80 years old and still gets it poppin'

[TheYankeeKiller]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

This is how I view it:
If you played clips of these guys in the future (80, 90, 100 years, whatever), then I think The Rock would get the best reaction from people who don't know anything about pro-wrestling history (and from people who do know a lot about pro-wrestling history). The Rock, to me, just has the great charisma (face or heel) that can carry a storyline, and he can get it done in the ring (work rate and ring psychology). Some guys may be able to do certain parts better, but I think The Rock is the complete package. Just my opinion.

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

If we're going by pops then you should definitely listen to the pop Bret's music gets here . . . now that's a pop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7DOcHRgQMo

Well, that's a bit different. Part of that was the heat Michaels generated vs Brett's popularity. Plus, it was Canada, so it was more than simply pop for Brett. Still, you're right...it was a great pop.

One thing that video reminded me of is how awesome HBK was as a heel. That was a GREAT spot!

EDIT: For me personally, It's:

The Rock
Stone Cold
HBK

I think those three had the best combination of skills (people forget that Steve could wrestle his *** off before injuries and storyline pushed him into simply "opening a can...").

HBK is still my favorite though. I also loved the Warrior when I was a kiddo (though he, like most 80's wrestlers was PAINFUL on the mic.), which makes me nostalgic for an 80's wrestling staple: managers

[dust247]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

For me its a toss up between The Rock and Stone Cold. However I grew up during the Attitude Era so I'm sure my opinion is based off of that. If the Rock came back today, I'm sure the ratings would go thru the roof. Just look at the pop SCSA got a WrestleMania...

[DXZeke]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

HBK is my favorite wrestler of all time, but with that being said.

It's between Hogan, Austin, and The Rock.

Those 3 guys could draw crowds unlike anything.
They could get crowd reactions like any other.


Austin's merchandise sales broke Hogans.

Hogans reign of popularity has lasted longer (but he is older with more years in the business).

Then there was The Rock who could light up a crowd. He was very over with them, but didn't start drawing his biggest cheers until he was gone off filming movies which made people miss him.


I've had the luck of seeing all 3 live.

I'd still say from a response standpoint, the arenas that I saw Hogan were louder. You had lots of kids and families.

Austin's crowds were different, but it was a different Era. More rowdy which can create loud crowds as well.


For me. It's Hogan.

[Bacardi151]

Re: Who do you think was the most electrifying wrestler to step into the squared circ

I know growing up in the 80's the wwf was all the rage, and hogan was the big dog, but i still feel Ric Flair was the man. I remember everyone just gawking over that NWA title he would wear. His reign with the original four horseman ( the Andersons and Tully Blanchard) just brings back fantastic memories of that era. NWA and AWA (as well as WCCW and CWF) had cross promotion, so Flair was everywhere and it was great seeing him wrestling wrestlers in those different promotions.

His interviews and vignettes were second to none. And those title defenses which would last up to 60 minutes were absolute classics. He played the part of a heel perfectly.

Maybe nostalgia is kicking in, but Ric Flair at that time felt to me like the Ali of the sport. Yes, i had my wwf cassette soundtrack and watched wwf nonstop as well, but the different type of wrestling just got me hooked on non-wwf stuff.