Using YogSosoth’s method I would have two different monuments. The first one for the founding father’s of showmanship:
Gorgeous George = George Washington
He represents the start of modern wrestling. A wrestler as a larger then life television personality. He wasn’t alone, but along with others he raised the art form. Greatness emerges in the circumstances of the times, and George used the dawn of television to define a new image of wrestlers.
This one the same as YogSosoth
Andre the Giant = Abraham Lincoln
There may never be a bigger name in wrestling. He was a genuine giant, and he dedicated his life to professional wrestling and it’s fans. He was, is, and always will be the Eighth Wonder of the World.
Mick Foley = Teddy Roosevelt
This century of wrestling owes it’s attitude and high impact technique to Cactus Jack, Mankind, Dude Love, and Mick. He changed the style of wrestling, and the relationship of wrestlers with the fans. He sacrificed his health for the game, and did it for the fans instead of himself.
The other Mt. Rushmore would be based on technical wrestling skills:
Lou Thesz = George Washington
Lou was heir apparent to Ed “Strangler” Lewis, the first great champion at the start of scripted wrestling. Lewis’s technical wrestling ability was prized by the early promoters who always risked contenders going off script in a championship fight. Lewis trained Lou Thesz in his techniques, and Lou was able to become become champion and hold off all challengers repeatedly over decades. His competition was tougher and better trained than the earlier days, and business challenges arose also that required Lou to resort to real force when necessary. In a famous incident Buddy Rogers considered holding the title Thesz had ‘loaned’ him. Lou told the Buddy “We can do this the easy way or the hard way”. Rogers remembered to stay down when he was supposed to.
Antonino Rocca = Thomas Jefferson
“Argentina” Rocca was an extremely popular Italian via Argentina immigrant who drew huge crowds from the ethnic Italian and Hispanic populations in the Northeast cities. He packed arenas and did with an exciting high flying athletic style. Wrestling barefoot he had the agility to foot slap his opponents with his hand behind his back. He pulled out of throws with cartwheels and backflips. He delivered dropkicks, and leaps from the ropes. Rocca turned wrestling from a slow, grunting sport into a rapid action ballet.
Verne Gagne = Abraham Lincoln
Verne was a outstanding amateur and professional athlete before becoming a professional wrestler. He was a college football player, NCAA wrestling champion, alternate for the US Olympic team, and played in the NFL. He chose wrestling over football because it was better paying, and he became one of the highest paid wrestlers in the 1950s. Verne combined the rough sport of professional wrestling with his actual amateur wrestling skills. He was known for his stamina engaging in matches that lasted an hour or more, and his ability to flawlessly execute wrestling moves. At the same time he could stand in and brawl whenever it was called for. Long after retiring as champion other wrestlers still considered him a dangerous wrestler. He controlled his own wrestling promotion with a combination of respect from the old school wrestlers and physical intimidation.
Bret Hart = Teddy Roosevelt
The son of the famous Canadian wrestler Stu Hart, Bret trained from an early age for a career as a professional wrestler. “The Excellence of Execution” was an innovator of wrestling moves, and expertly agile, flexible, and strong. Even while wrestling degenerated into brawling and high impact moves Bret still used classical wrestling holds against his opponents. As wrestling became more dangerous, Bret kept up and introduced a bonebreaking style of all out fighting while maintaining the athletic art of the sport.
Writing this I’ve realize there could be many more Rushmore’s to honor the different aspects of wrestling. There’d be spots for cartoon wrestlers like Hulk Hogan and Chief Jay Strongbow, workhorses like Rick Flair and Bruno Sammartino. There could be a Rushmore for the other giants of wrestling besides Andre; Don Leo Jonathan, Haystacks Calhoun, and the Great Baba among others.