# Who's Your Favorite Professional Wrestler? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2001, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150 "2001-06-01T01:11:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sacrilegium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/21 "2001-06-01T16:00:30Z")
Yoshihiro Tajiri. I’m afraid his best days are behind him if he’s going to have to dumb down his style for the WWF, but we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Zamboni)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/22 "2001-06-01T16:01:55Z")
Any wrestler that quit because he couldn’t stand it. ::running out the door:: ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/23 "2001-06-01T17:24:07Z")
Foley is God. Matt Hardy is hot and I’m a total floosy for anyone who gives goo aerial. =) Angle is my favorite heel. You just can’t beat that milk drinking, american hero attitude. X-Pac is still awesome, even if his gimmick -never- changes. I like Big Shows entrance music. And I’d say Molly Holly or Lita are my favorite girls. Alternatively… I -hate- Steve Austin. Alot. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/24 "2001-06-01T17:28:21Z")
I -always- miss these two, even though I love them dearly. Steve Blackman and Al Snow. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/25 "2001-06-01T17:46:07Z")
…that no one has mentioned _MY_ favorite: **Randy _“Macho Man”_ Savage**! ---
**Author:** ![illuminati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47774/32.png) [@illuminati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/illuminati)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/26 "2001-06-01T19:04:09Z")
surely Hulk Hogan deserves a mention ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/27 "2001-06-01T20:17:29Z")
NO!!! Not “I won’t job for anyone” Hogan! ---
**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/28 "2001-06-01T20:22:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by holdenmagroin \* > \*\*Of course, I liked all the stars of the day… **Snuka, Ultimate Warrior, Paul Orndorf** among others, but my all time favorite wrestler was as a result of Macho Man hitting him in the head with the ring side bell, choking him on the ropes, and giving him a flying elbow from the top turn buckle while he clung to the fencing with his neck. I am of course speaking of… **Ricky the Dragon Steamboat!**. What a match that was…all of Hogan’s 10-head-shots-and-the-big-leg-drop will never match that action. I really don’t watch that crap-ola now days. \*\* Wow, **holden** , you read my mind. **Ricky the Dragon Steamboat** was in the best match I ever saw, against Macho Man Savage, for the WWF Intercontinental belt . . . back in Wrestlemania III. What a great match that was. I, too, lost interest afterwards. I was waiting at a store last night, and my kids were watching whatever wrestling show was on. Every other word was bleeped out, and I hustled them away from the TV pretty quickly. I wish they would go back to wrestling, and forget the other crap. I also used to love Chief Jay Strongbow, and Ivan Putski. Now I know I’m dating myself. ---
**Author:** ![Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tommy_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/29 "2001-06-01T20:37:57Z")
Back in the day, I used to love **Rowdy Roddy Piper**. He was awesome. There was also a wrestler in the Smoky Mountain Wrestling Conference called **Lord Humungous** , and he fit the name. He haunted my 7th grade dreams. Modern day, I’m a huge **Jericho** mark. No one can take bumps like **Spike Dudley**. And, even though some may not like how big he’s gotten, I think **The Rock** is one of the best workers out there. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/30 "2001-06-01T20:47:39Z")
My brother, of course. He’s Griz in the [AWO](http://www.awowrestling.com). ---
**Author:** ![JDeMobray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@JDeMobray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDeMobray)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/31 "2001-06-02T01:34:39Z")
How is it possible that the thread has gone this long without anyone mentioning **Rick Flair**? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Kids today. 🙂 Anyway, as far as current wrestlers go **Kurt Angle** , **Chris Benoit** , **Matt** and **Jeff Hardy**. It would also be cool if the WWF would actually let **TAKA Michinoku** show off what he can do a little more, I’ve seen a little of his Japanese work and he’s just awesome. As far as guilty pleasure wrestlers, I think that the **APA** are comedic gold, especially **Faarooq**. **Jeff Jarrett** is extremely under-rated and, along with **Lance Storm** was one of the only really good reasons left to watch WCW before it . . . went on hiatus or whatever they’re saying now. ---
**Author:** ![Vinnie\_Virginslayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/53a042/32.png) [@Vinnie\_Virginslayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vinnie_Virginslayer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/32 "2001-06-02T02:10:09Z")
I don’t care what anyone says, the greatest wrestler of all time was the Hulkster! Hulkamania ran wild through everybody, and he even was the first wrestler EVER TO beat Andre the Giant. I was pissed when he joined those faggots in the NWO, but eventually Hulk came back to the fans. Oh by the way, Hulk was a million times the wrestler Rick Fleir was. I also remember feeling the power of the Ultimate Warrior, but it really pissed me off when his heart exploded and they replaced him with a fake, just like they did with Superstar Graham when he died. Now my favorite is the Undertaker, he’s from Hell, because Stone Cold, was my hero but is not more- he’s a bad guy. Chris Jericho and Benoit are okay I guess but I never could root for little guys. Oh by the way, hello to all my buddies at the WCMB! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Vinnie\_Virginslayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/53a042/32.png) [@Vinnie\_Virginslayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vinnie_Virginslayer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/33 "2001-06-02T05:03:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > **First off, gotta go with Mick. I love 'im. I would let Mick Foley do me up the ass with a flaming, barded-wire-wrapped 2X4 if he wanted to.** Wow. Now that’s being a fan! ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/34 "2001-06-02T08:28:07Z")
**HHH** -he is an awesome heel and although he was in nearly every segment for a while, the match where he tore his quad and continued the match was a great comeback to all his critics. **Ric Flair** -before there was HHH, there was the Nature Boy. HHH is really patterning his career after this legend. Which is probably why HHH is “that damn good.” **Kurt Angle** -A seriously gifted athlete, he’s also got the entertainment part down for today’s “sports entertainment” **Chris Jericho** -my biggest mark out moment was when he beat HHH for the world title and held it for a whole 17 minutes. Not the world’s greatest worker, he oozes charisma and is great on the mic. **Yosihiro Tajiri** -my favorite ECW’er from the TNN days. ---
**Author:** ![RicoLaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@RicoLaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RicoLaser)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/35 "2001-06-02T10:33:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Oh by the way, Hulk was a million times the wrestler Rick Fleir was. On behalf of all smarks around the world … “Huh?” IMO, Hogan was a joke. I admit he was very popular, but his style was extremely eighties, and as far as in-ring performance, he was way sub-par. Compare that to Ric Flair, who is arguably the greatest heel in the history of the business. And one HELL of an excellent in-ring technicician. I so hope he stays with the new WCW. He’s ancient, so he probably shouldn’t wrestle (one vice he shares with the Hulkster), but he could play some kind of managerial role or commissioner-type thing. ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/36 "2001-06-02T10:45:15Z")
::applauds RicoLaser:: Couldn’t have said it better myself. 🙂 I can’t believe I forgot to mention Triple H. Great mic work,intense style,awesome finisher and the fact he finished a match with a torn quad… He’s the man. Anyone else notice that since Rhyno debuted,Edge no longer uses the Spear? ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/37 "2001-06-02T16:27:40Z")
> [@](#): > > And I always saw SPOOFE as more of a Dr Isaac Yankum type… > > ::d&r:: Well, he DID say that he’s a fan of [Kane…](http://www.wrestlecrap.com/yankem.html) Anyway, I’ll admit that two of my biggest guily pleasures are PreMimeSting and PreSpeaking Goldburg. When Goldie would walk out, squash whatever jobber was in the ring that day, then walk back out again, I loved it. No ten minute rants, no silly angles, he’d just CRUSH 'em. Of course, now he comes off like the biggest jackass in the biz. They never should have let him speak. Same with Kane, IMO. I stopped watching wrestling altogether after the late 80’s, and when I started watching again, it was right during WCW’s heyday. I’ve only been watching WWf for the last couple of years, and catching up on the older matches through [WWF.com](http://WWF.com)’s website. That said, I have to agree that Mick Foley is God. Other favorites (Old School): Jake “The Snake” Roberts Rick Flair Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat Brett Hart Roddy Piper (Loved him in They Live!) Other favorites (Current) The Rock (Not so much for his ringwork as for his mike work) Chris Jerrico (For ringwork AND mikework) Chris Benoit (I love this guy! He can make ANYONE look good!) Kurt Angle Rikishi Triple H Eddie Gurrero (sp?) The Hardy Boyz Steve Austin (Although I’m not buying his heel persona) ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/38 "2001-06-02T17:50:28Z")
**George “The Animal” Steele** This guy was 10 years ahead of his time … he had an act/gimmick/style while everyone else was just running around body slamming each other. ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/39 "2001-06-02T20:32:36Z")
Mick Foley, Chris Jericho, The Hardyz, and Kane are my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2001, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150/40 "2001-06-03T01:33:01Z")
Bret “The Hitman” Hart - Lean, mean, highly talented, incredibly gutsy old-school grappler who could take _anyone_, anywhere. (He nearly became the first man to beat Yokozuna, but of course Mr. Fuji had to steal the win.) Every time he entered the ring, he was focused and ready to rumble. They just don’t make 'em like that anymore. The Ultimate Warrior (pre-Desert Storm) - Only a handful of moves. Not a whole lot of ring sense. Not all that smart. And with his nonstop assaults and almost inhuman competitive fire, it didn’t matter a lick. He looked like he could rip a tank apart. I feared this wrestler. Sadly, it kinda went downhill when he became a “patriot” during the Gulf crisis, and then came all the philosophical “spirit of the warrior” garbage and the silly feuds…feh. He did just fine as an uncontrollable force of destruction; why’d the WWF have to change that? Randy “Macho Man” Savage - For having the balls to defy longtime friend Hulk Hogan because it was the right thing to do, Immortal status be damned. For not being quite as immortal as the Hulkster, yet still finding ways to win matches and championship. And for the interviews…he practically _invented_ the stupid wrestling catchphrase. Ooh, yeaahh!! Rowdy Roddy Piper - Always completely unpredictable, often shocking, and never boring. He always put on a great show no matter where he was. Didn’t see him wrestle much, but did he even need to? “Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase - The Anna Kournikova of wrestling. Despite having decent skills and more money than Vince McMahon, he could never win the big one. It was almost comical seeing him in these matches…he’d dominate for a while, then he’d inevitably have the tables turned on him, upon which he’d either beg for mercy or scramble just to get away. He even made his own championship belt after failing to win any of the legit ones, and might have actually gone around to defending it a couple times. He was irreplacable, I tell ya. “Nature Boy” Ric Flair - He’d do anything…_anything_ at all to gain an edge. Often leading to really convoluted schemes, like the weird Savage/Warrior feud. One of my favorite moments was when he won the Royal Rumble after drawing #3, meaning that he had to face all but one of the 29 other entrants at some point. Very doubtful that an even slightly more ethically-minded wrestler could have done it. Haven’t watched this sport at all in a while…there’s just too much going on. Plus we all know it’s…you know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-professional-wrestler/67150.md?page=3)