14 thoughts on “The Greatest Professional Wrestlers of All-Time”

1. 

   Noticed a couple errors. You have Kerry Gordy at #76 and Terry Gordy at #97, and both are also on the overflow list. I assume Kerry is supposed to be Kevin Von Erich on the overflow list as he was there previously. Also, Gene Kiniski should be on the overflow list, as he was #95 in 2022 and #100 in 2024.

   Interesting choice to omit active wrestlers, I don’t think it’s a good idea because you’re likely to forget to add them when they retire or become inactive.

   1. 

      Hey Kurt!

      I’m not seeing the errors on the top 100 list. I’m seeing Kerry Von Erich at #76 and Terry Gordy at #97. I’m also seeing Gene Kiniski on the overflow list. I did change Kerry to Kevin and removed Terry Gordy from the overflow list. Thanks for the heads up!

      RE: Forgetting to add retired wrestlers to the overflow list. I really want my focus to be on those top 100 spots. If I start putting active guys on the overflow, then that creates dozens of extra moves across 10 different lists which becomes more than I want to juggle. The right guys will eventually end up on the overflow, even if it takes a minute for it to happen.

2. 

   One thing I don’t understand. Why is One Man Gang on this list?

   1. 

      You got beef with the One Man Gang, Parker? 😂

      One Man Gang would’ve made the honorable mention list even if that was his only character. Gang was a staple across the territories as a quintessential heel. His iconic look featuring a mohawk, sunglasses, and a cutoff jean jacket was immediately recognizable across promotions. However, his transformation to–and time as–Akeem showed an evolution and character development that few 80s heels underwent. Akeem was an immensely popular bad guy character and his time as one half of the Twin Towers in one of WWE’s most popular eras is the cherry on top of a pretty strong resume.

      1. 

         Back when I actually saw his vignette on TV debuting his Akeem the Dream character, I actually found it rather offensive since he’s not actually of African descent. Maybe I’m being stupid but that’s just my impression. At the same time, I didn’t get upset when Oreal Perras portrayed his Ivan Koloff character. The Akeem angle just rubbed me the wrong way for some reason. .

         1. 

            Yeah, that character wouldn’t fly today. However, as you noted, the wrestling industry was built on wrestlers playing characters with ethnic backgrounds that didn’t match their own. Pretty much every Russian character ever, Yokozuna, and even Kamala the Ugandan Giant was just a dude from Mississippi. I think the fact that it was Slick’s “idea” made it seem more credible. It was a terrible gimmick, for sure, but George Gray deserves a lot of credit for taking it and running with it, even if the whole thing was just a practical joke on Dusty Rhodes.

3. 

   Glad to see Taz on the overflow. Not only was my favourite commentator but he also did really well in ECW (and ok in WWE)

   1. 

      Taz is a natural as a commentator. WWE needed someone like him over the past 17 years.

4. 

   Hey Jake. Which Bob Orton is it, senior or junior?

   1. 

      Junior

   2. 

      I think you could also make a case for Sr as well. He was pretty good too.

      1. 

         Sr. definitely has a nice resume.

5. 

   Ok so I’ve been working on this for a couple of days now and I think I’ve finally got your overflow list in order. Here it is

   “Classy” Freddie Blassie
   Bobo Brazil
   The Great Muta/Keiji Muto
   Jushin “Thunder” Liger
   Mil Mascaras
   Gene Kiniski
   Pat Patterson
   Road Warrior Animal
   Sid Vicious
   Edouard Carpentier
   Barry Windham
   The Iron Sheik
   Gorilla Monsoon
   Antonino Rocca
   “Whipper” Billy Watson
   Yokozuna
   Billy Robinson
   Ole Anderson
   Carlos Colon
   Bubba Ray Dudley
   Jeff Jarrett
   Mad Dog Vachon
   William Regal
   Raven
   Konnan
   Ivan Koloff
   Bill Eadie
   “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff
   Dick Murdoch
   Barry Darsow
   Afa Anoa’i
   Big Boss Man
   Tully Blanchard
   Michael “P.S.” Hayes
   Jesse “The Body” Ventura
   Johnny Valentine
   Greg “The Hammer” Valentine
   “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan
   Mr. Fuji
   Junkyard Dog
   Mark Henry
   Ernie “The Big Cat” Ladd
   Don Muraco
   Shane Douglas
   Tommy “Wildfire” Rich
   Taz
   Dr. Death Steve Williams
   Big John Studd
   X Pac
   Sika Anoa’i
   Brian Pillman
   Ken Shamrock
   Ultimo Dragon
   The Godfather/Papa Shango
   Robert Gibson
   Tito Santana
   Earthquake
   “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton
   Kevin Von Erich
   Eddie Graham
   The Honky Tonk Man
   Rocky Johnson
   Dean Malenko
   Haku
   Tony Atlas
   King Kong Bundy
   Kamala
   “Crusher” Jerry Blackwell
   Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake
   “Adorable” Adrian Adonis
   Wahoo McDaniel
   “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin
   Dino Bravo
   Chavo Guerrero Jr
   Ken Patera
   “Hotstuff” Eddie Gilbert
   Stan Lane
   Ricky Morton
   Rikishi
   Alberto Del Rio
   “Road Dogg” Jesse James
   Blackjack Lanza
   Magnum T.A.
   Braun Strowman
   Baron von Raschke
   Ivan Putski
   George “The Animal” Steele
   David Von Erich
   Juventud Guerrera
   Larry “The Axe” Hennig
   “Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr
   One Man Gang/Akeem
   Gino Hernandez
   Steve Kiern
   Chief Jay Strongbiw
   Psicosis
   Mike Rotunda
   Kevin Sullivan
   The Great Malenko
   Nikolai Volkoff
   Larry Zybysko

   If anyone else sees this and would like to give some CONSTRUCTIVE Criticism, please do so.

   1. 

      Thanks for sharing, Parker! Not including active wrestlers, the next 15 for me, roughly in order, are:

      Wahoo McDaniel
      Gene Kiniski
      Michael Hayes
      Kevin Von Erich
      Junkyard Dog
      Tully Blanchard
      Paul Orndorf
      Samoa Joe
      Brian Pillman
      Sid Vicious
      Yokozuna
      Barry Windham
      The Honky Tonk Man
      Tito Santana
      The Big Boss Man

      It gets really tight outside of the top-100 on all of the lists (which is why I don’t go beyond 100), so I don’t have particularly strong opinions on the ordering. Great work!