Tuesday's Top Ten: Best Wrestlers of All-Time

Growing up it wasn't the NFL, NBA, MLB or even the NHL that was the top sport in my house. The 'sport' I'm talking about isn't even considered a sport by most. That's right I'm talking about sports entertainment, or in other words, professional wrestling. Nothing else on TV had more excitement, drama, or cliff hangers than the good old WWF. Things have changed in recent years though. Maybe because the product is different, or maybe because I'm older. Either way, let's take a look at the top ten wrestlers of all-time.

10-Sting: Sting is the best wrestler ever to have never competed for the WWF. He was one of the only guys to stick out in the early days of WCW. His 'Crow' gimmick where he would descend for the arena rafters is one of the best in the history of wrestling. Sting still competes today for TNA, and is one of the only 'old guys' still wrestling that doesn't resemble an old washed up wrestler than can barely move.

9-Mick Foley: Foley AKA Cactus Jack, AKA Mankind, AKA Dude Love put himself through more pain than any wrestler ever. He wasn't the most technical guy, but he had that underdog mentality that fans loved to cheer for. Being thrown off the top of the cage in the Hell in a Cell match by the Undertaker is one of the most memorable moments in the history of wrestling. Even though he was great, that 'Socko' things that he had going was one of the dumbest things ever.

8-The Ultimate Warrior: The man from parts unknown had the best entrance ever. There isn't too much you can say about the Warrior because he rarely spoke, but he appeared to gain strength towards the end of the match when his opponent would hit him in the face. Oh yeah, large amounts of steroids may have also helped.

7-Bret 'The Hitman' Hart: The Excellence of Execution will probably best be remembered from his WWF fallout at Survivor Series in Montreal, but he should be remembered as one of the best champions ever. Hart was a successful tag team champ as a member of the Hart Foundation, then moved on to singles competition to have runs as both the Intercontinental and World Champion. Hart also had great feuds with Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and even his late brother, Owen Hart.

6-The Undertaker: The Undertaker has possibly the best gimmick ever. The dead man was actually kinda scary to see for small kids. Not only does he have the best gimmick, but he also paved the way for a number of 'gimmick' matches including the casket match, body bag match, first blood match, and of course the hell in the cell. The Undertaker was also involved in some of the best story lines ever, including a feud with his brother Kane. It was sad to see Paul Bearer turn them against each other like that.

5-Shawn Michaels: The Heartbreak Kid is one of the best performers ever, and all it cost him was a friendship with Marty Jannetty. His career took off shortly after kicking Jannetty's head through a mirror in the barbershop, and he hasn't looked back since. Michaels excelled as both a 'good guy' and a 'bad guy', and will forever be despised by Bret Hart fans everywhere. HBK was the top guy when the WWF was playing second fiddle to the WCW, and his popularity was probably at it's highest when he was the leader of DX. Michaels also competed in the first ladder match with Razor Ramon which will go down as one of the best matches ever.

4-Rick Flair: WOOOO! That Nature Boy! Flair made WCW and is the best showman in the history of the sport. Like HBK, Flair succeeded as both a bad guy and a good guy. Flair is also one of only a few wrestlers to be both WCW and WWF World Champion. Flair has feuded with the best, and was the leader of the original 'stable', the Four Horsemen.

3-Stone Cold Steve Austin: Austin 3:16 was born when he defeated Jake the Snake and won the King of the Ring. Stone Cold was something the wrestling world had never seen before. A bad ass that fans could cheer for. He was a man with no friends or allies, and would come out of no where and drop a stone cold stunner on someone. Stone Cold helped lead the way back to prominence for the WWF when WCW was on top. He was one of the most marketable stars in the history of wrestling, and also one of the the best on the mic. I wonder if he would have had the same success had he remained 'The Ringmaster'.

2-Hulk Hogan: The Hulkster was the first true wrestling superstar. Hogan was the first wrestler to cross over as a star in mainstream entertainment and he helped pave the way for everyone that came after him. Hogan was a hero to millions, and made many believe in saying their prayers, and taking their 'vitamins'. Hogan was also responsible for making the WCW a major success. No one could have seen it coming when Hogan turned on his millions of fans to become Hollywood Hogan and join the NWO. That was the best face turn ever in wrestling. Hogan's in ring skills were less than spectacular. His finishing move was an atomic leg drop, but I guess he made it believable.

1-The Rock: Easily the most electrifying man in the history of the sport. The Rock had a perfect combination of wrestling skills, acting skills, star appeal, and no one..... and I mean no one could get it done on the mic like The Rock. No one was as close to being as funny, and no one could whip a crowd into a frenzy like he could. The Rock turned a simple move like an elbow drop into one of the most famous wrestling moves ever, 'The People's Elbow'. Watching The Rock put someone in their place was hilarious, and he's the first wrestler to be taken serious in Hollywood. Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?

Close but no Cigar: Triple H, Kurt Angle, The Macho Man, and John Cena.
-Joe Osborne

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