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Link to original content: https://web.archive.org/web/20131104005228/http://www.ugo.com/tv/ugos-top-50-wrestlers-of-all-time?page=10
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By Aubrey Sitterson May 20, 2011 |
| 5 | Mick Foley |
Call him Mankind, Cactus Jack or even Dude Love, there's no denying the incredible impact that Mick Foley has had on the wrestling industry. On paper, he doesn't sound like much of a wrestler at all, with a large but unremarkable physique, and a series of wacky gimmicks. But that lumpy frame and those strange characters belong to one of the greatest wrestling minds ever, who also just happens to be one of the industry's best promo men. No one has ever been as good as Foley at working with what they were given. Foley is legendary for the physical punishment he'll endure over the course of a match, but unlike hacky garbage wrestlers, Foley knows how to milk every one of his excruciating bumps for maximum impact, which is what made him one of the Attitude Era's largest stars.
| 4 | The Rock |
Though he's found an outlet for his charisma in his film work, the Rock's ability to connect with an audience was only a small part of his tremendous appeal as a wrestler. A second-generation grappler, the Rock quickly rose during the late 1990s to become one of the industry's top talents. While his incredible ability to wield a microphone gets the most attention, the Rock was also an accomplished in-ring talent, telling memorable stories between the bells as well as being involved in some of the Attitude Era's top angles. When the Rock left wrestling for Hollywood, it was a profound loss for the industry.
| 3 | Ric Flair |
To most wrestling fans, Ric Flair is recognized as an astounding talent and one of the all-time greats, but if you're from the South, he's like unto a god. A tremendous in-ring storyteller who honed his abilities in the territories of the NWA, "The Nature Boy" had his schtick down pat once wrestling went prime time. With bleached blond hair, fancy suits and his signature strut, Flair has been a major figure in professional wrestling since the early 1970s, with little sign of slowing down. As potent as ever on the microphone, even more remarkable is Flair's physical health and ability to go out and mesmerize fans all over again with his trademark chops, figure four leglocks and over-the-top sells.
| 2 | Hulk Hogan |
He wasn't the best worker, his gimmick came second-hand and even his best matches were often formulaic. But nonetheless, Hulk Hogan truly defined wrestling for generations of fans. With his massive physique and bright blonde hair, he was the perfect figurehead for WWE at a time when the company was attempting to wed wrestling to pop culture. It was an unqualified success, largely based on the wide appeal of Hogan and his adoring Hulkamaniacs. Then, in the 1990s, Hogan presided over another massive shift in professional wrestling as part of WCW's infamous NWO angle. Though he's now better known as a punchline and tabloid fixture, Hulk Hogan's contributions to professional wrestling in the form of ticket, pay-per-view and merchandise sales, not to mention public awareness, are immense.
| 1 | "Stone Cold" Steve Austin |
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin was the biggest and brightest star during one of professional wrestling's most popular periods, the late 1990s. A mean, aggressive wrestler that straddled the line betwen face and heel, Austin was something fresh for wrestling fans who were ready for a change. His long-running feuds with his boss, Mr. McMahon, were the focal point of WWE's Attitude Era, as "Stone Cold" became a major mainstream celebrity, selling countless t-shirts emblazoned with slogans like "Austin 3:16." But it wasn't just good marketing that made a star out of "Stone Cold" - Austin was a font of charisma, able to manipulate crowds as a heel, face, or even both simultaneously, and he backed it all up with solid technical ability, leading to some of the most dramatic and well-wrestled matches of his day.
