With Wrestlemania 25 just around the corner, I decided to come up with my list of top 5 favorite wrestlers. I mainly watched the WWE on and off over the years. I could never really got into WCW for some reason. I’ve watched maybe one or two WWE shows in the past 3 years because I’ve had a hard time getting into the new WWE. But, here are my favorites from when I was really into the WWE.
1. Hulk Hogan
I know what you are going to say, “He is everyone’s favorite. All the more reason to put him on the list. Who didn’t want to be a Hulkamaniac growing up? This is the man with the 24 inch pythons that body slammed Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania 3.
Even when he changed his name to Hollywood Hogan and formed the nWo with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, he proved that he could still be everyone’s favorite even as a heel.
2. Steve Austin
I’m not talking about “Stunning”Steve Austin who was part of the Hollywood Blondes with Brian Pillman. I’m talking about Stone Cold Steve Austin. The beer guzzling, foul-mouthed, badass who would throw the Stone
Cold Stunner on anyone and made the term Austin 3:16 the most popular catch phrase in wrestling history.
One of my favorite moments from Stone Cold was when he visited Vince McMahon in the hospital during their feud and whacked him in the head with a bed pan. On the next show, he dubbed Vince with the name Bed Pan McMahon. Now tell me that’s not hilarious.
3. The Rock
I’ve got to admit, that I really didn’t like this guy when he came into the business as Rocky Maivia. But, my mind changed when he turned heel and joined the Nation of Domination as the Rock. With his hilarious interviews starting with the phrase “The Rock Says…” and ending with “Do you smell
what the Rock is cooking?”, to creating the “People’s Eyebrow” and the “People’s Elbow”made him the “Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment”.
4. The Undertaker
When I first saw the lights go out and heard the bells tolling, I though to myself, “what is this all about?” Then came the dramatic entrance of the Undertaker, and I could tell that this guy was going to be around for a long time and win the championship belt eventually. Although, I wasn’t too thrilled when he changed his persona to a tattooed motorcycle enthusiast dubbed, “the American Bad Ass”. I was glad when he changed back to the Dead Man and choke slammed and tombstoned his opponents. Hopefully, he’ll be wrestling at Wrestlemania 25 to improve his undefeated streak to 17-0.
5. Mick Foley
When Mankind first came to the WWE, I would always get irritated when he interfered with a match. Especially when it involved the wrestler I was rooting for to lose. But, when he introduced his other personas of Dude Love and Cactus Jack, I started to change my mind. It wasn’t until the “Hell in the Cell” match at the 1998 King of the Ring with the Undertaker that my mind was completely changed. In my mind, and I’m sure everyone else’s, that match has to be the greatest wrestling match that there has ever been. A lot of that
has to do with the pain that Mick Foley put his body through for the sake of sports entertainment.
Share your thoughts about your favorite wrestlers growing up.
Tags: Wrestlemania, wrestlemania tickets, WWE
