Who made professional wrestling what it is today?
Eric Schomburg
April 24, 2006
Professional wrestling has and always will be a penchant that very few will admit they love. With it?s enriched history from the National Wrestling Association/Alliance (NWA), American Wrestling Association (AWA), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and World Wrestling Entertainment/Federation (WWE), the industry has had an assortment of connoisseurs that have embraced wrestling fans all around the world. However, wrestling fans have been voluble about who ?made? professional wrestling what it is today?
When I talk to wrestling fans about who made professional wrestling I get debates and sometimes I get heated rivalries regarding who made professional wrestling. Obvious choices for this accolade are the likes of Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Bret Hart, Steve Austin, the Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and the Undertaker. Obviously, these names have been the quintessential names when it comes to the success and popularity of professional wrestling. However, can anyone clearly give this accolade to only one of these men? Not only that, but are these the only men who really deserve the prestigious epithet of being the one that made professional wrestling what it is today?
Wrestling fans, especially on the internet, will swear that either Hulk Hogan or Ric Flair is the epitome of what makes professional wrestling great today. While this may be true, it is certainly a mystery of who would be the only one that deserves the title?
Hulk Hogan started wrestling in the late-1970's, but his popularity wouldn?t reach it?s peak until 1983 in which Vincent Kennedy McMahon deemed Hogan as the ?chosen one.? It was January of 1984 and ?Hulkamania? was born; Hulk Hogan defeated the Iron Sheik to become the World Wrestling Federation heavyweight champion.
Hulk Hogan?s persona was simplistic, but it worked. Hogan?s uncanny body and his impressive arms that were probably more popular than Hogan himself captivated young children. During his heyday Hogan was champion for three years straight defeating such great heels as King Kong Bundy, Paul Orndorff, Roddy Piper, and Greg Valentine. However, while these oppositions were easily defeated, the real challenge for Hulk Hogan was the seven foot Andre the Giant.
Wrestlemania III was deemed the ?passing of the torch? from Andre the Giant to Hulk Hogan. Hulk Hogan body slamming Andre the Giant sealed the deal for Hogan?s popularity. Not only did the torch be passed, it was stamped with a bodyslam.
Hogan was catered to children and brought spectacle to the realm of professional wrestling. Hogan was like Superman, he was indestructible and had the unbelievable strength to make him larger than life.
However, can he really be deemed as THE man to make professional wrestling what it is today?
Another wrestler that fans of professional wrestling, especially those of the internet, claim to be the only man that single handedly made professional wrestling what it is today. Ric Flair.
Ric Flair receives more accolades from internet fans than Hulk Hogan, because of Flair?s work ethic. Ric Flair was outspoken, hubris, flamboyant, and can play the character of a craven very well. Ric Flair was the main attraction during the NWA days. Flair had some great matches and feuds with the likes of Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat, Lex Luger, and Sting.
Unlike Hogan, Flair was more proficient when it came to actual wrestling skills. Flair wasn?t tall, nor was he built like Hulk Hogan, but fans loved him for being fluent in wrestling technique. Another difference between Hogan and Flair is Flair is more likely to ?blade? himself, which fans give more respect to, because it proves that Flair tries to make the opposition look threatening enough to make the champion bleed. Hogan was rare to bleed.
Flair was also the leader of the most elite group in professional wrestling history; the truculent stable known as the Four Horsemen. The Four Horsemen engendered what would become of future stables such as the nWo, Degeneration-X, and Evolution.
During Ric Flair?s first run in the WWE he would win the prestigious WWE World title in just 6 months of being in the World Wrestling Federation.
To this day, Ric Flair has proven that he can still perform a good match, with having great matches with Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and carrying a memorable cage match with Randy Orton.
Flair would go on to win an alleged 16 time reign as World Champion; however, it?s been noted that in his career he has had 23 reigns as being World champion.
Flair brought character and pizzaz to professional wrestling. Flair had the intestinal fortitude, the skills, and the psychology to professional wrestling.
However, the question still remains, can Ric Flair be the man that made professional wrestling what it is today?
Who made professional wrestling what it is today? Hogan? Flair? McMahon? Austin? Rock? Triple H? The answer is all of them.
Hogan and Flair deserve to only be a part of the success of professional wrestling; however, one entity can never be THE absolute factor in what has made and still makes professional wrestling great.
This debate on who made professional wrestling is ludicrous, because while Hogan, Flair, and McMahon were a big part of the popularity of professional wrestling, they certainly didn?t make it what it is today by themselves.
Here is fact. Hogan and Flair had to have ?dancing partners? in order to sell their product; therefore, if you count only Hogan or Flair as being the sole reason professional wrestling was made, then you have to count Andre, Harley Race, King Kong Bundy, Ricky Steamboat, and other opposing ?threats? that gave both Hogan and Flair a run for their money.
Here is another fact. Professional wrestling evolves through the times. For every Buddy Rogers, comes a Ric Flair, and for every Billy Graham comes a Hulk Hogan. Once Hogan?s and Flair?s era ended, it was time for something fresh and something new; thus, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels had their run. Once Hart and Michaels? era ran out came the Rock and Austin era. After that, it was the Angle and Cena era. Eventually another transcended era will come and go.
There isn?t one entity that made professional wrestling; the fact is, everyone who has ever worked hard on their character, in the ring, and on the microphone has made professional wrestling what it is today. Not only did Hogan and Flair make professional wrestling what it is today, but so did Rock, Bret Hart, Austin, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, the Undertaker, Vince McMahon, and Macho Man Randy Savage.
Anyone and everyone who has been in professional wrestling?s illustrious history has had their thumb-print in the success of professional wrestling; therefore, they also made professional wrestling what it is today.
Wrestlers that some people wouldn?t give the credit of being known for making professional wrestling what it is today would go to the likes of Harley Race, Ted Dibiase, Mick Foley, Rick Rude, Curt Hennig, Owen Hart, Jerry Lawler, Trish Stratus, Jake Roberts, Bobby Hennan, Tito Santana, Andre the Giant, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Arn Anderson, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Jeff Jarrett, Terry Funk, and yes, even John Cena; however, the fact is, all of these people DID in fact share that title with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair as being the ones that made professional wrestling great.
Who made professional wrestling what it is today? Everyone who has contributed their time and effort in continuing to make professional wrestling one of the greatest spectacles of all time.
When I talk to wrestling fans about who made professional wrestling I get debates and sometimes I get heated rivalries regarding who made professional wrestling. Obvious choices for this accolade are the likes of Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Bret Hart, Steve Austin, the Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and the Undertaker. Obviously, these names have been the quintessential names when it comes to the success and popularity of professional wrestling. However, can anyone clearly give this accolade to only one of these men? Not only that, but are these the only men who really deserve the prestigious epithet of being the one that made professional wrestling what it is today?
Wrestling fans, especially on the internet, will swear that either Hulk Hogan or Ric Flair is the epitome of what makes professional wrestling great today. While this may be true, it is certainly a mystery of who would be the only one that deserves the title?
Hulk Hogan started wrestling in the late-1970's, but his popularity wouldn?t reach it?s peak until 1983 in which Vincent Kennedy McMahon deemed Hogan as the ?chosen one.? It was January of 1984 and ?Hulkamania? was born; Hulk Hogan defeated the Iron Sheik to become the World Wrestling Federation heavyweight champion.
Hulk Hogan?s persona was simplistic, but it worked. Hogan?s uncanny body and his impressive arms that were probably more popular than Hogan himself captivated young children. During his heyday Hogan was champion for three years straight defeating such great heels as King Kong Bundy, Paul Orndorff, Roddy Piper, and Greg Valentine. However, while these oppositions were easily defeated, the real challenge for Hulk Hogan was the seven foot Andre the Giant.
Wrestlemania III was deemed the ?passing of the torch? from Andre the Giant to Hulk Hogan. Hulk Hogan body slamming Andre the Giant sealed the deal for Hogan?s popularity. Not only did the torch be passed, it was stamped with a bodyslam.
Hogan was catered to children and brought spectacle to the realm of professional wrestling. Hogan was like Superman, he was indestructible and had the unbelievable strength to make him larger than life.
However, can he really be deemed as THE man to make professional wrestling what it is today?
Another wrestler that fans of professional wrestling, especially those of the internet, claim to be the only man that single handedly made professional wrestling what it is today. Ric Flair.
Ric Flair receives more accolades from internet fans than Hulk Hogan, because of Flair?s work ethic. Ric Flair was outspoken, hubris, flamboyant, and can play the character of a craven very well. Ric Flair was the main attraction during the NWA days. Flair had some great matches and feuds with the likes of Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat, Lex Luger, and Sting.
Unlike Hogan, Flair was more proficient when it came to actual wrestling skills. Flair wasn?t tall, nor was he built like Hulk Hogan, but fans loved him for being fluent in wrestling technique. Another difference between Hogan and Flair is Flair is more likely to ?blade? himself, which fans give more respect to, because it proves that Flair tries to make the opposition look threatening enough to make the champion bleed. Hogan was rare to bleed.
Flair was also the leader of the most elite group in professional wrestling history; the truculent stable known as the Four Horsemen. The Four Horsemen engendered what would become of future stables such as the nWo, Degeneration-X, and Evolution.
During Ric Flair?s first run in the WWE he would win the prestigious WWE World title in just 6 months of being in the World Wrestling Federation.
To this day, Ric Flair has proven that he can still perform a good match, with having great matches with Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and carrying a memorable cage match with Randy Orton.
Flair would go on to win an alleged 16 time reign as World Champion; however, it?s been noted that in his career he has had 23 reigns as being World champion.
Flair brought character and pizzaz to professional wrestling. Flair had the intestinal fortitude, the skills, and the psychology to professional wrestling.
However, the question still remains, can Ric Flair be the man that made professional wrestling what it is today?
Who made professional wrestling what it is today? Hogan? Flair? McMahon? Austin? Rock? Triple H? The answer is all of them.
Hogan and Flair deserve to only be a part of the success of professional wrestling; however, one entity can never be THE absolute factor in what has made and still makes professional wrestling great.
This debate on who made professional wrestling is ludicrous, because while Hogan, Flair, and McMahon were a big part of the popularity of professional wrestling, they certainly didn?t make it what it is today by themselves.
Here is fact. Hogan and Flair had to have ?dancing partners? in order to sell their product; therefore, if you count only Hogan or Flair as being the sole reason professional wrestling was made, then you have to count Andre, Harley Race, King Kong Bundy, Ricky Steamboat, and other opposing ?threats? that gave both Hogan and Flair a run for their money.
Here is another fact. Professional wrestling evolves through the times. For every Buddy Rogers, comes a Ric Flair, and for every Billy Graham comes a Hulk Hogan. Once Hogan?s and Flair?s era ended, it was time for something fresh and something new; thus, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels had their run. Once Hart and Michaels? era ran out came the Rock and Austin era. After that, it was the Angle and Cena era. Eventually another transcended era will come and go.
There isn?t one entity that made professional wrestling; the fact is, everyone who has ever worked hard on their character, in the ring, and on the microphone has made professional wrestling what it is today. Not only did Hogan and Flair make professional wrestling what it is today, but so did Rock, Bret Hart, Austin, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, the Undertaker, Vince McMahon, and Macho Man Randy Savage.
Anyone and everyone who has been in professional wrestling?s illustrious history has had their thumb-print in the success of professional wrestling; therefore, they also made professional wrestling what it is today.
Wrestlers that some people wouldn?t give the credit of being known for making professional wrestling what it is today would go to the likes of Harley Race, Ted Dibiase, Mick Foley, Rick Rude, Curt Hennig, Owen Hart, Jerry Lawler, Trish Stratus, Jake Roberts, Bobby Hennan, Tito Santana, Andre the Giant, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Arn Anderson, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Jeff Jarrett, Terry Funk, and yes, even John Cena; however, the fact is, all of these people DID in fact share that title with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair as being the ones that made professional wrestling great.
Who made professional wrestling what it is today? Everyone who has contributed their time and effort in continuing to make professional wrestling one of the greatest spectacles of all time.
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