Aleksandr Karelin Greco Roman 3 time Olympic Champion from 1988-1996. Hadn't had anyone even score a point against him between 1993 to 2000 until he was finally defeated by American Rulan Gardner at Sydney 1-0 on a very minor technical error by Karelin. http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/heroes/bio_uk.asp?par_i_id=119639 Milos of Croton Legendary 6 time Champion of the ancient Olympic games. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/milo.html Oh wait I see you're talking about fake wrestling.
To me it's between Hogan and Stone Cold. Do you go with the guy that first introduced the "sport" to mainstream America, or do you go with the guy that helped propell it to even higher heights public consciousness. Personally I'd go with Hogan. But Vince Mcmahon towers over all these guys in influence.
If we're talking about WWE pro-wrestling what are the standards we're talking about? Are we looking at who's the best athlete? While its not real competition guys in the WWE are certainly athlete's like gymnasts. At the same time there artistic performers again like gymnasts and figure skaters. Since the matches are fixed though they aren't judged and scored based on artistic competition so there's nothing like an artistic scale we can judge them on. I guess the closest would be to look at them as performers so then are we considering whose the best actor, popularized the sport the most, or made the most money?
It has to be Hogan. If you ask 1000 random people to name a wrestler, that is gonna be the name you hear the most often. Yes, every match he has done in the last 20 years has been exactly the same, but people just can't help but smile when they here his music come on. Hogan is THE icon, Flair was to WCW what Hogan was to the WWF, but WCW went under. The Rock, SCSA, HHH, HBK, etc are just following in the footsteps of Hogan. EDIT: My personal favorites were Brutus the Barber Beefcake, Buff Bagwell, Goldberg, Taker, and Demolition (pre-Crush).
In my lifetime, Hulk Hogan...no question. The Undertaker comes in a close 2nd. I'm looking at popularity and longevity. I just made myself laugh. I was thinking back when I was a freshman in college. The WWE has peaks and valleys...and it was at a peak with Stone Cold, The Rock, and HHH. If you're familiar with Jester West, there was a TV on the first floor where everyone walking by could see what you were watching. Well every Monday night wrestling fans would gather to watch. I never watched with them cause well you know everyone was laughing at them. But man I would watch with them now if I could go back in a time machine. I miss college. I went from happy to sad rambling.
The crazy thing was when I was there Freshmen year, the place was PACKED at 4:30 of DBZ fans. People were freaking standing on the side cause all the seats were taken to watch a 30 min anime.
Kurt Angle. WOOOOOOO or perhaps it's Stone Cold Steve Austin WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT the biggest star is obviously hogan though. Andre the Giant was a huge (literally) superstar as well all over the world.
If I'm thinking of the same place at Jester West first floor (heading to the elevators), the "airport lounge" has now become a bunch of student counseling rooms or something. Very sad. And by the way, my vote has to go to Hogan, with Stone Cold in second.
hulk hogan easily even if you just count those badass thunder in paradise movies. ultimate warrior had probably the best prime ever but he just dissapeared.
but my favorites are HHH,Undertaker,Kurt Angle,Ric Flair,Ted Dibliase,Breat Hart,HBK,Rody pipper,british bulldog
