The Best Ever ?

[genecop]

Never posted in this forum before as I haven’t been a fan of Pro Wrestling since I was a kid, Bruno Samartino and Haystacks Calhoun was my most recent memories...Anyway, today at my wife’s work, Elias a wrestler came in...

This started a discussion between us about who was the greatest wrestler of all time..I’m talking about pure wrestling ability without the marketing and entertainment..

In other words as I understand it people like Brock and Cormier are division 1 wrestlers, this is viewed as the top tier...

So who is the GOAT, thanks..maybe someone a casual like myself never heard of..

 

[Big Nasty Edison]

Didn't read thread, but bret hart is the best ever.

 

[BEAST]

My top 3

 

[Which Doctor]

1. Gilberti
2. Smiley
3. Arquette

 

[Pliny Pete]

Joey Ryan
Priscilla Kelly
That tea bag guy

 

[lakersfan45]

Shawn the heart break kid michaels

 

[Dorkman]

For pure Work Rate, guys like Bret Hart, Shawn Micheals, Kurt Hennig, Kenny Omega, Kazuchika Okada, AJ Styles, Brian Danielson, Tatsumi Fujinami, Eddie Guerrero, Jushin Thunder Liger, Chris Jericho, Ricky Steamboat, Randy Savage(frankly this list could go on for a long long time and i'm definitely missing a bunch) all have claims to incredible workmanship. If you're factoring in overness and/or charisma it definitely changes the question.

 

[El Dandy]

Pure wrestling ability- Bret Hart.

 

[deezy]

John Cena and Roman Reigns tied for 1st.

 

[Thrawn33]

Bret for skill
The Rock for mic work

Angle for best all around.

 

[Stargazer Rex]

Bret and if you disagree fuck you!

 

[UFC=Pride]

Kurt Angle oh it's true it's damn true

 

[Frank23]

 

[Frank23]

1. Gilberti
2. Smiley
3. Arquette

 

[Which Doctor]

 

[Which Doctor]

P.S. - Now I really want a shirt w/ my 3 and Joey Ryan in a Mt. Rushmore motif.

 

[Bamboozled]

Misawa, literally nobody comes close. We're talking raw ability in the ring, he could do it all.

 

[the ambush]

Hulk Hogan

Bret Hart

Stone Cold

Randy Savage

Honorable mention: Shawn Michaels

Honorable mention: Ric Flair

 

[ProBoxingInsidr]

Probably Haystacks Calhoun TS

 

[flowwiththego]

Trying to get a proper handle on the question. If you are talking about who is the best real wrestler them Kurt is my answer.
Gold medals dont lie. They might fib a little bit but they dont lie. But that doesnt make him the best shooter, just the best wrestler ( although Danny Hodge and Tim Woods were great.)
Guys like Lou Thesz, Karl Gotch, John Pesek, Ad Santel, Billy Robinson, etc. were feared shooters.
Mad Dog Vachon in his prime might have able to take anyone, and I mean anyone including Meng in a no holds barred fight.