The President
Top 50 Champions Of All Time
Here are the conditions when listing
- All professional wrestling championship title reigns (recognized and unrecognized) are eligible
- Each ranking should have the name of the wrestler or tag team attached with a title reign of the belt
- The rankings can be based on a number of factors depending on each person's list, length of reign, the number of reigns the wrestler had on a belt, a fighting champion, successful reign(s), the mark left on the wrestling profession from being champion of that title
Last edited by Shockage; 02-18-2011 at 03:53 AM.
The President
NOTE: We're doing away with separately ranking a wrestlers reigns of the same title. For example, Ric Flair's 14 plus unrecognized NWA World Title reigns shouldn't be ranked individually. Instead, the wrestler and the reign(s) of the one title belt will count as one ranking.
The President
This was a very difficult list to compile, a top notch list from 1 to 50
- Ric Flair NWA World Title
- Lou Thesz NWA World Title
- Bruno Sammartino - WWWF World Title
- Hulk Hogan - WWF World Title
- Superstar Billy Graham WWWF World Title
- Bob Backlund - WWWF World Title
- Honky Tonk Man - WWF Intercontinental Title
- Dusty Rhodes NWA World Title
- Jerry Lawler USWA Title
- Fabulous Moolah WWF Womens World Title
- El Santo EMLL Mexican Middleweight Title
- Harley Race NWA World Title
- Macho Man Randy Savage - WWF Intercontinental Title
- Dory Funk Jr. NWA World Title
- Bret Hart WWF World Title
- Otta Wanz CWA (Germany) Title
- Pat OConner NWA World Title
- Buddy Rogers NWA World Title
- Samoa Joe ROH World Title
- Rob Van Dam ECW Television Title
- Gene & Ole Anderson NWA Georgia Tag Team Titles
- Yokozuna WWF World Title
- Nick Bockwinkel AWA World Title
- Mitsuharu Misawa AJPW Triple Crown World Title
- Shawn Michaels WWF World Title
- Demolition WWF World Tag Team Titles
- Arn Anderson WCW Television Title
- Money Inc. WWF World Tag Team Titles
- Antonio Inoki NJPW IWGP World Title
- Verne Gagne AWA World Title
- Razor Ramon WWF Intercontinental Title
- The Rock WWF Intercontinental Title
- Bret Hart WWF Intercontinental Title
- The British Bulldogs WWF Tag Team Titles
- Rock n Roll Express NWA Tag Team Titles
- Toshiaki Kawada AJPW Triple Crown World Title
- Stan Hansen AJPW Triple Crown World Title
- The Hart Foundation WWF Tag Team Titles
- Carlos Colon WWC Title
- Nigel McGuinness ROH World Title
- Bryan Danielson ROH World Title
- Lex Luger NWA/WCW US Champion
- Steven Regal WCW Television Champion
- The Dudley Boyz ECW World Tag Team Titles
- Taz ECW World Champion
- Ravishing Rick Rude WCW US Title
- Stunning Steve Austin WCW Television Title
- Big Van Vader NJPW IWGP World Title
- Triple H WWF World Title
- Magnum TA - NWA US Title
Banned
OK, and you think I am wrong for questioning where you place Samoan wrestlers, then explain this.......Originally Posted by Shockage
Yokozuna- 280 days as World Champion.
Nick Bockwinkle, 3800+ Days as World Champion.
You have Bockwinkle AFTER Yoko and he should be in the top 10 easily.
The President
I thought Yoko was Japanese, anyway Horsey when you make your list, I won't call you out for the high rankings you give the white southern wrestlers over the Lucha Libre, Puroseru and the yankess.
The President
I'm still revising my list, and from the info that Horsey provided, he makes a valid point. Bocky had a long, and successful reign, however my choice for Yoko being ranked ahead of Bocky was based on Yoko having the second longest WWF title reign for a heel since Superstar Billy Graham, that was a 16 year gap. Yoko also defended his World Title against the likes of Bret Hart, the Undertaker, Lex Luger and Hulk Hogan (the man whom he beat for his second reign), not to mention that Yoko was a tremendous wrestler for his build. I take nothing away from Bockwinkel, but you have to look at the shape of the AWA in the 80's during Bock's other reigns as World Champion. Bock in his twilight was a World Champion of a dying promotion, and for that I can't rank Bockwinkel ahead of Yoko. So you see, my choice for ranking Yoko ahead of Bockwinkel had nothing to do with race.
Banned
All fair answers, however, Bock's first reign was miles ahead of Yoko's reign. And if you are including every reign to get a "fair average" then Yoko's 2 minute reign would pretty much cancel out his 2nd longest reign and all but take him out of the top 50. Likewise, if you put all the power in his one long reign(and that is ok), then you have to do the same for Bockwinkle and consider his 1714 days, which, again, would blow Yoko's away as it was the longest AWA World title regin by a heel, the 2nd longest AWA World title reign(only behind the owner), and the longest World title reign of ANY heel with a recongized World title, and was done during the heyday's of AWA when the title was seen as superior to the WWWF World title. How does the 2nd longest heel reign in one company be better than the longest heel reign of EVERY company? Yeah, it doesnt. This is why said Bock should be listed in the top 10, atleast, and more like the top 5. Infact, the only three ppl with longer reigns than Bock is Thesz, Vern, and Bruno!
The President
Tooshay Horsey, Tooshay, I'd really like for you to put a list together, a wealth of discussions can emerge from our different lists.
Banned
1. Lou Thesz: NWA World Chamion
2. Nick Bockwinkle: AWA World CHampion
3. Ric Flair: NWA World Champion
4. Harley Race: NWA World Champion
5. Bruno Samartino: WWWF World Champion
6. Hulk Hogan: WWF World Champion
7. Dory Funk Jr: NWA World Champion
8. Buddy Rogers: NWA/WWWF World Champion
9. Ric Flair: WCW World Champion
10. Ron Simmons: WCW World Champion
11. Hulk Hogan: WCW World Champion
12. Verne Gagne: AWA World Champion
13. Superstar Graham: WWWF World Champion
14. Maddog Vachon: AWA World Champion
15. Gene Kininski: NWA World Champion
16. Pat Oconner: NWA World Champion
17. Jack Brisco: NWA World Champion
18. Rick Martel: AWA World Champion
19. Les Thorton: NWA/WWF World Jr Champion
20. Pedro Morales: WWWF World Champion
21: Danny Hodge: NWA World JR Champion
22: Nelson Royal: NWA World Jr Champion
23. John Cena: WWE World Champion(YES, Cena. He did have the longest sing reign in the last 20+Years!)
24. Orvill Brown: NWA World Champion
25. Terry Funk: NWA World Champion
26. Bruiser and Crusher: AWA World Tag team Champions
27. High Fliers: AWA World Tag Team Champions
28. Ole and Gene Anderson: NWA World Tag Team Champions
29. Jerry and Jimmy V.: WWWF World tag team champions
30. RNR Express: NWA World Tag Champions
31. Midnight Express: NWA World/US Tag Team Champions
32. Honky Tonk Man: WWF IC Champion
33. Demolition: WWF World Tag Team Champions
34. Muta: IWGP Champion
35. Yokozuna: WWF World Champion
36. Shinya Hashimoto: IWGP Champion
37. Bruiser and Crusher: AWA World Tag team Champions
38. Pedro Morales: WWF IC Champion
39. High Fliers: AWA World Tag Team Champions
40. Mr. Fuji and Tanaka: WWWF World Tag Team Champions
41. Randy Savage: WWF World Champion
42. Desiel: WWF World Champion
43. Butcher and Maddog Vachon: AWA World Tag Team Champions
44. Road Warriors: AWA World Tag Team Champions
45. Hart Foundation: WWF World tag Team Champion
46. Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito: WWWF World Tag Team Champions
47. Ricky Steamboat: NWA World TV Champion
48. Arn Anderson. NWA World TV Champion
49. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard: NWA/WWF World Tag Team Champions
50. Steve Corino: NWA/AWA/ECW World Title Champion
Mr. Anderson
I view Yokozunas title reign as the best heel reign in WWF history.
Length of reign is a minor detail in my opinion. I doubt anyone will have London/Kendrick in their lists.
Banned
Come on Turley, His two big feuds were UT(and he needed about 20 people to beat him in the casket match) and, are you ready....Lex Luger, and then it was not even a World Title match to end it, it was at Survivor series. Yoko's impressive team....Quebecer Jacques, Ludvig Borga and Crush!!!!! Really, this is greatness? lol
Not to mention that Graham beat the greats WWF Champion of all time, Bruno, feuded with Bruno and pinned him twice cleanly, as well as introduced the Bull Rope match to WWWF with a fued against Dusty Rhodes, who was without doubt the biggest face star of the 1970's!
Mr. Anderson
each to their own Horsey. I love the big heel monsters and Yokozuna was the best for me. He was so convincing and came off as truly unbeatable. Thats what I loved about the reign, you knew it was going to take something special to beat him. That and the fact that he made Hogan leave on a stretcher!
The President
Yoko followed a rare breed of wrestlers to hold a World Title at a lengthy period. When we think of pro wrestling and world champions we think of white man, trunks, knee pads and boots rasslin'. Like Giant Baba, Yoko broke through that barrier, but unlike Baba who did it in his own home land in his own fed, Yoko did it in the United States in the WWF. That definitely deserves high recognition.
Banned
See, now that is odd to me. I felt his reign totally sucked, as the aforementioned points I made. Against anyone other than an upper mid carder, he always looked week. I mean, he was the biggest World Champion of all time and he looked week against way too many people to me. It was actually upsetting to a guy who was fairly new to the business end of pro wrestling while still being a huge fan. I didnt get why his push seemed so weak.
The only problem with this is that it was already done, before Yoko, when Ron Simmons broke that barrier. He wasnt what with knee pads and rasslin boots.
On top of that, Hogan wasnt knee pads and boots, nor was Flair, Dusty, Graham, UT and sevearl others who broke all the traditional World Champion modes before Yoko. Not to mention Yoko had one of the weakest runs ever as a champion.
Granted, he was against the usual WWF grain up to that point, but he was burried against everyone he wrestled who was above midcarder. I can understand someone helping him beat UT, but does it really take 7 or 8 to beat Taker and Yoko all but didnt help them do it as well???
His reign was unusual, long, and by a heel, but it wasnt a great run in itself. He deserved to be on the list, but I felt he fit right in at 35 range.
Mr. Anderson
whilst World Champion, who did Yokozuna look weak against?
I dont think he started to look weak until after he dropped the strap (something the WWE bookers still struggle with today). I mean, he got wins against Hogan and even made Hogan leave ringside on a stretcher. That was unheard of back in those days. He really only started to look like an equal to the rest of the roster once he moved into the tag scene with Owen. I mean, he was given basically a squash match Royal Rumble win as a relative new comer!
The President
Ron Simmons didn't have a long enough reign, it looked more like that Ron was a transitional champion. He beats Vader, gets his name in the books, and once it was official that a black wrestler had become World Champion, they hand the title back to Vader, and a black World Champion isn't seen for another 7 years. It just showed that the American fan wasn't ready to embrace a black champ, and for goodness sakes Simmons defended his belt against the Barbarian on pay per view!
Yoko was a monster, other than Vader, I don't know of many monsters who've had lengthy reigns as World Champion, that's a rarity
Hogan wasn't the standard world champion, he was 6'8, a brawler, but the risk of having him run with the WWF title was worth it. Also keep in mind that Hogan's previous boss was so intent on not giving him the World Title because his ideologies were outdated and ignorant to the point that it eventually cost the promoter the company that he had for over 30 years.
Mr. Anderson
I cant agree with you there. I think that management, booking staff and perhaps the other wrestlers may not have been ready. I dont think you can claim the American public werent ready because that same American public were 100% behind Simmons and rooting for him big time, in each match he had. He was the number 2 babyface behind Sting at the time. He didnt lose the title because the fans werent getting behind him, they were 100% in his corner for that whole run.
The President
I have to partially agree, I bet there was some deep seeded hatred within the wrestling industry to not crown a black World Champion, I think that deep seeded hatred and the inability to change still exists today and the ignorance behind that mindset is also reason why there has been a lack of growth with black wrestlers in the profession especially in the WWE. Bill Watts, the only southern promoter to really push for the change was definitely for it, but I bet there were some old school promoters who were dead set against it, and the ones who had passed away were turning in their graves like Watts former Mid-South partner Leroy McGurk, the blind, racist promoter who hated blacks with all his heart. But when I meant that the American fan wasn't ready for a black champ, I meant that they probably weren't psychologically ready for it to retain that change for the long term. The US fan might have had good intentions, but weren't fully ready to accept it.
Mr. Anderson
This was in the 1990s!!!!
By that stage, there were many black World Champions in other sports. I think that boxing showed us that Americans could accept a black man being the best at his sport. Maybe in the 50s or 60s there would have been a few heads exploding at the thought but I think by the time Simmons got the belt, the general public in America were accepting of black champions.
I get the feeling that the boys club that ran wrestling back then sure werent though!
The President
The 90's don't seem that long ago, but it was still a different time and difficult for the wrestling profession to join the rest of the world. Remember that MTV initially began in 80's as a whites only music video channel and the Cosby Show was the first sitcom portraying a black family above the working class, the wrestling industry was always and still is behind with the times.
Mr. Anderson
in terms of sport though....... Michael Jordan, Ali, Tyson, they were already there and the public embraced it
The President
Those are two different worlds catering to different audiences. Basketball and Boxing had a head start. There's probably as much interest for blacks to get into wrestling as there are for black singers to sing country.
Mr. Anderson
yeah I see your point, but is that the fault of the American public or the fault of those in charge of wrestling, who catered to the needs of the rednecks?
The President
I blame the profession first and foremost, but when I read opinions of the general wrestling fan online, you can easily spot that they're either clueless of the issue and don't see it as a problem, or that they have no interest in remedying the issue. So maybe it's the fans first, and the profession for continuously giving black wrestlers stereotypical gimmicks. I posted a Black History Month in Wrestling thread documenting the black personalities in wrestling that helped make a difference. Other than marksus and myself, no one else has posted on it. Maybe they don't see that black wrestlers are a significant part of wrestling.
Last edited by Shockage; 02-23-2011 at 08:00 AM.
Mr. Anderson
but for the younger generation that are fans of the current product..... how can they see black wrestlers as heroes?
they simply arent given any. Black wrestlers are essentially comic relief (Cryme Tyme style) and are certainly never given any substance for the fans to latch onto. Shelton Benjamin was given the stupid gimmick with his Mum, which came at a time when he could have been pushed up the rankings. Instead he was given a joke gimmick that I believe essentially killed his career. He was never going to be taken seriously after that, I dont care how bad his mic skills were perceived to be, I maintain that the gimmick with his "momma" (black people dont have Mums) killed any credibility he could ever have earned.
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