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This ranking is a follow-up to the tag team series that was written in October, which was a pleasure to write and fun to go down memory lane.
Similar to the tag team series, I will list and provide career summary of the top wrestlers in the order which Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked them in 2003.
The wrestlers ranked fought during the existence of this fine publication. Therefore, pre-70s superstars like Lou Thesz, Gorgeous George, and Buddy Rogers are not included.
Nor, will Japanese greats like Antonio Inoki, Shohei Baba, and Tiger Mask. I have narrowed the list to wrestlers who mostly fought in North America.
I hope you enjoyed this series and look forward to your comments and opinions.
50 - Magnum TA
Prior to joining Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP), Magnum TA started out fighting in NWA territories like Florida and Pacific Northwest under his real name, Terry Allen.
It was in Mid-South where "Magnum" was born, and then "TA" was added after Andre The Giant recommended his initials be included.
In Mid-South, Mr. Wrestling II took Magnum TA under his wing and showed him the ropes (so to speak). They won the tag titles in December 1983 by defeating two future WWF stars named Butch Reed and Jim Neidhart.
This team was extremely popular and seemed to be the perfect match. Mr. Wrestling II had delighted fans in both Georgia and Mid-South with his combination of fine scientific wrestling and fine sportsmanship.
Magnum TA, on the other hand, was in the early stages of his career and already showing enormous promise.
He already held the Mid-South tag team title with Hacksaw Jim Duggan and was quickly becoming a big favorite of Mid-South fans. Under Mr. Wrestling II, the sky seemed to be the limit.
The heel turned began when II became envious of Magnum's success in the single front. Magnum TA was named the number one contender to the North American Title (Regional's top championship).
At the contract signing between TA and champion Junkyard Dog, II claimed that Magnum was too inexperienced and that JYD was a cowardly champion.
This was totally out of character. Magnum immediately tried to calm down his mentor. II amazingly thanked Magnum with a hard slap in the face.
The jealousy led to the split of the team and the mentor v. student feud. This was a classic and legendary feud.
With JCP, Magnum won the U.S. title twice including an I Quit match against Tully Blanchard at Starrcade 1985.
In 1986, the seed was planted for Magnum TA to becomes the organization's Hulk Hogan until a terrible car accident occurred in October which derailed Magnum's career.
As mentioned in World Wrestling Entertainment Presents Starrcade The Essential Collection , plans were set to have Magnum defeat Ric Flair at Starrcade '86. It was a total shame what occurred that fall day.
49 - Scott Hall
Around the time that Magnum joined JCP, Scott Hall was signed by AWA and became a carbon copy of Magnum TA and Hulk Hogan.
With Curt Hennig, Scott Hall won the AWA tag belts and after dropping them, received a push for the AWA World Title. Hall was unsuccessful in beating Stan Hansen.
In the WWF, Hall changed his name to Razor Ramon. The character was developed based on Al Pacino's Scarface character Tony Montana.
Hall's "bad boy" image, mic skills and terrible accent was a hit with the WWF fans. He won four Intercontinental championships and participated in many outstanding matches like the Ladder Match at Wrestlemania X against Shawn Michaels.
In WCW, Hall participated in the greatest wrestling angle ever as a member of the Outsiders and then NWO.
Hall won the WCW Tag Team belts seven times, United States title twice, and the WCW TV title once.
48 - Chris Benoit
Chris' hope of becoming a pro wrestler began when he was allowed to train with Stu Hart and the clan in the legendary "Dungeon" at the age of 14. There he trained for three years and endured a strenuous training.
Chris would later be quoted saying "Going to the Hart family for training was kind of like, if you're a very religious person, going to the Vatican" - WWE Unscripted.
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