Pro Wrestling's 100 Greatest Grapplers and Performers (Part 3)

Hello, everyone. I would like to once again thank you for spending a few minutes with me today.

We are on the third part of my Top 100 list. I have to say that I am pleased overall with the way the first two have gone.

Please feel free to be more vocal, folks. If you think my list stinks, tell me; I won't be offended. If you agree or disagree, please let me know that's part of the fun of me doing this.

We are now at the quarter mark of my top 100. I hope like the last two lists I taught some of you something.

Pro wrestling is enjoyed everywhere around the world.So it should go with out saying that there are many great grapplers.

I have to mention again, mostly for those that didn't read my first two that this list is in no order as to avoid arguments.

So without any further delay, welcome to part three of "Matt's" top 100 grapplers and performers.

HHH

Hunter Hearst Helmsley made his debut in 1992. He started of in WCW with not much success to write home about.

In 1995, though, he jumped ship to the WWE. Here is where HHH would shine in the wrestling world.

He was booked as a arrogant heel, and the gimmick caught on. He quickly moved through the ranks with hard work and determination.

While HHH has held lots of gold, most notable is his 12 times as World champion.

What makes HHH stand out is his heart, and work ethic that he brings to the ring. He has feuded with some of the best that business has to offer.

Some of his most notable matches are his "Hell in a Cell" matches. While some at first questioned how he got his success, by now he has left those doubts to the wayside.

HHH is still going strong today.He is showing some of the newer guys just how it is done in the squared circle.

When all is said and done, HHH might go down as one of the greatest heel champions the business has ever seen.

Dusty Rhodes

Rhodes made his debut in the late 60s in the NWA territories. He had a style and flair that was seldom seem by a big man at the time.

Rhodes was never afraid to bleed or lay his body on the line to make a match good.

He has had stints in the NWA, WCW, and WWE. Everywhere Rhodes went, he was always over with the crowd.

He has feuded with the likes of Abdullah the Butcher, Billy Graham, Ric Flair, and Terry Funk, just to name a few.

He is a multiple world and tag champ. His most noticeable win was probably when he beat Flair for the heavyweight title.

He is remembered for being a gentleman and good ring worker. He makes a occasional appearances now and then on TV these days.

British Bulldogs

In the early 80s, this tandem formed and competed in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling. They were a instant hit with the fans.

They also did some time in Japan with noticeable success. People remember them most though when they went to the WWE.

During the mid 80s, when the WWE probably had their best tag division, the British Bulldogs were tops amongst the ranks.

Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid brought a excitement that helped excel the tag teams in the WWE.

They only held the titles once, but it wasn't the gold that made this awesome team. They had a chemistry in the ring that was second to none in the WWE.

The Bulldogs feuded with many great teams like The Dream Team and the Hart Foundation.

Though their time was short in the WWE, the British Bulldogs will go down in history as one of the best tag teams in the WWE.

Gory Guerrero

When you think of modern lucha libre in wrestling today, a lot of that is due to Gory Guerrero.

Guerrero made his debut in wrestling in the late 30s. He quickly excelled with his style in the ring. He went on to capture gold many times in the cruiserweight ranks.

Guerrero also invented a few moves that we know today.He is credited with inventing the "camel clutch" and "hanging back breaker".

Not only was he a premier grappler he was also a teacher. He taught some of Mexico's greatest wrestlers, guys like PePe Mendieta.

He also taught his sons to wrestle before he left this world. One of them we know very fondly the late great Eddie Guerrero.

Chris Jericho

Jericho made his debut to the world of pro wrestling in the 1990s.

While some other wrestlers had their way paved for them, Jericho, through out his whole career had to make others respect him. He has fought in Mexico, Canada, Japan and in the States.

In Mexico, he went on to fight the likes of Silver King, Ultimo Dragon and many others. He went on to win the NWA middleweight title, a belt he held for almost a year.

Jericho later went to ECW, where he caught his first real break. He won the ECW TV title but left shortly after that.

In WCW he had to make a name for literally by himself. He wasn't getting any push at all by the brass.

He decided to go on and cut his own promos in the ring. His promos and the amazing talent he possessed in the ring led him to Cruiserweight and TV title gold.

He soon left WCW and went to the WWE to try to make a better name for himself.

It is here where Jericho really shined. He feuded with some of today's wrestling greats, guys like HHH, The Rock, Stone Cold, and Kurt Angle, just to name a few.

Jericho is a multiple heavyweight, tag, and Intercontinental champ.

His most noticeable win was when he became the undisputed champ by beating The Rock and Stone Cold in the same night.

What most respect from him though is heart and drive to succeed.

Bob Backlund

While many fans today like to credit Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels for paving the way for smaller champs to get a shot at the belt.

They would in fact be wrong. It was Bob Backlund who was the real stone breaker in this category.

Backlund,  a stand out amateur wrestler, made his debut in 1973. He had a clean-cut look and technical ability that sold out many cards.

He went to the AWA where he would have some success in the tag ranks. Where he really made a name for himself, though, was in the WWE.

He went to the WWE in the late 70s, where he quickly succeeded. Backlund moved through the ranks very quickly once he arrived.

In 1978, he went on to beat "Superstar" Billy Graham to become the WWE champ.

Bob Backlund went on to hold that belt for five years. He feuded with every heel on the roster at the time.

Backlund was also involved in the controversial title drop with Antonio Inoki, a drop still to this day the WWE doesn't recognize.

He retired in 1984 but made a brief comeback in 1992. During this comeback, he went on to win the belt again by beating Bret hart.

He officially retired again in 1997. He proved that you didn't have to be the biggest dog in the yard to succeed.

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat

This decorated champion has had success wherever he went. He made his wrestling debut in the late 70s.

He went on to win gold in NWA, WCW and the WWE. Steamboat brought to the table a style in the ring we haven't seen before.

With the technical know how and mixture of martial arts, he soon had audiences in awe.

He has gone on to feud with most modern pro legends like Savage, Flair, Rhodes, Harley Race, Honky Tonk Man plus many more.

His match with Randy Savage is still considered one of the best in wrestling history. His most notable moment came in 1989 when he beat Flair for the NWA title.

A injury in 94 put the Dragon on the shelf and forced him to retire. He still has it though, as he went on to have a few good matches with Jericho recently.

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat's contributions to the wrestling world are still talked about today.

Lou Thesz

While it can be said that we have had many great contributors in the world of pro wrestling. It would be hard to find one more important then Lou Thesz.

Lou Thesz started his career in pro wrestling at the tender age of 16. He was soon under the wings of  Ed "Strangler" Lewis.

Ed went on to teach Lou the tricks of the trade. Soon after, Lou Thesz went on to become the face of pro wrestling.

Thesz traveled all over the world and won many titles over that time. He become the youngest world champ in history by winning the title at the age of 21.

He is also is credited as becoming the first undisputed champion. In 1952, he accomplished that by beating Baron Michel Leone .

In is career he held the NWA heavyweight title for almost 13 years combined. Not only was he a decorated champ, Thesz went on to create a few moves that are widely used today.

Thesz wrestled just about everyone in his career including guys like Billy Watson, Buddy Rogers, Fred Curry Sr.

Thesz is also credited for creating the Power bomb, the Lou Thesz press, and the German suplex.

It can be easily said that without Lou Thesz, wrestling would not be where it is today.

"Superstar"Billy Graham

"Superstar"Billy Graham started in the Wrestling business during the 70s.He was scouted and trained by Stu Hart.

He soon became one of Stu's favorite students. He went on to wrestle in the NWA and AWA.

While having some success in the territories, winning local NWA gold here and their. One of his most noted wins was against Dusty Rhodes for the belt.

He didn't make his full impact until 1977 when he went to the WWWE. He was managed by the Grand Wizard.

He had a style unseen at the time in the wrestling world. He often wore flashy costumes; this is now a common thing in wrestling.

With his off-the-wall heel tactics and crazy manager, he soon became the industry's top heel.

He did something thing that few stars can say they did. He took the belt off Bruno Sammartino.

Not only did he take the belt, but he held on to  it for a year. At the time that was considered a long run for a heel champ.

He would go back and forth between the WWE and NWA for awhile, but he set a new trend in style for guys like HBK, Jericho and many others.

During the height of his career he feuded with many great legends such as Bruno Sammartino, Dusty Rhodes, Jerry Lawler, Bob Backlund, and Greg Valentine.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin

"The Texas Rattle Snake" made his wrestling debut in 1989 with the USWA. He didn't spend too much time there though.

He soon jumped ship to WCW in 1991, where he came upon instant success.

During his short time with WCW, he would become a two-time TV champ, US champ, and multiple tag champ.

What people remember about Steve Austin though is his brutal style, and beer swilling  during WWE's Attitude era.

During the mid to late 90's, Stone Cold would go on to change and redefine how we look at wrestlers.

He became the first tweener. He would go out and pull heel tactics but still stayed loved by the fans.

He has had many brutal feuds with the Harts, The Rock, HHH, Angle, Jericho...the list could go on forever.

He would go on to grab just about every belt the WWE would have to offer. What made Stone Cold so special though, was his "I don't give a damn" attitude.

His feuds with the rock are considered legendary, as they headlined and battled it out at many PPVS including multiple Wrestlemanias.

He also had probably one of the oddest boss/employee relationships ever with Vince McMahon.

All I can say is if ya miss the toughest S.O.B. in the business, "Give me a hell yeah."

Well that's part three of my top 100. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

As always, have a great day and God bless.