Building a Dynasty: Top 20 Greatest Pro Wrestling Champions (Part 1)

IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY READ: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/208600-is-a-pro-wrestling-championship-a-honor-or-a-prop I SUGGEST OF DOING SO BEFORE READING THE FOLLOWING.

Dynasty n. pl. - Is a succession of rulers who belong to the same family for generations.

Although some of the greatest wrestlers to ever hold a strap (championship belt) may not be related by blood they belong in a class of their own. These great champions (that I will highlight) are a DYNASTY, a family that fans have watched and grew to love for generations.

They have become rulers in their own right, as they have held and made what some of the greatest belts are today.

Although the belts may not be utilized and shown the same respect like back in the day true fans around the world can never forget the diligent effort these great wrestlers have put forward to make Pro Wrestling great. 

I have put together a TOP 20 LIST of great champions and will highlight their skills, attributes and all the accomplishments these greats have put together to make wrestling even better.

Not only have these wrestlers made themselves respected stars and athletes but when they held the belt(s) they made it prestigious and respected.

SO ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE TO YOU WRESTLING'S DYNASTY (IN MY OWN OPINION!)

20. THE DUDLEY BOYZ AKA TEAM 3D

These two have formed a historic tag team that has held so many titles on various occasions they have made a right to the of one of the Greatest Tag Teams if not the best ever.

The historic Tag Team run of greatness all started 1996 in the original "LAND OF EXTREME" ECW.

They won their first ECW Tag Team Championship at ECW Hostile City Showdown on March 15, 1997.

From this point forward, the team battled with a variety of challengers and made feuds that will make ECW fans appreciative for years.

But ECW was just the beginning to the Dudleys building a successful Tag Team career.

Like a lot of ECW's top stars, The Dudleys ventured of to WWE/F where they would become even bigger stars.

In WWE/F is were they Dudleys started making the big statement that they were one of the Greatest Tag Teams.

They went on to win the WCW, WWE, and World Tag Team titles and while holding them they put on some of the greatest tag matches fans around the world still talk about.

Most notable of these matches the TLC series.

If you don't think those matches were just incredible, then something must be wrong with you.

After spending a well-accomplished career in the WWE, the Dudleys decided it was time to take their dynamic duo of dynasty to an organization were supposedly the "ACTION" never stops.

Even though TNA only has 16 minutes of actual wrestling, at best.

Anyway, The Dudley Boys just added on to their already stacked tag team resume by winning the NWA, TNA, and IWGP, AJPW Tag Titles. Also, "I have checked on this," it seems they currently hold the HUSTLE Super Tag Team Championship.

With attributes and achievements like these there is no doubt that The Dudleys belong on the list of Greatest Champions.

19.THE RADICALZ (RIP - CHRIS BENOIT and EDDIE GUERRERO)

Although these two have had a sad ending, there is no question they were great in the ring.

Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit were two of the best to ever grace the ring.

There wrestling styles were unique and very creative that had the crowd pay attention from start to finish.

So it was obvious that the wrestling promotions would strap some belts on these two to make them even greater.

So unlike WWE, I will recognize and share the great achievements accomplished by Mr. Beniot as I will be highlighting his IN-RING ACTIONS and not outside the Wrestling Universe.

Chris Benoit has been in tons of promotions and each one he has wrestled in he has won an award or a Championship.

Benoit started his well accomplished career in the Hart Family "Dungeon." It's no wonder why Benoit was so great in the ring after spending a incredible amount of time of diligently training to craft his skills in the "Dungeon."

With eye catching moves like the signature flying headbutt and the snap suplex, it was obvious Benoit had the keys to be champ.

Beniot started his Championship Dynasty in Stampede Wrestling and from there would continue the trend in other promotions.

BENOIT'S MOST NOTABLE TITLE RUNS

·                     WCW/WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPION

·                     WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

·                     WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION

·                     WCW/WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION

·                     WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

·                     WWE INTERCONTINENTAL

·                     WWE'S 12THTRIPLE CROWN WINNER

Although Benoit concluded his life with a very tragic ending, there is no reason that Beniot should not be acknowledge for his skills in the ring. Will he ever be awarded for his achievements?

We may never know, but hopefully WWE will take note.

Now on to Mr. "Viva La Raza" Eddie Guerrero.

Eddie is also known as one of the most gifted wrestlers to strap up the boots.

Coming from a rich history of wrestling within the family as his father (Gory Guerrero) became one of  Mexico's influential figures.

Through wrestling, Eddie already had a head start in the game. While picking up some great in ring skills of his own and good mic work he launched his career to success.

While working in an Mexico promotion AAA he received the Championship flu, which would not be cured through out his career.

Eddie became more recognized after leaving ECW for WCW, where he put on awesome matches with other high flying stars.

Even though Guerrero received little respect in WCW, he was still able to add on more accomplishments to his list.

Guerrero and a few other WCW wrestlers jumped ship to WWF/E to earn more respect and maybe a chance of being a top star which two of them ended up doing (Guerrero and Benoit out of Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko).

From that point forward, Eddie cemented his Legacy into the Hall of Fame by putting on even more great feuds and matches and held WWF/E prestigious titles.

GUERRERO'S MOST NOTABLE TITLE RUNS

·                     ECW WORLD TELEVISION

·                     WCW CRUSERWEIGHT CHAMPION

·                     WCW UNITED STATES CHAMPION AND WWE'S FIRST UNITED STATES CHAMPION WINNING BY TOURNAMENT AGAINST CHRIS BENOIT

·                     WWE CHAMPION

·                     WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

·                     EUROPEAN CHAMPION

·                     WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION

·                     11TH TRIPLE CROWN WINNER

·                     SIXTH GRAND SLAM CHAMPION

18. LEGION OF DOOM AKA ROAD WARRIORS

OH WHAT A RUSH!

With an intriguing look and innovative finisher (Doomsday Device), these two became an instant Tag Team hit.

Well I can't just say these two (Road Warrior Animal and Hawk) as there were a variety of different teamings and names.

They are also known as Hell Raisers (Hawk and Power), LOD 2000 (Hawk, Animal, Puke and Sunny), LOD 2005 (Animal, Heidenreich, and Christy Hemme) and the last faction The Hell Warriors (Power and Animal).

All in all, the LOD aka Road Warriors as a whole made a statement that they were great.

The Legion of Doom faction started in Georgia Championship Wrestling in 83.

Although the stable consisted of other members at the time, the two didn't start their great success in until it was consisted of just the two (Road Warrior Animal and Hawk).

While in GCW, not too long after their debut, they won and held the NWA National Tag Team Championship on three different occasions.

From there, they went on a road trip of a variety of different promotions and claimed belts on the way.

LOD/ ROAD WARRIORS MOST NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

·                     NWA INTERNATIONAL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

·                     AWA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

·                     WORLD JAPAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

·                     NWA NATIONAL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

·                     NWA WORLD SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

·                     NWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

·                     WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

HELL RAISERS MOST NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

·                     IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

LOD 2005

·                     WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

17. FOUR HORSEMEN

Not only is The Four Horsemen one of the greatest stables to ever be assembled but they are also a title racking up machine.

They stable has had a variety of members

·                     RIC FLAIR

·                     ARN ANDERSON

·                     OLE ANDERSON

·                     TULLY BLANCHARD

·                     LEX LUGER

·                     BARRY WINDHAM

·                     STING

·                     SID VICIOUS

·                     PAUL ROMA

·                     BRIAN PILLMAN

·                     CHRIS BENOIT

·                     STEVE McMICHAEL

·                     CURT HENNIG

·                     DEAN MALENKO

Damn, no wonder why they won so many belts!

Not only being a member was special, holding a belt while being in the group made you even greater.

The group itself made a championship belt even more prestigious, so that means a lot.

The group was mainly recognized as an heel stable, but they were so popular it was hard not to love the group.

I could make a whole series documenting the group, but I am here to highlight the group's accomplishments with championships.

HOLD ON LET ME REST MY FINGERS FOR A SECOND......OKAY LET'S GO.

FOUR HORSEMEN MOST NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

·                     NWA NATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: BLANCHARD

·                     NWA NATIONAL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: OLE & ARN ANDERSON

·                     NWA TV CHAMP: BLANCHARD

·                     NWA UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: BLANCHARD, LUGER, WINDHAM

·                     NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: RIC FLAIR

·                     NWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: ARN ANDERSON & BLANCHARD

·                     NWA WORLD TV CHAMPION: BLANCHARD, ARN ANDERSON

·                     WCW US TITLE: RIC FLAIR, McMICHAEL

·                     WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: RIC FLAIR

·                     WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: ARN ANDERSON & ROMA, MALENKO & BENIOT

·                     WCW WORLD TV CHAMPION: ARN ANDERSON, WINDHAM

·                     WCW CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION: MALENKO

16. OWEN HART

Although Owen's career is most recognized in his days with the WWF/E, Owen racked up belts from almost every organization he competed in.

Owen is another great wrestler who was lost in a tragic death, but will always be remembered for his talent and charisma.

Just by having the last name Hart you knew you were going to witness a great wrestling match.

In every match I watched, Owen did not disappoint.

Although Owen did not win the big one in the WWE, he held other titles throughout his career. I believe if he were here today he would of held the World/WWE(F) title on various occasions like his brother.

OWEN'S MOST NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

·                     USWA UNIFIED WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

·                     WWF EUROPEAN CHAMPION

·                     WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION

·                     WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

·                     1994 KING OF THE RING

Okay this is it for part one I will publish the rest soon I hope you enjoyed the beginning of this mini-series. Please rate, comment and leave feedback

Here is the link to Part 2: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/212523-building-a-dynasty-the-top-20-pro-wrestling-champions-part-2?just_published=1