Pro Wrestling's Ground Breakers and Difference Makers (Part 1)

Hello, everyone. As always, I would like to thank all of you for spending a little time with me today.

Looking back at our great pastime known as pro wrestling, we have had a lot of difference makers and ground breakers. In all honesty, it would be very hard to say anyone has made more of a difference than another.

I decided what better way to recognize these great grapplers than to spotlight the young with the old. I have put together a list of fine grapplers that have made a difference in this great business.

In this article I hope to achieve a couple things. I want to give respect to today’s great performers, and hopefully educate some people of our great past performers. All of these men deserve our respect and praise.

So without any further ado, I give you some pro wrestling’s groundbreakers and difference makers.

Kurt Angle

This decorated athlete has accomplished more in his career in 11 years than most in this business will ever accomplish.

Angle made his start in wrestling in 1998, but I think it should be noted that he won a gold medal for this country in 1996 with a bad neck.

Angle was an instant head turner in the WWE. Combined with his in-ring skill, and comedic cockiness he soon became the company's top heel.

He went on to win every title the company had to offer multiple times. Angle has feuded with every top name under the sun. 

More importantly than any belt, though, Angle brought instant credibility every time he stepped in the ring.

He has had five-star match after five-star match, and is still going strong. Some of his most notable matches were with the likes of Benoit, Lesnar, and The Rock just to name a few.

Kurt Angle, when all is said and done could possibly be remembered as the best in wrestling history.

That my friends is, "Damn true.”

Pedro Morales

Morales started his career in the in the late 1950s. Pedro was extremely talented, and it showed early on. 

He went on to win the WWA heavyweight and tag titles in the mid to late 60s. This was ground breaking for a Latin wrestler in the States. Pedro's good disposition made him a fan favorite wherever he went.

It would be hard to find anyone to argue that Morales broke ground for most Latin wrestlers today.

He later went on to win the WWWF title in 1971, and held that title for almost two years. Morales would be the first wrestler in WWE history to win all three major titles.

He feuded with many greats such as The Destroyer, The Wild Samoans, and Freddie Blassie. 

He gave back to the business that embraced him by helping youngsters, and putting them over all the way into the late 80s.

Pedro Morales was always known as a class act, and is remembered and respected by all.

"Dr. Death" Steve Williams

Steve Williams started his wrestling career in 1982 under the training of Bill Watts, JYD, and Ali Baba.

Whether it was Mid-South, UWF, NWA, WCW, or All-Japan, success has always followed Dr. Death.

Early in his career, he was mainly a tag specialist, winning gold with the likes of Ted DiBiase, Kevin Sullivan, and Bubba Rogers.

In fact he had the rare honor of holding the WCW and NWA titles at the same time, though WCW refused to recognize the belts due to conflicting interests.

Dr. Death's pinnacle of his career didn't come until the 1990s, when he wrestled for All Japan.

He went on to become a staple there, becoming one of All Japan's biggest stars. During the 90s he also wrestled in WCW and the Indy circuit.

Dr. Death Steve Williams went almost unbeaten for a decade in the 1990s.

He later went on to defeat a much bigger opponent when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2004.

Steve Williams is alive and well and today trains people in pro wrestling.

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 an 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 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.

Bobo Brazil

Bobo Brazil made his ring debut in the '50s at a time when racial tensions where at their height.

He started his career feuding with other black trailblazers such as Ernie Ladd, and Abdullah the Butcher.

He was the one that broke ground for black wrestlers to succeed. He was often called the Jackie Robinson of wrestling.

He later moved on to feud with the other territories' top-talent guys, fighting the likes of Dick the Bruiser, Gorilla Monsoon, Andre the Giant, The Sheik, and many more.

He held a lot of gold in his time in wrestling, and is considered the true first black champ.

What most considers the biggest accomplishment in this man's career, though, was when he beat Buddy Rogers in 1962 for the NWA title.

It was ground breaking for a couple reasons; for starters Buddy Rogers was one of the most popular wrestlers in the territories at the time.

Most importantly, he was the first black wrestler to win a major title from a white wrestler.

HHH

Hunter Hearst Helmsley made his debut in 1992. He started off 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 an 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 13 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.

Gorilla Monsoon

Monsoon started is wrestling career in the 60s as an Italian babyface. He traveled all over the territories and was a huge draw wherever he went.

He didn't really make a name for himself in the ring until we went heel, though. He had a graceful style that was not seen often by big men in those days.

In 1963, the WWWF branched away from the NWA. Monsoon went with them and became one of their featured stars.

He went on to feud with most of the top faces, which included the likes of Andre the Giant and Bruno Sammartino.

He later went to the booth where his key to detail and sharp wit lead him to be the voice of the WWF.

He had many partners, but the two who stood out were Bobby Heenan and Jesse "The Body" Ventura.

Monsoon called most of the WWFs PPVs during his career, including the first eight Wrestlemanias.

In 1994 he was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame.

When he died in 1999, he left a hole in a lot of hearts.

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 his heart and drive to succeed.

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 became 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, and 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.

"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."

Thank you again for spending some time with me tonight.

Also if you enjoyed this read please check out my CvC I have going on. It will be a lot of fun for anyone who signs up.

As always, have a great day and God bless.