
Top 10 WWE Superstars Who Deserve a WWE DVD Now Including Honorable Mentions
Hey Bleachaholics,
As I was looking through the list of WWE Superstar DVD's to buy, I noticed many superstars who I adore and yet to have a DVD associated with WWE.
This got me thinking, and what better way to express my thoughts than on theย criticallyย acclaimed site of Sports, yes of course I'm speaking of Bleacher Report...
Some of the names includedย relateย to not only the recent eras of Professional Wrestling but other eras also which are rarely spoken upon this website.
Therefore most names you may have heard of, others you may say "Who in the blue hell are you?" ย
So during this epic slideshow, I will showcase who I feel deserves a DVD and reasons why, so sit backย and enjoy it and a commentย wouldn'tย be a miss either!
I hope I don't sound like a 60-year-old man; in reality I'm only 16.
10: Kevin Nash AKA Diesel
1 of 12I expect the majority are familiar with this big man and was recentlyย officiallyย recognized as the eighth-ranked big man in WWE history.
He boasts five WCW Worldย Heavyweight reigns inย additionย to the WWF Championship, once a formidable tag team champion and the third Triple Crown champion.ย
He debuted in WCW as Steel in 1990 but was later changed to Oz; yes Oz. ย Nash was in WCW for three years before then WWF signed him and was given his second most used name in the wrestling business:ย Diesel.
During three years with WWF, he was apart of some of the biggest storylines and incidents in the early 90s. He won the onceย prestigiousย Intercontinental belt fromย friendย Razor Ramon (Scottย Hall), he won the WWF Tag Team Championship with anotherย friendย in HBK when at the time he was the bodyguard of 2011 Hall of Famer Shawnย Michaels.
Theย on-screenย relationship between the duo came to a halt at the 1994 Survivor Series and Nash became a face, He then went on to win the WWF Championship on Nov. 26, 1994, againstย Bob Backlund.
Fastย forwardย to the year of 1996 andย WrestleManiaย 12, he lost to The undertaker and however, that wasn't the big moment. A few weeks after at a show, Nashย challenged HBK to a WWF Title match and which wouldn't beย rememberedย for the matchย itselfย but the moment after.
Real-life mates, Razor Ramon and HHH came down to the ring which was occupied byย Dieselย and HBK and hugged them wishing luck as the duo of Scott Hall and Nash were going to rivals WCW.
The incident was laterย recognizedย as The Curtain Call or Madison Square Garden incident. The reason this incident is soย importantย was that fans witnessed babyfacesย and heels for the first time hugging and being friendlyย each other which in effect ruined the image ofย babyfaces being friendsย with babyfaces and vice-versa.ย ย
In 1996, Kevin Nash returned to WCW programming, He and Scott Hall known now as the outsiders won the WCW Tag Team Belts, the faction soon evolved into the NWO and featured many wrestlers now featured as "legends":
Hogan
Nash
Hall
Sting
Sean Waltman
Randy Savage
Big Show
"Mr Perfect" Curt Hennig
Scott Steiner
Dusty Rhodes
Rick Rude
Lex Luger
Among others...
Another moment in theย careerย of not only Nash, but one of the last thoughts of WCW was :
The finger poke of doom.
This incident was basically seen as a mockery of how the WCW crew mocked the WCW world title belt. Nash was the Champ and wasย essentiallyย tapped by a finger of Hulk Hogan and Nash fell flat to the ground.
This moment has been thought of the moment WCW failed and the start of the end for them as a couple of years later, they were bought by Vince McMahon and the WWF.
Nash was aย member of the reformation of NWO in WWE and laterย feuded with HHH over the World Title.
After this, he went to TNA for six years and only ever won the TNA Legends/Global/Television Belt twice.
He returned to WWE during the 2011 Royal Rumble, and what better time is it to release a DVD?
He has been entertaining us for years with good and bad moments but will forever be aย influenceย in any locker room...ย
9: Lou Thesz
2 of 12Thought to be one of the pioneers of Professional Wrestling in the 20th Century, he held many accolades however he is more often thought of as theย inventorย of many modern moves:
The orgianal Powerbomb
German Suplex (Belly to back Waistlock suplex, he named it)
STF
And of course, the Lou Thesz Press
Although he died in 2002, his legacy will never beย forgotten as hisย unforgettableย Lou Thesz press has gotten better each year (especiallyย when Kelly Kelly does it) and is performed by many wrestlers throughout the wrestling world.
I won't say much about him, I will let his accomplishments do the speaking...
- International Wrestling Institute and Museum
- Montreal Athletic Commission
- World Wrestling Association (Los Angeles)
- Other titles
By the way, I know he wasn't a WWE/WWF superstar, but somewhere I read WWE haveย acquiredย the rights to some of the matches he was in...
8: Evolution
3 of 12
Although this is a stable, I felt they should have a DVD.ย
Degeneration X has a DVD.
NWO have a DVD.
Why not Evolution?
Although Evolution didn't create as many memorable moments, the stable started the careers of Batista and Randy Orton. God knows if Evolution wasn't created, these two may have ended up on the fast train to jobber-ville or the track to good luck on your futureย endeavors?
The group also consisted of HHH and the Nature Boy Ric Flair. The stable had solidย feudsย with two main eventers in HBK and Goldberg.
However, I feel a DVD wouldย benefitย from how they slowly should the cracks in their foundation, when each got greedy with power andย jealousy, in addition how the stable sky-rocketed the careers of two guys which would feature in many great feuds to come.
I bet some one will say this is how we still continue to get the same product of today, Cena-Orton....
Either way, this group was used to great effect which shows in the accolades of these guys during evolution.
- World Heavyweight Championshipย (6 times) โ Triple H (5), Randy Orton (1)
- World Tag Team Championshipย (2 times) โ Ric Flair and Batista (2)
- WWE Intercontinental Championshipย (2 times) โ Randy Orton (1), Ric Flair (1)
- Royal Rumbleย (2005) - Batista
Although Look at what became of Orton and Batista:
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Feud of the Yearย (2009)ย vs.ย Triple H
- PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Yearย (2007, 2009)
- PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Yearย (2004)
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Yearย (2010)
- PWI Rookie of the Yearย (2001)
- PWI ranked him #1ย of the top 500 singles wrestlers in theย PWI 500ย in 2008
- PWI Wrestler of the Yearย (2009, 2010)[196][197]
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- World Heavyweight Championshipย (1 time)
- World Tag Team Championshipย (1 time)ย โ withย Edge
- WWE Championshipย (6 times)
- WWE Intercontinental Championshipย (1 time)
- Royal Rumbleย (2009)
- Seventeenthย Triple Crown Champion
Batista, although not employed by WWE anymore, got a fine deal out of them...
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Yearย (2005)
- PWI Wrestler of the Yearย (2005)[141]
- PWI ranked him #1ย of the 500 best singles wrestlers in theย PWI 500ย in 2000
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- World Heavyweight Championshipย (4 times)
- World Tag Team Championshipย (3 times) โ withย Ric Flairย (2) andย John Cenaย (1)
- WWE Championshipย (2 times)
- WWE Tag Team Championshipย (1 time) โ withย Rey Mysterio[50]
- Royal Rumbleย (2005)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Feud of the Yearย (2005)ย vs.ย Triple H
- Feud of the Year (2007)ย vs.ย The Undertaker
- Most Overratedย (2006)
I feel they should have a DVD because we got so many years out of this stable even when they disbanded.ย
7: Booker T
4 of 12I will most likely get many people saying Booker T shouldn't be included, but I feel Booker T has been aย pinnacleย of black talent in the Wrestling Business.
Now let me check if any blackย person has a WWE DVD...only one: The Rock.
Booker T did a massive amount of work he is one of the most decorated Tag Team competitors in history, He was the second of only two African-American wrestlers to ever hold the WCW World Title belt; The other is Ron Simmons.
He is the third of three men to hold that belt both in the WCW banner as well as in WWE.
He debuted in a ring on the March 1, 1989, but it wasn't until 1993 he was signed by WCW, from there heย steadilyย began a rise which is hardly done nowadays as he went from tag teaming with his brother, toย televisionย Championship to World title.
Nowadays people get booted into the main event scene for example: Wade Barrett, Sheamus, Del Rio. I have nothingย againstย these guys but I'm just stating facts. Miz and CM Punk are few of the of the guys who worked their way up to the scene.
Booker T has won numerous Championships and has been able to have a successful career. Another thing he has been able to do has been work from the bottom twice!
He did it in WCW but he also did in WWE. He came in on a high but was soon relegated to teaming with Goldust.
That was fun, but for a main-eventer to drop from that, teaming again was aย disappointment. However, he came to Smackdown! and became United States Champion and began his rise once again. He won the World title belt as well as winning the King of the Ring.
During his career, he has had hilarious moments with Goldust, calling Hulk Hogan a N****rย and other funny moments.
Booker T is one of myย favoriteย wrestlers and I for one am crazy he is back with WWE. It also appears Matt Striker is crazy about his return as he sounded as if he wet himself at the Royal Rumble... ย
6: The Dudleys AKA Team 3D
5 of 12Andย introducing the 24-time Tag Team Champions...
The Dudley Boyz from Dudleyville
Bubba Ray And D-Von
Team 3D from New York City
Brother Ray and Brother Devon
Whatever you know them as, you know them as a team more than their Singles work...
These are two of the greatest guys to ever feature in a pro wrestling tag team, alongside the Hardys and Edge and Christian. They are still remembered with their epic battles which put Tag Teamย divisionsย on the map, not only in WWE, but all over the world.
I will start this tale from the earlyย beginningsย of the team, as part of the kayfabeย familyย the Dudleys, Theย duoย would be the mostย successfulย of the family as others wouldn't even dream of the eventualย successย of their peers.
During the stint in ECW, they won the ECW World tag team titles for a record of eight timesย untilย they dropped the belts to Dreamer and Raven as a way to counter-act their plan to take the belts to the WWF.
Although their time in ECW was well spent, their time in WWE/F was way better. Their use of the now-trademark Tables catapultedย them to Tag Team Stardom. For theย mostlyย of the early time in WWF, they were heels by such moves as puttingย womenย through the tables.
Then they entered aย feudย with DX, which eventually finished and began the best ever tag teamย feud: the three-wayย feud with Hardys and E&C.
During SummerSlam 2000, the first-ever TLC (Tables, Ladders and Chairs) matchย occurred, followed by the second-ever at the following WrestleMania. Both times they failed in winning the titles.
After the hugely popular feud they entered the Alliance faction with other former ECW/WCW Members. During there time in the stable they were dubbed as the first team ever to hold the WWF/ECW/WCW Tag Team belts.
In 2002 the teamย separatedย with not much success of titles until theย departureย from Vince to TNA in 2005.
The Dudleys, now known as Team 3D, held much of theย spotlightย of the Tag Team scene, although they only held the TNA belts twice and the NWA titles once.
Team 3D were involved in many feuds with: Team Canada, America's Most Wanted, the Naturals, LAX, Steiner Brothers and more recently MCMG and Beer Money (Yes, Iย purposelyย left their feud with the Nasty Boys OUT).
Alsoย with their time in TNA, they were used in Japan and were once IWGP Tag Team Champions in New Japan Pro Wrestling and had a stint with the HUSTLE belts also.
Their successful pairing sadly ended near the end of 2010 and I for one felt it was a stupid idea.
This team has done so much for WWE and I feel WWE should make a DVD documenting their riseย throughย ECW and WWF, as they were a vital part of the tag team scene during the time part of WWF.
Hardys have had their DVD, why not the Dudleys once they finish with TNA?
5: Anoa'i Family
6 of 12When you think of professional wresting families, The Harts usually come up first, or theย Guerreros, maybe the Funks, heck maybe the Von Erichs.
However, the Anoa'i family have made many professionalย wrestlersย over the years but are rarelyย recognizedย on screen. They sometimes go into it partly but leave out the others.
The latest example is the Usos; the commentators have said they are the sons of Rikishi but never mentioned the other family members; probably because there are too many.
In this family are:
Afa the Wildย Samoan
Sika the other Wild Samoan
"High Chief" Peter Maivia (the Grandfather of the Rock)
The Rock
Rocky Johnson (who married into the family)
Reno Anoa'i (ring name - Black Pearl)ย
Yokozunaย
Rosey
Joe Anoa'i ย (who is currently in FCW)
Tama/Tonga Kid
Umaga
Rikishi (Fatu of the Headshrinkers)
Samula (Samu of the Headshrinkers)
Manu (who was part of the Legacy stable for a short time)
The Usos (Jimmy and Jey)
These are the notable wrestlers that are related somewhereย throughย the family.
These wrestlers have been in WWE at all different times during the 70's all the way to 2011. This family have entered generations and continue to provide talent to WWE.
WWE should show their thanks by making a DVD following each generation through the times during their respective stint in WWE.
4: Verne Gagne
7 of 12
I originally had him at No. 2 but changed it last moment.
Verne Gagne, he is most likely not who you were expecting at number two; you were most likely thinking Goldberg or heck, Mae Young...
However I will put Verne Gagne for not his outstandingย performancesย and accolades but rather what wrestlers he trained. Some of the notable wrestlers he helped train were...
Ric Flair
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
"Mr Perfect" Curt Hennigย
Bob Backlundย
Iron Sheik
The Nasty Boys
Sgt. Slaughter
Jimmy Snuka
Ole Anderson of theย originalย Four Horsemen
He even had a hand inย trainingย current WWE Superstar, The Undertaker.
Verne Gagne has not only entertained during the early days of pro wrestling but his offspring of talent from his training have entertained us for years on end.
The Undertaker is still putting out five-star matches.
Ricky Steamboat had a WrestleMania match against Jericho two years ago.
Ric Flair is stillย entertainingย with his promos and even wrestling! Who remembers that Flair/Foley match a couple of months ago?ย
Lets face it; the people who don't know Verne Gagne will more than likely know his trainees.
He began his Wrestlingย careerย in 1949 and wrestled mainly in the National Wrestling Alliance before starting up his own successfulย promotionย in American Wrestlingย Association.
He started the AWA in 1960 which he wrestled in until the years surrounding 1968 in which he became the full time promoter of theย business; still it wasn'tย untilย 1981 he fully became retired from the ring.ย
AWA ran intoย bankruptcy in 1991 and was eventually bought by Vince McMahon's WWE.
WWE Released a DVD on AWA; however, I feel a DVDย aboutย Verne Gagne should be noticed, as he made a hugeย contributionย in not only his trainees but AWA was the starting point for some other the other legends in the business during the 80's.ย
Hulk Hogan
Rowdy Roddy Piper
The Briscoes
Bob Orton
and some years later...
Shawn Michaels
I hope you guys who don't know about this guy have learnt a great deal about him and his legacy which will forever be engraved in pro wrestling history, even though his offspring talent were more known thanย him nowadays...
Some of Gagne's footage is owned by WWE.
Verne Gagne hasn't been well in recent years, and I hope people will remember him for what he has done and not have him fade in the black hole which so many wrestlers have done.
3: Edge and Christian and a Part Dedicated to Christian's Career
8 of 12
I originally slated this as a slide for the team but I have now changed it into a double-DVD feature which includes:
Part of E&C
Part of Christians career
I feel Christian has done so much for WWE and yet they don't reward him nearly as much as he should be, asย Christianย articles are around some of the popular topics on B/R...me too, including him in an article or two.
My first article here was on him and I will just copy and paste what I wrote then here.
Captainย Charisma, where shall I start?
He had the longest ECW title reign in WWE history, beating Rob Van Dam, Big Show, CM Punk and Current Worldย heavyweightย champion Jack Swagger.
Furthermore in TNA, he became the NWA World heavyweight champion and had a longerย combined title reign than current face of TNA AJ Styles and Sting and even beat the reign of Dusty Rhodes by 138 days.
Christian has become Intercontinentalย champion, Hardcore champion, European champion, Light Heavyweight Champion, and seven times tag team champion with Edge, once with Lance Storm and a further reign with Chris Jericho, and has been voted Tag Team of the Year of 2000 with Edge.
Now a man with these accomplishments should be now a main event player in WWE. Lets face it, he went to TNA to prove hisย abilitiesย to WWE and did by winning the top championship not once but on twoย separateย occasions.
He went toe to toe with main eventers like: Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarrett, Sting, Kevinย Nashย and Booker T. Now I'm no expert but a guy who can hold his own against any of these guys both in the ring and on the mic should no doubt be able to main event.
The best match since returning to WWE was on an ECW episode in which Chris Jericho and Christian stole the show in the main event. The crowd went crazy and WWE must of realized that they stumbled upon a gold mine.
That match could of been betterย alongside aย proper build up and ta-da, that would have been itย for Christian finally making it in WWE.
Anyone remember the confrontation between Edge and Christian at Backlash 2009? Theย First in any kind of on screenย encounterย since for years.
WWE yet again must have realized the buzz and energy the crowd got we saw those two in oneย segmentย together. Don't believe me? Watch this video of it all:ย
Whilst I'm on the lines of these two, remember the finale of ECW? Everyone (including me) expectedย Captainย Charisma to be drafted Smackdownย to either feud or team with Edge but what we get? A draft toย RAW.
Unless during the WWE Annual Draft Edge gets drafted to RAW or Christian gets transferred to Smackdown.ย A lot of peopleย are relying on Edge to give Christian a push, because it makes sense to due to theirย incredibleย history.
He has everything it takes to be a main eventer if not more. WWE must have noticed what the potential with him is because they gave him thatย lengthyย ECW title reign, longest inย WWEย ECW history.
When he was drafted to RAW, no one knew what to expect, although the was a rumor between him andย Ortonย toย feudย that never panned out. Heย qualifiedย for the Money In The Bank match at WrestleMania 26 and was only the legit person with a chance of winning really.
No one saw someone else winning other the smallย percentageย who predictedย McIntyreย butย from what i know off Swagger was just as low or lower than Evanย Bourne winning.
So Christian's Peepsย thought WrestleMania 26 was his WrestleManiaย moment to win and cash theย briefcaseย on Edge, who was thought to beat Chris Jericho (Big Fan ofย Y2J)ย for the World heavyweight championship.
Last but not least leaves the future. On July 18, 2010, will be a new Pay-Per-View concept which has been named: Money In The Bank.
Soย presumablyย there will be a Money In The Bank match and hopefully Christian may be in that unless in aย meaningfulย feudย which can promote his status within the WWE.
So the end of my first article, let's just hope Christian will get enough charisma to finally break the glass ceiling in WWE.
That was my first article posted on here April 13, 2010; and let's be honest what has changed since then?
The answer? Not much.
Sure, the latest Smackdown showed him return to save Edge, but will WWE do something with him maybe even put him in the world title picture?
*Spoiler Alert*
Some sources haveย claimedย thatย Christianย will be involved with a match at WrestleMania. Not with Edge/Del Rio, but as 1/4 of the team that will take on The Corre.
I hopeย somethingย happens so he is included in the title match because at the very least heย deserveย a WrestleManiaย moment...not involving E&C.ย
2: The Only Olympic Gold Medalist in All of Professional Wrestling: Kurt Angle
9 of 12
Strange that this slide is the last to be completed, and after writing the next slide and a few others, I'm a little worn out.
As much as I admire Kurt Angle, I don't think I have ever written a full slide or article on him. He is credited as a Olympic Gold medalist.
Angle hadย providedย guest commentary for an episode of ECW after Raven put up The Sandman on a cross with barbed wire. Angle was afraidย thisย would haunt his career in the future andย swiftlyย threatenedย to sue Heyman if he showed Angle on the show.ย
Fast forwardย two years to 1998, and Angle signed an eight-year contract with WWE. During his first year (he debuted on TV in March 1999) he won theย Europeanย title and Intercontinentalย title though he lost both in a two out of three falls match at Wrestlemania 2000 against Benoit and Y2J although he never lost via a pin.
Heย enteredย the stable of Team ECK (later known as Team RECK) with Edge and Christian whilst feuding with Rikishi and Too Cool.
He won the 2000 King of the Ring finalsย againstย Rikishi and later feuded with Triple H after a Angle and Stephanie had began a storyline. From HHH, he went after the WWF title which was around the waist of the Jabroni beating, pie eating,ย trailblazer; The Rock.
This push for Angleย resultedย in him being the first and only person to be a gold medal holder and a WWF champ.
He dropped the title back to Rock at No Way Out and began a feud with Chris Benoit.
The Invasion storyline began and Angle turned face, after wining the WCW title/US title and Hardcore belt to the Alliance.
At the SummerSlam 2001, he defeated Stone Cold, who turned on him to join theย Alliance, however, Angle was again dropped the belt back to him on the Oct. 8, 2001, edition of RAW, Theย commissionerย at the time, William Regal, interfered and subsequently joined the Alliance.
Rock and Stone Cold was engaged in a winner takes all match which The Rock was on WWF and Stone Cold on the Alliance side, The Rock won at theย Survivor Series and WWF eventually won the battle.
However, Angle claimed he was the person who helped the WWF, thus transforming into a heel.
He then feuded with Edge over the United States belt and later with Hulk Hogan.
During October 2002, he and Chris Benoit won the WWE Tag Team belts which made Angle the fifth Grand Slam Champion in WWE history. The duo later dropped the titles to Edge and Mysterio.ย
Angle won his third WWF beltย against Big Show with the aid of Brock Lesnar at the 2002 edition of Armageddon.
During 2003-04, he began feuds with Eddieย Guerreroย and Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar won the 2003 Royal Rumble andย challenged Angle at Wrestlemania 19 which Angle lost.ย
April 11, 2003, was the day when Angle had surgery toย repairย the following issues: nerve and spinal damage,ย Calciumย buildup, Bone spurs, andย intervertebralย discย problems. Angleย optedย for aย differentย surgicalย route which cut hisย rehabilitationย time from one year to threeย months.
He returned as face inย Juneย and inย Julyย won the WWE Title back. He lost the belt back to Lesnar on a episode ofย Smackdownย during an Iron Man match.
After this feud with Lesnar, he then joined forces with Eddie Guerrero, though heย turnedย on him when Eddie wasย named No. 1 contender and not him.ย
Guerrero beat Angle at WrestleMania 20 as a result of more neck issues for Angle, he then became GM of Smackdown making Eddie's life a living hell. Angle was later fired by VKM as he was "faking" his disability problems.
He returned monthsย later inย November, issuing the Kurt Angle Invitational and beginning a mini-feud with Eugene.
During an episode of Smackdown, Kurt Angle wasย visitingย the Tough Enoughย Contestants and an unscripted eventย happened. Heย challengedย each contestant to a squatย challenge and the winner would wrestle him.
He wrestled winner and beat him and a fellow contestant issued an offer to Angle and Angle accepted. Daniel Puder was his name a MMA artist was his game.
He put Angle in a real Submission move called the Kimura, which is quite dangerous, most MMA fighters would have given up but Angle didn't.
The ref quickly counted to three although Puder's shoulders weren't fully on the floor. The ref did this because if Angle lost to a contestant it would have made a mockery of the WWE star.
If the ref was slower to react or Puder never let go,ย Angleย would most likely needed surgery. Angle wasn't a happy man.
Kurt Angle in 2005 turned into his Wrestling Machine gimmick, which led to a WrestleMania match against HBK, which PWI supported as match of the year. ย
Angle was traded to Smackdown and later theย newlyย formed ECW brand. He requested his release from the company on August, 25, 2006, due to his heath issues which heย hadย toย workย through.
On his TNA DVD, he claims the WWE lost their top talent as he was the highest paid worker.
He now works in TNA.ย
1: Gorgeous George
10 of 12
Gorgeous George is oftenย documented as the person who first transformed from a wrestler into a performer. He was one of the most popular performers during the first golden age of pro wrestling during the 1940s and '50s and he became a mediaย magnet, gathering massive attention at times due to hisย flamboyance and his charisma.
He wasn't the tallest nor biggest of talent, nor was he the best in-ring worker; however, heย realizedย during a in-ring segment of the realย marriageย of the two in the picture was a hit.
He then thought he could tap into a part ofย professionalย wrestling which wasn't big at the time: Entertainment.
Around the same time he saw a spread in a magazine which featured a pro wrestler being accompanied to the ring by two ladies while wearing aย velvetย robe. This was the start of the formation which "Gorgeous George" Persona.
George felt he could use this and make it even bigger and more entertaining, so he asked his mother-in-law to make him some glitzy robes and by chance during hisย entranceย to the ring in a match, a ladyย exclaimed "oh isn't he Gorgeous."
George felt that would be the final part of the puzzle of his new persona and then Gorgeous George was born.
A event in 1941 saw the debut match of Gorgeousย George; he entered with the now usualย confrontationย of fans but at the time was rare.
Once the ringย announcerย announcedย "Gorgeous George" the fansย recognizedย a showmanship which as never in the pro wrestling at the time.
From then, crowds flocked to see him, to see his newย Glamourย boy persona and fans would love to hate him.
George Wagner was soon to locate to LA after he was scouted by a promoter; the promoter loved this image and helped Wagner groom it more.ย Georgeย grew long blond locks of hair putting fancy pins in them.
George reconsultedย his ringย entranceย to a show in itself; it was aย spectacleย to simply put it. It is oftenย ridiculed as people said his entrance took longer than the match. His music was "Pomp andย Circumstance" (I never knew the name butย searchย it and you willย recognizeย the tune).
Wagner had a bright purple Spotlight and was alwaysย accompaniedย by his valet (he called Jeffries) and even a red carpet was laid for him. Jeffries wouldย sprinkleย rose petals and carry a mirror.
And get this: once he would remove his robe, Jeffries wouldย disinfectย the ring with Coco Chanel perfume; in addition heย requiredย his valet to spray the ref's hands before checking him for illegal objects, this would beย referencedย to his cry of "Get yourย filthyย hands off me!"
Amongstย of this he became the industry's first real heel. He would cheat anyway possible followed by a motto "Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat!"
All of this drew major success when he was onย television as his flamboyant style and his wonderful ability to work the crowd made him the one of most famous wrestler of this time; forget Miz, Gorgeous George was the real guy with major heel heat.
Televisionย stations were looking for cheap profitable shows, and wrestling soon became that. This was how George turned into a media hit. His showmanship and styleย broughtย Pro Wrestling to the eachย livingย room in the county (providing they had TV).
His first televisionย appearanceย on Nov. 11, 1947; this match was named among the top 100ย acts onย television of the 20th century by Entertainment Weekly) that top fact showcases how heย reallyย did change pro wrestling. That was the moment that turned him into an media icon.
George changed pro wrestling forever; that day in November showed that professional wrestling was no longer just about in ring skill although he was a solid worker. Wagner showcased a whole new way to elevate himself: entertainment.
Some people have said Gorgeous George sold as manyย televisionย sets as Milton Berle (a major TV star at the time) If somewhat true, that is astonishing.
George was an accomplishedย freestyleย and amateur wrestler which back him up as many other wrestlers claimed he was a gimmick wrestler.
However, another early legend, Lou Thesz who was marked as the best legit wrestler (in terms of skill and ability) said:
Wagner "couldย wrestleย pretty well" but added "Wagnerย could never draw a fan until he became Gorgeous George."
Thesz was thought to have not liked Gimmick wrestlers.
In 1949; he wasย bookedย to as the feature wrestler in the return to Madison Square Garden in which was the return for pro wrestling there in 12 whole years. During the 50's he was the highest paidย athleteย in the world! (yes, a pro wrestler the highest paidย athlete!)
During a match in 1959; he was wrestler one of his long time rivals: Whipper Billy Watson. George lost the match and resulted in his iconic golden locks were shaved off in front of 20,000 fans and millions more on TV.
One of his final matches were against Bruno Sammartino, an up-and-comer at the time.
In 1962; his final match was a mask vs. hair match against The Destroyer; Wagner lost andย ultimately hisย hairย was shaved again.
His doctor told him toย retire, asย alcoholย abuse, and later liver problems and age, tookย theirย toll on Wagner's body.
George Wagner/Gorgeousย George was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class in 2010 an award which was accepted by his former wife Betty (as seen in the top pic), a 97-year-old lady at the time, was open to questions and how George Became Gorgeous.
Wagner died at the age of 47, which now wrestlers see as their heyday, sadly he died the night beforeย Christmasย in 1963.
So before Miz, before Chris Jericho, before Shawnย Michaels, Before all of these heels there was theย originalย heel:ย Gorgeous George Wagner.
He is the sole reason why wrestling is what it is, he was the pioneer and in my mind he is one of the top wrestlers in the world for that.
(Actor Bob Hope is said toย haveย given Wagner a few robes.)
I actually put him at four but during the making of this slide, I put him first.ย
Honorable Mentions
11 of 12
And these are :
CM PUNK
Randy Orton
JBLย
Ron Simmons
Goldust
Rick Rude
Britishย Bulldog
Junkyard Dog
Jim Ross
The Nature boy - Buddy Rogers
Dean Malenko
Bruno Sammartino (wont get one due to his relationship with Vince)
Scott Hall
Owen Hart
Thank You to Take the Time and Effort in Reading This Slideshow
12 of 12
Hey, I hope you enjoyed this slideshow. I'm hoping this wasn't a big waste of time and get only like 600 reads.
And I really hope The Bleacher Report staffย actuallyย take notice of this article which Iย tookย a massive amount of time in and maybe raise my writer reputation level.
I also hope that all of you guys have something to say on this slide or like it heck you may even feel obliged to write your own littleย pieceย on someone who is rarely talked about: Verne Gagne or Lou Thesz.
This is my proudest work to date and i think it will be for some while
So thanks again and leave a comment or two: I always try my best answer each comment andย appreciateย them good or bad.











.png)

.jpg)
