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 the critically acclaimed site of Sports, yes of course I'm speaking of Bleacher Report...
Some of the names included relate 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?"
So during this epic slideshow, I will showcase who I feel deserves a DVD and reasons why, so sit back and enjoy it and a comment wouldn't 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 recently officially recognized as the eighth-ranked big man in WWE history.
He boasts five WCW World Heavyweight reigns in addition to the WWF Championship, once a formidable tag team champion and the third Triple Crown champion.
He debuted in WCW as Steel in 1990 but was later changed to Oz; yes Oz. Nash was in WCW for three years before then WWF signed him and was given his second most used name in the wrestling business: Diesel.
During three years with WWF, he was apart of some of the biggest storylines and incidents in the early 90s. He won the once prestigious Intercontinental belt from friend Razor Ramon (Scott Hall), he won the WWF Tag Team Championship with another friend in HBK when at the time he was the bodyguard of 2011 Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels.
The on-screen 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, against Bob Backlund.
Fast forward to the year of 1996 and WrestleMania 12, he lost to The undertaker and however, that wasn't the big moment. A few weeks after at a show, Nash challenged HBK to a WWF Title match and which wouldn't be remembered for the match itself but the moment after.
Real-life mates, Razor Ramon and HHH came down to the ring which was occupied by Diesel and HBK and hugged them wishing luck as the duo of Scott Hall and Nash were going to rivals WCW.
The incident was later recognized as The Curtain Call or Madison Square Garden incident. The reason this incident is so important was that fans witnessed babyfaces and heels for the first time hugging and being friendly each other which in effect ruined the image of babyfaces being friends with babyfaces and vice-versa.
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 the career 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 was essentially 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 a member of the reformation of NWO in WWE and later 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 a influence in any locker room...
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 the inventor 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 be forgotten as his unforgettable Lou Thesz press has gotten better each year (especially 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 have acquired 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.
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 future endeavors?
The group also consisted of HHH and the Nature Boy Ric Flair. The stable had solid feuds with two main eventers in HBK and Goldberg.
However, I feel a DVD would benefit from how they slowly should the cracks in their foundation, when each got greedy with power and 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 Championship (6 times) – Triple H (5), Randy Orton (1)
- World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – Ric Flair and Batista (2)
- WWE Intercontinental Championship (2 times) – Randy Orton (1), Ric Flair (1)
- Royal Rumble (2005) - Batista
Although Look at what became of Orton and Batista:
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Feud of the Year (2009) vs. Triple H
- PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (2007, 2009)
- PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (2004)
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (2010)
- PWI Rookie of the Year (2001)
- PWI ranked him #1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2008
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (2009, 2010)[196][197]
Batista, although not employed by WWE anymore, got a fine deal out of them...
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (2005)
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (2005)[141]
- PWI ranked him #1 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2000
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- World Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
- World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Ric Flair (2) and John Cena (1)
- WWE Championship (2 times)
- WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rey Mysterio[50]
- Royal Rumble (2005)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Feud of the Year (2005) vs. Triple H
- Feud of the Year (2007) vs. The Undertaker
- Most Overrated (2006)
I feel they should have a DVD because we got so many years out of this stable even when they disbanded.
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 a pinnacle of black talent in the Wrestling Business.
Now let me check if any black 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 he steadily began a rise which is hardly done nowadays as he went from tag teaming with his brother, to television Championship to World title.
Nowadays people get booted into the main event scene for example: Wade Barrett, Sheamus, Del Rio. I have nothing against 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 a 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****r and other funny moments.
Booker T is one of my favorite 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...
6: The Dudleys AKA Team 3D
5 of 12And 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 Team divisions on the map, not only in WWE, but all over the world.
I will start this tale from the early beginnings of the team, as part of the kayfabe family the Dudleys, The duo would be the most successful of the family as others wouldn't even dream of the eventual success of their peers.
During the stint in ECW, they won the ECW World tag team titles for a record of eight times until 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 catapulted them to Tag Team Stardom. For the mostly of the early time in WWF, they were heels by such moves as putting women through the tables.
Then they entered a feud with DX, which eventually finished and began the best ever tag team feud: the three-way feud with Hardys and E&C.
During SummerSlam 2000, the first-ever TLC (Tables, Ladders and Chairs) match 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 team separated with not much success of titles until the departure from Vince to TNA in 2005.
The Dudleys, now known as Team 3D, held much of the spotlight 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, I purposely left their feud with the Nasty Boys OUT).
Also 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 rise through 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 the Guerreros, maybe the Funks, heck maybe the Von Erichs.
However, the Anoa'i family have made many professional wrestlers over the years but are rarely recognized 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 Wild 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)
Yokozuna
Rosey
Joe Anoa'i (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 somewhere through 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 outstanding performances 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 Hennig
Bob Backlund
Iron Sheik
The Nasty Boys
Sgt. Slaughter
Jimmy Snuka
Ole Anderson of the original Four Horsemen
He even had a hand in training 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 still entertaining with his promos and even wrestling! Who remembers that Flair/Foley match a couple of months ago?
Lets face it; the people who don't know Verne Gagne will more than likely know his trainees.
He began his Wrestling career in 1949 and wrestled mainly in the National Wrestling Alliance before starting up his own successful promotion in American Wrestling 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 the business; still it wasn't until 1981 he fully became retired from the ring.
AWA ran into bankruptcy in 1991 and was eventually bought by Vince McMahon's WWE.
WWE Released a DVD on AWA; however, I feel a DVD about Verne Gagne should be noticed, as he made a huge contribution in not only his trainees but AWA was the starting point for some other the other legends in the business during the 80's.
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 than 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, as Christian 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.
Captain 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 World heavyweight champion Jack Swagger.
Furthermore in TNA, he became the NWA World heavyweight champion and had a longer 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 Intercontinental 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 his abilities to WWE and did by winning the top championship not once but on two separate occasions.
He went toe to toe with main eventers like: Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarrett, Sting, Kevin Nash 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 better alongside a proper build up and ta-da, that would have been it for Christian finally making it in WWE.
Anyone remember the confrontation between Edge and Christian at Backlash 2009? The First in any kind of on screen encounter since for years.
WWE yet again must have realized the buzz and energy the crowd got we saw those two in one segment together. Don't believe me? Watch this video of it all:
Whilst I'm on the lines of these two, remember the finale of ECW? Everyone (including me) expected Captain Charisma to be drafted Smackdown to either feud or team with Edge but what we get? A draft to RAW.
Unless during the WWE Annual Draft Edge gets drafted to RAW or Christian gets transferred to Smackdown. A lot of people are relying on Edge to give Christian a push, because it makes sense to due to their incredible 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 that lengthy ECW title reign, longest in WWE ECW history.
When he was drafted to RAW, no one knew what to expect, although the was a rumor between him and Orton to feud that never panned out. He qualified 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 small percentage who predicted McIntyre but from what i know off Swagger was just as low or lower than Evan Bourne winning.
So Christian's Peeps thought WrestleMania 26 was his WrestleMania moment to win and cash the briefcase on Edge, who was thought to beat Chris Jericho (Big Fan of Y2J) 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.
So presumably there will be a Money In The Bank match and hopefully Christian may be in that unless in a meaningful feud 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 have claimed that Christian 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 hope something happens so he is included in the title match because at the very least he deserve a WrestleMania moment...not involving E&C.
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 had provided guest commentary for an episode of ECW after Raven put up The Sandman on a cross with barbed wire. Angle was afraid this would haunt his career in the future and swiftly threatened to sue Heyman if he showed Angle on the show.
Fast forward 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 the European title and Intercontinental 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.
He entered 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 finals against 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, trailblazer; The Rock.
This push for Angle resulted 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 the Alliance, however, Angle was again dropped the belt back to him on the Oct. 8, 2001, edition of RAW, The commissioner 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 the 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.
Angle won his third WWF belt against Big Show with the aid of Brock Lesnar at the 2002 edition of Armageddon.
During 2003-04, he began feuds with Eddie Guerrero and Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar won the 2003 Royal Rumble and challenged Angle at Wrestlemania 19 which Angle lost.
April 11, 2003, was the day when Angle had surgery to repair the following issues: nerve and spinal damage, Calcium buildup, Bone spurs, and intervertebral disc problems. Angle opted for a different surgical route which cut his rehabilitation time from one year to three months.
He returned as face in June and in July won the WWE Title back. He lost the belt back to Lesnar on a episode of Smackdown during an Iron Man match.
After this feud with Lesnar, he then joined forces with Eddie Guerrero, though he turned on him when Eddie was named No. 1 contender and not him.
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 months later in November, issuing the Kurt Angle Invitational and beginning a mini-feud with Eugene.
During an episode of Smackdown, Kurt Angle was visiting the Tough Enough Contestants and an unscripted event happened. He challenged each contestant to a squat 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, Angle 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.
Angle was traded to Smackdown and later the newly formed ECW brand. He requested his release from the company on August, 25, 2006, due to his heath issues which he had to work 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.
1: Gorgeous George
10 of 12
Gorgeous George is often 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 media magnet, gathering massive attention at times due to his flamboyance and his charisma.
He wasn't the tallest nor biggest of talent, nor was he the best in-ring worker; however, he realized during a in-ring segment of the real marriage of the two in the picture was a hit.
He then thought he could tap into a part of professional 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 a velvet 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 his entrance to the ring in a match, a lady 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 Gorgeous George; he entered with the now usual confrontation of fans but at the time was rare.
Once the ring announcer announced "Gorgeous George" the fans recognized a showmanship which as never in the pro wrestling at the time.
From then, crowds flocked to see him, to see his new Glamour 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. George grew long blond locks of hair putting fancy pins in them.
George reconsulted his ring entrance to a show in itself; it was a spectacle to simply put it. It is often ridiculed as people said his entrance took longer than the match. His music was "Pomp and Circumstance" (I never knew the name but search it and you will recognize the tune).
Wagner had a bright purple Spotlight and was always accompanied by his valet (he called Jeffries) and even a red carpet was laid for him. Jeffries would sprinkle rose petals and carry a mirror.
And get this: once he would remove his robe, Jeffries would disinfect the ring with Coco Chanel perfume; in addition he required his valet to spray the ref's hands before checking him for illegal objects, this would be referenced to his cry of "Get your filthy hands off me!"
Amongst 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 on 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.
Television stations were looking for cheap profitable shows, and wrestling soon became that. This was how George turned into a media hit. His showmanship and style brought Pro Wrestling to the each living room in the county (providing they had TV).
His first television appearance on Nov. 11, 1947; this match was named among the top 100 acts on television of the 20th century by Entertainment Weekly) that top fact showcases how he really 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 many television sets as Milton Berle (a major TV star at the time) If somewhat true, that is astonishing.
George was an accomplished freestyle 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 "could wrestle pretty well" but added "Wagner could never draw a fan until he became Gorgeous George."
Thesz was thought to have not liked Gimmick wrestlers.
In 1949; he was booked 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 paid athlete in the world! (yes, a pro wrestler the highest paid 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 and ultimately his hair was shaved again.
His doctor told him to retire, as alcohol abuse, and later liver problems and age, took their toll on Wagner's body.
George Wagner/Gorgeous 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 before Christmas in 1963.
So before Miz, before Chris Jericho, before Shawn Michaels, Before all of these heels there was the original heel: 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 to have given Wagner a few robes.)
I actually put him at four but during the making of this slide, I put him first.
Honorable Mentions
11 of 12
And these are :
CM PUNK
Randy Orton
JBL
Ron Simmons
Goldust
Rick Rude
British 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 staff actually take notice of this article which I took 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 little piece 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 and appreciate them good or bad.
