WWE: Power Ranking the Top 50 High Fliers in Wrestling History (video)

Every wrestler relies on his own unique skill set.

While some are intense brawlers or masterful technicians in the ring, others take to the air to get the job done.

They are wrestling's high fliers, and they soar through the sky to put on a show for the fans.

The moves these aerial artists can pull off leave us in disbelief, they make us want to become wrestlers ourselves, and perhaps most importantly, they entertain us.

There have been a number of wrestlers in the WWE (and WCW) who wowed us with jaw-dropping jumps from the top rope, but only these will stick with us forever.

Here are the top 50 high fliers in WWE history.

Note: My apologies--especially to guys like A.J. Styles, Daniels, Amazing Red and Jack Evans--but I'm not including TNA wrestlers on here. I also know I might have left some guys out, so be sure to comment and mention who else you would include.

50. Tyson Kidd

Considering that Tyson Kidd hardly even appears on WWE programming these days, you might not know that this guy's a beast in the ring.

But he damn sure is.

Kidd loves going to the top rope, and when he does, magic usually follows. Now, if only we can get him on TV every once in a while, so you can see what I'm talking about. 

49. Kaval

Kaval's WWE career didn't last long (to say the least), but the fans loved him when he was there.

Why? Because he was exciting to watch in the ring.

Whether the NXT Season Two winner was hitting a springboard moonsault or the Warrior's Way, one thing he always did was get a reaction from the crowd.

Now that he's gone from the WWE, TNA's X-Division is where he belongs for the long haul. 

48. Super Crazy

He is Super. He is crazy. He's...Super Crazy.

Though Super Crazy generally worked as an enhancement talent in the WWE, it's hard to deny that the guy could really go in the ring.

He was perhaps best known for his finishing move, the Trifecta, which consisted of three consecutive moonsaults from each of the turnbuckles.

It may not have helped Super Crazy get very many wins in the WWE, but hey, who cares?

He's crazy enough to do a moonsault off the second story balcony, and I have to respect him for that.  

47. Mike Awesome

When you think of Mike Awesome, you generally don't view him as a high flier. 

After all, he was listed at 6'6", 290 pounds.

But Awesome was, well, awesome whenever he decided to take to the air.

His "Awesome Splash" was just as good as guys who were much smaller than he was, and he looked very agile whenever he hit his suicide dive. 

46. The Undertaker

The Undertaker will never be this low on any other rankings for anything else wrestling-related, but I've got the Deadman here because high-flying isn't really his style.

Then again, he's one of the best in-ring competitors of all-time, and moves like the one in the video show it.

There's nothing all that fancy about a suicide dive, but it takes a ton of athleticism for a guy of Taker's size to get up and over the top rope like that.

The Undertaker is a man among boys in the ring, and I'm not sure that too many 6'10" wrestlers can do what he does inside the squared circle.

45. Gail Kim

YouTube doesn't do Gail Kim any justice.

Though there's not a ton of footage on the site of Gail taking flight, you and I both know what she can do in the ring.

Of course, if you've only watched her in WWE (and not in TNA), then you would have no idea what she's capable of. But that's a different story for a different day.

Gail Kim is one of the best female wrestlers in the world, and it's a shame that she doesn't get to show it.

44. Jamie Noble

A former WWE Cruiserweight Champion and a very well-rounded wrestler, Jamie Noble never relied strictly on his high-flying ability in his matches.

But that didn't mean he was afraid to take to the top rope.

Check out Noble's attack on Jimmy Yang in this match, and you'll see what I mean.

Noble no longer hits those crazy flips outside the ring, though. He now works as a trainer in WWE's developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling.  

43. La Parka

WCW's Cruiserweight division of the mid-to-late 1990s was phenomenal, and La Parka was one of its brightest stars.

You probably remember him as the guy who looked like a skeleton--I do, too--but he was much more than that.

A true aerial artist, La Parka is one of the most well-known luchadores from WCW's finest era, one who put on some stellar matches with a number of great high fliers you'll find later on this list.

42. Evan Karagias

According to Wikipedia, Evan Karagias won only eight of his 50 televised singles matches with WCW.

That's interesting, especially when you consider that he was a very solid wrestler who put on some excellent matches with the likes of Rey Mysterio, Juventud Guerrera and Eddie Guerrero.

Karagias, however, will go down in wrestling history as the wrestler who lost the Cruiserweight Championship to Madusa. 

Either that, or the fact that he formed a faction with fellow Cruiserweights Shane "Gregory" Helms and Shannon Moore known as "3 Count."

That group could really wrestle.

41. Psicosis

If you're a fan of the lucha libre or high-flying wrestling styles, then WCW in the mid-1990s would have been your gold mine.

The company's Cruiserweight division was absolutely stacked, and one of its best competitors was Psicosis.

He put on some stellar bouts with guys like Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero, and even won the Cruiserweight Championship twice.

Psicosis was last seen in mainstream American wrestling as part of "The Mexicools" in the WWE in 2005-2006.

40. Shane "Gregory" Helms/The Hurricane

Gregory Helms has gone by a lot of different names during his career, from Gregory Helms (his birth name) to Shane Helms to The Hurricane to Hurricane Helms.

No matter what he was known by, though, Helms was always a very good wrestler and a staple of the Cruiserweight divisions in both WCW and the WWE.

He's a former 3-time Cruiserweight Champion, and he was even given the award for "Best Gimmick" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 2001.

Helms is also a former two-time WWE Tag Team Champion, once with Kane and once with Rosey. 

39. Jimmy Wang Yang

Jimmy Wang Yang is a wrestling journeyman, having competed in WCW, TNA, ROH and WWE throughout a career that's spanned more than a decade.

He's never really gotten got an extended push in--or even stayed with--any of those aforementioned organizations for very long, but he's found work because he knows how to wrestle.

Yang was released by the WWE in April 2010 after a five-year stint there (his second with the company), and he most recently showed up on your TV screens when Impact Wrestling highlighted the X-Division.

He didn't land a full-time deal with the company, but it's worth noting that he's only 30 years old. So, there's a chance we see him again sooner or later.

38. Shannon Moore

Much like Jimmy Wang Yang, Shannon Moore's been around the block a few times. 

He debuted in WCW in 1999 and has since had multiple stints with both the WWE and TNA, during which he's proved to be one heck of an aerial performer.

Just check out his top four moves in the video, and you'll see that Moore has come a long way since his OMEGA days.

Though he only has one major championship to his name--the WCW Hardcore title--Moore's a solid veteran who, at 32 years old, likely has a lot of years left in the business. 

37. Lita

Of all the female performers that have come and gone in the WWE, the one I miss the most is Lita.

One of the most accomplished Divas of all-time, Lita was a four time WWE Women's Champion, Pro Wrestling Illustrated's "Woman of the Year" in 2001 and Pro Wrestling Report's Diva of the Year in 2006.

She is one of the most athletic women ever to step foot into a WWE ring, and can hit one heck of a moonsault--or Litasault as she likes to call it.

From my perspective, Lita could hang with the boys when it came to taking flight.

36. Justin Gabriel

Justin Gabriel hasn't been around all that long--making his WWE debut on NXT last year--but he's already made his mark on the wrestling business.

Why? Because of the 450 splash.

The three-time WWE Tag Team Champion hits the high-flying move to perfection, and he's earned himself plenty of fans as a result.

Though some might say Gabriel's a one-move wonder, he's got a long WWE career ahead of him, and I'd expect to see some more exciting top rope maneuvers from him down the road.

35. Kofi Kingston

Kofi Kingston debuted on ECW in 2007, and he's been one of the WWE's most popular superstars ever since.

He's incredibly over with the crowd, and the main reason why is because he's so damn exciting to watch.

A former WWE Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team Champion, Kingston is full of energy in the ring, and should stay around the WWE for years to come.

Now, all we have to do is get this guy into the main event.  

34. Christian

Maybe not a high-flier in the traditional sense, Christian is still going to be remember by old school wrestling fans for what he did when he took to the air.

Captain Charisma etched his place in wrestling history with his incredible performances in the first TLC matches, and he's since cemented himself as one of the greatest ladder match competitors to ever step foot in the ring.

Look at Christian's match against Shelton Benjamin at WWE TLC in 2009 or his bout against Alberto Del Rio at Extreme Rules this year as proof why.

The two-time World Heavyweight Champion is one of the most well-rounded wrestlers on the planet, and enough can't be said about good of a competitor he really is. 

33. Edge

How can you put Christian on this list without including his tag team partner, Edge?

Like Christian, high-flying wasn't really Edge's style. But there's no doubt that the Rated R Superstar wasn't afraid to take that leap of faith to improve the quality of his matches.

In fact, Edge was recently forced to retire because the toll his high-risk, high-reward style took on his body had threatened his life and his health.

Even though Edge's career was cut shorter than we would have liked, he had already racked up more accolades than almost any other wrestler in history. Almost too many to count.

When you look back at his career, Edge just may be one of the top-10 superstars in WWE history.

32. Matt Hardy

Some may call Matt Hardy a spot monkey, but no matter what, you have to respect what he did when tearing up the WWE tag team division in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

There weren't very many risks that Hardy wasn't willing to take, and as a result, he became one of the company's most popular wrestlers.

Of course, some will still say he plays second fiddle to his brother Jeff--which is true--but I like to remember the Hardy of the old days who was very entertaining to watch in the ring.

He's won eight different major titles throughout his career, and is a two-time winner of PWI's "Match of the Year" award.

31. TAKA Michinoku

TAKA Michinoku wasn't around the WWE for an extended period of time, appearing only sparingly for the company from 1997-2000.

Many of you might not even recall seeing him perform in the WWE. But make no mistake about it--the guy could flat-out go in the ring.

He was a moonsault machine, performing several different variations of the move, all of which showed a ton of athletic ability.

TAKA Michinoku won't go down as one of the WWE's greatest superstars ever, but he's still going strong in Japan and can lay claim to being the first Light Heavyweight Champion in WWE history.

30. Chavo Guerrero

These days you might know Chavo Guerrero as a bitter ex-WWE star who likes to criticize anything John Cena does.

But once upon a time, he was a pretty damn good wrestler and a key asset to WCW's Cruiserweight division.

Guerrero was ranked as the 17th-best wrestler in the world by PWI in 2004, and has held five major titles in WCW and the WWE, including the Cruiserweight Championship four times.

He began using the Frog Splash as a tribute to his uncle Eddie (R.I.P.), and that's precisely the move that earns him a spot here.

29. Essa Rios

Often forgotten when people mention wrestling's best high fliers is Essa Rios.

Rios--who currently works for CMLL as Mr. Aguila--debuted in the WWE at just 18 years old in 1997, and instantly proved to be a very entertaining wrestler.

Unfortunately for Rios, though, his WWE career didn't last long, as he was out of the company by 2001.

However, Rios has rebounded nicely, appearing for AAA, TNA and CMLL since leaving the WWE.

He's one of the few wrestlers around who you'll see use the 450 splash and the shooting star press. 

28. Juventud Guerrera

Two very noticeable themes on this list are wrestling journeyman and former WCW Cruiserweights.

Well, Juventud Guerrera fits into both of those categories.

A former five-time Cruiserweight Champion (three in WCW and two in WWE), Guerrera has competed for WWE, WCW, TNA, WWC and AAA.

He's not currently signed with any company, but as a well-known high flier and still just 36 years old, he likely won't be too short of work.

27. Billy Kidman

Here we go again, with yet another former WCW Cruiserweight. This time around, it's Billy Kidman.

Before Evan Bourne was hitting the Shooting Star Press, it was Kidman wowing the crowd with one of the smoothest moves in wrestling history.

Kidman used that maneuver to capture the Cruiserweight Championship a combined seven times in WCW and the WWF/E.

He now works as a trainer in WWE's developmental territory, FCW.

So, let's see if he passes the SSP along to any future WWE stars.

26. Carlito

"I spit in the face of people who don't want to be cool."

Carlito's catchphrase will always be ingrained in my brain, but so will his wrestling ability.

Though he never really reached his potential in the WWE prior to his release in 2010, Carlito Caribbean Cool still accomplished more than most wrestlers out there ever will.

He won four major championships in the WWE--including the United States and Intercontinental titles--and he did so because of both his charisma and his in-ring skills.

A very complete wrestler, Carlito is also one of the most underrated high fliers we've ever seen. 

25. 1-2-3 Kid/X-Pac

Though Sean Waltman (a.k.a. 1-2-3 Kid or X-Pac) has the unfortunate distinction of coining the term "X-Pac heat," I've always felt like he was an underrated high flier.

There was nothing overly flashy about the way he went about his business in the ring, but he was impressive nonetheless.

X-Pac's aerial skills helped him latch on with a number of different companies throughout his career, from WWE to WCW to Wrestling Society X to AAA to TNA.

Though he's rubbed some people in the industry the wrong way--and scarred me for life with his performance in "One Night in Chyna"--the former NWO member has solidified his spot as great high flier thanks to a very good, lengthy career. 

24. Ultimo Dragon

Wouldn't you know it? The WCW Cruiserweight theme strikes again.

From 1996 to 1998, Ultimo Dragon was a staple of WCW's Cruiserweight division, making his debut for the company against Rey Mysterio in 1996 and competing against Dean Malenko, Juventud Guerrera and Eddie Guerrero throughout his tenure there.

He won the Cruiserweight title twice in WCW and, after a career-threatening injury scare in 1998, eventually made his way to the WWE in 2003.

Ultimo Dragon only lasted about a year there before leaving the company in 2004, the same year in which he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

23. Sin Cara

Sin Cara's only been in the WWE since April of this year, but he's already made his mark on the company.

Sin Cara--who gained worldwide fame as "Mistico" prior to joining the WWE--is one of the most exciting wrestlers on the planet, a lightning quick grappler who can pull off moves that leave you in disbelief.

Sure, he's had some trouble adjusting to the WWE style, but the sky is the limit for the luchadore if he can change that.

After all, he was named the "Best Box Office Draw of the Decade (2000-2009)" by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter for a reason.

22. Evan Bourne

Can wrestling moves be pretty?

If they can, then Evan Bourne's Shooting Star Press is undoubtedly the most beautiful move in mainstream American wrestling.

I love watching him hit that move, because he seems to do it perfectly every time. It's actually a little ridiculous.

Here's to hoping that the former ROH and TNA star can get a sustained push in the WWE at some point.

Come on, guys. He didn't receive two awards in 2009--Best Flying Wrestler and Best Wrestling Manuever--because he can't wrestle. 

21. Sabu

It's with good reason that Sabu is known as "The Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal, Death–Defying (Maniac)."

Indeed, the guy is an absolute nutcase in the ring.

Though he's another wrestler who people like to call a "spot monkey," it's hard to disagree with also calling Sabu a great high flier.

PWI ranked him as one of the top 10 wrestlers in the world twice--No. 5 in 1995 and No. 8 in 1996--because of his ability to put on a show for the fans.

Sabu's worked in just about every major promotion you can think of, and at 46 years old, he's still going strong. 

20. Shane McMahon

Shane McMahon is one of the biggest daredevils in wrestling history.

Aside from a few other wrestlers--guys like Mick Filey and Sabu come to mind--I'm not sure there's ever been anyone who risked his body with insane high-risk spots quite like Shane-O-Mac.

All it takes is a look at that video to prove my point.

If that doesn't convince you, then go on YouTube and type in "Shane McMahon Coast to Coast" or "Shane McMahon Leap of Faith."

See. I told you so.

19. Owen Hart

Who thinks of Owen Hart as a high flier? Probably not many of you.

In fact, he's generally remember as one of the greatest technical wrestlers to ever step foot in a WWE ring.

But go back and watch some of Hart's matches, and you'll see that he can undoubtedly do his thing from the top rope.

It's really a shame that his life ended far too soon. He died after a tragic accident in May 1999 in which he fell from the rafters at a WWF pay-per-view.

What could have been.

18. Chris Benoit

Before Chris Benoit became one of the most infamous men in wrestling history, he was one of its best competitors.

A truly great grappler, Benoit wrestled all over the world, from Stampede Wrestling to New Japan Pro Wrestling to WCW to ECW to the WWE.

Though he won the World Heavyweight Championship and the Royal Rumble, the lasting impression he left on most of us is related to what unfortunately occurred in 2007.

17. Brian Kendrick

From 2002 to 2005, Brian Kendrick had a couple of less than stellar runs with both the WWE and TNA.

But it was in 2005 when Kendrick returned to the WWE that he cemented himself as one of the greatest high fliers in the business.

Kendrick and tag team partner Paul London became the longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions in history, holding the belts for a whopping 331 days.

The team would eventually split up, and both wrestlers parted ways with the company.

But there's no doubt that London and Kendrick were one of the most entertaining tag teams since the days of Edge and Christian, the Hardys and the Dudley Boyz.  

16. Paul London

You can't have one without the other, right?

It's hard to decide who's better, Paul London or Brian Kendrick, but I give London the slight edge here simply because I don't think he gets the hype or publicity that he deserves.

In fact, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter thinks so, too. The publication named him "Most Underrated Wrestler" in 2004, a moniker that still sticks with him this day.

London hasn't appeared in mainstream wrestling--on American TV that is--since leaving the WWE in November 2008.

That's a shame, because there's no doubt that he could contribute to TNA's X-Division or a reincarnated Cruiserweight division in the WWE.

15. John Morrison

When The Miz and John Morrison split as tag team partners, almost everyone expected Morrison to be the more successful singles competitor.

It's been the other way around so far. But Morrison could certainly get there, and he has the incredible wrestling skills to do so.

A former ECW, Intercontinental and WWE Tag Team Champion, Morrison's unique parkour training translates to some jaw-dropping displays of talent in the ring.

He's about as athletic as any wrestler there is, and it shows when he takes to the top rope for Starship Pain or any other crazy move he decides to pull off.

14. Dynamite Kid

Before I was even born, Dynamite Kid was asserting himself as one of the WWE's best high fliers during the mid-to-late 1980s.

He had a bit of a bad reputation while working with the company, but that didn't change the fact that he was a very innovative and influential wrestler.

Dynamite Kid's aerial skills left a lasting impact on several wrestlers who came after him, such as Chris Benoit and Jay Lethal, who both used the swandive headbutt as a tribute to him.

It's unfortunate that, like a lot of wrestlers before and after him, Dynamite Kid's career was derailed by problems with drugs and steroids.

13. Brian Pillman

Brian Pillman was indeed a "Loose Cannon" and one of the most notorious stars in wrestling history.

Like many others on this list, he was well-traveled, having worked for Stampede Wrestling, NWA, WCW, ECW and the WWF throughout his stellar career.

A former tag team partner of Steve Austin, Pillman was a do-it-all wrestler who could stay grounded or take flight when he wanted to. 

Indeed, he did perform some impressive high-flying moves. But he's famous for being yet another wrestler who left us way too soon.

In October 1997, Pillman died as the result of an undetected heart condition which was worsened by his use of drugs and alcohol. 

12. "Macho Man" Randy Savage

For some unknown reason, Randy Savage is not in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Yeah, there are very interesting rumors as to why he isn't. But I don't care. It's an absolutely travesty that one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time can't be recognized for all of his accomplishments.

"Macho Man" has almost too many accolades to list, but let's just say that he's a former WWF Champion, WCW Champion and Royal Rumble winner.

He also just so happened to be one of the most charismatic and entertaining wrestlers ever, a guy who could turn a relatively simple move like an elbow drop into something special.

If he's not in the WWE Hall of Fame within the next couple of years, I riot. 

11. Chris Jericho

Oh, Chris Jericho, where have you been? Please come back to the WWE.

Y2J has been sorely missed since departing the company last year, and it's not because he's one of the greatest talkers in wrestling history.

It's because Jericho has the uncanny ability to look good while putting other guys over in the process.

He's done just about everything you can do in the wrestling business--become the first-ever Undisputed WWF Champion, be a Grand Slam Champion, win the WON's award for "Feud of the Year (2008)" and "Match of the Year (2008)," etc.--yet he's not afraid to make other wrestlers look good in the ring, too.

Jericho truly can do it all.

10. 2 Cold Scorpio

A name that might be forgotten among more casual wrestling fans is 2 Cold Scorpio.

He most recently appeared at TNA's ECW reunion show Hardcore Justice in August 2010, but he gained his fame and notoriety in WCW and ECW in the mid-1990s.

2 Cold Scorpio was a sight to see in the ring. He'd hit his 450 splash to perfection and generally seemed to be bouncing on the top rope more than he was on the ring mat.

In fact, even at 45 years old, he's still chugging along.

2 Cold Scorpio is currently one of the top names for the Dragon Gate USA promotion.  

9. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat

Whenever someone thinks of WWE's top high fliers, a name that instantly comes to mind is Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat.

One of the biggest legends and best wrestlers in WWE history, Steamboat began his career in NWA in 1977 and eventually worked his way to both WCW and the WWE.

It didn't matter which company he was working for, though--Steamboat was well-known for putting on stellar bouts against the likes of Randy Savage and Ric Flair.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Steamboat actually put on three five-star matches with Flair...in one year (1989).

And in 2009, Steamboat returned to the ring for a program with Chris Jericho.

The result was eye-popping, as Steamboat looked like he could outwork 99 percent of the WWE roster despite being 56 years old at the time.

8. Shelton Benjamin

The least utilized talent in WWE history? It very well could be Shelton Benjamin.

I'm not really sure if it was Benjamin just sorta coasting by or the WWE having a lack of faith in him, but it's almost inconceivable that a guy with so much talent never reached the pinnacle of pro wrestling.

Benjamin did win the Intercontinental, United States and WWE Tag Team Championships. However, he could have done so much more.

Just take a look at his performances in the Money in the Bank ladder matches--he's the best MITB competitor ever, hands down--and you'll see why.

7. Rob Van Dam

Rob Van Dam apparently has a thing for getting high.

See what I did there?

In all seriousness, I don't think anyone can deny what RVD has contributed to the wrestling business.

He was the face of ECW from the mid-1990s until the company folded in 2001, took his legion of followers to the WWE and now has them with him in TNA.

RVD has done something that no other wrestler in history has done--hold the ECW, TNA and WWE Championships. He was also just the seventh Grand Slam Champion in history.

His accomplishments are a result of both his charisma and his dedication to his craft, which has made him the master of moves like the 450 Splash and Five-Star Frog Splash.

6. Shawn Michaels

I've seen a lot of debates on the Internet about whether or not Shawn Michaels was a good high flier.

Really? If he wasn't, then who was?

Though, like Edge or Christian, HBK might not have been a traditional high flyer, he indeed performed high-risk spots to take his matches to the next level.

Whether it was his elbow drop (a la Randy Savage) or his moonsault onto the announce table, Michaels knew better than anyone else when to go to the rope.

Perhaps that's one reason why he's widely considered to be the greatest wrestler in WWE history.

5. Jeff Hardy

I can already hear you all screaming "Spot monkey!" at your computer screens.

For the longest time, though, Jeff Hardy was so much more than that.

Though he's more known for his problems with the law and drugs these days, once upon a time Hardy was one of the most entertaining wrestlers in the business.

There was almost nothing he wouldn't do in a match, from jumping off of huge ladders to taking the plunge off the top of the titantron.

Hardy also incorporated his Swanton Bomb and moves like Whisper in the Wind into his matches, the majority of which left me speechless.

A two-time PWI "Match of the Year" winner, it was Hardy's insane leaps of faith that made the WWE tag team division what it was in the late 1990s and early 2000s and also set the stage for Hardy to become a bonafide star later in his career.

4. Eddie Guerrero

I imagine what could have been had Eddie Guerrero not tragically passed away in 2005, and I realize that there was nothing that he couldn't have accomplished.

At the time of his death, Guerrero had already won several major titles in the WWE (and across the world), including the WWE Championship.

He was one of the most beloved superstars of all-time, a guy with a ton of charisma and instant connection to his fans.

Guerrero wasn't all talk, though. He could straight up go in the ring, and he had a wide arsenal of moves that left you debating whether he was a high flier, a technical wrestler or both.

I'd say both, because there aren't many wrestlers who've come along that are better all-around than "Latino Heat."

3. Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka

They called Jimmy Snuka "Superfly"for a reason.

When you consider all the great high fliers that have come and gone in the wrestling business, Snuka's name always sticks out.

A member of the WWE Hall of Fame, Snuka debuted all the way back in 1970 and performed before many of you reading this were even a thought.

As a result, some of Snuka's moves may seem a bit watered down compared to the ones you see today. But that was a different time, a different generation.

And, even if some of us don't realize it, Snuka helped lay the foundation for what goes on in the ring today. 

2. Rey Mysterio

Other than John Cena, no current WWE star gets bashed on the Internet more than Rey Mysterio.

He's been called boring, redundant and mundane, which I really can't understand.

Sure, Mysterio's toned down his high flying style and slowed his pace down a bit, but that's expected with age.

And, the truth is, Mysterio has been one of the most consistent performers in wrestling history, having started wrestling at age 14 in 1988 and still going strong 23 years later.

He definitely seems to be nearing the end of his career, but for an extended period, he was the most must-see performer in the business.

Mysterio's matches from WCW in the mid-1990s are as good as it gets.

1. Jushin "Thunder" Liger

Perhaps a surprise No. 1, Jushin "Thunder" Liger epitomizes everything that a high flier should be about.

He started wrestling in 1984, and introduced himself to mainstream wrestling fans when he started performing for WCW in 1991.

Liger stayed with the company until 1999, and it was there that he electrified the crowd with his matches against the likes of Rey Mysterio, Dean Malenko, Juventud Guerrera and Chris Benoit.

He would go on to work for TNA and ROH, and he currently works primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Liger's career may be winding down, though, and nothing I say about the man can really do him any justice.

All it takes is a look at one of his matches or highlights of his career to see how he's revolutionized the wrestling business with his high flying ability.