Professional Wrestling: The 100 Most Influential People Ever, Part II

Wrestling has been on the minds of people for over 100 years. From the times the carnival was in town and "strong man" competitions turned into full-fledged fights, to the exhibitions where men were given the chance to prove their strength and power to the days of Lou Thesz and Buddy Rogers, wrestling has always been in American culture in some form or fashion.

Today is just the same.

This is the second half of the "Most Influential People in Wrestling History," which defines the course of history in this business. Click here for Part I.

While there are others who have influenced the business and we could go on for hours, there were reasons these 50 people or teams defined the business.

The first 50 were debatable and open for discussion. The second 50, in my opinion, are the reasons why I love this "soap opera."

Let the debate begin over who made the list, who should have been cut and who you think should have been added.

50. Danny Hodge

He is thought of by many as the best singles wrestler in history.

Hodge had a look and style about him that makes him a legend in Oklahoma to this day.

He is the only wrestler to hold boxing, wrestling and amateur titles.

49. Stu Hart

A promoter in Canada and head of the famed Hart Family. His sons were promoted as great champions in their country before moving to the United States and worldwide.

Hart's Dungeon is famous for teaching the art of wrestling to the likes of Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho as well as Bret and Owen Hart.

48. Nick Bockwinkle

Like in the NWA, there was one lead face (Verne Gagne) and one lead heel in the AWA.

Bockwinkle filled the role opposite Gagne.

He was a rugged, tough champion who was great in the ring and equally great on the microphone, adding great wit and English to his commentary.

He helped bring prominence to the AWA as much as Gagne.

47. Jerry Lawler

He used to be as popular as Elvis in Memphis.

Jerry Lawler held every regional title in the Mid-South area and was instrumental in the careers of Randy Savage, Tommy Rich and others.

He moved to the WWF and was a good in ring performer and now is a good color commentator with Michael Cole and Jim Ross

46. "Superstar" Billy Graham

He is instrumental for so many reasons in the WWF.

He was a heel champion for over 250 days which was unheard of at the time.

Heels did not hold a title for long periods of time in the 1970s. Also, he was the first true champion we knew of who was affected by steroids after his time in the ring.

45. The Great Muta

He was a star in the 1980s and 1990s here in the states. A great find by Gary Hart.

Muta was powerful and quick and captured the NWA World Title after the NWA split from WCW.

He was underrated as a wrestler and was magic in the ring.

44. Fritz Von Erich

Former "Nazi" heel turned famed wrestling promoter in the state of Texas. He sold the NWA on his boys, David, Kevin, Kerry and Mike and in doing so, may have created the best family of wrestlers outside the Hart Family in Canada.

David was supposed to be a world champion. Kerry was a world champion and Kevin was the most consistent of the group.

They had their flaws and tragedy struck the family often, but Fritz, who created World Class Championship Wrestling, was a giant and pillar in the NWA for some time.

43. Kane

The gimmick is still great today.

With what looks like a new mask and new image, Glen Jacobs will breathe new life into a character that lives the 10 best of all time.

Kane's storyline stems from bring the brother of The Undertaker and has grown into its own promotion of sorts.

And when he returns, he will still garner great support from the fans.

42. Jack and Jerry Brisco

The brother tag team combination were NWA world champions. Jack held the NWA world title twice. Jerry was a world junior champion and both were tag champions.

But the Briscos turned their backs on the NWA when they sold their shares of Georgia Championship Wrestling to Vince McMahon. Many believed it was treason and it set the course for McMahon to take over WCW.

41. Bob Geigel

He was a wrestler and then a top promoter in the central states of Missouri and Kansas.

He ran a territory that introduced fans to Curt Hennig and Marty Jannetty. The promotion all was popular for the likes of OX Baker and Johnny Valentine.

40. Ultimate Warrior

He was an intimidating looking wrestler who wore face paint, ran to the ring and roughed up opponents.

He embodied everything that the WWF machine was all about and in his time there, feuded with Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage and Jake Roberts.

He was a classic example of the WWF's cartoon-like characters that were brought to life.

39. D'Generation X

Two men, one purpose.

Shawn Michaels and Triple H were together a package of dynamite.

They brought the house down wherever they wrestled, as a tag team or as individuals.

They also feuded with each other on occasion.

They were major players in the Attitude Era of the WWE.

38. Pedro Morales

Loved by all in the WWF. May have been as popular as Bruno Sammartino.

Morales won the Intercontinental Title as well as the WWF World Tag Titles and the WWF World Title.

He had a fire in him that excited the crowd and feuded with the likes of Superstar Billy Graham, Bruno Sammartino and Ivan Koloff.

37. Giant Baba

Shohei Baba is the most popular and loved Japanese wrestler of all time and a main attraction of the states as well.

When he was in his heyday in the early 1980s, Baba captured the NWA world title and was a major draw against the likes of Ric Flair and Jack Brisco.

Baba helped open the doors for Bruiser Body and Stan Hansen to come overseas and become stars.

36. The Funk Brothers

Dory and Terry Funk were both great NWA World Champions back in the day.

Both had great wrestling skills that were put on display night in and night out.

Both were also loved in Asia.

While Dory stayed in mainstream wrestling much like his father, Dory, Sr., Terry took it a step further and became a hardcore legend, putting his body and life on the line night after night.

35. Vince Russo

He claimed to be the man behind the "Attitude Era" in the WWF. All he did was cause issues in WCW.

As a script writer in WCW, he changed the course of history and ultimately helped in the downfall of what was once Jim Crockett's great contribution to the business.

34. Thunderbolt Patterson

He is more known for what he did in a courtroom than he did in a wrestling ring.

He feuded with Ole Anderson in the early 1980s but he also sued southern promoters to allow more minorities into the sport.

It is not as well known as other lawsuits, but it is huge in terms of breaking down segregation lines.

33. Roddy Piper

"Hot Rod" was one of the best characters in the business for a number of years and still brings the energy to the ring on occasion.

Piper did not need a script. He was the best of his time at ad-libing and making everything real.

And in the ring, he could sure put on a show.

32. The Undertaker

The best gimmick of all time.

The Streak is still alive and WrestleMania is fast approaching.

Injuries have hurt him in the past few years, but there is no denying he is one of the most iconic names in the business ever.

31. The Guerrero Family

Eddie, Hector, Chavo, Gory and Chavo were responsible for helping to bring Luche Libre-style wrestling to the masses.

Eddie was the most popular of the family members and was loved in the WWE as a true hero.

The Guerreros were popular in the southwest portion of the United States as well as Florida. 

30. John Cena

If there was ever another "Hulk Hogan" in the eyes of the WWE Universe, it may be Cena.

He is a Boston native with a chiseled body and a good rep on the mic.

He can wrestle, brawl and sell like few others.

If he does turn heel, it will be to the delight of the fans in the IFC.

29. Andre the Giant

The "Eighth Wonder of the World" was one of the biggest attractions in wrestling worldwide.

A big in the ring, he took on everyone who thought they could defeat the 7'4" 500-pound man.

Few ever got close.

28. Fabulous Moolah

Lillian Ellison was the greatest women's champion of all time and one of the most recognizable names in women's athletics.

She was graceful and charming and took on the likes of Judy and Joyce Grable, Mae Young and Lelani Kai.

She as popular and still worked with the WWE a short time before she eventually passed away.

27. The Four Horseman

The best stable in wrestling, ever.

There have been variations of the "clique" but none were better than Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson and Tully Blanchard. Barry Windham added a great change of pace when Ole left the group.

Every night in arenas across the country, fans witnessed greatness.

26. Gorilla Monsoon

Besides being one of the best heels in WWWF/WWF history, Monsoon was also a part owner of the company and helped bankroll the business.

Some say if not for Monsoon, Vince McMahon Sr would not have had a company to pass on to his son.

25. Jim Ross

There are two men in this business who captivated fans or captivates fans with their voice and sense of the "now".

Ross is one of them.

He is such a good judge of what needs to be said in a classic announcer's style.

He will be compared to Gordon Solie as the best there ever was in the business.

24. Harley Race

Race was a seven-time world champion in the NWA and one of the toughest wrestlers there was.

He helped define the NWA in the St. Louis area by helping to build it as the mecca of wrestling in the industry.

He feuds with the Funks, Jack Brisco, Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair are legendary.

23. The Road Warriors

They changed the course of tag team wrestling when they first hit he scene in 1982.

Colorful gear. Bad ass attitudes and a really cool gimmick. They were led by Paul Ellering and beat the hell out of everyone they came in contact with.

Hawk and Animal were the standard by which all other tag teams built themselves and they imitated the beasts with face paint, if nothing else.

22. Jim Cornette

Jim Cornette was a photographer and all out nuisance to wrestling promoters as a youngster.

But he worked his way up the ranks in the business and became one of the best managers of all time, a great booker and promoter and then has helped with wrestler development.

Cornette changed from a silly tennis racket wielding idiot to one of the most respected names in the business.

21. Ted Turner

Billionaire television tycoon started with WTBS in Atlanta and built it into a huge empire.

Along the way he bought into this idea called Georgia Championship Wrestling.

Was so elated, he called Vince McMahon to tell he he was in the "rasslin' business."

McMahon was not amused, stating he was in the "Sports Entertainment" business.

20. Gordon Solie

Few men in this business made what we all know to be an act seem as real as possible.

Solie did that.

He was charisma and reality all rolled into one.

Solie made everything as real as possible by getting fans to hang on his every word.

19. Paul Heyman

I don't know if I am giving him enough credit or not enough.

Heyman was an older version of Cornette until he found his niche with ECW.

It changed wrestling and how the cult-like following great in the northeast.

It brought us great superstars like Rob Van Dam, Sabu, The Dudleys and others.

19. Sam Muchnick

Maybe one of the greatest promoters of all time.

Muchnick was responsible for the the building of the St. Louis territory that also included the likes of Danny Hodge, Harley Race and Pat O'Connor.

It is believed some of the best NWA matches of all time took place in Missouri.

17. Stone Cold Steve Austin

He helped usher in the "Attitude Era" in the WWE.

No one is more popular and can be the most arrogant anti-hero in the business.

Injuries preventing him from continuing in the ring, but his presence in the ring and in the WWE is still felt today.

16. The Rock

He changed the course of how we watch the drama unfold.

He was the best ever to speak on a microphone and some of his catchphrases are used in everyday vocabulary.

He picked up where Hulk Hogan left off in the lexicon of sports entertainment.

15. The Outsiders

It will be talked about for decades as "The Invasion".

With the help of Eric Bischoff and WCW writers, the team of Scott Hall and Kevin Nash single-handedly changed wrestling forever.

They made it hip to bad and fight the establishment.

14. Shawn Michaels

His rise to fame and the top of the mountain is truly a success story.

We do not have many Flair-like wrestlers in the business. Michaels is one of them.

For someone who was smaller than most, he proved he could take on all comers and usually come out on top.

13. Bruno Sammartino

He has stayed away from the business for decades, but Sammartino is still loved in the WWF circles.

He was a regional champion and one of the first ethnic champions that fans could call their own.

He held the WWF title for the longest period of time in the business.

And at the time, there weren't many wrestlers as tough and rugged as the Italian.

12. Verne Gagne

He did not like the politics of  wrestling, so he created his own promotion.

Gagne headed a group in Minnesota and the Great Lakes and Canada that brought us Hulk Hogan, Nick Bockwinkle, The Road Warriors, Scott Hall, Larry Hennig.

He also was known for claiming since he discovered wrestlers, they "owed" him for it in pay and merchandise sales.

He was also the AWA world champion many times over and feuded with Bockwinkle.

11. Randy Savage

He was as loved in the WWF as Hulk Hogan.

He was the villain to Hogan's face in the mid 1980s.

A great showman and great on the microphone.

He was everything and more and could have carried the company if given the opportunity.

10. Eric Bischoff

He got his start in the AWA and quickly moved up the ranks of the executives in the business.

When the AWA was on its way out, Bischoff joined WCW and quickly advanced up the ladder of success.

He was part of the "invasion" that changed the course of wrestling and the "Monday Night Wars" before WCW went under and was sold to Vince McMahon.

He is currently going through some of the same issues with TNA Wrestling.

9. Dusty Rhodes

As iconic as any wrestler ever to get in the ring.

Rhodes was great as a performer and on the microphone.

But he resonated with the common man and that truly made him a star.

He also came up with some great ideas as a promoter and booker in the early and mid 1980s.

8. Buddy Rogers

Buddy Rogers was the "original" Nature Boy. He was also the first ever WWWF Champion.

He know how to brawl or just make you submit with one of his powerful holds. Not many men could stand toe to toe with the great one.

He eventually lost to Bruno Sammartino in 1963.

7. Lou Thesz

Many of the mat greats today owe a lot of what they learned from Lou Thesz. We have seen many former and current wrestlers use the "Thesz Press" and other holds made famous by the former eight-time world champion.

Thesz is still considered one of the 10-best ever to get into a ring.

6. Ric Flair

Arguably the greatest wrestler ever in the business.

Flair could make a broom look good in the ring.

He picked up his persona early on in life and transformed it into the single greatest wrestling personality ever.

While Hulk Hogan always was above the business, Ric Flair was the business.

End of story.

5. Hulk Hogan

He was the first and greatest contributor to bringing wrestling past the genre of Kayfabe and more toward entertainment and mainstream society.

He was loved like every other big entertainment star in Hollywood and one of the most Iconic figures in the 1980s.

As a heel in the 1990s and today, he is still loved by the masses.

4. Jim Crockett, Sr.

He was Vince McMahon's greatest competition.

Crockett Promotions brought us Ric Flair, Wahoo McDaniel, Roddy Piper and others to the screen weekly.

He also took innovation to new heights before McMahon took flight.

Starrcade, The Great American Bash and War Games were all developed under his watch.

3. Vince McMahon, Sr.

McMahon started the company with a vision to create regional and cultural stars.

He began the inner workings of the foundation we see today in the WWE.

He was iconic in that he wanted to stand alone as a sole owner while challenging the likes of the NWA and its nine-member committee.

He also brought us the likes of Pedro Morales, Bruno Sammartino and Rocky Johnson.

2. Gorgeous George

George Wagner, also known as the "Human Orchid" was the first wrestler to be introduced to mainstream America.

The use of television and radio aided in this phenomenon.

George was flamboyant as the day was long.

And fans of the "sport" loved him.

Everyone in the wrestling business owe what they have today to Wagner.

1. Vince McMahon

Could there be anyone else?

McMahon has continually revolutionized the business as entertainment and has taken it mainstream.

McMahon's vision once he bought the company from his father was to grow the business and take it over.

He has done just that.