Pro Wrestling's G.O.A.T.: Hulk Hogan, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and More
Lacey Evans top takes down Natalya Neidhart in 2019 OFF THE TOP ROPE Pro wrestling is the ultimate performance art It’s been around since the late 1800s Both men and women have a storied history of seeking the spotlight in a wrestling ring But choosing the greatest of all time G.O.A.T. is difficult to do That’s because of the sports wide range of styles eras and personalities 4
FACTS AT A GLANCE Countries showcase very different styles of wrestling In Mexico pro wrestling is called lucha libre Mexican wrestlers or luchadores wear colorful masks and are high-flying artists In puroresu Japanese pro wrestling wrestlers show off precise moves and technical skills For American wrestlers showmanship is as important as ability The largest pro wrestling league in the US is World Wrestling Entertainment WWE The league began in 1952 It was formerly known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation WWWF and World Wrestling Federation WWF 5 RIC FLAIR won eight National Wrestling Alliance NWA Championships and six World Championship Wrestling WCW Championships MANAMI TOYOTA has 13 five-star matches Many pro wrestlers have well-known finishing moves THE ROCK had the People’s Elbow RANDY SAVAGE had the Flying Elbow Drop and STEVE AUSTIN had the Stone Cold Stunner TRISH STRATUS won the WWE Women’s Championship seven times That’s more than any woman in pro wrestling’s history
When pro wrestling started in the US the wrestlers were mainly white But equality in the sport improved over time Bobo Brazil entered the ring in the 1950s His matches against stars such as Buddy Rogers and Bruno Sammartino helped other Black Americans get into the sport It takes a lot to be a pro The best wrestlers have several things in common Wrestlers must sell rivalries by talking trash to their opponents They need to have entrance music and a style that gets a crowd excited They must be athletic and skilled in the ring And they need a memorable finishing move Mexican wrestler Blue Demon Jr wearing his famous mask 6
John Cena carries Triple H in their 2018 Greatest Royal Rumble match Top performers hold multiple wrestling titles They’ve had five-star matches and are Hall of Fame material You may not know all the names in this book You may feel that someone important such as John Cena Lita or The Undertaker has been left out To disagree with this list is okay Debating who are the world’s top pro wrestlers is what this book is all about 7
