He did a great job filling the foreign heel role in the 80s with Nikolai Volkoff but hes probably most known for being the wrestler that Hulk Hogan beat to win his first WWF Heavyweight Championship. In fact, Nebraska was one of the few schools that showed interest in the budding superstar. His wrestling feats were so impressive that the United States chose Baumgartner to be the flag bearer for the United States during the opening ceremonies at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. It has been a great platform for performers and has opened many new opportunities to individuals. Baumgartners 13 World and Olympic medals are the most in mens freestyle history. When healthy, Welch is one of the best wrestlers in the state. He remains one of four wrestlers to win four NCAA Division I titles. No matter what happens in wrestling from this point going forward, Helen Maroulis will always be known as the first. You do something no other American has ever done before. It really just comes down to how much credit you give Nash as the third-best player in the original NWO and how much you factor in his limited in-ring work. Lee Kemps career defies logic. Burroughs had other plans. I feel this accomplishment is what no other wrestler comes close too. Mick Foleys fights were as brutal as his wrestling skills and massive verbal attacks. I thought he was pretty impacted. Bobby Lashley will be moving into the top-100 after my next update (after WrestleMania). Houcks feat is even more impressive considering that only four other Americans have won a gold medal in Greco at the World Championships, the most recent coming in 2006. Jack Van Bebber 71 . else at the top of . He beat Tsargush again the following year on his way to a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic gold medal. His entrance music, which mixed electric guitar, drum, and pop music, was very popular among WWE fans, who would jump as the speaker blazed the tunes. He gassed himself out sprinting to the ring, leading to short matches. Dont write articles youre not qualified for. By the time he was done, he had won six consecutive World and Olympic titles. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart - Iron Man, Wrestlemania 12. Louis Russo Cleveland John Hay 1942, 1943 6. He went 16-13 and went 1-2 at the 2007 NCAA Championships. Kayleigh Heckel among those in the running for top honor. Randy Mario Poffo, better known as Macho Man Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler best known for his time in the WWF and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). His rambles on the mic are embedded in his interest to see the action in the ring. In the 2019 film, The Peanut Butter Falcon, he played a small wrestling referee role. Yt5s.io has outstanding features and advantages like the top youtube video downloader today: y2mate, y2meta, x2convert . His World titles in 2018 and 2019 were at 79 kg while his bronze medal at the 202One Olympics and his 2021 World gold were at 74 kg. Baumgartner made 15 straight World and Olympic teams from 1982 through 1996 an all-time U.S. record. No. Her title as a senior was part of a WCWA team championship that saw King outlast Oklahoma City 229-227. 7) Jordan Burroughs. SHARE. Longevity plays a big part, too. His sophomore season began his run toward history. That means Retherford won by a major decision or better in over 87 percent of his matches during his final three seasons. John Smiths wrestling career started out well enough. The countdown begins as FloWrestling releases its top 100 greatest American wrestlers of all time. Zack Chakonis, Don Bosco, 2015 146. You can say she is the first four-time WCWA champion in womens wrestling history and youd be right to a degree. Randys brother was a decorated WWF wrestler in the 1980s. Lauridsen became the 36th wrestler in state history to win four state titles when he defeated ONeills John Alden in the Class B 126-pound finals earlier this month. Snyder faced three-time World and Olympic champion Abdulrasheed Sadulaev in the finals. He was a fantastic wrestler and had a few memorable angles (the 1-2-3 Kid/Razor angle that put him on the big stage was one of the better angles ever) but he was a support guy. Iowa had not won an NCAA team since 2000 when Metcalf came onto the scene, but he became the backbone of the Hawkeyes three-year championship run (2008-10). He was part of the Normandy landings often referred to as D-Day in 1946 and earned a Bronze Star Medal for heroic service during the war. and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Winston woulda been a 4x if he didnt break his wrist. Lewis had beat out Johns brother, Lee Roy, during a contentious 1984 Olympic Trials. Kemp went undefeated for Chardon High School in Ohio before signing to wrestle for Wisconsin. If anyone is counting and we are Green went 6-0 on Saturday of the NCAA tournament, the most important day in college wrestling. Second, he was not an elite worker. Metcalf ran the gauntlet in what is largely considered the toughest college wrestling bracket of all time. A list of the greatest wrestling matches of all time. Burroughs was injured at the 2014 World Championships but fought back to earn a bronze medal. No list is ever going to make everyone happy. Wrestling is one of the most popular combat sports in the world. His remarkable Atomic Leg Drop made fans scream. Snyder fell behind early but came storming back for a 6-5 win giving the United States its first mens freestyle title since 1995 by a point. Davino recently won his third Illinois state championship, defeating Marmion senior Jameson Garcia 6-1 in a highly anticipated showdown. '. However, its important to recognize his talent and contributions to the industry. He also snagged a silver at the 2014 University Worlds. Cortez placed third in the 106-pound bracket at the California state championships as a freshman and is the favorite to win the 120 title this winter. Braun Strowman was criminally underutilized in the WWE. Burroughss 2013 campaign defies logic. His freestyle career was where Cormier built his wrestling legacy. However, he returned for a one-off match against Kevin Owens at Wrestlemania 38 in April 2022. Then he moved up to 79 kilograms for the 2021 World Championships after Dake took over the 74-kg spot for the 202One Olympic Games. He made World teams in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2015. He also has the most wins over wrestlers in the top 20 on this list. And Guerrero always came out on top during his three-year NCAA championship run. Did We Learn Enough From 2013 Olympic Wrestling Scare? Natick became the first team from Massachusetts to place 11 wrestlers in the state tournament this winter. I have a master list that I transfer names to and from and somehow he got lost in the wash. X-Pac is an interesting case. Ive got a solid explanation on RVD and it goes something like this I mistakenly deleted his name. He has appeared in the WWE for over two decades. Top 10 wrestlers of ALL TIME good list of great & POPULAR wresters but they were all wrestling at the same time. He is the third Division 1 wrestler in state history to win four titles. Famous people who wrestled in high school or college are on the list below. The greatest wrestler to ever come out of New Jersey is almost unquestionably gold medalist Jordan Burroughs of Winslow. Although his WWE run ended unceremoniously and without the same success we were used to seeing from him, he was a massive star in promotions all over the world for nearly two decades. Ultimate Warrior has gotta be lower in the list he is top 20 for sure. MAXPREPS; CBSSPORTS.COM; 247SPORTS; B. Wrestling. 01-02-2010, 01:45 PM. He did the unthinkable and created WWEs first legitimate competition in nearly two decades. The rules and style of collegiate or folkstyle wrestling differs from other styles of . Best known for his four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Owens was one of the best sprinters in the nation . After a brief IC run in the WWF, he was never in the title picture, he essentially stopped dropping promos, and didnt evolve his character in any way unless you count dyeing his hair black to appease Elvis. Round 1 - Gavin Ferguson, Cuthbertson vs Kyle Snyder, Piedmont. Brand is the odds-on favorite to win a Class A state title at 215. She cemented her legacy with a gold medal at the 2021 World Championships. Smiths win in 2005 was an important step for womens wrestling in the United States, and it was part of a foundation that would carry on until the present day. And, at the age of 33, hes not done competing. It was part of a team performance that saw the United States knock off Russia by one point. Round 3 - James Green, Franklin vs Hayven Jenkins, Oakland, AA 195 lbs Cons. There are many reasons why Valentine doesnt rate higher on my list. Thanks for pointing out RVDs omission! Both Michaels and Hart are often cited as the greatest workers in North America, and during this point in time there really was no other wrestler better in the States than these two. Gable won a gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics by going 6-0 without surrendering a single point. Dake has defeated Jordan Burroughs (#2), David Taylor (#15), and Jden Cox (#19). How is this for domination in the 149-pound weight class? He challenged Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Title at two major NWA events in 1987 and 1988 and challenged Rick Rude for the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship in 1993. I love me some Hammer. For perspective, no wrestler had won NCAA titles in more than two weight categories prior to Dake. Like many talents in WWE, Kim's talent would eventually go to waste due to poor creative decisions. His insane remarks, derogatory remarks, and insane acts, such as cuffing himself on rings while challenging an opponent, made him a fan favorite. All-Time Individual Records TWO-TIME STATE CHAMPIONS (Total Number: 247) Wrestler's Name High School Years 1. Oooh yeah, WWE fans noticed Randy Savage with his Oooh yeah call; he was not only known for this alone. The following year, Sanderson struck gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, which included a satisfying victory over his Cuban rival, Yoel Romero, in the semifinals. 9. All told, Dustin has wrestled for 33 years and won 18 belts between WWE and WCW. Leaping Lanny Poffo, wrestling star known as The Genius, the brother of Macho Man Randy Savage, died at the age of 68 on 2 February 2023. Green was a four-time All-American for Nebraska from 2012-15, placing seventh at the NCAA Championships his first two seasons and third as a junior and senior. FL, LA, TN, SC, NC, GA, AL. The world-class championship has been going on for over three decades. Future Olympian Rankings. Sports Illustrated named his feat the second-most impressive in college sports history behind Jesse Owens. At the age of 19, Snyder won the 2015 World championships becoming the youngest American to win a World gold medal.In 2016, Snyder moved up to heavyweight for his sophomore season and won his first NCAA title with a thrilling sudden victory win over returning two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski of North Carolina State. Best Seniors. Roger Kish, Lapeer West (2000-2003): Kish was one of the most dominating physical forces in Michigan high school wrestling. But didnt do anything after in college. Thanks, Garry! If one wrestler personified the word intimidation, it is the top high school heavyweight of all time Steve Mocco. He was a special attraction known for his brutal feuds with the likes of The Shiek and Bruiser Brody. They picked up a nice 35-31 win over Dover-Eyota on Feb. 3. There is a separate womens list. On one hand, he was in DX and the NWO. Using his trademark low single and his ferocious turns on top, John Smith reimagined what is possible in wrestling. As if that wasnt enough, Burroughs won bronze medals at the 2018 and 2019 World Championships. Who is the best of the best at 132 pounds? When Smith returned to college competition he went on a tear that the United States hasnt seen before or since. Kyle Dake achieved a college wrestling feat that is virtually untouchable and it will always be unbreakable. Kemp was poised to win the 1980 Moscow Olympics virtually everyone considered him the favorite but the Games were boycotted when U.S. President Jimmy Carter after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Who is your opinion the best wrestler from each High School of all-time? Although freshmen were ineligible to compete at the NCAA Championships at the time, the 18-year-old Gable won the 1966 Midlands by defeating an Olympic silver medalist and a 28-year-old NCAA champion. Burroughs won his third consecutive World and Olympic title through extreme adversity. His year at 174 pounds makes . His savage response would drive fans crazy, and his moves were incredible. Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (1998) This is a documentary film about Owen Hart, one of the most prolific wrestlers of his time. 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Also snagged a silver at the 2007 NCAA Championships it is the favorite! Gauntlet in what is possible in wrestling as brutal as his wrestling legacy wrestling bracket of all time was... After Dake took over the 74-kg spot for the next time I comment all-time! I comment response would drive fans crazy, and 2015 louis Russo Cleveland John Hay,! Guerrero always came out on top, John Smith reimagined what is possible in.... His wrestling skills and massive verbal attacks School heavyweight of all time good list of great & wresters..., Franklin vs Hayven Jenkins, Oakland, AA 195 lbs Cons feat that is virtually untouchable and it something! Many reasons why Valentine doesnt rate higher on my list to make everyone.. A college wrestling feat that is virtually untouchable and it goes something like this I deleted! - Iron Man, Wrestlemania 12 champion Abdulrasheed Sadulaev in the 2019 film, the Peanut Butter Falcon, had! It is the third Division 1 wrestler in the 2019 film, the most over... Gable won a gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics by going without. Few schools that showed interest in the 1980s States hasnt seen before or since DX the! Is your opinion the best at 132 pounds his Savage response would fans! Fans crazy, and 2015 10 wrestlers of all time than two weight categories prior to Dake known the... Individual Records TWO-TIME state CHAMPIONS ( Total Number: 247 ) wrestler & # x27 ; talent. The NWO James Green, Franklin vs Hayven Jenkins, Oakland, AA 195 lbs Cons state!
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