My Top 10 Favourite ProWrestlers of all time- Part One

I've talked about my love for ProWrestling and about the first match I watched. So, it is just kind of mandatory that I talk about My Top 10 Favourite ProWrestlers of all time.

Now, I have a certain amount of respect for every wrestler that has ever stepped foot inside the squared circle. It takes a level of grit and passion to decide to do this for life and it is worth respecting. So, even if I don't like them that much (*cough* Goldberg *cough*), I have respect for them. To be honest, I like a lot of wrestlers and I appreciate little things about many of their work. I would really like to write about everyone but then this would become as much uninteresting as Roman Reigns's 'beanstalk' promo. Hence, I decided to write about just ten of them. My Top 10.

Here's the first part of it... 

NOTE: These are just my Top 10 Favourite Wrestlers, purely my personal opinion. I'm not stating that they are THE Top 10 Greatest Wrestlers of all time. I've not watched that much ProWrestling to make such a claim yet. So, these are just the ones who made me fall in love with ProWrestling. Plus, most of these wrestlers are from WWE because I grew up a WWE fan before I was introduced to AEW, New Japan and so on.

So, let's begin...

Honourable Mention: Mick Foley

I have not studied Mick Foley's career as much as I have followed the careers of the rest of the wrestlers on this list. There are still many things I do not yet know about this man. But I think he deserves a honourable mention on this list. The reason is because Mick Foley taught me that there are human beings in this world who are literally willing to destroy and decimate themselves for something that they love. Mick Foley loves ProWrestling and he's willing to experience any amount of pain to entertain the fans. 

Foley is a wrestler whose career defining moments aren't winning championships, or defeating top wrestlers in big match-ups. Instead, his career defining moments are those where he went to great lengths to destroy himself for the fans. He has crashed down from great heights, been speared into a flaming table, torn his right ear off his head, broken/dislocated his bones, had his skin ripped apart by barbed wire, got his skull crushed by repeated steel chair shots and so on. As if these weren't enough to justify his enormous passion for the business, Mick Foley is a wonderful entertainer in a more broader sense. He has had three different wrestling gimmicks which are Cactus Jack, Dude Love and Mankind. He played all three roles with stupendous perfection which many wrestlers could only dream of doing. Foley could talk on the mic like a method actor and has had amazing, thrilling matches with many of the wrestlers on this list. For these reasons, this "Hardcore Legend" has a special place in my heart, for mesmerizing me with his love and passion for ProWrestling. BANG BANG!

My favourite Mick Foley quote: 

"The name 'Hardcore' signified that I had an attitude that meant I was going to go above and beyond what it took to give the fans the greatest show possible..."

10. Edge

If you are a fan of ProWrestling and you want to become a successful ProWrestler in the future, take this man as your inspiration. Edge was like us, an ardent wrestling fan. With a single mother to take care of, Edge shed every bit of sweat, blood and tears he had to make it in the WWE. For that, he'll always be an inspiration to all of us Wrestling fans.

But that is not the only reason he's on this list. Edge is practically one of the best all-round performers in the history of WWE. Mostly, he is a natural at being the heel, a villain. He can make us hate him with every fibre of our being and that is something many modern day heels in WWE lack. The Rated R Superstar is also known for his ladder matches and romantic storylines (Hello Lita!). Quite honestly, for any WWE fan that started watching after 2005, their day doesn't feel complete until they watch The Ultimate Opportunist go to the corner, pull his hair back with a crazed look in his eye and hit that stunning spear on his opponent. 

On a side note, I think Edge has the coolest hairstyle and entrance music of 21st Century in ProWrestling. Plus, it takes a certain amount of passion to work hard and come back from a career ending injury so that you can end your career on your terms. Edge has done that. So, he just reeks of awesomeness! 

My favourite Edge quote:      

"I've always lived by the motto, find something you love and do it. And I did. Now I'm a Hall of Famer!"

9. Chris Jericho

For any fan who has enjoyed the Attitude Era, Y2J Chris Jericho would certainly be on their Top 10 list. Frankly speaking, it is hard to find another wrestler in the world who is capable of doing what Jericho has been doing for the past 25-30 years. He is such an interesting blend of a ProWrestler and a Sports Entertainer. 

Jericho has faced most wrestlers on this list and has had noteworthy matches with each of them. He has reinvented himself multiple times over the past two decades in a breathtaking manner. Just when you think he can't get more creative, he amazes you. This man could get a drink and a list popular with the fans, he could cut promos on a freaking drone, he could invent catchphrases and wrestling holds on the go...etc. He's even doing all that at 49 years old, something many wrestlers can't even do in their youth and prime. 

Notably, the Ayatollah of Rock n Rollah is literally a God on the microphone. He can play the audience with his mere words and get the reaction that is required. A finest example would be his debut. You could see that the crowd that reacted with deafening cheers on seeing him was booing him badly at the end of the segment. That's how powerfully he controlled them.

In the ring, Chris Jericho is on another level altogether. The record setting nine time Intercontinental Champion is one of the finest in-ring performers ever. Just like many fans boldly proclaim, Le Champion is certainly one of the Greatest Of All Time!

My favourite Chris Jericho quote:

"..I'm the best in the world at what I do; I prove it, I claim it, I AM it... every single night!"

8. John Cena

Ouch! How could I place John Cena on a list above Chris Jericho and Edge? That's as blasphemous as Kane tombstoning a Priest, right? You must be wondering how old I am.

Hold your horses, I have my reasons. There are some aspects about John Cena that many of his "critics" fail to realise. First of all, he's not as bad a wrestler as some of you all make him sound. Second of all, John Cena is one of the most charismatic superstars in the history of WWE. He literally carried the company on his shoulders, especially after many legends retired (or became part-timers). He is astounding on the microphone and from what I've noticed, Cena can even revive a dead crowd and get them fired up with just a microphone in hand. It is hard to find that much charisma and verbal talent in a wrestler these days which is why Cena's absence has left a void that is impossible to fill in modern day WWE.

Third of all, in real life, this man has granted most wishes in Make-A-Wish foundation's history. He has been an inspiration to many people, especially kids, dealing with severe health issues. For all that, I respect him and adore him.

And if you still can't respect my opinion, bruh, You can't see me!

My favourite John Cena quote:

"I get more done in a day than you do in a career and I never never talk about what I deserve or how many critics I got; I just earn every day and shut every mouth!"

7. Bret Hart

A vast majority of 90s Wrestling fans would have this guy on their Top 10 list. Bret 'The Hitman' Hart was simply a human wrestling thunderstorm that took over WWE (back then, it was called WWF) in the late 80s and continued well into the 90s. 

Born into the famous Hart Dynasty, wrestling flowed in Bret Hart's blood. Having trained since he was nine years old, he was such a natural in the ring. There was a fluidity to his moves and maneuvers that earned him the moniker "The Excellence of Execution". Different wrestlers taught me to appreciate different aspects about ProWrestling and Bret Hart was among the ones that taught me about in-ring work. His wrestling ability is the sole reason why he's on my list. Because there are literally very few wrestlers who can hold a candle to what this man can perform in a ring. No wonder he called himself "The best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be"!

I'm so huge a fan of Bret Hart that I sometimes wish I was one of those kids he put his sunglasses on before entering the ring. 

My favourite Bret Hart quote:

"I dedicate this moment to all the people that believe that the biggest dreams can still come true."

6. Kurt Angle

I talked about Bret Hart, didn't I? I'll go into Masterchef mode and ask you to take several spoonfuls of Bret Hart's wrestling ability. Now, add a spoonful each of intensity, integrity and intelligence to it. Then add a whole bowl of humor and attitude and Boom! You get Kurt freaking Angle!

I'll just say one thing about his wrestling ability: He won the Olympic Gold Medal in 1996 with a broken freaking neck! I think that pretty much sums up how gifted he is in the ring. There are a myriad of amazing matches that Kurt has had, in WWE, TNA, ECW, NJPW and the indies. As far as his gimmick or persona goes, he is, hands down, one of the most humorous wrestlers to ever step foot in WWE. He's been the butt of so many jokes and has entertained us all with his funny shticks, be it drinking milk or rap battles with John Cena or remaking Shawn Michaels's entrance music. Ofcourse, who can forget him singing "Jimmy Crack Corn" to cheer up Vince McMahon only to have his guitar snatched away by Stone Cold Steve Austin. Sometimes, his mere facial expressions are enough to crack us up.

If needed, he can also be the ruthless "wrestling machine" who likes to break wrestler's ankles with his ankle lock submission move. Hell, he's the only wrestler to have made The Undertaker and John Cena tap out. And he could perform some stunning moonsaults when required. If all that ain't a big deal, I don't know what is. This man is one of a kind. Oh, it's true! It's damn true!

My favourite Kurt Angle quote:

"I'm just a sexy Kurt! I'll make your ankle hurt" (sing along)

To be continued...