[Viewpoint!] Top 50 Wrestlers In The World
STUART
personal favourites and workrate. Note: The listings are not 100% based on
pure technique ("workrate"). Comments or arguments welcome.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------
1. Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW)
2. Kenta Kobashi (NOAH)
3. Jun Akiyama (NOAH)
4. Minoru Tanaka (NJPW)
5. The Great Sasuke (Michinoku Pro)
6. Shinjiro Otani (NJPW)
7. TAKA Michinoku (WWF)
8. Tomoaki Honma (BJPW)
9. Yoshihiro Tajiri (ECW)
10. Mitsuharu Misawa (NOAH)
11. Tiger Mask 4 (Michinoku Pro)
12. Yuji Nagata (NJPW)
13. Daisuke Ikeda (NOAH)
14. Hayabusa (FMW)
15. Chris Benoit (WWF)
16. Koji Kanemoto (NJPW)
17. CIMA (Toryumon)
18. Ryuji Yamakawa (BJPW)
19. Dick Togo (Free)
20. SUWA (Toryumon)
21. Naoki Sano (Free)
22. Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW)
23. Mr. Gannosuke (FMW)
24. Minoru Fujita (Free)
25. Masato Tanaka (FMW)
26. Satoshi Kojima (NJPW)
27. Ikuto Hidaka (BattlARTS)
28. Dick Togo (Free)
29. Tetsuhiro Kuroda (FMW)
30. Masahito Kakihara (AJPW)
31. Alexander Otsuka (BattlARTS)
32. Magnum TOKYO (Toryumon)
33. Masaaki Mochizuki (Free)
34. Jushin Thunder Liger (NJPW)
35. Katsumi Usuda (BattlARTS)
36. Vader (NOAH)
37. Jerry Lynn (ECW)
38. Kintaro Kanemura (FMW)
39. Kaz Hayashi (WCW)
40. Dr. Wagner Jr. (EMLL)
41. Lance Storm (WCW)
42. Masahiro Chono (NJPW)
43. El Samurai (NJPW)
44. The Winger (BJPW)
45. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (NJPW)
46. Triple H (WWF)
47. Hisakatsu Oya (FMW)
48. Dean Malenko (WWF)
49. Jun Kasai (BJPW)
50. Jinsei Shinzaki (Michinoku Pro)
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Stephen Dame
stiff, and unsafe. He's also a serious cancer behind the scenes, and hasn't
been able to draw unless he's matched with super heat seeking Gaijin.
Akiyama would be my pick for number one.
STUART <stu...@REMOVETHISf2s.com> wrote in message
news:3a4e8fd5$0$7518$7f31...@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au...
STUART
Christ, I forgot Teioh... forget Kea.
STUART
> > 28. Dick Togo (Free)
Leaping Larry Jojo
Wow, I'm surprised to see HHH on your list. While undoubtedly
impressive this past year, I do feel he is often overrated.
Jojo
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T-LOWE
T-LOWE
-REMEMBER RSPW - IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE USA, IT DOESN'T COUNT
STUART wrote in message
<3a4e8fd5$0$7518$7f31...@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au>...
Hulka R. Maniac
IT'S IN, BECAUSE OF BULLSHIT LIKE THIS:
YOU LIKE A LOT OF STUPID WRESTLERS
Diamond David Chance
"STUART" wrote:
> This is solely opinionated like any listing and is based on a mix of
> personal favourites and workrate. Note: The listings are not 100% based on
> pure technique ("workrate"). Comments or arguments welcome.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> 28. Dick Togo (Free)
Damn... he's good enough to be listed twice!
Good Gawd!
DDC
ViNNY
news:3a4e8fd5$0$7518$7f31...@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au...
> personal favourites and workrate. Note: The listings are not 100% based on
> pure technique ("workrate"). Comments or arguments welcome.
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> ------------
>
> 1. Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW)
Kawada = God
> 2. Kenta Kobashi (NOAH)
> 3. Jun Akiyama (NOAH)
> 4. Minoru Tanaka (NJPW)
I need to see more Tanaka :(
> 5. The Great Sasuke (Michinoku Pro)
Waaaay too high... IMODO, of course
> 6. Shinjiro Otani (NJPW)
One of the most underrated workers in the world.
> 7. TAKA Michinoku (WWF)
Ditto.
> 8. Tomoaki Honma (BJPW)
> 9. Yoshihiro Tajiri (ECW)
> 10. Mitsuharu Misawa (NOAH)
In 6 months Misawa won't even make the top 30. Sad..
> 11. Tiger Mask 4 (Michinoku Pro)
I think they must have switched TMIVs on us - there's no way the recent one
and the 1996 one are the same guy :)
> 12. Yuji Nagata (NJPW)
> 13. Daisuke Ikeda (NOAH)
I hate Ikeda in NOAH..
> 14. Hayabusa (FMW)
> 15. Chris Benoit (WWF)
> 16. Koji Kanemoto (NJPW)
> 17. CIMA (Toryumon)
> 18. Ryuji Yamakawa (BJPW)
> 19. Dick Togo (Free)
> 20. SUWA (Toryumon)
> 21. Naoki Sano (Free)
Is Sano still all that and then some? The only stuff I've seen is the Liger
feud.
> 22. Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW)
Would be higher, but only so the WWF sign him and push him as Elvis :)
> 23. Mr. Gannosuke (FMW)
> 24. Minoru Fujita (Free)
> 25. Masato Tanaka (FMW)
> 26. Satoshi Kojima (NJPW)
> 27. Ikuto Hidaka (BattlARTS)
> 28. Dick Togo (Free)
> 29. Tetsuhiro Kuroda (FMW)
> 30. Masahito Kakihara (AJPW)
> 31. Alexander Otsuka (BattlARTS)
These two should be higher up, in place of all those garbage jabrones ;-)
> 32. Magnum TOKYO (Toryumon)
> 33. Masaaki Mochizuki (Free)
> 34. Jushin Thunder Liger (NJPW)
> 35. Katsumi Usuda (BattlARTS)
> 36. Vader (NOAH)
> 37. Jerry Lynn (ECW)
> 38. Kintaro Kanemura (FMW)
> 39. Kaz Hayashi (WCW)
> 40. Dr. Wagner Jr. (EMLL)
> 41. Lance Storm (WCW)
> 42. Masahiro Chono (NJPW)
> 43. El Samurai (NJPW)
> 44. The Winger (BJPW)
> 45. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (NJPW)
> 46. Triple H (WWF)
> 47. Hisakatsu Oya (FMW)
> 48. Dean Malenko (WWF)
> 49. Jun Kasai (BJPW)
> 50. Jinsei Shinzaki (Michinoku Pro)
Someone call the press! A Jinsei sighting!
-Vin
TommyTomlin with Sapphire
STUART
I would say Honma is God or Jesus (or if they're both the same person...)
since he is constantly crucified for our sins by Zandig (Satan) and Jun
Kasai (Judas - turncoat!). Kawada is one of the other God's though. ;)
> I need to see more Tanaka :(
He rocks the fricking world. He's the best junior around right now and can
do so much in the ring. It's rare that NJ sign outsiders but Minoru was one
of those rarities because he's that damn good.
> Waaaay too high... IMODO, of course
Sasuke is still putting on ***+ very regularly in MPro against all kinds of
guys, working all different wrestling styles. Heck, he was on Inoki's
MMA-themed show the other day (and won too!). ;)
> One of the most underrated workers in the world.
I fear what he'll be like when he returns on 1/4. No doubt he'll still be a
great worker but will he be GREAT! or great? I pray that he's not juiced out
of his mind like other NJ heavyweights have a tendancy to be.
> Ditto.
TAKA is the most misused and mistreated wrestler of all time. I hate Wince
McScum.
> In 6 months Misawa won't even make the top 30. Sad..
Well you never know. He's resting many of his wounds I imagine so he could
get even better again in the coming year.
> I think they must have switched TMIVs on us - there's no way the recent
one
> and the 1996 one are the same guy :)
Sasuke must have had great faith in this guy, giving him such a legendary
gimmick (and he is seen as the official fourth generation TM). I haven't
seen much from 96 except the 10-man's, MPro ~These Days~ and MPro Sasuke &
Me but he has gotten so good. Another versatile guy. His match with Sasuke
late last year was awesome -- he beat Sasuke after killing him dead with
some suplexes.
> I hate Ikeda in NOAH..
Hate the way he's being used or hate the wrestler? I also think he's being
wasted in NOAH because he's just an understudy, even below Ogawa! He would
rock in a well booked New Japan.
> Is Sano still all that and then some? The only stuff I've seen is the
Liger
> feud.
Yeah, he's still a great worker. I need to see his match with Minoru Tanaka
from earlier this year which is being pushed as a MOTYC over at DVDVR.
> Would be higher, but only so the WWF sign him and push him as Elvis :)
He's barely had chance to show anything because of the stupid retirement
angle. He's requested another match with Ogawa and Inoki or Ogawa said "if
you beat Goodridge" which he did. If he jobs to Ogawa again, I'll puke...
> > 30. Masahito Kakihara (AJPW)
> > 31. Alexander Otsuka (BattlARTS)
>
> These two should be higher up, in place of all those garbage jabrones ;-)
No garbage wrestlers just above them. :)
Gannosuke, Tanaka and Kuroda used to be garbage wrestlers but barely even
used chairs nowadays. Gannosuke is one of the most improved wrestlers ever
from when he was in IWA Japan, Tanaka is a guy that has delivered great
matches over and over and who AJ could use right now, and Kuroda is a really
good and charismatic worker who's only flaw is his overuse of the lariat.
> Someone call the press! A Jinsei sighting!
Jinsei rocked the boat in FMW and sometimes AJ because he had to work. In
MPro he's wrestling guys like Sumo Dandy Fuji and Bobby Blaze and is totally
wasted. Sasuke can't be blamed because Shinzaki isn't a junior. I wish he'd
go back to FMW and maybe even break out the Hakushi gimmick for one match. I
loved the paintwork and he was a workhorse. :)
ViNNY
> > Kawada = God
>
> I would say Honma is God or Jesus (or if they're both the same person...)
> since he is constantly crucified for our sins by Zandig (Satan) and Jun
> Kasai (Judas - turncoat!). Kawada is one of the other God's though. ;)
Wasn't Raven crucified too though? ;-)
> > I need to see more Tanaka :(
>
> He rocks the fricking world. He's the best junior around right now and can
> do so much in the ring. It's rare that NJ sign outsiders but Minoru was
one
> of those rarities because he's that damn good.
Like I said... me want tapes :)
> > Waaaay too high... IMODO, of course
>
> Sasuke is still putting on ***+ very regularly in MPro against all kinds
of
> guys, working all different wrestling styles. Heck, he was on Inoki's
> MMA-themed show the other day (and won too!). ;)
He's solid enough, sure... but I guess he just doesn't do it for me.
> > One of the most underrated workers in the world.
>
> I fear what he'll be like when he returns on 1/4. No doubt he'll still be
a
> great worker but will he be GREAT! or great? I pray that he's not juiced
out
> of his mind like other NJ heavyweights have a tendancy to be.
I suspect he'll have some wack "new look" in line with his impending run as
"Hashimotocito"..
> > Ditto.
>
> TAKA is the most misused and mistreated wrestler of all time. I hate Wince
> McScum.
Which is why, despite pitying his situation, I can't rank him up here.
> > In 6 months Misawa won't even make the top 30. Sad..
>
> Well you never know. He's resting many of his wounds I imagine so he could
> get even better again in the coming year.
I hope so. All the NOAH guys just look so old and tubby... it's sad.
> > I think they must have switched TMIVs on us - there's no way the recent
> one
> > and the 1996 one are the same guy :)
>
> Sasuke must have had great faith in this guy, giving him such a legendary
> gimmick (and he is seen as the official fourth generation TM). I haven't
> seen much from 96 except the 10-man's, MPro ~These Days~ and MPro Sasuke &
> Me but he has gotten so good. Another versatile guy. His match with Sasuke
> late last year was awesome -- he beat Sasuke after killing him dead with
> some suplexes.
All the M-Pro I've seen has been 95-98 except for one match, and I was
certain they'd switched workers on me ;-)
> > I hate Ikeda in NOAH..
>
> Hate the way he's being used or hate the wrestler? I also think he's being
> wasted in NOAH because he's just an understudy, even below Ogawa! He would
> rock in a well booked New Japan.
The former. There's something that really rocks hiding under the surface of
someone who isn't being allowed to shine - like Malenko in the WWF.
> > Is Sano still all that and then some? The only stuff I've seen is the
> Liger
> > feud.
>
> Yeah, he's still a great worker. I need to see his match with Minoru
Tanaka
> from earlier this year which is being pushed as a MOTYC over at DVDVR.
Awesome.
> > Would be higher, but only so the WWF sign him and push him as Elvis :)
>
> He's barely had chance to show anything because of the stupid retirement
> angle. He's requested another match with Ogawa and Inoki or Ogawa said "if
> you beat Goodridge" which he did. If he jobs to Ogawa again, I'll puke...
If they have a chance of establishing his Rebel Posse, he can't job to Ogawa
again.
> > > 30. Masahito Kakihara (AJPW)
> > > 31. Alexander Otsuka (BattlARTS)
> >
> > These two should be higher up, in place of all those garbage jabrones
;-)
>
> No garbage wrestlers just above them. :)
Sure ;-)
> Gannosuke, Tanaka and Kuroda used to be garbage wrestlers but barely even
> used chairs nowadays. Gannosuke is one of the most improved wrestlers ever
> from when he was in IWA Japan, Tanaka is a guy that has delivered great
> matches over and over and who AJ could use right now, and Kuroda is a
really
> good and charismatic worker who's only flaw is his overuse of the lariat.
I've only seen Gannosuke in his old suck-ass days. I liked Tanaka in ECW as
much as I can like anyone in ECW, and I don't know Kuroda.
> > Someone call the press! A Jinsei sighting!
>
> Jinsei rocked the boat in FMW and sometimes AJ because he had to work. In
> MPro he's wrestling guys like Sumo Dandy Fuji and Bobby Blaze and is
totally
> wasted. Sasuke can't be blamed because Shinzaki isn't a junior. I wish
he'd
> go back to FMW and maybe even break out the Hakushi gimmick for one match.
I
> loved the paintwork and he was a workhorse. :)
I've seen a little of Jinsei in AJPW - IIRC, my next batch of tapes has
Shinzaki vs Misawa, which I'm very interested to see. Shinzaki always
frustrates me, since he has the chance to deliver and rarely does, whereas
guys like Ikeda, Malenko, TAKA and so many others have the ability to be Top
10 in the world and don't get the chance to prove it.
-Vin
STUART
Well Honma hasn't been literally crucified but he has had the CZW sign
stapled to his head. The premise is there though - everything fits. There is
Jesus, that happy guy always preaching (Yamakawa), the disciples (WX,
Winger) and then the bad guys. Oh, you can tell I'm agnostic. The religious
members of the NG must be having hissy fits right now. ;)
> Like I said... me want tapes :)
Barnett's latest comp seems to have some good Tanaka.
> He's solid enough, sure... but I guess he just doesn't do it for me.
Hmm, well he's one of my favourites because of several reasons. The main one
is that he can adjust to multiple styles -- lucha, worked shoot, and even
head-dropping (okay that's not a defined style but still...). I also admire
him because the guy is still doing Space Flying Tiger Drops after two
cracked skulls, countless leg injuries and other stuff. His pain threshhold
is uncanny and he still moves so well.
> I suspect he'll have some wack "new look" in line with his impending run
as
> "Hashimotocito"..
Well judging from the photos he already has a goatie almost,
> Which is why, despite pitying his situation, I can't rank him up here.
Well every time TAKA has returned to MPro he has delivered awesome matches
and doesn't seem to have lost a step. He had a 4* match with Minoru Tanaka
and a similar rated match teaming with Sasuke against Tiger Mask and Minoru
Fujita. Every time he returns to America it's just sad as hell. He's made
plenty of money so why does he re-sign a contract when he publically voiced
his discontent with the WWF and there would be at least one good money
contract waiting for him in Japan I imagine. I guess the Kaientai Dojo is
what keeps him in North America though.
> I hope so. All the NOAH guys just look so old and tubby... it's sad.
Only seen the second show. The first is on the way. I passed on getting
other stuff for now in favour of Toryumon, MPro, Big Japan and FMW which is
on the way. The cards look badly booked and so dull. They do like good
worker/old guy/rookie vs. good worker/bad worker/rookie type matches all the
time. 12/23 seemed to be a great exception and I can't wait to see Akiyama
vs. Kobashi in their near-40 minute battle. They are two of the guys that
still looked great on the second show, even though Kobashi's leg was busted.
> The former. There's something that really rocks hiding under the surface
of
> someone who isn't being allowed to shine - like Malenko in the WWF.
All I can say is...
1/6: Mitsuharu Misawa & Naomichi Marufuji vs. Yoshinari Ogawa & Daisuke
Ikeda
1/7: Jun Akiyama vs. Daisuke Ikeda (!)
1/8: Mitsuharu Misawa, Yoshinari Ogawa, & Daisuke Ikeda vs. No Fear & Satoru
Asako
1/11: Mitsuharu Misawa & Daisuke Ikeda vs. No Fear
1/16: Mitsuharu Misawa & Daisuke Ikeda vs. Vader & Scorpio
1/18: Daisuke Ikeda vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
So things are looking up! The third and final match don't excite me as much
as the others although I'm hoping Kikuchi is able to rejuvenate himself.
Akiyama vs. Ikeda though! NOAH has some possible early MOTYC's right there.
> If they have a chance of establishing his Rebel Posse, he can't job to
Ogawa
> again.
The problem is Hash doesn't seem to be an ally of either Choshu (Sasaki) or
Inoki (Ogawa). The only reason he's emphasised at all is because of his
long-standing draw value and popularity. The fans still love him. If they
suck the remaining credibility out of him (I doubt it given his recent wins
over Fujinami, Omori and Goodridge) I will boycott NJ I think. :)
> I've seen a little of Jinsei in AJPW - IIRC, my next batch of tapes has
> Shinzaki vs Misawa, which I'm very interested to see. Shinzaki always
> frustrates me, since he has the chance to deliver and rarely does
He's lazy because much of the time he has no reason to work. IE, his 140th
match vs. Sumo Dandy Fuji. Although sometimes when he does have the
motivation he is still lazy. Other times he breaks the cocoon and puts on
great matches. There were some great matches late last year in MPro. Magnum
TOKYO/Shinzaki vs. two guys I can't remember (maybe CIMA and Sumo or
someone) was awesome.
> whereas guys like Ikeda
This looks to be changing. Maybe Misawa is finally catching on that the dull
formula isn't going to work. He already seems to be de-emphasising
storylines. For instance Akiyama and Kobashi shook hands after their match
so Akiyama isn't the monster heel anymore I imagine. Even Vader, a guy who
was being flipped off by Misawa, sang Xmas carols with Kobashi and Misawa.
;)
> Malenko, TAKA and so many others have the ability to be Top 10 in the
world and don't get the chance to prove it.
WWF sucks. :)