Cease and Desist: Measures of Success Outside the Machine

On Monday night, the Bullet Club invaded Raw. No, you didn't miss some sort of must-see segment. The group stood outside. And now the WWE is trying to take food off of their dinner tables.

Marty Scurll, Hangman Page, Cody and Brandi Rhodes happened to be in California with the Young Bucks. When the group tweeted out that they would be visiting the Hot Topic just outside of the Staples Center, a sea of fans met them there. The group then gathered outside of Raw, where they found even more fans. Parodying DX's invasion of Nitro, the Bullet Club filmed the event for the YouTube series, Being The Elite.

In recent months, the series had been joking about getting cease and desist orders from the WWE for the catchphrase "f*** The Revival", for the use of the crotch chop, and even for Marty Scurll carrying an umbrella. The "WWE Stooge" responsible for this also kidnapped Hangman, leading to ROH peppering the arena for Death Before Dishonor with "Where's Hangman?" signs. This was all created for or because of the series. But then things got a bit more real.

The WWE t-shirt using the "Kliq Hand Design"

On Tuesday, the Young Bucks received a cease and desist order for the use of the "too sweet" hand gesture. The rights to the "too sweet" have bounced around it appears, with the WWE currently owning the hand design, referring to it as the "Kliq Hand Design". I can't imagine I will ever be mistake for a lawyer, so I won't be speculating on what this means for the parties involved. I am concerned about what this means for wrestling as a whole.

We live in a time of unparalleled access to content. On the whole, this has been a good thing. For less than I would pay for the most basic cable package I can find, I can subscribe to High Spots Wrestling Network, NJPW World, the WWE Network, and find even more programming through Twitch and YouTube. Merchandise can be purchased though vehicles like prowrestlingtees, directly from the athletes, or through independent designers who create designs on their own. More wrestlers, and in some cases even wrestling fans, are able to make a living doing what they love.

Mia Yim paints her left ring fingernail purple to raise
awareness of domestic abuse.

We have also started to see more and more wrestlers bringing light to social issues, either in the world  or in the community. Mia Yim has used her success to be an advocate for domestic abuse victims. Professional wrestling has given Yim a platform to show the world that being a victim doesn't make you weak. Instead she is proving that survivors come in all shapes and sizes, that domestic abuse is a real issue that has touched more of us than we realize. Through a single painted nail, she is bringing light to an issue that so often gets swept under the rug.

Jimmy Havoc, a major star on the U.K. indie scene, recently spoke out against a heckler at a Fight Club PRO show. Speaking out against the fan shouting "get your tits out" at 17 year old Millie McKenzie. McKenzie has proven herself to be a top talent in just over two years in the ring, but that shouldn't matter. Training to perfect your craft shouldn't result in people, especially "fans" of the craft, objectifying you and turning you into a sexualized object. Fortunately, many agree. This supposed-fan has been blasted all over social media and many have come out to discuss this issue. While most were in agreement that there is no room for this type of behavior in wrestling, Billi Bhatti actually lost his job

as a writer with Sportskeeda over his antiquated, misogynistic views.

Fostering a community of inclusiveness and self-policing are topics I have covered in the past. Wrestling should be for everyone. Today's global wrestling community is working hard to make sure that it is. It is exciting to see wrestlers, fans, entrepreneurs, artists, everyone celebrating the industry and bringing their perspective to the table. Moves like this cease and desist order are hurting what so many have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into creating. It is a reminder that the machine can take things away seemingly with the snap of a finger. Two men who have spent years building a brand to provide for their families are now sitting on dead stock. They are also being threatened with $150,000 per "too sweet" related item mentioned in the letter, plus any profits made off of these items, and of course legal fees.

For every step forward the WWE takes towards a more inclusive conversation (the Mae Young Classic, for example), it seems we see a story of how they're holding the community down. Let's hope that stories like this one will continue to light fires under The Young Bucks, the countless other wrestlers outside of the WWE's umbrella (sorry Marty), indie promoters, podcasters, and anyone else looking to make a name for themselves in the professional wrestling industry. Acknowledging the Bullet Club invasion and lashing out in response to it is only showing that the wrestling is gaining momentum outside of the machine. We are seeing levels of success once considered impossible without the WWE. There is nothing more exciting than seeing someone succeed at what they love. Nothing that is, except being that someone yourself. Will the cease and desist order hurt the pockets of The Young Bucks? Possibly. But in a different light, it can be a badge of honor for not only the Jackson brothers, but for indie wrestling as a whole.

Until next time, stay (too) sweet copright World Wrestling Entertainment 2015!

"A Non Biased Look At Wrestling" by Nate Smith

All typos are his own. I have not edited this at all, at Mr. Smith's request. Also, his e-mail address is OkadaLover69@gmail.com.

Okada is number 1. No questions. If you have any other opinion, I respect that fact but you are wrong. Okada has come from very noble beginnings and has achieved international greatness in a level like no wrestler ever has. Sure you can look at little old USA wrestling standards and argue about John Cena or Solid Snake etc. But non will have the international recognition that Okada does right now. He works harder than any other man in the business, not only perfecting his moves and performance, but also diligently studying the whole concept of wrestling itself. He gives one hindered percent no matter what his mood is and isn’t sidetracked by side projects as many wrestler have begun to do. He is in it for the pure sport and presentation and has clearly proven himself over and over again. He never falters and when he loses he picks himself back up, stronger than ever. Okada has all the qualities that make wrestling great and at a level that no other wrestler has managed to obtain. He surely will go down in the history books as the number one wrastler of all time.

Round 1 Winners and Round 2 Matchups

Round one has come to an end, and 32 wrestlers have been eliminated. While round one had many difficult matchups, some of the most difficult pairings possible come up in this round. The poll for roudn two can be found here. Let's take a look at who moved on.

Daniel Bryan vs Goldberg

In this match, you'll see two of the most opposite performers in the entire tournament. At the height of their careers, these were also two of the most popular. The Yes Movement vs one of the most impressive undefeated streaks in wrestling history. Who do you have?

Big Show vs Kazuchika Okada

The Big Show has been around for decades. Okada was 8 when Big Show debuted as The Giant in WCW. Upon entering WCW, The Giant was thrust into a feud with Hulk Hogan. He has always been a spectacle and that has carried him to gold every where he has been. Okada is having quite possibly the greatest year in professional wrestling history, and many would say he is having the greatest IWGP heavyweight title reign ever. If he, as many expects, holds the title until Wrestle Kingom, he will have held the title longer than anyone in history. The question that must be asked, which is more important? Longevity or in-ring prowess.

Randy Orton vs Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy barely squeaked by Bam Bam Bigelow. Now he has Randy Orton in the second round. One half of the Hardy Boyz, the Charismatic Enigma has made quite the singles career for himself as well. One of the most impressive things about Hardy is his ability to perform anywhere on the card. Not only that, but he still makes any match he is in feel important. Orton has won the WWE title over a dozen times. His pedigree injected the Viper right into the main event scene, and he has stayed there for over a decade. To make this a little more interesting, in one on one matches, Jeff Hardy has a 3-4 advantage over Randy Orton.

Brock Lesnar vs The Undertaker

Going into the 2010s, I would have laughed if you called either of these wrestlers the other's greatest rival. Well, here we are in 2017, and a strong argument could be made for exactly that. While I wouldn't personally go as far to say that myself, this is undoubtedly an exciting matchup. In singles matches (and one triple threat) Brock Lesnar has the slight advantage at 5-3-1, but it is worth noting The Undertaker once beat Brock Lesnar and The Big Show in a handicap match.

Edge vs Sting

Sting barely beat out Jake Roberts in the battle of the creepy guys. Now he takes on The Rated R Superstar. Sting was the face of WCW. If it weren't for his run at the end of his career with WWE, he would've been the greatest talent to never work for Vince. Edge is an 11 time world heavyweight champion, while sting has captured this title in the organizations he was a part of 12 times. A battle between these two in their primes is money. I'd say you just need to vote for who you like best.

Scott Hall vs The Miz

The Miz took down Christopher Daniels, but it was the most tightly contested match of the first round. Both of these men were great intercontinental champions. The Miz headlined Wrestlemania against John Cena. Scott Hall was one half of The Outsiders. The mic battle leading up to this match would undoubtedly be incredible.

Finn Balor vs Kenny Omega

This is an interesting match if you are talking about these two in their prime. Omega really hit his stride in Japan when Balor left for the WWE. If we're talking about match quality, I don't know if we'll see a better pairing this tournament, though there might be two contenders in this round.

Vader vs Ric Flair

These two are two of the biggest stars WCW ever saw. You might find it surprising that the two have only faced off three times in one on one matches. All 3 times were for the WCW world heavyweight title, and each time Ric Flair came out victorious. This isn't to discredit Vader. While we all know that Ric Flair is a 16 time champion, Vader is the greatest big man of his generation.

Kevin Owens vs Bret Hart

Bret Hart took out Chris Jericho fairly easily, eliminating someone I considered a dark horse for the final four, and someone I would put in mine for sure. The Excellence of Execution has moved on to another Canadian, Kevin Owens. While the two might seem to have very different styles, Owens appearing to be a bit more of a brawler, this would be a very good match. KO has been in his fair share of very entertaining matches, and is possibly just as well known for his time in PWG and ROH as for his time in NXT and WWE. Early into his time with WWE, the sky is the limit for Owens, but is Hart the end of the line for him here?

Rob Van Dam vs Jushin Thunder Liger

ECW's most notable high-flyer taking on the greatest super junior of all time, surprisingly, these two have never faced off. Liger has been a major player all over the world since the 1980s. He has had 26 reigns globally as a light heavyweight, cruiserweight, junior, or whatever you'd like to call it. RVD has held every major title in the WWE. He was also Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Most Popular Wrestler for 2001 and 2002. Liger, on the other hand, has several awards from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, ranging from Best Technical Wrestler to Best Gimmick.

Macho Man vs CM Punk

Eddie Guerrero fell victim to the luck of the draw, as he came up against Macho Man Randy Savage in the first round. Eddie is another wrestler who could have easily made it to the final four with a different path. But Macho Man beat him easily. That just goes to show you how great Randy Savage was. In round 2, he comes up against an even bigger challenge. The Second City Saint is easily one of the most popular superstars in recent memory, and unlike many other wrestlers in this tournament, went out with plenty of career left in him. I am very intrigued to see how this one goes. Of course the two have the added connection of Punk's tribute elbow.

Batista vs Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan is the only unanimous winner in the first round. Batista got by Kane by just one vote. If Batista were from a different era, there is no doubt in my mind he would have been just as big or bigger than Hogan. He is one of the scariest looking wrestlers we have ever seen. He made wrestling a part of pop culture. Hulk Hogan IS pop culture. I would put him on par with baseball and apple pie when it comes to America. Batista has placed himself into the American lexicon thanks to his role in Guardians of the Galaxy, and his size and ability have always made him special. This is a match between two true Goliaths.

Triple H vs AJ Styles

Both of these guys won in a landslide, each receiving 90% of votes. They are also both the second leader of two major factions (DX and Bullet Club respectively), and most would say did it better than any other leader. The Game has found himself playing the foil to every major face in the Attitude Era, and really at many points through today. Meanwhile, The Phenomenal One was the heart and soul of TNA and was the first face of western expansion for New Japan. With two very different styles, this would be a barn burner, and part of me is holding out we might get to see this showdown at a Wrestlemania in the future.

Rey Mysterio vs Stone Cold Steve Austin

Well this is an interesting match. Purely from a one on one match standpoint, I would love to see these two styles clash. The ultimate underdog with a heart the size of the Big Show taking on the Texas Rattlesnake. The high flyer with beautiful form against the ugly brawling of Stone Cold. Having just missed each other in WCW, WWF, and ECW, surprisingly, these two have never battled. But they do here. Figure Four Writer's Block: making dreams happen.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs Mick Foley

Shinsuke Nakamura took down Mitsuharu Misawa, who on paper, was a favorite to win the tournament. No one has more 5 star matches than Misawa. Yet Nakamura took him down. The King of Strong Style is taking on the King of Hardcore. Mrs. Foley's baby boy slayed the dragon in round one, but in his career, he has faced very few like Nakamura. These are certainly two of the most uniquely charismatic talents in the tournament, and I'm excited to see who takes this round two showdown.

John Cena vs The Rock

John Cena eliminated another favorite to win it all, Shawn Michaels. The Rock beat DDP in the battle of the People's Champions. These are two of the most charismatic superstars of all time. These two are 1-1 against each other. In this tournament, we will decide who is the better man. Officially. Like we'll petition the WWE, and make them deliver an official proclamation.

So there you have it! Your matchups for round two. Tomorrow, we will see a guest post on Okada, and later in the week, we will see an argument for Ric Flair, both by special guest contributors. But until then, happy voting, and stay (too) sweet.

First Round of the Tournament to Crown the Greatest Wrestler of the Past 30 Years

A few friends at work and I have been discussing who the greatest professional wrestler of all time is. I've decided that I want your input! Starting today, you will be helping me narrow a field of 64 down to 1. The greatest of all-time. Or at least of the last 30 years. My blog, my rules, right? But in all seriousness, I do think this is an important distinction to make, as by 1987, we were in the PPV era, making video of these wrestlers much easier to come by. It is hard for me to speak Kowalski, Lawler (in his prime), or Bruno as the era was much different, and it is difficult to find footage. Each round will be see the competitors set up in matches. Will you decide by who had the better career of the two wrestlers? What about who would win the match? That's up to you. Here's the link to share your opinion.

Throughout the tournament, expect to see some special guests providing their input and trying to sway your decision. If this takes off, I'd love to do a similar tournament for women, tag teams, and current talent. Let's have fun with this!

To create the first round bracket, I entered the 64 names into a random list order generator. I don't know how I lucked into some of the first round matches I got, but I promise you random.org decided who faced who. Here are your first round match ups, along with a bit about each competitor.

Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan has to be considered a favorite to win a tournament based on votes. The leader of the "YES" movement, and an indie and ROH legend. Those his career was cut short due to injury, the American Dragon is considered by many to be the greatest technical wrestler in this tournament.

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Satoshi Kojima
Kojima got an unlucky draw here. A veteran whose career spans the majority of this tournament, the leader of the Bread Club is still putting on entertaining matches to this day. He is the first wrestler to ever hold All Japan's Triple Crown championship and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the same time. He is also one of only three wrestlers to hold both of those titles and the NWA World Heavyweight title. As part of the tag team known as TenCozy, he is a 6 time IWGP tag team champion. According to Pro Wrestling Illustrated he was the third best wrestler in 2005 and he won TokyoSport's MVP award for the same year. Throughout his career he has held 19 total titles. He is also a great follow on Twitter.

Goldberg
Depending on how you choose to vote, Goldberg could be the easiest to put through to the finals. From a purely Kayfabe standpoint who could you argue is better? Bill Goldberg has a career record of 248-30-17. Chris Jericho would like to remind you that those numbers are inflated due to 10 career victories over Jerry Flynn.

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Dustin Rhodes/Goldust

I have a feeling some might question my inclusion of Goldust on this list. I did feel that a Rhodes should be included, but too much of Dusty's career had passed before 1987, and Cody spent too much time wasting away in WWE's creative purgatory. That takes nothing away from the career of The Bizarre One. Debuting in 1988, Dustin Rhodes is still competing to this day. Though most would argue this was due to nepotism, Rhodes found himself near the top of the card almost immediately. With one of the most iconic gimmicks of the 90s, Goldust spent years without speaking to his family over the controversial character. Unfortunately, several of his prime years were spent struggling with addiction, but today Goldust is in the best shape of his career. If nothing else, longevity and being a solid talent to work with has earned him a spot on this list.

Big Show
The Big Show is an absolute mountain of a man. Immediately being thrown into a world title match against Hulk Hogan is a bit unexpected but when you're a 7' giant, this should come as no surprise. Over the course of his career Big Show has proven to be surprisingly agile (in his WCW days especially), a solid comedy worker (even earning a role in The Waterboy), and back to intimidating at the drop of a hat (JeriShow). For quite a while, people have tried to poke fun at the Big Show, but once he retires, fans will finally realize what they had in this Giant. For those that don't quite understand what they witness when they see the Big Show perform, they're seeing of only seven grand slam champions.

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Yuji Nagata
The 49 year old Yuji Nagata has been wrestling since 1992. In that time, he has had four moves named the Nagata Lock, uses a cross armbar and guillotine choke, throws more suplexes than many can even name, and has been a feared striker. He is a two time IWGP Heavyweight Champion as well as two time IWGP Tag Team Champion. He won the 2001 G1 Climax tournament, and was named the eighth best wrestler in the world in 2002 in the PWI 500. A former champion in every major promotion in Japan, Blue Justice put on some of the best matches each night he competed in this year's G1. Though he mostly works with the young lions, he proved that, even in 2017, he can still go.

Kazuchika Okada
What can be said about Okada that hasn't been said before? At the age of 29, he has become the second longest reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion of all time. His ripcord lariat is one of the best finishers in the world. His dropkicks are pure art. He has put on two 6+ star matches this year, and has been bringing the best out of every competitor who has stepped into the ring with him.

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Bubba Ray Dudley
Bubba Ray Dudley is one half of the most decorated tag teams of all time. The Dudley Boys have won gold every where they traveled, while becoming synonymous with TLC matches. The thing that sets Bubba apart from D-Von was his time as Bully Ray in TNA. A true career resurrection, many would claim it was when he did his best work. Not too bad for someone who had been in the business for 20 years at that point.

Randy Orton
Randy Orton has relatively quietly put together one of the greatest careers anyone has ever seen. At the age of 24, Randy Orton became the youngest champion in WWE history, and never looked back. He is a 13 world champion. Evolution was one of the most dominant factions the WWE has ever seen, and he eventually went on to lead his own faction, Legacy. Rated RKO is one of the most stacked tag teams ever. Pro Wrestling Illustrated declared him number 1 in their top 500 of 2008. He was also named wrestler in 2009 and 2010 by the same publication. This is even more impressive when you factor in that he was named their most hated wrestler in 2009, and most popular in 2010. For every complaint the man receives of "mailing it in", he certainly has quite the trophy case.

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Kevin Nash
From his debut with WCW through his debut in WWF, Kevin Nash worked under a million different gimmicks. This isn't a slight against him, but more a declaration of the ineptitude of WCW's booking team in the early 1990s. As Diesel, Nash held the WWF World Heavyweight Championship for 358 days. This was the longest streak between 1989 and 2006. While his time as Diesel was particularly impressive Big Daddy Cool is perhaps known for something even bigger. Kevin Nash was one of the founding members of the NWO, one half of The Outsiders. Scott Hall and Kevin Nash approached the industry in a different way than so many of their contemporaries. Playing the rule of the calm, cool, collected heels, The Outsiders were fun to cheer. Even though they were the bad guys, it was no surprise to see NWO shirts all over any arena WCW found itself in. Kevin Nash had a massive impact on 1990s wrestling, and no doubt helped shape what we see today.

Bam Bam Bigelow
This is one of my favorite matchups of the first round. Those who didn't get the opportunity to experience Bam Bam Bigelow might not realize he is a ridiculously agile man. Bigelow pulled off moonsaults like they were nothing for a man of his size. Unfortunately for his opponents, they felt like a whole lot more than "nothing". His Greetings From Asbury Park piledriver was just as devastating. The Beast From The East had great runs in WCW, WWF, and ECW in the United States. He also captured the IWGP Tag Team Championship with Big Van Vader. The nearly 400lbs grappler received second degree burns over 40% of his body in 2000 when he saved three children from their burning home. Was the heelish Bigelow sticking to kayfabe? Maybe not, but he certainly is a hero. His gorilla press throw of Spike Dudley will go down in history as one of the most memorable moments in ECW history, as well as him and Taz crashing through the entrance ramp with a suplex.

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Jeff Hardy
Brother Nero, I knew you'd come. Jeff Hardy, as one half of the Hardys will go down as one of the greatest tag team wrestlers as all time. The Charismatic Enigma has also captured singles gold in TNA and WWE in addition to his tag team accolades. Jeff Hardy's feud with CM Punk throughout 2009 was easily the best thing happening in the WWE at the time. His early run in TNA helped put the company on the map. Though his run with TNA in the early half of this decade was most well-known for his struggles with addiction, he redeemed himself soon after by capturing the world title. He was also one of the two main players in the best thing TNA has done in years, helping to develop the BROKEN Universe. Arguably the star of many of the early TLC matches, earlier in 2017 the Hardy Boys proved they can still go in a brief feud with the Young Bucks before returning to WWE. The two can clearly still go.

Hiroyoshi Tenzan
The creator of the anaconda vice, Hiroyoshi Tenzan is a 12 time IWGP Tag Team Champion. He has held the tag titles for over 5 years over his dozen reigns. He is a 4 time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and 2 time promotion MVP (2004 and 2005). He has also captured the NWA World Heavyweight Title. The Fierce Bull debuted 26 years ago and captured the IWGP tag titles with Satoshi Kojima earlier in 2017. 

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Brock Lesnar
The Beast Incarnate is one of the biggest draws in UFC history. The legitimate shoot fighter has often found himself building a career purely based off of hype, but if you take the time to watch Brock, you certainly know he wasn't just a big name the UFC and WWE both saw dollar signs in. He is a freak athlete with an insane build. Brock Lesnar didn't play a single down of collegiate football, but made it through camp on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and the 5 time WWE champion has been destroying opponents with the F5 since the turn of the century. If what we are seeing today is any indicator, don't expect his time on top to end any time soon.

Samoa Joe
If you only follow the WWE, you might be surprised to see Samoa Joe on this list. If you follow ROH and TNA in addition to the WWE, you are no surprised to see this name on the list at all. Samoa Joe is one of the most dominant combatants in any American company that isn't the WWE. While Joe has lost the majority of his WWE/NXT matches, one can only assume he is close to finally showing what he can do on the main roster. The Samoan Submission Machine has been sitting in the top 100 best wrestlers in the world according to Pro Wrestling Illustrated for the past decade. His 2004 feud with CM Punk is one of the greatest feuds in ROH history. He is one third of the only 5 star match TNA has ever produced. Many think his match with Kurt Angle from Lockdown in Lowell, MA was robbed of being a 5 star match. His 2005 match with Kenta Kobashi will go down as one of the greatest matches in ROH history. The man known as the Nation of Violence is one of the most intimidating men on the current WWE roster. Without being particularly heavier than anyone else, and certainly not taller, Samoa Joe somehow has the ability to make every single match of his feel worlds more important than any other match on any given card. A showdown with The Undertake would have undoubtedly been a dream match.

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Undertaker
The Undertaker is the greatest character of all time. The Streak. The Deadman. The Ministry of Darkness. Tombstone. Big Evil. American Badass. These are all phrases that any wrestling fan will quickly associate with The Undertaker. The 7 time champion is an icon, that's for sure. While he is undoubtedly moving on to the next round, my question is: if Samoa Joe can prove he is unafraid of the Undertaker's mind games, does prime Undertaker have anything on Joe other than size? 

Hiroshi Tanahashi
GO ACE! Hiroshi Tanahashi built New Japan back up from a very dark time. The Ace is the combined longest reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion of all time. Without truly being in the title scene, his reputation alone makes Tanahashi one of the guys that in any given match might surprise you with a victory over a younger, brighter talent. The Ace is a babyface in the truest form, and the fans in Japan love it. The 40 year-old still takes risks, like the High Fly Flow, his frog splash that is Guerrero-level great. His slingblade is the best in the business. I rest my case for Tanahashi with the following statement: watch an NJPW show. Do you see any one else in the world with as many stuffed bears in the crowd as Hiroshi Tanahashi? Either way, this is definitely the battle between the two best heads of hair in the industry.

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Edge

If we take a look at the competitors other competitors who took part in the first TLC matches, Edge certainly has the most single titles reigns. The 11 time champion earned the moniker of Ultimate Opportunist and was certainly one of the greatest Mr. Money In The Bank options. He is one of the seven grand slam champions in the current design of the grand slam. Six of the seven made this tournament, but of those men that have earned this title, Edge owns a distinct advantage over one of them. Edge won a hair vs hair match against Kurt Angle. So basically, Edge was responsible for one of the best aesthetic decisions of another grand slam champion's careers.

Sting
Oh man, Sting. Sting is a very interesting case. Sting was a huge part of the WCW. He was the silent defender of the WCW against the NWO. For a year, Sting was one of the biggest, most compelling parts of a feud without being in a match. Literally no one else on this list of wrestlers can say that. Surfer Sting was great. His matches with Flair brought him into the conversation of one of the best wrestlers to never step foot in a WWE ring, but his time as the dark version of Sting makes him one of the greatest of all time. 

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Jake Roberts
Jake The Snake Roberts makes this list if for no other reason, than because he created such an amazing character. He also invented the DDT, a deadly finisher at the time, and at the moment, a great maneuver, although primarily used as a setup. While this might seem counter-intuitive, I recommend Jake for this tournament because he never held a title in the WWF. This is because Jake is bigger than the title. Not in a particularly heelish way, as Jake The Snake worked plenty of matches as a face. Without a title, Jake Roberts found a way to elevate every single one of his opponents. Regardless of if he was a face or a heel every single one of Roberts' matches felt incredibly important. That puts butts in seats while also elevating others. One could argue that is the perfect description of the greatest professional wrestler of all time.

Scott Hall
Razor Ramon was a getting a push to the top of the card. Vince McMahon saw dollar signs in the eyes of Scott Hall. Then, all of a sudden, Hall showed up on WCW's Monday Nitro. Scott Hall is the catalyst of arguably the biggest story of the 1990s. While plenty of matches and storylines happened within the realm of the company talents worked for, Scott Hall broke the barrier. The original Outsider, Hall represented the wildcard that the Monday Night Wars needed. What followed was one of the most impressive acts of branding in professional wrestling history. If WCW knew what to do with the NWO, Scott Hall would have an even stronger grasp upon the title of greatest ever. To take it one step even further, if we didn't take Hall's size for granted, again, we'd consider him one of the greatest ever. Since he spoke so smoothly, blended in with his surrounding superstars so well, and never made it his goal to be the absolute focal point of the show, Scott Hall is often forgotten from the arguments of greatest ever. Speaking to the argument for Jake Roberts, doesn't the idea of the rest of the show elevating around him seem even better?

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Jay Lethal
Jay Lethal has quietly had one of the best non-WWE careers in the US in recent memory. Whether performing as Black Machismo or The Franchise of ROH, Jay Lethal has been nothing but entertaining. An 11 time champion between TNA and ROH, the 32 year old was responsible for the most memorable moment of Ric Flair's TNA run. Lethal's return to ROH has resulted in one of the best ROH stints going today. The Lethal Injection and Lethal Combination are two of the top finishes in the world.

The Miz
The Miz started off hated by not only the crowd, but the locker room as well. Few respected the former Real World star, and thought he would be out of the industry in a matter of months. Fast forward to 2017 and he has spent more days as Intercontinental champion than all but 2 people. Many also expect him to pass Chris Jericho for most reigns. The Miz's passion for the business shows through in everything he does, and he is one of the greatest talkers the industry has ever seen. The Miz truly is must see tv.

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Christopher Daniels
The Fallen Angel has wrestled under all over the world, and has won accolades in Germany, the US, Mexico, and Japan. Along with Samoa Joe and AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels competed in the greatest match in TNA history. Competing as Suicide, Daniels helped bring a video game character to life. More impressively, he also brought Curry Man to life. He was hot, he was spicy, and he tasted great (and competed in the Best of the Super Juniors). Something I find particularly impressive with Daniels: I can't really name a low-point in his career. He has been one of the most consistent stars I can think of.

Ted DiBiase
The Million Dollar Man is arguably the greatest character of the 1990s. It is such a simple premise, he is very rich. He used that simple characterization to become one of the most hated men of his era. He could also turn anyone he aligned with into a mega heel instantaneously. After all, they were now a sellout. He is the only 3 time Million Dollar Champion! No one else has won it more than once.

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Prince Devitt/Finn Balor
The founder of the Bullet Club, Devitt came into the WWE immediately feeling like a big deal. When Finn Balor delivered his first entrance as the demon, the NXT Universe lost their minds. The 3 time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion found success here in the United States as well. After a lengthy run with the NXT Championship and some great feuds along the way, Finn Balor became the first Universal Champion in WWE history. The Bullet Club has changed wrestling in Japan, and Finn will be looking to change wrestling in the WWE as well.

Ron Simmons
This Florida State Seminole was the first African-American WCW World Heavyweight Champion. Winning the title during a feud with Cactus Jack, Simmons held the title for 5 months before dropping back into WCW's midcard, and eventually finding his way into the WWE. Renamed Farooq, Simmons eventually started the Nation of Domination, one of the staples of WWE in the 1990s. Perhaps even more iconic, Farooq created the Acolyte Protection Agency with his tag team partner, Bradshaw. He had one of the greatest spinebusters of all time, and had a really cool array of power moves at his disposal. Simmons continued to make an impact on the WWE, even after he was no longer an active competitor. And all with just one word. DAMN.

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Kenny Omega
Some might consider Kenny Omega the flavor of the month. Those people have been living in a cave. DDT is really where Omega put himself on the map in a big way, and his on-again off-again relationship with tag team partner/arch nemesis Kota Ibushi is some of the best wrestling you can find on the planet. His matches with Kazuchika Okada are even better. The Cleaner is also now the leader of the Bullet Club. Together with the Young Bucks (collectively referred to as The Elite), Bullet Club merchandise can now be found at pretty much every mall in America. Kenny has been a major part of New Japans expansion into the West, and we can only expect even bigger things from him in the future.

Vader
Big Van Vader has won championships all over the world. The prototypical monster heel, Vader is known for being a hard hitting beast of a man. Power moves, strikes, and even aerial assaults gave The Mastodon one of the most well-rounded skill sets of his era. Then you remember that we're talking about a 450lbs man. The former LA Rams center's greatest achievement in life, however, is being the father of Frankie on Boy Meets World. This isn't debatable.

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John Tenta
With a shockingly low amount of titles to his name, Earthquake was one of the most physically imposing wrestlers in the WWF. Eventually winning the Tag Team Titles as part of the Natural Disasters. He also had a promising sumo career. He could move surprisingly well for a man of his stature, and if you are voting in this competition based on what the match would look like, this battle of the behemoths has to get you excited.

Ric Flair
What can I say about Ric Flair that hasn't been said before? What can I say about Ric Flair that HE hasn't said before? The 16 time World Champion could talk, he could wrestle, he could do it all. It is interesting to see that the man with the most world title reigns will be going up against in the first round against one of the greatest to never win a world title.

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Mr. Perfect
Curt Hennig is in the top 10 for most combined days as Intercontinental champion. Throughout his career, Mr. Perfect was flashy, yet somehow still made everything look simple. His dropkick was flawless, and his Perfectplex was, well, you know. How this man never held the world title in either the WWF or WCW I will never know. He has received more radio airplay for a song he recorded than probably anyone else on this list though, so at least he has that going for him.

Kevin Owens/Steen
As Kevin Steen, Wrestling's Worst Nightmare held the PWG World Championship 3 times, and the ROH World Championship once. He also terrorized the indies. A quarter of the self-proclaimed Mount Rushmore of wrestling, Steen was awarded "best brawler" from 2010-2012 and also feud of the year with El Generico in 2010, both by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. As Kevin Owens he has held all but one singles title available to him except one. And he will certainly be capturing that one soon.

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Rick Rude
"Ravishing" Rick Rude is one of the most successful heels of the past 30 years. Women wanted to be with him and men wanted to be him. And he knew it. One of my favorite Rick Rude anecdotes I just learned of recently. In his feud with Jake Roberts he didn't let Roberts see his tights. Of course he then revealed Roberts' wife airbrushed onto his tights. A competitor in the 1992 G1 Climax tournament, Rick Rude put on a fantastic match with Masahiro Chono that is absolutely must watch. No, not the Halloween Havoc rematch. Rude is a severely underrated worker, most likely because of how phenomenal his character work was.

Chris Jericho
Jericho has done it all in this industry. A success in Japan, in ECW, in WCW, and the WWE, Jericho has had 40 title reigns throughout his career. Remember when I joked that Mr. Perfect was the most accomplished musician on this list? Well that title actually goes to Chris Jericho. The Ayatollah of Rock and Rollah is the lead singer of rock band Fozzy. Jericho won the Wrestling Observer Newsletter award for Best Interview of the Decade for his incredible mic work. Pro Wrestling Illustrated also declared he had the Feud of the Decade with Shawn Michaels. He was also considered the second best wrestler in the world in 2009 according to the same publication. Once an obnoxious, over-the-top talent, Jericho truly hit his stride when he returned as the cool, calm, collected heel. During his time with Kevin Owens, Jericho reached the best of both worlds. Y2J has truly shined for the better part of the last decade. 

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Bret Hart
People didn't call Hart the Excellence of Execution for nothing. Bret Hart was trusted to carry the brand from the days of the absurd, shouting, muscle-bound cartoon wrestlers through the tough transition into the Attitude Era. Many consider his feud with Shawn Michaels to be the greatest of all time. It certainly is if you're only counting feuds where the heat between the grapplers was genuine. During his heyday, if he wasn't your favorite wrestler, he certainly is your favorite wrestler's favorite wrestler. The Hit Man's sunglasses are definitely one of, if not the most iconic pieces of wrestling merch that has ever existed.

Rob Van Dam
As his WWE entrance theme points out, RVD truly is "One of a Kind". Hardcore, technical, strike-heavy, aerial, RVD could work any style. He was also sneakily strong for someone with his moves. A champion in the WWE, ECW, and TNA, Van Dam only has two world title reigns. This is because, as Paul Heyman pointed out, RVD doesn't need a title. If you put him on the card, people will show up just to see his match. During the invasion angle, RVD was the most popular wrestler in the WWE. Rob Van Dam was also the best wrestler in the world in 2002 according to Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

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Lex Luger
The Total Package Lex Luger was one of the most popular stars in WCW. In the WWF, Lex was given his own tour bus and drove around the country on the "Lex Express". Luger was also one of the cornerstones of WCW in their battle with the NWO. A 2 time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Luger's torture rack took down pretty much every one in the WCW, including being one of the few men allowed to beat Hollywood Hogan. Luger had one of the most impressive physiques in wrestling history, and it carried him all the way to this tournament.

Jushin Thunder Liger
Jushin Thunder Liger is one of the most legendary junior heavyweights of all time. Liger sets himself apart from the others when you realize he never really competed in the heavyweight division. Everything he did elevated the smaller competitors he would face. With a career that started in 1984, Liger even competed in NXT in 2015, in PWG in 2016, and still in NJPW to this day.

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Ultimate Warrior
The Ultimate Warrior was everything early 1990s wrestling was all about. Dressed in neon brief style tights, and multi colored tassels. Wearing face paint. Jacked out of his mind. Screaming nonsense. Sprinting to the ring. The Ultimate Warrior was a 2 time Intercontinental Champion and took the World Heavyweight Championship from Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania VI. Before the birth of the Internet, smarks existed mostly through the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. They HATED the Warrior, but there is no denying how big of an impact he had on the average wrestling fan.

Randy Savage
The Macho Man stood out in a world of monster-sized men. Significantly smaller than a lot of his peers, Savage was better known for his agility than for his strength. He has given some of the most memorable promos of his era and has a voice that can only be described as iconic. If you were alive in the 1990s, I refuse to believe you never said "SNAP INTO A SLIM JIM" in your best Macho Man voice. His feud with DDP is one of the greatest in WCW history. Between WCW and WWF he is a 6 time World Heavyweight Champion. He is another superstar who transcends the world of professional wrestling.

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Eddie Guerrero
AAA, NJPW, ECW, WCW, WWE... You name a promotion Guerrero wrestled for, I'll tell you of accolades and accomplishments. When I was younger, watching WCW, Eddie Guerrero was one of the first heels I can remember hating. Of course by the time I was a teen, Guerrero had become a babyface through his use of heel tactics. The man lied, stole, and cheated his way to not only titles, but into the hearts of fans all over the world. Eddie was a wizard on the mic. This is a rarity for cruiserweights for some reason, and the only other notable mic worker his size is also in this tournament. Eddie was beloved backstage, and was notably a perfectionist. His passion for the business shined through in every aspect of his life. As a personal note, while over half a dozen of the men involved in this tournament have passed, I miss Eddie more than any of them. 

Chris Benoit
I considered keeping Benoit off of the list. I decided that after separating the man from the wrestler, he absolutely belonged in the tournament. He is a former WCW and WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and is one of the most intense wrestlers of the past 30 years. Unfortunately, but also justifiably, he will be remembered far more for his actions outside of the ring over his wrestling career.

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CM Punk
The Second City Saint had paid his dues all over the indies. Whether it was his own Lunatic Wrestling Federation, or Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE, Punk was one of the most talked about wrestlers before he got to the next level. His debut feud in ROH with Raven immediately made a star of the Straight Edge Savior. Punk's initial 3 match series with Samoa Joe is the best 3 match series not involving Okada and Omega. After signing a contract with WWE, CM Punk spent the last bit of his ROH career teasing to take their World Heavyweight Title he had won from Austin Aries to WWE. At a later point during his WWE career, a very similar story was run, instead with him taking the WWE title to ROH. Both were referred to as the Summer of Punk. Growing tired of professional wrestling, Punk left and joined the UFC. He is supposed to have another MMA fight some time soon, though no real details have developed.

Kane
The Big Red Machine has one of the most unique looks since his debut. After years of floating around, performing as Mike Unabomb, Dr. Isaac Yankem, and even the fake Diesel, he found the most success once dawning the mask. The Undertaker's kayfabe brother, is a grand slam winner in the WWE. Similarly to the Ultimate Warrior, Kane won several Worst awards from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter while winning several Best awards from Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Kane is one of only two performers in the WWE still allowed to use piledrivers and he has the best chokeslam in the business. His diving clothesline off of the ropes will never fail to get the crowd going. Tweaking his look a bit since the debut of the character on a few occasions, it is impressive to think that he really hasn't changed since April of 1997. In a business asking for more and more realism every day, this man has been able to stay larger than life and supernatural. Side note, where has he been this year? Well he's running for mayor. Seriously.

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Batista
Batista is one of the scariest looking individuals to ever step foot in the ring. Every single move of his looks so primal and violent. He is a 6 time World Champion, and received accolades from both the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Pro Wrestling Illustrated for the year he had in 2005, highlighted by his feud with Triple H. He only spent 15 years in the business, and that time didn't begin until he was over 30. Imagine how much more he could have accomplished if he had started out even earlier. Today, you are more likely to see Batista acting in a Marvel film, portraying Drax The Destroyer.

Roddy Piper
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper is one of the best talkers to ever step foot in the ring. In all of his promos, Piper would never talk about matches. He would only talk about fights. Piper made everything seem so much realer and more personal. Piper's move set may have been a bit on the basic side, but he proved that he had everything you need to be wildly successful in the professional wrestling business.

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Hulk Hogan
Can we all just take a moment to enjoy Hulk Hogan making pasta? Okay, now that we've done that, let's talk about the fact that no other wrestler has been as big of a pop culture icon as Hulk Hogan. Countless titles, big boots, leg drops, you know the deal. A vote for Hogan is a vote for America.

Triple H
From his days with D-Generation X on, Triple H has been a mainstay of the main event scene in the WWE. He is just so easy to hate. He is a 14 time champion who dominated anyone who came in his path. While he was known for outsmarting his opponent (The Cerebral Assassin, anyone?) Triple H could get downright brutal (like in his feud with Mick Foley). Many have accused him of marrying his way to the top, but he was well on his way up before his relationship with Stephanie McMahon began in 2000. Thanks to that relationship, however, we got NXT. I'll take it, not matter how it was created.

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Kenta Kobashi
12 years as a major part of All Japan Pro Wrestling, 14 years as a founding corner-stone of Pro Wrestling NOAH, Kenta Kobashi gave everything he had to this business. He invented the Burning Hammer, the Diamond Head, and the Orange Crush. He has held 17 titles in his career and given us 23 5 star matches. Known as Mr. Puroresu, Kobashi is everything that defines Japanese wrestling. Innovative moves, hard hitting strikes, and a fighting spirit that cannot be extinguished, if you haven't seen his work before, you owe it to yourself to check out some of his matches. Especially from 1993-1995.

AJ Styles
The Face That Runs the Place. The Champ That Runs the Camp. The Phenomenal One. Mr. TNA. Uncle Allen. All of these names have been used in reference to AJ Styles. AJ has held World Heavyweight gold between PWG, TNA, NJPW, and WWE 9 total times. He carried not only the X Division, but TNA as a whole for years. Of course he eventually left TNA and joined the Bullet Club in Japan, bringing new fans from all over to NJPW. A sea of accolades from so many publications, AJ truly is a generational talent.

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Booker T
As a kid, Booker T single-handedly made me care about the WCW TV Title. His 7 match series with Chris Benoit, just to be named the top contender for the title is the stuff of legends. With real life brother Stevie Ray, Harlem Heat were 10 time Tag Team Champions. He is both a WCW triple crown winner as well as a WWE grand slam champion. His time as King Booker and team with Goldust proved he work in a comedy role, but Booker was at his best when he was taken seriously. Between TNA, WCW, and WWE, Booker T has held 35 titles.

Rey Mysterio
"Who is that jumping out the sky?" you might be asking yourself. None other than Rey Mysterio Jr. Mysterio is a marketing team's dream. His size makes him an immediate underdog story. His colorful masks are instant merch opportunities. His high flying moves are exciting and eye catching. Mysterio is arguably the biggest reason cruiserweights were so successful in the 1990s. Between the WCW and WWE, he is an 8 time cruiserweight champion. He also held the heavyweight title on 3 separate occasions. The 42-year old is a 28 year vet of the business, and has been a joy to watch his entire career.

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Scott Steiner
Scott Steiner legitimately feels like he has had two separate careers. Early Steiner teamed with his brother Rick. Together the team is constantly brought up when people are discussing the best tag team talents. The inventor of the Frankensteiner and Steiner Screwdriver, Scott was equal parts strong and agile. The duo held gold all over the world. After turning on his brother and aligning with the NWO, the Big Bad Booty Daddy went on to have major singles success. Beyond winning multiple championships, Freakzilla became must see tv because you never knew what was going to come out of his mouth. Today, he is mostly mentioned as a meme, but when he was wrestling, he was to be taken very seriously. Big Poppa Pump was indeed your hook up... Holler if you hear me.

Nigel McGuinness
Nigel McGuinness was one of the most impressive wrestlers in the ring of the past several decades. Although his championship accolades may seem to be lacking, it is worth pointing out that his career was cut short due to being diagnosed with Hepatitis B. Europe, ROH, TNA, McGuinness tested himself against some of the best talent in the world, and earned the #6 spot Pro Wrestling Illustrated's top 500 of 2009. Had his career not been cut short, it is hard to imagine how big he could have been.

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Steve Austin
The Texas Rattlesnake, Stone Cold Steve Austin represents everything that was the Attitude Era. The never-say-die brawler would beat on his boss on a near weekly basis. The 6 time WWF Champion had one of the most iconic feuds ever, and it wasn't even with a true wrestler. His clashes with Mr. McMahon will be remembered as one of the biggest reasons why WWF pulled ahead in the Monday Night Wars. Whether he was hitting a stunner on the entire roster, or he was driving beer trucks and spraying down everyone in his path, people tuned in just to see what Austin would do that week.

Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura is considered by some to be the greatest talent NJPW has ever seen. His charisma is absolutely off the charts. His legendary matches with Kota Ibushi are required watching for any wrestling fan. Tokyo Sports, Pro Wrestling Illustrated, Wrestling Observer Newsletter, everyone agrees, Shinsuke is the type of talent that you'll remember for the rest of your life.

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Mitsuharu Misawa
Mitsuharu Misawa literally died in the ring. With 25 5star matches, the numbers seem to show that Misawa is the greatest professional wrestler of all time. His elbow and forearm strikes are some of the most devastating ever. Developing the tiger driver and emerald fusion, Misawa had a huge influence on the industry and helped to shape wrestling as we know it today. His role as Tiger Mask is just as legendary, and he was part of two of the greatest tag teams ever, with Toshiaki Kowada and with Kenta Kobashi.

Ricky Steamboat
Both Randy Savage and Ric Flair had some of their best matches with Steamboat. Even in his return match against Chris Jericho, Steamboat could still go. With a surprisingly low number of championships to his name, don't sleep on the skills of the Dragon. His diving crossbody, his dropkick, his chops, even his unique pin attempts, Steamboat made everything about wrestling look so beautiful. I would argue that Steamboat is one of the first to make wrestling look like art.

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Mick Foley
Mick Foley has made a major splash with four completely different characters. Of course there was Cactus Jack, one of the greatest hardcore wrestlers ever. Then there was Mankind, a sick, deranged individual who evolved into the comedic Dude Love. As a commissioner, Mick continued with a comedic spin on things, but as a legitimate authority figure. Thanks to Foley's ability on the microphone, he was believable in every one of those roles. His willingness to put his body on the line in any situation took him from just a memorable character to one of the greatest ever. 

John Cena
John Cena is currently tied with Ric Flair for most world title reigns ever. It is only a matter of time before he breaks that record. John Cena has also granted more Make-A-Wish wishes than any other person ever. Basically John Cena is one of the greatest people on Earth. Say what you will about his character, but you have to respect the man. You also have to respect how long he has been on top of the WWE's main event scene. Cena will go down as the face of this era, and quite possibly, the face of the company.

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Shawn Michaels
The Heartbreak Kid has competed in some of the most legendary matches ever. Mr. Wrestlemania could always bring it for the big matches. His match with Ric Flair at Wrestlemania XXV is probably the greatest WWE-style match you will ever see. While only a 4 time World Champion, The Icon was the first grand slam champion, and it is quite difficult to remember a time when he wasn't buzzing around the main event scene. He was also responsible for the creation of D-Generation X. This faction is still influencing and being parodied in professional wrestling today.

Diamond Dallas Page
The battle of the people's champions ends the first round of the tournament. Diamond Dallas Page representing WCW, was one of the biggest names battling the NWO throughout the attempted takeover. The master of the diamond cutter, DDP always gave off the vibe of a gritty fighter, who was always in it, no matter what. For some reason, I distinctly remember his ribs being wrapped for seemingly years. This was clearly before he discovered DDP Yoga. Although this is said in jest, DDP Yoga has seemed to save numerous lives. It also resurrected the career of Chris Jericho. DDP started out a bit later than most wrestlers in life, but everything about him and his character was inspirational. His rise to stardom made you feel like you could do anything. DDP's success felt like catching lightning in a bottle, but that's a big part of what being the People's Champion is all about.

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The Rock
The Most Electrifying Man In Sports Entertainment. The People's Champion. The Brahma Bull. The Great One. All of these names have been used to describe The Rock. Another performer with a sea of accolades from both the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Pro Wrestling Illustrated, The Rock won "Most Charismatic" a whopping 6 times. He is also a 10 time World Champion and was a cornerstone of the Attitude Era. Today, The Rock is one of the biggest box office draws in all of Hollywood.

So there you have it! 64 wrestlers will be narrowed down to 1. The Figure Four Writer's Block Champion. One more time, here's the link.

If you'd like to try to persuade some readers, let us know in the comments below. The poll will stay up for one week. Until next time, stay (too) sweet!