He won five matches, including four by technical fall and one by fall. He intensified his methods of making rings vibrate to the tunes of Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. Wedding, Kids & Girlfriends. Sheik held the belt once for less than a month and then was quickly tossed into the tag team ranks with Volkoff. He also placed fifth at the 1986 NCAA Championships at 158 pounds, which earned him three All-American honors at three different weights. I feel this accomplishment is what no other wrestler comes close too. He had some notable feuds in the territories with Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, and Wahoo McDaniel. One of Florida's top pound-for-pound wrestlers, Degennaro took home a state championship as a . . As per some sources released on 11 February 2023, John Cena wearing skirt photos went viral as he wore it on the movie set. After crushing three years in Fargo Mocco captured a Senior Nationals title as well. Otherwise, hed be much, much higher on the list. So hats off, job well done sir! He died at 58 as paramedics declared him dead at the scene. He was a headliner for a brief run before moving on to Hollywood. On the Foley Is Pod podcast on February 10, 2023, he remembered one of the fights with the Undertaker where he said a regular chokeslam was enough to leave him spewing blood backstage. Obviously, they are by most accounts the greatest tag team in North American wrestling history. First, he was never THE guy. Davey Boy Smith, or The British Bulldog, was one of the great technical wizards of the '80s and '90s, wrestling great matches all across the world. Because of his incomparable performance in the ring, Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. 40-31. The Davison, Michigan, product posted a 228-0 high school record with four state titles and signed with Virginia Tech during Brandss two-year stint in Blacksburg. Sanderson retired from active competition after the Olympics but returned to the mats in 2010 and made the 2011 World Championships where he placed fifth. Green bagged two medals along the way a bronze in 2015 and silver in 2017. His powerful entry-level music was visible, classic, and mixed with his good looks. His masterpiece in Wrestle Mania earned him the nickname Mr. Wrestle Mania. And that he did. 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. He followed that up with his fourth World or Olympic title during the 2015 World Championships that were held in Las Vegas. The Nature Boy, Flair, is known for his wrestling days. list of celebrities who were on school sports teams, celebrities who played high school basketball, How Scientology Allegedly Helped Tom Cruise Find A Hollywood Girlfriend Through Auditions, Full Cast of Mission: Impossible Actors/Actresses, Facts We Just Learned About Bruce Willis That Surprised Us. If SBLive put on its own wrestling tournament, who would top the podium in each weight class? Rowdy Roddy Piper At The WWE Stage (Source: NBC News). I was hoping hed land with AEW where he could realize his potential as the top heel in a company. The Rockville, Maryland, native suffered injuries in 2018 and 2019 so a return to the mat seemed doubtful. His mastery of the sleeper move earned him several titles at WWE. The Wyoming high school wrestling season is nearing the state tournament event weekend. 9. But there is no denying that Helen Maroulis was the first wrestler from the United States to win an Olympic gold medal in womens freestyle wrestling. Metcalf ran the gauntlet in what is largely considered the toughest college wrestling bracket of all time. Theres no doubt the Ultimate Warrior was a lightning bolt in the industry. When healthy, Welch is one of the best wrestlers in the state. IMO, Hall is Nashs ceiling on a list like this. They made their mark in the tag team ranks and their work there carries the most weight when evaluating their careers. Derek Brenon. . He made four World teams (1999, 2001-03) and the 2004 Olympic team between the weight classes of 58 kg and 60 kg. He beat Tsargush again the following year on his way to a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic gold medal. Round 1 - Shamari Thompson, South View vs Kyle Snyder, Piedmont, 4A 120 lbs Champ. Like many talents in WWE, Kim's talent would eventually go to waste due to poor creative decisions. 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. John showed promise during his true freshman campaign but lost his opening match at the 1984 NCAA championships after entering as the three seed and was knocked out of the tournament. He won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, four World Championship gold medals, two Pan American gold . Kayleigh Heckel among those in the running for top honor. And thats not all. He was a special attraction known for his brutal feuds with the likes of The Shiek and Bruiser Brody. HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS. That, indeed, is an epic entry. Great questions, specifically on the difference in ranking between Hawk and Animal. He qualified after his senior campaign but the World Championships in Iran were boycotted by the United States following a credible threat to the U.S. team. That leaves Burroughs with a jaw-dropping international wrestling career that includes six World/Olympic golds, three bronzes, and two Olympic teams. He may be retired, but people continue to talk about him to this day. He didnt place at the 2000 NCAA tournament but earned a spot in the 184-pound finals as a senior in 2001 against Iowa States Cael Sanderson a wrestler who went 159-0 for his college career. Two things Im curious about. Flipboard. To hit the top-100, you gotta bring more to the table. In all, Ragan made seven consecutive World teams (2013-19) despite being unable to compete at the 2019 Worlds due to an injury. Shawn Michaels Posing In The Costume (Source: IMDb). "I think it's clear by the way we've been playing lately that our team is together and committed to each other. As if that wasnt enough, Burroughs won bronze medals at the 2018 and 2019 World Championships. There is a separate womens list. When Gable entered the line-up as a sophomore, he did not disappoint. Oooh yeah, WWE fans noticed Randy Savage with his Oooh yeah call; he was not only known for this alone. 3. In addition, the Canadian wrestler with Scottish roots was one of the leading stars of WrestleMania and Starrcade. The Cowboy star ultimately lost the match, 8-4, but he gave Sanderson his most competitive bout in the finals. He was inducted two-time in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011 as a single wrestler and in 2019 as part of D-Generation X. Steve Austin, famous as Stone Cold Steve Austin, is an American media personality, actor, and former professional wrestler. Cookie Preferences / Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. His completion of Flairs Figure-Four Leg Lock move was so effective that he won several matches throughout the various wrestling promotions. He made Olympic teams in 2004 and 2008 along with four consecutive World teams from 2003-07, including a bronze medal in 2007. 2). 9. He was his first World title after his junior season then won the Olympic Games after his senior campaign. Some examples: InterMat's feature on top college wrestlers of all time or feature providing details of late historian Jay Hammond's three biggest upsets in NCAA Division I finals. The former Husker star has made six straight teams (2015-19, 21) and is the only American to represent the weight at the World Championships. If you stare at Cael Sandersons collegiate record long enough, you might wonder how any human can achieve such a feat. 23. Cary Kolat by far is the best. Thats not going to cut it on a list as talented as this one. However, his love of the metals he unsparingly used in the rings earned him a reputation for brutality. He has spent more than five decades in wrestling. She defeated Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan a five-time World champion, a 10-time World medalist, and a two-time Olympic bronze medal winner. For perspective, no wrestler had won NCAA titles in more than two weight categories prior to Dake. In all, Snyder has seven World/Olympic medals: three gold, three silver, and one bronze. After coming close his first two seasons, Tennant broke through and won his first state title as a junior at 145 in Class 5A. And, at the age of 33, hes not done competing. Ruth wrestled at 174 in his first two NCAA appearances, finishing third and first, and then closed out his career at 184 pounds with a 71-1 record and two more titles. So, it would make sense if his legacy was mistaken for more than what it was. Burroughs was injured at the 2014 World Championships but fought back to earn a bronze medal. Best Juniors. Legend has it that Koll slammed an opponent to the mat so hard that it knocked him out. In 5 years Lee Kemp went from stepping on a wrestling mat for the first time to beating someone many believed (and still do) was/is the greatest American wrestler. Natick High wrestling. Hence, below, we present the list of the top ten wrestlers of all time. Comparing these two is like comparing Apples to Pepperoni. WWEs Most Wanted Treasures and the Stone Cold Takes On America will premier on Sunday, April 30, 2023. It's that time of the year again for Polk County student-athletes and wrestling fanatics to gear up for a brand-new season. McGowans notable accomplishments include a Florida state title as an eighth-grader and a gold medal in 2019 at the World Championships Cadets. In November, he committed to Arkansas-Little Rock. Kyle Dake achieved a college wrestling feat that is virtually untouchable and it will always be unbreakable. The Rock During The Match (Source: People.com). A Big 10 champion, he won 115 career matches with the Spartans. Piper was honored with a statue as a part of WrestleMania Axxess in Brooklyn, New York, in 2019. But that is not with the elbow, but with the fist, limiting the most brutal ending moves in the WWE. Kendall Cross 59. 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. Prior to that, Cormier blitzed his way to the finals, picking up two falls, a technical fall, and a major decision. Collegiate wrestling (also known as folkstyle wrestling) is the form of wrestling practiced at the college and university level in the United States. Hulk Hogan was simply the best wrestler, from his looks to his wrestling moves. He is a sure-fire top-100 talent but the creative failed him. He thrived both as a singles and a tag team performer. How do you go 0-7 at the Minnesota High School State Championships and make the top 100? Below is the list of the top ten wrestlers of all time. This year the first-team all-county wrestler is ranked fourth and has a chance to become the school's first-ever five-time state qualifier. Who would emerge victorious in matchups between the best wrestlers from New England to Southern California, and everywhere in between? Tyler Vazquez, Delbarton (New Jersey) Vazquez is another senior who is looking to end his high school career atop the podium. Animal never got that kind of spotlight outside of the Road Warriors. Thats on top of a 127-3 high school record at Heber City High School in Heber City, Utah, where he won four state titles. One word should come to mind when you take a glance at Ragans international career: consistency. 30.. On May 3, 2018, he was inducted into the Boys and Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame, and again in 2020 as a member of the nWo. He picked up the 167-pound crown in 1987 then moved up to 177 pounds for his senior season in 1988 since it helped the team. ' It's the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. Goldusts character is one of the most controversial and longstanding in the history of professional wrestling. 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. Kemp began wrestling for the first time in ninth grade when he couldnt make the basketball team. He cruised to the 2009 NCAA title after an undefeated season and he was on pace to win a second title in 2010 but an early-season injury ended his season prematurely. Once he returned to college after the war, the 23-year-old wrestling phenom dominated everyone who stood in his way. Cruz, now attending Bullard High School, has been nationally ranked among the top five in his weight class the past two seasons. Im sure I could find 10-15 guys who may be more deserving than some near the bottom of your list but Im not going. All-Time Individual Records TWO-TIME STATE CHAMPIONS (Total Number: 247) Wrestler's Name High School Years 1. The challenge was to determine the Top 50 Michigan wrestlers (Michigan natives) of the last 50 years, and it was a tall task . His savage response would drive fans crazy, and his moves were incredible. The documentary chronicles his rise to fame, as well as . Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. Bruce Kesselring Akron East 1939, 1940 4. These famous people might not have been famous college wrestlers, but they represented their high schools and universities in the sport, and found fame off the mat as well. 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. Kids National Team Rankings. The best wrestlers of all time have worked hard in the WWE to reach the top. 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Pounds, which earned him the nickname Mr. Wrestle Mania and 2019 so a return to the tunes Also... Dominated everyone who stood in his weight class the past two seasons by technical fall one! Penn state during one of the sleeper move earned him three All-American honors at three different weights for state! Career atop the podium in each weight class between the best wrestlers of time... 2008 along with four consecutive World teams from 2003-07, including four by fall!