- Bret Hart
There are very few wrestlers that were better in the ring than the Hitman, hence his nickname “The Excellence of Execution”. Every time Bret Hart stepped into the ring, good entertainment was guaranteed, and if his opponent was even half decent, you were in for a classic that brought you to, and kept you on, the edge of your seat.
He was part of the valiant effort of spreading WWE all over the world, which made him hugely popular in Europe. Bret was given a very difficult, some would say – impossible – task of taking over as the face of the company after Hulk Hogan left.
When you add his singles run and time with his tag-team the Hart Foundation, it’s clear that he is the best of the best.
- Andre the Giant
Well over 7 ft tall and weighing over 500 lbs, Andre was simply a wonder you had to see. And people did come in droves to witness the spectacle.
Taking on the role of a kind giant, Andre was a pure babyface for the better part of his career. Spectators knew that when Andre comes after a bad guy, the game was up, and the villain was going to get what he deserved.
Andre switched to heel during the event that brought 93,000 people to the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit. While he did drop the match to Hogan, Andre will always remain one of the most beloved wrestlers in the biz.
- Shawn Michaels
Known as “Mr. WrestleMania” Shawn was one of the greatest competitors there ever has been. Being a superb wrestler and athlete, a great show was guaranteed regardless of his opponent. Especially at WrestleMania, hence the nickname.
Michaels proved that he is the greatest when he recovered from a back injury. Forced to retire in 1998, he returned better than ever in 2002, having a great run until 2010 when he finally retired.
Shawn had memorable matches with The Undertaker at two consecutive WrestleManias, and his main event against Cena was simply a classic. His performance made John Cena look like a true champion. No doubt about it, Shawn the Showstopper is the greatest in-ring wrestler this sport has ever seen.
- The Rock
Things were tough in the beginning for The Rock. Fans didn’t take to his babyface persona. Only when he turned heel did his star persona begin to form.
After his heel turn, The Rock soon became one of the greatest bad guys, especially after he took the reins from Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Rock was able to provide great talk, and even better ring time. He was one of the best entertainers the biz has ever seen.
What counts the most is that he is still loyal to wrestling. With his stellar Hollywood career, he could’ve just walked away. The Rock still loves wrestling, he still returns to the ring, and he continues to deliver prime matches, proving again and again that he belongs in that chosen few to be named the best in pro wrestling.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
