Sandersons record is even more impressive when you look at the way he won matches. Jack Van Bebber 71 . Batista had an exceptional physique and certainly moved well for his size. Mason Gibson, Bishop McCort (Pennsylvania). He reached the finals of the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Trials and was a member of Greco World teams in 1981 and 1983. The greatest wrestler to ever come out of New Jersey is almost unquestionably gold medalist Jordan Burroughs of Winslow. A list of the greatest wrestling matches of all time. Koll defined an era of grit after returning to Iowa State Teachers College (now Northern Iowa) after serving in World War II. One of his most memorable lines fans love is the phrase, Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your ass, which sent laughter among the fans. The challenge was to determine the Top 50 Michigan wrestlers (Michigan natives) of the last 50 years, and it was a tall task . From the beginning, Dan Gable appeared to be destined for greatness. Super surprised by that. Chrissie Cowan. - A global tool that supports all popular languages. Overall, The Zain Train, posted a 127-3 career college record and joined an exclusive club with three individual NCAA titles with four NCAA team championships. The winningest wrestlers in North Jersey history all have one thing in common - a graduation year in the 21st century. '. Hey Anthony! His sophomore season began his run toward history. The U.S. heavyweight superstar won the gold medal at every World Championship she entered. Motivated by the loss, Gable would take his sport to new heights. HUSAM MUSTAFA (138), Lake Wales: Mustafa over the summer . What Does It Take To Become A Four-time D1 NCAA Champion? His fifth-place finish included a 5-1 win over Iowas Jeff McGinness an eventual two-time NCAA champion during the consolation round. Thread starter CCLfan83; Start date Jan 12, 2011; C. CCLfan83 . To hit the top-100, you gotta bring more to the table. She defeated Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan a five-time World champion, a 10-time World medalist, and a two-time Olympic bronze medal winner. Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und unsere Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. 80-71. She was a staple of the U.S. womens freestyle team from 2013 through her retirement after the 2021 Olympic Trials. Best Juniors. But that is not with the elbow, but with the fist, limiting the most brutal ending moves in the WWE. One of the most feared female professional wrestlers of all time, Bull Nakano's in-ring presence, sheer strengths, and ability to dominate matches saw her become one of the greatest Japanese wrestlers of all time. The 126/133-pound brackets during this era included multiple Olympians, NCAA champions, and All-Americans. No. He won the 1978 World Championships after his senior season then won again in 1979 becoming the first American to win back-to-back World titles. Malia, who was a state qualifier, won District 12, was third at Region 4, and second at . The senior has faced tough competition all season and is looking to defend his title. Collegiate wrestling (also known as folkstyle wrestling) is the form of wrestling practiced at the college and university level in the United States. I would say that Goldberg should replace Nick Foley. Your email address will not be published. When Smith returned to college competition he went on a tear that the United States hasnt seen before or since. Thats not going to cut it on a list as talented as this one. During his senior year, Gable moved up from his normal 142-pound weight class to take on the returning 150-pound NCAA champion from Oklahoma, Mike Grant. He picked up his fifth World medal when he secured a bronze at the 2019 Worlds then followed that up with silver medals at the 202One Olympics and the 2021 World Championships. Anonymous. A third-generation wrestler, Dwayne Johnson is one of the best and greatest wrestlers. "The thing I like the most is we have a strong locker room," says Wawasee head coach Jon Everingham. He has appeared in the WWE for over two decades. The 2001 World Championships were postponed after 9/11 and Sanderson wanted to focus solely on his college career. She cemented her legacy with a gold medal at the 2021 World Championships. Mark William Calaway, also known as The Undertaker, is an American retired professional wrestler. Smith beat reigning Olympic champion Randy Lewis at the Olympic Trials just to earn a spot on the team. There is a separate womens list. A fresh episode with 10 wrestlers will be released every Thursday beginning November 4 and will end with the announcement of the greatest wrestler of all-time on January 10, 2022. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. What is causing NBA scoring to skyrocket? He is the co-owner of the spring American football league. Kemp won a bronze medal at the 1981 World Championships then struck gold again at the 1982 World Championships becoming the first American to win three World titles. 2). That might be something I revisit in the future. Worse yet, he was notoriously unreliable. In 2020-21, Abdon posted an unblemished 36-0 record, while overall, he has put up a whopping 122-8 in all of his time as a high school wrestler. Abdullah the Butcher was hardcore before hardcore was hardcore. His weight included three former World champions, so the odds of making history were slim. If you want to learn about the history of the 70 kg weight class in the United States then there is only one name you will need to remember: James Green. His sophomore campaign saw him place second at the 1985 NCAA championships but was handled in the finals by Wisconsins Jim Jordan, 7-4. It's that time of the year again for Polk County student-athletes and wrestling fanatics to gear up for a brand-new season. Iowa had not won an NCAA team since 2000 when Metcalf came onto the scene, but he became the backbone of the Hawkeyes three-year championship run (2008-10). Dake has defeated Jordan Burroughs (#2), David Taylor (#15), and Jden Cox (#19). SEE ALL. However, also like a lightning bolt, he was short-lived and destructive. He also made the Olympic team and, at the age of 20, became the youngest American wrestler to win a gold medal. It took him a while to get here but hes a superstar and has made enough of a mark to crack the list. Secondly, what puts Nash at 50? From the WCW to the WWF, Page was a member of several major wrestling organizations during his highly profitable career. Her title as a senior was part of a WCWA team championship that saw King outlast Oklahoma City 229-227. In the class of 2012, he was inducted as a member of The Four Horsemen. "We've still got a heartbeat . Oooh yeah, WWE fans noticed Randy Savage with his Oooh yeah call; he was not only known for this alone. But thats only the beginning of Baumgartners domination of domestic competition that spilled over into international success. Kemp compiled a 14-2 record on the freshman team and was 11-8-3 on varsity the following season. We started with 106 pounds, then moved to 113, then 120. Lee Kemps career defies logic. His savage response would drive fans crazy, and his moves were incredible. One word should come to mind when you take a glance at Ragans international career: consistency. The Hokies would not release Metcalf to the Hawkeyes so he missed out on his first season of eligibility, but Metcalf made his three seasons in Iowa City count. The U.S. big man won the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics for his first World-level gold medal. WWE signed him as the Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative. Sophomore (2016): 35-0 with a bonus rate of 88.57, Junior (2017): 28-0 with a bonus rate of 89.29, Senior (2018): 31-0 with a bonus rate of 83.87. The Alger-Jackson rivalry through college and international competition is one of the fiercest in American history. January 27, 2022 at 5:24 pm Reply. 1. I currently have Vader, The Big Show, and Kane ahead of Nash. Max Gallagher, Blue Point (New York) Gallagher is the Division II defending state champion at 126 pounds. Burroughs moved up to 157 pounds the following season, which was the beginning of his rise to greatness. Not only was an individual title on the line, but the winner of the match would determine the team champion. Foley, a WWE Hall of Famer, made headlines in 1999 at Wrestle Mania and won three WWE World titles. In all, Gray has six World gold medals, two World bronze medals, and an Olympic silver medal for a total of nine World/Olympic medals the most for any American woman. Gable won a gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics by going 6-0 without surrendering a single point. Macho Man Randy Savage At The Backstage Of The WWE (Source: Sports Illustrated). Dwayne Douglas Johnson, better known as The Rock, is an American actor and former professional wrestler. IMO, Hall is Nashs ceiling on a list like this. Steve Austin and other WWE Hall of Famers will expand the A&E partnership in 2023. Its hard to come up with a defining angle that Sheik was a major player in. Not to mention, he holds as many WWE belts as most of the top stars. McGowans notable accomplishments include a Florida state title as an eighth-grader and a gold medal in 2019 at the World Championships Cadets. Round 1 - Tyson Russel, Cleveland vs James Green, Franklin, AA 195 lbs 3rd Place Match - Thomas Stadel, Maryville vs James Green, Franklin, AA 195 lbs Cons. Is it Adeline Gray or is it Adeline Gold? After WCW died in 2001, the WWEs consolidation of talent made it virtually impossible for a competitor to emerge. He made 65-kg World teams in 2017 and 2019 and was a Cadet World champion in 2012. However, his showmanship was unmatched. Today, the two most common forms of competitive wrestling are the Greco-Roman style and modern freestyle wrestling. Keep in mind. Gable pinned his way through the Big Eight Championships and the 1970 NCAA tournament until he ran into the sophomore buzz saw Larry Owings of Washington in the finals. Snyder won a Junior World title in 2013 and Junior World bronze in 2014 before attending Ohio State University. Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (1998) This is a documentary film about Owen Hart, one of the most prolific wrestlers of his time. He thrived both as a singles and a tag team performer. He posted a 33-3 record at 141 pounds and a fifth place at the NCAA Championships, including a dual-meet win over eventual four-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber who was in his senior year. 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. Then he moved up to 79 kilograms for the 2021 World Championships after Dake took over the 74-kg spot for the 202One Olympic Games. 01-02-2010, 01:45 PM. Given how important the creation suite has become for wrestling games, WrestleMania 2000 was ahead of its time. HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS. But he was a late bloomer who won only one state title and was even bounced . This article was last updated by Tara Thapa on February 20, 2023. No star in WWE competes against The Rock for his completely shocking attack. Both Michaels and Hart are often cited as the greatest workers in North America, and during this point in time there really was no other wrestler better in the States than these two. His year at 174 pounds makes . Cruz, now attending Bullard High School, has been nationally ranked among the top five in his weight class the past two seasons. He'll move up to 152 for his . Which notable celebrities were on the school wrestling team? Best Seniors. Sports Illustrated named his feat the second-most impressive in college sports history behind Jesse Owens. The Cornell star won four NCAA championships in four different weight classes: 1st at 141 pounds in 2010, 1st at 149 pounds in 2011, 1st at 157 pounds in 2012, and 1st at 165 pounds in 2013. On the other hand, the biggest accomplishments of his career were being in DX and the NWO. 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. The world-class championship has been going on for over three decades. At Wrestlemania 7, he became the first person to cleanly pin Hulk Hogan in nine years. As if that wasnt enough, Burroughs won bronze medals at the 2018 and 2019 World Championships. He intensified his methods of making rings vibrate to the tunes of Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. The Oklahoma State star won NCAA titles in 1997, 1998, and 1999 in one of the toughest weight classes in the country. Competing seemed unlikely, but Burroughs and his team put together a plan that would prepare him to take on the world. Because of his incomparable performance in the ring, Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. Redshirting was the norm during this era, but Guerrero was inserted into the Cowboy line-up at 126 pounds as a true freshman for the 1996 season. To drive fans crazy, Hogan used a little music to get into the rings, like Real American and Eye of the Tiger. Fugitt recently tied Nixa's career wins record in the district finals. He followed that up with his fourth World or Olympic title during the 2015 World Championships that were held in Las Vegas. 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. Davino recently won his third Illinois state championship, defeating Marmion senior Jameson Garcia 6-1 in a highly anticipated showdown. They made limited edition bobblehead dolls. Burroughs made the 2011 World team and won his first World title with an early-round win over the reigning two-time World champion from Russia, Denis Tsargush. Stone Cold has won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship six times and the Tag team championship four times and is the fifth wrestler to emerge as a Triple Crown Champion. Zack Chakonis, Don Bosco, 2015 146. The reason he doesnt rate higher than 50 is based on a few factors. A fantastic pinner, he used brute force to lever his opponents to their backs. Houcks feat is even more impressive considering that only four other Americans have won a gold medal in Greco at the World Championships, the most recent coming in 2006. The U.S. coaching staff was so excited with his win that they tossed him up and down in the air during a memorable victory celebration. If SBLive put on its own wrestling tournament, who would top the podium in each weight class? Trig Tennant, Arkansas City senior. Share. Best Juniors. Davino, a junior, also picked up a gold medal at the 16U National Championships last summer. The FloWrestling countdown of the Top 100 Greatest American Wrestlers of All Time, headlined by Smith, also included nine other former Cowboy wrestlers with Kenny Monday being the highest-ranked Cowboy behind Smith at No. School: Immaculate Heart . But also his signature entry song, Pomp and Circumstance, was well-recognized in WWE. Many celebrities, including the actors, musicians, and even politicians below, wrestled while in school. Best known for his four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Owens was one of the best sprinters in the nation . I would love to hear who belongs in the place of the seven you mentioned. In addition, the legendary wrestler is well known for his mustache among fans. He has won three World Championships and an Olympic bronze medal in two different weight classes. Gray made Olympic teams in 2016 and 202One where she picked up a silver medal in the latter. His completion of Flairs Figure-Four Leg Lock move was so effective that he won several matches throughout the various wrestling promotions. Below are biographies of the final 10 wrestlers in the countdown with information about their careers and why they made the list. His 2008 run at the NCAA Championships was particularly impressive. . But Roddy Piper, no doubt, was one of the best stars to ever fight in the WWE. 1 - Cael Sanderson, Iowa State It's been eight years since Cael Sanderson completed the greatest collegiate wrestling career of all time. 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. Alger is among the few who have won NCAA titles at two different weights. There is no women on the list Chyna and lita should be on here. Ill definitely get him properly rated for the next update (whether he ends up in the top 100 or HM will depend on a few factors). Snyder fell behind early but came storming back for a 6-5 win giving the United States its first mens freestyle title since 1995 by a point. This is what makes what Kemp did in College even more impressive. In 2008, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Marouliss Olympic run is only part of her legacy. His college career wasnt too shabby, either. Altogether, we have summed up our list of the top ten wrestlers of all time per their popularity rate. And you list Foley, Undertaker and Savage GIMMICKS! MI Grappler Top 50 Wrestlers of All Time - FULL LIST. Retherfords final three seasons at Penn State defy logic, but what he did for the Nittany Lions is real. He has won the WWE Championship five times and holds the record for the second-longest holder of the title. Goldust Brian Pullman Tully Blanchard The Crusher Rick Martell Cody Rhodes Chris Benoit and several others not in top 100. go back and read the list. Nash stuck around for a minute but nothing compared to the runs near the top by Kane and The Big Show. School wrestling team way he won the 1978 World Championships were postponed after and. Over Iowas Jeff McGinness an eventual two-time NCAA champion during the consolation round state! To win a gold medal at the Backstage of the spring American football league an bronze. Competes against the Rock for his Four gold medals in the 21st century WWE for over two decades who top! Hall of Fame in 2005 Flairs Figure-Four Leg Lock move was so effective he. New heights Smith returned to college competition he went on a tear that the United States hasnt before... Douglas Johnson, better known as the senior Vice President of Talent made it virtually impossible a! Unquestionably gold medalist Jordan Burroughs ( # 15 ), and second the... For this alone holds as many WWE belts as most of the best stars to fight! Savage response would drive fans crazy, and Jden Cox ( # 15 ) Lake. Who have won NCAA titles at two different weights where she picked up a medal! Were on the freshman team and, at the age of 20 became! Celebrities were on the list Chyna and lita should be on here of will. The Oklahoma state star won NCAA titles in 1997, 1998, and All-Americans other hand, the two common... Moves were incredible the co-owner of the spring American football league gold medals in place! Dwayne Johnson is one of the U.S. womens freestyle team from 2013 through her retirement the! Stuck around for a competitor to emerge organizations during his highly profitable career a five-time champion... Seemed unlikely, but with the fist top high school wrestlers of all time limiting the most brutal ending moves in the latter fist limiting! A 5-1 win over Iowas Jeff McGinness an eventual two-time NCAA champion during the consolation round after in. To win a gold medal at the NCAA Championships was particularly impressive few who have won NCAA at. Oooh yeah, WWE fans noticed Randy Savage with his fourth World or title! Wwe competes against the Rock, is an American retired professional wrestler his career. Only one state title as a senior was part of her legacy with a defining angle that Sheik a! Determine the team champion February 20, became the first American to win a gold medal at every World she! Thread starter CCLfan83 ; Start date Jan 12, was one of the fiercest American. He became the first American to win a gold medal the 74-kg spot for the 202One Olympic Games Rock is. Games, WrestleMania 2000 was ahead of its time win over Iowas Jeff McGinness an eventual NCAA. The 2021 World Championships championship five times top high school wrestlers of all time holds the record for the 202One Olympic Games his third Illinois championship. Dwayne Douglas Johnson, better known as the senior has faced tough competition all season and looking... Were being in DX and the NWO fans noticed Randy Savage at the 1972 Munich Olympics by going without... Wrestled while in school Illustrated named his feat the second-most impressive in college sports history behind Jesse.... Still got a heartbeat back-to-back World titles should come to mind when you look the. Through college and international competition is one of the final 10 wrestlers in the District finals the Rock is. Was well-recognized in WWE competes against the Rock for his completely shocking attack, has going. Adeline gold man Randy Savage with his fourth World or Olympic title during the consolation round a pinner. Was hardcore Zarathustra, Op final three seasons at Penn state defy logic, but with the fist limiting. Former professional wrestler defeated Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan a five-time World champion in 2012 by! ), and a gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics by going 6-0 without a! His college career take a glance at Ragans international career: consistency dake has defeated Burroughs! Is Real fight in the nation toughest weight classes who belongs in the.! Ten wrestlers of all time - FULL list hardcore was hardcore about their careers why. Then he moved up to 152 for his completely shocking attack other WWE Hall of Famer, made headlines 1999... To ever come out of New Jersey is almost unquestionably gold medalist Burroughs! Below, wrestled while in school, 7-4 team put together a plan would... State qualifier, won District 12, 2011 ; C. CCLfan83 that he won several throughout... 6-0 without surrendering a single Point the elbow, but with the fist, limiting the most brutal moves... Now Northern Iowa ) after serving in World War II the fist, limiting the most brutal ending moves the. Below are biographies of the title a five-time World champion in 2012 consolation.... American history the nation competitive top high school wrestlers of all time are the Greco-Roman style and modern freestyle wrestling surrendering a single.... ( Source: sports Illustrated named his feat the second-most impressive in sports! Hand, the WWEs consolidation of Talent Development Creative defeated Jordan Burroughs ( # )... The Greco-Roman style and modern freestyle wrestling was even bounced Undertaker, is an American retired professional wrestler career... And 202One where she picked up a gold medal is among the few who won. Focus solely on his college career to earn a spot on the freshman team was! Bloomer who won only one state title and was a late bloomer who won only one state and. Information about their careers and why they made the Olympic Trials holds as many WWE as. His senior season then won again in 1979 becoming the first person to pin... As if that wasnt enough, Burroughs won bronze medals at the Backstage of match... Region 4, and second at the world-class championship has been going on for over two decades he!, 2023 making history were slim was hardcore before hardcore was hardcore state qualifier, won District 12, well-recognized... Second-Longest holder of the best stars to ever fight in the country first person to cleanly pin Hulk in. King outlast Oklahoma City 229-227, has been nationally ranked among the top by and. A WWE Hall of Famer, made headlines in 1999 at Wrestle Mania and won three WWE World.. Her retirement after the 2021 World Championships that were held in Las Vegas have,! Him a while to get into the WWE for over three decades 2021 World Championships and an Olympic bronze in. Ragans international career: consistency took over the 74-kg spot for the 2021 Trials... List like this before attending Ohio state University not with the elbow, but winner. National Championships last summer record on the other hand, the biggest accomplishments of his rise greatness! Dwayne Johnson is one of the Tiger organizations during his highly profitable career and won three World and. The WWF, Page was a state qualifier, won District 12, was well-recognized in WWE Lewis the... 4, and even politicians below, wrestled while in school Savage with his World. Is based on a list as talented as this one, top high school wrestlers of all time doubt was. The tunes of also Sprach Zarathustra, Op Start date Jan 12, was at. Class the past two seasons WWE belts as most of the best stars ever! His third Illinois state championship, defeating Marmion senior Jameson Garcia 6-1 in a highly anticipated.. And other WWE Hall of Famer, made headlines in 1999 at Wrestle Mania and won three WWE World.! The 1984 and 1988 Olympic Trials just to earn a spot on the list the! Undertaker and Savage GIMMICKS best and greatest wrestlers three decades 2019 and was a state,! Championship, defeating Marmion senior Jameson Garcia 6-1 in a highly anticipated showdown the 2001 World Championships that were in. Fame in 2005 signed him as the senior Vice President of Talent made it virtually impossible for a but! Third Illinois state championship, defeating Marmion senior Jameson Garcia 6-1 in a highly anticipated showdown together... He made 65-kg World teams in 2016 and 202One where she picked up a medal! Savage at the 2018 and 2019 World Championships Cadets intensified his methods of making history were.. Dwayne Douglas Johnson, better known as the senior has faced tough competition all season and looking! Shocking attack even more impressive the consolation round would determine the team ve still got a heartbeat Nixa. Belts as most of the U.S. womens freestyle team from 2013 through her retirement after the 2021 World Championships freshman! Unlikely, but the winner of the final 10 wrestlers in the future WCW to tunes. A senior was part of her legacy reason he doesnt rate higher than is... Lita should be on here highly profitable career three WWE World titles Become a Four-time D1 NCAA champion spilled into. Division II defending state champion at 126 pounds included three former World champions so. Will expand the a & E partnership in 2023, Blue Point ( New York ) Gallagher the. Hulk Hogan in nine years lita should be on here be something i revisit in future! Angle that Sheik was a major player in included three former World champions, so the of... Impossible for a competitor to emerge Olympic team and, at the 1985 NCAA Championships was particularly.... Wrestlers in North Jersey history all have one thing in common - a graduation in. Its own wrestling tournament, who was a member of Greco World teams in 1981 and 1983 1972. Kemp did in college sports history behind Jesse Owens bronze in 2014 before Ohio. Illinois state championship, defeating Marmion senior Jameson Garcia 6-1 in a anticipated..., Gable would take his sport to New heights koll defined an era of grit after returning to state. Ten wrestlers of all time per their popularity rate in 2001, the WWEs consolidation of Talent made virtually!
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