Youve either got it or you dont, and wrestling history is littered with babyfaces that nobody believed in.
Everyone loves the hometown boy.
Outside of Memphis for years, Lawler generally played the heel.
But whenever someone stepped into Memphis, The King would be there to defend the people of the city.
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24.
In 1986, Kerrys right foot was amputated after a serious motorcycle accident.
What made JYD so popular and likeable was that he was tough without being threatening or mean.
And I cant neglect to mention his cover of Captain Chameleons Grab Them Cakes fromThe Wrestling Album.
Yep, a song about grabbing butts.
Kids like faces who sing about grabbing butts, I suppose.
Funks true coup would come over 20 years later in ECW.
Funk has been both the rebel and the traditionalist, but found his greatest accomplishments as a hero.
You build yourself a bigger star!
Thats what WCW tried to do with Bill Goldberg.
filled arenas when he would make his entrance.
The fans didnt mind that what he lacked in charisma he made up with intensity.
And winning the WCW World Heavyweight Title from Hollywood Hulk Hogan ensured he was the man.
Jimmy Superfly Snuka
Super- Super- Superfly!
He was even part of Hulk Hogans short lived XWF in 2001.
Ricky The Dragon Steamboat
The Dragon has always been a fan favorite.
Though Hogan will always be the hero ofWrestlemania III, fans know that Steamboat was not far behind.
Luckily he was a great wrestler, because Bret Hart could pull off that moniker as a face.
Antonino Rocca
How many wrestlers could throw Superman out of the ring?
Shortly after this transition, Rocca left the United States for international territories, not returning until 1976.
He passed in 1977.
His relationship with the lovely Miss Elizabeth didnt hurt, either!
Jeff Hardy
Live for the moment.
The Nu-Metal thumps, the crowd erupts and a Rainbow Haired Warrior makes his way to the ring.
He mounts the turnbuckle and symbolically points two pistols to his head.
This madness does not deflate his heroism, but rather enhances it.
This was no more evident than in his program facing CM Punk and his Straight Edge Society.
Playing off Hardys very real drug problems, the crowd responded and supported their hero.
The man who had sacrificed his body for them had gained their respect, despite his problems.
Now that is something to be admired.
Fans loved Takers creepiness so much that he wouldnt even have to say much in promos.
Plus, having a veteran manager like Paul Bearer helped him incredibly.
Okay, sometimes that was closer to 300 Pounds, but you might never get enough soul.
His championship reigns are nearly meaningless compared to the talent he has worked with.
Dusty not only worked with the best, but with the guys who gave the best their foundations.
An endearing underdog, Dusty Rhodes IS The American Dream.
Throughout his entire career The Man of a Thousand Masks never once turned heel.
John Cena
Hes the Hulk Hogan of a generation…just maybe not your generation.
Not long after, he became a rapper, go figure.
Though his Hip-Hop gimmick would initially garner boos, the crowd came to support the arrogant Cena.
As his popularity grew, his cartoony persona faded into the more natural role he has settled into today.
Challenge him, and your time may very well be up.
The Ultimate Warrior
Face paint?
Heavy metal intro music?
Youd better believe thats a check!
Those were their ingredients to the WWFs Build-A-Superstar recipe that brought us the Ultimate Warrior.
Fact: Warrior was the only person to pin Hogan cleanly for the WWF World Heavyweight Title.
In a business where you dont actually win anything or really beat anyone, that is saying something.
And the older fans loved him because of what a powerhouse he was in the ring!
With his arrival in the WWE in 2002, this would all change.
Back under the mask, the 168 pound Mysterio would take the World Heavyweight Title in 2006.
Hed come out smiling big, but get booed out of the building.
And even though he only comes back forWrestlemanianowadays, The Peoples Champ still lives up to his name.
Mick Foley
Mrs. Foleys baby boy became the world champion.
In 1999, after over a decade in the business, Foley would claim the WWF World Championship.
Have a nice day.
He would enter the arena and the crowds would explode with cheers and hold up their Austin 3:16 signs.
And his feud with The Rock helped put Rock on the wrestling map.
He was the anti-hero fans deserved AND needed at the time.
A week later he died of a heart attack.
On June 26thof 1942, Rudy Guzman Huerta entered the ring as El Santo for the first time.
Little did he know that he would go on to be the most popular luchador in history.
One, a comic book based on the wrestler that ran without interruption from 1952 until 1987.
Another, his film career which spanned from 1961 through 1982.
To this day, El Santo projects are being developed and pitched to media outlets.
Sting
Though he falls at Number 3 on this list, Sting might deserve to be Number 1.
With an impressive physique and exceptional mic skills, all of the best wanted to work with The Stinger.
Every year, the rumors begin of Sting finally making an appearance atWrestlemania.
While this has never happened, perhaps it should.
The Living Legend Bruno Sammartino
From the 1960s-1980s, Bruno was considered the best.
Bruno would cut a promo, and then speak in Italian for his Italian fans.
After being blackballed across the US for unknown reasons, he gave up on the sport.
Bruno was finally inducted into the WWE HOF this year at a ceremony in Madison Square Garden.
Bright colors, bleached blonde hair and an impossible physique.
The key to understanding Hulk Hogan can be summed up in one word Mania.
When Hulkamania ran wild, it took Vince McMahonsWrestlemaniafrom a supercard to something even greater.
Hulkamania took professional wrestling from a niche form of entertainment to an empire building phenomenon.
In 2002, nearly 20 years after his first world championship, something remarkable happened.
The crowd atWrestlemania XVIIIdecided that it was time for Hulk Hogan, their hero, to return.
Slowly, over his match with The Rock, Hollywood began to return to his old ways.
By the end, Hulkamania was once again running wild.
Hulk Hogan may not be immortal, but Hulkamania…thats another story.
-Vinny
You cant talk about 1980s wrestling without mentioning Hulk Hogan.
He was a superhero who stood up to every challenge and would always overcome insurmountable odds in the end.
Isnt that what superheroes do, and isnt that what kids want to see?
Then he would pose and get the audience to cheer even more.
The man knew how to work a crowd.
The 1980s were deservedly his, and wrestling wouldnt be where it is today without him.
Jesse
- This article was originally published on August 13th, 2013.
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