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EditorialThe Mount Rushmore of Pro Wrestling: Who Truly Is The Greatest Of...

The Mount Rushmore of Pro Wrestling: Who Truly Is The Greatest Of All Time?

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This is perhaps the age-old question for true blue wrestling fans; especially those that have been watching the longest, or at least know their history quite well. Just who is the greatest of all-time? And who does deserve to have their faces etched in the stone of the Mount Rushmore of the professional wrestling industry?

The answer is arguable and dear readers, you may all have your own opinions on that, but here are mine and I’ll set out to prove them as best as I can here.

The stone artist

Perhaps it is important to mention that right now AEW is at a critical juncture, especially with recent signings and rumored signings, it seems as though the company is sure to gain even more momentum than it already had. But the list that follows includes four names that passed through WWE alone, and not only that they took what once was the old New York territory of the NWA by storm.

If I could paint anything but abstract art, I’ve always wanted to paint a portrait of my wrestling Mount Rushmore, but an inclusion that would have been necessary would have been a Vince McMahon figure at the bottom holding a chisel, his father’s hand on his shoulder, as Vince has a part to play in all of these men’s rise in the industry, as they all four have equal parts in that as well. I found that rather important to mention.

So without further ado, why not get started…?

Bruno Sammartino

Bruno
via AP News

Maybe no one will ever break his record in the modern era; no one else on this list has, that’s for sure, and perhaps no one is meant to.

The legacy Bruno Sammartino left behind one that will stay etched in the annals of wrestling history, or etched in stone, pardon the pun.

Also known as “The Italian Strongman” Sammartino helped cement into the minds of a generation what a wrestler looked like and how a pro wrestler should act. The traveling circus freak image that was attached to professional wrestlers was itself already in the minds of many during the fifties. That stigma would follow wrestlers and the industry overall, for many years and believe it or not, in some circles, some believe that wrestling—even today—was and is a child’s interest. Sad but true folks.

This coming from a writer who writes for a living and garners the most money from his writings in the professional wrestling industry publications, so I guess the joke’s are on the rest of that demographic that doesn’t believe how exactly ‘over’ the business is.

Regardless, Sammartino’s 4,040 day reign is unequalled. It actually lasted altogether in two reigns for a whopping 11 years. The first of his two reigns lasted 2,803 days and was unequalled by anyone. Bob Backlund came close with 2,135.

And it was during Sammartino’s run that he brought the then considered sport of professional wrestling to the masses. Of course it was a joint effort and always has been and always will be…the McMahon’s, the fans, and the spearhead that is the wrestler in question, and in this case, the man carrying the whole thing on his shoulders, and for that era it was without question, Bruno.

It can be argued that Sammartino was responsible for bringing in interest to the New York Territory from Canada perhaps even before Stu Hart, as when frustrated with the New York territory, he went to Canada, landing very well with the influx of Italian Immigrants in the city…then returning to New York, bringing a whole new demographic with him in the Italian/Canadians.

This of course can be argued, as I stated, but then again we can argue that the world is round and not flat until we’re blue in the face, but flat-earthers still hang on to their beliefs and hey…good for them. What would the world be without a little argument now and again and I can applaud their conviction. “You’ve gotta serve somebody,” as Bob Dylan once said.

Bruno did very well in the rest of Canada before returning to New York where his popularity and workhorse mentality landed him the top spot and for 11 years. Now talk about carrying the company.

Hulk Hogan

Hogan
via Jetss

The eighties were an era of big hair, loud music and fast times. But the eighties were likewise a time when pro wrestling hit the mainstream so to speak, and that was owed almost entirely to one blond-haired myth.

That myth was the legend that is Hulk Hogan and his run through WWE is legendary, as his fall in the early nineties was as well.

But before that he helped Vince McMahon usher in WrestleMania, along with everyone else on that first card. He ultimately started a movement in professional wrestling known as Hulkamania, and boy did it “run wild” amongst the masses. He suffered a low point in that run only by the time that 1994 rolled around and WWE at the time was going through what the company called a “youth movement,” discarding of the older members of their roster.

Of course he wouldn’t stay down for long and in 1994 started with Ted Turner’s WCW and almost had a hand in ruining WWE for good when he helped start the NWO with the Outsiders, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.

The rest, when it comes to Hulk Hogan, is pro wrestling lore.

Stone Cold Steve Austin

Austin
via Men’s Health

1999 was the best year in wrestling. If you don’t believe me, take a look at these stats.

This was primarily due to Steve Austin who had practically ushered in the Attitude Era almost by his lonesome. He did a heck of a lot in his 13 years in the business—as an active wrestler—and one of the major things he did was to help catapult WWE into the stratosphere, ultimately passing the football to the next man on the list…

More on Steve in just a bit…

John Cena

John
via Bleacher Report

What can be said about the man that recently almost broke Twitter because of his return to WWE at Money In The Bank?

He “was the last in line,” as he’s stated. Most of his OVW class, which included Batista, Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar, were supposed to be favored to be the next big thing, quite literally. But after each of them had some hiccups along the way and after Brock left the business in 2004 (he’d return in 2012) it was Cena that was left holding the bag…a bag he very much liked holding and for very good reason. He was great at this and he caught on quick, ultimately gaining the favor of Stephanie McMahon first.

When he was granted that top spot finally in 2005, he won the WWE Championship and took it from JBL at WrestleMania 21; it was surely cemented in the annals of wrestling history…that John Cena was the new face that would run the place.

What followed were years of dominance, in terms of the championship and what he was capable of doing when scheduling was concerned. All professional wrestlers working a WWE schedule are literally put through the ringer, but John Cena did more, and that point cannot be argued.

He’s granted more wishes for the Make a Wish Foundation than Betsy Ross has sold flags with her work with a needle and thread; he’s done more in terms of overall schedule (not just including matches and events) than anyone, and even on the current roster.

All of the aforementioned men did, and that’s what comes with being the top guy…the price they pay and paid.

And so what do they all have in common…these four men…these four faces on the Mount Rushmore of professional wrestling? They all carried the business on their massive shoulders, and they all brought the business of professional wrestling to a larger audience, which is why the business is where it’s at today. Perhaps it’s as simple as that, but maybe it isn’t all at the same time.

Honorable mentions that catapulted the business

rock
via Times of India

One name would be added to this list as far as promoting the business to a broader audience was concerned, and we’d remove Bruno for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The only reason I didn’t was because as far as in-ring action was concerned and being on the full-time roster for a longer period, Dwayne did less than all of these men. But, his being in Hollywood, and being the massive success that he is, he brought a lot of attraction to pro wrestling in general and that needs to be mentioned here. If there were five faces on Mount Rushmore, he’d be there, as would Bret Hart, if this was based on carrying the company as well as the technical side of the business.

Technical wrestlers

bret
via biography and the biography

Which brings me to this next point: A whole new list of men would be necessary if this was based on technical wrestling…Eddie Guerrero, The British Bulldog, the aforementioned Bret Hart, and now Daniel Bryan in the modern era.

And will you permit me, please, to be a tad controversial in mentioning Chris Benoit? I mean no matter what WWE says about him, or if they’ve stricken him from the history books, he deserves to be remembered for what he did in the squared circle, and the squared circle alone. The mystery and controversy surrounding his death shouldn’t mar that at least; besides, too much is still unknown for anyone to judge.

Up for argument

Booker
via Wrestling Championships Belts Shop

The work horses: Booker T, Roddy Piper, Ric Flair, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels…the top guys wouldn’t have been carrying anything if it wasn’t for these names and others that I’ve failed to mention—let’s get that out of the way now—the ‘workers’ in the business drew and they drew big.

Hogan, Sammartino, Austin and Cena were essentially the faces that ran the place; they were where all of McMahon’s attention and investment was mainly put. That’s not to say that these men here or others didn’t work hard and draw, because they most definitely did.

Promising future alumni for this list—perhaps a second mountain

Right now, Kenny Omega fits that bill. He’s a definite contender and that’s all without ever setting foot in WWE for a significant run.

omega
via POST wrestling

But there is a worry of wrestlers fitting the bill that the aforementioned men, the men on that face of the mountain, will never be replaced and that is the failure to find that appropriate leader…that one man that would carry the company on his shoulders and into the future.

Triple H has said of the modern era—let’s say PG Era forward—(paraphrased) there won’t be that single guy to carry the company; he’s stated that it will be a collective of guys as opposed to being just a one-man show. But let me ask this: has the collective been able to grasp the brass ring that the principle four men that are the focal point of this article, were able to grab? No.

The ratings are down, the numbers in attendance are down…and they stifled the one guy that was well on his way to getting there back in 2011, or at least close, in the form of one Phil Brooks, AKA, CM Punk. Just look at the numbers for Raw ratings over the years in comparison.

Something else I want you to look at in comparison; especially if you don’t agree. Have you heard the WWE media stars stating how the biggest pop of the night at Money In The Bank went to Bianca Belair?

edge
via Sportskeeda

What show were they watching? The biggest pops of the night went to Edge and John Cena. It’s a little annoying…okay it’s a lot annoying, as WWE never ceases to push who we’re supposed to like and who we’re supposed to hate. I miss when it was up to us and not WWE making the choice for us.

And I don’t think we can blame Vince for this. By now the machine is too big. He himself told Steve Austin in 2014 on the Stone Cold Podcast on the WWE Network:  “This is a different group of guys…and gals. They’re millennials…they’re not as ambitious, quite frankly, and they’re not trepidatious at all; I just don’t think that they necessarily reach for that brass ring. The last person who really reached for that brass ring, in all likelihood was John Cena. There are others coming up now who definitely want to reach for it…”

He went on to mention Ambrose (Jon Moxley) who left the company, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Bray Wyatt. All have had impeccable careers. But have they reached for the aforementioned brass ring? And have they delivered what Austin, Hogan, Cena and Sammartino delivered?

It’s no wonder that when wrestlers like Lesnar and Goldberg return, Vince holds onto them like a relic or buried treasure, because he knows that there is a large portion of the audience—perhaps the lost portion— that wants to see these guys from previous eras do well and essentially they get what they lost when WWE took a different direction.

goldberg
via Sports Illustrated

We see it every time Goldberg returns, and now even Cena. His return has gotten a lot of people talking and perhaps to go into it any further would be mute…or hammering the nail in a tad too aggressively.

And you want to hear pops…listen closely to the pops Steve Austin garnered every time he walked out to the audience during the Attitude Era. There were even less people out there! I mean my mom knew who Steve Austin was…and she sure as heck wasn’t and isn’t a wrestling fan! The term household name comes to mind.

I’d like to take you back to the Hall of Fame ceremony at WrestleMaina 25. Stone Cold Steve Austin was placed in the WWE Hall Of Fame. He was inducted by Vince McMahon himself, and Vince McMahon himself said that there was no one ever greater than Austin. I’d say that makes Austin the G.O.A.T., don’t you?

While Austin was celebrating as he always has…with beer, who did he carry a beer to for a one-on-one cheer? Cena. If you don’t remember, go take a look online. It speaks volumes and perhaps helps me deliver my point.

I’ll end this with saying: who will get John’s beer when his career in the squared circle is said and done, and he takes his most deserved spot in the WWE Hall of Fame?

If you’re hearing crickets, it’s because of WWE ‘s decision to go with a collective instead of a single face to carry the company…a man like Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin and John Cena.

sasha
via Cultaholic

Will it be Reigns? Will it be McIntyre? Will it be Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, or Charlotte Flair? Or will it be someone we haven’t even yet met?

The future can sometimes be brightest only if you let it happen organically and without design.

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