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Post by elliott on Jan 20, 2020 1:46:56 GMT -5
I think Robert Gibson might be the most underrated wrestler ever. What other transparently great wrestler did people just pretend was average at best forever? Maybe Taue...but Taue was getting huge praise as early as 95 and has ever since. Quoting myself. Oh right, the Roman Reigns
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Post by tetsujin on Jan 22, 2020 13:04:33 GMT -5
Reigns has been called a great wrestler since 2015 (even giving him BITW credit when he didn't have that level yet).
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Post by shrike02 on Jan 23, 2020 14:16:58 GMT -5
Rick Martel.
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Post by Cap on Jan 23, 2020 20:05:45 GMT -5
Yeah... this.
It isn't at all novel, but I think Seamus is a bit underrated on the whole.
Even though I praise Eddie all the time for getting an all timer out of him, JBL is underrated too. I think a lot of the knocks on him are things other folks get praised for (or at least a pass for). He might have been a jerk (no idea, but probably), but he was a pretty solid wrestler who could turn it on when he wanted.
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Post by bossrock on Jan 23, 2020 20:34:16 GMT -5
Carlos Colon. I know he's pretty well-regarded around these parts, but I honestly think you could make a case for him as the greatest babyface ever.
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Post by elliott on Jan 23, 2020 20:52:19 GMT -5
Make it.
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Post by nintendologic on Jan 24, 2020 13:17:02 GMT -5
I think Robert Gibson might be the most underrated wrestler ever. What other transparently great wrestler did people just pretend was average at best forever? Maybe Taue...but Taue was getting huge praise as early as 95 and has ever since. Yoshihiro Takayama probably deserves consideration. It's amusing to read Observers from the late 90s-early 00s and see things like "Somehow Takayama, who makes Van Hammer look like a great worker, looked great here" and "Takayama still isn't any good, but this match was excellent" (both actual verbatim quotes).
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Post by bossrock on Jan 24, 2020 20:00:06 GMT -5
That's hilarious. But yeah, have loved pretty much every Takayama match I've seen.
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Post by bossrock on Jan 24, 2020 20:16:14 GMT -5
Putting me on the spot here, ha. But sure I'll do it. Keep in mind a lot of this is just style preference. Comebacks: Don't think I've seen anyone with more fire. Lawler pulling down the strap is great and all, but the burst of energy from Colon followed by the cartwheel and toe touch...terrific. Selling: Amazing at selling a beatdown (also helps that he was a terrific bleeder). The first Hansen match contains the best Hansen blitz ever not just because Hansen is a buzz saw turned up to a 100, but in how Colon just makes him look like a monster. The Texas Death Match with Ayala (RIP) is probably an even better example. The way he sells the blood loss is tremendous and is honestly Bret-Austin before Bret-Austin even happened (minus the double-turn of course). His connection to the crowd and ability to garner sympathy was next-level. Offense: Needs to at least be in the conversation for best puncher ever even if I would still say Lawler is number 1. And not just his punches, but how he would throw in headbutts and even bite his opponent if it was a particularly heated feud. The beat downs he put on Abdullah stand out in particular when it comes to his offense. Ultimately, I think a lot if it is that Colon's violent, action-packed style just really appeals to me. That's not to say he wasn't great in his more sporting matches either, but give me the bloody brawls with Hansen, Ayala, and Abdullah any day of the week.
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Post by elliott on Jan 25, 2020 3:47:31 GMT -5
I don't disagree with anything above, I just think Invader I did all of these things better. He doesn't have the definitive rivalry like Colon/Hansen, but he has matches of comparable quality with randoms like Al Perez, Ron Starr and Eric Embry.
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Post by KB8 on Jan 25, 2020 8:23:32 GMT -5
Masao Orihara is a guy I've come to like a bunch over the last two or three years.
Was really fun as a spunky junior fighting above his station in SWS, at which point he'd only been wrestling for about a year. He took some absolutely hellish beatings off Kitahara and kept coming back, which really brought out the best in Kitahara (vicious wee bully whose beatings could be as nasty as his attitude. On that note he probably qualifies for this thread as well). Was incredibly fun in WAR and that 7/14 tag is making my top 15. He fucking ruled in that as the kid getting his liver stomped to bits by Kabuki and Kitahara (there's that match-up again). Awesome in the WAR v New Japan feud, whether he was stepping up to heavyweights (the Saito match from the 10/23/92 show is crazy good fun) or bringing the heat against the juniors. Morphed into a god tier level sleazeball and would bleed for days against folk like Great Takeru. Would imagine there's some fun indy sleaze Orihara from the 2000s out there as well. Maybe I'll do a deep dive...
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