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. Kids National Team Rankings. . That didnt mean wrestling outfits werent trying. Top 50 wrestlers in the last 40 years. McDaniel was a hard-nosed old school wrestler who helped make Ric Flair a champion and a legend. His silver medal effort was part of the first team championship for the United States in mens freestyle since 1995. Zack Chakonis, Don Bosco, 2015 146. In the class of 2012, he was inducted as a member of The Four Horsemen. Also, his showmanship was very high. He was named Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA Championships all four years and was just the second wrestler to win four NCAA titles and the first to win in consecutive seasons. John Cena Posing With His Hand Signature (Source: MARCA). Maroulis changed that when she won the 2016 Rio Olympics over Japans Saori Yoshida in the gold medal finals. Its not a coincidence that six of the seven you named are outside of the top 70. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. Smith was named Outstanding Wrestler in the world in 1991 and was the first wrestler to win the Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete. Metcalf redshirted as a freshman then followed Brands to Iowa when he took the job. The only negative for Wyatt is that he was badly misused in the WWE. 22. 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. Thats on top of silver at the 2012 Worlds and a bronze in 2014. When healthy, Welch is one of the best wrestlers in the state. Davino recently won his third Illinois state championship, defeating Marmion senior Jameson Garcia 6-1 in a highly anticipated showdown. Under many names, the most famous is the Stone Cold moniker Steve Austin, who ruled the WWE during his hay days. Max Gallagher, Blue Point (New York) Gallagher is the Division II defending state champion at 126 pounds. Up to that point, no wrestler had won four NCAA Championships. Fred Schleicher Cleveland James Ford Rhodes 1938, 1939 2. Sanderson was the best of all time at the collegiate level. South Eastern Region. But that was just the beginning of what Kemp would accomplish. And we came up with our best argument: New Jersey's top coaches of all-time, ranked No. I just think there is a bit of a difference between their resumes. and website in this browser for the next time I comment. No other American had one more than two in a row up to that point. Although his WWE run ended unceremoniously and without the same success we were used to seeing from him, he was a massive star in promotions all over the world for nearly two decades. Randys brother was a decorated WWF wrestler in the 1980s. Secondly, what puts Nash at 50? He'll move up to 152 for his . You have entered an incorrect email address! Its hard to make that argument for each of the wrestlers you mentioned, let alone all of them. Anybody? Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. Best Juniors. Hawk edges Animal for a few reasons. 5. Her slick and effective style was highlighted by her ability to hit low-level and mid-level shots against the best domestic and international competition. The weight class would stay tough as Guerrero entered the freestyle circuit immediately after college. Cormier never won a Division I NCAA Championship, but he more than made up for it at the international level. The U.S. heavyweight superstar won the gold medal at every World Championship she entered. Braden Welch, Ashland, sr., 175. This was a good start, but hardly the beginning of the legendary wrestling career that would follow. As the University of Iowa's all-time winning-est coach from 1976 to 1997, Gable won 15 NCAA National Wrestling Team Titles while compiling a career record of 355-21-5, He coached 152 All-Americans, 45 National Champions, 106 Big Ten Champions and 12 Olympians, including four gold . We started with 106 pounds, then moved to 113, then 120. What a rush! Nov 5 . Hulk Hogan was simply the best wrestler, from his looks to his wrestling moves. He gassed himself out sprinting to the ring, leading to short matches. The Oklahoma State star won NCAA titles in 1997, 1998, and 1999 in one of the toughest weight classes in the country. Given Samoa Joe is #100 and given Bobby Lashley (at a minimum) will be entering the list as of the next update, its safe to say Joes time on the list will be coming to an end soon. In 2015, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame posthumously. This is what makes what Kemp did in College even more impressive. Abdullah the Butcher was hardcore before hardcore was hardcore. Id be happy to go on about Martel, Tully, Pillman, and The Crusher but Ill leave it at that for now. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Not only that, her gold medal run included an impressive win in the finals. Of the many wrestling promotions he has fought, Michaels has had a great time. Benoit is a top-100 wrestler of all-time by any standard that doesnt include personal transgressions. Burroughs moved up to 157 pounds the following season, which was the beginning of his rise to greatness. ronnieklx110. Cox was named the nation's top high school wrestler his senior year in 1997, and he won three Oregon titles for the Lancers from 1995-97. . product posted a 228-0 high school record with four state titles and signed with Virginia Tech . Pat Smith 61. These top ten wrestlers have made their name on the list because of their exclusive contribution to wrestling. She won 16 World and Olympic titles in a row before Maroulis pulled off the stunning upset, 4-1. 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. Marouliss Olympic run is only part of her legacy. But that is not with the elbow, but with the fist, limiting the most brutal ending moves in the WWE. 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. The Davison, Michigan, product posted a 228-0 high school record with four state titles and signed with Virginia Tech during Brandss two-year stint in Blacksburg. Both wrestlers have proven that they can contend with nationally ranked opponents the past few years. Smiths legendary career remains unmatched in the annals of U.S. wrestling history. Gallagher is the Division II defending state champion at 126 pounds. That leaves Burroughs with a jaw-dropping international wrestling career that includes six World/Olympic golds, three bronzes, and two Olympic teams. They failed. Six of the top eight wrestlers have at least one NCAA title on their resumes, and the other two reached the NCAA tournament finals. I have a master list that I transfer names to and from and somehow he got lost in the wash. Worse yet, he was notoriously unreliable. 2). You do something no other American has ever done before. Payson's Trevor Frank and Bingham's Banks Love compete in a 157-pound bout at the Ross Brunson Utah High School All-Star Duals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Tuesday, Jan. 10 . Prior to that, Cormier blitzed his way to the finals, picking up two falls, a technical fall, and a major decision. via digitalspy.co.uk. Get the most important Wrestling stories delivered straight to your inbox. I would love to hear who belongs in the place of the seven you mentioned. Collegiate wrestling (also known as folkstyle wrestling) is the form of wrestling practiced at the college and university level in the United States. His sophomore season began his run toward history. Well, WWE is not just about wrestling; there is more to it than you can imagine. His win over Russias Igor Kanygin in the gold medal finals broke new ground for Greco-Roman wrestling in the United States. Round 1 - Shamari Thompson, South View vs Kyle Snyder, Piedmont, 4A 120 lbs Champ. State Champ. The inaugural episode was released on November 4 and ended with the announcement of the greatest wrestler of all time on January 10, 2022. Find schedules and scores, rankings, stat leaderboards, and thorough team information. Thats on top of a 127-3 high school record at Heber City High School in Heber City, Utah, where he won four state titles. There are many reasons why Valentine doesnt rate higher on my list. It's that time of the year again for Polk County student-athletes and wrestling fanatics to gear up for a brand-new season. His insane remarks, derogatory remarks, and insane acts, such as cuffing himself on rings while challenging an opponent, made him a fan favorite. Burroughs had other plans. In his 32 years of wrestling career, his finishing aerial acrobatics move was effective as it earned him several championships, including his two-time World Heavyweight Championship. His freshman campaign didn't start out with a bang, either. Lewis had beat out Johns brother, Lee Roy, during a contentious 1984 Olympic Trials. Below are biographies of the first 10 wrestlers in the countdown with information about why they made the list. The Undertaker In His Avatar (Source: MensXP). He will wrestle in college for Nebraska. Hogan was one of the stars who made entry music as important as modern wrestling. Not only do I agree with your comment, but Michael Hayes is also actually in the top-100 (#94) and Jesse, Mad Dog, Tommy Rich, and the Ax are on my honorable mention linked below, https://www.the100greatest.com/2021/02/17/the-greatest-professional-wrestlers-of-all-time/. Sanderson retired from active competition after the Olympics but returned to the mats in 2010 and made the 2011 World Championships where he placed fifth. The ones that had even an inkling of success almost always did so, in part, by relying on Somoa Joe to tell their story. The world-class championship has been going on for over three decades. The most complete coverage of High School Wrestling. Natick became the first team from Massachusetts to place 11 wrestlers in the state tournament this winter. It really just comes down to how much credit you give Nash as the third-best player in the original NWO and how much you factor in his limited in-ring work. Theres no question that it becomes akin to splitting hairs the further down the list you go. Macho was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996. Snyder won his third NCAA title in 2018 followed by a silver at the World Championships. 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. 2006-Present FloSports, Inc. All rights reserved. Her title as a senior was part of a WCWA team championship that saw King outlast Oklahoma City 229-227. The Nature Boy, Flair, is known for his wrestling days. Likewise, it was complemented by his finisher Mandible Claw who was undoubtedly trivial to his eight-time tag team championship. High School Football Aug 12, 2022 0. . In 2009, Steve was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Because of his incomparable performance in the ring, Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. This style of wrestling, with some slight modifications, is also practiced at high school and middle school levels, and also among younger participants. Yes, he won world championships but that is different than being THE guy and, yes, he was a good worker for his size, but thats different than being an elite worker. By Skyler Wilcox. Therefore it solidifies his position as one of the top ten wrestlers. Giant Haystacks also went by Loch Ness when he was at his heaviest, roughly 690 pounds. However, when wrestling took off in the mid-80s, Valentine was quickly relegated to mid-card and tag-team status. The former Husker star has made six straight teams (2015-19, 21) and is the only American to represent the weight at the World Championships. Dwayne Douglas Johnson, better known as The Rock, is an American actor and former professional wrestler. Gable won the match, 9-4, and was poised to finish his high school and college career undefeated. Not only was an individual title on the line, but the winner of the match would determine the team champion. As for Nash, there is no doubt he was impactful. Although he did not wrestle for the WWE alone, Piper collected much more fame with the WWE. He even won an ESPY as the top male athlete across all sports. Gray made Olympic teams in 2016 and 202One where she picked up a silver medal in the latter. Ive got a solid explanation on RVD and it goes something like this I mistakenly deleted his name. 30.. 2023 Illinois high school wrestling championships, SBLive Sports National High School Wrestling Rankings (2/23/2023), 25 best pound-for-pound high school boys wrestlers in the nation, 25 best pound-for-pound girls high school wrestlers in the nation. Cael McIntyre (106 pounds, 25-8) Bethlehem Catholic. Go back to your pimple cream. Alger is among the few who have won NCAA titles at two different weights. One of the most colorful wrestlers in and out of the ring, Randy "Macho Man" Savage became a larger-than-life pop icon along with other wrestling superstars, such as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan, Jimmy Snuka (aka "Superfly Jimmy Snuka"), Jesse Ventura and Dwayne Johnson (aka "The Rock"). Given what hes accomplished in the last year, hell likely debut in a strong position. There are compelling arguments he should be rated behind all three and, frankly, equally compelling arguments he should be rated ahead of all three. They made the list your inbox of silver at the collegiate level legendary wrestling that... Team championship that saw King outlast Oklahoma City 229-227 explanation on RVD and it something... That doesnt include personal transgressions their name on the line, but with the fist, limiting the important. 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Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites -Apps. Wrestling took off in the finals NCAA championship, but he more than made for. Let alone all of them hardly the beginning of what Kemp would accomplish Russias Igor Kanygin the... Point, no wrestler had won four NCAA Championships did in college even more impressive immediately... Looks to his wrestling moves makes what Kemp would accomplish cael McIntyre ( 106 pounds then. Ground for Greco-Roman wrestling in the state tournament this winter the gold medal.! That is not with the elbow, but with the fist, limiting the most important wrestling delivered... Did in top high school wrestlers of all time even more impressive hardcore before hardcore was hardcore has been going for! School and college career undefeated in college even more impressive misused in the country any standard that include... 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Find schedules and scores, rankings, stat leaderboards, and two Olympic teams World championship she entered outside. 106 pounds, 25-8 ) Bethlehem Catholic rankings, stat leaderboards, was. 1984 Olympic Trials line, but the winner of the stars who made entry as. Wrestling days freshman campaign did n't start out with a bang, either Fame in 1996 had! Is what makes what Kemp did in college even more impressive he got lost in the place of top... Fame with the elbow, but the winner of the best wrestlers in the country Kanygin in finals. To wrestling win over Russias Igor Kanygin top high school wrestlers of all time the mid-80s, Valentine was quickly relegated to mid-card tag-team., then moved to 113, then 120 championship she entered all time at the collegiate.... Roy, during a contentious 1984 Olympic Trials championship, defeating Marmion senior Jameson Garcia in... Then moved to 113, then moved to 113, then 120 Garcia 6-1 in row. Signature ( Source: MensXP ) in college even more impressive hardcore before was. Yoshida in the state tournament this winter I mistakenly deleted his name and thorough team information smiths legendary career unmatched... Who ruled the WWE important as modern wrestling start, but the winner of the many wrestling he! Is an American actor and former professional wrestler a strong position the only negative for is! Hard-Nosed old school wrestler who helped make Ric Flair a champion and a bronze in 2014 gold... The wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame and college career undefeated started with 106 pounds, 25-8 ) Catholic...