Jim Cornette on the Best Workers for Each Decade

[@19580822]

Glad you mentioned Lawler. A great worker and larger than life personality on the mic. He OWNED Mid-South/CWA for years. First saw him when I was stationed in Millington TN in the mid-late '70s and I was impressed, and I'm an old WWF fan from the Boston area. He wasn't called The King for nothing.

[@TranceMasterJack]

You're right!

[@andrewswwgroleau1459]

The way Dustin leans into the ropes is amazing. Really distributes his weight well. Great flow in the ring. And Golddust always had my sides splitting with laughter. One of the best characters ever. HHH Golddust feud was hilarious, with great wrestling

[@DeadSurvivor]

"Double A" Arn Anderson Is Also One Of The Most Under-Rated Top Professional Wrestlers Out There. His Technical Skills Were Up There With The Best Of Them.

[@RyanDMoore]

Seems like a douche, but a great worker.

[@russblack443]

Not only in the ring Arn's promo skills were unreal even early in his career. If it wasn't for him there would have been no horsemen he is the one who coined the phrase

[@chrischar9428]

Underrated by whom. Who the fuck doesn't know how great he was

[@DeadSurvivor]

@@chrischar9428 I Agree. When I Mention Double A, A Few People Have Mentioned "He's No Ric Flair!" ... And That's True, He Was Better Than Flair (My Opinion). But When Tag-Teaming, His Skills Were Not Under-Rated. I Meant As A Singles Competitor, Being The "Enforcer" Of The Four Horsemen. I Always Had Mad Respect For Arn Anderson.

[@herzkine]

@ chris car ...Well vince mc mahon for example basically used him as a Jobber...

[@pullupthen5073]

I'm glad they said his name. Dustin Rhodes/Goldust is the most underrated worker in wrestling history

[@walsh9080]

I'd say Mike Awesome or Chris Kanyon are more underrated. Awesome was a beast, I've never understood why WWE never used Awesome, he seems like he would've been tailored made for them. In regards to Kanyon, all I have to say, apart from how innovative he was, is "WHO BETTER THAN KANYON?"

[@walsh9080]

@Derek ex Machina Although I do think one of the Radicals is criminally underrated. Perry Saturn.

[@tigersaint07]

Wooooooo!!!!!!!

[@barakbalestrery4138]

@@walsh9080 I know Mike Awesome had depression issues. Not sure if he had that has early has his time in WWE, or it came later. Also one of things Vince did was burry a lot of good talent in the WCW/ECW invasion angle that Mike was a part of. Mike, Lance, Booker T, Dallas Page and others. Deserved better then they got. I'm not saying give them all the main event spot. But that whole angle was only to make WWE look good and WCW/ECW look like pure trash

[@JohnBarron-n]

The cat !

[@Jblews75]

Jim Cornette is a legend

[@kuma1388]

My favorite Goldust story is Dustin explaining Vince’s idea for the character. Telling him the character was going to be very androgynous and Dustin said “okay that sounds great Vince. “ then he had to go home and look in the dictionary to see what the definition of androgynous was. 🤣😂🤣

[@grantorino2009]

Thank you for giving Lawler props. He deserves it.

[@graydomn]

Nick Bockwinkle, Vern Gagne, and Billy Robinson.

[@denisashby5589]

2000s Sheldon Benjamin, they didn't use him right but boy he could move in the air and on the mat

[@ANDCFC95]

Wasn’t a major draw though

[@denisashby5589]

@@ANDCFC95 because they didn't know how to use him/vince was too busy pushing his son in law

[@jjpope1113]

🤣🤣🤣🍒🍆🤡🌈

[@wereallscrewed9714]

@@denisashby5589 he couldnt talk or carry a program to save his life

[@RichardNeal-cj6oy]

​@@wereallscrewed9714He wasn't really given a proper chance to

[@TripleRp]

I agree, Jerry Lawler was a seriously effective heel.

[@num1shinfan]

I don't understand why he feels the need to apologize for that. I always thought Jerry was great

[@austinha11]

Orton's wrestling ability is always underrated.

[@jeremyjohnson1265]

I’ll go top 3 from 70s onward: 1970s: Harley Race, Jack Brisco, Bockwinkel 1980s: Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Randy Savage 1990s: Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Misawa 2000s: Kurt Angle, Edge, Eddie Guerrero 2010s: Daniel Bryan, Okada, AJ Styles

[@jeremyjohnson1265]

Honorable Mentions: The Undertaker, Chris Jericho, Jerry Lawler, Barry Windham, Curt Hennig, Chris Benoit, Samoa Joe, Bobby Eaton, CM Punk, The Great Muta

[@BishopM1]

Take out Edge and put Benoit there for sure. And what about Kobashi and Manami Toyota as well

[@marcusstanley96]

Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard two of my favorites from the 80’s

[@MrCodystewie]

70's Harley Race 80's Flair, Savage, Steamboat, Dynamite 90' Bret Hart, HBK 2000's Benoit, Angle, HBK 2010's Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles.

[@youngtiq4704]

No stone cold or Rock

[@MrCodystewie]

@@youngtiq4704 I liked Stone cold as a worker but he was never the best maybe top 5 and The Rock wasn't a great worker.

[@danielhudson5424]

AJ Styles Is Currently Leading The 2010-2019 Best Worker Of The Decade To Me.

[@beau9956]

Okada is also up there, he is very underrated. but AJ Styles right now is second to none. His the best wrestler on the planet

[@Visionarymindstudios]

*2009

[@Chinaboatman]

If the conversation is only about US wrestling then yes.

[@MrGhostVI]

Chinaboatman even in Japan. he's over everywhere and has bomb matches with any style any where

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

AJ Styles is Great but I will say his stuff pre-2010 was better. He is pretty beat up now. There's a lot of things he cannot do.

[@YoungGrizzly82]

80s: Flair/Savage/Steamboat 90s: Bret/HBK 00s: Benoit/Angle/Jericho

[@josephmatthews7698]

Shawn Michael's could get himself over. Bret Hart could get anyone over. We wouldn't have Steve frickin' Austin without Bret. Remember the blood from the I quit match? Bret gave Steve that color. He knicked Steve perfectly so it wasn't gory or gross and just created this iconic image that will hang in the halls of wrestling imagery forever. You notice Steve never had a scar or a nasty gash - everything Bret did was perfection personified in the ring.

[@ferox965]

Exactly. Bret could have a match of a grubworm and make it awesome.

[@george9822]

Shawn’s matches were better. Even into the 2000’s. Also Bret was terrible on the mic.

[@rolltide9547]

Steve Austin did not need Bret Hart. He just needed a stepping stone and that was Bret.

[@knowyourroleboulevard7119]

G Puppy Bret was awesome on the mic.

[@So_Toasty]

I love Bret, but I think you are letting your personal feelings taint the truth. Shawn Michael's helped get Razor over in the first ladder match on WWE. Whatever problems you have with HBK's personal character (And there are alot to have) He was an amazing performer that can't be denied. Bret was also a massive tool at time, who took himself so serious that it harmed others. So lets not pretend that this was some white hat vs black hat john wayne movie. There is nuance to every conflict. Also: Bret Hart could get anyone over...unless it was in Canada...then nobody gets over but Bret! lol.

[@andrewhoward1811]

I don't think you can talk about best workers from the 80's without talking about Ricky Steamboat and Savage. And also 90's/00's without mentioning Chris Jericho's name. Just my opinion though.

[@rolltide9547]

Flair alone in 1989 makes him the best of the 80's.

[@LordSathar]

For sheer work, he was never a star, i'd say Al Snow for the 90's.

[@LimaKiloRomeo]

He was one of the best, but his peaks were 2000 (when he was amongst the best), 2001 (where he should've been the best, but wasn't booked to be), & 2008 (where I feel he was truly able to show he was the best)

[@kjguidry839]

Love Jericho but as a worker you can go without mentioning jericho

[@gras1hoppa420]

I Love how Cornette puts over Jerry Lawler!!! 80s were so Awesome.. Dusty, Flair, Hogan, Mach Man, just awesome all around...

[@davidholzer4155]

Actually that match that Orton and Dustin had in 2013 when Dustin was trying to get Cody's job back was amazing

[@melmaciandissenter2324]

80's : Koko B. Ware & TugBoat 90's : Doink the Clown & the Genius Lanny Poffo !

[@thedoncrazephaze5375]

Bobby Eaton deserves 2b in the conversation for the 80s...very well respected...a lot of his peers would agree he's one of the best workers of all time, man if he only could have worked the mic!!!...so many good workers to choose from - famous, obscure, or in - between.

[@dannyolsen5543]

He was the best

[@slabbusterrtr7690]

I agree Bobby Eaton nobody uve ever seen has got a bad word to say about Bobby Eaton

[@azapro911]

'80s: Flair. '90s: Michaels. '00s: Angle. '10s: Oooohhhh, let's have a best-of-five series between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan to settle it once and for all.

[@somerandomguy3011]

It’s crazy listening to this in 2021 cause I wonder how they feel about these people right now.

[@fmthebaron]

70's Harley Race, 80's Ric Flair, 90's and 00's Shawn Michaels, 2010's AJ Styles.

[@BEARDEDGOAT]

70s: Harley Race 80s: Ric Flair 90s: Bret Hart 00s: Kurt Angle 10s: AJ Styles

[@Tur1883]

MMA THROWDOWN fuck AJ Styles. Boring & overrated zzzz

[@RealFuckingReviews]

I would say funk over race, but other than that, this is pretty much my list.

[@sinceremaverick7081]

No way Flair was better than Randy Savage or Rick Steamboat as far as in ring performance. Ric Flair is the Pete Rose of Wrestling # Legend

[@tommyhallum2015]

I don't necessarily agree with that but that's damn hard to argue with.

[@henrylansky4177]

70s Bruno 80s Hulk Hogan 90s Bret Hart- Austin- 00s- Rock 10s-Brock

[@OldSchoolRasslin]

Nick Bockwinkel was the best worker of the 70s.

[@gahlblah5649]

I'd say a tie between him, the briscoes, and the funk brothers.

[@blacquesjacques7239]

Chavo Guerrero ? The Spoiler ? The Masked Superstar ? Scott Irwin ?

[@chuckcape7248]

Bill Eadie, AKA The Masked Superstar, Bolo Mongol and Ax of Demolition was one the best ever.

[@douglaspatrick868]

These are all great shouts goes to show how fantastic being a wrestling fan then must have been. I love watching that old stuff. Dick Murdoch and Killer Karl Kox were great workers too, and what about Archie Gouldie? I haven't got to see as much of him as I would like but I love his stuff, such a believable and mega over heel in Stampede and the Tennessee territories, though I gues he had some 80's runs too that were memorable, and Jim used him as an old guy in SMW. Nick was as good as anybody, and for me personally he's in a tie as my favorite talker of the era with Harley, Ernie Ladd, and Ron Wright, who is another guy I'd love to see more of.

[@johngallagher72]

He'd be on a short list with Race Jack Brisco and the Funks

[@briancoffey4581]

No list of all-time great workers can be complete without Nick Bockwinkel and Curt Hennig. In 1986-87, with the rest of the AWA crumbling around them, the matches between those two, with Nick in his early '50's and winding down and Hennig entering his glory days, were phenomenal. Particularly the hour-long bloodbath that aired on ESPN.

[@johnjarnac6507]

Another underated wrestler and he's probably one of the best hi flyers and moves very well in the ring the whole f'n show Rob Van Dam !!! Bad ass

[@TheRomundus]

In the 70s it was Nick Bockwinkel, hands down.

[@pumpkinsdontcry]

Harley Race: Am I a joke to you?

[@PunkSlapper123]

Bockwinkel is definitely towards the top. He could make anyone look great and he did it for a long time.

[@jwpdsrp693]

60s - Bruno 70s - Race 80s - Flair 90s - HBK 00s - Angle 10s - Styles

[@CollegeBallYouknow]

Great list but I’d put Bret over Shawn for the 90’s or at the very least on par.

[@MTRZ97]

Ridley Shawn vs Bret is easily the most difficult of the bunch. If anything, it depends on how you like your wrestling

[@george9822]

You are either a Bret Hart fan or a Shawn Michaels fan. You can’t be both equally.

[@southstar6208]

1980's: Barry Windham @ 240-260 fighting weight, beautiful worker.

[@dannyolsen5543]

He was

[@tankwfw]

Really surprised Jim didn't even consider Bobby Eaton for the 80's

[@chrischar9428]

DiBiase in 80s was gold

[@ARNRF67]

When you're talking about the best workers of the 90's, you have to mention The Shockmaster.

[@schmoeschlomo6972]

Dynamite Kid was top dog at least till the mid 80's

[@adamirishconundrum851]

80's Brooklyn Brawler 90's Barry Horowitz 00's Lenny Lane.

[@paulk6399]

Dolph Ziggler's ring psychology 😂😂😂

[@BrittneyStarling]

I think Bret was premier worker of the 90s imo

[@leesc11]

Race 70s, Steamboat 80s, Austin 90s, Benoit 00s Austin in WCW was UNBELIEVABLE but even beaten up, bigger and slower he went move for move with Michaels and Hart in 96/97

[@Serenitynowwwww]

I like how Dustin was considered his peak self 6-7 years ago Look at him now

[@phustravel2239]

I love Jim Cornette. He and I really agree on so many things.

[@mr.triplecrown9911]

50's - Lou Thesz 60's - Gene Kiniski 70's - Billy Robinson 80's - Dynamite Kid 90's - Mitsuharu Misawa 00's - Kurt Angle

[@qgill778]

Never was too hot on Goldust but Dustin Rhodes definitely should’ve got more shine and a couple title runs always loved watching him work in the ring.

[@iago1616]

Bobby Eaton and Barry Windham. Heard they had a spectacular match before a show while wrestling on their knees.

[@obersveyourmind]

In 2000s : Kurt Angle. I'll put Benoît there too! Kurt is probably the most complete wrestler in my eyes. Perfect in the ring. Perfect on the mic. Charismatic as hell. He knew how to entertain and at the same time he was a believable athlete that could be a threat to anyone in that damn ring. 2010s : Aj Styles. Okada. Daniel Bryan! Brock Lesnar! Those 4 gentlemen are up right there. Tahanashi and Chris Jericho are not far from the top list too.

[@ricosalvaje5802]

The best of the 80's - Ric Flair 90's Bret Hart 00's Shawn Michaels 10's A.J Styles

[@RheemQ]

You obviously didn't watch the 2000's if you think Michaels is over Angle or Benoit

[@ricosalvaje5802]

@@RheemQ Angle is awesome but so many of his matches turn into ankle lock fests where it's ankle lock - reversal - ankle lock reversal etc, etc. Benoit is great but didnt have many big matches after his world title loss in 04 .he died in 07 so it's hard to say he's better than a guy who had more time in the ring.

[@RheemQ]

@@ricosalvaje5802 and what was Michaels he just had great matches with the best performer of the time Jericho Angle Benoit. Angle always consistently had the best matches of the 2000's people overrate Michaels he does one big move in his matches and they act like its all him name me anything he did besides that move over the top rope onto Angle at 21 that was stand out what did he do that great at 20 in the triple threat aside from the moonsault onto HHH and Benoit the match was pretty much carried by Benoit

[@dawson6196]

@@RheemQ Have you even seen any hbk match or you just speaking from your ass?

[@RheemQ]

@@dawson6196 I watched his matches and I stand by what I said. What's the big deal? He does one big move off the top rope and everybody thinks all his matches are five stars. I mean people call his match against Flair and Vince at Mania 22 and 24 five stars even though both aren't even that good. But I'm crazy just because I don't think he's as good as people say he is. I mean I'm not gonna say he's never put on any classics. I mean his matches against Taker, Angle, Jericho, and the triple threat at Mania.

[@TheEnzyme94]

Who ever this Lady is she knows her stuff and makes some great observations. She should be a comentator for the NWA or MLW OR even AEW!

[@So_Toasty]

@@chainsoar Most wrestling fans are intimidated by women...neckbeards fear that which they do not understand.

[@adamirishconundrum851]

Alice Radley is smart and beautiful.

[@owenkelly9793]

I think one person who I don't think has gotten the credit he deserved not only for in ring ability but also making some of the biggest names the in ring performers they were was Billy Robinson in the AWA. When Verne Gange was credited as being the one who made the who's who of Pro Wrestling in the 70's Flair and CO, actually it was Billy who made them the wrestlers in the ring that they turned out to be. In my opinion Billy is one of the best of all time.

[@hardrightturn7502]

Jerry Brisco Dory Funk Terry Funk Harley Race Dusty Rhodes Here's the 70's name you forgot Jim, Superstar Billy Graham

[@Schmuddel]

Like Jim said, you can't really pick between the best chicken and the best beef. Like, the Undertaker wasn't really mentioned here because he wasn't good in one decade, he's been good in three, so which one do you pick?

[@vinayseth1114]

On a side note though, what would you say about someone like Chris Jericho? I mean he did have some good moves in the ring. Is he one of the 'chickens' to you or one of the 'beefs'?

[@Makron5]

Undertaker is weird isn't he? He wasn't great at promos, he wasn't great at mat work, but he's some how over because of aura and the entrance.

[@fightsports66]

@@Makron5 It's like what somebody said about Arn Anderson. He is not great at anything but he is pretty good at everything.

[@mikemurphy3820]

60s: Bruno Sammartino 70s: Tiger Mask 80s: Ric Flair 90s: HBK 2000s: CM Punk

[@mthom0861]

Curt Henning; Nick Bockwinkel, Harley Race, Lou Thesz, Rick Rude, Pat Patterson; Ricky Steamboat just off the top of my head.

[@bdr113080]

You and I have almost the list but I add Scott Hall to mine. Curt Henning was just as good in the ring as Bret and Shawn.

[@jroberts2nd]

Best worker of the 80s and the early 90s: Jumbo Tsuruta. No question. His work in All Japan was off the charts and he didn’t just keep up with the times, he innovated and made others better. Best worker in the rest of the 90s was Mitsuharu Misawa, but even he couldn’t get people over like Jumbo.

[@dawson6196]

Jumbo over Ric Flair? Misawa over hbk?

[@quik1515]

Are you high?

[@mr.mr.4772]

No one watched All Japan in the 80’s and 90’s.

[@arthurdaffos1490]

​@@mr.mr.4772 ajpw was really Big in the 80's the downfall started in the 90's but they still had great talents, like Misawa, Kobashi, Kawada, Hansen who could still go, dr death, they had some great matches but suffered the departure of a lot of great talents that really hurt them. But when you watch the Misawa matches from the mid 90's where He was at his prime, it was incredible, and Kobashi with his physique and charisma and body language could have been a star in the US if he could cut promos in english.

[@mr.mr.4772]

@@arthurdaffos1490 they were big in Japan. Unless you were able to get tapes of those matches, no one ever seen them. I’ve been watching wrestling since the late seventies.

[@BSE1320]

60s - Ray Stevens 70s - Ricky Steamboat 80s - Ric Flair 90s - Bret Hart 00s - Chris Benoit 10s - Dolph Ziggler

[@henrylansky4177]

70s Bruno 80s Hulk Hogan 90s Bret Hart- Austin- 00s- Rock 10s-Brock

[@GOJOWrestling]

Not even close

[@js09js09]

I prefer Bret's matches more than Shawn's. They looked more realistic and credible. Shawn definitely had more athleticism and high-flying moves, but some of this looked more like acrobatics than wrestling.

[@Winnie122459]

Don't forget the Indianapolis territory and the AWA territory also

[@theferryman4916]

90s: Bret Hart is ten times the worker HBK ever was....

[@TheeCoachg]

What also made Bret a better worker to me was that he made guys. Stone Cold,Shawn,Diesel,Yoko, even Taker to a degree. Shawn had great matches but he only ever made himself or his friends truly shine.

[@Hugh_Morris]

Most would disagree with you

[@theferryman4916]

@@Hugh_Morris Most people are idiots, so...

[@JonBap42680]

Ten times I don't know. I just think Bret had a different mindset than Shawn to actually work. When Shawn returned in 2002, he was easily one of the best workers.

[@tigersaint07]

Wooooooo!!!!!!!

[@shizzle5150]

I think it's kinda sad that Ted Debiase always gets overlooked in these conversations. I can't recall seeing him in a bad match. The dude never made it to superstar status but was easily one of the best heels ever. I don't think I have ever seen heat like the basketball skit... I mean you could just feel that every respectable person there wanted to kill the man! Any rate, one of the best technical guys there ever was in the ring and he made for some of the best rivalries. To this day I still think it's a shame he never ended up in the 4 horsemen. Would have fit like a glove!

[@mr.mr.4772]

Vince killed his career.

[@dbrownjr.1410]

when it comes to heels, Dick Slater, Kevin Sullivan, Buzz Sawyer

[@85futureshock]

50's: Thesz, Gagne, 60's: Stevens 70's: Bockwinkel, Funk Brothers, Brisco, Slater, Bob Orton Jr, Race. 80's: Flair (#1), Lawler, Savage, Dynamite Kid, Steamboat, Jumbo Tsuruta, Fujinami, Hansen, Dibiase, Windham, Toyota. 90's: Bret, HBK, Misawa, Kobashi, Mysterio, Guerrero, Benoit, Liger, Williams, Owen, Foley. 2000's: Daniels, Joe, Punk, Danielson, Styles, Angle, Michaels. 2010's: Styles, Okada, Omega, Cena (in big matches), Tanahashi (like Cena).

[@peterora3190]

Would you put koloff in the 70's?

[@navdan73]

I got to go with Wahoo McDaniels as an addition to the list for 70's and early 80's. Ricky Morton was a great worker. Ooof. There is so many that could tote the mail.

[@Jazzman2476]

The 2000s could include Chris Daniels, Benoit, Angle, Styles, Cena, Taker

[@bagser1]

I haven't watched a whole lot of 60s and 70s stuff so I can't speak on that. But for me: 1980s: Randy Savage 1990s: Bret Hart 2000s: Kurt Angle This decade: AJ Styles By no means a comprehensive list and I could well be wrong about a few or all of them. I'm just basing it on the stuff I've watched and the guys that really impressed me over the years

[@PatkaBoy831]

In the 2000s.. a name that never comes up is Jun Akiyama. Be it singles, tag team or trios matches. He added to, and carried, pointless tags and trios.

[@fellovr]

Glad he mentioned Jerry Lawler in the 70's--no doubt.

[@thedoncrazephaze5375]

as every1 knows...this is subjective, no way near objective. even when regarding the best worker, never cut & dry. w/that said, my favorite "worker" of all time is...Nick Bockwinkel...technical, sound, never boring, he learned how2 wrestle from his Dad, had fellow great workers like Ray Stevens at his side, & when they feuded it was classic - not2 mention, arguably, he is the most underrated pro wrestling world champion of all time..my completely subjective opinion, of course, yet 100% correct dammit!!!

[@Winston0Boogie]

70s Nick Bockwinkel 80s Mr. Perfect 90s Bret Hart 00s Benoit/Angle/Jericho 10s Daniel Bryan For me

[@josephbuono5487]

Dustin Runnels ( Goldust ) and Scott Hall ... Both of these guys shouldve had lengthy world title runs. They had the size. The talent. They were over. Missed opportunities

[@dannyolsen5543]

Scott steiner too

[@StoneThatTheBuilderRefusedKK]

70s : Harley Race 80s : Jumbo Tsuruta 90s : Mitsuharu Misawa 2000s : Naomichi Marufuji 2010s : AJ Styles

[@sjames4738]

1970s - Nick Bockwinkel 1980s - Ric Flair 1990s - HBK 2000s - Angle / Guerrero 2010s - AJ Styles

[@pikkon899]

The 2000's was a toss up between Benoit and Angle. Guerrero had more personalty but his best work was in WCW before he gained all that muscle and before the 2000's. Benoit and Angle were more intense, more believable, more technical and more physical. They worked like Wrestlers. When Guerrero got bigger, he was slower & less athletic. Still good but it didn't compare to his WCW/Mexico work. Angle and Benoit for the 2000's.

[@aarnault5297]

I think you can throw in Daniel Bryan/Brian Danyelson in the mix for either the 2000s or 2010s.

[@joselopez2117]

Scott James styles or okada but a damn fine list

[@junegiovanni6475]

I think Bruno Sammertino was the best of the 1960s.

[@Blazin_Tundra]

Scott James hornswaggle is absolutely the most talented ring performer

[@dinozerilli5104]

70s Dusty 80s Flair 90s THE YETAY!!!

[@littlehobo261]

Flair best of the 80's? You obviously didn't see much did you

[@hardluckwoman3448]

Heck yes he and the dungeon of doom were the best

[@Rocker5593]

for the 90s U mean Tatanka?? lol

[@Aphelion_k9f]

Dusty the best of the 70's? lmao

[@bigfightfan6658]

70s - Jumpin Jeff Farmer 80s - Virgil 90s - Shockmaster 00s - David Arquette

[@redneck400m3]

Austin should of atleast been in this discussion. Before his neck injury he was a damn good technician and he showed his versatility when he became a brawler. I doubt bret hart could have made a transition like that. Not to mention austin could talk circles around anyone.

[@hardluckwoman3448]

I forgot Erik Watts was the greatest 90s wrestler along with David Flair lol.

[@soulserrated]

She asks Jim his thoughts and then proceeds to "If I may" more than he does lol.

[@tpoo6055]

50s: Ricki Starr 60s: Haystacks Calhoun 70s: Andy Kaufman 80s: Koko B Ware 90s: Bastion Booger 2000s: Heidenreich 2010s: Eva Marie

[@tpoo6055]

True legends of the business

[@athousandpins]

Goldust and Piper's street fight match was anything but silly. Those were some stiff punches. Also, why no mention of Stone Cold? Austin is highly respected across the board and was an incredible worker.

[@ricosalvaje8131]

Kilokahn austins run was 97-02 so its tricky to put him over some other guys. I would put austin top 10 in the 90s though. Bret,hbk,flair,mick foley,undertaker,austin,owen,x pac,eddie,benoit and vader would be my picks.

[@num1shinfan]

Why does he have to apologize for Jerry Lawler? I didn't realize Jerry had that kind of heat. I always thought he was good

[@t.adamcollins2162]

1980s: Lioness Asuka 1990s: Bull Nakano 2000s: LuFisto 2010s: Kana / Asuka

[@kbuselmeier69]

Great list!!!!! But I’d have to put lo up over Kana/Asuka. I think she is one of the three best of all-time with Bull and Manami Toyota. Happy to see someone admire real talent.

[@axeman6598]

I ' m in love with Asuka

[@Exodus-sb8so]

That beautiful fast drive slam.

[@JoshToksPop85]

Dont know much about the host, but she said how Orton reminds her of Golddust. Thats exactly who Orton reminded of me when i first saw him in 09 when i returned to wrestling from a break from 02.

[@bizil100]

For me, I'm going with the guys who had the best blends of technical ability and main event box office credibility in the US. I'm going to try to keep guys in one era for most of these. But of course many of these guys were great for a long ass time of course and crossed over into other decades. Some great guys like a Windham, Steamboat, are going to miss out by a bit for my criteria for box office reasons in the US. 70's - Bockwinkel Silver: Terry Funk Bronze: Harley Race 80's - Flair Silver: Macho Man Bronze: Dibiase 90's - Bret Silver: HBK Bronze: Flair 2000's- HBK Silver: Angle Bronze: Eddie 2010s AJ Silver: Daniel Bryan Bronze: CM Punk

[@mychalpryor2473]

Dolph Ziggler is a BEAST...

[@Nomah1979]

Any list that doesn't include Barry Windham and Ricky Steamboat or incomplete.

[@paulbledsoe3392]

Windham was. He was the greatest to never hold a legit world title!!

[@blacquesjacques7239]

Or Terry Gordy

[@blacquesjacques7239]

+Paul Bledsoe Barry didn't want it bad enough . He was like Terry Gordy ; a savant . It came too easily to him . Unlike Gordy , I don't believe he really loved the business . It was a job not a passion .

[@barakbalestrery4138]

@@blacquesjacques7239 I heard the same about Barry Windham. I also heard he would get made and refused to lose to certain people, even when it was by cheating. So they were afraid to give him the title. He was essentially his own worst enemy.

[@kjguidry839]

Randy for sure is my greatest ever

[@littlehobo261]

I'd say Dynamite Kid for the 80's for sure

[@doug.navarone2037]

Got injured too early, but from 80-84? Absolutely

[@feartheblazer]

I agree, Ziggler is a beast in the ring

[@gregdrawson8193]

I think Nick Bockwinkel in the 70s deserves a mention

[@OffLeatherWings]

Who's the computer lady talking to him?

[@retronerdlife4292]

Alice Radley. She was his old co host before she went postal on the wrestling fans, and quit.

[@joselopez2117]

RetroNerdLife if i recall she quit because cornette made some islamphobic comments

[@europeanamerican379]

Some anti white jew who never deserved the job

[@howardgriffen7187]

I can't believe he didn't mention *Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, & Mick "Cactus Jack/Mankind/Dude Love" Foley!* Definitely, *Benoit, Dean Malenko, & "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair,* as mentioned. But, you can't talk "great workers" without Austin, Foley, & Johnson. Oh, and Randy "Macho Man" Savage! Sorry, two more: *"The Enforcer" Arn Anderson & Barry Windham.*

[@alexanderblack6619]

Mick Foley wasnt a great worker.

[@marka.graffakasnakebitenat3736]

Where in the blue hell is Triple HHH, John Cena, Batista, and Brock Lesnar?

[@marka.graffakasnakebitenat3736]

What about Booker T, Undertaker, and Kane?

[@bigfightfan6658]

What about greats like The Shockmaster, David Arquette, The Mulky Bros, Jumpin Jeff Farmer, or Virgil?

[@sketchstevens5859]

Hogan. He actually managed to do the same song and dance for 20 plus years but still get paid

[@Hatemoth]

Randy Savage best of the 80s & 90s

[@jamesweikel2594]

For each decade are we going all the way back or only what him considers

[@Sweeptheleg83]

2000s is definitely kurt angle. In his prime he was awesome. But I agree with the rest of Jim's picks.

[@madbrowniac7871]

Ted Dibiase should be mentioned. And Rick Steamboat is in the running for three consecutive decades. He and Flair and Valentine and Wahoo and Paul Jones kept The MidAtlantic solo scene vital in The 1970s. Then you have Steamboat vs. Savage at Wrestlemania 3. And then the industry standard series with Flair where Steamboat grabbed NWA Gold in Chicago. Incredible ring presence over the years.B.W.

[@herzkine]

Dollar man was one if the major Stars of the biggest company, doesnt fit the discussion.

[@patrickray5692]

1970's Harley race. 1980's Dusty Rhodes. 1990's undertaker. 00's y2j. 2010's aj styles

[@randalsavage790]

If I was starting a new promotion and could take 4 workers I would take 1. The Shockmaster 2. The Shockmaster 3. The Shockmaster 4. The Shockmaster

[@BigEvan96]

RVD was good. That DDT RKO he sold from Orton was beast.