View Poll Results: The most impact on pro-wrestling are by these four wrestlers?

**That Guy** · 09-09-2012, 05:01 AM

Andre definately deserves the mention, he was the first person to be a global attraction in the sport of pro wrestling and helped it transition from a national sport to an international one, also being the first wrestler to appear in a film and a houshold name. It was also his idea for it to be on tv.

Dantrail · 09-09-2012, 06:25 AM

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Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Andre definately deserves the mention, he was the first person to be a global attraction in the sport of pro wrestling and helped it transition from a national sport to an international one, also being the first wrestler to appear in a film and a houshold name. It was also his idea for it to be on tv.

Wrestling was mainstream even during 1950s.

WWFVK · 09-09-2012, 06:30 AM

Where's Daniel Bryan?

**That Guy** · 09-09-2012, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dantrail

Wrestling was mainstream even during 1950s.

I have no idea where but I read somewhere that it was his idea for it to go something ot do with tv, maybe a certain network or something internationally.

austin316 G.O.A.T · 09-09-2012, 06:43 AM

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Originally Posted by Dantrail

Wrestling was mainstream even during 1950s.

Gorgeous George was its first icon
Even Ali said he was a fan of his style

Rock316AE · 09-09-2012, 07:01 AM

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Originally Posted by 4everEyebrowRaisin

You're fucking annoying. Rock didn't change the business. He somewhat took over from Austin, but he didn't usher in a whole new era.

There was no reason for him to usher a new era, the business already changed drastically from 96 when Bischoff started to push the envelope with the nWo and create a different atmosphere to the TV programs with big matches. By saying that it's annoying to read is saying that you don't like reality, everything I said happened, there's one thing nobody can change and that's history, and the fact is, stood back then and still stands today that The Rock at his peak was the biggest star, in the wrestling product and for the mainstream media this industry has ever seen. To add to what I already said, he created words, "SmackDown" is in the dictionary because of him, and Vince chose to create a show with his catchphrase on it. I know Vince succeeded on some people with the brainwashing he did while Rock was becoming bigger than the industry in Hollywood because Rock lives everything Vince wanted to be, plenty of former writers already said that Vince is bitter about Rock's success and even let his contract expire in 2004 in hope that he will fail in Hollywood and will crawl back to him for less money, it's all documented. But for who lived the period, saw the week to week, month to month happening with Rock extending and transcending the world of wrestling more that anyone else, knows Rock's once in a lifetime impact in this industry. From hosting SNL with record number for the season, to cut a promo at the Republican National Convention, to get a RECORD BREAKING offer in the movie industry for his first role that year, a record that still stand today. Unlike most people, I don't need to hear Vince lying in an interview when what he says there and who he praises, depends on which side he wakes up in the morning that day and who is on good terms with him in that period. For example in 2005, he promoted Hogan as the biggest star ever and in an episode of "Hogan Knows Best" they showed a meeting with Hogan and Vince in the WWE HQ, with Vince saying to Hogan that he want him to sign a big contract and they will promote him as the Babe Ruth of wrestling. And BTW, by saying all that, I'm not taking anything away from Hogan/Austin/Andre/Bruno etc etc, their impact and influence on the wrestling business. My point is that Rock is in that list the OP started.

**Evolution** · 09-09-2012, 07:34 AM

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Originally Posted by Rock316AE

No that was Mike Tyson who made the huge difference. Austin was hot at that time but Tyson was the attraction.

As for the thread, no.

George brought mainstream to the business in the early days, Thesz innovated moves and was a pioneer to many in ring aspects, Sammartino was the biggest domestic and consistent drawing card of all time, Hogan was able to put wrestling on the map worldwide and broke all records domestically, Hogan started the second boom with Hall and Nash and the nWo storyline. Austin took it and sparked it even more on the WWF side and was able to turn profits as a true game changer. Rock started his rise, took over after only 3 years as an active worker, transcended the industry like no one else, gave the product more exposure than ever before, and on top of that, broke all their records IN the wrestling business and had the biggest year for any wrestler in history, along with the greatest year for any company ever on his back. Continued his meteoric success after his full time career, came back and broke HIS records after a decade. Became bigger than the industry itself, a worldwide media entertainment brand and is a more recognized figure than the WWE logo. Impacted the entire concept of what an entertaining wrestler should be, on what you can verbally do as a character, on The People's Elbow versions you saw over the years, on the fact that the Top guy in the business today was an attempt to create another megastar performer and mainstream personality that will be able to come close to his caliber. He inspired a new generation of superstars who became wrestlers because of him and tried to put his magic touch in different aspects of their work, from their arsenal to the way they're trying to carry themselves to the mic time they get. When you say wrestling, you say The Rock, you say Dwayne Johnson, or at worse, 5/10 you say Hulk Hogan. The Rock is untouchable as The GOAT because he made it on the highest level in and out, which is why anything "Wrestling" without his name on it is a big and clear No.

While it's difficult to disagree with the points you made, I think you're missing the point of the thread. It's about which four people had the biggest impact on the pro-wrestling industry, not who was the most popular of all time or who was the greatest of all time.

While Rock may be a bigger figure outside of the wrestling industry, I'm not sure he was more important to it than Austin. If it wasn't for Austin kick-starting the WWF into the new era and carrying it for as long as he did, who knows where the WWF/E would be today? Including The Rock.