Friday, November 26, 2010

2002 Archive

December 25, 2002
Richard Lopez

This is my fifth official ranking of the year's 50 best wrestlers. This year, I'll rank top 50 wrestlers combined from WWF-renamed WWE and the newly started organizations TNA and ROH. WWE wrestlers from Raw Brand will be listed in red color and SmackDown brand wrestlers will be listed in blue color.
  1. Brock Lesnar (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  2. World Heavyweight Champion Triple H (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  3. WWE Champion Kurt Angle (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  4. The Rock (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  5. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling)
  6. Shawn Michaels (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  7. Chris Benoit (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  8. The Undertaker (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  9. Edge (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  10. Chris Jericho (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  11. Kane (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  12. Hulk Hogan (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  13. Ken Shamrock (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling)
  14. A.J. Styles (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling)
  15. Jerry Lynn (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling)
  16. Rob Van Dam (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  17. Big Show (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  18. ROH World Champion Xavier (Ring of Honor)
  19. World Tag Team Champion Booker T (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  20. TNA X Division Champion Sonny Siaki (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling)
  21. Chris Harris (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling)
  22. James Storm (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling)
  23. WWE Tag Team Champion Eddie Guerrero (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  24. Christian (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  25. Lance Storm (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  26. Test (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  27. Jeff Hardy (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  28. Low Ki (Ring of Honor / Total Nonstop Action Wrestling)
  29. Ron Killings (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling)
  30. Ric Flair (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  31. WWE Tag Team Champion Chavo Guerrero (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  32. Rikishi (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  33. Rey Mysterio (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  34. WWE Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  35. William Regal (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  36. Jamie Noble (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  37. ROH World Tag Team Champion Christopher Daniels (Ring of Honor / Total Nonstop Action Wrestling)
  38. World Tag Team Champion Goldust (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  39. Hardcore Holly (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  40. Bubba Ray Dudley (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  41. Matt Hardy (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  42. Batista (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  43. Spike Dudley (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  44. The Hurricane (World Wrestling Entertainment - Raw)
  45. Syxx-Pac (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling)
  46. A-Train (World Wrestling Entertainment - SmackDown)
  47. Bryan Danielson (Ring of Honor)
  48. ROH World Tag Team Champion Donovan Morgan (Ring of Honor)
  49. Michael Modest (Ring of Honor)
  50. Scott Hall (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling)

2001 Archive

December 25, 2001
Richard Lopez

This is my fourth official list of top 50 wrestlers. In this list, I'm ranking the best 50 wrestlers of WWF in 2001, as WCW and ECW had been bought by WWF earlier this March. The wrestlers of WCW and ECW have wrestled throughout the year in WWF as part of The Alliance. However, wrestlers who remained with WCW and ECW until their closure and were not employed by WWF would be listed as free agents.
  1. Stone Cold Steve Austin (World Wrestling Federation)
  2. Kurt Angle (World Wrestling Federation)
  3. The Rock (World Wrestling Federation)
  4. WWF Undisputed Champion Chris Jericho (World Wrestling Federation)
  5. Rob Van Dam (World Wrestling Federation)
  6. Booker T (World Wrestling Federation)
  7. WWF Hardcore Champion The Undertaker (World Wrestling Federation)
  8. Triple H (World Wrestling Federation)
  9. WWF Intercontinental Champion Edge (World Wrestling Federation)
  10. Chris Benoit (World Wrestling Federation)
  11. Test (World Wrestling Federation)
  12. Kane (World Wrestling Federation)
  13. Lance Storm (World Wrestling Federation)
  14. Scott Steiner
  15. WWF European Champion Christian (World Wrestling Federation)
  16. Rhyno (World Wrestling Federation)
  17. Jeff Hardy (World Wrestling Federation)
  18. The Hurricane (World Wrestling Federation)
  19. Spike Dudley (World Wrestling Federation)
  20. Bradshaw (World Wrestling Federation)
  21. Big Show (World Wrestling Federation)
  22. X-Pac (World Wrestling Federation)
  23. Rey Misterio, Jr.
  24. Matt Hardy (World Wrestling Federation)
  25. Albert (World Wrestling Federation)
  26. WWF Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri (World Wrestling Federation)
  27. Crash Holly (World Wrestling Federation)
  28. Faarooq (World Wrestling Federation)
  29. Eddie Guerrero (World Wrestling Federation)
  30. Rikishi (World Wrestling Federation)
  31. WWF Tag Team Champion Bubba Ray Dudley (World Wrestling Federation)
  32. WWF Tag Team Champion D-Von Dudley (World Wrestling Federation)
  33. William Regal (World Wrestling Federation)
  34. Kanyon (World Wrestling Federation)
  35. Billy Kidman (World Wrestling Federation)
  36. Lex Luger
  37. The Sandman
  38. Tazz (World Wrestling Federation)
  39. Billy Gunn (World Wrestling Federation)
  40. Hardcore Holly (World Wrestling Federation)
  41. Raven (World Wrestling Federation)
  42. Chuck Palumbo (World Wrestling Federation)
  43. Justin Credible (World Wrestling Federation)
  44. Sean O'Haire (World Wrestling Federation)
  45. Meng
  46. Bill Goldberg
  47. Sid Vicious
  48. Sting
  49. Ric Flair
  50. Elix Skipper

2000 Archive

December 25, 2000
Richard Lopez

This is my third official list of top 50 wrestlers. In this list, I'm ranking the best 50 wrestlers of 2000.
  1. The Rock (World Wrestling Federation)
  2. Triple H (World Wrestling Federation)
  3. WWF Champion Kurt Angle (World Wrestling Federation)
  4. Booker T (World Championship Wrestling)
  5. Bill Goldberg (World Championship Wrestling)
  6. Chris Benoit (World Wrestling Federation)
  7. The Undertaker (World Wrestling Federation)
  8. Kane (World Wrestling Federation)
  9. Jeff Jarrett (World Championship Wrestling)
  10. Sid Vicious (World Championship Wrestling)
  11. WCW World Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner (World Championship Wrestling)
  12. Lance Storm (World Championship Wrestling)
  13. Justin Credible (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  14. Chris Jericho (World Wrestling Federation)
  15. WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko (World Wrestling Federation)
  16. ECW Television Champion Rhino (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  17. Eddie Guerrero (World Wrestling Federation)
  18. Crash Holly (World Wrestling Federation)
  19. WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Gen. Rection (World Championship Wrestling)
  20. Rob Van Dam (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  21. Chyna (World Wrestling Federation)
  22. Rey Misterio, Jr. (World Championship Wrestling)
  23. Billy Kidman (World Championship Wrestling)
  24. Rikishi (World Wrestling Federation)
  25. Lex Luger (World Championship Wrestling)
  26. Billy Gunn (World Wrestling Federation)
  27. Tommy Dreamer (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  28. Jerry Lynn (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  29. ECW World Heavyweight Champion Steve Corino (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  30. Steve Blackman (World Wrestling Federation)
  31. Tajiri (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  32. WWF European Champion William Regal (World Wrestling Federation)
  33. Super Crazy (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  34. Kid Kash (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  35. WWF Hardcore Champion Raven (World Wrestling Federation)
  36. WCW World Tag Team Champion Diamond Dallas Page (World Championship Wrestling)
  37. Sean O'Haire (World Championship Wrestling)
  38. Chuck Palumbo (World Championship Wrestling)
  39. Mike Sanders (World Championship Wrestling)
  40. Tazz (World Wrestling Federation)
  41. WWF Tag Team Champion Edge (World Wrestling Federation)
  42. WWF Tag Team Champion Christian (World Wrestling Federation)
  43. Jeff Hardy (World Wrestling Federation)
  44. Matt Hardy (World Wrestling Federation)
  45. WCW Hardcore Champion Terry Funk (World Championship Wrestling)
  46. Bubba Ray Dudley (World Wrestling Federation)
  47. D-Von Dudley (World Wrestling Federation)
  48. WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (World Championship Wrestling)
  49. Scotty 2 Hotty (World Wrestling Federation)
  50. Grand Master Sexay (World Wrestling Federation)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

1999 Archive

December 25, 1999
Richard Lopez

My last year's list of top 50 wrestlers was well received by wrestling fans. This year, I put my best effort and after my observation, I came to know that it is the World Wrestling Federation who has started topping World Championship Wrestling in ratings wars because of the Attitude Era. My list of 50 wrestlers has the following wrestlers listed:

  1. Triple H (World Wrestling Federation)
  2. Stone Cold Steve Austin (World Wrestling Federation)
  3. The Rock (World Wrestling Federation)
  4. Hulk Hogan (World Championship Wrestling)
  5. WCW World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart (World Championship Wrestling)
  6. Bill Goldberg (World Championship Wrestling)
  7. ECW World Heavyweight Champion Mike Awesome (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  8. The Undertaker (World Wrestling Federation)
  9. Diamond Dallas Page (World Championship Wrestling)
  10. WCW World Tag Team Champion Kevin Nash (World Championship Wrestling)
  11. Chris Benoit (World Championship Wrestling)
  12. Billy Gunn (World Wrestling Federation)
  13. Randy Savage (World Championship Wrestling)
  14. Sting (World Championship Wrestling)
  15. Lex Luger (World Championship Wrestling)
  16. WWF Champion Big Show (World Wrestling Federation)
  17. Chyna (World Wrestling Federation)
  18. WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho (World Wrestling Federation)
  19. Owen Hart (World Wrestling Federation)
  20. ECW Television Champion Rob Van Dam (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  21. WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett (World Championship Wrestling)
  22. Rey Misterio, Jr. (World Championship Wrestling)
  23. Lance Storm (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  24. Konnan (World Championship Wrestling)
  25. Sid Vicious (World Championship Wrestling)
  26. British Bulldog (World Wrestling Federation)
  27. D'Lo Brown (World Wrestling Federation)
  28. WCW World Tag Team Champion Scott Hall (World Championship Wrestling)
  29. Mankind (World Wrestling Federation)
  30. Eddie Guerrero (World Championship Wrestling)
  31. Road Dogg (World Wrestling Federation)
  32. Booker T (World Championship Wrestling)
  33. Kane (World Wrestling Federation)
  34. Edge (World Wrestling Federation)
  35. WWF European Champion Val Venis (World Wrestling Federation)
  36. Disco Inferno (World Championship Wrestling)
  37. WWF Hardcore Champion Big Bossman (World Wrestling Federation)
  38. WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Madusa (World Championship Wrestling)
  39. Al Snow (World Wrestling Federation)
  40. Billy Kidman (World Championship Wrestling)
  41. Shane Douglas (World Championship Wrestling)
  42. Rick Steiner (World Championship Wrestling)
  43. Perry Saturn (World Championship Wrestling)
  44. Hardcore Holly (World Wrestling Federation)
  45. Psicosis (World Championship Wrestling)
  46. Scott Steiner (World Championship Wrestling)
  47. X-Pac (World Wrestling Federation)
  48. Masato Tanaka (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  49. Dean Malenko (World Championship Wrestling)
  50. WCW Hardcore Champion Norman Smiley (World Championship Wrestling)

1998 Archive

December 25, 1998
Richard Lopez
This is my first attempt as a wrestling journalist to determine the top 50 wrestlers who showed progress this year in 1998. I'll make a list of wrestlers from WWF, WCW and ECW, whom I consider the top deserving 50 wrestlers of this year.
  1. Stone Cold Steve Austin (World Wrestling Federation)
  2. WCW World Heavyweight Champion Bill Goldberg (World Championship Wrestling)
  3. WWF Champion The Rock (World Wrestling Federation)
  4. ECW Television Champion and ECW Tag Team Champion Rob Van Dam (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  5. WWF Intercontinental Champion and WWF Tag Team Champion Ken Shamrock (World Wrestling Federation)
  6. The Undertaker (World Wrestling Federation)
  7. Diamond Dallas Page (World Championship Wrestling)
  8. Booker T (World Championship Wrestling)
  9. Kane (World Wrestling Federation)
  10. Kevin Nash (World Championship Wrestling)
  11. Taz (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  12. Mankind (World Wrestling Federation)
  13. Sting (World Championship Wrestling)
  14. Bret Hart (World Championship Wrestling)
  15. Triple H (World Wrestling Federation)
  16. ECW Tag Team Champion Sabu (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  17. Eddie Guerrero (World Championship Wrestling)
  18. Chris Jericho (World Championship Wrestling)
  19. Owen Hart (World Wrestling Federation)
  20. Tommy Dreamer (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  21. WWF Tag Team Champion Big Bossman (World Wrestling Federation)
  22. Lex Luger (World Championship Wrestling)
  23. Chris Benoit (World Championship Wrestling)
  24. Bart Gunn (World Wrestling Federation)
  25. Dean Malenko (World Championship Wrestling)
  26. WCW World Television Champion Konnan (World Championship Wrestling)
  27. Justin Credible (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  28. WWF European Champion X-Pac (World Wrestling Federation)
  29. Scott Hall (World Championship Wrestling)
  30. Hollywood Hulk Hogan (World Championship Wrestling)
  31. ECW World Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  32. Rey Misterio, Jr. (World Championship Wrestling)
  33. Bam Bam Bigelow (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  34. WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman (World Championship Wrestling)
  35. Randy Savage (World Championship Wrestling)
  36. D'Lo Brown (World Wrestling Federation)
  37. The Giant (World Championship Wrestling)
  38. Lance Storm (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  39. Al Snow (World Wrestling Federation)
  40. Juventud Guerrera (World Championship Wrestling)
  41. Raven (World Championship Wrestling)
  42. Saturn (World Championship Wrestling)
  43. The Sandman (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  44. Chris Candido (Extreme Championship Wrestling)
  45. Scott Steiner (World Championship Wrestling)
  46. Ric Flair (World Championship Wrestling)
  47. WCW World Tag Team Champion Rick Steiner (World Championship Wrestling)
  48. Faarooq (World Wrestling Federation)
  49. Curt Hennig (World Championship Wrestling)
  50. Shawn Michaels (World Wrestling Federation)