And now the most important topic...

 

I feel that's a decent group to choose from, but feel free to submit a write in vote

Of course I'm going to vote Bret. Of the ones I've seen footage of, Martel would be the closest.

 

Hans Schmidt and Patterson are hurt by lack of older footage.

Bret and no one else even comes close. IMO, of the people who primarily worked in the US, he has more great singles matches (****+) than anyone ever except Daniel Bryan. Plus the environment he worked in wasn't exactly conducive to great in ring work so bonus points for that.

 

Benoit would be second. Followed by Owen, Martel and Jericho (in that order).

Bret and no one else even comes close. IMO, of the people who primarily worked in the US, he has more great singles matches (****+) than anyone ever except Daniel Bryan. Plus the environment he worked in wasn't exactly conducive to great in ring work so bonus points for that.

 

Benoit would be second. Followed by Owen, Martel and Jericho (in that order).

I'm a hige mark for Bret and this statement is ridiculous to me.

 

Even Crna has more **** matches.

Bret gets my vote, too, but I did give pretty serious consideration to Abdullah, Kiniski, and Martel.

 

Here's a question: Does Eduardo Carpentier count as Canadian? He was born in France, but he became a Canadian citizen and he is the face of wrestling in Montreal in much the same way that Stu Hart is the face of wrestling in Calgary. I doubt he would get too any votes but he probably belongs in the conversation.

Bret and no one else even comes close. IMO, of the people who primarily worked in the US, he has more great singles matches (****+) than anyone ever except Daniel Bryan. Plus the environment he worked in wasn't exactly conducive to great in ring work so bonus points for that.

Are you serious?

 

Bret and no one else even comes close. IMO, of the people who primarily worked in the US, he has more great singles matches (****+) than anyone ever except Daniel Bryan. Plus the environment he worked in wasn't exactly conducive to great in ring work so bonus points for that.

 

Benoit would be second. Followed by Owen, Martel and Jericho (in that order).

I'm a hige mark for Bret and this statement is ridiculous to me.

 

Even Crna has more **** matches.

 

Well star ratings are very subjective. I have 3 Cena singles matches at **** or higher vs. 10 for Bret at **** or higher.

 

 

Bret and no one else even comes close. IMO, of the people who primarily worked in the US, he has more great singles matches (****+) than anyone ever except Daniel Bryan. Plus the environment he worked in wasn't exactly conducive to great in ring work so bonus points for that.

Are you serious?

 

 

Yes. I know you are about to mention Flair so here is some evidence (mind you this is all very subjective):

 

****+ matches

 

Bret Hart:

 

vs. Steve Austin * 2

vs. Davey Boy Smith * 2

vs. Owen Hart

vs. The Undertaker

vs. 123 Kid

vs. Randy Savage

vs. Terry Funk

vs. Diesel

Total: 10

 

Ric Flair

 

vs. Steamboat * 3

vs. Morton

vs. DiBiase

Total: 5

One more guy I would add to the list: Don Leo Jonathan!

 

In terms of "historical" importance, wrestling quality, and how much I personally enjoy their work, my top 5 would be:

 

Bret

Abdullah

Kiniski

Carpentier

Don Leo

 

If history is de-emphasized it might be a quite different list.

 

Also: Please let's not derail this interesting thread with a Bret vs. Flair argument. PLEASE just let that go, or start a new thread for it.

 

 

Bret and no one else even comes close. IMO, of the people who primarily worked in the US, he has more great singles matches (****+) than anyone ever except Daniel Bryan. Plus the environment he worked in wasn't exactly conducive to great in ring work so bonus points for that.

 

Benoit would be second. Followed by Owen, Martel and Jericho (in that order).

I'm a hige mark for Bret and this statement is ridiculous to me.

 

Even Crna has more **** matches.

 

Well star ratings are very subjective. I have 3 Cena singles matches at **** or higher vs. 10 for Bret at **** or higher.

 

 

Bret and no one else even comes close. IMO, of the people who primarily worked in the US, he has more great singles matches (****+) than anyone ever except Daniel Bryan. Plus the environment he worked in wasn't exactly conducive to great in ring work so bonus points for that.

Are you serious?

 

 

Yes. I know you are about to mention Flair so here is some evidence (mind you this is all very subjective):

 

****+ matches

 

Bret Hart:

 

vs. Steve Austin * 2

vs. Davey Boy Smith * 2

vs. Owen Hart

vs. The Undertaker

vs. 123 Kid

vs. Randy Savage

vs. Terry Funk

vs. Diesel

Total: 10

 

Ric Flair

 

vs. Steamboat * 3

vs. Morton

vs. DiBiase

Total: 5

 

 

Actually GAB vs. Terry Funk so make that 6 for Flair. 10 vs. 6

Ric Flair only had six matches at 4+ level?

Yes, please as gordi asked, if we need to go down the Bret vs Flair route again, there is a legendary thread in the microscope devoted to that.

 

I never thought of Don Leo as Canadian tbh, but he's definitely one of the "adopted" ones. And he apparently lives in Langley BC which is literally like a 30 minute drive from me

Ric Flair only had six matches at 4+ level?

 

In my opinion, yes

 

Yes, please as gordi asked, if we need to go down the Bret vs Flair route again, there is a legendary thread in the microscope devoted to that if you must.

 

 

 

Wasn't my (or I'm sure Jvk's) intention. Was just defending my seemingly hyperbolic claim with some evidence.

 

I never thought of Don Leo as Canadian tbh, but he's definitely one of the "adopted" ones. And he apparently lives in Langley BC which is literally like a 30 minute drive from me

 

 

I keep forgetting he was born in Utah. He's lived in the Greater Vancouver Area since the early 60s. He was one of the first pro wrestlers I ever met in real life as a very little kid, so in my imagination he's always been a local guy (and a real-life Big Friendly Giant). When I was in the first or second grade he had a pair of matches against Andre that were a very big deal to us little kids who loved wrestling. Of course, none of us were actually able to see anything more than the hype on All Star Wrestling on BCTV (I think the actual "Match of the Century" rematch between them took place in Montreal) but we all talked like we'd seen it and acted it out in the playground.

 

 

Out of curiosity, Ricky Jackson, do you know Verne Siebert?

I love me some Bret Hart. Besides all his great work he even carried the Maple Leaf flag as he waged war against the US fans while he was WWF Champion. It's about as iconic as it gets.

I find it very offensive that Iron Mike Sharpe was snubbed here.

Those who know me are not surprised

 

 

 

I never thought of Don Leo as Canadian tbh, but he's definitely one of the "adopted" ones. And he apparently lives in Langley BC which is literally like a 30 minute drive from me

 

I keep forgetting he was born in Utah. He's lived in the Greater Vancouver Area since the early 60s. He was one of the first pro wrestlers I ever met in real life as a very little kid, so in my imagination he's always been a local guy (and a real-life Big Friendly Giant). When I was in the first or second grade he had a pair of matches against Andre that were a very big deal to us little kids who loved wrestling. Of course, none of us were actually able to see anything more than the hype on All Star Wrestling on BCTV (I think the actual "Match of the Century" rematch between them took place in Montreal) but we all talked like we'd seen it and acted it out in the playground.

 

 

Out of curiosity, Ricky Jackson, do you know Verne Siebert?

No, I don't know him. I grew up in Calgary so I'm not familiar with a lot of the old BC wrestling scene. One of my best friends (Travis from my Titans Stampede pods) is tight with the ECCW crew though

Some good people on that crew.

If you're gonna split hairs regarding where someone was born, Jericho was born in New York.

I went with Garvin, mostly because I really love his style. Altough Microscopes post made me want to check out some Bret Hart matches.

Kiniski seems like the wrestler who would zoom up the list if we had footage.

Kiniski seems like the wrestler who would zoom up the list if we had footage.

 

That's probably true.

No love for Archie Gouldie or Yvon Robert

 

 

I find it very offensive that Iron Mike Sharpe was snubbed here.

 

We should probably assume Iron Mike was left out because this poll was just for Canada's Greatest Wrestler, whereas it's a documented fact that Iron Mike Sharpe was Canada's Greatest Athlete.

 

 

No love for Archie Gouldie or Yvon Robert

That's what the other option is for. Personally I love Stomper