Meltzer's Top 10 Workers From 1985

[Warner2BruceTD]

1. RIC FLAIR (he may have slowed a bit, but he is so
consistently excellent and his aura is such that when he
does make a mistake, it is easily overlooked);

2. DAVEY BOY SMITH (without a doubt athletically the
best superstar in the business. I would be surprised if
he isn't number one within two years);

3. BRUISER BRODY (limited in many ways, but
nobody gives an aura of violent realism more, and in
Japan he rarely has anything but a great match);

4. BOB ORTON JR. (an extremely gifted performer but
often must be held back for fear of overshadowing his
opponents);

5. DYNAMITE KID (has lost some stamina with his
added muscle, thus his work rate has dropped, but in
many ways he's still about the best pound-for-pound);

6. TERRY GORDY (I can't say enough positive things
about his ability and work rate, but he's been known to
sluff off on occasions);

7. BUTCH REED (phenomenal strength and great
athletic skills to go along with it, now that he's gotten to
where he controls heat well, there's no stopping him);

8. CHAVO GUERRERO (almost everything he does is
flawless);

9. PAUL ORNDORFF (a superior athlete and wrestler
who often doesn't get to show his best because of his
mostly weak WWF baby-faced opposition, but for some
reason is a very boring wrestler when in Japan);

10. ADRIAN ADONIS (would be No. 1 if he was in any
kind of condition to wrestle in singles, but his 300-
pound current frame limits him).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This has to be North American only (no Tsuruta, Tiger Mask, etc).

LOL@the bold. Flair was already in decline in 1985. and here he is, in 20-fucking-11, blading and wresting in a t-shirt in TNA.

That Davey Boy comment is actually kind of sad.

Butch Reed? BOB ORTON? C'mon, Dave.

 

[Senser81]

Terrible list. Its also sad the Mr. Wonderful is on the list at #9 behind those scrubs.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Terrible list. Its also sad the Mr. Wonderful is on the list at #9 behind those scrubs.

You mean Mista Wunnaful?

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

RE: This list...

How is Ricky Steamboat NOT in the Top 10 Workers? Seriously?

Had a nice feud toward the end of his Jim Crockett run against Tully. IIRC, he had a brief feud with Wahoo that concluded early in 85. Then he jumped to the WWF where he was wrestling Don Muraco and Mr. Fuji early on (IIRC, the feud was over in early 86).

Steamboat has one of the best former names in wrestling history, too...wrestled as "Dick Blood" early in his career. lulz. Use that one for your Top 100 entry.

---

Very strange how, back in 85, Davey Boy was seen as an exponentially better prospect than Bret Hart.

---

Speaking of Tully, how was Tully not on this list? 85 saw one of the GOAT matches, his I Quit match with Magnum.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I should probably clarify. This is from the 1985 Observer Yearbook, so this is likely based on what he saw in 1984.

Carry on.

 

[EmpireWF]

lol @ Butch Reed. I never saw him have a good match...then again, I never saw any of his Mid-South Stuff.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

lol @ Butch Reed. I never saw him have a good match...then again, I never saw any of his Mid-South Stuff.

How can you argue with THIS:

now that he's gotten to where he controls heat well, there's no stopping him


But yeah, i'm baffled by Reed and Bob Orton

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

I should probably clarify. This is from the 1985 Observer Yearbook, so this is likely based on what he saw in 1984.

Carry on.

Point still stands.

Tully had a good run in 84 and 85. Had a strong match with Steamboat at Starrcade 84. Also had a really good match w/ Terry Taylor in early 85 (not on your Terry Taylor post in the Top 100, sadly).

Steamboat along with the Tully match had a good match with Flair before the famous Steamboat-Flair matches in the late 80's.

The NWA was really good in that time. Lots of Flair.

The WWF, not so much. Maybe their best worker was Tito Santana.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

After a bit of research, these Meltzer lists are done in the summer of each year (this would have been summer of 85) and is an all-encompassing list...world wide.

Here is a 1983 Top 100 List by DM.

1. Ric Flair (all-around he’s the greatest champion I’ve ever seen)
2. Bruiser Brody (not only the best brawler but the best big athlete in the game)
3. Adrian Adonis (more wrestling ability then any big man -- deceptive agility)
4. Stan Hansen (if you’ve ever seen the action he creates in Japan, an obvious pick)
5. Tiger Mask (pound-for-pound, nobody comes close)
6. Riki Choshu (great moves, never stops working, he’s got it all)
7. Dynamite Kid (hardest worker in the game, incredible guts, superior stamina)
8. Sgt. Slaughter (he’s been involved in so many memorable bouts)
9. Paul Orndorff (never out of position in the ring, incredibly conditioned stud)
10. Terry Funk (despite bad knees one of the all-time great workers)
11. Steve Wright (best scientific wrestler since Karl Gotch’s retirement)
12. Buzz Sawyer (being ruined in Ga., but has shown his stuff enough to deserve the spot)
13. The Superstar (based more on Japan where he shows it)
14. Greg Valentine (very solid basic wrestler, no recognizable flaws)
15. Jimmy Snuka (an incredibly gifted athlete and can work -- being in WWF hurts)
16. Ricky Steamboat (well-coordinated, well conditioned, involved in many super feuds)
17. Ken Patera (has been hurt by bad partners)
18. Masa Saito (I saw him for 13 years and never knew how good he was)
19. Dick Slater (may have reached his peak, but is almost always very good)
20. Tatsumi Fujinami (quick, strong, fantastic wrestler)
21. Bob Orton Jr. (some sensational moves, a little bit slow)
22. Andre the Giant (only as a villain in Japan, in fact he may deserve higher)
23. Killer Khan (tremendous movement for a big man when he’s allowed to)
24. Harley Race (slow, but tremendous moves and able to make the slow bouts exciting)
25. Jumbo Tsuruta (good scientific wrestler, best AJPW has)
26. Ted DiBiase (if he switched styles would be in the top 10)
27. Abdullah the Butcher (for 4 minutes, nobody’s better, only in the 5th min. he drops dead)
28. Chavo Guerrero (best scientific star in U.S.)
29. Dos Caras (everything Mil Mascaras was in his prime, somehow never got out of his shadow)
30. Bruce Reed (super strength, good agility, no persona)
31. Dory Funk Jr. (has slowed a little, but the best wrestling champ of the era)
32. Roddy Piper (good brawler, great worker, a little weak on the skills)
33. Terry Gordy (good agility for a big man, great tag wrestler, great brawler)
34. Hulk Hogan (super strength, good worker, limited in ability but gives good matches)
35. Jerry Blackwell (simply incredible a slob can be so good)
36. Super Destroyer (has the talent, but hasn’t been given a break he deserves)
37. Animal Hamaguchi (good worker, fast, a few great moves)
38. Black Tiger (his matches are, as a rule, damn good)
39. Kevin Von Erich (very inconsistent, but when he’s on, he’s great)
40. Mr. Olympia (unlike DiBiase, the villain style has improved him)
41. Nick Bockwinkel (still a solid wrestler, although the decline may get noticeable)
42. Ivan Koloff (always a good worker, gives you plenty of action)
43. Bobby Eaton (takes some bumps few others would take, very underrated)
44. Playboy Buddy Rose (the man is good, the body just fools you)
45. El Gran Hamada (sensational, but only 5-foot-4 and maybe 160)
46. Ricky Morton (vastly underrated, as good as almost anyone)
47. Jim Duggan (makes a poor-man’s Bruiser Brody, but very effective)
48. Jimmy Garvin (great personality, in the ring he’s a genuine star)
49. Pat Patterson (no great physical skills, when he’s on, the match is unreal)
50. David Von Erich (good brawler, decent skills)
51. Jerry Lawler (not very skilled, can brawl well, involved in some of the best bouts ever seen)
52. Dick Murdoch (can still do the job)
53. Hector Guerrero (a truly incredible wrestler that nobody knows about)
54. Matt Borne (if personal problems don’t stop him, he’ll be a superstar)
55. Kuniaki Kobayashi (improved immensely the past six months)
56. Jay Youngblood (moves very well, excels as Steamboat’s partner)
57. Dutch Mantell (pound-for-pound among the best brawlers)
58. Jack Brisco (still smooth as silk, but something is missing lately)
59. Bret Hart (pretty well unknown outside of Calgary, but very good)
60. Curt Hennig (may be one of the big stars of the 80s, incredible recent improvement)
61. Chris Adams (another very good and much underrated wrestler possibly most improved this year)
62. Sweet Brown Sugar Skip Young
63. Yoshiaki Yatsu (when he’s allowed to show his stuff, great skills)
64. Don Muraco (dropped 50 spots as he’s eaten his way out of superstardom)
65. Allan Coage (excellent brawler with good judo skills – actually excellent judo skills)
66. Steve Keirn (was better in the pre-Fab days)
67. Tiger Jeet Singh (a certifiable lunatic in Japan)
68. Jos Leduc (great strength, gets in good brawls)
69. El Santo Negro (hard to rate a guy who never wins, but the guy is great)
70. Tully Blanchard (good “reactor” when he’s got a top opponent against him)
71. Terry Taylor (really smooth, undoubtedly a future superstar)
72. Great Kabuki (good with the martial arts, effective in the role)
73. Tito Santana (tremendous tag wrestler, often good in singles)
74. Jake Roberts (really improved since hitting Florida, very good wrestler)
75. Greg Gagne (very good wrestler, horrible in tv matches)
76. El Canek (sometimes very good, but no competition for him in Mexico)
77. Jerry Brisco (I’ve always enjoyed Jerry show the basic amateur moves)
78. Grappler #1 (Len Deton is quite good a tag team wrestler)
79. Blackman (similar to El Santo Negro, in fact, probably should be rated higher)
80. Gino Hernandez (good when he wants to be, but we’ll never have to worry anymore)
81. Jim Brunzell (best timed drop kicks in the business)
82. Villano III (World’s Light Heavyweight champion and a skilled acrobat)
83. Stan Lane (also was better in the pre-Fab days, but a good wrestler)
84. Perro Aguayo (tremendous worker, some agility but gets by more on dedication)
85. Jimmy Valiant (really does a good job as a brawler, much to my dismay)
86. Dennis Condrey (solid worker)
87. Don Kernodle (excellent tag wrestler, being misused at the present)
88. Kintaro Hoshino (Tiger’s tag partner, and doesn’t let him down often)
89. Sweet Brown Sugar Koko Ware (great dropkicks, not a lot of wrestling skill)
90. Akira Maeda (a few sensational moves, still doesn’t have it all together)
91. Scott McGhee (a good little wrestler)
92. Jacques Rogeau (another future superstar, sensational dropkick)
93. Hacksaw Sawyer (another good little wrestler, uses his body well)
94. Atsushi Onita (we may never see him against after his broken leg)
95. Michael Hayes (great “reactor” in many first rate bouts)
96. Antonio Inoki (a very good wrestler, but beats too many better than him)
97. Rocky Johnson (a great agile strong athlete, little wrestling knowledge)
98. Mil Mascaras (kind of a remnant from a once unique wrestler)
99. Manny Fernandez (good, kind of a bleeder type)
100. Goege Welles (a very good athlete, hope he hits it big this time)

 

[BigBiss]

98. Mil Mascaras (kind of a remnant from a once unique wrestler) I saw Mil live about 3 years ago, god awful.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

98. Mil Mascaras (kind of a remnant from a once unique wrestler) I saw Mil live about 3 years ago, god awful.

No shit, he's like 70 years old. lol.

 

[BigBiss]

No shit, he's like 70 years old. lol.

I always think about that when people bitch about Flair. Old luchadors are the worst

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

I always think about that when people bitch about Flair. Old luchadors are the worst

Flair is old as fuck, too...but not older than Mil.

I am sure you see lots of old fucks in your area that come around for a payday.

Gotta be brutal. Can't stand watching'em...at least Flair, if he has someone with him, can pull off something credible.

I remember seeing Bundy at some ham n egger show a long time ago...WOAT.

 

[Senser81]

64. Don Muraco (dropped 50 spots as he’s eaten his way out of superstardom)


Spot on analysis.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

10. Terry Funk (despite bad knees one of the all-time great workers)

lulz

Nearly 30 years later, still has bad knees.

 

[BigBiss]

Flair is old as fuck, too...but not older than Mil.

I am sure you see lots of old fucks in your area that come around for a payday.

Gotta be brutal. Can't stand watching'em...at least Flair, if he has someone with him, can pull off something credible.

I remember seeing Bundy at some ham n egger show a long time ago...WOAT.

yeah nothing better then Chavo classic showing up to a shit show and the promoter giving him a young guys spot (and having him go over)

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

64. Don Muraco (dropped 50 spots as he’s eaten his way out of superstardom)


Spot on analysis.

Awesome.

Muraco went through three stages.

For a period in the early 80's he was fucking incredible. Best heel worker around.

Then he got fat & lazy (see above), right about the time he could have really been making HUGE money during the Hulkamania era as a top heel.

Then he roided up and turned babyface, became THE ROCK Don Muraco, and was the absolute shits.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

My favs..

35. Jerry Blackwell (simply incredible a slob can be so good)

59. Bret Hart (pretty well unknown outside of Calgary, but very good)
60. Curt Hennig (may be one of the big stars of the 80s, incredible recent improvement)
Good foresight here. Hennig was a jobber in 1983, and Hart was just getting his pushed in Calgary and New Japan

65. Allan Coage (excellent brawler with good judo skills – actually excellent judo skills)
Big Dave touting JUDO SKILLS. Coage is Bad News Brown, for those who don't know

71. Terry Taylor (really smooth, undoubtedly a future superstar)
Oops. Really should have been, though. People thought Taylor or Hart would be the next Flair.

89. Sweet Brown Sugar Koko Ware (great dropkicks, not a lot of wrestling skill)
WWE Hall Of Famer