Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame Candidates Drawing Power

[Warner2BruceTD]

Credit goes to Matt Farmer of the Observer board for the great research.

The following is a list of the top candidates in this years ballot, and the number of times they main evented a show that drew 10,000+ (modern era candidates only, i'm leaving off historical candidates):

Batista -133
Edge - 129
Owen Hart - 44
Curt Hennig - 59
Ivan Koloff - 72
Fabulous Moolah - 2
Pedro Morales - 82
Dick Murdoch - 31
Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) - 27
Sabu - 3
Sgt. Slaughter - 86
Jimmy Snuka - 52
Sting - 81
Mr. Wrestling II - 35

-Batista and Edge numbers are artificially inflated because of headlining numerous Smackdown/RAW tapings. The taping itself is the draw, and many times the main event isn't even announced until the show is already happening.

-Same for Sting, thanks to Nitro/Thunder.

-Owen Hart has a shockingly high number. Most of that has to be from the Bret/Owen feud, but i'm still surprised because WWE wasn;t drawing very well during that era.

-Those Sabu shows have to be FMW shows from Japan. I can't recall Sabu drawing 2,000 on top in North America, let alone 10,000.

-Most of Hennig's are likely the run against Hogan, which was actually considered a flop at the box office.

-Pedro & Sgt. Slaughter were legit draws. All of Pedro's were likely for WWF, but Slaughter probably did his damage in several territories.

Here are a few more:

Kensuke Sasake - 73
Dr Death Steve Williams - 34
Perro Aguayo Jr - 92
Atlantis - 127
L.A. Park - 67
Blue Panther - 76
Vampiro - 73
Dr. Wager Jr - 112
Cien Caras - 120
Villano III - 76
Carlos Colon - 89

-It's a crime Sasake isn't in. He's the only big star from New Japan 90's not in.

-Atlantis, Blue Panther, and Cien Caras should be in. Especially Blue Panther, one of the best workers ever and a true legend.

-Perro Jr was a lock until he self destructed a few years ago.

-And then we have Carlos Colon...obviously a legend in Puerto Rico, and a huge draw. Nobody will vote for him because of the Brody situation.

 

[IamMedellin]

brody situation?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

brody situation?

On July 16, 1988, Brody was in the locker room before his match with Dan Spivey in Bayamón (a city near San Juan, Puerto Rico), when José Huertas González, a fellow wrestler and booker,[4] asked him to go into the shower to discuss business. Brody entered the shower stall and a few minutes later a scuffle ensued, followed by two groans, loud enough for the entire locker room to hear. Tony Atlas ran to the shower and saw Brody bent over and holding his stomach. Atlas then looked up at González and saw him holding the knife.[5] When the paramedics arrived Atlas carried Brody downstairs to the waiting ambulance.[5] González, who always maintained his innocence, was initially charged with first-degree murder but was later reduced and tried for involuntary homicide. In January 1989, González was acquitted on all counts, citing self-defense.[5]

In July 1988, González stabbed professional wrestler Frank Donald Goodish, known as Bruiser Brody, to death during a wrestling event in Puerto Rico.[5] Gonzalez was acquitted in 1989 after a jury accepted that he was acting in self-defense.[6] Another wrestler, Tony Atlas, says he witnessed the stabbing in the locker room showers, but the knife used in the stabbing was not recovered and Atlas did not testify at the trial. The investigation was criticised in two books about Brody, Bruiser Brody (Crowbar Press) and Brody (ECW Press).[7][8]

Gonzalez, better known as Invader I, killed Brody in cold blood. None of the witnesses showed up for the trial, including Atlas. Most of the Americans vowed to never go back to Puerto Rico, but most ended up eventually going back after a few years. Colon ran the promotion and continued to use Gonzalez for many years, and Gonzalez still wrestles to this day. They even did an angle a few years ago where Gonzalez "stabbed" a babyface wrestler in the locker room. Disgusting.

 

[Bigpapa42]

brody situation?

Bruiser Brody was stabbed to death in Puerto Rico in 1986 by Jose Gonzalez. Believe it was a WWC show, which Colon is part owner of. Gonzalez was acquitted on the murder charge due to "self-defense". One of the more sordid tales in pro wrestling history, in my opinion.

Edit - fuck you, W2BTD!!!!!!!

BTW, interesting list. I'm curious how many Shinya Hashimoto would have. Read he headlined more 50K-plus shows than anyone else in wrestling history. He probably have a ton of 10K shows...

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

It is widely believed that Carlos Colon was the person who got rid of the knife. Atlas refused to appear at the trial, possibly fearing for his life. Dutch Mantell received his court papers in February, and the trial was in January. Others set to testify received death threats. The entire situation was a spectacle.