Stone Cold Steve Austin was a lot of fans’ favorite wrestler in the 1990s.While some professional wrestlers, like Brock Lesnar, grew up with other interests, a lot of the performers in the WWE and other promotions grew up watching pro wrestling. As a result, they developed favorite wrestlers just like regular fans.Additionally, when wrestlers retire, many of them continue to watch and stay invested in the product. Thus, they tend to find themselves picking up favorites in the modern era as well, and it can be interesting who those favorites are.Here are eight WWE legends and their favorites, some from the past and some from the current programming.
#8 Chris Jericho - Cheeseburger
Listed at 5-fot-8 and about 140 pounds, it would be hard to predict that Cheeseburger would be destined to be anyone’s favorite wrestler. But his entertainment value and the commitment Ring of Honor has shown to giving him fun spots in big matches helps him stay relevant for fans and legends alike.
Recently on Twitter, Chris Jericho displayed that drawing power when he answered a fan’s question that Cheeseburger was his favorite, even asking if there was any merchandise available.
And when the “Ayatollah of RocknRollah” asks for merch, he should definitely get it!
#7 Mick Foley - Chris Nowinski
This one is interesting because Chris Nowinski didn’t spend much time in the WWE ring.
His career didn’t have many highlights, either, as his lone title was a WWE Hardcore Championship. Yet, when Mick Foley took to Facebook to list his all-time favorites, Nowinski topped the list ahead of legends like runner-up The Rock.
Foley’s reasoning was intriguing, too. Instead of recognizing Nowinski’s wrestling work, Foley pointed out his work in founding the Concussion Legacy Foundation, committed to studying the effects of head injury on athletes from contact sports.
#6 Edge - Dash and Dawson
When most people think about modern tag team wrestling, names like the Dudley Boyz, the Hardys and Edge and Christian come to mind.
Well, when Edge, now a WWE Hall of Famer, was asked about tag team wrestling on Stone Cold’s podcast, he talked about Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson.
The NXT tag team champions are talented, for sure, and it says a lot about them that they would get a mention in such a setting with the talent around them and on the main roster. You might say that such an honor “reeks of awesomeness.”
#5 Vince McMahon - Undertaker
Even if you don’t like your boss, it’s nice to know when you’re appreciated.
Undertaker has that assurance, as Vince McMahon has described “the Phenom” as his favorite wrestler in interviews, which is interesting considering how often they were opposite each other in the storyline during the Attitude Era.
But it makes sense that Taker would be McMahon’s go-to guy. No one else had the combination of entertainment value, longevity, loyalty and the ticket-driving machine that Undertaker did and still does to this day.
It must be nice to be able to turn to a guy who’s been a legend for 20 years for a pay-per-view main event.
#4 Ric Flair - Bray Wyatt
It’s pretty lofty praise to be recognized by the 16-time, 16-time, 16-time Heavyweight Champion of the World, but Bray Wyatt got that. Ric Flair has said in an interview that of all the current talent, he’s been most impressed by the “Eater of Worlds.”
There’s plenty of reason to like Bray Wyatt.
He’s talented beyond his size in the ring, and his mic work is clearly impressive. Add on to that, as Flair mentioned, his heritage in the business as the son of Mike Rotunda and grandson of Blackjack Mulligan, and Bray Wyatt is somewhat made for pro wrestling.
#3 Jeff Hardy - Shawn Michaels
Jeff Hardy, along with brother Matt, were part of some of the most entertaining matches in WWE history as the Tables, Ladders and Chairs match was developed in the tag team division.
He also put on some great matches as a singles competitor, perhaps most notably against the Undertaker.
So it’s somewhat appropriate that the now TNA star would point to Shawn Michaels as his all-time greatest influence. Michaels helped make ladder matches famous against Razor Ramon, and he had some stellar performances with Undertaker, as well.
#2 The Rock - Fandango
Obviously, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson didn’t grow up idolizing Fandango, but this answer from an interview the Rock did, not too long ago, was worth noting. Rock was actually asked who are some wrestlers to keep an eye on, and his first answer was, obviously, his cousin – Roman Reigns.
But he spent more time talking about Fandango and how the now rarely-seen WWE talent seems keenly aware of what his role is in the WWE and embraces it, entertaining fans and putting on a good show along the way.
#1 Stone Cold - Ric Flair
Does this make Rick Flair everyone’s favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestler? While that might be hard to keep up with, it’s no shock that Flair would top the list for a lot of fans and wrestlers alike.
Stone Cold has pointed to others as guys he liked to watch, but he outrightly said that Flair was his favorite. And it’s appropriate, as the two men are among the all-time best at entertaining the crowd while also putting on solid wrestling matches in the ring.
Further, their “Woooo” and “What?” catchphrases can still be heard in WWE arenas till date.
One of Samoa Joe's colleagues had harsh words for him HERE
