Who is pro wrestling's G.O.A.T.?

Arguments between wrestling fans about who is the greatest of all time get pretty heated. But who has the best claim to the title?

The greatest of all time.

It's a phrase loaded with meaning and raw emotion. After all, it's truly hard to determine who really is the best wrestler of all time because it is the most unique form of entertainment in mankind's history.

With other sports, like Football, it's easy to count up the goals scored and games won and get a somewhat objective view. But with wrestling, which combines scripted drama with real-world athleticism, the question grows murky.

There are many aspects to being a great wrestler, and almost no one scores highly in all categories. For example, while technical wizard Dean Malenko may know many, many more moves than John Cena, Cena has sold many, many more T-shirts and pay per view buys.

Thus, we will take a look at ten candidates for pro wrestling's G.O.A.T. and rate them on their technical ability, speaking prowess, and popularity both inside and outside the wrestling world. A fourth category, competition, will analyze the caliber of talent they faced during their careers.

Without further ado, let's begin!

Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan is still the man most non-wrestling fans think of when you bring up professional wrestling.

Terry Bollea came up through the AWA promotion and had great success before being hired by the then-WWF. His title win over Iron Sheik and the Rock n Wrestling connection of the decade helped to catapult him to household name status.

Hogan's Scores:

Technical Ability: While Hulk Hogan could sometimes display some technical acumen, it certainly wasn't his usual style. He wasn't terrible, but he wasn't the best of his generation, either. Grade: C

Speaking and promos: Hulk Hogan is one of the sport's greatest talkers, able to sell a storyline and get the fans emotionally involved without even having to utter his 'Training, prayers, and vitamins' catch phrase. He definitely gets the fans fired up, whether as the heroic Hulk Hogan or the villainous Hollywood Hogan. Grade: A

Popularity: When Hogan was on his legendary WWE run, he got wall to wall cheers. When he was Hollywood, he recieved wall to wall boos. He's already at an A rating before you add in a boost from his mass media appeal. Grade: A+

Competition: Hogan faced many of the biggest names in the sport, such as Andre the Giant and Randy Savage. However, he seldom defended his title for much of his five year reign, and often against lower tier talent. Grade: B

El Santo

As Hulk Hogan was to the United States, El Santo was to Mexico.

A cultural icon as well as a celebrated professional wrestler, El Santo was Superman in a silver mask. He never cheated and was known for standing up for the common man.

Santo was also a movie star, being featured in over sixty films--all of which he performed in with his mask in place. In fact, Santo refused to unmask even when he went to fine restaurants or had his car serviced at the auto shop!

El Santo's Scores

Technical Ability: El Santo is one of the sport's great innovators, and popularized moves like the Tope de Cristo (diving headbutt) and the plancha. His reliance on technical moves was part of his persona, and he put on great performances at every turn. Grade: A

Speaking and promos: Movies studios practically begged El Santo to take roles in their films, and he portrayed himself quite well in his interactions with the media. He was also able to get fans emotionally invested in his matches. Grade: A

Popularity: El Santo's popularity is off the charts, both in the wrestling and non-wrestling worlds. Grade: A

Competition: While El Santo faced the best Lucha Libre had to offer, he wasn't as well traveled or as worldly as, say, Mil Mascaras. Grade: B

Antonio Inoki

Parallels to Hogan and El Santo abound, as Antonio Inoki is perhaps Japan's most famous pro wrestler.

More athletic than either of those men, Antonio could shoot fight if he wanted to, and even delivered a one-sided butt kicking of Boxing G.O.A.T. Muhammed Ali in an exhibition bout. Inoki remains an icon to this day.

Inoki's scores:

Technical Ability: One of wrestling's finest technicians, Inoki could trade stiff shots or use chain wrestling to avail with equal acumen. Grade: A

Speaking and promos: Not his strongest suit, but he wasn't a slouch either. He could sell the storyline of any match or feud well enough but it was his toughness that mainly got him over. Grade: B

Popularity: Even before his beatdown of Ali, Inoki was a household name in Japan and well known to American wrestling fans. Grade: A

Competition: Inoki faced all that the world had to offer, from Ric Flair to Bob Backlund to Hulk Hogan, as well as Japan's best wrestlers. Grade: A+

Ric Flair

Charlotte, North Carolina's favorite son almost needs no introduction.

Multi-time world champion, wrestling icon and legend, Ric Flair is best known for his run with the NWA in the 1980s, where he was frequently the world heavyweight champion.

The only active wrestler ever inducted into the WWE's Hall of Fame, Flair has solidified his legacy as one of the sport's greatest...but is he the greatest of all time?

Ric Flair's scores:

Technical Ability: Flair knew just about every trick in the book, and would use them. He didn't have to win by poking eyes or pulling tights; he just preferred to. Grade: A

Speaking and promos: Simply one of the best talkers of all time. Flair could rile up the fans like no other, and was articulate, precise, and emotional while he did so. Grade: A+

Popularity: Every wrestling fan in the world knows Flair, if for the 'whoo!' chants when anyone in any promotion utilizes the knife edge chop he made famous. He also forced Time magazine to change its Man of the Year voting policy after fans crashed their website with votes for the Nature Boy. Flair's only knock is his lack of involvement with non-wrestling media, but that's not enough to lower his grade significantly. Grade: A

Competition: Is there anyone who Flair HASN'T wrestled in his era? Flair faced, and beat, the best of the best of the best all over the world. Grade: A+

Macho Man Randy Savage

Randy Savage was a shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals MLB team when he got the wrestling bug from his father, also a famous grappler.

Possessing a mix of brute strength and tremendous agility, the Macho Man electrified audiences all over the world. And who can forget his famous "OH YEAH!" catchphrase?

Savages's scores:

Technical Ability: There were few on his level. Savage meticulously planned out every detail of his big matches, often filling up spiral bound notebooks with each moment laid out in order. And it showed in the ring, with nigh-flawless performances. Grade: A+

Speaking and promos: Savage could talk the talk, and certainly got the fans invested in his character, whether as heel or face. But his rambling, metaphysical interviews often made no sense, and he could get off subject easily. Grade: B

Popularity: Randy Savage remains one of the most popular wrestlers of all time even in death. And he had great mass-market appeal, appearing in a long running ad campaign for Slim Jim snacks and movie roles like Spider Man. Grade: A+

Competition: Randy Savage fought and defeated many legends in the sport, both in the United States and abroad. Grade: A

The Rock

Currently the highest paid actor in the world, The Rock spent his formative years in WWE, where he was both Intercontinental and world champion.

The third generation wrestler combined brawn and a winning personality to capture the hearts of both wrestling and non-wrestling fans alike.

Rock's Scores:

Technical Ability: The Rock isn't sloppy, and his moves are executed well enough, but he lacks the deep moveset or technical acumen of others on this list. Grade: B

Speaking and Promos: The Rock has a silver tongue, and he knows how to use it. He might just be the greatest promo man of all time. Grade: A+

Popularity: Off the charts, both in the wrestling world and mainstream media. You don't get to be the highest grossing movie star of your era by being boring! Grade: A+

Competition: While the Rock has faced legends like Undertaker and John Cena, he spent the entirety of his career in the WWE, and thus missed out on opportunities to take on the world's finest talent. Grade: C

Stone Cold Steve Austin

The Texas Rattlesnake redefined what it means to be a wrestling babyface, and perhaps single-handedly kept WWE afloat when Monday Nitro dominated the ratings for nearly three years.

Steve Austin is best known for his WWE run, but also had a standout career in WCW, winning ever title in that promotion save the world title.

Austin's Scores:

Technical Ability: Though time and injury slowed Austin down in his later career, he was still one of the smoothest performers the sport has ever known, capable of having great matches with almost anyone. Grade: B+

Speaking and promos: Austin is second only to the Rock in this category, with his "Hell Yeah!" catchphrase as iconic as the man himself. Grade: A

Popularity: If Stone Cold Steve Austin were to sit down in the ring with a newspaper, and as the fans "If you want to see Stone Cold read the paper for thirty minutes, give me a Hell yeah!" the crowd would respond in the affirmative. Roles in television and film have also increased his mass-market appeal, particularly Celebrity Deathmatch. Grade: A+

Competition: Austin faced the top tier talent the WWE had to offer during his run, but when he was in WCW he was mostly relegated to the mid card. Grade: B

Andre the Giant

Beloved by wrestling and non wrestling fans alike, Andre was simply larger than life.

From his legendary drinking exploits to his famous match with Hogan at Wrestlemania III, Andre practically defines the term "Icon."

Andre's Scores:

Technical Ability: In his youth, Andre could pull off dropkicks and other athletic moves, but as his condition worsened, his in ring work suffered as well. Grade: C

Speaking and promos: Andre had a unique speaking voice to say the least, but was never a great, articulate orator. Still, he could fire up his fan base with the best of them. Grade: B

Popularity: From his roles in Princess Bride and The Six Million Dollar Man to his two Wrestlemania main events, Andre is off the charts in this category. Grade: A+

Competition: Before he joined WWE, Andre wrestled all over the world in various promotions, taking on the best they had to offer. Like Ric Flair, it's easier to list the people he hasn't faced. Grade: A+

Brock Lesnar

The former amateur wrestling All American and UFC champion is one of the most widely recognized sports figures in the world today.

Brock combines obvious power with surprising speed and mat wrestling ability to overwhelm opponents and critics alike.

Lesnar's Scores:

Technical Ability: For a big man, Brock can really move, and his amateur wrestling background gives him a leg up in this category. Grade: A

Speaking and promos: While Brock isn't a terrible speaker, he isn't a great one, either, which is probably why Paul Heyman is his mouthpiece. Grade: C

Popularity: Brock is over with the wrestling crowd for certain sure, and he is also an icon in the world of MMA. While he hasn't done much acting, he can still sell out an arena on any given night. Grade: A

Competition: Brock only worked for one promotion his entire career. While he beat men like the Rock, Hollywood Hogan, and John Cena, he simply doesn't have the accolades of a Ric Flair. Grade: B

John Cena

A hero to millions of children the world over, John Cena has a down to Earth earnestness that can't be imitated or faked.

From his various media promotions of everything from vehicles to kid's breakfast cereal to his outstanding turn in movies like Train Wreck John is as much an icon out of wrestling as he is in it.

John Cena's scores:

Technical Ability: John is adequate in the ring. That is all that can really be said about him. Grade: C

Speaking and promos: Whether he's rapping or giving an impassioned speech about Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect, John's earnestness and honesty shine through. His articulate, melodious voice doesn't hurt, either. Grade: A+

Popularity: Cena has plenty of very vocal detractors in most of the arenas he wrestles in, but he makes up for it with incredible mass market appeal and is quite popular with younger fans and women. Grade: A

Competition: John has faced many WWE legends, but didn't wrestle outside the company for his entire career, missing on on chances to face international talent. Grade: B

And the greatest wrestler of all time is....Nature Boy Ric Flair!

When you crunch the numbers, Ric Flair is a clearly the G.O.A.T.

While he lacks the mass media appeal of Cena or the Rock, and wasn't perhaps as well known as Hogan during his heyday, Ric Flair's lack of any weakness in his game and the caliber of competition he has faced edge him out over the rest of the pack.

Inoki is a better grappler, Brock Lesnar is tougher, and the Rock makes more money, but when it comes to being the greatest wrestler of all time overall Ric Flair is the decisive winner.

There you have it: Wrestling's G.O.A.T! Please comment and let us know who you think is wrestling's greatest of all time.