5 best in-ring technicians in WWE history

Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart was known especially for his technique and ability in the ringRegardless of the plethora of shenanigans that attach themselves to the product as mainstream elements, it does not take away from the fact that the heart and soul of the industry is driven by what occurs inside of the squared circle.Being spontaneous and entertaining on the microphone might be a useful asset for a WWE Superstar, but the ability to work a solid match is markedly more important. Looking past the high-flyers and the brawlers, who undeniable add gloss and verve to proceedings, the in-ring wizards that have mastered every lock, hold and reversal comprise the true engine room of the product.By virtue of their craft and skill, these wrestlers have won the audience over with their mastery of their art. Indeed, while it is far easier to think of the exemplary in-ring technicians that have graced the WWE over time, it is rather more complicated to rank them.What with each wrestler in the list legitimately deserving to be there, the process of ranking them sometimes proves merely perfunctory; nonetheless, here is a definitive look at the 5 best in-ring technicians that have punctuated the WWE’s history.

#5 CM Punk

As great as his microphone skills were, CM Punk especially prided himself on being the best worker in the ring

Perhaps any mention of the UFC-in-waiting megastar draws a resentful sense of what might have been, but dropping pipe bomb promos and even briefly overtaking John Cena in merchandising numbers were not the only achievements that CM Punk subscribed to in the WWE.

What rather made every segment featuring the Straight Edge star must-see was not only his considerable propensity with the microphone but also how he backed up his words by consistently working solid matches each week.

In some senses, CM Punk was also the trendsetter that catalyzed the change-over from the PG era to the wrestling-centric Reality era that has seen the spotlight return onto producing solid in-ring action. What started off as a string of incredibly technical and fast-paced matches against Daniel Bryan during his lengthy run as WWE Champion, looking back in hindsight now, was very much the precursor to the increase in the importance that Indie based Superstars have received on the WWE stage since then.

For a wrestler that could so emphatically be categorized as the complete package, it is arguable that CM Punk’s in-ring ability and the confidence that stemmed out of that were very much at the root of the stratospheric success that he met with in the WWE.

#4 Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan has very much been at the forefront of the greater degree of innovation and technique that is being incorporated into the product today

From being squashed in 18 seconds at Wrestlemania 28 to unifying the WWE’s top gold just 2 years on, Daniel Bryan’s meteoric rise in the WWE while majorly manufactured on the back of the wildly exciting Yes Movement!, has undeniably been aided by his in-ring prowess as well.

The Flying Goat as he has been christened also currently serves as the benchmark wrestler in the WWE today. Always over with the fans despite only making sporadic non-wrestling appearances due to injury off late, it is highly possible that a fit and firing Daniel Bryan has the potential to be a major draw for the company going forward.

Following numerous stellar matches through 2013 and 2014, the break-out of talent this year in his injury-dictated absence bodes well for Bryan when he is finally cleared to compete again.

With the likes of Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose all more or less established with the fans now, a returning Daniel Bryan could well be required to tap on every shred of in-ring know-how that he has accumulated over his well-travelled Indie career to hold his own inside of the squared circle again.

#3 Kurt Angle

Despite being released from the WWE due to his injury troubles, Kurt Angle was still at his belligerent best in TNA

Of all the custodians of the ring that have strutted their stuff on the WWE platform, perhaps no one else picked up the nuances and technicalities of the business as fast as Kurt Angle did.

After winning Olympic gold for the USA, the understandably clean-cut and ‘national hero’ image that he possessed lent its weight towards a push as a babyface, but it was not until he turned heel that the grappling maestro found main-event success in the WWE.

Notorious for working through injuries, Kurt Angle’s all intensity and hard hitting style of wrestling was responsible for many a mouth-watering match-up during his heyday in the company. It was not long though until his unyielding style finally caught up with his body, explaining perhaps why the past few years have been frequented with injury lay-offs amidst a very realistic notion of retirement that has popped up as well.

While his matches against Brock Lesnar, Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit and the Undertaker were some of the best during the Ruthless Agression Era, it is certainly also arguable that Kurt Angle has always symbolized excellence in the ring throughout his WWE and TNA career alike.

#2 Chris Benoit

Chris Benoit celebrating his title victory with Eddie Guerrero at Wrestlemania 20

After the shroud of uncertainty surrounding his demise and that of his family was met with the WWE completely erasing any mention of him in their record books, Chris Benoit’s legacy as a fantastic grappler has often been the subject of unfair scrutiny and judgement.

While the heinous acts committed by him are certainly worthy of condemnation, that his brain underwent severe deterioration while putting his body on the line to keep performing cannot be discounted from the discussion either.Although WCW’s demise and the subsequent cross-over into the WWE by Superstars like Eddie Gurrero, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn and Chris Benoit was not expected to be a high-profile success due to the unspoken stigma that existed against guys that were “too small”, Chris Benoit and Eddie Gurrero especially bucked the trend when they shared a poignant moment to emerge victorious at Wrestlemania 20 with the World Heavyweight and the WWE Championships respectively.

Immortalized for his furious grappling and break-neck intensity, the Rabid Wolverine’s indelible contribution to the industry cannot in any way be undone simply by the company’s politically motivated stance or failure to accept a share of the responsibility for the travesty that befell his family.

#1 Bret Hart

Through the ignominy of the Montreal Screwjob and the bad blood that followed, Bret Hart’s in-ring dexterity was never once in question

After the Steroid scandal demanded that Vince McMahon reassess his formula of pushing buffed and bulked physiques into the main event scene, Bret Hart was the wrestler who arguably benefitted most from the climate of change.

From 1992 to 1997, Bret Hart’s slightly more humanized frame when compared to the likes of Hulk Hogan or Ultimate Warrior was what dominated the main event scene in the WWE; except only that the likes of in-ring prowess that he boasted of was in a league of its own. “The Best there was, the Best there is and the Best there ever will be”, is the most associated catch-phrase with Bret Hart till today and with good reason.

The Excellence of Execution put on some of the most memorable matches in WWE history with the likes of Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Davey Boy Smith during his tenure with the company.

The 1992 Summerslam encounter between Bret Hart and Davey Boy Smith ranks atop the list of a series of superb matches that Bret Hart customarily produced at the annual event. Apparently Davey Boy Smith, riddled with intoxicants and drugs, “blew out” just minutes into the match and had to be guided through the remainder of it by Hart, who not only managed to complete the match but also single-handedly craft out an all-time classic remembered till today for the raucous Wembley crowd and electric atmosphere that accompanied the event.

Sadly, The Hitman’s career with the WWE may have burnt out with a cruel twist of fate that led to the happenstance of the Montreal Screwjob, but his legacy in the WWE as possibly the finest in-ring technician to set foot into the squared circle still rings true till date.