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The "Entertainment" in WWE has come a long way. Since the beginning of the PG Era, wrestlers have toned down their intensity, but you still find sporadic occasions where a certain move-set makes your jaw drop.
WWE is one of the most grueling sports today. The risks that wrestlers take is unimaginable, and they put it all on the line when they step into the ring. Whether it be a high-flyer, a grappler or a brawler, each performer has a unique selling proposition that makes him a fan favorite.
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Performers who have spent years honing the craft of technical wrestling are always appreciated. These "artists" always try to look their best and paint a beautiful picture that fans worldwide can enjoy. And that's why technical wrestlers make sports entertainment great!
But one question remains: Who is the greatest technical wrestler of all time in the WWE? Perhaps the top five can help you find your pick.
Honorable Mentions: Dean Malenko, Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Randy Savage, Bob Backlund, Mr. Perfect, William Regal
#5 (Shared) AJ styles and Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles are two of the best in-ring technicians in WWE today. Period! The two SmackDown superstars have faced each other once in WWE and put on a classic contest, only to be interfered by Shinsuke Nakamura.
Let's take a look at each of them one by one.
Daniel Bryan made a stellar comeback after a two-year break from the in-ring action. Before even arriving in WWE, Bryan enjoyed massive success in the indie wrestling promotions, and it was a matter of when, that "The American Dragon" makes his way to the big league.
From his stint in NXT to the "YES Movement" on RAW, Daniel Bryan has given the crowd his 100%. Despite his comparatively shorter height, Bryan makes up for it with his maneuvers which he executes with precise perfection.
William Regal had the following to say about Daniel Bryan
First of all, he had a good mentor in me. And then he went and picked the brains of the best technical wrestlers around the world. He learned from Robbie Brookside and all the best wrestlers in Britain, all the best wrestlers in Japan.
Then he took it to a level out of my realm with his jujitsu training and his grappling coach Neil [Melanson]. These are the people who are the best at what they do. He’s taken bits from every single one of us, which makes him better than everybody else.
AJ Styles' debut in WWE had been awaited for the longest time. At Royal Rumble 2016, "The Phenomenal One" finally made his debut, and since then there has been no looking back for him. Known for his prowess, thrilling aerial maneuvers, and supreme confidence, Styles is the smoothest and most exciting wrestler in the world, let alone WWE.
He is so good inside the squared circle that he has three finishers- Styles Clash, Calf Crusher, and the most rewindable move in all of wrestling, The Phenomenal Forearm.
Paul Heyman has this to say about AJ Styles moments after his client defeated the Phenomenal One at Survivor Series.
If you’re not a fan of AJ Styles, you shouldn’t be watching the WWE.
#4 Eddie Guerrero
Eddie Guerrero is a performer whose career ended a little too early because of a heart attack which led to his untimely death. Having fought a lot of demons in the form of struggles and addiction, Eddie went on to become one of the most beloved superstars of all time.
From training in his parent’s backyard to winning the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar at the grandest stage of them all, Eddie's hard work paid off, and he became a major star in the pro wrestling world. One of the things that separated Guerrero from the rest was his connection with the crowd. He was arguably the only wrestler who could make "Lying Cheating Stealing" look good among the fans.
Dean Malenko had the following to say about Eddie Guerrero.
Eddie was very well-rounded. He was not only a high-flyer, but he knew how to technically wrestle and had some amateur background. Eddie was extremely talented, could change moves in mid-stream and could face so many diverse sizes.
Brawling, high-flying or getting technical- you name it, and "The Latino Heat" had it in his arsenal. A talent that can never be replicated or matched, Eddie Guerrero will surely go down as one of the finest to have graced the squared circle.
#3 Shawn Michaels
A few have come close, but no one could ever match the charisma and showstopping abilities to that of Shawn Michaels. The wrestler with the most 5-star matches than anyone, HBK is one of those wrestlers that can make you feel like pro-wrestling is not a sport but an art.
With unparalleled storytelling and in-ring abilities, Michaels could have a great match with almost anyone on the roster. His matches with Razor Ramon and The Undertaker rank amongst the best in history and have made him the global phenomenon that he is. From kip-ups to diving elbow to "The Sweet Chin Music," Shawn was as complete a performer as one could be and would leave it all out in the ring till there is nothing left.
Very few people could "sell" a move as good as HBK. The bumps that he took not only made his opponents look stronger but also enhanced him when he came back from all of it and won the match.
Just take a look at HBK's HoF Induction video to relive his career.
#2 Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle
Choosing one from Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho was an extremely tough job. One was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame last year, and the other is a guaranteed name in the time to come. Angle and Jericho had a classic match when the former defended his WWF Championship in a thrilling encounter.
Even before making his way to WWE, Kurt Angle had already become a household name after winning a gold medal in Olympics with a "broken freakin' neck." Transitioning to the style of WWE was not a difficult task for him as he quickly rose to the ranks and became the face of the company.
One of the best pound for pound performers, Angle's execution of all his moves were always clean and picture perfect. His crisp style of wrestling made the art look smooth, and there weren't many who could go head to head with him in technical prowess.
Watch the classic between the two from December 2000.
One of Angle's earliest rivals was none other than Chris Jericho. Y2J is one of the most entertaining and successful wrestlers of all time. A record 9-time Intercontinental Champion, Jericho found success wherever he went; from WCW to WWF/E to NJPW recently, where he defeated Tetsuya Naito to become the new IWGP Intercontinental Champion.
Even at 48, Jericho can give wrestlers half his age a run for their money. His rivalries with Shawn Michaels, The Rock, and CM Punk brought the best out of him and showcased all his in-ring abilities. One of the few wrestlers who excel in both high-flying and submission maneuvers, Chris Jericho has always proved to be an excellent ring technician and has wrestled the best over the years.
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#1 Bret Hart
Bret Hart wasn't your usual high-flyer. A specialist mat grappler, Hart made his debut as part of The Hart Foundation, tagging with brother in law Jim Neidhart. It wasn't until long Bret got his solo push as a main-event performer and the rest, as they say, is history.
His matches against the likes of Mr. Perfect, Roddy Piper, and Davey Boy Smith showed the world how technically sound "The Hitman" is, and he was someone Mr. McMahon could easily put as the poster boy of the company. During the mid-90s, Bret was the most sought-after wrestler in the WWF engaging in classic bouts with HBK, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and his brother Owen. Another peculiar fact is that Bret was probably the safest worker of his .generation, earning him the title of "The Excellence of execution."
Natalya had the following to say about Bret Hart.
Well he was very well-rounded. He wasn’t a high-flyer, but there was really nothing that he couldn’t do. It didn’t matter if it was The 1-2-3 Kid or if it was The British Bulldog or if it was Doink the Clown, he always made it into something really special.
If it wasn't for Goldberg's botched kick which led to a concussion leading to early retirement, Bret Hart could have easily become the most valuable performer in the history of pro-wrestling. A few have managed to come close, but even today nobody can perfect the art of applying the Sharpshooter that Bret Hart could do.
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