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Promo skills are one of the most important skills that a professional wrestler should possess. Over time, there have been many who were elevated only because of their exemplary promo work, even if they were devoid of proper wrestling skills.
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There have also been many who couldn't break out due to their poor mic skills irrespective of their outstanding wrestling work. In this article, we take a look at some of the greatest talkers of all time.
Note: This list is of an individual opinion. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts in the comments section below.
#1 The Rock
"Jabroni-Beatin', Pie-Eatin', Trailblazin', Eyebrow Raisin', Step off the brake, Foot on the Gas, Always Ready to whoop some a**, People's Champ!" Think of another superstar that could've made up this line and make it believable. You can't. The Rock is considered one of the greatest talkers of all time. Everything that he said was hilarious, and he soon became a money-spinning wonder for the company with his fountain of catchphrases.
His promo battles against the likes of Austin, Cena, Jericho is the stuff of the legends. He was never repetitive, wonderfully creative, and completely believable. If you want, you can check out his greatest rivalries here.
Take a look at the video below for some of his greatest moments on the mic.
#2 Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho went from being an underutilised cruiserweight in WCW to a sure-shot HOFer in the WWE, and much of it was because of his incredible mic skills. His wrestling prowess isn't being doubted, mind you but it were his incredible promos that made Vinnie Mac a big fan of his.
If you need a proof of this, check out his promo battles with the Rock, or his hilarious roasting of Stephanie Mcmahon. The Gift of Jericho has elevated quite a few feuds and superstars due to his verbal prowess. Take it in,maaaaaaann.
#3 Steve Austin
Steve Austin may well be the superstar responsible for keeping WWE alive during the Monday Night Wars. Saddled earlier with 'The Ringmaster' gimmick, Austin rose to fame with his King of the Ring victory. The legendary 3:16 promo that he cut after the match started off something so huge that he was almost solely responsible for putting WWE's biggest competitor out of business.
Old fans of the product can still be spotted sporting 'Austin 3:16' merch. He was a complete badass on the mic. Catchphrases like the now infamous 'What!', 'A can of whoop-ass' etc have been completely immortalised in wrestling history.
#4 John Cena
Well this entry is surely going to tick some people off, but that doesn't make it untrue. John Cena made himself into the star that he is today by his fiery promos. Allegedly, he was going to be fired but when Stephanie Mcmahon heard him rap, she knew the WWE had something special. And thus, the Doctor of Thuganomics was born.
Cena gained people's adoration by cutting edgy, hilarious promos and destroying opponents verbally. Sure, the PG rating turned him into a man with bad humor, his latest returns have brought back the fiery, focused John Cena of old-the Cena people adore. There aren't many better than Cena at controlling the crowd. The Champ is here!
#5 The Miz
The most effective heel in the WWE,The Miz is the last of his kind. He is one of the very few heels who garners genuine heel heat. In an era where heels are cheered, The Miz stands out. He knows how to handle the crowd,making them boo at his bidding.
His effective mic work is the reason some of his feuds have been memorable(see the Cena feud at WM33). While he isn't the best in the ring, his skills on the mic are one of the main reasons that he became a top-tier superstar from an afterthought. His explosive Talking Smack promo on Daniel Bryan will forever be remembered as one of the greatest promos in pro-wrestling history. Even when The Miz won't be able to go in the ring, his gift of the gab is sure to get him into the WWE HOF.
That's all folks! If you feel that I've left off someone, do let me know in the comments section below.
One of Samoa Joe's colleagues had harsh words for him HERE
