In the world of professional wrestling, many professional wrestlers grow up idolizing other superstars. This can lead to these superstars imitating their favourites when they break into the business.
Some wrestlers like to pay homage to their favourites that may have inspired them to become what they are today.
Sometimes it doesn’t even take a superstar to grow up idolizing another, sometimes wrestlers can grow close to other wrestlers in the business and become the best of friends and this can lead them paying homage to their friend.
Here we take a look at 5 wrestlers that pay homage to others with the body of work.
#5 Wade Barret pays homage to Mick Foley
Mick Foley, as far as doctors are concerned, should and will not wrestle again. After years of giving everything he had to the business it all got too much and he now has to enjoy a life of retirement from in-ring action.
In a match between The Miz on the April 8th edition of Monday night Raw in 2013, Wade hit The Miz with Mick’s patented elbow drop to the outside of the ring. Before hitting the move Barrett even shot the pistols with his fingers to the crowd signalling that it was, in fact, Mick Foley that he was paying homage to.
#4 Daniel Bryan takes a leaft out of Chris Benoit’s book
Chris Benoit has become quite a taboo name when it comes to the world of professional wrestling. The tragic actions that took place leading up the the double murder suicide means that Benoit’s name will be forever crossed out of the WWE.
While his name may not be spoken, his legacy as a wrestler certainly did live on through Daniel Bryan.
It’s easy to see that a lot of Daniel Bryan’s moves mirror that of Benoit. Most notably Daniel’s diving headbutt and his yes lock (crippler crossface) are what people remember Benoit for.
Benoit must have obviously been a superstar that Daniel looked up to when starting out in the business.
#3 Is Dolph Ziggler the version 2.0 of Shawn Michaels?
Dolph Ziggler is seen today by many as a modern day Shawn Michaels without the push to the top of course.
Recently Dolph has been putting more emphasis on his super kick as a signature move to look as though it is sweet chin music and has even started tuning up the band in the corner before he hits it just as Shawn did.
With the similarities between the two superstars in their styles, it is easy to see why Dolph would pay homage to one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.
#2 Sasha Banks has adapted her style after Eddie Guerrero
There have been many superstars who have paid homage to the late great Eddie Guerrero in the past, but we will focus on Sasha Banks at Wrestlemania 32.
It’s no secret that Sasha was a huge fan of Eddie’s work in the ring and took the opportunity on the grandest stage of them all to pay homage to this legendary superstar. Sasha hit the frog splash (Eddie’s finisher) onto a helpless Becky Lynch and Charlotte, who were tied up in a figure 4 leg lock.
For Sasha, it was a great moment to be able to pay respect to someone she respected dearly as a performer on the biggest stage of them all.
#1 CM Punk does a Randy Savage
A big inspiration for CM Punk starting off in the business was the Macho Man Randy Savage. This was extremely evident in CM Punks appearances and performances in the ring.
Punk would often come to the ring wearing trunks with stars on them just as Randy Savage did to show his respect to the late legend.
Not only would he use similar attires as him, but Punk would use one of Macho Man’s Finisher manoeuvres as a signature of his own. He would use the Elbow drop during many of his matches.
Not only did he do the move, he would also point his fingers in the air before delivering the manoeuvre just as the Macho Man did himself.
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