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Hardcore wrestling is not something that everyone can get behind. For some, they just can't get with the carnage and violence that accompany the style. For others, they simply cannot get enough. Truthfully, there is really no in-between. You're down with hardcore wrestling...or you are not.
For those who do love the unorthodox style of wrestling, there's something about it that you simply cannot find in normal professional wrestling. With that said, it also takes a special type of athlete to make hardcore wrestling successful. It takes an individual who is not afraid of putting his or her body on the line, for the sake of entertaining the select group fans who love hardcore wrestling.
In today's article, we take a look at the cream of the crop, so-to-speak, as we countdown the top hardcore legends of all-time. Follow along as we countdown the top 7 hardcore wrestling legends of all-time!
#7 The Sandman
ECW fans were invested into the Sandman persona, likely more than any other on the roster. Sandman represented the average, hardworking, beer-guzzling, red-blooded American alpha male and that was one of his best qualities throughout his career. It all began with his entrance, which was a spectacle in its own. Everything about him was something that the average fan could relate with.
Don't let the dad-bod fool you, The Sandman was as hardcore as hardcore could stand. As one of the ECW Originals, The Sandman was involved in many historic feuds.
The Sandman was also an accomplished champion, having won the ECW Championship a total of 5 times, making him one of the most successful stars in hardcore wrestling history, thus earning him a spot on this list.
#6 Abdullah The Butcher
Dubbed 'The Madman from Sudan,' Abdullah The Butcher was actually born and raised in Canada. As a child, Abdullah got involved in karate and judo, which eventually led to an interest in professional wrestling. In 1958, Abby made his professional wrestling debut, at the age of 17. From there, he caught the attention of promoters all throughout Canada and beyond. Eventually, Abdullah The Butcher became a household name among wrestling fans as one of the most feared villains in the entire sport.
As his career progressed, Abby became known for his dangerous in-ring antics, primarily his habit of blading not only his opponent but himself as well. One glimpse at the at the WWE Hall of Famer and you'll immediately notice the plethora of scars that cover his scalp from the very front of his forehead, all the way to the back of his head. Abby has definitely given a fair amount of his own blood to the sport.
Unfortunately, Abdullah The Butcher has been surrounded by controversy throughout his career and even into his golden years. One of the biggest stories involving Abby was the situation where Canadian wrestler Devon Nicholson claims to have contracted Hepatitis C following a match he had with Abby in which he accuses Abdullah of using a dirty blade to juice him during the match.
Despite the controversy, Abdullah the Butcher remains as one of the most feared hardcore villains of all-time and regardless of any personal feelings one may have against him, there's no denying his place in the sport's history.
#5 New Jack
The creator definitely broke the mold when he created Jerome Young, or as we know him as "New Jack." The 55-year-old hardcore legend made a name for himself by being a true shooter inside the ring, as well as out. One thing opponents had to keep in mind is that at some point during their bout with New Jack, things will likely take a drastic turn towards reality.
New Jack is known for using any and everything he can get his hands on, in order to punish the man standing across from him. New Jack has also been involved in numerous controversial situations, such as the Mass Transit in which a 17-year-old fan fooled Paul Heyman into believing he was older than he was and that he had prior wrestling experience. The young man would eventually persuade Heyman into allowing him to fill in for Axl Rotten, who was unable to make the show.
The 17-year-old would go by the name "Mass Transit," wearing a bus driver outfit and he was paired with Devon Dudley as they faced New Jacks tag team "The Gangstas." As the match proceeded, it became increasingly obvious that the kid had never stepped foot inside a ring and was certainly not 23-years-old, as he claimed to be. The situation angered New Jack who proceeded to blade the 17-year-old over-and-over again, causing arteries to be severed and a massive amount of blood to be lost. The teenager eventually died several years later, due to an unrelated complication of gastric bypass surgery.
New Jac was involved in several other hairy situations, such as the match with Gypsy Joe, as well as another incident which nearly led to Jack being charged with attempted murder when he allegedly stabbed his opponent over a dozen times during a match.
Needless to say, New Jack is as hardcore as you'll find. What makes him unique is that in spite of how many people he has who hate him, he has just as many who adore him. New Jack definitely has earned his place amongst the best in hardcore wrestling.
#4 Terry Funk
Very few people have accomplished as much as Terry Funk has in the sport of professional wrestling. With a list of championship wins a mile long, Funk has truly done it all, when it comes to having goals in the business.
In the mid-1960's, Terry Funk bounced onto the scene at a time when professional wrestling was more of a side-show attraction, rather than a legitimate sport. From that point on, Funk adapted to his surroundings and as the sport evolved, so to did the hardcore legend, Terry Funk.
Funk was known for being the guy who would take all of the chances necessary in order to put himself in a position to dominate his opponent. Terry would eventually take his style of hardcore wrestling to Japan, which was where he was involved in some the most dangerous matches to date. Funk was involved in several deathmatch situations that are really difficult to watch.
Terry Funk earned his rightful place among the immortals in 2009, as he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
#3 Sabu
Okay, with our number 3 pick, we have yet another ECW Orginal in Sabu. Sabu was originally trained by his uncle, The original Shiek. With The Shiek being his uncle, it only makes sense that Sabu would eventually follow in his unorthodox ways.
After extensive martial arts training, Sabu then made his way to the unfriendly confines of the sweat-box at the corner of Swanson and Ritner, better known as the ECW Arena.
Sabu quickly gained a ton of attention for his unbelievable high-flying, risk-taking antics. He was taking risks that no one else in the industry would even dare to attempt. Sabu eventually became known as the "homicidal, suicidal, genocidal, death-defying man." This was a unique nickname that would fit him perfectly.
Even today, at 53 years young, Sabu is still getting booked on a regular basis, by independent promotions all around the world. While father-time has possibly slowed Sabu down a bit, he is still worth every dime you may invest in a ticket to see him perform.
#2 Mick Foley
I went back-and-forth with this one for quite some time. In fact, Mick Foley was actually my number 1 pick during the majority of the time I spent writing this article. In the end, there is an extremely fine line separating the first and second picks on this list.
Mick Foley is someone who no one believed in, initially. After all, Mrs. Foleys baby boy doesn't necessarily look like the average professional wrestler. However, once people saw what he could do both creatively, as well as inside the ring, there was then no denying the fact that he would one day become a legend. If there ever was a truly self-made man in professional wrestling, Foley is that man.
While everyone is familiar with the various "faces of Foley," it was the Cactus Jack persona which solidified him as a hardcore wrestling icon. Cactus Jack was the gimmick in which Foley seemed to morph into someone completely different than what anyone ever saw him as.
At the end of the day, Mick Foley revolutionized what we know as hardcore wrestling. Fearlessly he would enter rings with barbed-wire ropes, rings full of thumb-tacks and rings surrounded by flames of fire. This is what he did, this was his sacrifice to the sport and his gift to the fans.
Long live Foley.
#1 Paul Heyman
Most of today's fans simply know Paul Heyman as the advocate for The Beast Incarnate, Brock Lesnar. While that is certainly the case, there are so many more layers to who Paul Heyman really is and what he has been able to accomplish over the course of his 30-plus years in the wrestling business.
It's obvious that Heyman is on top of his game at the moment as Brock Lesnar's mouthpiece, but there was a time when Paul was a part of something much bigger than anything he has ever done before, even bigger than his time as the advocate for the Beast Incarnate. Paul Heyman was the brains and driving force behind the juggernaut that was ECW.
Throughout the height of the ECW era, fans were introduced to a new style of professional wrestling and it was not only extreme but extremely addictive. ECW offered a new alternative to the normal weekly wrestling television shows.
ECW was bold, it was provocative and it was in-your-face. While it didn't really survive a test of time, Paul Heyman poured enough into the venture to last a lifetime and thanks to the WWE Network, fans all over the world can revisit and enjoy the glory days of E-C-f'n W!
