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My friends, get ready for a big one.
Professional wrestling has been a popular form of entertainment since the 1800’s. Starting out as a travelling carnival act in post-Civil War America, it eventually became the main attraction that drew audiences that could rival those of professional baseball games or boxing matches. Since then, there have been some ebbs and flows in the popularity of pro-wrestling, but nevertheless, it remains a well-known and respected art form.
Well, respected to some, but I digress -
Given that pro-wrestling has been around for such a long time in America, it would seem fairly obvious that people all across the country have wished to become a part of the act. And it’s true. In fact, there is at least one pro-wrestler (or pro-wrestling figure, as you’ll see later) from each of the 50 United States. Therefore, I'm going to list the best wrestler from each US state, as well as Washington D.C.
For this list, there were a variety of factors, including where the wrestler was born, where the wrestler was raised or spent most of their life, and where the wrestler was billed from. Naturally, I put a lot less focus on the latter, as some wrestlers are billed from areas that either don’t exist or that they’ve never lived in. So, sorry to anyone who was expecting to see Dude Love take New Mexico. I also focused on in-ring ability, but even more so on each performer’s impact on the industry.
Please keep in mind that most of these selections are opinion-based and you do not have to agree with me, so feel free to leave your selections in the comments below. Also, I would like to mention that a great number of states were an absolute nightmare to choose just one wrestler for (looking at you, Texas), so we will include a few honourable mentions if need be.
Anyway, before I bore you to death, let’s get on with the list! We'll begin with the capital.
WASHINGTON D.C. - Batista
Batista was a rather easy pick for this list. I mean, he was one of the biggest things to come out of the Ruthless Aggression Era, he was arguably the true breakout star of Evolution, and today he’s one of the most well-known former wrestlers in Hollywood.
In the mid-to-late 2000's, Batista was inarguably a "top guy" for the company. He won five World Championships across WWE and OVW, two WWE Championships, four Tag Team Championships, and two Royal Rumbles, being one of the only seven men to win the match more than once. It didn't matter that he wasn't a fantastic mic worker or a technical wizard - the ladies loved him, the men wanted to be like him.
Though many die-hard wrestling fans often criticize Batista, one cannot deny that he was a lot better than he had any right to be, and he was certainly one of the biggest WWE-bred stars in recent memory. For this, Batista is the greatest professional wrestler to come from the District of Colombia.
ALABAMA - "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton
The Midnight Express were one of the greatest tag teams of all time. One half of that duo was Huntsville, Alabama's own "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton.
Bobby Eaton has an incredible 26 Tag Team Championships to his name. On top of this, he has also won four Television Championships and 12 World Heavyweight Championships across several different promotions. He is one of Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Hall of Fame inductees, and though he never worked for Vince McMahon, I imagine that he will make it to the WWE Hall of Fame as part of a Midnight Express package deal (if you will), which would include his partner Stan Lane and his manager, Jim Cornette.
Though he was a largely underrated talent throughout his career, he still gets my pick for the best wrestler to ever come from Alabama.
ALASKA - Kenny Kaos
Fun fact: this is the only professional wrestler that we could find from Alaska…fancy that!
Kenny Kaos is an oft-forgotten member of the WCW roster. He is perhaps best known as one-half of the undercard tag team “High Voltage” with Robbie Rage. The team really didn’t do much of note during their WCW tenure, only winning a handful of matches together. However, once Kaos split from High Voltage following an injury to his partner, he did end up winning the Tag Team Championship with Rick Steiner in October of 1998.
As a singles wrestler, Kaos did wrestle against some high-profile opponents, including Konnan and Lex Luger, but rarely (if, at all) won. He retired from wrestling in 1999 after only four years in the business. Still, he is the greatest (albeit, only) professional wrestler to ever come from the state of Alaska.
ARIZONA - Shawn Michaels
HONORABLE MENTION: "Superstar" Billy Graham
"Superstar" Billy Graham would've been an easy pick for the state of Arizona...had it not been for the fact that Shawn Michaels was born in Chandler, Arizona.
I'm just going to come right out and say it - Shawn Michaels is the greatest professional wrestler of all time. Yes, I know he was a complete a**clown backstage in the 90's and I don't want to say he had a right to treat his co-workers so poorly, but he was right to believe he was the best in the business. Because he was!
I don't even know that I have to run down his list of championship victories - he's basically held it all in the WWE...three WWF Championshps, one World Heavyweight Championship, three Intercontinental Championships, a European Championship, six Tag Team Championships, two Royal Rumble match victories (in fact, he's one of only three men to win it twice consecutively and one of only seven to win it more than once), two matches rated 5-stars by Dave Meltzer, four matches voted "Match of the Year" by Wrestling Observer Newsletter, three Hall of Fame rings, he was the WWF's first Grand Slam Champion, his amazing match quality has earned him the nickname "Mr WrestleMania" even though he has a losing record at WrestleMania. He wrestled for eight more years after being told he'd never wrestle again, he founded D-Generation X, he screwed Bret Hart, he threw Marty Jannetty through a window...jeez, how many memorable moments can one guy have?
Michaels' career had a fairytale ending, too. Even though he went out in defeat, his "Career vs Streak" match with The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI can only be described as a work of art. A perfect end to a near-perfect career.
I'll say it again - Shawn Michaels is the greatest professional wrestler of all time. And therefore, he earns my pick for the greatest wrestler to ever come from Arizona.
ARKANSAS - Sid
HONORABLE MENTION: Bobo Brazil
I know, I know - he wasn't wonderful in the ring and he absolutely sucked on the microphone. But still, Sid has had an indelible impact on professional wrestling.
Born in West Memphis, Arkansas, Sid has quite a laundry list of accomplishments. He was, at one point, a member of the legendary Four Horsemen, he won two World Championships in both WCW and in the WWF, and he won seven more World Championships in other promotions, among other title reigns. Not only that, but he was one of the most "pro-wrestler" looking human beings I've ever seen - he was 6'9" and 300+ pounds of pure muscle, certainly a guy you wouldn't want to mess with (especially if he had a pair of scissors in his hands).
I'm not entirely sure why WWE has yet to induct Sid into their Hall of Fame. I wouldn't call him a "HOF Headliner" like Stone Cold or Bret Hart, but his merits speak for themselves. So, for now, he'll have to settle for a place on this list.
CALIFORNIA - The Rock
The Rock is from a lot of places, including Hawaii, Florida, and New Zealand...but IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE HE'S LIVED...because he was born in Hayward, California. So, he gets my pick for this state's best.
The Rock's wrestling career started off...well, rocky. His white-meat babyface "Rocky Maivia" character was eaten alive by fans, much like Jason Jordan is today. Once he turned heel and turned into The Rock, though, all of that changed. He became the most charismatic talker in the company, spawning multiple catchphrases and exuding a brash confidence that no one else could quite manifest.
From there, he became one of the top guys in the WWF. He would go on to win eight WWF/E Championships, two WCW World Championships (during the Invasion angle), two Intercontinental Championships, five Tag Team Championships, and the 2000 Royal Rumble. His charisma was so renowned that it earned him several movie roles, and today he's one of the most highly-paid and sought-after actors in Hollywood.
He's a tried-and-true superstar who helped put wrestling into the mainstream, and he earns my pick for California's best wrestler if you smell what I'm cookin'.
COLORADO - "Dr Death" Steve Williams
HONORABLE MENTION: Vader
This was a tough one, but in the end, I had to go with the native Coloradoan.
For a good while, " Dr Death" Steve Williams was one of the most feared men in professional wrestling. He was a 285-pound boulder of a man who could move like a cat, hit like a truck, and suplex anyone with ease. It's pretty easy to be afraid of someone like that.
Williams started off his wrestling career in promotions such as the NWA, WCW, and in Japan, where he was a part of three separate matches rated 5-stars by Dave Meltzer. He also went unpinned in North America for a decade and built up an impressive résumé of championship victories along the way, including 16 Tag Team Championships and four World Heavyweight Championships, among others. He also had a cup of coffee in the WWF in the late-90's, but we all know how that went.
"Dr Death" continued to wrestle until two months prior to his premature death from throat cancer in December of 2009. He was only 49 years old and likely could have continued to wrestle had his cancer not returned. Still, he accomplished plenty in his career, and that's why he's my pick for Colorado's best wrestler.
CONNECTICUT - Mercedes Martinez
HONORABLE MENTION: Justin Credible
The first of four women on this list, Mercedes Martinez has had quite the wrestling career so far.
A native of Waterbury, Connecticut, Martinez started wrestling in 2000 after an injury ended her collegiate basketball career. Since then, she has dominated in every promotion she's entered. So far, Martinez has won a total of 24 Women's Championships (four of which she's holding right now), and she does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Her reputation earned her a place in this year's WWE Mae Young Classic, where she made it all the way to the semifinals.
Martinez is one of the most respected and sought-after women in professional wrestling today, and she is the best wrestler to ever come from Connecticut, in my opinion.
DELAWARE - Jay Briscoe
HONORABLE MENTION: Mark Briscoe
If I could've put The Briscoes here as one entry, I would have. But unfortunately, I must abide by the rules and pick only one person from each state. I ultimately went with Jay over Mark, as he has seen more individual success than his brother has.
One half of what has consistently been one of the best tag teams on the independent scene for over a decade, Jay Briscoe has also won two ROH World Championships. So far, as a tag team wrestler, he and his real-life brother have won 21 Tag Team Championships across several different promotions. He currently holds the record for most ROH Tag Team Championship reigns with eight, and he is one of only three people to have held the ROH World Championship on more than one occasion (the other two being Austin Aries and Adam Cole).
And to cap it all off, he's only going to be 34 years old come January, so he still has so many years ahead of him. Though the future is uncertain, what is certain is that he's the best wrestler to ever come from Delaware.
FLORIDA - Hulk Hogan
Easily the most popular wrestler of the 1980's and one of the greatest to ever do it, Hulk Hogan was born in Georgia but relocated to Florida at one-and-a-half years old.
Starting off his wrestling career in Japan, Hogan would make a huge splash in Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation in the early 80's. "Hulkamania" was running wild, indeed. The kids wanted to be just like him, and the men wanted to be as big as him. Those 24-inch pythons ended up holding six World Championships in the WWF/E, as well as six more in WCW.
He is also one of only seven men to win the Royal Rumble twice, and he's one of three men (the others being Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin) to win it in two consecutive years. He also had what was arguably the greatest heel turn of all time when he became the de-facto leader of the nWo in 1996.
Though much of his reputation has been tarnished in recent years, it's completely impossible to deny Hogan's drawing power, his charisma, and his indelible impact on the wrestling industry. Many would even go as far to say that the WWE would not exist today (or at least be as well known as it was and is) if it weren't for Hulk Hogan. It's kind of hard to deny such a claim, too... the man was a cultural phenomenon, and he's my pick for Florida's greatest wrestler of all time.
GEORGIA - A.J. Styles
Those who are strictly WWE fans may not know that Styles has been wrestling since 1998. He was one of the final members of the WCW roster before tearing up ROH, TNA, and NJPW for over a decade.
His current list of accolades is unprecedented. So far, Styles has won 22 World Heavyweight Championships across various promotions, two of which were in WWE, two more were in NJPW, and five more were in NWA/TNA. He was also TNA's inaugural X-Division Champion (a title he would go on to win 6 times), ROH's inaugural Pure Champion, TNA's first Triple Crown and Grand Slam Champion, he's won 2 U.S. Championships in WWE so far...and the best part? He's not done yet.
Chances are that A.J. Styles will also become a Triple Crown/Grand Slam Champion in the WWE. He has already had a fantastic career with the company in his almost-two years there, and despite being 40 years old he doesn't look to have slowed. In fact, I'd argue he's at his best right now. He's the best in the company, among the best in the world today, and he's the best wrestler ever to come from Georgia.
HAWAII - Don Muraco
You probably thought this slot was going to Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but he's not actually Hawaiian. But guess who is? Don Muraco.
"The Magnificent One" was born in Oahu and first made a name for himself in various NWA territories, where he developed the heel persona that would make him a legend of the business. Upon his WWF debut in 1981, he captured the Intercontinental Championship almost immediately. He would go on to win a second IC Championship later on, as well as the first ever King of the Ring tournament in 1985. He totalled nine World Championships throughout his career, among several other title reigns and has thus far been inducted into two professional wrestling Halls of Fame.
Don Muraco re-defined what it meant to be a cocky heel. For that, he's Hawaii's greatest wrestler.
IDAHO - Torrie Wilson
Fun fact: Torrie Wilson is literally the only wrestler to ever come from Idaho. Therefore, she makes it here by default.
I'm not going to say that Torrie Wilson was a technical mastermind by any stretch. Actually, in retrospect, she was pretty garbage in the ring. However, at one point she was one of the biggest stars in the (then) Diva's division and certainly the most popular Diva on the SmackDown roster. I would even go as far to say that she was at just about the same level as Trish Stratus, in terms of star power.
Even though she wasn't a spectacular wrestler, she didn't have to be. She did just fine in the role she was given.
ILLINOIS - CM Punk
"CM PUNK! CM PUNK! CM PUNK!" There's a reason you still hear these chants in arenas around the world - he was one of the best.
Chicago's-own CM Punk started his career as a backyard wrestler before hanging his hat in local independent promotions and eventually landing in Ring of Honor, where he became a worldwide sensation. Watch Joe vs Punk II and you'll see what I mean. It was basically Okada vs Omega II 13 years before.
Anyway, he would end up winning nine World Championships in the indies, and talents in the ring and on the microphone earned him a WWE contract in 2005. There, he would win several championships in OVW, including the Heavyweight Championship, the Southern Tag Team Championship, and the Television Championship. He would also have a fruitful career on WWE's main roster, winning six World Championships, two Money in the Bank matches (so far, he's the only man to win this match more than once), one Intercontinental Championship, and one Tag Team Championship.
Punk infamously and abruptly walked out of the company (and professional wrestling altogether) in 2014. Even though we may never see him in a pro-wrestling ring again, his achievements in wrestling cannot be ignored. That's why he's my pick for Illinois' all-time greatest professional wrestler.
INDIANA - Terry Funk
HONORABLE MENTION: The Ultimate Warrior
Though Terry Funk is often associated with Texas, he was actually born in Hammond, Indiana. Sure, he moved when he was about one-year-old, but I digress -
Terry Funk is, by his own admission, crazy. His wrestling career has spanned over 50 years (his repeated "retirements" have become somewhat of a meme amongst the wrestling community), and in that time he has proven his worth all over the world as a technical wrestler, as a mic worker, and as a brawler.
He has three Meltzer-rated 5 Star Matches to his name, as well as 24 Heavyweight Championships, 15 Tag Team Championships, and six Hall of Fame rings, along with many other honours. He is one of the most universally respected wrestlers of all time, and for good reason.
At 73-years-old, Terry Funk continues to wrestle occasionally today. If the world were to end, I am convinced that Funk would be sitting there with three cockroaches and Keith Richards, with not a scratch on any of them. All jokes aside, Terry Funk is most certainly a legend, and he's my pick for Indiana's greatest.
IOWA - Frank Gotch
Without Frank Gotch, there would be no professional wrestling in the U.S. That sounds like a bold claim, but it isn't.
Humboldt, Iowa's-own Frank Gotch was born in 1877 and was one of pro wrestling's first "Superstars". As World Champion, Gotch helped to propel wrestling into the limelight. His catch-as-catch-can style revolutionized wrestling forever, as wrestlers abandoned the previously-used Greco Roman style in favour of Gotch's more fast-paced, eye-catching technique.
He would go on to have an all-time record of 154-6, winning two Catch-as-Catch-can Championships and four Heavyweight Wrestling Championships across those 160 matches. One of those World Championship reigns lasted for almost five years and remains one of the longest title reigns in the history of the sport. He has thus far been inducted into five pro-wrestling Halls of Fame, and he remains in the conversation as one of the greatest and most influential pro-wrestlers ever.
Gotch's life was unfortunately met with an abrupt end in 1917 when he passed away from uremic poisoning at the age of 40. He left behind quite the legacy in only 40 years, and it would be difficult to call him anything less than Iowa's greatest wrestler of all time.
KANSAS - Bobby Lashley
Bobby Lashley may have been greener than guacamole when he first debuted, but he has really developed into one of wrestling's most talented stars in recent years.
Lashley, a former standout amateur wrestler and US Army veteran, debuted in WWE developmental in 2004. When he first debuted on the main roster in 2005, his physique wowed audiences and company officials alike. Though he still didn't quite "get" pro-wrestling and though his mic skills left a lot to be desired, he was pushed to the top of the card. He won two ECW Championships and one United States Championship before he was inexplicably released in 2008.
It was then when Lashley started polishing his craft in TNA, on the independent circuit, and in mixed martial arts (where he possesses a 15-2 record), but especially in the former. Thus far, he has won four TNA World Heavyweight Championships, one King of the Mountain Championship, and one X Division Championship, and he has abandoned the "white-meat babyface" persona that WWE fans resented in favour of a more dominant, heelish character. He seems to have finally reached the in-ring potential that WWE always wanted in him, and his microphone skills have improved tenfold as well.
Right now, rumours are swirling that Lashley is preparing for a WWE return when his TNA contract expires. I would love to see it, personally. I mean, imagine Lashley vs Lesnar. Goodness gracious! Anyway, I'll stop gushing about potential future encounters and just say that Lashley is Kansas' best wrestler ever.
KENTUCKY - Ricochet
Ricochet may be only 28 years of age, but he has already set the world of professional wrestling on fire.
Born in Paducah, KY, Ricochet started wrestling when he was just 15 years old in 2003. From the very start, people took notice of the boy’s high-flying abilities, so Chikara snapped him up in 2006. His impressive showings there led to stints in Dragon Gate, Evolve, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, among several others.
Though he has done some truly amazing things as Prince Puma in Lucha Underground, winning two World Championships and earning various other accolades in that promotion, Ricochet’s most memorable work has come in New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he still works today. There, has primarily worked as a tag team wrestler, but he did win Best of the Super Juniors Tournament, 2014, becoming the youngest person to ever do so at the age of 26.
If you have yet to see any of Ricochet’s stuff, do yourself a favor and check it out. The things that man can do in a ring are unbelievable. What impresses me most, however, is the fact that he still has so much time to grow as a performer and to put on even more stellar matches. I look forward to seeing what Ricochet can do in the coming years, but his line of work thus far already earns him a spot on this list as the greatest professional wrestler to ever come from the state of Kentucky
LOUISIANA - "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd
By all accounts, Ernie Ladd is one of the greatest to transition from one professional sport (in this case, football) into the world of professional wrestling.
In the World-Wide Wrestling Federation, Ladd became one of the most loathed heels in the entire industry. Though he did not win any titles in the WWWF, he was a bonafide top draw for the company until he left the promotion in 1980.
Pretty much everywhere else he went, Ladd saw success. He won multiple regional Heavyweight, Tag Team, and Television Championships before hanging up the boots in 1986 due to his recurring knee issues. He was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1994 and the WWF Hall of Fame in 1995, and for several years, he was the only wrestler to ever be inducted into both halls before Harley Race broke that streak in 2004.
Sadly, Ladd is no longer with us. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2003 and lived much longer than doctors expected before finally succumbing to the disease at the age of 68 on March 10, 2007. Until the very last day of his life, Ernie Ladd was a force to be reckoned with, and he rightfully earns my pick as the best wrestler to ever come from the state of Louisiana.
MAINE - Scotty 2 Hotty
I know that he was sort of a joke wrestler, but you're lying to yourself if you say that Scotty 2 Hotty wasn't fun to watch. And for what it's worth, he wasn't all that bad in the ring either.
Scotty started wrestling at the ripe age of 16 in 1989. Two years later, he debuted as a jobber in the WWF. He was used sparingly until the late 90s when he teamed with Brian Christopher and eventually became "Too Cool". He was immensely popular in this role, primarily because of his finisher, The Worm. Yes, I know it was absurd, but it was fun.
Anyway, his popularity propelled him to one Light Heavyweight Championship and two Tag Team Championships with his "Too Cool" brethren, Grand Master Sexay and Rikishi. I know that doesn't seem like much, but those weren't the only championships he won - did you know that Scotty 2 Hotty has won eight Heavyweight Championships across four different promotions? There's something you know now.
Like I said before, Scotty 2 Hotty was fun. And he's my pick for Maine's best wrestler.
MARYLAND - Scott Hall
Scott Hall moved around a lot during his adolescence, but he was born in Maryland and went to college in Maryland, so he qualifies for this spot in my eyes.
Nowadays, Hall is more well-known for his troubles outside the ring, but let's not forget that Scott Hall was one of wrestling's biggest superstars in the 90's. He actually debuted in the mid-80's and was featured in various main-event programs for the NWA and the AWA, but never really had any important matches or victories. It wasn't until he was signed to the WWF in 1992 where Hall became a household name...well, "Razor Ramon" did, anyway.
Hall, like Razor Ramon, was one of the top heels in the promotion. His finishing move, the Razor's Edge, was arguably the most protected move in the company, and he only used it as a guaranteed match finish. He would go on to win four Intercontinental Championships for the WWF, one of which he won in an absolutely fantastic ladder match with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 10, before returning to WCW in 1996. There, he helped start a war.
As one of the founding members of the nWo, Hall (no longer Razor Ramon) was one of the company's most featured talents. He ended up winning one Television Championship, two United States Championships, and seven Tag Team Championships before WCW folded in 2001. From there, his career was a bit sad, as his well-documented struggles with alcohol regularly interfered with his performances.
But no matter what, I still got love for "The Bad Guy". In fact, I think he's the best wrestler to ever come from Maryland.
MASSACHUSETTS - John Cena
There are plenty of great wrestlers from my home state of Massachusetts, including Sasha Banks, Tommaso Ciampa, Donovan Dijak, and Damien Sandow. But really, there was no contest here - it had to go to John Cena.
Cena has caught a lot of flack throughout his career for being over-pushed or for being a "bad wrestler," but let's not fool ourselves - he's one of the biggest superstars in wrestling history. To his name, he has five World Heavyweight Championships, 13 WWE Championships, he's one of only seven people to win more than one Royal Rumble match (wait, didn't I already bring that up a couple of times?)...I could continue, but we'd be here all day.
Not only is John Cena one of the biggest names in wrestling, but he is also a pop culture sensation. He's been a movie star, a rapper, a reality TV host, heck, he's even been an internet meme. Those who help bring professional wrestling into the mainstream certainly earn brownie points with me.
West Newbury's own John Cena is easily the best pro-wrestler that Massachusetts has ever produced.
MICHIGAN - Scott Steiner
HONORABLE MENTION: Bruiser Brody
Michigan was another tough state to pick. You've got Kevin Nash, Rob Van Dam, George "The Animal" Steele, and so many others. But in the end, I had to go with The Genetic Freak, Big Poppa Pump, The Big Bad Booty Daddy, The Man with the Largest Arms in the World, Scott Steiner.
What a career Scott Steiner has had...he started out as an All-American amateur wrestler before starting his pro-wrestling career in various independent promotions 1986. He and his brother Rick wowed audiences with their arsenal of innovative moves, which combined raw power and acrobatics. But it was when Scott Steiner broke out on his own when he became a legitimate superstar.
Steiner started developing his "Big Poppa Pump" persona in 1998 when he gained a considerable amount of muscle mass and joined the nWo. It was in this role where Steiner became one of wrestling's top heels and one of the most entertaining talkers in the industry. Though his later years from 2003 and onward were often embarrassing, Steiner's incredible list of championship victories speak for themselves.
So to all my freaks out there in Michigan, Big Poppa Pump's your best wrestler ever. HOLLER...if you hear me!
MINNESOTA - Verne Gagne
HONORABLE MENTION: Mr Perfect
Minnesota's own Verne Gagne is a true pro-wrestling pioneer.
As an amateur wrestler, Gagne was a stud. He captured two NCAA Championships for the University of Minnesota and was an alternate for the 1948 Olympic Games. He then created and ran the American Wrestling Association (AWA), which became immensely popular throughout the 60's and 70's. He was also the company's biggest star, winning 10 World Heavyweight Championships and four Tag Team Championships for the promotion.
Outside of the AWA, Gagne won an additional eight Heavyweight Championships, six Tag Team Championships, four United States Championships, and he's thus far earned four Hall of Fame rings. As if that wasn't enough, he helped train several wrestlers who would become legends of the industry, including Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Bob Backlund, and so many others.
Verne Gagne passed away in 2015 at the age of 89 from complications with Alzheimer's Disease, but his influence on professional wrestling will never die. Out of all the talented wrestlers from Minnesota, Gagne was the best of the best.
MISSISSIPPI - Kamala
Contrary to what you’ve learned from kayfabe, the “wild savage from Uganda” actually comes from Coldwater, MS, where he had a bit of a rough upbringing. It wasn’t until he was 25 when he relocated to Michigan and met pioneer wrestler Bobo Brazil that he started to train as a professional wrestler.
Once it became evident that the big man had limited in-ring and promo abilities (which, let’s be honest, you could get by with in the early 80’s), Memphis promoters Jerry Lawler and Jerry Jarrett suggested that he come up with a gimmick. It was then that he came up with the Kamala character. As Kamala, he would go on to win multiple World Championships across various promotions. Oh, also, fun fact – in 2006, Kamala wrestled Bryan Danielson to a non-finish for the ROH World Championship. Now that’s a thing you know.
Oh, and he’s also part of the class-action TBI lawsuit against WWE, so maybe don’t expect to see him in the Hall of Fame anytime soon. Still, for his undeniable memorability, Kamala earns my pick as the best wrestler from the state of Mississippi.
MISSOURI - Harley Race
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Nick Bockwinkel, Randy Orton
Missouri has bred quite a few incredible talents, including Ox Baker, Butch Reed, and Freddie Blassie. But you try giving this spot to anyone but Harley Race.
In every conversation, Harley Race is one of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of wrestling boots. Starting out at the young age of 17, Race has remained devoted to the wrestling business for almost 60 years. He's one of the toughest S.O.B's in wrestling history, and his track record proves that - 38 Heavyweight Championships, nine Hall of Fame Rings, 10 Tag Team Championships, and so many other title reigns and honours to his name.
So many wrestlers cite Race as a big influence on them, and it's easy to see why. There's really not much I can say other than he's a legend in every sense of the word, and he's Missouri's best wrestler ever.
MONTANA - Gary Albright
For those of you who have never heard of Gary Albright, he is an oft-forgotten member of the Anoa’I wrestling family (through marriage – he married Afa’s daughter) who wrestled primarily for All Japan Pro Wrestling, Stampede Wrestling in Canada, and various other promotions. His impressive showings in Stampede (as himself and as Vokhan Singh, a “Pakistani” heel) earned him the Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s “Rookie of the Year” award in 1988.
From there, Albright shuffled around a bit in the indies before staking his claim in UWF International, a shoot-style promotion that framed itself similarly to the UFC. There, he earned a reputation as “Suplex Machine” long before Brock Lesnar did so in the WWE. Later, Albright moved to All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he was a 2-time Tag Team champion with the likes of Stan Hansen and “Dr Death” Steve Williams.
Sadly, his career had a tragic end – during an independent wrestling show in Pennsylvania, Albright collapsed after taking an Ace Crusher from his opponent. Due in part to some previously undetected health issues, the impact caused Albright to go into cardiac arrest, killing him almost instantly. He was only 36 years old. It’s a real shame, as he had the potential to have a much longer career.
NEBRASKA - Gorgeous George
HONORABLE MENTION: Sting
One of the toughest decisions I had to make while making this list was choosing the best from Nebraska. I ended up going with Gorgeous George for two reasons - the first is that he was both born and raised in Nebraska, the second was that there may have been no Sting if it weren't for Gorgeous George.
Allow me to explain - at a time when pro-wrestlers didn't have much of personality aside from "guy who can fight," Gorgeous George was unlike any other. He was flamboyant, he came out to the ring with two women on his arm, he had entrance music... he was easily pro wrestling's biggest heel in the 1940's. Fans never saw anything like him, so they gravitated to arenas to give him the heat he craved ever so much.
While he didn't win a whole lot of championships in his career, I attribute that to the fact that there weren't many promotions around at the height of his popularity. He did win three Heavyweight Championships, two Light Heavyweight Championships, and one Middleweight Championship throughout his career, but he's also earned three Hall of Fame rings, two of which were from companies he never even worked for. Yes - he was that influential.
Without Gorgeous George, there would be no eccentric sportsmen. His influence even reached beyond wrestling; Muhammad Ali and James Brown both cited George as their inspiration for their self-promoting personalities, and Bob Dylan has publicly held him in a very high regard. And for good reason. He's arguably the most influential sportsman of all time, and he's my pick for Nebraska's greatest wrestler.
NEVADA - Buddy Rose
Contrary to what his run in the WWF may have had you believe, “Playboy” Buddy Rose is no joke – the man actually has a rather noteworthy list of accolades to his name.
Born November 27th, 1952 in Las Vegas, NV, Rose rose (heh) to prominence as the rival of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper in Pacific Northwest Wrestling. The feud established both men as icons of the business, Piper on a more global scale and Rose on a more local one. And boy, was he ever a local icon...He would go on to win eight World Heavyweight Championships and twelve Tag Team Championships there, and eventually, he won various other Heavyweight and Tag Team Championships in other promotions.
Altogether, Rose won an amazing 13 World Championships. Unfortunately, his success was exclusively on a territorial level, so he is not often mentioned in the same conversation as other multiple time champions like Ric Flair, Triple H, or others.
Rose’s life was met with an unfortunate and sudden end when he passed away from complications from diabetes and weight issues on April 28th, 2009. He was only 56. Despite his early departure, “Playboy” Buddy Rose will always be remembered as a gifted yet unorthodox sports-entertainer, and that’s why he’s my pick for the greatest wrestler to come from Nevada.
NEW HAMPSHIRE - Triple H
For pretty much the entirety of Paul Levesque’s career, he’s been associated with Connecticut. He began his tenure in WWF as “The Connecticut Blueblood,” and has always been billed from Greenwich, CT. However, believe it or not, Triple H is originally from New Hampshire! That's right - Triple H comes from Nashua, NH. So he's easily the best they've ever produced.
Let's "break it down" (pun completely intended) - five World Heavyweight Championships, nine WWE Championships, five Intercontinental Championships, two European Championships, three Tag Team Championships, and a King of the Ring crown. Plus, he's one of seven men to win more than one Royal Ru... okay, how many times am I going to have to say that on this list? Anyway, he's one of the most decorated champions in the history of the industry.
Yes, Triple H has developed somewhat of a reputation for burying talent throughout his career (see: Goldberg, Booker T, Randy Orton, Sting, etc.), but his accomplishments and impact on the industry are nonetheless undeniable, and I wholeheartedly believe that he is one of the greatest heels in professional wrestling history.
NEW JERSEY - Buddy Rogers
Look! Another Buddy!
Starting his career off as a white-meat heroic babyface, Buddy Rogers had a natural charisma that eventually evolved into his colourfully arrogant "Nature Boy" character. He employed a lot of in-ring techniques that were relatively unheard of at the time, such as "flying" moves (i.e. dropkicks). His promos were widely influential as well, as he was one of the first examples of a braggadocious wrestler that downplayed his opponents during interviews.
As far as honours and accomplishments go, he holds the distinction of being the first ever WWF (or, at the time, WWWF) Champion, though he only held the belt for three weeks before dropping it to Bruno Sammartino. He also ended up winning 24 more Heavyweight Championships across other promotions, as well as eight Tag Team Championships and five different Hall of Fame ring.
As the first-ever WWF Champion, the inspiration for Ric Flair, and the innovator of such moves as the Figure Four Leglock, Buddy Rogers is not just New Jersey's best wrestler - he's one of the best of all time.
NEW MEXICO - Blackjack Lanza
Though Blackjack Lanza is here by default as the only wrestler from New Mexico, he is still a legend of the industry.
Albuquerque's-own Blackjack Lanza worked in the AWA for eight years before finally joining up with Blackjack Mulligan in 1970. At the time, Lanza was a main-eventer with one Tag Team Championship (with Bobby Duncum), one British Empire Heavyweight Championship, one Television Championship, three Brass Knuckles Championships, and one American Heavyweight Championship under his belt. Still, he would still go on to have immense success with Mulligan, winning four more Tag Team Championships across various promotions. The duo has since been inducted into both the WWE Hall of Fame and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and remains in the conversation for greatest tag teams of all time.
The team was one of the first success stories for legendary manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, but Lanza did just fine on his own as well.
NEW YORK - Mick Foley
Whether he was Mankind, Cactus Jack, or Dude Love, or himself, Mick Foley was awesome.
Starting off his career in WCW, ECW, and Japan, Foley was revered everywhere he went, both as an in-ring worker and for his compelling promos (see: Cane Dewey). He won Wrestling Observer Newsletter's "Best Brawler" award every year from 1991 to 2000, and to this day no one has claimed that title more than he has.
Foley was much more than just a guy who took terrifying, "how-in-God's-name-is-he-not-dead" bumps - he's also an 8-time World Heavyweight Champion and a 17-time Tag Team Champion across various promotions (among several other championship reigns). He won the International Wrestling Association of Japan's "King of the Deathmatch" throne in 1995, and to this day he has three Hall of Fame honours to his name.
Mick Foley is one of the best brawlers in the history of professional wrestling, one of the best talkers in the history of professional wrestling, and one of the most genuinely likeable individuals in the history of professional wrestling. In my humble opinion, he is New York's best.
NORTH CAROLINA - Ric Flair
There a lot of noteworthy professional wrestlers who have lived in North Carolina, including Arn Anderson, the Hardy Boyz, and The Junkyard Dog. But I'm sorry - there's no one who could've topped "The Nature Boy" here.
In many conversations, Ric Flair is the greatest professional wrestler of all time. This isn't exactly a bloviated claim, either - he is one of the most influential wrestlers to ever live. From his impeccable microphone work to his exemplary storytelling and technicality in the ring, Flair may very well have earned his place on pro-wrestling's Mount Rushmore.
Let's run it down - 25 World Heavyweight Championships, eight matches rated 5-stars by Dave Meltzer, seven Hall of Fame rings...do I even need to go on? The Wrestling Observer Newsletter's award for "Wrestler of the Year" is named after him, for goodness' sake! And his influence has stretched beyond the world of pro-wrestling. For example, UFC fighter Conor McGregor has adopted many of Flair's mannerisms from the early 80's. I've even seen several NFL players do the signature "Flair Strut" after big plays.
Simply put - Ric Flair is not just North Carolina's best wrestler ever...he may be the best of all time. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
NORTH DAKOTA - Red Bastien
Who the heck is Red Bastien? Well, he's the best (or, in this case, only) wrestler from North Dakota, and he's a lot more influential than you know.
As a 16-year-old, Bastien began his pro-wrestling career, training under Verne Gagne and wrestling at various carnivals across the Midwest. Though he was diminutive when compared to some of the “giants” of the industry at the time, Bastien’s fast-paced, high-flying style drew quite a bit of attention and adoration from fans.
During his run, he won multiple Tag Team Championships across multiple promotions, won several regional NWA Heavyweight Championships (namely in Florida), became a booker in Dallas, and discovered what would become two of the greatest wrestlers of all time – Steve “Sting” Borden and Jim “The Ultimate Warrior” Hellwig.
Sadly, Bastien passed away on August 11th, 2012, following a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was a man who was revered for his style by fans and loved, respected, and admired by just about everyone he ever came across. Even though he is the only professional wrestler to come from North Dakota, Red Bastien deserves recognition for all that he gave to the wrestling industry.
OHIO - "Macho Man" Randy Savage
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEUH!
"Macho Man" Randy Savage is one of my favourite wrestlers of all time, both in-ring and on the microphone. But he doesn't just earn a place on this list because of personal preference. No, sir, the Macho Man is the "cream of the crop", indeed.
While he wasn't a "giant" like the Hulk Hogans and Andre the Giants of the era, Savage was arguably the second biggest star on the WWF roster in the 1980's. He would go on to win two WWF World Heavyweight Championships, one WWF Intercontinental Championship, and the third annual King of the Ring tournament in 1987.
When he eventually made the move to Ted Turner's WCW in the 1990's, he won four more World Heavyweight Championships.He also won six Heavyweight Championships prior to his WWF run, bringing his total up to 12.
One could feasibly argue exactly what Savage once did - that no one did it better than he did. He's unquestionably one of the best ever, and he's definitely the best wrestler to ever come from Ohio.
OKLAHOMA - Jack Brisco
HONORABLE MENTION: Goldberg
Not a lot of folks mention Jack Brisco in the conversation for one of the best ever, and I'm not really sure why.
Let's do a little retrospective - for 20 years, Brisco dominated several NWA territories, as well as the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico. All in all, Brisco captured 29 Heavyweight Championships, 26 Tag Team Championships (most of which were with his brother, Gerald or "Gerry"), three Television Championships, two Junior Heavyweight Championship, a Brass Knuckles Championship. Now, I don't think you need to know anything about wrestling to know that that is A LOT of championships.
His extraordinary list of achievements has earned him four Hall of Fame rings, among other honours. He is considered one of the best of all time by many that could be called the same, such as Ric Flair. Though he is no longer on Earth, his work has conferred his immortality. There can be no question that he is the best wrestler to ever come from Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains.
OREGON - Art Barr
HONORABLE MENTION: Ken Patera
Art Barr is one of the most classic cases of "what could have been?" in wrestling history.
Before his unexpected death at the age of 28 in 1994, Barr was the most despised heel in Mexico's main wrestling promotion, Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA). He and his tag team partner, Eddie Guerrero, were wildly successful together as "La Pareja del Terror" (The Pair of Terror) before building a stable called "Los Gringos Locos" (The Crazy Americans). They were essentially the nWo and D-Generation X before either of those stables existed - a group of anti-establishment heels who thought of themselves as "above rule".
But anyway, more about Barr - he was an exceptionally talented in-ring performer with what I believe to be the most gorgeous Frog Splash ever. He has been called the most hated rudo (heel) in the history of Mexican wrestling. Just seventeen days before his untimely death, he and Guerrero put on one of the greatest PPV matches in history when they squared off in a 2-out-of-3 falls Mask vs Hair match against Octagón and El Hijo del Santo. If you haven't seen it, please do so ASAP. It's one of the most deserving matches of a 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer that I've ever seen.
As I've mentioned before, Barr's career was met with an untimely end. He passed away in November of 1994 from a drug-related heart attack when he was only 28. It's so sad to know that his homesickness turned him to such vices, as he could've had a much longer and more fruitful career in wrestling. Still, his short run earned him an AAA Hall of Fame ring, and it earns him my pick for Oregon's best of all time.
PENNSYLVANIA - Kurt Angle
HONORABLE MENTION: Bruno Sammartino.
No disrespect to the great Bruno Sammartino, but in the end, I had to choose Kurt Angle over him because he was actually born and raised in Pennsylvania.
I'm going to go on record for a second and say that I've never seen someone "get" pro-wrestling as quickly as Kurt Angle did. The man transitioned seamlessly from amateur wrestling to the garish, showy world of professional wrestling in the late 90's. His matches with the likes of Brock Lesnar, Shawn Michaels, and Chris Benoit can only be described as works of art.
Then again, we all expected him to be fantastic in the ring. But I don't think that many expected him to be as charismatic and as naturally comfortable on the microphone as he was. He was even recognized by Wrestling Observer Newsletter as the "Best on Interviews" in 2002, beating out a cavalcade of microphone legends such as The Rock.
There was arguably no one better in the ring than Kurt Angle in the late 90's and early 2000's. For that, he earns his place as the greatest wrestler from the state of Pennsylvania.
RHODE ISLAND - Spike Dudley
How very apropos that the smallest state produced one of the smallest men to ever wrestle. But don't let his 5'8", 150-pound frame fool you - Spike Dudley was a tough cookie.
Known for his penchant for taking huge and/or painful bumps, Spike was a mainstay in ECW and WWE for almost a decade, then he worked the indies for about another decade. He's done pretty well for himself, too - he's won a total of four Tag Team Championships, two Cruiserweight Championships, eight WWF Hardcore Championships, one WWF European Championship, and - get this - 2 Heavyweight Championships. It's true, look it up.
Spike hasn't wrestled since 2015, so whether or not he intends to continue getting thrown through tables at the age of 47 is yet to be seen. But, for his memorability and his accomplishments thus far, he earns his place as the best professional wrestler from Rhode Island.
SOUTH CAROLINA - The Fabulous Moolah
HONORABLE MENTION: Big Show
Let me just preface this by saying that I, in no way, condone The Fabulous Moolah's questionable "training" methods. In fact, I think they're condemnable in every regard. That being said, her contributions to the wrestling industry cannot be ignored.
Moolah was a trailblazer; the original women's "superstar". She was the first ever WWF Women's Champion, a title that she held for a day short of a decade.
"Wait...what? I thought it was 28 years!" Well, allow me to explain that to a non-existent person that I am using as an impetus for the following history lesson -
Moolah held the title from 1956 to 1966, when she lost it to Bette Boucher. She won it back 13 days later and held onto it until 1968 when she lost it to Yukiko Tomoe. Tomoe held the belt for 23 days before Moolah won it back once again, holding it until a 1975 loss to Sue Green (a win which is also unrecognized by the NWA). Moolah won it back immediately later, only to lose it to Evelyn Stevens and then gain it back two days later. She then held onto it until 1984, the year she famously dropped the strap to Wendi Richter.
So no, Moolah did not hold the Women's Championship for 28 straight years...WWE just doesn't recognize any of the in-between champions.
Still, a decade-long reign, followed by a two-year long reign, followed by a 7-year long reign, followed by a 9-year long reign is absolutely nothing to sneeze at. Regardless of who she was behind the scenes, she is one of the most iconic female wrestlers of all time. And she's the best to ever come from South Carolina.
SOUTH DAKOTA - Brock Lesnar
Yes, he may be billed from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and he may have been a star wrestler at the University of Minnesota, but believe it or not, Brock Lesnar is actually from South Dakota.
One of the most powerful and agile men ever seen in professional wrestling, Brock Lesnar has had quite the wrestling career. He's the youngest wrestler to ever win the WWE Championship, he's a 4-time WWE Champion, the current Universal Champion, a two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and he's won both Royal Rumble and the King of the Ring.
He is also the man who infamously ended The Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania, and to this day he is only one of two men to have defeated The Undertaker on the Grandest Stage of Them All (the other being Roman Reigns).
All of these accolades are well-deserved, too. The man has a proven track record for success just about anywhere he goes. He is easily the best wrestler to come from South Dakota.
TENNESSEE - Jerry "The King" Lawler
Easily one of the hottest acts of the territory days, Jerry "The King" Lawler had somewhat of a Midas Touch; he won gold just about everywhere he went.
For those that don't know him as anything but an obnoxious colour commentator, Lawler was the real deal in the late 70's and early 80's. He has won over 140 championships throughout his long and storied career, including an unprecedented 52 AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship reigns He even helped pro-wrestling break more into the mainstream, thanks to his feud with comedian Andy Kaufman. Lawler was gold, both on the microphone and in the ring, and he still does fairly well in both regards today, even after a massive heart attack temporarily killed him.
Jerry Lawler is to Tennessee what Ric Flair is to North Carolina. For that, he assumes his throne as the greatest to ever come from Tennessee.
TEXAS - 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin
HONORABLE MENTIONS: The Undertaker, Dusty Rhodes
By a country mile, this was the hardest state to pick a winner for.
But really, I kind of had to pick Stone Cold. I mean, he is quite possibly the biggest star that pro-wrestling has ever produced. He was everything that WWF fans wanted to be in the 90's - a bada**, beer-drinking rebel who didn't take any nonsense from anybody, especially his boss.
His popularity earned him six WWF Championships, a record-setting three Royal Rumble victories (insert one-of-seven reference here), four Tag Team Championships, a King of the Ring crown, two Intercontinental Championships, the Million Dollar Championship, and a headlining spot in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
If you asked a non-wrestling fan to name a professional wrestler they knew about, they would probably say Stone Cold Steve Austin. The man is an indubitable legend, and he's the best to ever come from Texas. And that's the bottom line.
UTAH - Don Leo Jonathan
HONORABLE MENTION: Wild Bill Longson
There are more pro-wrestlers from Utah than you may think. Granted, there are only seven, but I digress - among these wrestlers are The Sandman, Man Mountain Rock, and Marty Martinez from Lucha Underground. But out of all of these colourful characters, the best of the bunch is Don Leo Jonathan.
For those of you unfamiliar with Don Leo, he was one of wrestling's first "giants". He was a 6'6", 300+ pound mass of humanity who wrestled in just about every continent on Earth. He saw success pretty much everywhere he went, capturing 20 Heavyweight Championships, 27 Tag Team Championships, two Television Championships, and a Brass Knuckles Championship in Texas. He's also earned three Hall of Fame rings, and I imagine he'll enter WWE's Hall of Fame one day as a Legacy Inductee.
Or maybe not, seeing as he's currently part of the class action concussion lawsuit against WWE... yikes, that's awkward.
Anyway, Don Leo Jonathan is still a legend, and he earns the distinction of Utah's greatest wrestler.
VERMONT - Vivian Vachon
Wrestling fans are fascinated with families – the Anoa’i family is perhaps the most popular, but then you’ve also got your Harts, your Guerreros, your Von Erichs, and so on. One that is often forgotten about, at least in WWE lore, is the Vachon family. The most well-known Vachons are Maurice “Mad Dog” Vachon and Luna Vachon, but here's a name that I had not heard of prior to making this list - Vivian Vachon.
Although she didn’t spend much time in Vermont before moving to Quebec, she is still technically “from” there, by our standards. The aptly-named “Wrestling Queen” and sister to “Mad Dog” Vachon was born in Newport, Vermont in 1944. Perhaps the most impressive accolade to her name is that she held the AWA World Women’s Championship for 651 days from 1971 to 1973. She also starred in a film called “Wrestling Queen" alongside her brothers.
Sadly, five years after her retirement from wrestling in 1986, Vachon was struck by a drunk driver in her car. The collision killed her and her 9-year-old daughter. She was 47. Nevertheless, she is the de facto “matriarch” of the Vachon family, and her legacy and impact on women’s wrestling are undeniable.
VIRGINIA - Tony Atlas
HONORABLE MENTION: Magnum T.A.
Tony Atlas is a history-making superstar that is not talked about as often as he should be.
A former three-time Mr USA, Atlas ventured into pro-wrestling as part of various NWA territories. Though he was mostly a tag team wrestler, he does hold the distinction of being the first man to press slam/pin Hulk Hogan. Throughout his time in the territories, he won nine Heavyweight Championships, seven Tag Team Championships, two Intercontinental Championships, a Television Championship, and a Brass Knuckles Championship. Not bad!
But perhaps what he's best known for is his partnership with Rocky Johnson (The Rock's dad) in the early 80's. The duo famously won the WWF Tag Team Championship from The Wild Samoans in 1983, becoming the first African American competitors to hold the gold.
Sadly, burgeoning drug issues made Atlas a less dependable performer in the mid-to-late 80's, so his career was not quite as good as it should have been. Still, his accolades earn him the distinction of being Virginia's greatest wrestler of all time.
WASHINGTON - Daniel Bryan
I am going to go on record for a moment - I don't think I've ever seen a better pure babyface in my entire life than Daniel Bryan.
Legitimately one of the most technically gifted wrestlers of all time, Daniel Bryan was trained by Shawn Michaels and William Regal (among others), so it's pretty easy to see where he gets it from. Bryan was a phenom who put on absolute thrillers everywhere he went, but he was most well-known for his work in ROH, Japan, and of course, WWE.
If I were to list all of the titles Daniel Bryan won throughout his career, you'd be reading all night, so all I'll say is... it was a lot. And for good reason - everywhere he went, he became that company's finest pure wrestler. In WWE, his stellar in-ring work earned him a connection to the fans that no one else in the company could replicate. That, along with his famous "YES!" chant (which, interestingly, started out as a method of getting heel heat), propelled him to the top of the card, and he eventually won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 30 in one of the best "feel-good" moments in wrestling history.
Not too long after this, Bryan was forced into an early retirement due to complications from concussions. Even though WWE remains adamant in refusing to clear him, several doctors now have informed him that he is okay to wrestle, so he still holds out hope that he'll be able to return to the ring some day. And so do we.
So, does Daniel Bryan earn his place as the best wrestler from Washington state? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!
WEST VIRGINIA - Ray "The Crippler" Stevens
Ray "The Crippler" Stevens wrestled for an astonishing four decades, getting his start in 1950 at just 15-years-old.
Often viewed as the best pure worker of the 1960's, Stevens was one of those guys who could wrestle a broom and put on a good match. A fearless, acrobatic, and charismatic performer, Stevens won championships just about everywhere. He won a total of 12 United States Championships, four Heavyweight Championships, two Television Championships, four Junior Heavyweight Championships, three Brass Knuckles Championships, and an unprecedented 18 Tag Team Championships. Perhaps his most memorable partners were Pat Patterson (they were called The Blond Bombers), Jimmy Snuka, and Nick Bockwinkel, but he tagged with plenty of other noteworthy gentlemen, such as Greg Valentine and "High Chief" Peter Maivia.
So far, he is a member of three different pro-wrestling Halls of Fame, and I imagine he'll likely be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a legacy inductee some day. His innovative offence and incontrovertible in-ring talent make him an easy pick for West Virginia's best wrestler of all time.
WISCONSIN - The Crusher
HONORABLE MENTION: Ed "The Strangler" Lewis
A true wrestling pioneer, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin's own "Crusher" inspired more people than you may know.
The Crusher was a precursor to many of wrestling's great brawlers. He was a barrel-chested beer chugger like Stone Cold Steve Austin who could take punishment like Mick Foley and mount a comeback like Hulk Hogan. Though primarily a tag team competitor (he won a total of 24 Tag Team Championships throughout his career), he also held five Heavyweight Championships (six in total) across various AWA territories. He has been inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, the WCW Hall of Fame, and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame so far, and I can imagine he'll likely be inducted as a legacy inductee along fellow native Wisconsinite Ed "Strangler" Lewis.
Though you may not have heard about The Crusher before, he has had a noticeable influence on the wrestling industry. For that, I nominate him as the best wrestler to ever come from Wisconsin.
WYOMING - Eric Bischoff
Eric Bischoff is sort of all over the map - he was born in Michigan and now has houses in California, Arizona, and Wyoming, the latter of which makes him the only pro-wrestler (or, I guess in this case, pro-wrestling personality) from Wyoming.
His wrestling acumen is nothing to write home about, but he has been pretty consistently fantastic as a heel authority figure. He did it well in WCW, WWE, and even in TNA. The man just exudes sleaziness from every pore on his body, and we love him all the more for it.
