For the ones that are not aware about the term ‘Ring general’, the ring general is someone that calls most of the spots during a professional wrestling match and actually dictates the pace. A ring general would be able to put together a great match with almost anyone and some even joke that ring generals could even have a five star match with a mop.
Becoming one requires a ton of talent and experience; also, the amount of respect that one earns along with such a tag is unmatched. As fans, we have come across some great ring generals that have entertained us and here is a look at them.
Honorable Mention: Randy Orton
Randy Orton is one of the most experienced superstars in the current roster. He has been in the business for a long time now and over the years, he has transformed from a young rookie guy to a respected ring general. Orton does come with some problems and he is a bit short-tempered at times but that does not take away the fact that he is a great wrestler.
The maturity level of Orton is increasing as years pass by and though many might not agree with his inclusion in this list due to all the problems that he has had in the past, Orton deserves to be here.
#5 Chris Jericho
Someone in Reddit once said that Chris Jericho can put together a match with a lighter and steal the show. Over the years, Jericho has proved this statement right. While watching Jericho, a passive user might not get how great he is, but once you start noticing all those minute details, then the intelligence of Jericho could be seen.
Apart from putting together matches with opponents, Jericho has mastered the art of controlling the crowd as well. His recent run where he has managed to stamp himself as the top heel in the roster is the biggest proof for this and he still has some good years ahead of him.
#4 Ric Flair
Ric Flair is a name without which this list wouldn’t be complete. During the territory days, he was a huge star that used to sell out almost everywhere he went. He carried around the NWA title for a long time and most of the matches he was involved in were paced by him.
Flair went on to become a record-breaking champion but at the same time, he knew how to make his opponent look good. His matches from the 80s and 90s show this clearly and this is why Flair was considered as a great even when the wrestling business was split across various territories.
#3 Shawn Michaels
If there is something that kept Michaels ticking in the business despite his crappy attitude, it was his talent. During his initial years, Michaels was highly regarded due to his talent and rightfully so. During his second tenure in the wrestling business, Michaels was a different man altogether and as a ring general, he only showed improvements.
The calm and composed nature made him look like the legend that he was and if we just take a look at the WrestleMania matches of Michaels, the variety in his opponents like Razor Ramon, Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, Triple H, Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle, Vince McMahon, John Cena, Ric Flair and The Undertaker, it’s an impressive list to say the least!
#2 Bret Hart
The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be, Bret Hart has a string of epic matches under his belt. There are some criticism that comes to Bret’s way due to the repetitive nature of his matches but at the same time, none can argue about the fact that he has put together some of the most intelligent matches during his career.
One such match that proves the greatness of Bret Hart as a ring general is his bout against Owen Hart inside a steel cage at Summer Slam 1994. It is considered to be one of the smartest steel cage matches by many fans and shows how good Bret is.
#1 The Undertaker
Undertaker is perhaps the most sorted out ring general in the current active roster. And the fact that he is still active is why he gets ranked above the likes of Michaels and Bret.
To show the gravity of the situation, just think about wrestlers who could get into a match with Undertaker, and actually dictate the pace of the bout. Did anyone come into your mind?
Even if some name crops up, the number would be extremely low; and this is because of Taker’s recognized greatness. He has stamped his mark as a veteran ring general and a locker room leader and this respect is not something everyone can earn overnight.
But if rumours are to be believed, Taker and Vince have not been on good terms ever since his Wrestlemania 32 match against Shane McMahon, leading to speculation if he has wrestled his last match yet.
If that is indeed true, the WWE Universe would surely be the poorer for it.
Did we miss out any names? Let us know in the comments section.
