Everyone knows about the most popular wrestlers of all-time, the biggest draws in the business - but what about that small but wonderful subset of those performers, the fan favourites that weren't just huge stars but who represented the people in a way few others could? When these wrestlers won, the crowd went to a different place, like the ring lifted into the air for a moment with the release of all that pent-up emotion. But when they lost...ahhh, it could be heartbreaking and nerve-wracking in equal measure, as several thousand devastated people simultaneously swore bloody vengeance on whichever evil heel had screwed their idol over. So who qualifies? Well, surprisingly few folk, as it turns out. Bret the Hitman Hart was admired, but never really adored. El Santo and Rikodozan were icons and legends in Mexican and Japanese wrestling, respectively, but both men were treated as real-life superheroes, as was Hulk Hogan in the USA. Superheroes, by definition, dont belong to the people. Despite his huge popularity with some demographics, John Cena doesn't work in this context since he's too polarising to be a true people's champ. Equally, despite Ric Flair's popularity over the decade, he was always a cut above the fans, a playboy champion, and usually a heel to boot. Its probably a controversial list in the end, but Im happy that it represents the true nature of the peoples heroes. The crowd, the audience, the universe - call them what you want, but these are the wrestling megastars that the fans decided belonged to them.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
