10 Wrestlers Who Can HONESTLY Be Labelled A Genius

10. Steve Austin

Steve Austin, all things considered, is probably the greatest ever pro wrestling babyface. Certainly of the modern era.

There's an argument, a very strong argument, to be made for Hulk Hogan. He holds the advantage of longevity. But where Hogan was despised in WCW - that famous GIF of an ardent Four Horsemen fan ripping a yellow shirt spoke to much of the fanbase - Austin stole a huge and ultimately fatal share of its audience.

That's because Austin's appeal was universal. He wasn't magic to some, corny to others, like Hogan was, or even cool to some, arrogant to others like the Rock was, a state of flux that turned him frequently. Austin was the personification of a wrestling babyface, which is why he's still the most over babyface in WWE, despite retiring 16 years ago and having appeared on RAW just twice this year.

Austin was both an hilarious segment performer and an in-ring great. There was nothing flashy about his act, by perfect design; it was calibrated perfectly (and modified perfectly following his career-threatening neck injury) to not alienate the common man drawn to him.

Built on authentic selling that never felt like a plea, jaw-jacking that never felt too brash, and an intense brawling style that never felt like a shortcut, Austin remains - sadly - the only example to follow.