Paul Heyman has been very vocal about the importance of the 911 character to the history of Extreme Championship Wrestling. A giant of a man with a chokeslam that rivaled that of any other Superstar in the industry, he was a phenomenon the likes of which are rare. Originally the bodyguard for Heyman's Paul E. Dangerously character, 911 became one of the most popular acts in the industry, due almost exclusively to the fact that fans enjoyed watching him beat people up. The hardcore, blood-thirsty fans in Philadelphia wanted to see the massive man grab someone by the throat, lift them high in the air and drop them on their backs with the force of a Mack truck. Chants of "911" filled the ECW Arena on a regular basis and the big man, who had never developed a personality or backstory, became one of the hottest free agents in the business. Unfortunately, that meant there was more money to be made elsewhere and the big man jumped ship to WCW, leaving many to wonder what may have been had he stuck around and capitalized on the fan fervor that existed at the time. While he may not have had the longevity that some of the others on this list did but it is hard to deny his effectiveness in the role. For that reason, as well as the tremendous popularity he enjoyed, he remains one of the elite bodyguards in wrestling history.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
