10 Wrestlers Who Were Way Ahead Of Their Time

4. Gorgeous George

Brian Pillman Hart Foundation
WWE

If Muhammad Ali credits you as an influence, you've gotta be fairly ahead of your time right? Gorgeous George was exactly that, and is widely regarded as the very fist sports entertainer in the history of professional wrestling. 'The Toast of the Coast' recognised the potential television had to change the game, and as such created a truly over-the-top character that was tailor made for the new format.

Gorgeous George was one of if not the first wrestler to make his way to the ring with entrance music, along with his valet and personal butler. The ring would have to be sprayed before he would enter, and crowds nationwide bayed for his blood. His talking would bring in the crowds, as thousands of people parted with their money in the hope of seeing someone shut up the Human Orchid.

Gorgeous George was the first superstar of TV wrestling, and his influence spread much further than the squared circle. Along with Ali, Bob Dylan and James Brown have acknowledged his influence.

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Born in the middle of Wales in the middle of the 1980's, John can't quite remember when he started watching wrestling but he has a terrible feeling that Dino Bravo was involved. Now living in Prague, John spends most of his time trying to work out how Tomohiro Ishii still stands upright. His favourite wrestler of all time is Dean Malenko, but really it is Repo Man. He is the author of 'An Illustrated History of Slavic Misery', the best book about the Slavic people that you haven't yet read. You can get that and others from www.poshlostbooks.com.