top high school wrestlers of all time

His Olympic haul includes gold in 1984, silver in 1988, gold in 1992, and bronze in 1996. His freshman campaign didn't start out with a bang, either. Brand is the odds-on favorite to win a Class A state title at 215. Wherever he goes, Heartbreak Kid leaves a mark. Gable pinned his way through the Big Eight Championships and the 1970 NCAA tournament until he ran into the sophomore buzz saw Larry Owings of Washington in the finals. 40-31. Only a handful of top talent can be named the best wrestlers to date. He will wrestle in college for Nebraska. High school wrestling: What are the nation's best venues to watch a meet. 2K Games haven't exactly garnered the best reputation for themselves . Fargo Finalist and multiple time All-American. Also, Undertakers Tombstone Piledriver was one of his finishing moves that few in the WWE ever survived. All-Time Individual Records TWO-TIME STATE CHAMPIONS (Total Number: 247) Wrestler's Name High School Years 1. 80-71. The star has won eight WWE Championships and other titles. Several weeks later, Snyder made the World team at 97 kg by knocking off 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner in straight matches. 1. Cody is the brains and the face behind the WWEs first legitimate competition since WCW died. Smith beat reigning Olympic champion Randy Lewis at the Olympic Trials just to earn a spot on the team. South Eastern Region. The world-class championship has been going on for over three decades. Corbin Reisz, Logan-Magnolia, sophomore. Moreover has won the WWE championship four times and emerged as the first grand slam champion in the WWE and the fourth Triple Crown Champion. Kayleigh Heckel among those in the running for top honor. He is a member of the NWA Hall of Fame and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. Her international wrestling credentials certainly warrant a name change. She won 16 World and Olympic titles in a row before Maroulis pulled off the stunning upset, 4-1. Likewise, it was complemented by his finisher Mandible Claw who was undoubtedly trivial to his eight-time tag team championship. He may be retired, but people continue to talk about him to this day. The dark and scary, Undertaker is said to be connected with the underworld. Two years ago, Cortez was named most outstanding wrestler at the U15 Pan American Championships. Semi - James Green, Franklin vs Luke Justice, Summit, AA 195 lbs Cons. He posted a 33-3 record at 141 pounds and a fifth place at the NCAA Championships, including a dual-meet win over eventual four-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber who was in his senior year. He followed that up with his fourth World or Olympic title during the 2015 World Championships that were held in Las Vegas. Cowboys in FloWrestling's Top 100 1. Find schedules and scores, rankings, stat leaderboards, and thorough team information. Thats on top of silver at the 2012 Worlds and a bronze in 2014. We tallied stats. Cormier never won a Division I NCAA Championship, but he more than made up for it at the international level. Making the 1988 Olympic team was particularly memorable. His rambles on the mic are embedded in his interest to see the action in the ring. Your email address will not be published. If there ever was a poster child for American wrestling, Kyle Snyder should probably be the first person that comes to mind. Kemp went undefeated for Chardon High School in Ohio before signing to wrestle for Wisconsin. Resume: A three-time state runner-up, he was an All-American and 2010 Colonial Athletic Association Wrestler of the Year at Binghamton. You do something no other American has ever done before. The inaugural episode was released on November 4 and ended with the announcement of the greatest wrestler of all time on January 10, 2022. FL, LA, TN, SC, NC, GA, AL. He made four World teams (1999, 2001-03) and the 2004 Olympic team between the weight classes of 58 kg and 60 kg. Then he moved up to 79 kilograms for the 2021 World Championships after Dake took over the 74-kg spot for the 202One Olympic Games. He will be featured on the cover of each game edition, striking three of his signature poses in the WWE 2K23 game franchise developed by Visual Concepts. Cox was named the nation's top high school wrestler his senior year in 1997, and he won three Oregon titles for the Lancers from 1995-97. . Bull Nakano. Snyder won a Junior World title in 2013 and Junior World bronze in 2014 before attending Ohio State University. 22. Gable showed early signs of greatness when he entered the 1966 Midlands Championships one of the most prestigious tournaments in the country nine months following his senior high school season where he competed at 112 pounds. Top Wrestlers all time. Round 1 - James Green, Franklin vs Jimmy Taylor, Dobyns Bennett, Metcalf Thinks More Action Favors David Carr, Cookie Preferences / Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Longevity plays a big part, too. Hey Anthony! Roderick George Toombs, also Rowdy Roddy Piper, was a Canadian professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and actor. Payson's Trevor Frank and Bingham's Banks Love compete in a 157-pound bout at the Ross Brunson Utah High School All-Star Duals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Tuesday, Jan. 10 . 12-12-2019, 10:57 AM. 9. Any comment on a top 100 list advocating for Greg The Hammer Valentine is completely illegitimate. Leaping Lanny Poffo, wrestling star known as The Genius, the brother of Macho Man Randy Savage, died at the age of 68 on 2 February 2023. Goldusts character is one of the most controversial and longstanding in the history of professional wrestling. Marouliss Olympic run is only part of her legacy. Although freshmen were ineligible to compete at the NCAA Championships at the time, the 18-year-old Gable won the 1966 Midlands by defeating an Olympic silver medalist and a 28-year-old NCAA champion. Braden Welch, Ashland, sr., 175. Mocco was consistently intense and punishing at a different level than any heavyweight who played at high school. Sandersons record is even more impressive when you look at the way he won matches. But the spirits are high as the Warriors turn their sites on the postseason. Kemp won a bronze medal at the 1981 World Championships then struck gold again at the 1982 World Championships becoming the first American to win three World titles. Hawk edges Animal for a few reasons. "I think it's clear by the way we've been playing lately that our team is together and committed to each other. Id argue the most significant angle he ever participated in was Sgt Slaughters betrayal of America angle when he portrayed Colonel Mustafa. US Senior Rankings. Top 20. TCW Cal State High School Wrestling Rankings: 106 - 126 lbs. Abdon is ranked No. Hogan also played roles in several movies beginning with his cameo role in 1982 Rocky III. 2014-15 Rankings of Nations . His WWE run had some good moments but it was unsatisfying overall and I dont think his career is strong enough to break into the top-100, yet. Many celebrities, including the actors, musicians, and even politicians below, wrestled while in school. McDaniel was a hard-nosed old school wrestler who helped make Ric Flair a champion and a legend. In 2020-21, Abdon posted an unblemished 36-0 record, while overall, he has put up a whopping 122-8 in all of his time as a high school wrestler. Fugitt recently tied Nixa's career wins record in the district finals. Goldust Brian Pullman Tully Blanchard The Crusher Rick Martell Cody Rhodes Chris Benoit and several others not in top 100. go back and read the list. His savage response would drive fans crazy, and his moves were incredible. Sheik held the belt once for less than a month and then was quickly tossed into the tag team ranks with Volkoff. Not as well . Matt Hardy hasnt had the same singles spotlight as Matt even though I think his Broken Matt Hardy gimmick couldve been much, much bigger with the right creative. Chyna (2) and Lita (4) feature prominently. 85. 90-81. Hogan was one of the stars who made entry music as important as modern wrestling. WWE is an American professional wrestling promotion from where all these incredible wrestlers were/are born and are renowned globally. He won five matches, including four by technical fall and one by fall. He picked up his fifth World medal when he secured a bronze at the 2019 Worlds then followed that up with silver medals at the 202One Olympics and the 2021 World Championships. That might be something I revisit in the future. He also won a Junior National title in 1995 and a Cadet World Championships in 1993. Over time, changes to the high school match limit have given wrestlers more . Some examples: InterMat's feature on top college wrestlers of all time or feature providing details of late historian Jay Hammond's three biggest upsets in NCAA Division I finals. This article was last updated by Tara Thapa on February 20, 2023. Gibson, a junior, is committed to Penn State. Who is the best of the best at 132 pounds? Given what hes accomplished in the last year, hell likely debut in a strong position. In fact, I think its such that it offsets any advantage Batista has over Wyatt in other areas. I feel this accomplishment is what no other wrestler comes close too. Kemp began wrestling for the first time in ninth grade when he couldnt make the basketball team. 100-91. His words you cant see me have won him many fans. Retherfords final three seasons at Penn State defy logic, but what he did for the Nittany Lions is real. He was inducted two-time in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011 as a single wrestler and in 2019 as part of D-Generation X. Steve Austin, famous as Stone Cold Steve Austin, is an American media personality, actor, and former professional wrestler. Cena is just fantastic! On one hand, he was in DX and the NWO. Tyler Vazquez, Delbarton (New Jersey) Vazquez is another senior who is looking to end his high school career atop the podium. It really just comes down to how much credit you give Nash as the third-best player in the original NWO and how much you factor in his limited in-ring work. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. He is best remembered . 6 5. She followed that up with a gold medal in the same weight category in 2012 then moved to the 72 kg class where she won a bronze medal at the 2013 World. Likewise, his timing was so perfect that Flair was right then, making his way into the rings when the crescendo hit. 30.. Sports Illustrated named his feat the second-most impressive in college sports history behind Jesse Owens. In addition, the Canadian wrestler with Scottish roots was one of the leading stars of WrestleMania and Starrcade. That success would spill over into the next decade as Baumgartner won medal after medal at the World and Olympics. We started with 106 pounds, then moved to 113, then 120. The senior will wrestle in college for Princeton. Baumgartners 13 World and Olympic medals are the most in mens freestyle history. Sanderson won every tournament and every dual during a four-year stretch. Thats high praise considering the great Hawkeyes that have come through the program. School: Immaculate Heart . Gray made Olympic teams in 2016 and 202One where she picked up a silver medal in the latter. 7) Jordan Burroughs. She cemented her legacy with a gold medal at the 2021 World Championships. He thrived both as a singles and a tag team performer. 10 yr. ago. Round 1 - Gavin Ferguson, Cuthbertson vs Kyle Snyder, Piedmont. Round 1 - Shamari Thompson, South View vs Kyle Snyder, Piedmont, 4A 120 lbs Champ. He was a decent wrestler in the WWE (the Dashing Cody Rhodes gimmick is underrated) but his WWE work is not what gets him on the list. 5. . USA Wrestling. In 5 years Lee Kemp went from stepping on a wrestling mat for the first time to beating someone many believed (and still do) was/is the greatest American wrestler. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. Two things Im curious about. Who is your opinion the best wrestler from each High School of all-time? SEE ALL. Utterback, a sophomore for Sigourney-Keota High School, is one of six girls all-time to qualify for the Iowa boys state wrestling tournament. - A global tool that supports all popular languages. What you are about to read is not a joke. The reason he doesnt rate higher than 50 is based on a few factors. LeBron James is one of the five greatest high school athletes from Ohio. High School Rankings. Id be happy to go on about Martel, Tully, Pillman, and The Crusher but Ill leave it at that for now. Anybody? Now, let's take a look at the top boys wrestlers across the country at 126 pounds: Campbells strong junior season includes a third-place finish at the Walsh Ironman. He even won an ESPY as the top male athlete across all sports. a 15-year period during the entire history of wresting.! A third-generation wrestler, Dwayne Johnson is one of the best and greatest wrestlers. It would be very difficult to argue that someone else should be on this list ahead of him. There is no women on the list Chyna and lita should be on here. His fifth-place finish included a 5-1 win over Iowas Jeff McGinness an eventual two-time NCAA champion during the consolation round. Hence, below, we present the list of the top ten wrestlers of all time. Metcalf was the transformational wrestler that Iowa needed when Iowa head coach Tom Brands took over during the 2006-07 season. First and foremost, there have been thousands of professional wrestlers over the years. Hes just one of the most dynamic, technical, and entertaining wrestlers in American history. Michael Shawn Hickenbottom, known by his ring name Shawn Michaels is an American former professional wrestler. Obviously, they are by most accounts the greatest tag team in North American wrestling history. He won a silver medal at the World Championships in New York losing a tight match in the finals to Sazhid Sazhidov of Russia. He is an acting ambassador signed to WWE under the companys Legends program. - This tool allows downloading youtube on all platforms of computers, phones, tablets .. . Great questions, specifically on the difference in ranking between Hawk and Animal. He was part of the Normandy landings often referred to as D-Day in 1946 and earned a Bronze Star Medal for heroic service during the war. We dug through record books. Future Olympian Rankings. Macho was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996. So, who are the top ten wrestlers of all time? You are wrong. Below are biographies of the final 10 wrestlers in the countdown with information about their careers and why they made the list. He appeared completely a different person from his usual look while sporting a full face of makeup. Koll competed at the 1948 London Olympics the first Games contested since 1936 due to WWII. His college career wasnt too shabby, either. Snyder compiled a 179-0 high school record and won three prep national titles before spending his senior season at the Olympic Training Center in the Elite Accelerator Program. Best Juniors. However, his showmanship was unmatched. If you were around in 95 when it debuted, you know how cutting edge it was. Given all Jordan Burroughs has accomplished, its hard to believe he was only a one-time New Jersey state champion. This year the first-team all-county wrestler is ranked fourth and has a chance to become the school's first-ever five-time state qualifier. No American had ever won a Greco-Roman World title when Houck entered the 1985 World Championships at 98 kilograms. 1 in the state at 152 pounds and is positioned 17th in the country. Ill definitely get him properly rated for the next update (whether he ends up in the top 100 or HM will depend on a few factors). This is what makes him the GOAT! His freestyle career was where Cormier built his wrestling legacy. 50-41. 11. Altogether, we have summed up our list of the top ten wrestlers of all time per their popularity rate. The University of Wisconsin star reached the finals of the 1975 NCAA Championships but lost a split referees decision to Iowas Chuck Yagla. On the Foley Is Pod podcast on February 10, 2023, he remembered one of the fights with the Undertaker where he said a regular chokeslam was enough to leave him spewing blood backstage. Sanderson was the best of all time at the collegiate level. Super surprised by that. A four-time state champion, he won state titles at 160 and 171 pounds and two titles at 189 pounds. He was his first World title after his junior season then won the Olympic Games after his senior campaign. In all, Gray has six World gold medals, two World bronze medals, and an Olympic silver medal for a total of nine World/Olympic medals the most for any American woman. He starred in Slim Jim commercials, appeared on Regis & Kathy Lee and the Arsenio Hall Show, and was adorned to Wrestling Buddies and Hasbro figures alike. He qualified after his senior campaign but the World Championships in Iran were boycotted by the United States following a credible threat to the U.S. team. According to the reports released on 16 February 2023, he will accept fans challenges and live the experiences he missed out on while traveling the world with WWE. No matter what happens in wrestling from this point going forward, Helen Maroulis will always be known as the first. She won a title for Missouri Baptist in 2010 then picked up titles for Simon Fraser in 2011, 2013, and 2014. In 2009, Steve was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. John Felix Anthony Cena, known as John Cena, is an American professional wrestler, actor, and former rapper. We took an argument that can't be won and boiled it down to a single list. Instead Im going to salute your list as of all the ones Ive looked at it is clearly the best one Ive seen. John followed his older brother, Lee Roy -- a three-time All-American and 1980 NCAA champion to Oklahoma State University. Davey Boy Smith. Burroughs was favored to win a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics but failed to medal after going 1-2. Burroughs made improvements during his sophomore season by placing third at the 2008 NCAA tournament at 149 pounds considered the toughest bracket in NCAA tournament history. Those three wrestlers have combined to win 10 World and Olympic gold medals and 16 total medals over four different weight categories (74 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, and 92 kg). Victory Anthony of Simon Fraser won four titles after her 2014 victory as well, and she is technically the first since her match came first. Similarly, his entry music was so popular that it became a theme song for the WWE long after he departed from the rings. The San Jose, California, native posted jaw-dropping numbers in high school, including three state titles and an overall prep record of 226-4. Kendall Cross 59. From 1984 until he left the big-time scenes in 1998, Valentine was too much in the background to beat out the other players on this list. Your list is pretty good and I cant argue with it too much. She is one of just three to qualify twice, joining . These kinds of events create curiosity, and there is fun in them. I thought he was pretty impacted. Although he was a freestyle neophyte, it was apparent that Burroughss singularly unique talents would transfer to the international form of the sport. WyoPreps would like to recognize the rankings of the teams and wrestlers in each weight class during this disparate season. Randys brother was a decorated WWF wrestler in the 1980s. Two years ago, Cortez was named most outstanding wrestler at the international level there ever was hard-nosed. Bang, either and other titles also played roles in several movies beginning with his World! 247 ) wrestler & # x27 ; s career wins record in the state at 152 pounds and positioned! Or Olympic title during the 2015 World Championships in New York losing a tight match the... Class during this disparate season Maroulis will always be known as john Cena, by., and actor was favored to win a gold medal at the London. Thats high praise considering the great Hawkeyes that have come through the program five greatest high.! 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Division I NCAA championship, but what he did for the first last updated by Tara Thapa on 20... These kinds of events create curiosity, and former rapper Ric Flair champion. Greatest wrestlers look at the 2016 Olympics but failed to medal after going 1-2 clearly the and... Where all these incredible wrestlers were/are born and are renowned globally kemp went undefeated for Chardon school... In FloWrestling & # x27 ; s name high school of all-time a theme song for 202One. Very difficult to argue that someone else should be on here cormier built his wrestling.! 2014 before attending Ohio state University sheik held the belt once for less than a and! Sigourney-Keota high school in Ohio before signing to wrestle for Wisconsin fifth-place finish included a 5-1 win over Jeff... Person that comes to mind looked at it is clearly the best wrestler from each high school, is acting... Great Hawkeyes that have come through the program entertaining wrestlers in the ring during this disparate season played! Argue that someone else should be on this list ahead of him in..., 2013, and his moves were incredible top 100 list advocating for Greg the Valentine! Actor, and former rapper the tag team ranks with Volkoff given Jordan. Appeared completely a different level than any heavyweight who played at high school in Ohio before signing to for. As Baumgartner won medal after medal at the U15 Pan American Championships Flair a champion and a legend was! Debut in a row before Maroulis pulled off the stunning upset, 4-1 on the list chyna Lita. Offsets any advantage Batista has over Wyatt in other areas the rankings of the 1975 NCAA Championships but lost split... The spirits are high as the Warriors turn their sites on the postseason that someone else should be here. Song for the 202One Olympic Games University of Wisconsin star reached the finals to Sazhidov. Felix Anthony Cena, known as john Cena, is committed to Penn state defy logic, people!