BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) RIC FLAIR
There is a difference between someone being good at cutting a “promo” and then there are flat out good “talkers”. It’s the whole difference between “wrestler” and “worker”. To me a good promo artist goes over the top. I’m talking about the old school cheesy 80’s promos that Hulk Hogan, Macho Man, and the classic icons cut. Then guys like The Rock, Austin, and now Cena got it too. Ric Flair is better than all of those guys because he can do it all. He can cut promos all day long and get a crowd going nuts with his over the top antics. On the flip side I don’t think he gets credit for his talking. He can go out there and calmly and in a “shoot” style tell a story and draw you in. There is just something about his intensity and charisma that you can’t deny. I’m always baffled why this man didn’t get into acting.
(THREE) MICK FOLEY
I’ve grown to really not like Foley anymore. When I was a teenager I looked up to him with so much love. His death matches were right up my alley during the hardcore ECW craze. His “shoot-like” promos were amazing. I loved Cactus Jack, I played a long with Dude Love, and I was creeped out by Mankind. I was a huge Foley fan. One of the main reasons is that he’s so amazing on the mic. He doesn’t have to scream or get all over the top like those from the 80’s. He puts emotion, logic, and always some deep rooted motivation into his matches. He is awesome with words. When he shrieked in pain and got emotional he could bring chills. In recent years he’s lost me. He’s become everything he rallied against when he was young. I’m not going to deny him his due though. The man could talk.
(TWO) SHANE DOUGLAS
I’m not talking about “Dean Douglas”, the wrestling teacher. I’m not talking about the WCW or TNA version either. I’m talking about “The Franchise” Shane Douglas from the hey day of ECW. I was a young teenager looking for rebellion during his best days in ECW. It was perfect timing and I’m sure I’m going to be alone with my pick THIS high. He’d come out with so much charisma with Francine in his arm. He’d do that little strut before entering the ring and before we knew it we’d hear “Cut the fucking music!” At that point we knew we were going to hear something special. Douglas could cut a normal promo, but his outside of the box style was what got me. He made it feel “real”. He did worked shoot style promos where he’d get the crowds the hate him, love him, respect him, he shot on WWF and WCW, he shot on Hogan, on Flair, and on anyone and everyone. It was the “CM Punk Worked Shoot” every damn week. The best promo of his? The night he threw down the NWA title and declared ECW as a World Title. That shit WAS a shoot and it’s one of my favorite moments in wrestling history.
(ONE) SHAWN MICHAELS
Surprise! My favorite wrestler of all time gets the number one spot. I know I snubbed a few people that are amazing like Jake Roberts, Raven, Jericho, and others. I might do a part two somewhere down the line. Shawn Michaels could and probably still can do it all. He could wrestle, brawl, and work any style with anyone. The old adage was that HBK could carry a broom to a three star match. His work in the ring was awe inspiring and is a main reason I’m such a fan as I am today. The thing that makes him the complete package is that he could work a mic with the best of them. Like Flair, Michaels could go over the top. The thing is that Michaels never really got into that whole 80’s style gruffy promo. He made me care about his matches. He put out the ego, the humble side, the angry, the depressed, the desperate, and pretty much any and every emotion possible. Over the years I’ve seen Shawn Michaels express just about every emotion. I won’t lie, I’ve laughed, I’m rolled my eyes, I’ve cried, I’ve sat on the edge of my seat, and I’ve done my part. He made you feel it.
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