21.11.2006, 08:02
1972 kam ein Magazine heraus mit dem Title “The 20 Greatest Wrestlers of Modern Times“. Darin wurden die groessten Wrestler aus den letzten 25 Jahren, also von 1947 bis 1972 gesucht. Das Magazine war natuerlich Kayfabe aber es ist immernoch sehr unterhaltend. Indem Magazine wurden 20 Wrestler genommen und sie gegeneinander gestellt, laut dem Magazine soll ein “Computer“ die Auswertung gemacht haben. 
Damals war das nicht unueblich auch im Boxen nicht, hat natuerlich nie gestimmt das man einen Computer benutzte oder aehnliches. ;) Hier das Cover und die Auswertung:
[Bild: http://www.wwf4ever.de/newsboard/20Greatest1972.jpg]
THE TOP 20
FRED BLASSIE
THE BRUISER
EDOUARD CARPENTIER
DORY FUNK JR
VERNE GAGNE
PEPPER GOMEZ
EDDIE GRAHAM
GENE KINISKI
KILLER KOWALSKI
BILL MILLER
PAT O'CONNOR
ANTONINO ROCCA
BUDDY ROGERS
BRUNO SAMMARTINO
THE SHEIK
LOU THESZ
JOHNNY VALENTINE
FRITZ VON ERICH
RAY STEVENS
WHIPPER BILLY WATSON
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
1st Round Eliminations
PAT O'CONNOR
vs
FRITZ VON ERICH
According to the computer the match lasted longer than any other. O'Connor dazzled Fritz throughout most of the match with drop kick's, flying head scissors, and body slams. At the 45 minute mark, Fritz caught Pat with a hard knee shot to the chest after O'Conner bounced off the ropes, setting Pat up for the Iron Claw hold which forced him to submit.
JOHNNY VALENTINE
vs
PEPPER GOMEZ
Valentine beat Pepper from the opening bell and forced a submission with an abdominal stretch in 7 minutes. Gomez never stood a chance.
DORY FUNK JR.
vs
BIG BILL MILLER
Dory tried to wrestle clean against the big guy but Miller relied on power and illegal tactics to counter Dory. Finally, Funk had enough and started trading blow-for-blow and kick-for-kick with Miller. The change in Funk's strategy cost him. He simply didn't have the strength to beat Miller at Miller's own game. At the 23 minute mark, Miller finished off Dory with a series of forearm smashes and brainbusters followed by the back-breaker.
RAY STEVENS
vs
EDOUARD CARPENTIER
The computer couldn't seem to decide if Ray was a hero or a villain in the match. At times Stevens would wrestle scientifically and at other times he would cheat. No matter what he tried, Stevens couldn't stop the flying frenchman. Carpentier subdued Ray with a reverse body flip and body press 14 minutes into the match.
BRUNO SAMMARTINO
vs
GENE KINISKI
In this battle between two former World Champions, Bruno tried his trademark bearhug several times only to have Kiniski gouge his eyes and free himself. Finally, Bruno changed his strategy and instead of clamping a face to face bearhug on Kiniski, Bruno spun him around and applied a full nelson. Gene struggled for a full minute before submitting 21 minutes into the match.
ANTONINO ROCCA
vs
DICK THE BRUISER
Rocca started strong with an aerial attack which had The Bruiser staggering. Then at the eight minute mark Antonino missed a flying drop kick and The Bruiser began working over his left leg. For 15 minutes Bruiser inflicted punishment on Rocca's leg. And without his legs, Rocca was just another wrestler. 25 minutes into the match, The Bruiser finished off Rocca with a flying knee drop off the top rope.
BUDDY ROGERS
vs
EDDIE GRAHAM
This was a blood bath. While Graham out wrestled Buddy almost every moment of the battle, it was Eddie's paper thin skin which led to his downfall. Buddy smashed Graham into the steel ring post and Eddie replied with the same tactic. Both were busted open but Graham got the worst of it. Blood flowed over Eddie's eyes obscuring his view and Rogers took advantage, hammering Graham to the canvas. Finally the referee stepped in and stopped the match because of the excessive bleeding of Eddie Graham. Buddy wins.
WHIPPER BILLY WATSON
vs
THE SHEIK
They battled on equal terms for about six minutes and then The Sheik pulled a foreign object from his trunks and raked it across Billy's face. Once the skin opened, the Arab went to work with his teeth. Each time the referee pulled the crazed Sheik off, he seemed to be in a trance and would go into his "camel trot" before pouncing back on top of Billy again and again. The Sheik ended it with his signature move "the camel clutch."
VERNE GAGNE
vs
KILLER KOWALSKI
These guy's battled tooth-and-nail for 25 minutes with neither being able to maintain the advantage for long. At the 29 minute mark, Kowalski missed a knee drop from the top turnbuckle injuring himself. Verne applied his famous sleeper and scored the victory.
LOU THESZ
vs
FREDDIE BLASSIE
Both exchanged holds and counter holds for the first 15 minutes. Each man had the utmost respect for one and other which led to a somewhat tame match, that is, until Blassie delivered a series of knee lifts to Lou's head. Lou laid on the canvas, seemingly unable to move, and Blassie went for a flying body press. Lou, always the master of the ring, was playing possum. He rolled out of harms way and Blassie hit solid into the mat. Lou then applied a boston crab and forced the vampire Blassie into submission.
2nd Round Eliminations
JOHNNY VALENTINE
vs
BRUNO SAMMARTINO
These two beat each other unmercifully for the first ten minutes, trading forearm smashes, atomic skullcrushers, and knee drops. It seemed that both were indestructible. Five times Valentine put the abdominal stretch on Bruno and five times Bruno broke free using sheer strength. The end came when Johnny missed a flying elbow smash from the top rope. Bruno followed with a series of three body slams, and atomic skullcrusher of his own, and a flying body press to score the pin on Valentine after 42 minutes of action.
VERNE GAGNE
vs
BIG BILL MILLER
Again the computer produced a match that featured both wrestlers using extreme caution and showing each other a great deal of respect. But once they seamed to get the feel of things all hell broke loose. They battled inside the ring, outside the ring, and at one point, even under the ring. The end came 44 into the match when Gagne caught Miller with a dropkick. Bill hit the canvas but got right back up only to be met by another. And another. And another. After eight straight dropkicks Gagne applied the sleeper hold to finish off Big Bill Miller.
THE SHEIK
vs
EDOUARD CARPENTIER
The Sheik started the match by going for the legs on Carpentier. Ed fought back using his various arsenal of high flying maneuvers but nothing he did seemed to faze The Sheik. Six minutes into the match The Sheik pulled something from his trunks and began pummelling Carpentier. Carpentier fought back using punches and kicks and had The Sheik begging for mercy. Then without warning The Sheik tossed a fire ball into the frenchmans face blinding him. Helpless, he was easy prey for The Sheiks stomach claw and Edouard was forced to submit.
FRITZ VON ERICH
vs
BUDDY ROGERS
Von Erich had defeated Rogers before Buddy became world champion and may have done it again had he not gotten carried away. The match was a short with lots of blood. Both ended up fighting outside the ring where Von Erich put the claw of Rogers. The referee counted both out which eliminated each from the tournament.
LOU THESZ
vs
DICK THE BRUISER
When these two met met for real some years ago, Lou called his battle with Bruiser "the toughest match I ever had."
The match lasted around 15 minutes and Bruiser ruled the first half of it knocking Thesz from ring post to ring post. Thesz turned the tide when he caught The bruiser with a bone shattering drop kick. From there he smashed Bruiser's head into the turnbuckle over and over again until The Bruiser was busted open. The loss of blood weakened Bruiser enough to allow Low to lock on the abdominal stretch, which ended the match.
3rd Round Eliminations
BRUNO SAMMARTINO
vs
THE SHEIK
They wrestled several times in real life, but never like the battle the computer produced.It took 35 minutes to decide it and those 35 minutes were packed with action. 25 minutes into the match The Sheik threw a powdery substance into Bruno's eyes, blinding him. From there The Sheik pulled out his pencil and proceeded to carve up Bruno's face. Bruno tried to fight back but he couldn't see where The Sheik was. The Sheik, showing enormous power, lifted Bruno high in the air, bodyslammed him head first into the mat and applied the claw to Sammartino's neck. Sammartino couldn't defend himself any longer and was forced to submit.
VERNE GAGNE
vs
LOU THESZ
Verne almost ended it in the first minute with three dropkicks and a sleeper hold. Lou slipped out of the sleeper and sent Verne over the ropes and out of the ring with a reverse body flip.
When Verne crawled back into the ring Lou applied a Boston crab but Gagne reached the ropes before submitting.
For the most part this was a clean match except for Lou trying to punch Verne, out of frustration. Lou immediately stuck out his hand and apologized.
The match was even for the first 20 minutes but when the advantage came, it came to Verne Gagne. A series of dropkicks had Thesz in trouble. Verne applied several hip rolls and flips followed by a devastating knee lift and neck breaker. Thesz fell to the canvas and Verne waited for him to rise before delivering a dropkick followed by an abdominal stretch which even Lou Thesz could not escape.
The Final Round
THE SHEIK
vs
VERNE GAGNE
The Sheik attacked Verne before he could get out of his corner. Verne rolled out of the ring to get his bearings. When Gagne came back in The Sheik went right at him only to be met with a bone jarring dropkick. Verne followed with three straight body slams which sent the wild man running from the ring only to return with a chair. Gagne took the chair and smashed it over The Sheiks head. This set The Sheik off on a rampage but Verne kept his cool.
Using the same strategy he used on Thesz, Gagne kept The Sheik at a safe distance with dropkicks, flying mares, and flying head scissors. Eight minutes into the match Verne missed a dropkick and The Sheik took advantage. He pulled out his pencil and tore open Verne's forehead. The referee pulled off The Sheik but he went right after Verne again, only to be met by a good old fashion right fist to the jaw. Verne followed with two more right crosses which staggered The Sheik and allowed Gagne to apply the sleeper hold. The Sheik pointed to his throat as if Gagne was choking him but the referee wasn't buying what The Sheik was selling.
He was going under and there was nothing he could do to stop it. The referee raised Verne's hand in victory but The Sheik never saw it. He was fast asleep on the canvas like a contented camel.
According to the computer, the winner of the tournament and the greatest wrestler of the last 25 years...
VERNE GAGNE!
Damals war das nicht unueblich auch im Boxen nicht, hat natuerlich nie gestimmt das man einen Computer benutzte oder aehnliches. ;) Hier das Cover und die Auswertung:[Bild: http://www.wwf4ever.de/newsboard/20Greatest1972.jpg]
THE TOP 20
FRED BLASSIE
THE BRUISER
EDOUARD CARPENTIER
DORY FUNK JR
VERNE GAGNE
PEPPER GOMEZ
EDDIE GRAHAM
GENE KINISKI
KILLER KOWALSKI
BILL MILLER
PAT O'CONNOR
ANTONINO ROCCA
BUDDY ROGERS
BRUNO SAMMARTINO
THE SHEIK
LOU THESZ
JOHNNY VALENTINE
FRITZ VON ERICH
RAY STEVENS
WHIPPER BILLY WATSON
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
1st Round Eliminations
PAT O'CONNOR
vs
FRITZ VON ERICH
According to the computer the match lasted longer than any other. O'Connor dazzled Fritz throughout most of the match with drop kick's, flying head scissors, and body slams. At the 45 minute mark, Fritz caught Pat with a hard knee shot to the chest after O'Conner bounced off the ropes, setting Pat up for the Iron Claw hold which forced him to submit.
JOHNNY VALENTINE
vs
PEPPER GOMEZ
Valentine beat Pepper from the opening bell and forced a submission with an abdominal stretch in 7 minutes. Gomez never stood a chance.
DORY FUNK JR.
vs
BIG BILL MILLER
Dory tried to wrestle clean against the big guy but Miller relied on power and illegal tactics to counter Dory. Finally, Funk had enough and started trading blow-for-blow and kick-for-kick with Miller. The change in Funk's strategy cost him. He simply didn't have the strength to beat Miller at Miller's own game. At the 23 minute mark, Miller finished off Dory with a series of forearm smashes and brainbusters followed by the back-breaker.
RAY STEVENS
vs
EDOUARD CARPENTIER
The computer couldn't seem to decide if Ray was a hero or a villain in the match. At times Stevens would wrestle scientifically and at other times he would cheat. No matter what he tried, Stevens couldn't stop the flying frenchman. Carpentier subdued Ray with a reverse body flip and body press 14 minutes into the match.
BRUNO SAMMARTINO
vs
GENE KINISKI
In this battle between two former World Champions, Bruno tried his trademark bearhug several times only to have Kiniski gouge his eyes and free himself. Finally, Bruno changed his strategy and instead of clamping a face to face bearhug on Kiniski, Bruno spun him around and applied a full nelson. Gene struggled for a full minute before submitting 21 minutes into the match.
ANTONINO ROCCA
vs
DICK THE BRUISER
Rocca started strong with an aerial attack which had The Bruiser staggering. Then at the eight minute mark Antonino missed a flying drop kick and The Bruiser began working over his left leg. For 15 minutes Bruiser inflicted punishment on Rocca's leg. And without his legs, Rocca was just another wrestler. 25 minutes into the match, The Bruiser finished off Rocca with a flying knee drop off the top rope.
BUDDY ROGERS
vs
EDDIE GRAHAM
This was a blood bath. While Graham out wrestled Buddy almost every moment of the battle, it was Eddie's paper thin skin which led to his downfall. Buddy smashed Graham into the steel ring post and Eddie replied with the same tactic. Both were busted open but Graham got the worst of it. Blood flowed over Eddie's eyes obscuring his view and Rogers took advantage, hammering Graham to the canvas. Finally the referee stepped in and stopped the match because of the excessive bleeding of Eddie Graham. Buddy wins.
WHIPPER BILLY WATSON
vs
THE SHEIK
They battled on equal terms for about six minutes and then The Sheik pulled a foreign object from his trunks and raked it across Billy's face. Once the skin opened, the Arab went to work with his teeth. Each time the referee pulled the crazed Sheik off, he seemed to be in a trance and would go into his "camel trot" before pouncing back on top of Billy again and again. The Sheik ended it with his signature move "the camel clutch."
VERNE GAGNE
vs
KILLER KOWALSKI
These guy's battled tooth-and-nail for 25 minutes with neither being able to maintain the advantage for long. At the 29 minute mark, Kowalski missed a knee drop from the top turnbuckle injuring himself. Verne applied his famous sleeper and scored the victory.
LOU THESZ
vs
FREDDIE BLASSIE
Both exchanged holds and counter holds for the first 15 minutes. Each man had the utmost respect for one and other which led to a somewhat tame match, that is, until Blassie delivered a series of knee lifts to Lou's head. Lou laid on the canvas, seemingly unable to move, and Blassie went for a flying body press. Lou, always the master of the ring, was playing possum. He rolled out of harms way and Blassie hit solid into the mat. Lou then applied a boston crab and forced the vampire Blassie into submission.
2nd Round Eliminations
JOHNNY VALENTINE
vs
BRUNO SAMMARTINO
These two beat each other unmercifully for the first ten minutes, trading forearm smashes, atomic skullcrushers, and knee drops. It seemed that both were indestructible. Five times Valentine put the abdominal stretch on Bruno and five times Bruno broke free using sheer strength. The end came when Johnny missed a flying elbow smash from the top rope. Bruno followed with a series of three body slams, and atomic skullcrusher of his own, and a flying body press to score the pin on Valentine after 42 minutes of action.
VERNE GAGNE
vs
BIG BILL MILLER
Again the computer produced a match that featured both wrestlers using extreme caution and showing each other a great deal of respect. But once they seamed to get the feel of things all hell broke loose. They battled inside the ring, outside the ring, and at one point, even under the ring. The end came 44 into the match when Gagne caught Miller with a dropkick. Bill hit the canvas but got right back up only to be met by another. And another. And another. After eight straight dropkicks Gagne applied the sleeper hold to finish off Big Bill Miller.
THE SHEIK
vs
EDOUARD CARPENTIER
The Sheik started the match by going for the legs on Carpentier. Ed fought back using his various arsenal of high flying maneuvers but nothing he did seemed to faze The Sheik. Six minutes into the match The Sheik pulled something from his trunks and began pummelling Carpentier. Carpentier fought back using punches and kicks and had The Sheik begging for mercy. Then without warning The Sheik tossed a fire ball into the frenchmans face blinding him. Helpless, he was easy prey for The Sheiks stomach claw and Edouard was forced to submit.
FRITZ VON ERICH
vs
BUDDY ROGERS
Von Erich had defeated Rogers before Buddy became world champion and may have done it again had he not gotten carried away. The match was a short with lots of blood. Both ended up fighting outside the ring where Von Erich put the claw of Rogers. The referee counted both out which eliminated each from the tournament.
LOU THESZ
vs
DICK THE BRUISER
When these two met met for real some years ago, Lou called his battle with Bruiser "the toughest match I ever had."
The match lasted around 15 minutes and Bruiser ruled the first half of it knocking Thesz from ring post to ring post. Thesz turned the tide when he caught The bruiser with a bone shattering drop kick. From there he smashed Bruiser's head into the turnbuckle over and over again until The Bruiser was busted open. The loss of blood weakened Bruiser enough to allow Low to lock on the abdominal stretch, which ended the match.
3rd Round Eliminations
BRUNO SAMMARTINO
vs
THE SHEIK
They wrestled several times in real life, but never like the battle the computer produced.It took 35 minutes to decide it and those 35 minutes were packed with action. 25 minutes into the match The Sheik threw a powdery substance into Bruno's eyes, blinding him. From there The Sheik pulled out his pencil and proceeded to carve up Bruno's face. Bruno tried to fight back but he couldn't see where The Sheik was. The Sheik, showing enormous power, lifted Bruno high in the air, bodyslammed him head first into the mat and applied the claw to Sammartino's neck. Sammartino couldn't defend himself any longer and was forced to submit.
VERNE GAGNE
vs
LOU THESZ
Verne almost ended it in the first minute with three dropkicks and a sleeper hold. Lou slipped out of the sleeper and sent Verne over the ropes and out of the ring with a reverse body flip.
When Verne crawled back into the ring Lou applied a Boston crab but Gagne reached the ropes before submitting.
For the most part this was a clean match except for Lou trying to punch Verne, out of frustration. Lou immediately stuck out his hand and apologized.
The match was even for the first 20 minutes but when the advantage came, it came to Verne Gagne. A series of dropkicks had Thesz in trouble. Verne applied several hip rolls and flips followed by a devastating knee lift and neck breaker. Thesz fell to the canvas and Verne waited for him to rise before delivering a dropkick followed by an abdominal stretch which even Lou Thesz could not escape.
The Final Round
THE SHEIK
vs
VERNE GAGNE
The Sheik attacked Verne before he could get out of his corner. Verne rolled out of the ring to get his bearings. When Gagne came back in The Sheik went right at him only to be met with a bone jarring dropkick. Verne followed with three straight body slams which sent the wild man running from the ring only to return with a chair. Gagne took the chair and smashed it over The Sheiks head. This set The Sheik off on a rampage but Verne kept his cool.
Using the same strategy he used on Thesz, Gagne kept The Sheik at a safe distance with dropkicks, flying mares, and flying head scissors. Eight minutes into the match Verne missed a dropkick and The Sheik took advantage. He pulled out his pencil and tore open Verne's forehead. The referee pulled off The Sheik but he went right after Verne again, only to be met by a good old fashion right fist to the jaw. Verne followed with two more right crosses which staggered The Sheik and allowed Gagne to apply the sleeper hold. The Sheik pointed to his throat as if Gagne was choking him but the referee wasn't buying what The Sheik was selling.
He was going under and there was nothing he could do to stop it. The referee raised Verne's hand in victory but The Sheik never saw it. He was fast asleep on the canvas like a contented camel.
According to the computer, the winner of the tournament and the greatest wrestler of the last 25 years...
VERNE GAGNE!
