Professional Wrestling Obscure Lists
by Tantor September 20, 2020
Dear Reader,
It’s another professional wrestling article. Did you expect anything different when clicking on a Tantor article? Well, this one is unique. We at The Coach & Crew Show have been doing our WWE power rankings for years. Now it seems that everyone is doing WWE power rankings. Even though we were first, Tantor at Coach and Crew is taking the rankings to the Next Level.
Tantor came up with specific categories. Each category has its top 5 performers. A very difficult assignment. Over the past two weeks the top 5’s have changed numerous times. Ranking are based upon what Tantor thinks is interesting and the performer must have been in the ring during the past 60 days. No influence by any of the professional sports entertainment companies. So, let’s kick this off. For the first time ever, The Professional Wrestling Obscure Lists Rankings.
The first category is In-Ring Work. In-Ring Work is self-explanatory. What can this performer do inside the ring? Not costumes, mic work or music. Can this wrestler tell a story from beginning to end with action and keep Tantor entertained? Can this performer wrestle a mannequin and make me believe he/she might lose only to pull out a stunning victory? If yes, you just made the list.
In-Ring Work
It’s another professional wrestling article. Did you expect anything different when clicking on a Tantor article? Well, this one is unique. We at The Coach & Crew Show have been doing our WWE power rankings for years. Now it seems that everyone is doing WWE power rankings. Even though we were first, Tantor at Coach and Crew is taking the rankings to the Next Level.
Tantor came up with specific categories. Each category has its top 5 performers. A very difficult assignment. Over the past two weeks the top 5’s have changed numerous times. Ranking are based upon what Tantor thinks is interesting and the performer must have been in the ring during the past 60 days. No influence by any of the professional sports entertainment companies. So, let’s kick this off. For the first time ever, The Professional Wrestling Obscure Lists Rankings.
The first category is In-Ring Work. In-Ring Work is self-explanatory. What can this performer do inside the ring? Not costumes, mic work or music. Can this wrestler tell a story from beginning to end with action and keep Tantor entertained? Can this performer wrestle a mannequin and make me believe he/she might lose only to pull out a stunning victory? If yes, you just made the list.
In-Ring Work
- Seth Rollins – This guy has spent the past two months wrestling Dominik Mysterio and making him look like a professional wrestler. Tantor had/has no interest in this storyline, but I watched every second and loved it. Not because of anything Dominik did either. This was 100% Seth Rollins. Only the best could do what Rollins did.
- AJ Styles – He has carried Smackdown on his back for over 3 years. He also carried a disinterested Brock Lesnar around the ring for 15 minutes 2 years ago during a Clash of Champions. Recently, he even made Matt Riddle look like a wrestler.
- Daniel Bryan – He just slipped into the time frame. His past rivalry with Styles might be the best in ring work this year. He will fall off the list if not performing soon.
- Adam Cole – Just finished the longest running NXT Championship run in history. Followed that up with the best celebrity match in history.
- Keith Lee- Tantor has said it before. Over 300lbs going 30 minutes and doing aerials. Every Keith Lee match is worth the watch regardless of the opponent.
MIC SKILLS
1-MVP – When MVP starts talking everyone is listening. He started the year as a fill in. Now he is the face of the Hurt Business and receives about 15 minutes of air time per show. All well deserved.
2-Miz & Morrison – The Miz has always been good on the mic, but adding Morrison and his one liners to Miz’s straight man act is brilliant.
3-Street Profits – Top caliber mic work and never ever boring. We want the smoke!
4-R Truth – Tantor never fast forwards through an R Truth segment. Most are laugh out loud funny. The 24/7 title is just an excuse to give R Truth air time. I for one am happy with that.
5- Chris Jerico- He may be over at AEW, but Jerico on the mic is still one of the best in the business.
1-MVP – When MVP starts talking everyone is listening. He started the year as a fill in. Now he is the face of the Hurt Business and receives about 15 minutes of air time per show. All well deserved.
2-Miz & Morrison – The Miz has always been good on the mic, but adding Morrison and his one liners to Miz’s straight man act is brilliant.
3-Street Profits – Top caliber mic work and never ever boring. We want the smoke!
4-R Truth – Tantor never fast forwards through an R Truth segment. Most are laugh out loud funny. The 24/7 title is just an excuse to give R Truth air time. I for one am happy with that.
5- Chris Jerico- He may be over at AEW, but Jerico on the mic is still one of the best in the business.
Let’s move on to the Entrance. A performer’s entrance sets the stage for the match or segment. A dull entrance usually leads to an underwhelming performance. Tantor looks for music, production value, originality and audience participation. That last one is impossible in today’s environment.
ENTRANCE
ENTRANCE
- The Fiend Bray Wyatt- WWE took the best entrance song, did a disturbing tweak and paired it with whatever the Fiend has become. It’s incredible!
- Adam Cole- Yes, it was number 1, but falls to number 2 with no crowd. ADAM COLE! BAY BAY!
- Karrion Kross- Yes, injured and will fall off the list, but Scarlett and the cinematic masterpiece needs to be recognized.
- Breezango- WTF!? You say! Well it’s always different and always entertaining.
- Roman Reigns featuring Paul Heyman- Exactly how the Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion and Tribal Chief should be represented. Just go talk to Roman Reigns if you disagree.
On to my favorite category, UKE. I added this category because you will never see this anywhere else. If you do, Please contact my attorney. Someone stole it from Tantor. UKEMI (UKE for short) is a Japanese martial arts form that involves the techniques of receiving, falling and protecting oneself from injury while being the target of the master. In professional wrestling, the master would be the scripted winning wrestler receiving the company “push”. This performer must convince the audience that death is near while making the opponent look great.
UKE
MANAGERS
STORYLINES
3-HURT BUSINESS- MVP has made Alexander, Lashley and Benjamin wildly entertaining.
4-ROMAN REIGNS – Reigns was always forced upon the WWE universe in the past by Vince McMahon. Take real life, add Paul Heyman and a new heel turn attitude and we have something very special.
5-TIE- Yes. A complete co-out by Tantor. The last two storylines cannot be separated. STYLES-HARDY-SAMI ZAYN and McINTYRE-KEITH LEE-RANDY ORTON just can’t be ranked above or below another. All 6 performer kill it in the ring and throw in above average mic skills and we have two great storylines.
After going in-depth in professional wrestling this past two months, Tantor is convinced this is the best product time period. Each era has something special. This era is based on actual in ring talent. And given the limited audiences and zero interaction with fans, in ring talent matters more now than ever before.
UKE
- Dolph Ziggler- When WWE wants to push a wrestler, they send in Dolph. He is the best in the business of making someone else looking good. Drew McIntyre owes his title run to Ziggler.
- Cesaro- A master in ring worker. Cesaro get thrown a bone ever now and then, but he has made a living making the USOS, New Day and Hardy Boys look great. Currently doing the same with the Street Profits.
- King Corbin- Annoying character, but always makes his opponent look fantastic. Made Matt Riddle look better than average. That is a feat unto itself. Currently building up Roman Reigns.
- Sasha Banks- By far the best female performer currently wrestling. She has sold every single current female belt holder in WWE. Thank you Sasha Banks. You are appreciated.
- Karl Anderson- Currently doing his thing in Impact. No one gets beat up like Carl Anderson, no one. His work in the Boneyard match was unparalleled and continues in ring on Impact.
MANAGERS
- MVP- Back on another list for the same reasons. MVP has the Hurt Business and Business is good.
- Paul Heyman- After being dumped because of his alleged altercation with AJ Styles, Heyman has landed on his feet with Roman Reigns. This works! It really works!
- Zelina Vega- Vega is all Andrade and Angel Garza have going for them. She is a top performer at keeping them relevant.
- Tully Blanchard – Tully is over on AEW drinking beer making FTR great.
- Shane McMahon- RAW Underground is the best thing on RAW.
STORYLINES
- Bayley/Banks – As previously stated, Banks has made all the WWE female champions. She will put Bayley as the top female superstar in professional wrestling. This Bayley complete heel turn is mush anticipated and will showcase both of these performers’ skills.
3-HURT BUSINESS- MVP has made Alexander, Lashley and Benjamin wildly entertaining.
4-ROMAN REIGNS – Reigns was always forced upon the WWE universe in the past by Vince McMahon. Take real life, add Paul Heyman and a new heel turn attitude and we have something very special.
5-TIE- Yes. A complete co-out by Tantor. The last two storylines cannot be separated. STYLES-HARDY-SAMI ZAYN and McINTYRE-KEITH LEE-RANDY ORTON just can’t be ranked above or below another. All 6 performer kill it in the ring and throw in above average mic skills and we have two great storylines.
After going in-depth in professional wrestling this past two months, Tantor is convinced this is the best product time period. Each era has something special. This era is based on actual in ring talent. And given the limited audiences and zero interaction with fans, in ring talent matters more now than ever before.
all images courtesy of wwe.com