Who is a better in ring performer?

[yesdanielbryan]

After the topic that I opened about Danielson two days ago, I decided to make comparisons between wrestlers considered the ability as in ring performers, that include workrate, in ring psychology, storytelling, selling, cleaning in the execution of the moves, quality of matches, charisma into the match.

 

You should try to vote not your favourite wrestlers, but you should vote the wrestler that you think is a better in ring performer.

In few words you should try to be as objective as possible.

However if you think that the wrestlers are great in ring performers in the same way, and it's impossible to choose who is better than the other, you should vote the option number 3.

 

 

Then if you don't know the entire career of a wrestler you should vote the option number 4.

For example if you didn't watch every Danielson's main matches in every promotion, not only WWE, you should choose the option 4.

 

 

 

The comparisons are:
1)Bret Hart vs Mitsuharu Misawa

2)Shawn Michaels vs AJ Styles

3)Bryan Danielson vs Chris Benoit

 

 

Thank you very much

[Kadaveri]

The only one of these I think is even close is Bret vs. Misawa. Bret's extremely talented and had a much lower quality of opponents to work with than Misawa, but Misawa's far superior output is just too much for him to compete with.

 

AJ Styles is better than Shawn Michaels in every way. Far better on offence. More impressive high-flying. Doesn't do Shawn's goofy selling. AJ's been able to shine in a variety of settings and promotions including some very difficult ones like TNA, whereas Shawn got highly favourable booking almost all his career.

 

Bryan had a tremendous presence and charisma about him that he was able to express in his wrestling to enhance everything he does. Benoit could never do that on that level and that always held him back.

[yesdanielbryan]

 

Bryan had a tremendous presence and charisma about him that he was able to express in his wrestling to enhance everything he does. Benoit could never do that on that level and that always held him back.

In your opinion, are there any aspects in which Benoit is better than Danielson?

[KB8]

I actually think the only one that's a cakewalk is Misawa/Bret (in favour of Misawa). I like Bret and think he does a number of things really well, but I'd take Misawa without much thought.

 

I'll always have a soft spot for Michaels as he was a favourite when I was a kid, but other than tag work I'd go AJ. The distance for me wouldn't be as wide as it would for most folk, but that's because AJ Styles never flung anyone through a barber shop window and I value that over most things in wrestling.

 

I'd go Danielson over Benoit. Actually, that might not be very close, either. I can't really be bothered talking about Benoit, but the only thing I'd really say he had over Bryan was the execution on stuff.

[Boss Rock]

Misawa and A.J. over Bret and Shawn, and I actually think they're both pretty similar in a lot ways. Both had awesome offense, great execution, and were overall just excellent jack-of-all-trades.

[Kadaveri]

In your opinion, are there any aspects in which Benoit is better than Danielson?

 

Some of Benoit's offense looked more damaging than Bryan's. His chops and his suplexes were better, that match where he german suplexes Steve Austin 10 times is a fantastic Benoit performance in that regard and I don't recall Bryan ever pulling off something like that so well.

 

But then again I think in the macro Bryan was still better because he's smarter in how he actually uses offense. Benoit tends to get a bit spotty with throwing moves around, not to an extent that it becomes 'bad' but enough to take him down a notch when we're comparing great wrestlers.

[Matt D]

My biggest argument against Misawa is one of excess, and it's tempered because it's style driven and audience driven and a necessity that was hoisted upon him but that was also of his making. I'm not at all claiming Bret is superior, but I'm curious if anyone can anyone point out a Bret Hart match that they'd use that particular word for?

[Eduardo]

I'm higher on Bret than most here, but yeah he's just not on Misawa's level. Even for some of Misawa's legit flaws at certain points in his career, his highs were so high. Some of the best offense I've ever seen along with being one of the greatest sellers of all time.

 

Styles just another level above Michaels. I saw Styles at a couple of house shows recently and the amount of effort he was putting in his matches was so cool.

 

The Daniel Bryan vs Chris Benoit match up is closer than these other two match ups. I'd rather watch Bryan, both for in-ring and real life reasons.

[NintendoLogic]

Even I would put Misawa comfortably ahead of Bret.

[Edwin]

I'm a huge Bret fan, but to me Misawa was far better and AJ to me is far better than HBK.

 

I think the closest one is the Benoit/Danielson comparison. I can see an argument for people voting for Danielson over Benoit, but I also know there's people who would vote anyone over Benoit in a lot of polls simply because of what happened and them feeling uneasy watching him.

 

I'm honestly torn on that vote, however. Both guys are awesome to watch and they are both very athletic, but I'd give give the nod when it came to charisma and selling to Danielson and the nod when it came to constant aggressiveness and intensity to Benoit.

[joeg]

Danielson vs Benoit isn't even close... Danielson vs Eddie would be much closer

[yesdanielbryan]

Danielson vs Benoit isn't even close... Danielson vs Eddie would be much closer

Why? Even considering exclusively in ring ability?

[joeg]

Eddie was head and shoulders above Benoit.

 

Benoit could only have that go-go-go type match. He never allowed any of his spots time to breathe so he never really was able to draw heat or garner sympathy from the audience. I'd put Benoit in the same category as Angle, RVD, Low Ki, Dynamite Kid, etc. His stuff looked good and it looked like it hurt but he didn't really seem to make the moments in between the moves matter.

 

Eddie would be a closer comparison to Danielson in that they were both undersized but both were able to draw heat against larger opponents. Also both were able to draw sympathy as babyface underdogs.

 

Benoit could never have had the match against Lesnar that Eddie had and he could never have had the WM30 performance that Bryan had because Benoit just couldn't gather a reaction from the crowd like that. Now Benoit could put on an action packed badass match and he had plenty of those, but as for big dramatic moments he didn't really have many of those.

[Childs]

I came away from the '90s yearbooks feeling the opposite, that Benoit was better than Eddie, even though Eddie might have peaked higher. The idea of Benoit as some all-action robot has gone too far. He had a strong connection to the crowd in his own right, with the Wrestlemania win standing as the obvious culmination of that. He was hugely over in WWE, probably more over than Eddie for a lot of the time they were there together. The rare thing he brought was that every-night intensity which often elevated mundane match-ups. You say he couldn't have had Eddie's match with Lesnar, and that's true. But I don't know that Eddie could have cranked out the low-key classics that Benoit did with Finlay and Regal. I don't know that he could have produced a memorable series with Booker T. I know he didn't shine in New Japan as consistently as Benoit.

 

I understand Benoit's intensity has become an uncomfortable thing in retrospect, while it's easy to remember Eddie in a golden light because of his immense charm. But week to week, Benoit delivered more good performances.

[Jetlag]

Went Misawa - Styles - Bryan without thinking much.

 

Bryan vs. Benoit is a squash. Bryan is far more expressive and versatile. He also has that crowd control. Benoit is pretty much a wrestling robot and while he's not bad you get the same stuff everytime whether he's in mexico, japan or elsewhere. Also, not really a great matworker. Iffff you wanna see the gap between the two compare Benoit vs. Big Show to Bryan vs. Big Show.

 

Also, gotta say it again: Motegi did the multiple german suplexes better than Benoit too.

[Mad Dog]

I went with Benoit. That one was so close I almost said a draw. I would say that Benoit's high end matches are better than DB's are. I think he had a better presence and aura about him as well.

 

I think the tag against Austin and HHH and the singles match with Austin a few weeks before or after that match are better than anything DB has done. But this was really close to the point I almost picked a draw.

[joeg]

@ Childs I never watched worked my through the yearbooks, I'd say I've seen most if not all of the Benoit and Eddie matches on them however. Where did you have Eddie and Benoit GWE? I had Eddie at 22 I think, and Benoit at 56 I believe. I'll give you that Benoit's intesity probably made for a better 3 to 10 minute TV match. Eddie could do so much more though.

 

My main thing is I never bought tickets and drove to another city to go watch Chris Benoit. I did buy a tickets and drive to another city (whether it was Philly, Baltimore, Washington, etc) to go see Danielson or Eddy.

[Log]

Went with Misawa/AJ/Bryan.

 

I'm a big show me, don't tell me kind of person.

 

I've been told a lot that Bret and Shawn are all-time great wrestlers. Yet, when I watch them, I'm consistently underwhelmed. I'm almost 40 years old, so I came up with Gorilla constantly telling me that Bret was "The Excellence of Execution". I bought that and always considered him great. The more I watch, though, the matches just aren't there. Same with Shawn although the narrative of him being an all-timer is newer (post-first retirement).

 

I've seen Misawa, AJ and Bryan blow me away. All three have the performances to back up the claim to being all-timers, in my eyes. That's the difference for me.

[Edwin]

I came away from the '90s yearbooks feeling the opposite, that Benoit was better than Eddie, even though Eddie might have peaked higher. The idea of Benoit as some all-action robot has gone too far. He had a strong connection to the crowd in his own right, with the Wrestlemania win standing as the obvious culmination of that. He was hugely over in WWE, probably more over than Eddie for a lot of the time they were there together. The rare thing he brought was that every-night intensity which often elevated mundane match-ups. You say he couldn't have had Eddie's match with Lesnar, and that's true. But I don't know that Eddie could have cranked out the low-key classics that Benoit did with Finlay and Regal. I don't know that he could have produced a memorable series with Booker T. I know he didn't shine in New Japan as consistently as Benoit.

This, pretty much.

 

I honestly feel that people just dislike Benoit for what happened (and rightfully so), but you shouldn't discredit his work because of that.

 

If anything, his Royal Rumble and WM 20 win reflect everything that is being thrown against him when it comes to him not drawing heat or sympathy from the fans.

 

As I said, I give the nod when it comes to charisma and selling to Danielson, but I give the nod to constant aggressiveness and intensity to Benoit.

[yesdanielbryan]

 

I came away from the '90s yearbooks feeling the opposite, that Benoit was better than Eddie, even though Eddie might have peaked higher. The idea of Benoit as some all-action robot has gone too far. He had a strong connection to the crowd in his own right, with the Wrestlemania win standing as the obvious culmination of that. He was hugely over in WWE, probably more over than Eddie for a lot of the time they were there together. The rare thing he brought was that every-night intensity which often elevated mundane match-ups. You say he couldn't have had Eddie's match with Lesnar, and that's true. But I don't know that Eddie could have cranked out the low-key classics that Benoit did with Finlay and Regal. I don't know that he could have produced a memorable series with Booker T. I know he didn't shine in New Japan as consistently as Benoit.

This, pretty much.

 

I honestly feel that people just dislike Benoit for what happened (and rightfully so), but you shouldn't discredit his work because of that.

 

If anything, his Royal Rumble and WM 20 win reflect everything that is being thrown against him when it comes to him not drawing heat or sympathy from the fans.

 

As I said, I give the nod when it comes to charisma and selling to Danielson, but I give the nod to constant aggressiveness and intensity to Benoit.

 

About cleaning in the execution of the moves, storytelling and in ring psychology?

[El-P]

 

I came away from the '90s yearbooks feeling the opposite, that Benoit was better than Eddie, even though Eddie might have peaked higher. The idea of Benoit as some all-action robot has gone too far. He had a strong connection to the crowd in his own right, with the Wrestlemania win standing as the obvious culmination of that. He was hugely over in WWE, probably more over than Eddie for a lot of the time they were there together. The rare thing he brought was that every-night intensity which often elevated mundane match-ups. You say he couldn't have had Eddie's match with Lesnar, and that's true. But I don't know that Eddie could have cranked out the low-key classics that Benoit did with Finlay and Regal. I don't know that he could have produced a memorable series with Booker T. I know he didn't shine in New Japan as consistently as Benoit.

This, pretty much.

 

I honestly feel that people just dislike Benoit for what happened (and rightfully so), but you shouldn't discredit his work because of that.

 

If anything, his Royal Rumble and WM 20 win reflect everything that is being thrown against him when it comes to him not drawing heat or sympathy from the fans.

 

As I said, I give the nod when it comes to charisma and selling to Danielson, but I give the nod to constant aggressiveness and intensity to Benoit.

 

Thirded. Benoit was over as fuck in WCW as a Horseman. He was extremely versatile too (Japanese junior style ? European guys ? US veterans ? Tag ? Brawl ? Technical ? Gimmick match ? Checked it all). He was great at selling and getting sympathy (as shown by the Raven feud). Eddie took a while to put it all together. Agree he peaked higher, plus he was a better promo (not immediately either, his early WCW stuff was not good whereras Benoit was wooden but efficient enough as a Horseman). The Post Benoit Guilt definitely played a role in how he's perceived today, but he actually had a strong connnection with the crowd.

[GSR]

I came away from the '90s yearbooks feeling the opposite, that Benoit was better than Eddie, even though Eddie might have peaked higher. The idea of Benoit as some all-action robot has gone too far. He had a strong connection to the crowd in his own right, with the Wrestlemania win standing as the obvious culmination of that. He was hugely over in WWE, probably more over than Eddie for a lot of the time they were there together. The rare thing he brought was that every-night intensity which often elevated mundane match-ups. You say he couldn't have had Eddie's match with Lesnar, and that's true. But I don't know that Eddie could have cranked out the low-key classics that Benoit did with Finlay and Regal. I don't know that he could have produced a memorable series with Booker T. I know he didn't shine in New Japan as consistently as Benoit.

 

I understand Benoit's intensity has become an uncomfortable thing in retrospect, while it's easy to remember Eddie in a golden light because of his immense charm. But week to week, Benoit delivered more good performances.

 

It's only one year, and who knows how much he was plagued by the injury from his debut match, but from re-watching the year 2000 for PWO2K Benoit's 2000 blows aways Eddy's by a country mile.

[KB8]

2000 was definitely a down year for Eddie. Benoit looked like one of the best in the world that year while Eddie was dicking around with the Chyna stuff. It’s always felt to me like Eddie had two peaks, with ‘97 being the first and shorter of the two, then ‘04-‘05 being the longer and even better. He was excellent pretty much his whole second run in WWE, but once he splits from Chavo he goes up a level.

 

I’ve always kind of looked at Eddie v Benoit as peak v longevity in a way. That’s not to say Benoit never had much of a peak, because he obviously did, but Eddie at his best was so good that I’ll take him every time if I have to choose. And I think Benoit’s best match is against Eddie. And Eddie’s my favourite wrestler and I like him more.

[Childs]

@ Childs I never watched worked my through the yearbooks, I'd say I've seen most if not all of the Benoit and Eddie matches on them however. Where did you have Eddie and Benoit GWE? I had Eddie at 22 I think, and Benoit at 56 I believe. I'll give you that Benoit's intesity probably made for a better 3 to 10 minute TV match. Eddie could do so much more though.

 

My main thing is I never bought tickets and drove to another city to go watch Chris Benoit. I did buy a tickets and drive to another city (whether it was Philly, Baltimore, Washington, etc) to go see Danielson or Eddy.

 

I had Benoit at 35 and Eddie at 41.

 

I actually liked Eddie better when they were active, and if I had done a list off the top of my head say, 5 years ago, I would have had him higher. But in going back through a lot of their stuff, I was surprised how many gaps I found in Eddie's career, whereas Benoit exceeded my expectations in a lot of random years. It wasn't the conclusion I anticipated or wanted, but that's where I ended up.

 

I have Bryan well ahead of both. In fact, I'd say he combined their best qualities in a lot of ways.

[shodate]

my eramy fave run of eddie was this los grigios run but Pegasus was the better win ring worker by far and away eddie is teir 4 or 5 level while benoit was a level 2 or three

 

the top level[ KongMing tair]

Fujiawara Han tamura Koplov Brakes Robinson Gotch etc

Level 2[ Zhifang teair]

are

Benoit Owen and bret Takada Nishimura Ikeda Flair Negro Black Terry ect

Level 3 [ wenyuan ]

Lesner[ when not in lazy mod] Brisc[ [ wpuld be higher if i have of seen more of his stuff ]

Level 4[ Lu Bu teair]

Eddie HBK Dragon Nigel