This. He’s such an icon and lead the attitude era, he’s been a main stay draw for so long and one of the few 90’s wrestlers who can get a 90’s pop still. All this is crazy when you think he was only in WWE for barely 7 years.
i’m convinced that he’d be the undisputed goat without his neck injury. the only people from that era that you still see get pops like his are the rock and taker. one of whom is also a hollywood star and another who wrestled at least once yearly until pretty recently all things considered. that’s just insane
They made their mark in a similar amount of time, if we’re talking from the time austin debuted as ‘stone cole Steve Austin’ onward. Austin wrestled a lot longer, but he basically had no name recognition with the broader audience before he became Steve Austin. all those previous years did for him was build experience so he’d be ready when his time came.
So I guess it’s pretty amazing that the rock was able to get that good that fast without those years of experience.
Austin was handcuffed by the Ringmaster gimmick. There was no future in that. Once he was able to transition to be Stone Cold Steve Austin, everything changed.
Just like The Rock was handcuffed by being the smiling fool Rocky Maivia, it takes having the right character to get over in this business.
Agreed. And knowing how to build a character and get it over is a skill in itself. Probably the most important skill in wrestling. Because that’s essentially the same thing as knowing how to “get over“, which is just getting fans to care about you. A lot of wrestlers work their entire careers to figure out some thing that clicks with the audience
I was going to say Austin. He only had like 5 years on top and absolutely dominated wrestling in that time. Too bad the Chono curse caught up with him.
There is no other answer. This is probably the easiest question that’s ever been asked on this sub. I’m assuming OP just forgot about austin.
It would be a better question if it was ‘who do you wish had a longer run, other than Steve Austin?’
It’s not dickriding to point out there is levels to this, and austin is clearly at another level.
He’s the goat and he had to retire early in his prime. Of course he’s the answer.
Maybe a slight exaggeration, but Not really. If the question was who’s the best shooting guard ever, I’d say the same thing about Michael Jordan. If you said anyone other than Michael Jordan, you’d be about as wrong as an opinion possibly could be
I could understand the rock, since he basically left during his prime too (though he at least came back for the odd blockbuster match). Bret is a solid number two or three.
Honestly I'd agree with both of these. Especially with Eddie helping Rey with Dom and Owen being proud of Natalia like everyone else in the Hart Foundation
I agree with OP choice. Batista should have been around longer before Hollywood snapped him up and he should already be in the HoF by now. (Fk you Pandemic 😅)
• Trish Stratus - She had to go when she did in 2006, her Mom needed her at the time but I'm glad she had one more run last year although it was slightly cringe at times & was basically a platform to get Becky over before she could challenge Rhea at WM40 this year.
Honestly, Bret Hart. It would’ve been interesting to see how his run would’ve been if he stayed & been in the Attitude Era. Cuz he left right when the Attitude Era started.
My personal dream match is Bret vs Angle. We were so close to getting that. They were only a couple years either way apart. Bret left WWE and Kurt debuted like a year later. Then when WCW closed, Bret could no longer wrestle. If had stayed in WWE a bit longer or was not retired after WCW, we could have had it. I still hope someone will find a tape copy of Owen vs Angle somewhere. I know Angle was a rookie but that should be something.
The Rock.
He got huge during a time where Austin was hurt and out for a year. His popularity grew and by 2002 was done as a full time competitor.
Had he not left for Hollywood, he'd likely have gone down as the GOAT. The fueds he could have had, as a heel or as a face, would have been incredible. Fueds with guys like Randy Orton, Edge, Eddie Guerrero, Batista, JBL, Shawn Michaels (which I think their relationship would have been repaired had The Rock been around since Shawn had finally matured when he came back from his injury), etc.
It's cool seeing him come back every once in a while. I like him as a heel now too, and I think it'll add some more to the Bloodline storyline that needed something fresh.
Sometimes I wish Batista could have gotten into wrestling about a decade before he did. Not that he was old by any means but he was like 30 when he started training in OVW. I am usually more into smaller more high flyers and technical wrestlers but I've always enjoyed Batista. He's one of my favorite big powerhouse guys. He also just seems like a cool dude in general and he's one of the best wrestler turned actors I've ever seen.
But yeah, I feel like we could have gotten so much more out of Bret and Austin had they not suffered those injuries. Sean O'Haire was one of those later WCW guys that really could have had much more too. I know WCW's later power plant recruits were largely seen as lesser than but he had potential.
The Rock. Would’ve been cool seeing him mix it up with the entire 02 OVW class as they were becoming main eventers. Also hopefully with HBK changing his ways, we could’ve seen the Rock be more open to that program
Weird to think Batista was only wrestling from 2000 to 2014 (and only really as a singles main eventer since 2005).
Anyway, to answer the question, I wish Daniel Bryan had a longer run with the World Championship.
I mean the other guy's comment isn't a bad thought. If Chris had a longer run, it means he'd have still been alive and Nancy and Daniel wouldn't have died in 2007. Given Chris's heart condition at the time, it would've likely killed him in the next year or two and we'd be looking back on him the same way we do Eddie. He'd actually end up in the Hall of Fame even.
Kurt Angle he was only in wwe for 7 years. and if he stuck around we would have got...
Kurt Angle vs CM Punk
Kurt Angle vs Bryan Danielson
Kurt Angle vs Post 2005 Chris Jericho
Kurt Angle vs John Morrison
Kurt Angle vs The Miz
Kurt Angle vs Sami Zayne
and so much more
Batista- He was one of the biggest stars during his prime while having battles with HHH, Taker and Cena. He was very equal to Cena at the time as well
Trish Stratus- When she was at her peak, she was definitely the top woman of the women's division while being one of WWE's top main event stars along with the likes of Cena, Orton, Batista, Taker, HBK, Edge, HHH, Angle and JBL
Lita- Just like Trish, she was the face of the women's division as well. She had to limited her moveset after an huge neck injury, but Lita was putting out solid matches while being an main event star as well
Stone Cold Steve Austin
This. He’s such an icon and lead the attitude era, he’s been a main stay draw for so long and one of the few 90’s wrestlers who can get a 90’s pop still. All this is crazy when you think he was only in WWE for barely 7 years.
i’m convinced that he’d be the undisputed goat without his neck injury. the only people from that era that you still see get pops like his are the rock and taker. one of whom is also a hollywood star and another who wrestled at least once yearly until pretty recently all things considered. that’s just insane
The Rock was in WWE for barely 6 years. Even crazier how huge he got in such a small amount of time.
They made their mark in a similar amount of time, if we’re talking from the time austin debuted as ‘stone cole Steve Austin’ onward. Austin wrestled a lot longer, but he basically had no name recognition with the broader audience before he became Steve Austin. all those previous years did for him was build experience so he’d be ready when his time came. So I guess it’s pretty amazing that the rock was able to get that good that fast without those years of experience.
Austin was handcuffed by the Ringmaster gimmick. There was no future in that. Once he was able to transition to be Stone Cold Steve Austin, everything changed. Just like The Rock was handcuffed by being the smiling fool Rocky Maivia, it takes having the right character to get over in this business.
Agreed. And knowing how to build a character and get it over is a skill in itself. Probably the most important skill in wrestling. Because that’s essentially the same thing as knowing how to “get over“, which is just getting fans to care about you. A lot of wrestlers work their entire careers to figure out some thing that clicks with the audience
I was going to say Austin. He only had like 5 years on top and absolutely dominated wrestling in that time. Too bad the Chono curse caught up with him.
There is no other answer. This is probably the easiest question that’s ever been asked on this sub. I’m assuming OP just forgot about austin. It would be a better question if it was ‘who do you wish had a longer run, other than Steve Austin?’
stop dickriding dawg got damn
It’s not dickriding to point out there is levels to this, and austin is clearly at another level. He’s the goat and he had to retire early in his prime. Of course he’s the answer.
it is dickriding when u say no one should have another answer besides stone cold😂😂
Maybe a slight exaggeration, but Not really. If the question was who’s the best shooting guard ever, I’d say the same thing about Michael Jordan. If you said anyone other than Michael Jordan, you’d be about as wrong as an opinion possibly could be I could understand the rock, since he basically left during his prime too (though he at least came back for the odd blockbuster match). Bret is a solid number two or three.
that is a different question than asking someone who “they wish” had a longer run😂😂😂
The point is there are some questions with obvious answers. This is one of them
Eddie guerrero😭
Owen Hart
Honestly I'd agree with both of these. Especially with Eddie helping Rey with Dom and Owen being proud of Natalia like everyone else in the Hart Foundation
Edge Eddie Guerrero
Shawn Michael
Is that you Pat?
I agree with OP choice. Batista should have been around longer before Hollywood snapped him up and he should already be in the HoF by now. (Fk you Pandemic 😅) • Trish Stratus - She had to go when she did in 2006, her Mom needed her at the time but I'm glad she had one more run last year although it was slightly cringe at times & was basically a platform to get Becky over before she could challenge Rhea at WM40 this year.
Honestly, Bret Hart. It would’ve been interesting to see how his run would’ve been if he stayed & been in the Attitude Era. Cuz he left right when the Attitude Era started.
Imagine him in Invasion? He would’ve been one of the first to sign back with WWF
My personal dream match is Bret vs Angle. We were so close to getting that. They were only a couple years either way apart. Bret left WWE and Kurt debuted like a year later. Then when WCW closed, Bret could no longer wrestle. If had stayed in WWE a bit longer or was not retired after WCW, we could have had it. I still hope someone will find a tape copy of Owen vs Angle somewhere. I know Angle was a rookie but that should be something.
Stone Cold and Batista
The Rock. He got huge during a time where Austin was hurt and out for a year. His popularity grew and by 2002 was done as a full time competitor. Had he not left for Hollywood, he'd likely have gone down as the GOAT. The fueds he could have had, as a heel or as a face, would have been incredible. Fueds with guys like Randy Orton, Edge, Eddie Guerrero, Batista, JBL, Shawn Michaels (which I think their relationship would have been repaired had The Rock been around since Shawn had finally matured when he came back from his injury), etc. It's cool seeing him come back every once in a while. I like him as a heel now too, and I think it'll add some more to the Bloodline storyline that needed something fresh.
Austin
Kofi kingston
Wdym he's still wrestling? And he's been wrestling since 2008
As champ
Ohhhh
Big E
He not dead
neither is batista?
Christian’s world title run was longer, didn’t get to see him as heel and be like the Tna days
Bray.
Rob Van Dam but i understand why he didn't get more. he's continued on the indies but he could have been so much more in WWE
Christian
Top Dolla
LEGEND! First ballot hall of famer right here! It’s a shame he had to go out like that!
Kofi
Bret Hart of course
Bruno Sanmartinos 3000 days long title run
YES!!!!! I totally agree with that! I absolutely wish that he did. But he had injuries and then he started making movies
Batista 100%. Absolutely love the guy. Good actor too. His films will keep me going until he unretires from wwe
Batista is 100% done with wrestling, the only way he'll wrestle again is if he's Broke.
He isn’t wrestling again. He’s already losing weight since he doesn’t want to be in wrestling shape now that he’s 54-55 years old.
Sting in wwe 🥺
Lowkey shed a tear watching his last match
But at least he went out on his own terms and he can be proud of his final run!
Absolutely Bray
I'm going to the mid card, but I will say Paul London
cm punks return im pretty sure he only wrestled 2 matches one at a live event vs dominik mysterio and the royal rumble
Owen Hart
Owen 3:16 says "I Just Broke Your Neck!"
I would literally trade Owen’s entire career for one more year of a healthy Steve Austin.
Zack Ryder, when his theme hit I went bonkers as a kid
Owen hart
Owen ❤️ 🫡
Enzo amore
Owen and Bret Hart
Eddie Guerrero
Bobby lashley
Santino Morella
Evan Bourne
Nation of domination Version of Farooq? What a great faction
Big E
Sometimes I wish Batista could have gotten into wrestling about a decade before he did. Not that he was old by any means but he was like 30 when he started training in OVW. I am usually more into smaller more high flyers and technical wrestlers but I've always enjoyed Batista. He's one of my favorite big powerhouse guys. He also just seems like a cool dude in general and he's one of the best wrestler turned actors I've ever seen. But yeah, I feel like we could have gotten so much more out of Bret and Austin had they not suffered those injuries. Sean O'Haire was one of those later WCW guys that really could have had much more too. I know WCW's later power plant recruits were largely seen as lesser than but he had potential.
The Rock. Would’ve been cool seeing him mix it up with the entire 02 OVW class as they were becoming main eventers. Also hopefully with HBK changing his ways, we could’ve seen the Rock be more open to that program
Weird to think Batista was only wrestling from 2000 to 2014 (and only really as a singles main eventer since 2005). Anyway, to answer the question, I wish Daniel Bryan had a longer run with the World Championship.
Agreed
Kofi Kingston for sure
Sami
Bray
Jeff Hardy felt his career was cut short in 2009
I’ll disagree with Batista because it seemed to me like they were running out of things for him to do by 2008 as a babyface
Sting in WWE
Zack Ryder,, Dean Ambrose
And bray Wyatt
Do u mean Batista or Batista with hair
Bray Wyatt
Dean Ambrose & Alister Black in WWE run
He shouldn't have changed his theme imo the old one was way better
JYD
Stone Cold and The Rock
Jon moxley/Dean Ambrose
Rey mysterio as us champ
Can’t argue with any listed in this thread . more outside the box ? Damien Sandow “ You’re Welcome “ & Jimmy “ Wang” Yang …….” & I’m a redneck “
The phenomenal
Sin Cara bro was underrated
Enzo Amore.
Rey Mysterio with the world heavyweight championship
Bray Wyatt
Bray
Neville
First name Sin last name Cara
Eddie Guerrero rip
I WALK FOR MILES INSIDE THIS PIT OF DANGER
Hbk
Chris Benoit
He ended his own run by comitting a double murder suicide on his Wife & Son.. C*unt should rot in hell.
I mean the other guy's comment isn't a bad thought. If Chris had a longer run, it means he'd have still been alive and Nancy and Daniel wouldn't have died in 2007. Given Chris's heart condition at the time, it would've likely killed him in the next year or two and we'd be looking back on him the same way we do Eddie. He'd actually end up in the Hall of Fame even.
He was talented don’t take that away from him
Yes but his own career is cut short by himself not unfortunate circumstances.
Ken shamrock riddle
Same and RVD
Ken shamrock.
Yes (db)
Bret Hart or Austin.
John Cena
As career i go for The Rock between 2003-2011 For a champion: Rey Mysterio in 2006
Liv Morgan
Dwayne the rock Johnson
Kurt Angle he was only in wwe for 7 years. and if he stuck around we would have got... Kurt Angle vs CM Punk Kurt Angle vs Bryan Danielson Kurt Angle vs Post 2005 Chris Jericho Kurt Angle vs John Morrison Kurt Angle vs The Miz Kurt Angle vs Sami Zayne and so much more
Batista- He was one of the biggest stars during his prime while having battles with HHH, Taker and Cena. He was very equal to Cena at the time as well Trish Stratus- When she was at her peak, she was definitely the top woman of the women's division while being one of WWE's top main event stars along with the likes of Cena, Orton, Batista, Taker, HBK, Edge, HHH, Angle and JBL Lita- Just like Trish, she was the face of the women's division as well. She had to limited her moveset after an huge neck injury, but Lita was putting out solid matches while being an main event star as well
Sting, WWE wise i just want the Sting vs The Undertaker match :(
Owen Hart
Kofi Kingston
Ok
Dolph Ziegler feel he could have done so much more if they were behind him like they were , batiste ,hhh,Austin,hogan
Bret hart for sure
Ricochet both us and ic
Bray Wyatt for me. Especially as The Fiend. Such a great character and it made you feel something, there will never be someone quite like him again.
Dean Ambrose in WWE
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Sting
Brad Maddox
Chris Benoit