Here are the results of the voting that took place to determine the WWF's all-time top 10 performers,
as of the year 2000. Keep in mind, this is by NO means my own opinion, but rather a representation of everyone's opinion.
Each email was tabulated and the #1 person on a particular list was given 10 points, #2 given 9 points and so one down
to the #10 wrestler receiving 1 point. Then, ALL the points were summed and all the performers were ranked in order. The top 10
are listed here with a short commentary following. Remember, the comments are just my opinion and the scores are from EVERYONE.
If you still have questions or comments, email them to me at webmaster@rajah.com. The next
voting will take place near the end of 2001 or early 2002, if the site is still around I guess. Enjoy.
The Results for 2000:
1. Hulk Hogan: 12,163pts
1999 Rank - (2)
1998 Rank - (2)
1997 Rank - (1)
-Perhaps a surprise #1 this year, Hogan moves up from two consecutive second place showings despite having one of his worst years ever.
Synonymous with wrestling greatness in the 80s, Hogan's lack of activity in recent times may be exactly what is keeping him up so high on the lists of new and old
WWF fans since his Hulkamania legacy remains entrenched in the minds of many. Can't really go up from here, but an ominous threat of slipping from this top perch is there, especially
if he returns to wrestling displaying skills that match his advanced age.
2. Shawn Michaels: 11,766pts
1999 Rank - (4)
1998 Rank - (3)
1997 Rank - (5)
-Inactive since 1998, Shawn Michaels used a lacklustre year by those ahead of him to improve to an all-time high ranking of #2. Although he has done pretty much
everything in the WWF, there are definite signs from within that there may still be some gas left in a tank running dangerously close to empty. If he does return, his stock could
go in two contrasting ways. Depending on how much ring rust he possesses, a return could cement his status as arguably the greatest WWF performer ever (even better than Hogan) but on the flip side, his
farewell tour could bomb and leave him in the same boat as his rival, Bret "The Hitman" Hart vulnerable to be passed by some of the younger superstars.
3. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin: 11,431pts
1999 Rank - (1)
1998 Rank - (1)
1997 Rank - (8)
-It's pretty obvious that the majority of the year 2000 was one that Stone Cold Steve Austin would rather forget. Sidelined for the balance of the year with what could have been
a career-ending back/neck injury, Austin returned with a vengeance in the fall months and immediately signalled that he wasn't yet ready to pack up the bags. A recent and fresh heel turn and an injury free
2001 could go a long ways in helping propel him to the level of the two men ahead of him or even beyond. Regardless, at the very least Stone Cold should be able to maintain this position one year from now
as those who are immediately behind him, are less likely to surpass him than he is to overtake those ahead of him.
4. Bret "Hitman" Hart: 10,387pts
1999 Rank - (5)
1998 Rank - (4)
1997 Rank - (2)
-Some consider him the greatest technician ever to grace a WWF ring, his career unfortunately will not be remebered for his accomplishments but rather what happened and what could have been.
Arguably at the peak of his career when the infamous 1997 Survivor Series screwjob transpired, Bret was never able to recover from the incident and went on to leave the WWF with very limited success.
A variety of injuries and another sour ending in WCW have turned 2000 into the final year of Bret's storied career as he has now officially retired. Unless he somehow manages to mend a huge broken fence with Vince McMahon
and returns to either WWF or WCW, Bret will likely never make it into the top three and with guys like the Rock and Triple H breathing down his neck has a good chance of slipping into the lower half of our
top ten.
5. The Rock: 9,157pts
1999 Rank - (3)
1998 Rank - (11)
1997 Rank - (NR)
-After a meteroric rise from obscurity to a top three finish, the Rock slipped back somewhat and barely managed to hold off the challenge of a surging Triple H to finish in the top 5. Although 2000
was a great year for him, it seems fans aren't exactly ready to put him amongst the very elite since he is still relatively young and needs to do more in a much more diversified generation. Undoubtedly the most recognized and popular
superstar worldwide, a promising movie career may end up adversely affecting the Rock's wrestling in both the immediate and long term future. If he's out of action for too long, it is unlikely that he will gain any ground on those ahead of him but
will face the consequence of being dethroned by Triple H as the WWF's ultimate superstar.
6. Triple H: 9,035pts
1999 Rank - (NR)
1998 Rank - (NR)
1997 Rank - (NR)
-Not even making it on the charts in each of the past three years, backed up by an amazing 2000 campaign, Triple H skyrocketed to place sixth amongst the WWF's
all-time superstars. Known as the Cerebral Assassin and a true student of the business, Triple H has transformed himself into perhaps the most influential wrestler in the WWF today.
Not having won the heavyweight title for almost a year, it is a true testament to his character that even in light of that, he remains the unanimous choice by wrestlers and management as the WWF's
MVP. Still in the prime of his career and relatively injury-free, Triple H has one of the rare opportunities to evolve into THE greatest WWF superstar ever.
7. Undertaker: 8,882pts
1999 Rank - (8)
1998 Rank - (5)
1997 Rank - (6)
-After an injury filled first half of 2000, the Undertaker has stormed back in recent times to re-juvenate his career and provide some hope that he still has one
last run as WWF champion left in him. Always a respected presence in the locker-room, the Undertaker's WWF career has been dominated by being one of the top babyfaces in the company.
In the Rock's absence, a current feud against Triple H and now Stone Cold Steve Austin may go very far in cementing his legacy as one of the longest surviving and all-time bests the WWF
has to offer. However, without those multi individual title reigns, he will likely never be mentioned in the same breath as an Austin or a Hogan.
8. Andre the Giant: 7,761pts
1999 Rank - (9)
1998 Rank - (6)
1997 Rank - (3)
-After experiencing a notable drop in the past three years, Andre the Giant's stock too a surprising upward trend as he improved upon his position
from one year ago, despite his accomplishments only but a distant memory. Never one to be high on championships, Andre's persona was synonymous with dominance as he not only
possessed a truly amazing winning streak in the late 70s and early 80s, but was an imposing figure for anyone to step into the ring with. Despite his reptuation as one of the best, it's a safe
bet that as the years go by, Andre will slip further and further until he is completely out of the top ten.
9. "Macho Man" Randy Savage: 7,344pts
1999 Rank - (7)
1998 Rank - (7)
1997 Rank - (7)
-Not wrestling much in 2000 probably hurt Randy Savage more than it helped others. A mainstay at the number seven position throughout our three-year survey, Savage's inactivity
coupled with the rise of others and the fact that he had a relatively short career in the WWF at the top meant that his effect in prowrestling has been diluted. A two-time world heavyweight champion
and also an Intercontinental titlist early on his career, Savage's greatest attribute was that he successfully challenged the strangle-hold that Hulkamania had on the WWF in the late 1980s as well as the fact
that he engaged in some very memorable feuds including with Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, Ric Flair, and Jake Roberts.
10. Mick Foley: 5,703pts
1999 Rank - (6)
1998 Rank - (9)
1997 Rank - (NR)
-It was natural that after he officially retired, Mick Foley would be hard pressed to maintain his six place rating from last year. As was the case, as others' stock rose, Foley's fell since he ended up coming out on the wrong side of the equation
in all his matches in 2000. Still capable of making a return, it is nonetheless doubtful that Foley will do anything that would exceed the fans' expectations of him already. However, despite his relative lack of in-ring wrestling now and in the future, Foley
still has a chance to further solify his legacy here in the WWF through his various on-camera roles and actions. He'll be back on TV sooner or later and that's being in a better boat than someone like Savage.