True Legends of Wrestling: Modern Era

The is part two of the True Legends of Wrestling post. It starts in the early evolution of wrestling in the 1950s to present day 2007.
Gorgeous George almost single-handedly started the new era. Emerging out of this era was gimmicks, detested heels, exsposure, and industrialization. He was indeed a "glamour boy" who flaunted blonde hair and every ingredient it took to become hated. From strutting to flipping bobby pins straight from his platinum locks, he had it all. He appeared on talk shows, the news, and easily become a household name. He put built the foundation that heels like Ric Flair and Roddy Piper stand on today. During his carrer, he lost his hair twice, once in his last match against the Destroyer. In 1962, he was forced to retire because of severe aging from extensive alchohol abuse. After losing nearly everything to his addiction, he passed away due to a heart attack in 1963.
In the NWA in the early 60s, the company sported champions such as Gene Kiniski and Dory Funk Jr. Also Buddy Rogers was champion, but in 1963 he would make a decision that would greatly influence his career. He, Toots Mondt, and Vince McMahon Sr. would found the W.W.W.F. which is the largest wrestling conglomorate. The early carriers of the W.W.W.F. World Title were Rogers and Bruno Sammertino. Sammartino would go on to be the biggest name in the pro wrestling for 15 years. He was the pioneer for what the WWE is today. He was always the fan favorite and always the go to guy for McMahon.
In the 70s, some of the best champions would be produced. One is Harley Race whose aggressive arsenal would be sampled by wrestlers over the years and even today. In the W.W.W.F., "Superstar" Billy Graham would emerge as champion and would become one of the greatest heels ever until his demise after the abuse of steroids. Then the W.W.W.F. was renamed the World Wrestling Federation and Bob Backlund would hold their title three times for six years.
Then in the 1980s, possibly the greatest wrestlers came into the picture, Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair. They had some of the most appealing fueds in history. They brought to the table quality matches, unbeatable promos, and an ultimate power struggle. Between the detestment of the Four Horsemen and the country's love for Rhodes, they was a recipe for success. Ric Flair become the modern day version of Gorgeous George and his namesake "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. Ric became so hated, he eventually became loved by virtually everybody out of pure respect. He is considered to be one of the greatest performers in the history of the business.
Throughout the rest of the 80s "the fan favorite always wins" card was played when Hulk Hogan and Sting became champions. The largest feud of the 1980s in the WWF was the spectacular feud between friends turned foes Andre theGiant and Hulk Hogan. Then the credibility of champions became more and more obscure when champions such as Ultimate Warrior being crowned. Then a new version of the N.W.A. emerged, W.C.W. They would challenge the WWF's champs (Shawn Michaels, Yokozuna, The Rock, Steve Austin, and Undertaker) with their own such as Sting, Scott Steiner, Booker T, Scott Hall, Goldberg, and others through the 90s.
Those champions were followed up by champs of the 2000s such as Triple H, Kurt Angle, and Chris Jerhico. Some champions not embelished above are Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkel, Pedro Morales, Enrique Torres, Ivan Koloff, Terry Funk, Ricky Steamboat, and many, many more.
A real list of true legends would stretch on virtually forever. The previous was just a sample of who should be consider. Remember the sport will continue to produce legends forever, and these wrestles will forever define the very aura of the sport that is professional wrestling. -A.Y.