« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws  (Read 2787 times)

mass 04

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 11039
Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« on: April 12, 2009, 05:58:01 PM »
1. BRUNO SAMMARTINO

2. HULK HOGAN

3. BOB BACKLUND

4. ARGENTINA ROCCA

5. HHH

6. UNDERTAKER

7. STEVE AUSTIN (Undertaker and HHH have passed him in recent years since he finished his career in 2003. Had he not retired at the age of 38 due to injuries, as well as missed what probably would have been his biggest drawing year in 1999 with neck surgery, he would have been No. 2 on this list by now. Nobody ever in company history was a bigger drawing card or merchandise seller then he was at his peak.)

8. THE ROCK

9. PEDRO MORALES

10. SHAWN MICHAELS

11. SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM


12. MIGUEL PEREZ

13. BRET HART

14. BUDDY ROGERS

15. RANDY SAVAGE

16. JOHN CENA

17. KURT ANGLE

18. MICK FOLEY aka CACTUS JACK, DUDE LOVE, MANKIND

19. ANDRE THE GIANT

20. DR. JERRY GRAHAM

(TIE) JOHNNY VALENTINE

22. RODDY PIPER

23. IVAN KOLOFF

24. ULTIMATE WARRIOR

(TIE) RANDY ORTON

(TIE) BATISTA

27. GREG VALENTINE

(TIE) YOKOZUNA

(TIE) SGT. SLAUGHTER

30. GEORGE STEELE

(TIE) CHRIS JERICHO

(TIE) KANE

(TIE) KEVIN NASH aka DIESEL

34. RIC FLAIR

(TIE) BIG SHOW aka PAUL WRIGHT

(TIE) STAN HANSEN

(TIE) GORILLA MONSOON

(TIE) KEN PATERA

39. FRED BLASSIE

(TIE) BOB ORTON SR. aka ROCKY FITZPATRICK

(TIE) BROCK LESNAR

42. EDDIE GRAHAM

(TIE) KILLER KOWALSKI

(TIE) PROFESSOR TORU TANAKA

(TIE) DON MURACO

(TIE) DAVEY BOY SMITH aka BRITISH BULLDOG

(TIE) EDGE

(TIE) CHRIS BENOIT

49. LARRY ZBYSZKO

(TIE) PAUL ORNDORFF

(TIE) IRON SHEIK aka GREAT HOSSEIN ARAB aka COL. MUSTAFA

(TIE) NIKOLAI VOLKOFF aka BEPO MONGOL

(TIE) WALDO VON ERICH

(TIE) BOOKER T aka KING BOOKER
Logged

Montague

  • Moderator
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 14614
  • The black degelation does not know this nig - V.G.
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2009, 06:07:23 PM »
That's very interesting.
Did Dave mention the source(s) from where he compiled his data?

There are more than a few surprises - for me, at least - on there.
Logged

mass 04

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 11039
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2009, 06:11:31 PM »
Quote from: Montague on April 12, 2009, 06:07:23 PM
That's very interesting.
Did Dave mention the source(s) from where he compiled his data?

There are more than a few surprises - for me, at least - on there.
IIRC, it's the combined gate and ratings when they were main eventers.
Logged

Karl Kox

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 6863
  • There's no Kayfabe in the business anymore.
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2009, 10:38:57 PM »
It's hard for me to believe that Bruno drew more then Hogan
Logged

Playboy

  • Moderator
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 11315
  • If the bar ain't bending, you're just pretending
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2009, 04:56:20 AM »
Quote from: Karl Kox on April 12, 2009, 10:38:57 PM
It's hard for me to believe that Bruno drew more then Hogan
I agree.
Logged

Superboy Prime

  • Getbig II
  • **
  • Posts: 159
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2009, 05:00:43 AM »
He didn't.
Logged

Montague

  • Moderator
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 14614
  • The black degelation does not know this nig - V.G.
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #6 on: April 13, 2009, 10:11:34 AM »
Bruno was a main event guy for a very long time, but that was before the days of 60,000+ attendance figures. Although hesitant, I would not completely rule B.S. on the stats.

Backlund surprised me with his placing, and Rocca was the biggest shock.
But again, since I was born after the days of Studio Wrestling, my lack of knowledge may belie my better judgement.

Some of these guys I don’t even recall headlining WWF cards – at least not often enough to make the list – Ken Patera, Booker T…?
Logged

gordiano

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 17124
  • TEAM "CUTE PENIS", TEAM TRIFLIN' RONNIE COLEMAN
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2009, 06:33:55 PM »
Hmm....Randy fucking Orton, draws money? Ha!  ::) I don't know how they figure that....he's the Ratings Killer.
Logged
HAHA, RON.....

ShreddedKing

  • Time Out
  • Getbig II
  • *
  • Posts: 67
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #8 on: May 03, 2009, 06:00:34 PM »
Steve Austin should be higher on the list. Even though it was for a short period of time, he pretty much resurrected the wwe and filled every seat with an ass while he was on top.
Logged

Playboy

  • Moderator
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 11315
  • If the bar ain't bending, you're just pretending
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2009, 04:02:44 AM »
Randy Savage as WWE champion back in 1988-1989 drew all kinds of fans with his feud witht he Million Dollar Man Ted Di Biase back in the day. It was a fresh change to Hogan.
Logged

Montague

  • Moderator
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 14614
  • The black degelation does not know this nig - V.G.
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2009, 04:43:13 AM »
I think Savage was a very good champion.
Fans loved him & Liz, and there was lots of “Macho Man” merchandise for sale in the magazines and that you saw people wearing in arenas.

I wonder why they didn’t give him a longer run the first time he won it. With no shortage of talent at that time, I find it hard to believe they ran out of heels for him and/or Hogan to work with.
Logged

Montague

  • Moderator
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 14614
  • The black degelation does not know this nig - V.G.
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #11 on: May 04, 2009, 04:47:12 AM »
Or maybe the old man wanted to build up Savage as a formidable opponent to “feed” Hogan 12 months later.
Back then it was common practice to build a feud for that long (since there was only 1-2 PPV’s per year).

If true, the brilliant thing about this is that Hogan’s future opponent, during most of the buildup, sold the same merchandise and tickets that a face normally would.

Logged

Playboy

  • Moderator
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 11315
  • If the bar ain't bending, you're just pretending
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #12 on: May 04, 2009, 08:14:32 AM »
Quote from: Montague on May 04, 2009, 04:47:12 AM
Or maybe the old man wanted to build up Savage as a formidable opponent to “feed” Hogan 12 months later.
Back then it was common practice to build a feud for that long (since there was only 1-2 PPV’s per year).

If true, the brilliant thing about this is that Hogan’s future opponent, during most of the buildup, sold the same merchandise and tickets that a face normally would.


That's exactly what happened. Savage won the title at WM4 and held it for a good year. Hogan went off to make the No Holds Barred movie and returned in time for a Savage heel turn at WM5. They had a phenomenal match at WM5 too. 
Logged

Playboy

  • Moderator
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 11315
  • If the bar ain't bending, you're just pretending
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2009, 04:29:47 AM »
Quote from: cheftim on May 06, 2009, 08:54:19 PM
It was a fresh change but it got played out fast. Fans of that generation loved Hogan and wanted Hulkamania. The plan worked perfectly. Hogan got a break, we got a break from Hogan. It was all a test. The fans finally saw that someone else could be heavyweight Champion. It was a huge step in Federation history when Macho won that tournament. Seriously? Was there one person that didn't believe Hogan was gonna win that tournament? Savage can never be compared. But Liz sure helped sell his whole promotion for sure. Would he have been as cool without her?

Absolutely. He was always a big draw even when he went to WCW and he had other valets. But that pic you just posted sure brings back memories. That was WM4 when he one the title for the first time. Liz look gorgeous too.
Logged

Montague

  • Moderator
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 14614
  • The black degelation does not know this nig - V.G.
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2009, 05:51:12 AM »
Quote from: cheftim on May 06, 2009, 08:54:19 PM
The plan worked perfectly. Hogan got a break, we got a break from Hogan. It was all a test. The fans finally saw that someone else could be heavyweight Champion.

They tried a similar thing with Hellwig.
I remember at one point there was just as much UW merchandise for sale in the catalogs as Hulkamania.

UW didn’t cut it. I think it was a combination of the fact that he just didn’t have (enough of) it, and his stupid ego adversely affected his standing with Titan.
Logged

Playboy

  • Moderator
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 11315
  • If the bar ain't bending, you're just pretending
Re: Meltzers list of WWF/E'S biggest draws
« Reply #15 on: May 07, 2009, 11:12:17 AM »
Quote from: Montague on May 07, 2009, 05:51:12 AM
They tried a similar thing with Hellwig.
I remember at one point there was just as much UW merchandise for sale in the catalogs as Hulkamania.

UW didn’t cut it. I think it was a combination of the fact that he just didn’t have (enough of) it, and his stupid ego adversely affected his standing with Titan.

Warrior's ego has become a complete joke. The fact that he changed his name to "Warrior" is proof positive in him believing in his own charactor and taking fiction to reality.
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »