The Correct Greatest Wrestler of All-Time Bracket, Round 2 (Part Deux)

ROUND 2, PART 1 HERE

Four strong competitors moved on last time out: Hogan, Taker, Y2J and Rocky. We'll take a look at the Sammartino Region next.

(1) Bruno Sammartino v. (9) Jake Roberts

 

I won't profess to be some big fan of either of these men but I can recognize that they've both done incredible things in the industry.  This is an interesting matchup because it basically pits titles against character work. Bruno's character was that he was strong and the champion. He drew crowds but that was in the earlier days of wrestling. Jake wasn't nearly as accomplished as far as titles and overall prestige go. He wasn't the name selling out MSG every time. But his type of villainy was so good, and kind of ahead of its time. The cold and calculated snake was a brilliant gimmick. This is a big upset but I think I'm going with Jake The Snake.

WINNER: JAKE ROBERTS

(4) Ricky Steamboat v. (5) Rey Mysterio

 

There's no denying that Ricky Steamboat was good, but Rey went above and beyond, especially for someone of his stature. These two are distinct in being two of the only wrestlers to go their entire careers as faces and it never felt like they needed to turn. Rey was just too much a part of my childhood though.

WINNER: REY MYSTERIO

(6) Roddy Piper v. (14) Batista

 

Similar in some ways to the Bruno and Roberts matchup, but with the heel character work in the better position. Roddy was essentially a perfect charismatic heel. The dude just got it. And shown in his later life were the acting chops that really put him over the edge and made him a legend. But, like Mysterio, Batista was just too important to my childhood, and this is my bracket. He has titles, played great good guy and bad guy roles, went on to have a successful acting career, he even fought some MMA. Not much Dave can't do. 

WINNER: BATISTA

(2) Dusty Rhodes v. (7) Scott Hall

 

Scott Hall is quite frankly an icon, even if for fairly controversial reasons that stem from the Kliq Incident to showing up to shows hammered drunk and on drugs. He's had more notable moments in his career than some wrestlers int his tournament combined. Bust Dusty was so important not just for his era but for every era that followed due to his teachings, especially for the current crop of stars. 

WINNER: DUSTY RHODES