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Could Ali have taken Tyson? Would Joe Namath school Tom Brady or be embarrassed by him?
In any sport, there are endless debates about how the new crop of talent would fare against veteran athletes. This is true in pro wrestling as well, with fans theorizing how superstars of different eras would fare against each other.
Let's take a look at some fantasy dream match-ups between the stars of today and yesterday.
#1 Demolition vs. The Ascension
The hard-hitting Demolition square off against their imitators in our first matchup.
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Demolition: Ax and Smash, two veteran heavyweights with top-notch brawling skills and genuine toughness. Ax was a slightly better ring technician than Smash, but the difference is small.
Strengths: Power, toughness, and a willingness to cheat to win, as well as experience.
Weaknesses: A definite lack of finesse.
The Ascension: Connor and Viktor are sleeker, quicker wrestlers than Demolition. Viktor is comparable to a scalpel with his systematic approach, whereas Connor is likened to a hammer for his straight-ahead power game.
Strengths: Speed and a more cerebral approach to wrestling.
Weaknesses: They bring less power to the table than Demolition, and aren't the greatest at tag team offence.
Who would win: Demolition.
In the early going, Viktor is able to use his superior speed to keep Demolition at a distance, and frequent tags with partner Connor keep him fresh -- for a while.
Eventually, Demolition's 'ground and pound' and the devastating offence take their toll, and the Ascension falls victim to the Decapitator at the twenty-minute mark, with a decisive win for the veteran team.
#2 Gentleman Chris Adams vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
The creator of the superkick takes on the charismatic "Artist" in a hard-hitting contest. Be sure to check the ring for loose teeth afterwards!
Chris Adams: The British hero brings technical acumen and stiff striking to the ring.
Strengths: Technical wrestling ability and mat wrestling, as well as some powerful strikes.
Weaknesses: Undersized for the heavyweight division, but not really as fast as a cruiserweight. Tends to let his temper get the best of him.
Shinsuke Nakamura: The Avante Garde artist lost only ten matches last year, and is known for his martial arts prowess.
Strengths: Powerful strikes -- perhaps the most powerful in the sport -- and strong suplexes. Suprising speed for a heavyweight.
Weaknesses: Sometimes he cares more for appealing to his fans than winning the match. There are no weaknesses in his wrestling game.
Who would win: Nakamura in a brutal, bloody, and short match.
Chris Adams plies his technical wrestling on Shinsuke, resulting in a few early two counts. Not to be outdone, Nakamura reveals his more technical side and the two spend the first five minutes of the match mostly trading pin attempts.
However, as the match wears on the strikes get stiffer, the slams get harder, and both men begin to get fired up. Nakamura emerges as the better striker, but Chris Adams lets his ego get in the way of strategy and attempts to match Shinsuke blow for blow.
In an instant, Adams hits the superkick, while Nakamura hits the Kinshasa. Only one man has the wherewithal to crawl over and cover his opponent; Shinsuke Nakamura.
#3 George "the Animal" Steele vs. Kongo Kong
It's a battle of the beasts as the Animal takes on the king of the jungle.
George "the Animal" Steele: The former college professor and amateur wrestling standout is more known for eating the turnbuckle than his repertoire of moves, but he was surprisingly skilled.
Strengths: Brute strength, unpredictability, and his patented Elevated Hammerlock, one of the most painful submission holds in history.
Weaknesses: Sometimes can be distracted during the match, lack of real strategy.
Kongo Kong: GWF's resident wild man mostly grunts but has a deep moveset and outstanding agility for a big man.
Strengths: Brute power, agility, and high flying ability combined with surprisingly technical moves.
Who would win: Kongo Kong.
As soon as the bell rings, both men lock up and test their strength. Though evenly matched, Steele's amateur background allows him to knock over the larger Kong. Kong responds with brutal strikes, and the match degenerates into a slugfest.
Both athletes begin to sweat, and trade moves back and forth. After George's shoulder breaker and biting fail to bring victory, he attempts the elevated hammerlock but can't hold the 300-pounder up long enough for a submission.
Kong strikes back with the Cracker-Jack and then ascends to the top rope for a diving headbutt and the pin.
#4 Jake "the Snake" Roberts vs. Dean Ambrose
It's the battle between the dark siders as the cerebral soldier, Roberts takes on the unstable anarchist Dean Ambrose.
Jake Roberts: The Stone Mountain, Georgia native is known for his ring psychology and all-around athleticism.
Strengths: Cunning, ruthlessness, and the psychological advantage of having a deadly forty foot reptile a few feet away.
Weaknesses: Sometimes focuses more on injuring his opponent than winning the match; The top rope is a foreign country as far as he is concerned.
Dean Ambrose: The wily brawler and Shield member possesses speed and excellent ring presence, utilizing the environment to his advantage.
Strengths: Good, sound technical game and top-notch brawling. Can generate offence from almost anywhere in or outside of the ring.
Weaknesses: On the smaller side for a heavyweight, Dean sometimes struggles against larger opponents. He also loses his cool and makes bad decisions.
Who would win: Jake the Snake
As the match begins both men stare each other down with icy gazes. Jake puts on an early headlock which Dean counters with an Irish whip. Both men trade blows for a while, with Dean beginning to get the better of the exchange.
Roberts, ever the thinking man's wrestler, rolls out of the ring and gets Dean to chase him. Upon rolling back inside with Dean in hot pursuit, Roberts suddenly puts the boots to his opponent and wears him down. After a short-armed clothesline Roberts hits the DDT in the centre of the ring for the pinfall and victory.
#5 The Rock n Roll Express vs. The Young Bucks
It's the Rancho Cucamonga native sons vs. the comeback kings in a battle of lighting fast tag teams.
The Rock and Roll Express: Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson made a career of beating the odds, often defeating teams that were much bigger and stronger with teamwork and heart.
Strengths: Quickness, technique, and the best tag team wrestling psychology on the planet.
Weaknesses: Never the strongest team, the Express eschewed working out in the gym in favour of getting by on natural ability alone.
The Young Bucks: The superkick-happy real-life brother tandem is one of the most successful tag teams wrestling today.
Strengths: Speed, aerial ability, technical wrestling, and of course, the superkick.
Weaknesses: None. There are no holes in their game, but they sometimes struggle against heavier teams.
Who would win: The Young Bucks
The action is so fast in this one you might miss it if you blink! Frequent tags, dropkicks, arm drags, and body splashes make up the early goings of the match. Eventually, Ricky Morton gets beat down by the bucks and spends a long time trying to make the tag.
When Robert Gibson finally gets back into the match, he unloads offence on the Bucks, taking them both on at the same time. After a few moments, Ricky recovers and the Express deliver their famous double dropkick to Matt Jackson. The Bucks are tougher than they seem, however, and Matt kicks out of the pin attempt.
The Bucks make good on their superkick party, devastating Gibson and Morton at the same time. They manage to isolate Morton from his partner and hit the Indytaker for the win.
#6 Bob Backlund vs. Brock Lesnar
It's the Beast Incarnate vs. one of the longest reigning champions of all time in a match that's equal parts technique and brutality.
Bob Backlund: An all-American amateur wrestling standout, Backlund's list of foes includes the elite of pro wrestling.
Strengths: Technical wrestling ability, toughness, and a tendency to 'snap' and go berserk when angered.
Weaknesses: None, other than his temper.
Brock Lesnar: The amateur wrestling standout and former UFC champion is as dominant in pro wrestling as anything else he decides to pursue.
Strengths: Raw power, technical wrestling acumen, striking power, and just plain size.
Weaknesses: None.
Who would win: Draw
In a battle that starts in the ring but goes all over the arena, the two champions begin by trading amateur wrestling holds. Brock is stronger, but Backlund's experience and technique make it a standoff.
Then the two men start brawling. Brock is taken aback by just how savage Backlund can be when backed into a corner, and the referee quickly loses control. The match degenerates into a brawl with the two titans fighting all over the arena.
Eventually, the referee gets both men back into the ring and the weary wrestlers continue their struggle. Bob Backlund manages to hook in the Cross Face Chicken Wing, but Brock won't tap out, instead struggles to reach the ropes.
Brock gets his second wind and takes Backlund to suplex city, before applying the F5 to his battered opponent. The ref starts the count, but then the bell rings before he reaches two. The time limit has expired!
#7 John Cena vs. Hulk Hogan
It's Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect vs. the Training, the Prayers, and the Vitamins as the two biggest icons in wrestling duke it out.
John Cena: Everyone's childhood hero has been a staple of pro wrestling for almost twenty years, and is still going strong.
Strengths: Power, resiliency, and a never say die attitude.
Weaknesses: Not the most technical wrestler, nor the fastest.
Hulk Hogan: The immortal icon is a household name all over the planet.
Strengths: Size, power, and toughness. Seems to draw inspiration from the fans to overcome the odds.
Weaknesses: Also not a technically-minded wrestler, Hogan often tries to trade blows rather than pin his opponent.
Who would win: Hulk Hogan
The capacity crowd is electric as both men stare each other down. When they finally lock up, the roof almost comes off the building. Hogan quickly knocks Cena down with a shoulder block, but then Cena follows suit and floors Hogan with the same move.
Next, they try a test of strength. Both men seem on the verge of winning until Cena starts to get the advantage. He presses Hogan's shoulders to the mat and gets a few two counts before the men get back to their feet.
After trading moves for several minutes, Cena slowly gets the advantage. He beats Hogan down with punches and hits the five knuckle shuffle for a two count. Hogan crawls over to Cena's feet, trying to get up and fight, while Cena mocks his opponent.
Cena lifts Hogan up for the Attitude Adjustment and hits in in the middle of the ring. The ref counts one, two--but Hogan kicks out before three. Cena can't believe what he's seeing, and tries to beat Hogan down, but the Hulkster is feeding off the energy of the crowd, cheeks ballooning out as he no-sells every strike Cena throws at him.
Hogan rallies with a series of punches and then hits the big boot. Off the ropes, and it's the world famous leg drop across the throat for the one, two three. Both men shake hands and embrace in the ring after the contest, to the thunderous approval of the fans.
There you have it: Seven fantasy matchups and who would win. Be sure to comment and let us know about your favourite fantasy wrestling match.
Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE
