Five Best Who WWE Never Had As World Champion

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No.3: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat

Normally if I’m making a list of “best of” in professional wrestling, you’ll find Ricky Steamboat at or near the top of the list. Without a doubt one of the greatest wrestlers ever in any federation. I can’t remember a bad Steamboat match, because there is no such thing. Even a few years back at WrestleMania 23, he had his series of matches against Chris Jericho at the age of 56 and it was his first match in almost 15 years. He looked like he had been wrestling the whole time and looked like he had not lost a step.

He was in the WrestleMania IV tournament for the WWE World title, but lost a first round match against Greg The Hammer Valentine. That was the only real shot at the WWE World title for Steamboat, but he did have what most still consider the greatest WrestleMania match vs. Randy Savage at WrestleMania III.

His success came from his days in the NWA/WCW territory where he won the NWA World title one time, but challenged Ric Flair in numerous battles that are textbook wrestling matches that should be required viewing for all want to be wrestlers.

He also won several Tag Team, Television, and US titles during his NWA/WCW runs.

The Dragon was always a fan favorite, not once in his career did anyone ever turn him heel. It was talked about a few times, but every booker knew that it would never work because he was too good of a guy and too likeable with the fans.

The WWE never handled him very well and for what reason I do not know. In his WWE return in the early 1990’s, they brought him back with a full Dragon outfit and had him breathing fire before the matches. To me it seemed more as a cartoon type gimmick and was well below the caliber of the Ricky Steamboat I knew.

Next: No.2: Perfect