Love him or hate him he always made you listen...
I was a fan of all the 'heels' growing up and Bockwinkle, Blanchard, Flair, Piper were the best talkers...IMO..i'm sure there are many I'm leaving out.
One of my first matches i saw live was Bockwinkle vs Bruiser Brody in San Antonio...and both put on a great show.....and great to the fans , autograph-wise...
@illwauk His interviews are fantastic. I always & mean always thought there was no better man on th emic thatn Flair, bu tFlair's OTT screaming now seems annoying campoared with the aura of confidence that NB shows off in all his promos. Piper is probably the most quick witted guy though.
@heavymetalsoldier yeah that's because pro-wrestling now has "writers" that over complicates wrestling with issues that belong in a teenage emo movie. back then it was just about being "manly" and being the best. now, everyone sounds like a generic copy from a bad pop heart break song.
I forgot how awesome Bockwinkel was on the mic. I can find a place for him in my Best of the Best on the mic. BTW, Bockwinkel is good but he's not that good. Flair is the Gold Standard followed by The Rock, Big Dust and the Superstar.
Best of the best EVER on the MIC 20-11: 20. Austin Idol - The Universal Heartthrob. 19. Big Cat Ernie Ladd - funny and intimidating. 18. Curt Hennig Mr. Perfect 17. Road Warrior Hawk 16. Ole Anderson 15. Bruiser Brody 14. Tully Blanchard - most underrated of the Four Horsemen. 13.(tie)Ravishing Rick Rude/Chris Jericho 12. Michael P.S. Hayes 11. Nick Bockwinkel - articulate and smooth.
BEST OF THE BEST EVER ON THE MIC: 10. Stone Cold Steve Austin 9. Mick Foley 8. Rowdy Roddy Piper 7. Arn Anderson 6. Jake "The Snake" Roberts 5. Shawn Michaels 3. (tie)Superstar Billy Graham - very influential even 30 years later; the white Muhammad Ali; Preacher in real life. 3.(tie)Dusty Rhodes - masterful on the mic. 2. The Rock - funny, creative and charismatic. 1. Ric Flair - simply the best ever; never did a bad promo. Top 5 should be required viewing for any wannabe wrestler.
I put out a separate list for managers and I rated Bobby Heenan #1 amongst managers. Articulate and very funny. When he was managing or doing color commentary, I would hang on his every word. If Heenan isn't the funniest man in wrestling, then you show me who is. I regret that I couldn't find a place on Best Ever on the Mic for Angle, Funk, DiBiase and Savage. Wrestling will continue to suffer until wrestlers start doing their own promos again.
@TheLuscious i agree. wrestlers are the ones who understand their own product, not some corporate bozo. back then, pro-wrestlers had to be outrageous and original to really stand out. everything now is formulaic, just like Hollywood.
Nick was offered the NWA title twice by Eddie Graham and Fritz Von Erich. He refused because of the constant travel. Nick also said in an interview that he didn't want to ruin another marriage because of constant travel.
Nick's arguably the best interview ever. EXTREMELY articulate but without ever losing edge or focus. A master in the ring and on the mic. He's one of a kind.
Great post and totally right on the money. As a young kid watching wrestling I didn't understand the sport so I was not a fan of Nick. Looking back now, he was one of the best.
Love him or hate him he always made you listen...
I was a fan of all the 'heels' growing up and Bockwinkle, Blanchard, Flair, Piper were the best talkers...IMO..i'm sure there are many I'm leaving out.
One of my first matches i saw live was Bockwinkle vs Bruiser Brody in San Antonio...and both put on a great show.....and great to the fans , autograph-wise...
marcntexas 2 months ago
@illwauk His interviews are fantastic. I always & mean always thought there was no better man on th emic thatn Flair, bu tFlair's OTT screaming now seems annoying campoared with the aura of confidence that NB shows off in all his promos. Piper is probably the most quick witted guy though.
TNO73 6 months ago
Nick was always a classy guy. Loved his promos!
gvader 1 year ago
He was awesome on interviews. Kept it straight, simple, and to the point. Too bad it cant be like that today
heavymetalsoldier 1 year ago 3
@heavymetalsoldier yeah that's because pro-wrestling now has "writers" that over complicates wrestling with issues that belong in a teenage emo movie. back then it was just about being "manly" and being the best. now, everyone sounds like a generic copy from a bad pop heart break song.
keithyw 1 year ago
Comment removed
garyflicks 2 years ago
Comment removed
garyflicks 2 years ago
It's a shame Hansen didn't do the job for Bockwinkel in Denver. It's a great clash-of-styles narrative.
WrestlingHeretic 2 years ago
I forgot how awesome Bockwinkel was on the mic. I can find a place for him in my Best of the Best on the mic. BTW, Bockwinkel is good but he's not that good. Flair is the Gold Standard followed by The Rock, Big Dust and the Superstar.
TheLuscious 2 years ago
I would rate Nick in the company of those guys you mentioned on the mic.
Koolazzmike 2 years ago
TheLuscious 2 years ago
Those are some good mic guys. Who's in your top ten?
Koolazzmike 2 years ago
TheLuscious 2 years ago
I also enjoyed Bobby The Brain Heenan and Terry Funk
styx4ever1963 2 years ago
I put out a separate list for managers and I rated Bobby Heenan #1 amongst managers. Articulate and very funny. When he was managing or doing color commentary, I would hang on his every word. If Heenan isn't the funniest man in wrestling, then you show me who is. I regret that I couldn't find a place on Best Ever on the Mic for Angle, Funk, DiBiase and Savage. Wrestling will continue to suffer until wrestlers start doing their own promos again.
TheLuscious 2 years ago
@TheLuscious i agree. wrestlers are the ones who understand their own product, not some corporate bozo. back then, pro-wrestlers had to be outrageous and original to really stand out. everything now is formulaic, just like Hollywood.
keithyw 1 year ago
A few years younger and he would have made a great "Million-Dollar Man", maybe as good or better than DiBiase.
Germany1111 3 years ago 3
@Germany1111 lmao!..........no
LVSWTZ 1 year ago
Bockwinkle will always be one of the best
lildwayne21 3 years ago
Great in the ring, great on the mic...a true legend and a real classy guy
jswags 3 years ago 3
Nick was offered the NWA title twice by Eddie Graham and Fritz Von Erich. He refused because of the constant travel. Nick also said in an interview that he didn't want to ruin another marriage because of constant travel.
VolumedMusicMan 3 years ago 4
Nick's arguably the best interview ever. EXTREMELY articulate but without ever losing edge or focus. A master in the ring and on the mic. He's one of a kind.
diamondman420 4 years ago 11
Great post and totally right on the money. As a young kid watching wrestling I didn't understand the sport so I was not a fan of Nick. Looking back now, he was one of the best.
samsdaddy0525 3 years ago 4