The best of the WWE house style wrestling

Yesterday, we discussed the WWE house style. This format for putting together matches has lead to many great matches and certain wrestlers being able to truly define their greatness via putting their imprint on this style. This week, we’ll take a look at the best wrestlers to work this style, both ever and currently.

The best WWE style wrestler ever is, to me, clearly between two men. The style originated (or really became defined, at least) as the Attitude era came to an end. Since then the two men who, at that style, stand head and shoulders above the majority of the competition are Chris Benoit and Steve Austin. Benoit had a ridiculous ability to make any style his own. Whatever the style, whether New Japan Juniors, the ECW technical style, or WWE main event, every match was first and foremost a Benoit match. That mixed with his mastery of the little things, like how to make a hold look especially excruciating, or get a crowd response as a face or a heel, truly make him stand out. Austin was the king of getting a crowd response. No one, not Benoit, not Hulk Hogan, not Jumbo Tsuruta (the best wrestler ever), had better timing than Austin once he found his character. Since the WWE style is so … I don’t want to say stagnant, but you know, lacking variety… timing is probably the most important component, and making sure everything happened just when it would get the best response was Austin’s particular gift, even when he was in his pure punchy kicky phase.

Which of the two is better? Personally, I’ll take Benoit since he did it purely in the ring. Austin had the best promos in the business (at the time) backing his matches, helping to force people to care. Benoit had none of that; he just had his amazing skill.

Currently, the best at the format is likely Chris Jericho. Triple H slows it down too much and is really predictable in both his choices and timing. Shawn Michaels constantly seems to mess up the selling (and I love HBK) and really, due to his influence and when he broke in being prior to this style’s dominance, works his own way. Certain wrestlers, like CM Punk just haven’t shown it yet. John Cena has shown it and was really getting the timing down before his first injury, but hasn't been as good upon his return, and to be the best you need more than one incredible run. Orton has the Triple H problem, which doesn’t mean he isn’t great, he just isn’t the best. That leaves three men… Jericho, Edge and, surprisingly, Jeff Hardy.

Jeff is seemingly the oddball so we’ll take him first. Jeff works the straight WWE style, but he bumps like it’s going out of style. That makes his babyface heat phenomenal, especially since the whole style of faces making a mistake to be dominated plays into his “daredevil” persona so well. Still, until he’s actually consistent at it, he isn’t the best, and many performances, such as his match with Randy Orton, should have been more.

Edge is essentially a heel Jeff. While huge bumps and daredevil maneuvers are how to get face sympathy, there’s also being totally opportunistic and smarmy for the heel, while bumping a ton to get the face looking like gold. Edge has that down to a T. Every time he wins it seems like he’s a prick who got a fluke win. Of course, he can’t figure out how to work out Batista, so he’s not first either.

Chris Jericho, at least as a heel, has the mannerisms, timing, smarminess, and everything else needed to be ranked among the all time greats, not only in this style, but all around. Like Benoit, his matches are more Jericho formula than WWE formula when he does it, perfectly straddling the line between the standard style and his on quirks (particularly his ever inventive reversal spots, especially, as a heel having his standard, might get a pop moves countered). Everything he does fits his character of proving his wrestling chops as a legend and “giving the fans the finger,” which means he can win clean, cheat, or mix it up and still be a bastard. When he wins clean, he’s shoving in the fans faces how good he is. When he cheats, he’s not caring about their rules and hypocrisy. Small mannerisms and perfect facial expressions get this across. His early give and takes are particularly strong, as he consistently busts out offense just slightly less flashy than the faces, looking awesome, but keeping the face looking a touch better. Jericho is truly the master of the WWE house style currently, making it his own.