10 Best Punchers in Wrestling
Who could have been a boxer in a previous life?
Technically, closed fists are banned in professional wrestling. However, nothing is truly banned in the wild sport, and that’s why we love it.
Before the age of flips, dives and superkicks, competitors stood toe-to-toe exchanging fists like the last two drunks at a saloon. While some had a boxing background before entering wrasslin’, others just had a knack for the sweet science.
These 10 men threw the most realistic (and perhaps they were all-too real) punches.
10. Road Dogg
The current head of Smackdown will freely admit he didn’t have much of an offense, not that he really needed one when he usually had a partner to tag. But what Road Doggy Dog did do, he did very well: three jabs followed by a huge right hand, known affectionately as Shake, Rattle and Roll.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40KCVsL9pPA
9. Michael “P.S.” Hayes
Known for his verbal skills more than his in-ring prowess, Michael Hayes had a purely sexy (and lethal) short, left hook. If you blinked, you were seeing stars. But you and everybody throughout that arena definitely heard it.
Michael Hayes throwing the best punch at Tyson Kidd. pic.twitter.com/ZZyTOnM4Go
— Jesse (@BROKENSANlTY) January 13, 2018
8. Scott Hall
Scott Hall’s punches (always capped off by a fun 360-twirl) are so good that Steve Austin asked how he developed them during a podcast interview. The Bad Guy recalled hitting the speed bag and heavy bag while working as bouncer. As he transitioned into pro wrestling, his instinct just carried over.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzo-RasSA14&t=39s
7. Big Bossman
If you ever take a trip down to Cobb County, Georgia, stay away from the Big Bossman’s uppercut. It wasn’t the European style common these days; it was something you’d see in a movie bar fight. But if you did manage to take the Bossman down to his knees, you’d still be in trouble because he often fought back with a flurry of fists like a super-charged Rock Em’ Sock Em’ Robot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHCrcK0BxM0
6. “Cowboy” Bob Orton
Before everybody tossed Triple H into the ropes, ducked their head and ate a knee, Bob Orton was countering with a well-timed right hand. As Roddy Piper’s bodyguard, Ace clearly needed a decent punch to protect his trash-talkin’ buddy. Well, Cowboy Bob sure came packing, yanking back and exploding with slobber knocker.
5. Terry Funk
Legend has it that Terry Funk’s punches looked so real because by Gawd, they were. Not always middle aged but forever crazy, The Funker may be ambidextrous because he’ll go fisticuffs from every angle. After teeing off with a succession of right jabs, he’ll cock waaaaay back and blast you with his left hand.
What an awesome-looking punch from Terry Funk on Jerry Lawler.
Look at the shape Funk was in in 1990! Funny that WCW thought they should “retire him” about 11 months earlier pic.twitter.com/LIssnFBGZa
— Rob Naylor (@NINaylor) April 27, 2018
4. Randy Savage
Much like his unpredictable promos, Randy Savage kept the rhythm of his punches in flux, changing speed in a moment’s notice. The Macho Man delivered lightning quick jabs with his left, and then when he was ready, grasped his opponents’ hair while winding back and clocking them with his right. It was a slow and powerful blow which left everyone crumbling to the mat.
These punches from Randy Savage are great, so is HTM’s selling. pic.twitter.com/7e0UKLmOgJ
— Allan (@allan_cheapshot) September 7, 2017
3. Bill Dundee
Modern fans probably have no idea who “Superstar” Bill Dundee is, but he could throw punches almost as well as his arch rival Jerry Lawler. Left hooks, right jabs, jaw-jacking uppercuts…their bouts were classic slugfests that kept Memphis fans coming back for decades.
Big punches from Bill Dundee & Jerry Lawler pic.twitter.com/7y0BVysTci
— LARIATOOOO!! (@MrLARIATO) September 30, 2016
2. Dick Murdoch
It should be no surprise that “Dirty” Dick Murdoch relied upon illegally closed fists, slowly cocking his right hand back and unloading on many a foe. Despite his beer belly, the Texas Outlaw was also light on his feet, springing back and forth for some quick jabs followed by a windup haymaker.
Ric Flair vs Dick Murdoch 1978
Look at Murdoch’s punches https://t.co/C3xpfvRO9a— Abeer (@The_Real_Abeer) November 26, 2017
1. Shane McMahon
JK JK.
1. Jerry Lawler
Perhaps due to his artistic ability, The King throws the greatest punch in the history of pro wrestling. Having a keen eye for drawing is the only rationale for why Jerry Lawler hasn’t left countless black eyes over the past 40 years. Whether it’s a rapid flurry of lefts and rights, a devastating right hook or a fist drop from the second rope, Lawler has perfected the art of pulling his punch while making the audience believe he just knocked somebody out.
#OnThisDay in 1986: This amazing sequence where @JerryLawler
threw the fastest series of never-ending punches of all time.Buddy Landel sold each punch with his head snapping back, individually, every split second. pic.twitter.com/5lJN6cyU0G
— Allan (@allan_cheapshot) March 24, 2018
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