We’ve counted down the first 50 from 100 to 51, now its time to get to my list of the 50 Best Wrestlers of 1975. This list is my list/ I’ve taken into consideration other lists avaailable of ranked wrestlers for the year, along with my own research notes from our podcast shows throughout the year as well as extra study into territories and wrestlers i didn’t know very much about in order to be fair as possible/
I took into consideration:
The Territory or territories the wrestler worked in and the significance and importance of that territory
The programs and matches they had during the year
The position on cards they held throughout the year
How much time they spent as singles wrestlers vs being in tag teams during the year
What championships they held and the importance of that title in drawing money on the cards and in the buildings
How significant was the wrestling to that terriory, how dependant was the territory on them to draw money
How significant was 1975 to their overall career? Was thier career trajectory swing up, peaked or on the down swing?
And a few other things, but that was the main criteria I took into consideration
I freely admit my own biases and preferences did come into play in this process, however I did try to maintain awareness of those biases and suspend them and honestly, i felt like I made some tough calls as far as assignments on the list.
Here it is, my Top 50 Best Professional Wrestlers for the year of 1975!
This week’s episode of Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Episode 39 should be in your inbox this morning if you are a subscriber here at the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel! You can also see the video version at our YouTube Channel and download the audio version of our show on your favorite podcast provider platform.
Here’s the archive of our podcast episodes so far:
Personalities, Territories, Towns & Buildings:
Episode 1: 5/10/2025: Steven Johnson, Jim Londos: The Golden Greek of Professional Wrestling
Episode 2: 5/14/2025 Herb Simmons: St. Louis, Missouri Wrestling HOF
Episode 3: 5/17/2025: Scott Teal: Raisin Cain: From The Inferno to The Great Mephisto
Episode 4: 5/21/2025: Bobby Simmons: Georgia Territory Spring 1975
Episode 5: 5/24/2025: Brian Ferguson, Verne Gagne: Inside and Outside the Ropes
Episode 6: 5/28/2025: Jerry Oates: Kansas City Territory Spring 1975
Episode 7: 5/31/25: Evan Ginzburg: Blackboards, Wrestling Rings & Movie Sets
Episode 8: 6/4/2025: Tim Dills: Tennessee Territory April & May 1975
Episode 9: 6/11/2025: Greg Klein: Texas May 1975
Episode 11: 6/25/2025: Steve Gennerelli: WWWF Spring & Summer 1975
Episode 12: 7/2/2025: Dan Murphy on Ed Don George & Fumi Saito on Japan History & 1975 pt 1
Episode 13: 7/9/2025: George Schire, The History of the AWA & 1975
Episode 15: 7/23/2025: Greg Klein: East Texas Wrestling June & July 1975
Episode 16: 7/30/2025: Steve Gennerelli & Jake Hamar: The Hulk Hogan Tribute Show
Episode 18: 8/13/2025: Toronto, Ontario with Wes Maidment and Stampede In Calgary 1975 w/Larry Lane
Episode 19: 8/20/2025: Jerry Oates and Mike George, Kansas City 1975 pt 2
Episode 20: 8/27/2025: Bobby Simmons: Geogia Territory Summer 1975
Episode 21: 9/3/2025: Terry Sullivan: Detroit Territory 1975
Episode 22: 9/10/2025: Steve Gennerelli: WWWF Summer of 1975
Episode 23: 9/17/2025: Herb Simmons St. Louis 1975
Episode 24: 9/24/2025: Brian R Solomon: Irresistible Force: The Life & Times of Gorilla Monsoon
Episode 25: Howard Baum: Florida 1975
Episode 26: 10/8/2025: John Hitchcock Mid-Atlantic Wrestling 1975
Episode 27: 2025 Observer Hall of Fame Show
Episode 28: Lib Ayoub, Its All About The Belt Book and Q&A Session 1
Episode 29: 10/29/2025: Dave Dynasty: WWA 1975
Episode 30: Vancouver, B.C. 1975 with Steve Verrier
Episode 31: Michael Norris: Gulf Coast Territory 1975 Pt 2
Episode 32: Steve Gennerelli World Wide Wrestling Federation Oct-Dec 1975
Episode 35: Greg Klein and Dan Black Texas Oct-Dec 1975
Special Christmas Week Bonus Episode: Steve Gennerelli The Mongolian Stomper in the WWWF in 1975
Thank You for Watching and Listening
I’m Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter and each episode of our podcast show. Thanks for your support! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
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