Professional Wrestling Mount Rushmore

Let me start off by addressing the elephant in the room, this is hardcore wrestling. I cannot emphasize this enough, viewer discretion is advised. Potential trigger warnings/content warnings ahead. Extreme violence, plenty of blood, tons of injuries and a world of pain ahead so please, read with caution. I cannot emphasize this enough. I also recommend probably having another tab opened with some wholesome videos of like, puppies playing together to make yourself feel better after reading this article. I'm not joking.

Mick Foley

It's Mick Foley... Seriously was this ever a question? His list of injuries is insanely long. The man literally lost his ear in a match once, completely on accident. When he was thrown through the hell in the cell by the Undertaker (once again completely on accident), one of his teeth literally went through his face. If I remember right he's broken every bone in his body at least once. I'm pretty sure he holds the record of most unprotected chair shots to the head. Which of course means he's had endless concussions. Now on to the positives and not just pain. Mick was the very first WWE Hardcore Champion. He has thankfully given the professional wrestling world some incredibly iconic feuds with the likes of Edge, Randy Orton, Triple H, and The Undertaker just to name a few. And despite all that pain Mick can always be seen smiling and is an amazing family man. I know I usually say these lists are in no particular order. But: it would be a complete slap to the face to not start this list off with Mick.

Necro Butcher

Another wrestler I'm genuinely surprised didn't die in the ring. Necro Butcher primarily spent his time in CZW. And if there's anything you need to know about CZW, they love barbed wire and light tubes. And for those of you unfamiliar the light tubes they use are genuine glass, not the sugar glass you see "Dude Perfect" using for their trick shot videos. Just image for a second hundreds of light tubes being smashed into tens if not hundreds of thousands of pieces all over the ring, imbedding themselves into someone's body. Yeah, graphic I know but that's the point. Then of course the barbed wire is pretty self explanatory. I could go more into detail but you get the point. If you have a weak stomach, NEVER go to a match involving Necro Butcher.

Atsushi Onita

It would be a crime for me not to include any Japan wrestling, also in the great words of Steve from the " Going in Raw Podcast"; "I saw a match where this guy was literally gutted by a sickle". I don't care if that's just impressive theatrics that visual alone is way too hardcore even for me. Onita himself is credited with bringing the hardcore style to Japan after witnessing hardcore wrestling in Memphis. After that it was all down hill from there, or uphill depending on your feelings of hardcore wrestling.

New Jack

Seriously even though I know he's retired, I still feel the need to tell New Jack, "Sorry, I'm only joking. Please don't hurt me." whenever I make a joke about New Jack. From the mass transit incident, Gypsy Joe, Vic Grimes, Hunter Red.. I just, it's New Jack. I'm genuinely afraid of him. I'd be immensely honored to have a time machine and perform with the other 3 men on this list in their prime but not New Jack. Never New Jack. I'm actually going to write a more in-depth article about New Jack specifically and why he scares me. If you want to see any of his matches, and of course the incidents where he definitely crossed the line. Go look up his matches on: ECW, Smokey mountain wresting and TNA/Impact Wrestling. Oh and lastly before I forget New Jack's forehead is covered with scars from his years wrestling and blading himself night in and night out.

Honorable mentions:

Jon Moxley, Thumbtack Jack, Darby Allin, Drake Younger, Nick Mondo, The Sandman, Sabu Tommy Dreamer, RVD, Terry Funk, Abdullah the Butcher, Gypsy Joe, Madman Pondo.

Thank you for your time, I hope you enjoyed what you have read today. I have plenty of different articles on many different topics. Feel free to give those other articles a read or two. Also if you'd be so kind, I'd greatly appreciate a heart and if you really feel so inclined tips are always appreciated but by no means required.