I still think Angle vs Lance Storm should have been a thing. USA vs Canada, WCW vs WWF, and two of the best technical workers ever. Flag on a pole match, best of three falls match, submission match, they’d have turn it down every time.
He did the Uncle Slam on Vader, which was an awesome moment to me back then. That was the night Vader turned face during the USA vs. Hart Foundation angle.
Ah you forgot how that ended , apparently Vince was right and Hogan could lie through his teeth. His contract was nul and void when he unmasked when he thought the camera's were nit rolling. That lie detector was surpringly accurate with Vince though 0_o
@@Supervillain725 , no it isn't the same thing. Stephanie was hung on the Undertaker's symbol. Sandman was crucified in a literal mockery of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, crown of thorns and all.
@@brocky70 Mr. Backlund: Don't call be Bobby! It's Mr. Backlund to you, ladies and gentleman! And don't correct me either! I don't care! This interview is over!
That's Native American, not American American. America is truly defined as the land of opportunity i.e. European immigrants that came over to make a better life for themselves, and create a KICK ASS COUNTRY, BADAAY!
Kurt Angle is definitely one of the biggest American wrestlers ever. He won an Olympic gold medal with a broken freaking neck and then put on amazing matches decked out in American colors.
They even brought their own flags and waved them all the time. No clue why the fans in the US didn’t get behind them. I mean, all they ever listened to was Barry Manilow. Hard to get more American than that.
Angle also is possible the most underrated comedic wrestlers ever. His time working with Austin and Stephanie McMahon as well as Edge and Christian are probably one of the greatest loveable idoit gimmicks ever.
@@DaveHorgan.There was this one fella who called himself Charlie Brown who was billed from out of town. He had a couple of runs back in the day. Worked under a mask, and bore ABSOLUTELY NO RESEMBLANCE to any other performers with distinctive facial hair.
The It's Always Sunny episode The Gang Wrestles for the Troops was in my head and you featured part of the same Hulk Hogan clip at the start and then had a Piper audio clip, for those unfamiliar Piper is featured in the episode. Man this episode hit the spot.
@@wstine79 Jericho shouldn’t be on the list because he’s an fake Canadian like the Current Winnipeg Jets and The Calgary Flames all three are more American than Canadian
Ok. He got me. I figured it was either Hogan or Angle at number one. Then he announced slaughter, which makes sense. Then he mentions the stolen valor thing and reveals Angle as the real number one. Well played Brian Zane. Well played.
I think Mark Henry deserves to be on this countdown. Mark won 3 medals at the 95 pan American games. Mark won the 91 U.S juniors, 92-94 and 96 U.S senior titles. I know he wasn't a wrestler in his competitions. Mark became a wrestler in the WWF, lasting from 1996-2021.
Is this the first time that someone who was originally No. 1 in a Top 8 has ever been DQed from it altogether? If so, then I enjoyed that particular twist.
@@IHeartVideoGames08 truly i was wondering why would slaughter be ahead of hogan of all people when he is literally mr america? the fake out had to have an explanation.
@@tobznoobs Like, I knew Kurt Angle had to be on the list just because he was on the thumbnail. People love Kurt, and there is great reason for that. So, when Sgt SLaughter was being shown I was like "Okay, when is the rug pull?" and I asked that again. And again. And again. Props to Bryan Zane for holding that fake out as long as he did, cause given how little time was left in the video I legit thought he was done.
I had a dream the other night that Brian Zane was in a high budget movie. I was like “oh damn, look at Brian, doing big things, good for him!” 😂 Just thought I’d share that lol Love the work you do Brian 💯
That one promo Dr. D David Schultz cut on Sgt. Slaughter pointing out his steeltoe boots comes to mind from this video. Absolutely hilarious promo that even broke Mean Gene.
NGL, you got me with the Slaughter at 1 bit. I was thinking “there’s no bloody way he’s leaving Angle off this list” before you pulled the disqualification.
It may be controversial, but Lacy Evans represented American tradition (Norman Rockwell type stuff) and then followed it up with the same military gimmick of slaughter, except she really DID serve in the military. So she has my vote.
19:43 Vince Russo, THIS is how you do a swerve correctly, bro! :) However, Sgt. Slaughter does deserved to get a mention since the character did loved his country, despite being an Iraqi sympathizer in 1990. .
I only found out about Sgt. Slaughter not being in the military after he said Lacey Evan's gimmick was disrespectful to the USMC despite the fact she actually did serve in the marines and he did not.
I don't think it was that slaughter found the gimmick disrespectful. I think the issue was that her being a real life marine was infringing or too similar to his fake persona and marine gimmick. Absolutely wild that he'd get worked up over that nonsense. But being that he's guilty of stolen valor, I don't find anything he does, surprising anymore.
What I love about this is you can see the difference between WWF/E and WCW. Honourable mentions: Ron Simmons and Team America in LPWA (Misty Blue and Heidi Lee Morgan)
Del Wilkes was one of my absolute best friends! He would call me every Sunday,just to ask how my family is doing and tell me Jesus loves me! I cried out like a child,when his wife Cathy told me about his passing! The mask he wore in wcw,now hangs in a shadow box on my wall! I'll miss him everyday!
I actually liked Lex Luger and his gimmick. But for some reason, it just didn't work. Despite the shun of the Rougeau Brothers, it's pleasant to see American Males get their honorable flowers. Both themes are now stuck in my head. Thank you, Brian
2001 was a pretty good year. Despite having a rough end due to the September 11th attacks, it was still a pretty entertaining year and Kurt angle's rise as the top Babyface during The Invasion storyline was really the most interesting thing in the WWF next to Rob Van Dam's rise as a baby face despite being with a heel faction at the time. I have never took Kurt Angle seriously as a kid until his feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin and his matches with Austin at both SummerSlam and Unforgiven. Now, it's obvious that they put the title on him due to September 11th attacks and them trying to be more patriotic and, in all honesty, it actually helped a lot. Kurt Angle winning the WWF Championship was one of the most feel-good moments of that year.
I understand disqualifying Slaughter in lieu of the truth about his past but if this is based on GIMMICKS, I think he still deserves an actual spot on the list.
Late to watching this but...I was about to say: no Kurt Angle?! Man! I was almost ready to comment before watching the rest of the video. Great twist at the end.
I know they weren’t known too much in America, but Eddie Guerrero and Art Barr as Los Gringos Locos I believe deserves recognition. They were so hated in Mexico. And the match they had with Hijo del Santo and Octagon was amazing.
Arrghh! The commercial interrupted K.O.'s "America, America"! Hmmf! I met a guy who said he was a former marine who claimed Slaughter was his drill sergeant. Guess not.
Kurt Angle did represent the USA in the Olympics and he won a gold medal with a broken freaking neck so I say he deserves to be here!
Did he win it with a broken freaking neck? He's never mentioned it before
Watch all the way through. Don't worry I didn't either lol
I was about to give up on sgt. The beginning until I saw this comment
@claytonrios1 oh, it's true-it's damn true! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
I still think Angle vs Lance Storm should have been a thing. USA vs Canada, WCW vs WWF, and two of the best technical workers ever. Flag on a pole match, best of three falls match, submission match, they’d have turn it down every time.
The Patriot had the single greatest name for a finisher ever.
The Uncle Slam.
Perfection.
I'd swear he used a missile dropkick too and called it the Patriot Missle
@@unimpresseddragonslayer9712 Thought it was a flying shoulder tackle, but I don't really know
@@BoogalooBartholomew yup, no, you're right, it was a flying shoulder block. My mistake
He did the Uncle Slam on Vader, which was an awesome moment to me back then. That was the night Vader turned face during the USA vs. Hart Foundation angle.
What an amazing name lmao
Wait Hogan was Mr. America? They did a whole lie detector test and it wasn't him
Ah you forgot how that ended , apparently Vince was right and Hogan could lie through his teeth. His contract was nul and void when he unmasked when he thought the camera's were nit rolling. That lie detector was surpringly accurate with Vince though 0_o
Wouldn’t be the first test that Hogan had faulty results for with WWE.
@@vista1456786 Nah it wasn't Hogan at all. They revealed later it was Rey Mysterio under the mask
@@vista1456786 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@flmbyz 🤣🤣🤣🤣
That honorable mention for KO based on a brief 2017 gimmick run was priceless
my favorite was american males, because my friend and i also danced to the song as kids..................no shame
Kurt Angle: “I can’t be seen on this ECW show with a guy being crucified”
*a few years later*
“I’m addicted to GUTTERSLUTS! YEAHHHH”
Just a couple of months later, the WWE put Stephanie on the Undertaker symbol. It was the same thing, just cleaned up for TV
@@Supervillain725 , no it isn't the same thing. Stephanie was hung on the Undertaker's symbol. Sandman was crucified in a literal mockery of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, crown of thorns and all.
Bob backlund snubbed
He’s literally the all American boy 😭
I was looking for Backlund in the honorable mentions
@@brocky70 Mr. Backlund: Don't call be Bobby! It's Mr. Backlund to you, ladies and gentleman! And don't correct me either! I don't care! This interview is over!
When you think about isn’t the most American wrestling gimmick technically Tatanka
2nd this motion
That's Native American, not American American.
America is truly defined as the land of opportunity i.e. European immigrants that came over to make a better life for themselves, and create a KICK ASS COUNTRY, BADAAY!
Or Chief Jay Strongbow and Wahoo McDaniel (although Strongbow is not actually Native American)
Kurt Angle is definitely one of the biggest American wrestlers ever. He won an Olympic gold medal with a broken freaking neck and then put on amazing matches decked out in American colors.
Didn't watch the whole video huh?
@@daniellittlefield995reread the comment. It was never implied that he was protesting the "omission"
The worst part was when sergeant slaughters family called Lacy Evans (Macy Estrella)s marine gimmick "disrespectful" SHE WAS AN ACTUAL FN MARINE 🤷🏿♂️
Hmmm.....Using Kurt's TNA theme to start his section.
Is this foreshadowing a "Kurt Angle in TNA" vid in the future?
PPA: Peak Perc Angle
You forgot to mention Tony Atlas’s laughing with Abraham Washington.
The lack of Rougeau Brothers will not stand, they were All American Boys, it even said so in their theme song!
This right here! You don't have to be born in America to love the country! From Montreal to Memphis, after all
So good 😂
They even brought their own flags and waved them all the time. No clue why the fans in the US didn’t get behind them.
I mean, all they ever listened to was Barry Manilow.
Hard to get more American than that.
i agree!!!!!
As they say in America: “Totalmente injuste!” the Rougeau’s deserve much better! Nous exigeons des réponses!!
Angle also is possible the most underrated comedic wrestlers ever. His time working with Austin and Stephanie McMahon as well as Edge and Christian are probably one of the greatest loveable idoit gimmicks ever.
Where the hell did you hear “Jazz Cabbage” 😂😂
Brian Zane? More like Brian Zaza
That Name Should Be On a T-Shirt.
I've heard it a few places.
The Devil's Lettuce
Imma call it that from now on hahaha
Obviously, it's Brian. He's a great wrestling manager, has a wife, two kids, and a great career. Man, he's sure living the American Dream!
Not only is he living the dream, he's living period which is more than I can say for most wrestling personalities
😘🫏
Butt kisser
@@TraxelAxel ooo, wait til Dave Meltzer finds out some dirt and publishes it in the Wrestling Observer.
More like 🇮🇱
Will your next countdown include wrestlers from “Parts Unknown”, “The Outer Reaches of Your Mind”, or “Wherever He Damn Well Pleases”?
What about from out of town?
What about Pangea
"Anywhere but [insert name of town that wrestling show is currently in]"
@frankf684 has anyone ever used that one?
@@DaveHorgan.There was this one fella who called himself Charlie Brown who was billed from out of town. He had a couple of runs back in the day. Worked under a mask, and bore ABSOLUTELY NO RESEMBLANCE to any other performers with distinctive facial hair.
Madusa gets an honorable mention from me. After all, her name is short for Made in the USA when you look at it.
She have even have a career in monster trucks
She even wored american attire.
...Oh. I just got that.
@@Kerorofan1990 Me too....clever
Tom Brandy used to dress up as Doink too. He'd work 3 matches a night as himself, Doink, and, The Patriot in some smaller northeast promotions.
For a sec I thought you said Tom Brady.
Had me worried for a second wondering where Kurt was 😂
The It's Always Sunny episode The Gang Wrestles for the Troops was in my head and you featured part of the same Hulk Hogan clip at the start and then had a Piper audio clip, for those unfamiliar Piper is featured in the episode. Man this episode hit the spot.
Next year, you should have a favorite Canadian Wrestlers on Canada Day.
@@wstine79 Jericho shouldn’t be on the list because he’s an fake Canadian like the Current Winnipeg Jets and The Calgary Flames all three are more American than Canadian
Ok. He got me. I figured it was either Hogan or Angle at number one. Then he announced slaughter, which makes sense. Then he mentions the stolen valor thing and reveals Angle as the real number one. Well played Brian Zane. Well played.
Somebody who embodies and encapsulates the true American spirit, identity, and values...that's easy. It's got to be New Jack
I think Mark Henry deserves to be on this countdown. Mark won 3 medals at the 95 pan American games. Mark won the 91 U.S juniors, 92-94 and 96 U.S senior titles. I know he wasn't a wrestler in his competitions. Mark became a wrestler in the WWF, lasting from 1996-2021.
Is this the first time that someone who was originally No. 1 in a Top 8 has ever been DQed from it altogether? If so, then I enjoyed that particular twist.
Longest fake out I've ever seen
@@IHeartVideoGames08 truly i was wondering why would slaughter be ahead of hogan of all people when he is literally mr america? the fake out had to have an explanation.
@@tobznoobs Like, I knew Kurt Angle had to be on the list just because he was on the thumbnail. People love Kurt, and there is great reason for that. So, when Sgt SLaughter was being shown I was like "Okay, when is the rug pull?" and I asked that again. And again. And again. Props to Bryan Zane for holding that fake out as long as he did, cause given how little time was left in the video I legit thought he was done.
No Shelton Benjamin?!?! No Charlie Haas?!?!?!
Who would you pull of the list for them?
Would argue that they didn’t have the America loving gimmick so much as they were just associated with Kurt Angle
@@joeyjoejoe1394 I wouldn't say the American badass had much to do with America either but he was in here
The American Males, DUH!! 😂😂😂 I commented this before the honorable mentions but that plot twist at number one is pure genius
I just wish he did the overhead clap like they did 🤣
Once I heard the theme I immediately thought of Pulse from Deadlock 😂😂
I had a dream the other night that Brian Zane was in a high budget movie. I was like “oh damn, look at Brian, doing big things, good for him!” 😂 Just thought I’d share that lol Love the work you do Brian 💯
Chris Van Vilet was in The Love Guru lol
@@hardspumoni6940 I did not know that. That’s crazy lol
Clearly the only reason this list doesn't include the Bushwackers is they're Australian, otherwise they would obviously top this list.
They're from New Zealand not Australia.
@@seanrookeeYes, Australian
@@seanrookee Why does it matter which part of Indonesia they are from? They are AUSTRALIAN god dammit!
That one promo Dr. D David Schultz cut on Sgt. Slaughter pointing out his steeltoe boots comes to mind from this video. Absolutely hilarious promo that even broke Mean Gene.
What about VACANT? He's the greatest American Dream.
Except Vacant is actually from Rio De Janeiro Brazil 🙂
@@BoogalooBartholomewI laughed far too much at this joke
The turn with Sgt Slaughter popped the hell out of me! 😂
NGL, you got me with the Slaughter at 1 bit. I was thinking “there’s no bloody way he’s leaving Angle off this list” before you pulled the disqualification.
"I'm just a sexy Kurt... I'll make your ankle hurt!"
It may be controversial, but Lacy Evans represented American tradition (Norman Rockwell type stuff) and then followed it up with the same military gimmick of slaughter, except she really DID serve in the military. So she has my vote.
19:43 Vince Russo, THIS is how you do a swerve correctly, bro! :)
However, Sgt. Slaughter does deserved to get a mention since the character did loved his country, despite being an Iraqi sympathizer in 1990. .
As Brian noted not many people would have listed Tony Atlas, who legitimately won the Mr. USA bodybuilding contest and all
Hogan's theme song makes me feel American even though I am from India
me too! I'm English lol
Unironically the anthem for USA, like goddamn that theme makes me proud to be an American and I have never even step foot on USA soil 😂
@@govardhanposina17 same here, brother
@@govardhanposina17 I went to America last year - amazing place, great people
Honourable metions Mr Zane in usa colours sweatsuit
Corporal Kirchner should have been an honorable mention. Unlike Slaughter, Kirchner actually served and was in 82nd Airborne.
9:34 that zoom in tho 😂😂😂
Loved the KO "Face of America" flashback.
Well, I guess we've learned a lot of people comment before the video is over lol
Pleasantly surprised by the KO throwback
Duggan was able to make European crowds chant USA. Even if they were being ironic, that makes him #1 to me. Thanks as always for your videos!
if ppl are mad that slaughter isn't actually a marine wait until they find out that the undertaker isn't actually an undead old west zombie
I always thought Sgt. Slaughter was originally a GI Joe character who then became a wrestler. Not the other way around.
Thought you said “barbecue, beer and bongs” in the intro and was like “hell yeah”
I only found out about Sgt. Slaughter not being in the military after he said Lacey Evan's gimmick was disrespectful to the USMC despite the fact she actually did serve in the marines and he did not.
I don't think it was that slaughter found the gimmick disrespectful. I think the issue was that her being a real life marine was infringing or too similar to his fake persona and marine gimmick. Absolutely wild that he'd get worked up over that nonsense. But being that he's guilty of stolen valor, I don't find anything he does, surprising anymore.
What I love about this is you can see the difference between WWF/E and WCW. Honourable mentions: Ron Simmons and Team America in LPWA (Misty Blue and Heidi Lee Morgan)
The Swagging Soaring Eagle got his own titantron
Song written and performed by former US Attorney General John Ashcroft.
Kurt Angle's TNA theme it's so underrated
Del Wilkes was one of my absolute best friends! He would call me every Sunday,just to ask how my family is doing and tell me Jesus loves me! I cried out like a child,when his wife Cathy told me about his passing! The mask he wore in wcw,now hangs in a shadow box on my wall! I'll miss him everyday!
I actually liked Lex Luger and his gimmick.
But for some reason, it just didn't work.
Despite the shun of the Rougeau Brothers, it's pleasant to see American Males get their honorable flowers. Both themes are now stuck in my head.
Thank you, Brian
To think that the soaring eagle even got a entrance video that’s dedication from chavo guerrero
Kurt Angle, John Cena, JBL, and the Biker Undertaker are my favorite American Wrestlers.
That would be a great name for a finisher, The Jazz Cabbage.
2001 was a pretty good year. Despite having a rough end due to the September 11th attacks, it was still a pretty entertaining year and Kurt angle's rise as the top Babyface during The Invasion storyline was really the most interesting thing in the WWF next to Rob Van Dam's rise as a baby face despite being with a heel faction at the time. I have never took Kurt Angle seriously as a kid until his feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin and his matches with Austin at both SummerSlam and Unforgiven. Now, it's obvious that they put the title on him due to September 11th attacks and them trying to be more patriotic and, in all honesty, it actually helped a lot. Kurt Angle winning the WWF Championship was one of the most feel-good moments of that year.
I was dying at "big, bronze bald eagle."💀
Corporal Kirchner shoulda been mentioned. He (unlike Slaughter) was actually in the Military (82nd Airborne Division).
The Golden Dragon(a local Indy wrestler) that was the first person I seen do a moonsalt, in person.
You got me there brian. When you came with slaughter at 1, I broke down thinking "where the hell is angle on this list!!!"
I understand disqualifying Slaughter in lieu of the truth about his past but if this is based on GIMMICKS, I think he still deserves an actual spot on the list.
I was looking for Angel until the end haha. Nice one Bryan. Nice one time to put down the torches.
Me seeing #1:
"Zane had me in the first half, not gonna lie."
17:39 YEEEAAAAHHH He did the thing! WOOOOOO! Also, great ending to the video. Well done.
Ahh, you got me! You got to Sgt. Slaughter, which I didn't know about, and I immediately thought Kurt Angle, but you got him in.
17:39 I thought I had forgotten all about it. Now it's going to be stuck in my head for the next three weeks.
Another big thing about Big Match John that really brings out his American-ness? Peacemaker. 'Nuff said.
To my knowledge Sgt. Slaughter vs. Col. DeBeers at Super Clash III was the only match between a military gimmick vs. military gimmick.
Wow. I thought Duggan was taking this one down for sure. Old Glory Knee Drop!
lol you got me. I was like #1 has to be angle…then was totally confused 😂
Late to watching this but...I was about to say: no Kurt Angle?! Man! I was almost ready to comment before watching the rest of the video. Great twist at the end.
I know they weren’t known too much in America, but Eddie Guerrero and Art Barr as Los Gringos Locos I believe deserves recognition. They were so hated in Mexico. And the match they had with Hijo del Santo and Octagon was amazing.
The Patriot was like the pro wrestling version of Captain America. With Buff Bagwell as his bucky.
Happy July 4th Brian Zane.
One of favorite TH-camrs passed last week
Please take care of your health Brian
-your fan
sorry i didn't wait till the video was over to ask that question.
I am adding "jazz cabbage" to my lexicon.
Those wrestling chat rooms during the Team USA vs Team Canada was a true battleground
Taker with his 13 states jacket liner, number one.
Luger just being a blip on the radar of wrestling history after that push is wild.
Bro you are really going to need a part 2
The JBL turn happened in 2004 post WrestleMania XX, not 2003. He lost the long hair and beard around mid 2003 if I remember correctly.
Happy 4th July from Ireland! Hope you spend all day dancing to " American Males"
Hold up wtf was that knee drop by the sheik? My shin shattered looking at that
You had me man. I was saying. How could he make this list and not have Kurt Angle on here. Nicely done.
Thank you for the KISS reference! Hell yeah
Now that’s a swerve brudda. Great ending
There is one problem with your description of Kurt Angle. You should have said "It's true.... it's damn true."
Those were some really lucky Survivor Series attendees when The Patriot required an injury replacement.
Hulk Hogan looks more like the Toxic Avenger in that thumbnail.
I met Sgt. Slaughter at a toy store. I didn't have money to take photos with him so I took a picture with a cardboard cutout with my crush!
Arrghh! The commercial interrupted K.O.'s "America, America"! Hmmf! I met a guy who said he was a former marine who claimed Slaughter was his drill sergeant. Guess not.
So the original Patriot isn't the same one who used Angle's theme before him?
He is
Why does the background music during The Patriot's history sound like a Christmas edition of Kurt Angle's theme song? 🧐
For the record, I thought you said barbecue beer and bongs. Which technically fits now
Literally watching old WCW Nitro shows with Brad Armstrong coming 2 the ring in American flag jacket..
KO in Honorable Mention. POP!
I can't believe you mentioned Tony Atlas and didn't bring up his laugh.