gold star for USAHOF
Site Admin

Site Admin

256. Jay Youngblood

Like many Native American wrestlers, Jay Youngblood was only portraying one as he was actually Hispanic.   Youngblood found a lot of success in the Mid Atlantic area teaming up with Ricky Steamboat where the pair captured the NWA Tag Title.  Youngblood may have been a very successful tag team wrestler, but in Pacific Northwest Wrestling he was able to flex his solo skills and became their champion four times,  Youngblood was naturally charismatic and had the skills to have been successful anywhere.  Jay Youngblood died due to complications from a ruptured spleen at the age of 30 and it is generally believed that he had a lot left to give to the business.

239. Lanny Poffo

Lanny Poffo may not have had the skills or the wins of his older brother (Randy “Macho Man” Savage) had, but there was no question that “Leaping” Lanny Poffo was a talent in his own right.  Poffo was successful at the top of the card in regional promotions, but in the WWE he spent four years as a “jobber to the stars”, but beyond his cute poems and Frisbees was a wrestler who brought gymnastic ability and a unique offense to the ring.  Poffo was given a push as the “Genius” which saw him finally gain a series of wins (including a count out win over Hulk Hogan on Saturday Night's Main Event) in the WWE.  Although he wasn’t considered top flight talent, he had a role and did it exceptionally well.

283. Paul “Butcher” Vachon

“The Butcher” Paul Vachon may have been in the shadow of his brother Maurice “Mad Dog” Vachon, but despite being the latter’s tag team partner, Paul Vachon held his own in the tandem.  Vachon would hold many tag belts (many with Maurice) and would adopt the same type of vicious heel style.  With that said, his stint in the WWE was not the best showcase of his abilities and if he didn’t get inducted with Maurice he likely won’t get inducted at all.

180. Tatanka

His second run in the WWE was largely uneventful, but when Chris Chavis debuted as Tatanka in the early 90’s, he actually climbed the ladder to near the top of the babyface food chain.  For the first year and a half of his career, he never lost a match (at least on television).  He scored victories over major stars and even after he suffered his first televised loss (to Ludvig Borga), he was still a near main event player.  Tatanka slow decent would come from an ill advised heel turn and he never fit as a member of the Million Dollar Corporation.  It wasn’t long before he was used to get others over and he quietly departed the company.  Tatanka’s wrestling may have been basic, but it was very effective.  Had he remained a face, he could have remained a top star for at least a couple more years.