In an interview with UK’s SunSport, WWE Intercontinental Champion AJ Styles has named Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan as two superstars he deems worthy of pro wrestling’s Mount Rushmore.
“Man, this is tough. I mean, we’re talking about the guys who made the biggest difference, the reason why we are where we are in this business, right?
“The reason why so many guys and girls get the opportunity to make a living, right. So who are those people? Ric Flair is gonna be up there.
“He has to be. I mean, but Lou Thesz is also another guy that you know. Do we throw Hogan in there because everybody remembers?
“I didn’t watch WWF at the time when I was a kid, but I watched the cartoon on Saturday mornings. So that’s how I knew who Hulk Hogan was.
“But then again, in Rocky III as well, Thunderlips, so I knew him from that but I didn’t watch the wrestling. So he surpassed that, bigger than wrestling, he was a movie star as well.
The reason why so many guys and girls get the opportunity to make a living, right. So who are those people? Ric Flair is gonna be up there
“Is that three? Who is the fourth that belongs there. That’s tough. I know if I say this guy, it’ll be oh wait, you forgot about this one like, yeah, shoot.
“Because there’s Ricky the Dragon Steamboat, The Macho Man, Andre the Giant, like he also broke that barrier of larger than life.
“In fact, he was probably the first one to do it. So if I had to, and I know I’ll go back and I’ll change this a million times, Ric Flair. Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Lou Thesz.
“I’m trying to reach not just WWE, you know, but outside of that as well.
“The reason why I saw Lou Thesz and not some other guys who have definitely shaped this business is because I didn’t watch it.
“I didn’t have that cable where I could watch WWF. So I think my three for sure gotta be Hogan, Andre, and Ric Flair. That fourth is open to debate.”
During the interview, the Phenomenal One also gives special praise to Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage, Ricky Steamboat and even Vince McMahon.
Which four superstars would grace your Mount Rushmore? We’d love to hear some feedback in the comments section below.
