Which skillset would have been the most fun to have during your competitive days?

[BruceyB]

Don't get it twisted, this isn't a question about what would have allowed you to reach greater success, but which skillset would be the most fun to have had during your competitive/swimming ( @Wrestleknownothing  ) career. I have a number included in the poll, but I'd love to hear other suggestions. I limited it to wrestlers post 2010 because the qualities most predecessors had that made them special have been carried on by more current wrestlers. (IE: no John Smith, Cael Sanderson, etc.)

[MedicineMan]

  On 4/2/2025 at 6:09 AM, BruceyB said:

 I limited it to wrestlers post 2010 because the qualities most predecessors had that made them special have been carried on by more current wrestlers. (IE: no John Smith, Cael Sanderson, etc.)

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And no Larry Owings double jointed ability?

 

[MedicineMan]

No Johny Hendricks ability to get pinned and not get pinned?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/

[MedicineMan]

No Abbas Jadidi ability to have a snack during a match??

 

 

[Fletcher]

Always wish I could've been a thrower.

Fun for the crowd, you're never out of a match, guys wrestle you different and are afraid to lock up.

[Konquest]

Askren's moves pretty much changed the sport.  In the mid 90's when I was competing, no one would have had any idea how to deal with passing legs, weird merkle positions, baiting people into cradles while they are in on a shot, etc.  My coaches would hate me but opponents would be completely bewildered like Jake Herbert in the NCAA final.

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

  On 4/2/2025 at 1:32 PM, Fletcher said:

Always wish I could've been a thrower.

Fun for the crowd, you're never out of a match, guys wrestle you different and are afraid to lock up.

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I was a bit of a thrower.  Unfortunately not world class.  Too easy to scout and also my biggest throws ended up out of bounds.  Wish I had better leg attacks!

[D3 for LU]

I wish I was more attack-oriented in neutral... AND be able to score back points AT WILL as well.

The most points I scored in my HS past was a 12-0 pasting I imposed on a wrestler that missed weight for the varsity and then wrestled yours truly in a JV bout.

Other than that, I played it safe... high percentage moves and such.

I would've done better had I opened up, and let it fly on the mat.

(Ah, regrets... )

D3

[Mr. PeanutButter]

I tried really, really hard to develop a good fireman's in highschool and college rec. It just felt so cool to eggsecute. Especially off of a two-on-one! Unfortunately, my best takedown by far was a boring underhook to knee pull. Spencer and Yianni both had slick fireman's. So I vote hybrid.

[Gene Mills Fan]

Dresser Dump, and  I could have ruled if I knew what  a spladle was!!

And of course the Mills half nelson series!!!!

Edited Wednesday at 02:49 PM by Gene Mills Fan

[PortaJohn]

@BruceyB fun topic.  Next time can you throw in Wade Schalles on there as an option

[Wrasslin]

  On 4/2/2025 at 1:51 PM, Konquest said:

Askren's moves pretty much changed the sport.  In the mid 90's when I was competing, no one would have had any idea how to deal with passing legs, weird merkle positions, baiting people into cradles while they are in on a shot, etc.  My coaches would hate me but opponents would be completely bewildered like Jake Herbert in the NCAA final.

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With all due respect to Ben Askren, Jake Herbert's contribution is just as impressive- just watch any grade school or high school tournament!