Non GOAT best ever

[Room Guy]

There are a few guys that can be argued are the GOATS of Wrestling for around their weight classes (B. Satiev, Smith, Sadulaev, Karelin,  etc.) Who are the guys that at their absolute best, could have beaten anyone at any time including those GOATS? Here are a few that at their best would've been hard to beat by anyone. Who are some others?

Jordan Burroughs-(only career better is B. Satiev)

Tom Brands

Adam Saitiev

Karam Gaber

Omid Noroozi

Les Gutches

Saghid Sajidov

Gable Steveson

Toghrul Asgarov

Reza Yazdani

Lee Kemp

Daniel Igali

 

 

[mspart]

Les Gutches is a good add here.   He was good for a long time.   But at one point, he was the best.  

Daniel Igali was incredible.   I saw him lose to  McIlravy at the Pan Ams in Winnipeg, only to beat him at the Olympics.   He was really good that year.  

Adam Saitiev I would put at the top of the list.   He moved up a weight and dominated.   He was an incredible talent. 

mspart

[wrestlingshoe]

2 hours ago, mspart said:

Daniel Igali was incredible.   I saw him lose to  McIlravy at the Pan Ams in Winnipeg, only to beat him at the Olympics.   He was really good that year.

Igali was amazing, both world and Olympic champ. 

[Lleynor]

Not exactly what you’re asking, but I would have paid good money to see Karelin at his best vs. Lopez at his best. Firmly believe Karelin would win, but would love to find out. 
 

If Adam Saitiev had a different brother, who knows what he could be at 74. He was so damn undersized and yet won. Those brothers were the definition of what a technician in Wrestling is. 

[Elevator]

at the time when the Moscow Olympics were boycotted, I thought mean Gene could beat anyone and perhaps by fall

 

But it was not a studied understanding - just my impression and way before there was so much data to review

[GrandOlm]

Two wrestler stand out to me. 

Ivan Yarygin. It's not just the name of a tournament. A great siberian wrestler, extremely strong, and built like a greek god. Pinned everyone at runs at the Europeans, Worlds, and Olympics. He doesn't have the medal haul of other wrestlers, but he was so special. 

The other one is Tomov. Best wrestler to never win an Olympic Gold. Three times silver medalist and was number one in the world for 15 years. He was so talented that he beat a giant like Rostorotsky, after a 5 year lay off at his first tourney back. Choked terribly at the Olympics each time. If it wasn't for politics, I think he would have finally won at the 84 games. 

[Room Guy]

Great examples! I like the Mean Gene one. The boycott really crushed guys.