Chris Hero

[10.0] "The only non wrestler currently working on AEW that I gave an rating, and it is the highest rating someone could ever get. No jokes, Chris Hero is an fucking monster and everybody knew that he could be even much better than what he already is if he just continued his career. The King of Wrestling itself, everytime I see an podcast comment about him or himself saying anything it is the smartest phrase you could ever ask for. That guy trained some incredible wrestlers like Orange Cassidy and Zack Sabre Jr which everyone respect them for their highly knowledge in ring wise. He is a hell of a coach, an hell of a wrestler. His career as a full time wrestler ended way to early for me, but I hope he is happy at the current position he is. He make being fat looks like an funny thing."

[10.0] "Chris Hero is one of those wrestler who should have been on bigger stages and under brighter lights, had all the talent in the world, the mind of a genius at his craft, and wasn't afraid to take massive gambles to up his game. The only reason he didn't manage to do so is because the machine would not get behind him. There is zero other reason why this guy shouldn't be considered one of the best in the world alongside many of the contemporaries that came up with him. We can only fantasy book what his ceiling would have been in WWE, but he's now doing what he loves with West Coast Pro and occasionally dips his head back into the the spotlight and even then, I'm happy to have been a fan of his work for as long as I have."

"One of my all time favorites. He's great fun, he's agile, he's technical, he's a striker. His moveset is messy yet awesome, I love it! I think he is very inspirational for younger talent as well. Too bad WWE used him in NXT only."

[10.0] "My Rating: 9.6 Wow! Chris Hero! The living legend! What should I say and how should I start? His matches in IWA against CM Punk are legendary to say the least. He was willing to put everything on the line for the audiences eve if there was only 10 people watching. It was sad to see that he never got the run in the biggest promotions that he deserved (in my opinion) but he did have a phenomenal match in NXT against William Regal. Very good technical wrestler, great in selling, great intensity, good charisma."

[8.0] "One of the greatest wrestlers skill wise of the 2000s and has a huge influence in the indie scene. Has some of the best singles and tag matches of the era. Only real knocks you can put on him are that he never reached the heights of his peers in Punk and Danielson. Also deserved a better end to his career then he got"

[8.0] "He was always solid in the ring. I wish his career came to a more satisfying conclusion rather than the "ran out of gas" way it seemed to end."

[9.0] "One of the stars of the 2000s and 2010s indy scene. He had amazing matches in ROH, Chikara, PWG and Europe. His WWE NXT runs had solid wrestling but never saw him go anywhere."

[10.0] "Might be the best indie wrestler between his two NXT runs. He never had a chance to showcase what he can truly do on a global scale, but if you watch more than a few of his matches you will instantly know he is a brilliant wrestler. He can do it all, striking, lucha style, delivering epic matches or shining in a three minutes match, I don't think I have seen anyone else that was so good in every aspect."

[7.0] "He had great matches on the independent scene during the 2000s and the 2010s. He spent some time in NXT but he unfortunatly never made it to the main roster. He got in pretty rough shape during the 2010s so it might have limited his sucess in WWE but he still had a good career with many great matches."

[10.0] "Chris Hero is a student of a game and now, he's sort of a historian of it, his knowledge of the business is indecent as he knows obscure stuff that I wouldn't put my nose in. Excellent worker in the indies, the one who has a shop of Cravates and doesn't look that corporate. The man, the myth, the legend."

[10.0] "Chris Hero one of the greatest wrestlers. His in-ring skill are super good. Technical wizard and heavy hitter. He's also one of the smartest wrestlers too. He's learned different styles of wrestling and adds them to his matches. He's been in some of the best indie wrestling matches with Bryan Danielson, ZSJ, Claudio, CM Punk, and a bunch of other ROH and PWG wrestlers. Even wrestling internationally, Chris is one of the best Indie wrestlers ever."

[8.0] "(Sorry english is not my firtst language) This guy is good at everything expect having more interesing gimmick"

[10.0] "I don't rate wrestlers as much or give easy 10s, even to the ones who are alleged legends, but man... Chris is awesome; he's as hot as he gets. And... He's truly legendary. His theme song lyrics tell you everything you need to know about him. While it's true he has slowed down and put on some weight while also adjusting more to backstage work, I wishfully wait to watch him on the AEW screen before he goes on to a potential retirement tour. He deserves to be promoted on national TV. And, as the others nailed it, Chris really never needed anything; he was always relatively big and well-known for the passionate PW fans. Amongst the fandom, Hero earned every bit of his reputation by grinding years after years in the independent circuit. He delivered banger matches wherever he went, from Midsouth to PWG to CHIKARA to NOAH to ROH and even in WWE. In his words, he couldn't keep himself out of wrestling in any way. While some of his work in ROH/NOAH/CHIKARA will always be memorable, especially the Kings of Wrestling, even his lackluster runs were something. He played the cocky heel perfectly against Matt Riddle and put him over. And, unironically delivered some more great matches under Kassius Ohno moniker post-WWE. He has one of the longest matches up to date, being a 3-hour gauntlet match. As passionate as he was, he also has been notably charitable. Incredible stamina that he can still go over 40 minutes against Timothy Thatcher in 2023. He can adapt to different styles, be it strong style, your British/European (fka Lanceshire) style as he considers it physical & mental chess, or lucha libre, after studying all of the styles while traveling around the globe. He helped Punk to make a name, he helped Cassidy by a great deal, still helps people. Has a huge library of incredible matches against Fenix, Pentagon, Tommy End/Malakai Black, Zack Sabre, Danielson, Angelico, Thatcher, Cole, Shibata, Ishii, (Christopher) Daniels and many more you can't name in one breath without running out of it. There is almost nobody he hasn't wrestled with (yet) in a high caliber match. Hero is on the Rushmore of independent wrestling and the first contender to the indie HOF if it were a thing."

"How many guys his height can spring-board off the top-rope in one hop? Or put on an extra 100 lbs and still nip-up in circles with one arm lock'd? An easy contender for best wrestler of all-time. No one gives it more every time than Chris Hero. Using a vast array of skills with widespread knowledge to boost, he's the guy to beat even though he doesn't have the greatest win-loss record."

[6.0] "I have nothing against him, just has never really been for me. What Ive seen in some of his indies matches, he can work, but I just dont think hes anything special. Not to say hes bad at all, as 6/10 is still a satisfactory rating, just hasnt been my cup of tea."

[10.0] "Never needed lots of championships. Never needed to be mainstream. Never needed heavy marketing production. Never needed to win everything. Never needed to make a name in WWE. Chris Hero was always just himself, enjoying what he does and what he loves. He doesn't wrestle for championships or fame, just passion. A guy who came from the bottom to became a wrestling legend because of him and only him, with his love for this business, his effort, his talent and his profesionality. This gentlemen, is one of the greatest of all time."

[9.0] "Ohno/Hero is extremely talented; he obviously deserve the spotlight, and indeed he still can steal the show. Nonetheless, he seems unable to control his body, possibly for some medical issues, or at least he doesn't care anymore. Still, he's a potential 10."

[8.0] "One of the best indie workers of all time. Unfortunately he doesnt really have the look to succeed on the national stage."

"I love everything about Chris Hero. He is easily one of the best of all time, and easily my favorite wrestler of all time."

[10.0] "One of the best independent wrestlers of all time. Can't give this guy enough love. I hope he comes back for one last run in the indies or in AEW."

[10.0] "This guy was.. EH is one of the best technical wrestler ! I mean, if you never watch his matchs at ROH or NOAH, go on google."

"Easily the best technical wrestler only got better by adding more aggression and nastiness to his wrestling style !"

[9.0] "It is a tragedy Hero went back to the fed after the 2016 he had. He's one of the best wrestlers of our generation and even that is an understatement. He mastered the ability to be a bully in matches to perfection yet that didn't stop him from knowing when to eat shit and let his opponent look good. Guy was one of the foundations of an entire promotion in evolve and gave progress its best matches ever when he decided to stop by the UK. Not to mention the legacy he built in companies like WXW CZW ROH and PWG. This isnt even me diving into his stuff before his 2nd wwe run the guy was just a different kind of shark before re-signing. You can credit him along with Bryan for the style of indie wrestling we got in the 00s and most of the 10s. It's a shame he hasn't done anything since getting released but when he does pop back up I'll be there happily watching"

[7.0] "i follow him since ROH, he is doing good in indy wrestler but in NXT he didnt like in ROH, so that why i rated him just 7"

[7.0] "Chris Hero pre nxt is incredibly awesome. Everything else after that I'm not a fan of. Kassius Ohno is not good. And not being offensive but when he got fatter he got worse and I just don't enjoy him anymore"

[9.0] "A very strong technical wrestler known both for his holds and strikes. My favorite work of Hero's to date was, by far, his tag run with Claudio Castagnoli as the Kings of Wrestling, but his singles work has also resulted in compelling matches. Has sometimes suffered from issues with his physical shape, which in WWE likely placed a lower ceiling above him than that of his former partner, but that never seemed to affect the quality of his in-ring work very much. In a setting like the independent scene or NXT, Hero is a reliable veteran performer who can be placed in virtually any position on the card and can be counted on to put on a good match versus virtually any opponent."

[7.0] "I prefer early, baby-faced and baby-fat lucha armdrags and Euro chain wrestling Hero to later Japanese strong style tribute act Hero. The former is a small-time act, but it's an endearing one and could produce fun matches. The latter is pretty grating. Part of the problem is that, despite his size, Hero just doesn't look like an intimidating guy, so him playing this badass just strikes an odd chord. Then there's the constant thigh slapping. Not every strike (and there are plenty of them) needs to make a slapping sound, and elbows certainly shouldn't. Still, he's a charismatic guy, who never seems to have a problem getting fans into his matches."

[9.0] "Chris is awesome (sorry, I had to lol). I appreciate his singles runs over the years, but I truly admire Hero for his involvement with the Kings of Wrestling. Him and Claudio worked so well together, and the Kings are easily in my top 5 favorite tag teams of all time. Hero's elbows are so fun to watch, and as a singles guy, maybe even a bit underrated when compared to Claudio, who has found much greater mainstream success. Regardless, I greatly enjoy watching Chris Hero and is a major player in the tag team division."

[4.0] "I'm surprised to see Chris Hero ratings so high. He is not a great wrestler. He hasn't offered many good matches especially since his second WWE comeback. His sell moves are pretty bad. He have a bit of charisma but not a charisma that caught my eye."

[9.0] "He gave everything he had to this sport. A highlight in independent wrestling across the world in good times and bad."

[9.0] "Fantastic technical wrestler who soaks up knowledge and has a true love for professional wrestling. Chris Hero has traveled across the world in order to hone his style as well as learn new ones to great success, and helps spread what he's learned to both wrestlers and fans alike. I do think his promo work is a little bit forgettable, and his aesthetic always came off as a bit lame when he wasn't working a cocky heel, but he truly is one of the best technical wrestlers in the world and one of the best US independent wrestlers of all time."

[10.0] "One of the best modern day wrestlers ever. This man is a legend, I wish he would've done more in NXT. However, those poor runs of his in the WWE don't have a notable effect on his overall career. He's always been an extraordinary talent, and I hope to see him back in an ROH ring soon"

"A real unsung hero. Pun intended. One of the most complete arsenals and was over but was doomed due to management. He is a favourite of mine."

[9.0] "One of the most complete wrestlers I've seen in my entire life. Amazing striker, solid technician, a great seller and a really smart athlete. You can try, but it's impossible to find a defect on him."

[10.0] "Chris Hero is the best independent wrestler of all-time. He has worked various styles in promotions all over the world. While performing in the United States, Hero found an abundance of success. ROH, PWG, CZW, and Chikara all had eyes for his talent. He competed in a series of stellar matches with C. M. Punk in IWA:MS. Over the years, Hero spent ample time wrestling for European promotions, such as wXw and RevPro. Also, Hero has some experience in Japan, specifically for NOAH. Hero also found success in tag team wrestling. Partnering with none other than Claudio Castagnoli (Cesaro), Chris Hero formed The Kings of Wrestling, which would be one the most successful tag teams in the indies. Before signing with WWE in 2017, Hero showed that his size increase would not slow him down. Perhaps 2016 was the best year of his career. Hero was released by WWE in April of 2020, so it will be interesting to see where he ends up next."

[7.0] "Honestly, I never got the hype with Hero. Zero mic skill, bland look, and relied almost completely on being a solid worker in the ring. This is fine in the earlier years, when you'd be forgiven for stuff like that, but when he moved into the WWE, it was clear that he was out of his depth. There's only so far ring work can take you in the business, and Hero's a really good example of that. Doesn't help that he reportedly had a bad attitude backstage and he got pretty fat after he left NXT and went back to the indies. Later years also exposed another problem for Hero: his lack of ring psychology and pacing. Usually when wrestlers get into their later years, they have to rely more on working smart, rather than just going all out. This was shown tons of times with the likes of Tanahashi, Kojima, Misawa, Jericho, Joe, Austin, etc and is something pretty well established. Hero seemed to be unable to do this, and had to try and work at a noticeably slower and more clunky pace as compared to the smooth stuff he was pulling out before. His inability to work around it is a massive failure in general for himself, and likely why he wasn't exactly used often in NXT outside of the occasional average match. Usually the good matches I DO see him having were because the other guy in the ring was a far smoother worker. Hero was one of the big indie breakouts of the early 2000's, but his lack of development beyond the ring restricts him massively, and that's a shame."

[10.0] "I don't think we will ever see another wrestler who has what Chris has. Here's a guy who mastered every style of pro-wrestling and fused them together to become this best-bout machine."

[10.0] "Chris Hero had so many excellent matches in the US and Japan. I'm really disappointed that Hunter never saw his potential in NXT, they could have done so many things in the Tag Team Division with him, they could have brought back the Kings of Wrestling with Cesaro or his team with Aleister Black. I hope he will have others great runs on the US Indy Scene"

[8.0] "One of the best ballroom wrestlers of all time. Very technically sound in many different styles of pro wrestling was able to be popular in the American and European indie scenes. His success did not transfer to the larger stages he wrestled such as Pro Wrestling Noah or the WWE to the same degree. In the WWE it is because he had trouble maintaining his weight especially when he first entered the WWE he was a bit overweight but not in a marketable degree. In the American and European scene he was able to stand out with his size and had the technical ability to match but once he moved to the WWE he no longer was the big guy in the company and since he did not have a bodybuilder figure, his biggest strength became his biggest weakness because he was no longer the biggest guy in the room. I need to watch some matches in this time in Noah to understand why he had a lack of matches in the Matchguide from his time there. It might just be when he was doing his tours there he was overshadowed by the likes of Kobashi, KENTA, Marufuji, and Misawa."

"Chris Hero was once one of the best wrestlers in the world, in 2016 being one of the strongest wrestlers of the year, he has a collection of amazing matches from many different places, he could adapt to any style, and managed to get the best out of his opponents, his current pace may not be the same, but he still manages to have a good match when he has the chance."

[7.0] "Kassius Ohno is getting up there in age and his in ring work is starting to show it. He's still very good but he's not the 9 or 10 rated wrestler that he used to be."

[8.0] "A guy that would be great for AEW he? s underrated because of his work In roh Pwg Czw A man that is big and got lethal elbow strikes and a man that can flying hurricaranas He deserves a few North America title runs maybe a nxt world title Either uk or not But he would be decent on smackdown or possibly raw"

[9.0] "I hope that when Chris Hero/Kassius Ohno retires that his latest run in WWE/NXT will not be too detrimental to his legacy. He was Indie royalty and made contributions to PWG, ROH, CZW, EVOLVE, Progress, Chikara, WXW, IWA Mid-South and many more. I still believe there's room for him to have success in WWE but they have to want him to."

[6.0] "I find Ohno/Hero to be incredibly over rated, I don? t see the appeal, I? m not a big fan of his in ring work, and overall I? m just really not impressed, I hope this changes but I really don? t see it happening."

[9.0] "One of the best strikers in the business and at his 39, he is still making great performances with an amazing level. Love also the stiff side of his moveset. Besides, Ohno is a living pro-wrestling encyclopedia, one of the smartest guys in the business. He is going to be a great trainer in a future."

[10.0] "One of the most talented wrestlers of all time, Kassius Ohno knows his way around that ring bettger than anybody, A Big Man good at Tag Team, Technical, Powerhouse, Striking, and even High Flying Wrestling, Kassius Ohno is a Legend."

[8.0] "A very talented wrestler who is not thriving in the world of WWE. However, he can be a great asset if they could find some way to utilize him. It's a shame, but you can't overlook his performance pre-WWE. Amazing singles competitor, amazing tag matches with Colt Cabana and Claudio Castagnoli aka Cesaro. What's with the alliterative C's with Mr. Hero anyway?"

[7.0] "Another one of those cases where I'm just not quiet seeing what everyone else seems to see in a wrestler. He's good and can definitely put on great matches but for the most part, he doesn't exceed "good"."

[9.0] "Chris Hero was a great wrestler. but Kassius Ohno? Not so much. Whether it's down a decline in abilities or a restrictive environment, Ohno is not the wrestler Hero was. But that shouldn't detract from the fact that Hero, in his prime, and for quite some time, was a great wrestler, and had some incredible matches."

[7.0] "He's hardhitting and talented and I'm definitely a fan, but I'm more interested in stories and emotions, and I just don't get that from him."