Ricky Morton

[6.0] "Since watching his early/pre Rock n Roll Express era, i have to reevaluate things and also use the math route. I enjoy the plucky youngster slowly making his way up the ladder of success. The team with Ken Lucas didn't exactly work out due to ring style choices (via Lucas) but it was still watchable enough ~ his tag work with Eddie Gilbert & Rick Gibson was better and he started to truly hone in on an in ring character here (6.75 for his overall pre RnR era) . The Rock n Roll Express didn't exactly work for me though. I almost always fell in line with "boo the heels, cheer the faces" but this is a place where things shifted for me. Ricky talked a big talk, but he didn't look convincing and was usually the one getting his butt kicked, for many this built sympathy but i felt he deserved the beatings (that's not good). I loved Robert though so it almost balanced out... almost (4.75). Then he went heel and joined The York Foundation. And what does he do? He dressed like he's one half of the Rock n Roll Express STILL, didn't even tie or slick his hair back, he kept it dyed blonde and never grew facial hair - ZERO EFFORT. His work as a heel was dull and uninspired, clearly he could only work babyface. To make matters worse his tag partner during this era was Tommy Rich, ugh. (4) The average is 5.16 but we will give him a single bonus point because the matches against Doom, The Midnight Express(es) and The Andersons were that good."

[9.0] "One of my trainers explicitly said to study Ricky Morton. If you're not sure why, figure it out. He's one of the very best not only in tag team but as a singles wrestler too. His loyalty to Robert Gibson prevented a serious run but I also understand why he was reluctant and I'd say it worked out well for all parties involved. He's also a great ambassador for legends and is open minded to the newer style of wrestling instead of getting behind a microphone and whining about it."

[5.0] "Ricky Morton is a legend in the game who entertained us on so many occasions especially in the 80s but the man hasn't been good since the early 90s and he keeps wrestling today for some reason even though he has nothing to offer"

[9.0] "One of the best sellers in the history of wrestling. He is most remembered for his tag team greatness especially with Rock & Roll Express. Good in the ring, and on the mic plus got amazing crowd reactions. His longevity is outstanding as he still had good matches in the 2020s."

[9.0] "A real legend of the sport. So good at playing the babyface in peril part of a tag bout that it came to be known as "playing Ricky Morton". Very athletic in his prime and one of the most durable performers in wrestling, he remains spry enough to have good (not great) matches in his 60s. Once sported a teen heartthrob look that further enhanced his outstanding selling before middle age made him less obviously endearing, though as a proud old man he is once again a naturally sympathetic character. Firey, believable promo. Only falls short of a 10/10 because his accomplishments as a single competitor are somewhat limited - obviously his legendary partnership with Robert Gibson gets full marks."

[9.0] "Ricky Morton is one of the greats in my opinion. His selling and ability to get sympathy from the crowd was like no other. Great mind for tag team wrestling. Matches of the Express still hold up today. I am very proud that I got to see him wrestle on his prime. Mr.Morton is mainly known from his tag team legacy but I would highly recommend to watch his singles competition too. Specially the matches he had with Ric Flair. Ricky Morton was a main eventer on both singles and tag team division."

[7.0] "This guy is the reason they invented the "playing Ricky Morton" phrase when it comes to tag team matches. This guy perfected the "get the ever loving crap beat out of you for minutes on end, then make the hot tag" Morton had a hand in helping to create the best tags matches of the 80's! Only thing going against Morton is his look and attire was becoming incredibly dated by the early 90's, except in the minor league indy shows where time kinda stood still. Morton went to work for Cornettes Smokey Mountain Wrestling for a little while and even got a spot in a few WWF matches in a sort of cross promotion. In 1995 and 1996 the RNR had some matches in WCW but nobody in the audience really cared anymore. Their era had passed by."

[9.0] "Probably my favorite Rock n' Roll Express member, Ricky Morton was athletic and energetic. One of the best babyfaces in the NWA in the 80s, that fact he's still going at 66 and is still a good worker is amazing to me."

[10.0] "What is up with the rating for Ricky? ! 6 point something are you kidding me? ! This guy was one of the best babyfaces of all time. He was over like rover (kids loved him, the females loved him, the adults loved him). 1/2 of arguably the best and most influential babyface tag team of all time. Also 1/2 of the tag team with the most longevity. Drew a ton of money back in the day. Headlined shows as both a tag team (RNR vs Midnights) and a singles (usually against Flair). No one sold like Ricky. He had the facials, he could get sympathy from the crowd, he could get the crowd behind him, and he was able to take such an ass kicking that every time he made that hot tag to robert the place went nuts! Always delivered and still does... him and robert both!"

[10.0] "Ridiculously low rating for this man. Say whatever you want about his singles run, but he was arguably the best tag team wrestler of all time. Pretty much MADE the "face-in-peril" role, and perfected it himself. Not to mention, was also one half of one of the greatest teams ever."

[10.0] "Rickey was pure gold in the NWA. One of the best baby faces ever, and was beyond over. Was one of the best sellers along with Rick Flair. I know he was a great tag team specialist, but his short singles feud with Rick Flair was pretty great as well. Anyone who is rating him past the age of 45 is insane as his influence in the 80's stand the test of time"

[10.0] "I give him a 10 based on his tag team work, and not on his singles work. That's where the majority of his work lies, in tag team matches. And the man was perfect at his role. One of the best sellers & babyface in peril ever. During the mid to late 1980's the Rock and Roll Express could do no wrong in the south. They were huge and very influential tag team that inspired many other similar teams of the decade."

[10.0] "How is Ricky's overall rating so low? Are we rating him overall or based on his career from the late 90s to the mid 10s? Ricky is and has always been a hell of a talented wrestler and was a pioneer in tag team wrestling in the 80s. Even now in his 60s, he can go, and is more than happy to put the new generation over."

[7.0] "Had Ricky Morton retired at the end of the 90's he would have been unquestioningly remembered as one of the all time greats. Sure, his matches have not aged well but how many pre-90's legends are in the same predictament and get high praise for their work and their innovation? There have been countless wrestlers who could take a brutal beating and sell it convincingly, but few had Morton's ability to get the public emotionally invested in it. That's what made the Rock 'n' Roll Express such a massive draw as they were and such an influence on babyface tag teams. As a solo wrestler he was forgettable if not barely adequate, chiefly because his offensive was too limited and weak to make for convincing comebacks: he just needed a tag team partner to perform his act. Unfortunately for Morton, the 90's changed wrestling forever, and he struggled to adapt. Also I understand personal "problems" forced him to keep on wrestling regularly at a time when most legends content themselves with occasional appearances, thus shaping the opinion of an entire generation of wrestling fans. Still I feel as a whole he's had a positive impact on wrestling so an above average rating is granted."

[4.0] "Shit bod. No credibility. I kinda hate this brand of shitty southern graps so I do have a bias here. Dude gets his beat then tags the other guy... there ya go."

[10.0] "One of the best and most influential babyfaces of all time. Had many classic tag matches with a plethora of opponents across many different companies. Personal life and never changing with the times made him a joke to many"

[8.0] "RIcky Morton was one of the best babyfaces of all time. Despite 'only' being a good worker and an average promo, Morton was able connect with the fans like few others could, generating some insane levels of heat at times."

[10.0] "One of the greatest babyfaces of all time. Made tag team wrestling one of the highlights of the 1980s. Continues to entertain. What more could you ever ask for in a wrestler?"

[10.0] "best underdog face in peril seller of all time... morton sold hundreds and hundreds of tickets to female fans almost every night during his prime. not a good single wrestler though so you had to promote him right"

[9.0] "Half of one of the most influential tag teams in history, and one of the greatest sellers in the business. It's depressing to see how unappreciated he has become over the years."

[7.0] "The more memorable half of the legendary Rock N Roll Express. He's still winning titles and working as hard as ever in his '50s. Plus he trained Chase Owens, one of the jewels of the NWA."