With Wrestlemania less than 24 hours away, I wanted to look at some of the best that sports entertainment had to offer.  In this case, the best of the best talkers.  The art of the promo.

In pro wrestling, a promo is very important.  It sets up the story, telling the audience how the wrestlers feel going into a major event.  A great promo can captivate the audience, and a bad promo can result in the whole audience turning on the wrestler in a heartbeat.  A promo is so important to the story and the characters that many major wrestlers have made it on their promo skills alone.   Here we look back at some of the greatest talkers to business of sports entertainment has ever known and the promos that live on.

  • The Birth of "Austin 3:16"

    A common inclusion in lists such as this, but for very good reason.  There are times in professional wrestling where a single moment can make or break a performer.  When Steve Austin was slated to win the King of the Ring tournament, he was considered to be a good performer in the ring by management, but not too much was thought of his vocal abilities.  But during his victory speech, Austin not only coined two of his most prolific catchphrases, he instantly changed the course of his career, quickly rising to be one of the greatest of all time.

  • Dusty Rhodes' "Hard Times"

    Widely considered one of the greatest talkers the business has ever seen, Dusty Rhodes' "Hard Times" promo is routinely considered one of the greatest and is regularly used at wrestling schools to show students how to cut a promo.

  • Jake Roberts' "Muck of Avarice"

    In a time where screaming one's promo was commonplace, Jake "The Snake" Roberts set himself apart with his highly intelligent and low tone speeches, here addressing The Million Dollar Man before their match at Wrestlemania VI.

  • CM Punk's Pipe Bomb

    Like Austin's King of the Ring speech, this was a moment that defined a wrestler's career and changed its direction.  Punk had been popular for years with the fans, but was never able to convince the powers that be of his potential.  After making it known he planned to let his contract lapse, Punk was allowed to air his grievances with a live mic.  When all was said and done, Punk was getting calls left and right for interviews and WWE was doing everything possible to resign their breakout star to a new contract.

  • Dean Ambrose's Message to Seth Rollins

    As of late, the WWE has made it the status quo to script out promos for their talent.  Some get full scripts, while others are given points to cover and allowed to fill in the blanks.  After Seth Rollins betrayed his friends Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose, it was quite clear that Ambrose was given two things all great performers need: a live mic and free reign.  Ambrose's promo harkened back to the old school days of professional wrestling, feeling the hatred and intensity.

  • The Rock's Armageddon Hell in the Cell Promo

    To pick a single promo from a man like The Rock is no easy task.  From his "Die Rocky Die" speech to his return as host of Wrestlemania, any time Dwayne Johnson was given a mic he was nothing by charisma.  Getting ready for a massive multi-opponent Hell in the Cell match at WWE's Armageddon PPV, The Rock tried his hand at impressions, mimicking each of his upcoming opponents.

  • AJ Lee's Pipe Bombshell

    CM Punk's better half shows she's every bit her husband's equal in the ring and on the mic.  AJ Lee's "Pipe Bombshell" is unique in that its an unfortunate rarity to hear a WWE Diva deliver at least a good promo.  But Lee's promo wasn't just good, it was great.  So great that some of the Divas it was directed at got butthurt and reportedly complained to management, resulting in the story being dropped.

  • Steve Austin Shoots on WCW in ECW

    While many are familiar with Austin's King of the Ring speech, a regularly overlooked, and arguably better, promo came from his short time in ECW.  Terminated from WCW and unable to work while rehabbing an injury, Austin was contacted by his old friend and head of ECW, Paul Heyman.  Heyman offered to put Austin on the payroll just to do promos while he healed.  Heyman, noted for his ability to develop talent, knew how to get the best out of a bitter Austin.

  • Paul Heyman's Volcano Speech

    To try to explain this wouldn't do it justice.  Just watch.

  • Ric Flair's Royal Rumble Victory Speech

    Another man who was gold whenever he was given a live mic, Ric Flair has countless great promos in the NWA and WCW.  But for my money, nothing tops his victory speech after winning the 1992 Royal Rumble, and the WWF World Title.  Having been stripped of the NWA/WCW title after a dispute with then-president Jim Herd, Flair made sure everyone knew that the winged eagle belt was the only one that mattered.

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