Yesterday we took a look at the end of the WCW and how it was reflected in Lycos user searches. Today, in honor of that historic event and this weekend's Wrestlemania 17, let's take a look at the most searched wrestlers as of last week.
We first took a look at most-searched wrestlers back in November 1999. We also took a look at the top wrestling babes with a bonus list back in December. Since then, a couple of scantily-clad WCW girls left wrestling altogether, while other wrestlers gained or lost popularity. Here are the top active wrestlers:
1) Trish Stratus
2) Chyna
3) The Rock
4) Lita
5) Stephanie McMahon
6) The Undertaker
7) Stone Cold Steve Austin
8) Goldberg (top WCW wrestler)
9) Triple H
10) Kane
11) Raven
12) The Hardy Boyz (top tag team)
13) Mick Foley (a.k.a. Mankind)
14) Terri Runnels
15) The Kat
16) Jerry "King" Lawler
17) Vince McMahon
18) Shawn Michaels
19) Kevin "Big Sexy" Nash
20) Kurt Angle
Wow. I think that about says it all about the fall of the WCW. Out of the top twenty wrestlers, two -- Goldberg and Kevin Nash -- are WCW wrestlers. Goldberg is so head-and-shoulders above the rest of the WCW that it is hard to imagine the league without him, but rumors are the new McMahon-owned WCW won't want to pay his contract.
Since we did this list in 1999, the biggest risers in popularity have been the "goth" wrestlers, The Undertaker and Kane. Also rising fast is Vince's daughter Stephanie McMahon. The Kat and Jerry Lawler are both searched often right now because they recently left the WWF. Actually, The Kat was fired and in response her boyfriend Lawler quit.
One wrestler of note who doesn't make the top 20 is Dean Malenko. Although he isn't pushed hard by WWF, he receives more searches than bigger-name wrestlers like Ric Flair and X-Pac. He could be one to watch in the future.
In addition, a number of inactive wrestlers still receive searches. WWF refugee Sable would be #4 on this list, even though she hasn't wrestled in over a year. Hulk Hogan and Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura also get significant queries.
MONDAY: If kids ruled the world.
