>>12616807He took a long time to get the most important thing down - mic skills and carrying yourself like a star with charisma
In ring he was incredibly smooth, versatile and adaptable. Could make anyone look good, could mesh with just about any style. Sold well, his offence was tight, smooth and crisp, in ECW he looked a bit rehearsed at times with his smarkbait Malenko sequences but by WCW he was making it look spontaneous. He had good creative spots and could do basic moves very well- one of the best at a brain buster or headscissors you'll ever see.
He had zero mic skills or charisma until 2003. He was lWo leader with the most stilted zero conviction promos ever. He always had a good look but was small so couldn't be put up against big guys until he'd gained enough swagger and charisma to play the crafty underdog. Lie Cheat Steal was a dimes gimmick with genuinely creative spots that people's attempts to redo are often bad parodies.
He was absolutely an all round elite package but realistically only for the last 2 years of his career and by then he was bloating and getting old, tired and not wanting the top spot. That's why he's elevated so much in death he died literally just as he'd put it altogether with the capacity to be the all time Mexican GOAT, and is a huge what could have been if he'd clicked in 99-00 and been healthier.
It's the same as Owen Hart, he's over memorialised because he died when he was at his peak as a talent despite losing his hunger (although Owen also had a shitter gimmick at the time). Everyone gets remembered better if they die with unfulfilled potential look at Cobain, Winehouse, Hendrix, Morrison.
