What are the Differences between a Legend and an Icon?

Question

If you can, please answer these:
What are the differences? What defines one as a legend and another as an icon? Is it better to be a legend or an icon?

Answer 1

What? I know those are just interpretations from the users, but those are definitely not meaning of icon and legend.



Icon is representative of a subject matter. Legend is historic narrative of a person or story. For example, Shawn Michaels is known as an icon, as at one point, he was the representation of the WWE. He was the Main Event. He was Mr. Wrestlemania. He was the Showstopper. And he represented exactly all of that. And that is why he is an icon. I like to believe that there are far less icons then legends. Legend is a matter of feat of what someone has done. To be an icon is to personify something. The Rock is another example of on Icon and in my opinion, the attitude era, as he was in fact, all about "attitude." Mick Foley, is the "Hardcore Icon," because he is in fact, "hardcore." Hogan was the icon of wrestling because he was in fact the face of wrestling at the time.



A Legend, is basically a story and list of accomplishment. Being an Icon can be a part of that. Roddy Piper is a legend. Why? Because he paved the way for the loud mouth arrogant heels. He brought in segments like Piper Pits, and his fiery personality was like no other. That is a legend. Shawn Micheals. Mr. Wrestlemania, Multi-time winner for match of the year. The Heart Break Kid. The man known to betray his partners. The man who made it possible for the little guy to be huge. The Boy Hood Dream. Notice that whenever I try to point out a legend, all I am doing is listing his accomplishments? Thats pretty much how we interpret a legend. By his actions. How the hell did WWE interpret Drew Carey as a legend? By what he did in the WWE. Merely that.



To be a legend, you have to have accomplished big things. To be an icon, you must become a symbol in pro-wrestling. As great as it is to be a legend, I believe that when you are the living representation of pro-wrestling or anything, you are consider a few in a million. There are gonna be many legends, but only a few icons are born.

Answer 2

The difference, to me: An Icon is a performer synonymous with one promotion, a perennial main eventer, holder of many championships, usually involved in most of the major storylines and angles. An Icon is a performer that, when somebody says his name, you respond with "ah yes, *name of promotion*. For example: The Rock. "Ah yes, the WWE". Sting. "Ah yes, WCW". The reverse applies, as well: The WWE. "Ah yes, where The Rock wrestled". WCW. "Oh yeah, Sting". A Legend goes beyond just being a very familiar face in a promotion and on to changing the business itself. Hulk Hogan is a legend; he took the WWF from a large northeast territory to being a global phenomenon. Ric Flair is a legend; he brought the "old school" NWA into modern times with his "Nature Boy" gimmick being so popular he brought in millions of new fans and kept the NWA/WCW successful as theor marquee attraction. The two terms aren't mutually exclusive. An Icon can be a Legend; Rock and Sting are certainly legends in their respective promotions. And a Legend can be an Icon. Ric Flair is certainly an Icon in the NWA/WCW. Hogan is, as well, in the WWF. But there IS a difference. An Icon is synonymous with a particular promotion. A Legend changed the wrestling BUSINESS for the better in some way or another. BQ: Don't give anybody any reason (that might violate the Terms or Guidelines; such as "ranting" or "insulting other users") to report your questions. And appeal all violations. If you can show that you are being stalked and harassed, Yahoo will deal with the stalkers, not you.

Answer 3

I've always dictated the difference as being whether or not the person being called a legend or icon is active within their realm of expertise. Case in point, Shawn Michaels was called an Icon up until he retired, and now many refer to him as a legend because his body of work in wrestling has come to an end. I guess the difference is that an Icon is someone within their pique of skill and popularity. They've done it all and are still trying to do more, whereas a Legend has a full body of work to look over because their time in the industry is done.



But, if you want to be technical, Icon and Legend are just synonyms for one another

Answer 4

WELL, ICONS ARE THOSE WHO PEOPLE LIKE AND IDOLISE WHEREAS LEGENDS ARE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN A PARTICULR BUISNESS( SAY WWE) FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS CONTRIBUTED MUCH.

SAY FOR EXAMPLE..

JOHN CENA IS AN ICON BUT MARK HENRY IS NOT.BUT WHEN HENRY WILL RETIRE SOON HE WILL BE A LEGEND DUE TO HIS CONTRIBUTION AND LOYALTY THEN U LIKE IT OR NOT.

IS IT OK?

Answer 5

legends = ,michaels,taker,hart etc.

icons = rock,cena,austin

Answer 6

A "legend" in my book is a broad term to describe a prominant figure in a business. He or she may not be considered an all time great, but has done enough to gain plenty of recognition for his line of work be it on the mike or in the ring or both. A legend has respect of peers and fans alike, and has been in the business for a good amount of time with impact.

An good example to me of a "legend" is Scott Hall/Razor Ramon. Not many put Scott in the Flair/Misawa/HBK/Hart/Kobashi/Steamboat/Benoit category of workers, but he is recognized as a good one who has earned respect for his technical ability from peers. He may not have a all time match, but his WM 10 ladder match with HBK was precedent setting, and certainly legendary and a good one that put HBK in a new status. Hall may not have the promo consistancy of a Jericho or Graham or Steve Austin, but Hall's segment work and overall work with the outsider angle/NWO is certaintly legendary and got super over. Hall was a perfect compliment to Hogan and big Kevin Nash in the original trio of the NWO where Hall played a perfect Havlicek to Cousy (Nash though not in size but in second in prominance) and Russell (Hogan) Due to his major role in the NWO (the biggest storyline in recent wrestling history arguably) and work as Razor Ramon, Hall is definately seen as a legend, but didn't quite have the body of work or the role as THE guy to be considered an "Icon", which leads to my next paragraph.



An Icon changed the business forever, is widely reguarded by all as an all time great, has a huge body of work be it in countless great matches, promos, segments, or a combination. An Icon is one who you KEEP the tv on whenever he is out and is either a man you love to hate as a heel, love as a face, or love to watch in the ring. An icon to me has shown he can be the prosperous batman of a company and can elevate performers to new heights when applicable. Icons are versatile as all time great singles stars and great tag team/stable wrestlers. These elite men to me have successful longevity hopefuly in both successful stints as heel and face, and have proven to draw money and ratings. The Icons must have both good to great mike work and excellent ring work (or vise versa). Icons have cross over success in multiple companies to prove they aren't one trick ponies or the product of a marketing machine (except for guys like Taker, who I certainly consider an Icon though he has only found success in WWF/E)



A list of some american Icons to me are guys like Georgeous George, Thez, Buddy Rodgers, the Original Sheik, Race, Terry Funk, Flair, Steamboat, (hey, maybe not great promo work, but his character personification in matches, all time body of work in America, ability to elevate good wrestlers to great are nearly unmatched. longevity and success in multiple companies with title runs certaintly helps as well as being in the greatest trilogy in American wrestling history vs Flar in 89 and being in 1 of the most influential matches in American wrestling history at wm 3 vs Savage), Andre the Giant, Piper and Hogan. More recent icons in the US to me include Bret Hart, HBK, Taker, Austin, Jericho (though he had good work in NJPW), Benoit (same) and I would contend that now Kurt Angle can be seen as an Icon. Some more icons who were more prominant outside of US though some have notable work in the states include Abdulah the Butcher, Mil Mascaras, El Santo, Jushin Liger, Dynamite Kid, Tiger Mask 1, Giant Baba, Jumbo, Inoki, Rikidozan Misawa, Kobashi, Muta and the list could go on