This year marks the quarter-century point for WWE, a 25-year span that has seen the industry's top promotion evolve into something unrecognizable from the company that rode the pro wrestling boom of the Monday Night Wars and was once the only game in town.

It’s Black Music Month, and Billboard, the music biz bible, has come up with its list of the 75 best R&B artists of all time. Our own Prince ranked No. 7. Before we get into debates (how could Aretha Franklin not be No. 1?), let’s look at the criteria.