For me, the "A" listers are those that get down and dirty no matter what the numbers or alt disadvantage is.
Quite a few present day fighters make that list that just kick the crap out of me every time I come across them. (Cmex, Trog, BigDawg, Hollywood).
What you see now mostly are those guys in uber fast planes that faint at the sight of any sort of alt or number disadvantage.