411’s Wrestler of the Week 08.31.09: Week 22

Posted by Jeremy Thomas on 08.31.2009

CM Punk beats Jeff Hardy in a Loser Leaves the WWE Match, Dolph Ziggler gets a shot at the Intercontinental Title, Dragon Gate's Summer Adventure Tag League tournament concludes and Hamada makes her TNA debut! Check out the latest edition of 411's Wrestler of the Week for all the details and for an updated look at the Year-End standings!



Welcome to Week 22, Year FIVE, of 411's Wrestler of the Week. A quick overview of the rules to kick things off for us as a reminder…

Each writer chooses FIVE wrestlers from any promotion and each wrestler gets a point total attached to that ranking. It looks a little like this…

1st - 5
2nd - 4
3rd - 3
4th - 2
5th - 1

If you are wondering how some of the writers decide who to vote for, please check out our Wrestler of the Week Supplemental Column!

Then we tally up the votes and the official 411 Wrestler of the Week is crowned. But wait, there's more! Each week the top SIX vote getters get a points value for their ranking which looks something like this…

1st - 15
2nd - 12
3rd - 9
4th - 6
5th - 3
6th - 1

...and they go towards the 411 Wrestler of the Year award to be announced each year at WrestleMania. This will be posted every Monday. Let's see who wins this week…

---

The Voting~!
Ryan Byers
1) CM Punk
With not much of note happening on Raw, ECW, or Superstars, Smackdown once again rules the day in terms of WWE programming, and CM Punk once again rules the day on Smackdown. The reigning World Heavyweight Champion put Jeff Hardy out of action in kayfabe terms, eliminating his number one rival from the promotion and again successfully defending his title. Now he just needs to get rid of this pesky Undertaker guy who has been causing problems for him lately, and he'll be set.

2) Shingo Takagi & YAMATO - One of the big annual events from Dragon Gate in Japan is their Summer Adventure Tag League tournament, which features the company's most elite pairings of wrestlers going at it in a lengthy series of tag matches. This year, Shingo Takagi and YAMATO emerged victorious over the rest of the field, no doubt putting themselves in line for a tag team title shot down the road.
3) Yoshihiro Takayama - This weekend, Takayama made his second successful defense of the AJPW Triple Crown, one of the most storied and prestigious heavyweight titles in all of professional wrestling, by defeating a very game former champion in Suawama.
4) Keiji Muthoh & Shiro Koshinaka (tie)
5) Chris Hero


Michael Bauer
1) CM Punk
A 2nd clean win over Hardy in a week ends Hardy's career. Punk is by far the best heel in the business right now and he is on fire. Now, he has a Dead Man to deal with.

2) Jeff Hardy: One can not forget what Hardy has given us for most of the last 10 years. Thank you Jeff.
3) Brian Kendrick: Huge win over Bryan Danielson in PWG. Now, he has CIMA twice next weekend.
4) William Regal / Dolph Ziggler (Tie)
5) Shingo Takagi & YAMATO


Jeff Small
1) CM Punk
Punk finally did what he always wanted to do - rid the WWE of Jeff Hardy. Punk's clearly on a role - having the promos of his life, competing in a possible tv match of the year candidate, and stealing the spotlight on Hardy's final goodbye. I'm not sure how long his momentum will last seeing as how his next opponent is the Undertaker but if he can come out looking as strong as HBK did earlier this year, he's a lock at winning WOTY.

2) Jeff Hardy - One last final goodbye for Jeff Hardy. Hardy once again made Punk look like the worst man in the WWE Universe and put on a hell of a show for his final match. Goodbye Jeff - see you in a year.
3) Dolph Ziggler - Won a IC title shot on Superstars in a fun four way match. Now due to Mysterio's suspension, he appears to be a lock as the next IC champion.
4) MVP & Mark Henry
5) Vince McMahon


Robert S. Leighty
1) CM Punk
Punk successfully defends his World Title in a fantastic cage match, and at the same time rids the WWE of Jeff Hardy. In a great dick move he also blasts Hardy from behind as he is saying goodbye to the fans (some of whom were in tears).

2) Jeff Hardy: He ended this WWE run on a high note as he put over Punk on the way out, and gave us one of the best TV matches of the year. It was a pretty powerful moment seeing real emotion from the fans as Hardy made his exit, and it seems this may be the last time we see him in the WOTW voting for 2009.
3) Vince McMahon: Celebrated his birthday by teaming with DX, and getting the pin in the match.
4) Hamada
5) Doplh Ziggler


Aaron Hubbard
1) CM Punk
Two days after a brutal TLC Match (which he felt every bit of since he doesn't take painkillers, as he so politely informed us), Punk defeats Jeff Hardy in a steel cage match, retaining his title and kicking Jeff out. Not to mention that he made women and children cry. That's BIG TIME heel heat.

2) Shingo Takagi & YAMATO: Winners of Dragon Gate's Summer Adventure Tag League tournament. Because, you know, in Japan there are actual tag team divisions.
3) Dolph Ziggler: Won a shot at Rey Mysterio's Intercontiental Championship on Superstars.
4) Chris Hero
5) Brian Kendrick


ARI
1) CM Punk / Jeff Hardy (tie)
The best match of the week is, surprise, surprise, CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy. Their cage match was a hell of a dramatic finale. It may not have been as action packed as their TLC match at Summerslam, but it certainly ranked up there for storytelling, selling the drama and tension of the title match against the loser leaving town. Hardy's emotional goodbye and Punk sticking it to Hardy one last time on his way out put the capper on these two having the best week.

2) Dolph Ziggler: Once again earns a number one contender status for the Intercontinental Championship and a sneak attack on Rey Mysterio on Smackdown continue The Z's prominent push in WWE.
3) SHINGO Takagi & YAMATO: Win big in Dragon Gate's tag league tournament, winning both the semi-finals and the finals (against very good Puro wrestlers Mochizuki and Nakajima) on the same show.
4) Hernandez
5) Ayako Hamada


Larry Csonka
1) Jeff Hardy and CM Punk
This was another great match from these two guys. But more important than that, Jeff went out as a true professional, working hard and putting Punk over all the way to the end. Punk is now a true main event guy, and when Hardy comes back, they have a natural program. This was done about as perfectly as you can do it.

2) Shingo Takagi & YAMATO: Shingo Takagi & YAMATO defeated Masaaki Mochizuki & Katsuhiko Nakajima to win Dragon Gate's ass-long Summer Adventure Tag League tournament.
3) Hamada: A tremendous debut on Impact this week, and another strong addition to the TNA Knockouts Division.
4) William Regal
5) MVP and Mark Henry


Andy Clark
1) CM Punk

With Jeff Hardy out of the picture Punk should take a commanding lead in the Wrestler of the Year rankings, and performances like Friday's are a good reason why. Punk is getting some solid heel heat and is doing great on SmackDown and a feud with Undertaker will hopefully continue his roll.

2) Jeff Hardy: His absence from here on out will no doubt cost Jeff the WOTY voting, but in terms of the Year End Awards I think he has made his case for the Wrestler of the Year Award, even if he has only been around for 3/4 of it. It's interesting that with Edge's injury and Rey's supsension that the new SmackDown Six is down to three.
3) Vincent Kennedy McMahon: Vinnie Mac set aside his differences with DX and scored a big win over WWE Champion Randy Orton.
4) Dolph Ziggler
5) Hamada


Samuel Berman
1) CM Punk
Retains his World Heavyweight Title in one of the best matches on free television all year.

2) Jeff Hardy: A fitting and excellent retirement match (for now).
3) Shingo Takagi & YAMATO: Won Dragon Gate's Summer Adventure Tag League.
4) Chris Hero
5) Yoshihiro Takayama


Jasper Gerretsen
1) CM Punk
The last time I can remember a wrestler being banished from WWE (not just a brand, but WWE) as a result of losing a match was Chris Jericho in 2005. Punk has cemented himself as the top heel of SD!, and he's on top of the blue brand right now, no matter what his feud with Undertaker may bring.

2) Shingo Takagi & YAMATO: They picked up the win in one of the longest lasting tournaments of the past summer. Time will tell if they can get the tag titles away from the Real Hazard team.
3) Brian Kendrick: THE Brian Kendrick picked up a huge win over Danielson's in what's probably the latter's final PWG match to pick up steam heading towards his confrontation with CIMA next week.
4) Dolph Ziggler
5) Hamada


Jeremy Thomas
1) CM Punk/Jeff Hardy
Punk and Hardy very clearly had the match of the week on SmackDown. Punk retains the World Heavyweight Title and sends Jeff packing from the 'E; however, Jeff deserves a shit-ton of credit for putting Punk over so well. He went out strong and the way he wanted, and that's what's important. Great job by both men.

2) Dolph Ziggler: Dolph won a shot at the Intercontinental Title, and thanks to Rey Rey, we'll probably be seeing him here on this list next week as well. With Hardy leaving, Edge injured and Rey suspended, Ziggler is making a case for being considered a member of the SmackDown Six.
3) Hamada: Hamada had a great freaking match with Daffney in her TNA debut, and got the win as well. You gotta love that.
4) William Regal
5) MVP & Mark Henry

---

THE WINNERS~!

Special Mention…Vince McMahon & Brian Kendrick - 7 Votes

Fifth Place…Hamada - 11 Votes

Fourth Place…Dolph Ziggler - 21 Votes

Third Place…Shingo Takagi & YAMATO - 23 Votes

Takagi and YAMATO come out victorious at the culmination of Dragon Gate's Summer Adventure Tag League tournament and position themselves for great things to come.

Second Place…Jeff Hardy - 35 Votes

Jeff does the right thing in his last match and puts CM Punk over big-time...not to mention that the match was fantastic, too.

Wrestler of the Week…CM Punk - 55 Votes

CM Punk clean-sweeps the first-place voting once again as he sends the WWE's most popular superstar packing and retains the World Heavyweight Title en route to a collision with the Undertaker!


Year-End Standings~!

The biggest news here is how far Jeff Hardy and CM Punk have distanced themselves from the rest of the pack for the number one and two spots. Punk is thirty-seven points ahead of his closest currently-active challenger and looks to stay on top for a while. Meanwhile, Dolph Ziggler moves closer to the top 15 while Vince, Kendrick, Hamada, YAMATO and Takagi all make their debuts.

Let's check out the Year-End Standings!

1. CM Punk – 92 (SmackDown)

2. Jeff Hardy – 85 (US Independent)

3. John Morrison – 55 (SmackDown)

4. Edge – 49 (SmackDown) {INJURED}

5. Rey Mysterio – 48 (SmackDown) {SUSPENDED}

6. Chris Jericho – 34 (SmackDown)

7. Randy Orton – 31 (RAW)

8. Christian – 28 (ECW)

9. Naruki Doi - 27 (Dragon's Gate)
9. JTG – 27 (SmackDown)

11. Jerry Lynn – 24 (ROH)

12. Kurt Angle – 22 (TNA)
12. Samoa Joe – 22 (TNA)

14. Davey Richards – 21 (ROH)
14. Eddie Edwards – 21 (ROH)
14. Mitsuharu Misawa - 21 (NOAH) {DECEASED}

Sting – 18 (TNA)
Go Shiozaki - 18 (NOAH)

Tyler Black – 16 (ROH)
Ted DiBiase – 16 (RAW)

The Undertaker – 15 (SmackDown)
Mick Foley – 15 (TNA)
Montel Vontavious Porter – 15 (RAW)
Manabu Nakanishi - 15 (NOAH)
Batista – 15 (RAW) {INJURED}
Austin Aries – 15 (ROH)
Mark Henry – 15 (RAW)
Togi Makabe - 15 (NOAH)
Hernandez – 15 (TNA)
Dolph Ziggler – 15 (SmackDown)

Shawn Michaels – 12 (RAW)
Minoru Suzuki - 12 (All Japan)
Brother Devon – 12 (TNA)
Brother Ray – 12 (TNA)
Bison Smith - 12 (NOAH)
AJ Styles – 12 (TNA)
Tommy Dreamer – 12 (ECW)
Hiroshi Tanahashi - 12 (New Japan)
Shad – 12 (SmackDown)

John Cena – 9 (RAW)
MsChif - 9 (SHIMMER)
Jack Swagger – 9 (RAW)
Masato Tanaka - 9 (ZERO1)
Homcide – 9 (TNA)
Nick Jackson - 9 (US Independent)
Matt Jackson - 9 (US Independent)
Ryouji Sai - 9 (ZERO1)
Player Dos - 9 (US Independent)
Shingo Takagi - 9 (Dragon's Gate)
YAMATO - 9 (Dragon's Gate)

Daniels – 6 (TNA)
Matt Hardy – 6 (SmackDown)
Chris Hero - 6 (US Independent)
Zach Ryder – 6 (ECW)
Bryan Danielson – 6 (WWE)

Dr. Wagner Jr. - 4 (AAA)

Evan Bourne – 3 (Raw)
The Miz – 3 (Raw)
Ken Anderson - 3 (US Independent)
Tara – 3 (TNA)
Booker T – 3 (TNA)
Scott Steiner – 3 (TNA)
Tajiri - 3 (HUSTLE)
Tyson Kidd – 3 (SmackDown)
Hamada – 3 (TNA)

Ricky Steamboat– 2 (WWE)

Portia Perez - 1 (SHIMMER)
Nicole Mathews - 1 (SHIMMER)
Ryo Saito - 1 (Dragon Gate)
Genki Horiguchi - 1 (Dragon Gate)
Soldier Ant - 1 (US Independent)
Fire Ant - 1 (US Independent)
Michelle McCool – 1 (SmackDown)
Atsushi Aoki - 1 (NOAH)
Kota Ibushi - 1 (NOAH)
Seth Green - 1 (US Independent)
Yoshinobu Kanemaru - 1 (NOAH)
Kotaro Suzuki - 1 (NOAH)
Cody Rhodes – 1 (RAW)
Vince McMahon – 1 (WWE)
Brian Kendrick - 1 (US Independent)

Voting began 4.06.09

Year-End Rankings Key:

WWE, Raw, ECW and SmackDown Contracted Wrestlers are represented in BLUE.

TNA Contracted Wrestlers are represented in GREEN.

ROH Contracted Wrestlers are represented in RED.

US Independent Wrestlers are represented in MAROON.

Japanese Contracted Wrestlers are represented in BLACK.

Mexican Contracted Wrestlers are represented in MAGENTA.

---

**PREVIOUS WINNERS**

Year One Winner: Ric Flair


Year Two Winner: Samoa Joe


Year Three Winner: John Cena


Year Four Winner: Chris Jericho

If you are wondering how some of the writers decide who to vote for, please check out our Wrestler of the Week Supplemental Column!