The 411 Wrestling Top 5 10.21.09: Week 45 – Wrestlers To Start Your Own Promotion

Posted by Michael Bauer on 10.21.2009

From veterans like Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho to the younger blood like CM Punk and AJ Styles, and from TNA greats AJ Styles and Samoa Joe to Indy Stars Austin Aries and KENTA, 411's Wrestling Staffers rank their Five Wrestlers they would pick to start their own promotion in the latest edition of the 411 Wrestling Top Five!

Hello everyone and welcome to 411 Wrestling's Top 5 List. What we are going to is take a topic each week and all the writers here on 411 wrestling will have the ability to give us their Top 5 on said topic, plus up to three honorable mentions. At the end, based on where all these matches rank on people's list, we will create the 411 Wrestling Top 5 list. (This is provided enough votes are cast and are not different enough to cause no clear Top 5.) The scoring is very similar to the Wrestler of the Week as it looks like this:

#1 Choice – 5 points
#2 Choice – 4 points
#3 choice – 3 points
#4 Choice – 2 points
#5 Choice – 1 point
Honorable Mentions will break ties, but get no points.

Also, in the case of a tie, the most votes win, regardless of where it is listed in the individual Top 5. I will also use this rule in the event that one item is mentioned more often, but is one point behind. For example, one second place vote and two Honorable Mentions will defeat simply one first place vote.


So, on to this week's topic…

THE TOP 5 WRESTLERS TO START YOUR OWN PROMOTION


So what did our group of writers select? Let's find out…



Scott Rutherford

1.Chris Jericho - Has been the best-performed wrestler of the past couple of years and is the complete package as a wrestler. He can wrestle any style, great on the stick, can believably work as a face or heel and can pretty much work a good match with anyone. What's even better is that he doesn't crave the title "champion" like say…HHH. He's a guy that's in it for the business and does what's needed. He also has the ability to get angles over and elevate whoever he works with. He is worth his weight in gold and if I was starting a promotion I would be throwing as much money as I could at him and get him on board.

2.C.M Punk - Has blossomed incredibly since his win at WM this year. Has all the skills of a Chris Jericho but has two factors that Jericho doesn't…he's younger and in no way is he near his prime as a worker. He is a top star but 10 years from now he'll still be a top star and an infinitely better wrestler. So basically, you have Jericho as your top star right now and Punk as the guy who will take over when Jericho slows down.

3.Samoa Joe - Every promotion needs that guy who has an aura about him. Joe has already established himself to be a leader and has a reputation of not someone you fuck with. It was a toss up between Joe and The Undertaker but I had to go with the former and not the later just because UT has limited miles left on the clock and Joe will be around for decades to come.

4.Brock Lesnar - I know he's in MMA and chances of him ever coming back to wrestling are really fucking slim, but since he's arrival as a cage fighter his profile has risen considerably and if money was no object, Lesnar would be a fantastic addition to a starting roster. He brings legitimacy to your promotion and a shit load of press. Would he last long? Oh god no! Even if you only have him for 12-18 months that's all you need and as long as you get him to put over one of your top guys strong on the way out. It's a short term acquisition but one that would be worth the money.

5.Charlie Haas - I didn't deliberately set out to load my list with WWE talent but with only 5 spots you need to think about choices. You could easily load up the five with a heap of great wrestlers and be done with it. I wanted to have a rounded Top 5 that has wrestlers that fit specific roles within a promotion and that's why Haas has made my list. A supremely talented wrestler that lacks that extra 10% to make him a star, he's a reliable hand that could be your promotions "mechanic". He'll make anyone look good. He's your classic worker that will never make it too the top but is vital when trying to get someone over without jobbing out your top stars and is respected backstage. The complete wrestler but in a different way to Chris Jericho.



Aaron Hubbard

1.AJ Styles - The first thing you need when making a promotion is the top babyface. I wanted someone who was young but still had name value, had solid fundamentals and incredible athleticism. He needs to have charisma and be able to act the part of a heel eventually. The perfect choice was AJ Styles. The Phenomenal One has had countless memorable performances and great matches, and he is just now hitting his prime as a competitor, the precious period where the wisdom of age mixes with the stamina of youth. AJ has experience carrying a promotion on his back, and he is even more ready to take that role now.



2.Austin Aries - A hero is only as good as his villain. I wanted someone who can match the charisma, intensity, and athleticism of Styles, but who would play the opposite role. Austin Aries is a great worker, both as heel and babyface. He has incredible snap in his moves and rarely ever botches a move. The rivalry between these two could be the stuff of legend, both in the roles I have them listed here as (AJ the boy scout babyface, Aries the cocky heel) and in reverse.

3.The Motor City Machine Guns - You would be hard pressed to make a pick that has more talent than this one. The Machine Guns are fantastic as a tag team and amazing as singles competitors. Chris Sabin can fly with the best of them, and Shelly can wrestle as gracefully as Dean Malenko in his prime. They are young, talented, and still have years in which to improve. Whether together or apart, these two will make an impact when they are given the chance to shine.

4.Rey Mysterio - As a counter to my pool of young talent, I choose the veteran Rey Mysterio. Still relatively young and more motivated than he has been in years, Rey has proven that he is the most amazing high-flyer that has ever graced a wrestling ring. Some may be faster, some may be more athletic, but there is only one Rey Mysterio. Mysterio vs. Styles or Aries are verifiable dream matches. And who hasn't dreamed of Mysterio teaming with AJ? Providing experience for the younger generation, Mysterio can still mix it up with the best of them.

5.Bryan Danielson - With the sole exception of Alex Shelly, most of my talent's arsenals is based on high-risk offense and fast paced aerial assaults. To contrast with this, I pick the best technical wrestler in the world. Danielson will be the workhorse of the promotion, drifting between heel and babyface as needed, and having great matches with everyone. While the promotion may showcase Aries and Styles, Danielson brings steak to their sizzle, and should one of those two become injured, Danielson can easily move up to be the top star.



Ryan Byers

In his column this week, Steve Cook said something to the effect of "Ryan Byers snorts coke and then watches wrestling." Looking back on this list after I compiled it, I'm beginning to see where Steve is coming from.

1.Jun Kasai - I suppose I should begin this list by saying that I believe that no wrestling promotion should have a set "style" to which it strictly adheres Every promotion should instead try to be a balance of styles on the same card, and that's why my picks are wrestlers that represent many different subgenres of the sport who I think could be pulled together in to an entertaining overall package. To that end, pick number one is "Crazy Monkey" Jun Kasai, who I consider to be the best deathmatch wrestler going today. In addition to his unique look and willingness to do just about anything in the ring, Kasai is a better pure wrestler than just about any "hardcore" grappler to come along in the last decade, which makes his matches a unique hybrid of deathmatch and traditional wrestling.



2.Mike Quackenbush - Of course, perhaps even better than a blend of styles in one wrestling promotion is a blend of styles in one WRESTLER. That's why I would have to snag Mike Quackenbush to be involved in any hypothetical startup promotion under my control. If you want to have a Japanese style match, the man can do it. If you want to put on a lucha libre bout, the man can do it. If you'd like to dabble in the US independent style, the man can do it. I can honestly say that, without hyperbole, I consider Quack to be one of the most versatile wrestlers going today. Plus, to top it off, his realistic, "nice guy" persona is a unique character in wrestling that makes him into the quintessential babyface.



3.Jetta - What wrestling promotion in 2009 can get by without a women's division? Seemingly none of them. If I were starting a company from the ground up and decided to showcase ladies' wrestling, the cornerstone of my division would be UK wrestler Jetta. In addition to being technically proficient in the ring, she has to be one of the best female wrestlers since Sensational Sherry when it comes to whipping the crowd in to a frenzy and making a connection beyond that between a fake fighter and a fan who is aware that he's watching a fake fight. Plus, to top it all off, if you need to do comedy, Jetta can do comedy like nobody's business. She's essentially the female version of Colt Cabana, which is high praise indeed.



4.Magnum TOKYO - You know what wrestling in the United States hasn't had in quite some time? A really great, elaborate entrance that instantly makes the guy walking down the aisle look like a star. Obviously the Undertaker's entrance is iconic, and Randy Orton's slow saunter down to the ring is becoming a no frills classic. However, gone are the days when characters like the Brood or the Heartbreakers would get over on practically the strength of their entrances alone. That's why one of my picks would be Magnum TOKYO, Japan's master of the elaborate entrance. He's slowed down a step or two as an in-ring performer since his physical prime, but he's still a solid hand in the squared circle, and he really doesn't even need those skills so long as he's got a feathered ring jacket, some dancing girls, and a wacky techno-pop song.



5.L.A. Park - Sometimes you just can't go wrong with an old favorite. A lot of people reading this probably only think of L.A. Park (formerly La Parka . . . long story) as a comedy jobber in WCW. However, if you go back and watch the matches that he was losing in that promotion as well as the matches that he has done for other promotions, you quickly come to realize that he is a legitimate world class in-ring performer as well as being perhaps the most charismatic masked man in wrestling's history. Park was already one a cult hero in the United States and remains a main event caliber star in his native Mexico. With a little bit of renewed exposure, he could definitely reach the former classification in the US once more, and he may even be able to reach the latter.





Julian Bond

1.Chris Jericho - For my promotion, I'm going to categorize each of my selections by "that guy" (i.e. the "strong heel", the "comedic relief"). So with Jericho, he would be my "veteran heel". Gotta have someone who not only is truly recognized by most wrestling fans, but also would be a good top ring veteran in the back locker room. Plus on top of this, Jericho still has it in the ring and can bring out the best in just about anyone today. Great in ring, great on the mic, just really great in general.

2.AJ Styles - My "top face". He would be a top face akin to Jericho being my top heel with being able to pull great matches out of everyone and is pretty recognizable by a lot of fans. Definitely in my top 5 if I had a promotion.

3.Tyler Black - Black…he would be my "up and coming face". Every new organization I think should have a "new guy" per se that is one to start off as a fresh face to the eyes of new fans that people can start following and get behind as they slowly get behind them. True Black is essentially doing the same thing now in his current home in ROH, but I would have him start off the same way in my imaginary company.

4.Abyss - My "monster big man heel". Abyss is alright as a face now is TNA, but I would bring him on board to go back to my old ways of being a sick monster heel to have everyone on the roster be in "true fear" of the big dude (i.e. Big Show, Undertaker). Plus he also can have good bouts with a nice variety of different people.

5.Brian Danielson - My "solid technical grappler". Danielson to me would be the glue (like in ROH) to my organization. He would be the "working horse" on the roster putting on great technical matches with everyone and could act as a nice mix-up between face and heel wherever it was needed.



Stephen Randle

1. John Cena - Because I enjoy making money, and according to financial records, only two wrestlers have made more money in a single year than Cena. He wrestles solid matches, he sells tickets, and whether you love him or hate him, you all react to him, and that's why he's been the face of pro wrestling, and why he'd be the face of my promotion.

2. Chris Jericho - The smartest man in wrestling, he's been the most popular face and the hottest heel in pro wrestling, he has all the credibility of being a multiple time World champion and can make practically anyone look good in the ring.

3. CM Punk - The hottest commodity in wrestling over the summer, his Straight Edge act has virtually no limit to the places it could go, and he can incite a crowd like few others. Plus, he has the added benefit of never having to worry about failing a drug test.

4. John Morrison - I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who won't acknowledge that John Morrison is THE Future of WWE. Capital T, H, E, and F. The only Tough Enough winner still working for a major fed, Morrison captured audience attention while doing a standing SSP during the reality program and he's been steadily improving ever since. From MNM to IC champion Johnny Nitro to ECW Champion John Morrison to the Best Tag Team of 2008 to the Friday Night Delight we know and love today, everything this man touches turns to absolute gold, and I think it's fair to call him the man most likely to win his first (real) World title before the end of 2010. I'd be a fool not to take him.

5. Edge - This was a coinflip between Edge and his almost equally talented "brother", but I've got to go with the guy who's been more successful on a larger stage. Either way, the blurb is practically the same. This guy was part of the tag team explosion of 1999-2001, one half of one of the greatest tag teams of all time, then moved on to the singles ranks and built compelling face AND heel characters, even re-building his fanbase from the ground up on more than one occasion, and even managed to capture multiple World titles. He's wrestled his share of MOTY candidates, and after all, he's my boy.



THE Larry Csonka

1. Kurt Angle - While many of us thought that Angle would have a mental break down or be paralyzed by now, the fact of the matter is that he is still one of the top performers in the business today. Angle can work with anyone, and would guarantee quality in the ring.

2. Chris Jericho - Chris Jericho is a natural second choice for me. Since his return to the business, Jericho has been amazing on the mic, in the ring and has proven when given some creative control that his angle can carry a company. Kicking off the promotion with the Angle vs. Jericho feud would be the best plan for me.

3. The Young Bucks - We need a tag team, and over the last year I have become a huge fan of the Young Bucks. These guys are the Hardy Boyz V. 2.0, and I mean that as a good thing. Young, athletic as hell and always out to steal the show, these guys would be the centerpiece of the division.

4. Cheerleader Melissa - And with my love of women's wrestling, we need some ladies to start things off. This was a hard choice, but I am going with proven commodities. First of all, there is Cheerleader Melissa. She is a great worker and can work a variety of styles with a wide variety of opponents, and would be the face of the division.

5. Sara Del Rey - And along with the face, we need a bad ass bitch heel (again in a good way) and that is where Death Rey comes in. How she is not in a major US promotion astounds me, but she would be welcomed in my company any day.



Andy Clark

1. KENTA: I don't watch Puro, and I rarely check out ROH these days, but that shouldn't change the fact that KENTA is one of the most entertaining wrestlers on the planet. In starting a new promotion you would have to combat the stigma of having a foreign wrestler at the forefront of the promotion, but after a few rocking matches I don't see that being in a problem.

2. Jeff Hardy: Over the past three years Jeff Hardy has transformed into one of the most over wrestlers in the entire business. Sure his drug history may be a problem, but if people are interested in hiring Kurt Angle I should be allowed to hire Jeff Hardy. He has developed into a strong worker as well, so not only will he be able to make me money but he'll be able to hang at the top of the card. If worse comes to worse he can at least give the rub to my next selection.

3. AJ Styles: Think of AJ Styles as Jeff Hardy, V.2. AJ's style (no pun intended) is flashy enough to captivate casual fans and he can work with just about anybody. AJ can be the face of the future of the new company and can be a great fallback should anything ever happen to Hardy.

4. Chris Jericho: I debated on whether or not to go with Shawn Michaels in this spot, and while I think HBK is the more talented of the two, Jericho probably has more miles left in his tank. It's a toss up between those two as to who is the best wrestler in the world (sorry Bryan Danielson, although you almost made the list) so you can't really go wrong. Jericho would be the perfect heel to place at the top of the card and could work brilliantly with any of my faces. He also brings the ability to talk fans into purchasing a show, something my face roster lacks.

5. CM Punk: My other big promo and my other top heel. As someone who felt CM Punk's heel work in ROH was slightly overrated, Punk's heel run in WWE has really rejuvenated his career and helped him become a big money player. There is also money in a face turn down the line should the deck ever need to be shuffled.



Shawn S. Lealos

1. Chris Jericho - The promotion needs a leader and Jericho fits that mold. He can pull out a fantastic match in his sleep and is better on the mic than almost anyone in the world today. He is an easy choice to be my fed's top bad guy.

2. A.J. Styles - For every great bad guy, you need a great hero. A.J. Styles is not the biggest dog on the street but he can go toe to toe against anyone. People call him a spot monkey but those people are stupid. A.J. Styles vs. Chris Jericho is like printing your own money.

3. Beer Money - I was trying to find a great tag team because my federation will be serious about that division. When trying to figure out who would be the initial faces of the tag division, I was looking at both Beer Money and The Motor City Machine Guns. The MCMG is a lot like the Fantastics and Beer Money is a lot like The Midnight Express. I want both teams, but I will go with Beer Money as my initial aquisition.

4. Shawn Michaels - I need a legend and I want one who can still go. Shawn may be nearing retirement but he is still better than anyone else in professional wrestling. Shawn would immediately add prestige to my fed and that is important for an upstart.

5. John Morrison - He is young. He is cocky. He is the future of professional wrestling. I am using veterans (Jericho, HBK) to sell this to the fans and then will use those veterans to introduce the world to the talent of the future.



Len Archibald

No rhyme or reason for my Top 5, other than a stream-of-consciousness explanation of why I would have them…

1. CM Punk: In completing my prototype of the 1980's era of pro wrestling and modernizing it, I need a guy who is the enforcer to the evil whims of my #1 heel, but shows flashes of something where he could take the mantle at any time on either side of the spectrum. CM Punk may not have the size of an Arn Anderson, but (in terms of kayfabe) has the know-how to take anyone down. He would be on the same page as Chris Jericho, calling the fans hypocrites, and probably wouldn't mind enjoying the fruits of success wearing a suit from time to time (could you imagine CM Punk ripping on the fans and explaining he can afford Armani because he saved his money and didn't shell out for that beer, or that cigarette – or that BRICK OF COCAINE?) CM Punk could see Jericho turning soft and take his place as the #1 heel, or see the ills of his ways and become the #1 face and his "just say no" attitude is a great marketing tool. I could also just have him go to town in the ring, setting up a collision course between him and AJ Styles to find out who is truly "the future" of this industry.

2. Chris Jericho: As you can see, I'm modeling my promotion based on The Rock n' Wrestling/80's NWA Era. I have my Hogan, my Savage and my Steamboat. I need my Flair/Piper antagonizing heel that whips the crowd into a frenzy just by lifting the mic to his lips or looking into the camera. Gee, who does that today better than anyone? I would actually tweak Jericho's gimmick and take it a step further, since he's considered "established" – I would make him "The Establishment", and make him a hybrid of Jericho of today and 80's Horseman Ric Flair. Form a stable of shit-talkers who can back it up around him and have Cena and AJ go nuts trying to take them down. I'm counting the cash, already.

3. AJ Styles: To me, AJ represents the "future" of professional wrestling. I feel when people (especially around here) throw out the term "future", they don't seem to understand how shortsighted they are with the term. In 1999, Triple H was considered the "future"…when he won his first world title. Now he's considered the "present" – he's hit his stride in regards to status and popularity. AJ hasn't even scratched the surface, yet. Yes, TNA is bringing in a new, growing audience – but I truly believe if he had the $$$ or vocal backing of Vince McMahon or Ted Turner, he would be on his way to be bigger than John Cena. Yes, I said that – BIGGER THAN JOHN CENA. Styles has everything – a good look, a style that the fans can get behind, a sincerity about the business he's in, and the abillity to take an asswhoopin in the ring and have people CARE. This would be my Ricky Steamboat – I would NEVER turn him heel. Never.

4. Kurt Angle: To me, while John Cena will bring the sizzle and be the Hulk Hogan-like, larger-than-life ambassador and face of my company, Kurt Angle will bring the steak and be the Randy Savage. People will pay to see John Cena win or lose, but people will STAY to watch Kurt Angle wrestle…anyone. Painkillers or no painkillers, batshit insane or not, Angle is still the absolute BEST on the planet at what he does: Talk, brawl, catch-as-can, be intense, be funny, chain-based, submission-based, PERFECT MOONSAULT, epic heel or epic face. You need a guy that can play any role at any given time, and Kurt's the guy with the credibility and credentials to do so. This is my tweener who doesn't care if the fans cheer or boo him.

5. John Cena: Money, money, yeah, yeah. Look, here's the thing – when you are starting up a wrestling promotion, you're starting up a BUSINESS. When you start up a business, you probably have investors who are looking for a return. You want to do more than the bingo hall thing. You want to attract a wide range of fans. You want merchandise sales and, more importantly, merchandising rights. You want to say you have the #1 name in the field of business you're involved in. Apart from Shane McMahon, who effective January 1st, 2010 will be no longer active with professional wrestling, who the FUCK else would you have to start up your promotion? You can have your "indie cred" – I will sleep on my mounds of money, bang hot chicks and sip on my Pinot Noir, thank you much.



Chris Lansdell

1. D-Generation X : Seriously guys, we're allowed one tag team pick and NOBODY has yet picked DX? Are you all on drugs? These two guys as a team are awesome and they come ready-over. If you need to you can turn one heel and split them, giving you two main event singles talents. It's a no-brainer.

2. Edge : If only there was someone with better in-ring skills than Cena, better mic work than Mysterio and more charisma than Orton. Oh wait, there is. He doesn't have the money mass-market appeal that Cena and Mysterio have, but he can play face or heel and is also great on the mic. What Edge brings that the other 3 people I considered cannot bring is a well-rounded package, something that fits my promotion well: veterans with all the tools, young guys with stuff to learn.

3. AJ Styles : Simply put, AJ Styles is the best young talent in wrestling today. The knocks on AJ had always been that he couldn't talk and that he was a spot monkey, but he has fixed both of those issues with training from Christian and Kurt Angle respectively, and now he is a legend in waiting. He is a dream match for 4 of the 5 other guys on this list.

4. Tyler Black : The young upstart of the promotion. Tyler right now is AJ Styles when he was in RoH...all the potential in the world but with the knocks that he can't talk and is too spotty. Putting him in a fed with the above 4 names is the best way to break the bad habits out of him and give him a stellar resumé of matches to boot.

5. John Morrison : Yes, no CM Punk on my list. Shocking, but I think these 6 names make better choices. He would be the next name down without a doubt. Morrison is on a stellar rise right now, and I would want to capitalise on that. And is there ANYONE who doesn't want to see Morrison-HBK or Morrison-Styles? Didn't think so.



Michael Bauer

1.CM Punk - My list is going to be loaded with young talent. At the top of the list has to be CM Punk, the Straight Edge heel that I would be crazy not to want. Punk has speed, an encylopedia worth of moves, and is dripping charisma. He's perfect in any role and leading my fed would be easy.



2.Bryan Danielson - No wrestler has the combination of speed, techincal ability, submission base, and pure brawling ability. Danielson is the perfect opponent for almost anyone and is probablty the best addition for a pure wrestling promotion.

3.The Young Bucks - I agree with Larry. If you going to have a tag team, there isn't much better than the Young Bucks. I hate the Hardy Boys 2.0 stigma, but it is the truth. They are young, they dazzle with insane matches, and they can go nowhere but up.

4.Chris Jericho - Jericho is the one veteran I would want, because like Danielson, he makes a perfect opponent for just about anyone. He still has moves on tope of moves and works the microphone better than anyone in the business.

5.Matt Sydal (Evan Bourne) - Yeah, believe it. I love the high flying style and Matt Sydal has it. Sure, I could choose Mysterio, but Sydal is younger. I could take Hardy or Jack Evans, but neither are reliable. And I could take AJ Styles, but I still prefer Sydal because of that X-Factor that I truly believe he is.