wrestling / Columns

411’s Wrestler of the Week 01.18.10: Week 42

January 18, 2010 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas

Welcome to Week 42, 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~!
ARI
1) AJ Styles
Two title defenses, a heel turn and an alignment with Ric Flair all in the same week. Styles not only dominated in the ring, but angles and storylines involving him were very newsworthy.

2) Rey Mysterio: Secures a title shot against Undertaker with a definitive win against Batista in a steel cage match. Rey used the steel cage for some very cool twists on his offense and believably won against the bigger man in order to foreshadow his title match at Royal Rumble.
3) Matt Morgan & Hernandez: Two wins this week including unseating The British Invasion for the TNA Tag Team Titles. They’re a sort of out-of-nowhere tag combination, but the push and follow through has been good and both Morgan and Hernandez are holding up their end of the deal in the ring.
4) The Miz
5) Davey Richards

Lansdell, God of Games
1) Massive Q
Defeated Iron Jay Coles to win the vacant AWF Australasian heavyweight title in a tournament. Huge win for the huge man from Down Under.

2) AJ Styles: Defended his title twice, once in a decent match and once in a very good one. Also aligned himself with one of the biggest names in wrestling history and turned heel in the process, which is making even the haters want to know how they can possibly make this work.
3) Rey Misterio/Randy Orton: Both won matches to become the number one contender heading into the Rumble.
4) Desmond Wolfe
5) Davey Richards

Robert S. Leighty Jr
1) AJ Styles
Two successful title defenses in 1 week including another win over Kurt Angle. Plus he is now aligned with arguably the greatest World Champion of All Time in Ric Flair.

2) Rey Misterio/Randy Orton: We have our #1 contenders for the two World Title matches at the Royal Rumble.
3) Hernandez and Matt Morgan: Your New TNA World Tag Team Champions
4) Ezekiel Jackson
5) Tara

Ryan Byers
1) Massive Q
When you’re in Australia, the AWF is THE place to go for the country’s premier men’s wrestling action. (For women’s action, check out the PWWA.) Climbing to the top of the mountain in that promotion this past week was Massive Q, the 360+ pound Carlingfordian who has been a staple on the circuit for many years. Though he didn’t win the strap by the cleanest means possible, his opponent Jay Coles still walked out of the ring knowing that he had been in a major fight.

2) The Miz: THAT PROMO RULED. Seriously, if Miz winds up in the main event of Wrestlemania within the next five years, his performance on this past Monday’s Raw will be looked back upon as the point that he first broke through as a guy who could hang as a top WWE performer, similar to what happened when Steve Austin made his victory speech after the 1996 King of the Ring tournament. In my book, it was bar none the most well-executed and entertaining segment on any pro wrestling television program this week, beating out every other promo and every single match that I saw.
3) Rey Misterio, Jr.: Though there’s still time for them to turn the Royal Rumble match into the anticipated three-way, I was surprised to see that, at least for this week, Misterio was allowed to beat Dave Batista cleanly and thereby gain the distinction of being the sole number one contender to the World Heavyweight Title.
4) Satoshi Kojima
5) Munenori Sawa

Shawn S. Lealos
1) Massive Q
Defeated Iron Jay Coles to win the vacant AWF Australasian heavyweight title. While he had to cheat to win, the victory was a huge one for the big man in his slowburn rise to the top.

2) AJ Styles: AJ has been given TNA to carry on his shoulders and has come out running. With two wins over Kurt Angle in two weeks and another blow off win against Tomko, the guy is on fire.
3) Hernandez and Matt Morgan – They have finally been rewarded with titles. Now lets see if they can maintain their run.
4) Rey Mysterio
5) Ezekial Jackson

THE Cleric Larry Csonka
1) AJ Styles
AJ Styles successfully defended his TNA World Title twice this week, dispatching with former partner Tomko, and then having another great PPV outing against Kurt Angle. Styles is the man in TNA right now, and speaking of the man, is aligned with Ric Flair, solidifying his position. The next few months could be VERY interesting for Mr. Styles.

2) The Miz: The Miz cut a DAMN fine promo on Raw this week, and really stood out to me for the first time. He has been improving in the ring, and his promos have been good, but this week was one of those moments that he NEEDED to show that he can get to the next level. If his ring work keeps improving, the Miz haters aren’t going to be happy, because the guys is working hard and showing that he has skills to succeed in the business.
3) Matt Morgan and Hernandez: The big guys won the TNA tag team titles at Genesis.
4) Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio
5) Davey Richards

Samuel Berman
1) AJ Styles
A big week of title defenses from TNA’s golden boy.

2) Davey Richards: A main event win over Kota Ibushi on the first EVOLVE show.
3) Satoshi Kojima: Retained the All Japan Triple Crown Title.
4) Jimmy Jacobs and Chuck Taylor (tie)
5) Massive Q

Michael Bauer:

1) AJ Styles
What didn’t the guy do this week? He beats his old partner Tomko on Impact, beat Angle again on PPV, and turns heel while aligning with Flair. The last of which nobody in a pipe dream could see coming. Awesome stuff.

2) Massive Q: I may not know much on Australian wrestling, but I know winning the AWF Australasian heavyweight title is a pretty big deal.
3) Ezekiel Jackson: ECW’s new #1 contender looked dominate on Tuesday Night.
4) Davey Richards
5) Rey Mysterio

Chad Nevett
1) AJ Styles
Two titles defences in one week, one against Tomko and the other against Kurt Angle… sounds like wrestler of the week to me.

2) Randy Orton: Beat John Cena and Kofi Kington to earn a title shot against Sheamus at the Royal Rumble.
3) The Miz / MVP (tie): The Miz’s promo on Monday night was fantastic work and it continued to be fantastic when MVP came down and cut his own. One of those rare times where two midcard guys were given the time and material to go over.
4) Massive Q
5) Rey Mysterio

Jeremy Thomas
1) A.J. Styles
AJ does the unlikely by defeating not only Tomko (okay, that wasn’t that unlikely but still), but Kurt Angle too. On top of it all he turns heel and draws the shock of the wrestling fan base. I’ll give them this; it’s got me intrigued to see where they’re taking it.

2) The Miz: Every now and then, you find that person who gives a performance on the mic that makes you believe “Yeah, this guy could really make it big.” For Miz, that promo was this week as he owned the mic on Monday night. It was masterful work by a guy who’s promo skills have been good but not great to date, and I have to stand up and give the guy props. Kudos, Mizster.
3) Rey Mysterio/Randy Orton (tie): Rey Rey and Orton became the number one contenders on their respective shows. Were they the right choices? Hard to say, but they deserve the props for getting those spots.
4) Matt Morgan & Hernandez
5) Massive Q

THE WINNERS~!

Special Mention…Matt Morgan & Hernandez – 14 Votes

Fifth Place…Randy Orton – 16 Votes

Fourth Place…The Miz – 17 Votes

Third Place…Rey Mysterio – 22 Votes

Mysterio finally becomes the Undertaker’s challenger at the Rumble after several matches between him and Batista to determine who it would be.

Second Place…Massive Q – 23 Votes

An AWF Heavyweight Title win puts Massive Q at the top tier of Australian professional wrestling and is a huge boost for the big man.

Wrestler of the Week…A.J. Styles – 43 Votes

Two title defenses, a heel turn and a big statement toward his standing in the new regime puts the Phenomenal One at the top of the WOTW voting for yet another week!

Year-End Standings~!

Massive Q and Matt Morgan make their debuts on the list while the Miz and Hernandez move a little closer to the top 15. Randy Orton moves into sole possession of seventh place and Rey Mysterio hits a tie with Jeff Hardy for third; the biggest news is AJ’s continued run for the top, where he now is only eight points behind front-runner CM Punk. It’s getting VERY interesting now, isn’t it folks?

Let’s check out the Year-End Standings!

1. CM Punk – 113 (SmackDown)

2. AJ Styles – 105 (TNA)

3. Jeff Hardy – 85 (TNA)
3. Rey Mysterio – 85 (SmackDown)

5. John Morrison – 70 (SmackDown)

6. Chris Jericho – 55 (SmackDown)

7. Randy Orton – 56 (RAW)

8. John Cena – 53 (RAW)

9. Edge – 49 (SmackDown) {INJURED}

10. Kurt Angle – 46 (TNA)

11. The Undertaker – 42 (SmackDown)

12. Kofi Kingston – 36 (Raw)
12. Sheamus – 36 (Raw)

14. Christian – 35 (ECW)

15. Samoa Joe – 34 (TNA)

Davey Richards – 33 (ROH)
Eddie Edwards – 33 (ROH)

Ted DiBiase – 32 (RAW)
Desmond Wolfe – 32 (TNA)

Tyler Black – 31 (ROH)

Batista – 30 (SmackDown)
Naruki Doi – 30 (Dragon Gate)

Shawn Michaels – 29 (RAW)

JTG – 27 (SmackDown)
Brian Danielson – 27 (WWE)
Keiji Mutoh – 27 (AJPW)
Masakatsu Funaki – 27 (AJPW)

Jerry Lynn – 24 (ROH)

MsChif – 21 (SHIMMER)
Nick Jackson – 21 (US Independent)
Matt Jackson – 21 (US Independent)
Daniels – 21 (TNA)
Hulk Hogan – 21 (TNA)
Naomichi Marufuji – 21 (NOAH)

Austin Aries – 19 (ROH)

Sting – 18 (TNA)
Go Shiozaki – 18 (NOAH)
Shinsuke Nakamura – 18 (NJPW)
Drew McIntyre – 18 (SmackDown)
Tommy Dreamer – 18 (US Independent)

Cody Rhodes – 16 (RAW)
Mark Henry – 16 (RAW)
The Miz – 16 (Raw)
Triple H – 16 (Raw)
Hernandez – 16 (TNA)

Mick Foley – 15 (TNA)
Montel Vontavious Porter – 15 (RAW)
Manabu Nakanishi – 15 (NOAH)
Togi Makabe – 15 (NOAH)
Dolph Ziggler – 15 (SmackDown)
Bison Smith – 15 (NOAH)
Takashia Sugiura – 15 (NOAH)
Bison Smith – 15 (NOAH)

Pinky Sanchez – 12 (CHIKARA)
Minoru Suzuki – 12 (All Japan)
Brother Devon – 12 (TNA)
Brother Ray – 12 (TNA)
The Amazing Red – 12 (TNA)
Hiroshi Tanahashi – 12 (New Japan)
Shad – 12 (SmackDown)
Zach Ryder – 12 (ECW)
Shingo Takagi – 12 (Dragon Gate)
YAMATO – 12 (Dragon’s Gate)
BxB Hulk – 12 (Dragon’s Gate)
Kenny Omega – 12 (US Independent)
CIMA – 12 (Dragon Gate)
Gamma – 12 (Dragon Gate)
Jack Swagger – 12 (RAW)
Massive Q – 12 (AWF)

Soldier Ant – 10 (CHIKARA)
Fire Ant – 10 (CHIKARA)
Delirious – 9 (ROH)

Masato Tanaka – 9 (ZERO1)
Homicide – 9 (TNA)
ODB – 9 (TNA)

Ryouji Sai – 9 (ZERO1)
Player Dos – 9 (CHIKARA)
Mistico – 9 (CMLL)
The Big Show – 9 (RAW)
Bobby Lashley – 9 (TNA)
Roderick Strong – 9 (ROH)
Bret Hart – 9 (RAW)

Yoshinobu Kanemura – 7 (NOAH)

Matt Hardy – 6 (SmackDown)
Chris Hero – 6 (US Independent)
Satoshi Kojima – 6 (AJPW)
Giant Bernard – 6 (NJPW)
Karl Anderson – 6 (NJPW)
Yoshi Tatsu – 6 (ECW)

Hamada – 5 (TNA)

Dr. Wagner Jr. – 4 (AAA)

Evan Bourne – 3 (Raw)
Ken Anderson – 3 (US Independent)
Tara – 3 (TNA)
Booker T – 3 (TNA)
Alex Shelley – 3 (TNA)
Chris Sabin – 3 (TNA)
Scott Steiner – 3 (TNA)
Tajiri – 3 (HUSTLE)
Tyson Kidd – 3 (SmackDown)
Eric Young – 3 (TNA)
Eric Escobar – 3 (SmackDown)
Doug Williams – 3 (TNA)
Brutus Magnus – 3 (TNA)
Yujiro Takahashi – 3 (CMLL)
Mickie James – 3 (SmackDown)
Jun Kasai – 3 (Big Japan)

Ricky Steamboat– 2 (WWE)

Portia Perez – 1 (SHIMMER)
Nicole Mathews – 1 (SHIMMER)
Ryo Saito – 1 (Dragon Gate)
Genki Horiguchi – 1 (Dragon Gate)
Michelle McCool – 1 (SmackDown)
Atsushi Aoki – 1 (NOAH)
Kota Ibushi – 1 (NOAH)
Seth Green – 1 (US Independent)
Kotaro Suzuki – 1 (NOAH)
Vince McMahon – 1 (WWE)
Brian Kendrick – 1 (US Independent)
Tiger Mask IV- 1 (NJPW)
Shelton Benjamin – 1 (ECW)
Kevin Steen – 1 (ROH)
Awesome Kong – 1 (TNA)
Matt Morgan – 1 (TNA)