wrestling / Columns

411’s Wrestler of the Week 5.03.10: Week 5

May 3, 2010 | Posted by Daniel Bonnizzio

Welcome to Week FIVE, Year SIX, 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~!

Andy Critchell
1) The Hart Dynasty
Despite a fairly predictable result, the Hart Dynasty gets my nod for WOTW after taking the belts off of Show-Miz which had a very dominant little run. Of course we had the even more predictable split but I’m OK with that as it gives Smackdown a legit face title contender. As for the Harts, they had themselves a VERY entertaining match with Croft & Beretta on Superstars and proved that they can be fun champions to watch.

2) Edge/Swagger: For not wrestling, Edge still had a hell of a week. He was one of the centerpieces of the draft and looked like he was turning heel when he helped screw Orton out of the #1 Contender spot. Of course, he solidified that turn with an amazing promo on Smackdown and got me very keen on the potential Edge/Orton feud. Swagger’s performance on Smackdown this week was even better. His promo work has become very good and he seems like a natural with the title belt. I know some people are still skeptical of him but it seems that every week he is making that number of people grow smaller and smaller with his fine mic and ring work.
3) Big Show: One complaint I have had about Show from time to time is that he isn’t always as dominant as his size should allow him to be. This was one one of those times as Show basically spent the week knocking bitches out COLD and establishing himself the logical #1 Contender for Swagger’s belt on Smackdown.
4) Minoru Suzuki
5) Batista

THE Larry Csonka
1) DH Smith and Tyson Kidd
DH Smith and Tyson Kidd defeated Show-Miz this week to win the WWE Unified Tag Team Titles. This was a huge win for the young team, and they are on a role now. I do fear that they will quickly run out of challengers and I do fear for them when Bret is not around. Hopefully they can establish the proper challengers so that when Bret does leave, they will be fine without him.

2) Minoru Suzuki: Defeated Ryota Hama to win the All Japan Triple Crown over the weekend. Hama was just never set to be a long-term champion, and now Suzuki takes clam as the top dog.
3) TARU and Big Daddy Voodoo (Big Daddy V): Defeated Akebono and Ryota Hama to become the NEW All Asia Tag Team champions.
4) The Big Show
5) Abyss

Michael Bauer
1) The Hart Dynasty
No question about it, the titles took too long to change hands, but when it did the crowd responded as they should. The roof shot off for their first title win and even without the slower week, this is an easy #1.

2) Chris Jericho: Three very solid performances this week beating Christian twice.
3) Chuck Taylor: Looking more like the face EVOLVE and beat Claudio to get there.
4) Minoru Suzuki
5) Big Show

Jeremy Thomas
1) The Hart Dynasty
Not only did these guys beat the US Champion and the (now) #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Title and win the Unified Tag Team Titles in the process, they did it in a great match and got a fantastic pop for it too. DH Smith and Tyson Kidd are on top of the world now, and they deserve it.

2) The Big Show: Show not only turned face against Miz on Raw, he was drafted to SmackDown and immediately became the number one face on the brand. He knocked out Jericho and Edge, then did the same to Swagger. It’s good to be the Show.
3) Abyss: Abyss beat Flair and won his Hall of Fame ring. It’s a stupid, stupid angle, but it shows that Hogan and company are determined to get him over as a main eventer.
4) Minoru Suzuki
5) Chris Jericho

Ryan Byers
1) The Hart Dynasty
I’ll admit that I’ve got some personal bias towards this crew of wrestlers, but, regardless of my personal bias, they absolutely deserve the top spot this week. The WWE Tag Team Titles have been significantly elevated lately as a result of being held consistently for over a year by wrestlers like Edge, Chris Jericho, the Big Show, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels. Harry Smith and Tyson Kidd are the first “midcard” wrestlers to pick up the belts since that trend began, which, if followed up on correctly, should help them in being seen on the same level as all of those men that I just mentioned. Here’s to the Harts and hoping that they have a long run as your unified Tag Team Champions of the world.

2) Minoru Suzuki: Suzuki picked off transitional champion Ryota Hama to become the new holder of the Triple Crown over in All Japan. I have no real clue where this reign is headed with both Keiji Mutoh and Satoshi Kojima out of the picture, but it should be an interesting ride.
3) TARU & Big Daddy V: Yes, THAT Big Daddy V. He has landed in All Japan, and this week he and tag partner TARU were able to take advantage of a rift between Akebono and Ryota Hama to win the All Asia Tag Team Titles.
4) Chris Jericho
5) The Big Show

Chad Nevett
1) The Hart Dynasty
Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith have been doing some very solid work as a tag team and as singles competitors, and it was great to see the tag belts back on an actual tag team. The WWE doesn’t have any tag team that can hold a candle to the Hart Dynasty aside from random pairings. Hopefully, this will mean more tag teams, but even if it doesn’t, it’s a big win for the duo and a clear sign that the WWE has confidence in both.

2) Chris Jericho: Appearing on Raw, NXT, and Smackdown, Jericho did some great promo and in-ring work, picking up two wins over Christian, and putting over Kofi Kingston as he arrived on Smackdown while Jericho left. Once again, the WWE’s MVP and performer they can count on to deliver whenever they need him to.
3) Jack Swagger: Won the rubber match with John Morrison on Monday night and did some really good promo work on Smackdown. He’s settling into his role nicely.
4) Cody Rhodes
5) Ted DiBiase

Samuel Berman
1) Minoru Suzuki
Won All Japan’s Triple Crown.

2) Tyson Kidd & David Hart Smith: Won the Unified Tag Team Titles.
3) Chuck Taylor: A main event at EVOLVE 3 over Claudio Castagnoli.
4) Yoshihiro Takayama
5) Kaz Hayashi

Shawn S. Lealos
1) The Hart Dynasty
The next generation of the Harts finally took home the tag team gold. I loved Miz and Show (and JeriShow before that) but The Hart Dynasty are an honest-to-God tag team and I am kind of excited to see how they are treated as champions. They have no real competition but still… And damn, Smith looks more and more like his dad every week.

2) Batista/Edge: Batista got a big win to set up another match with John Cena for the Championship and Edge had a hand in it by turning heel again (thank God). Now we get Edge and Randy Orton in what has to be great matches!
3) Samoa Joe: When Joe first arrived in TNA, he came to the ring and kicked ass and didn’t say anything or care about anyone but himself. This looks like the return of that Joe. That makes me happy.
4) Ted DiBiase Jr.
5) Abyss

Jasper Gerretsen
1) Minoru Suzuki
The new All Japan Triple Crown champion beat former sumo wrestler and unlikely champion Ryota Hama to become a two time champion. Last time around he held the title for nearly a year, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be just as dominant again.

2) The Hart Dynasty: A few months ago it looked like they would be stuck in limbo, feuding with Cryme Tyme while makeshift teams ran around with the tag team champions. However, with their victory over The Miz and Big Show they’ve finally been given a chance.
3) Big Show/Edge (tie): Both men seem poised to benefit enormously not only from being drafted, but also from making turns. Edge as a heel is just too natural a fit to ignore, and Big Show will make an interesting challenger for Swagger.
4) Chuck Taylor
5) Samoa Joe

Daniel Bonnizzio
1) The Hart Dynasty
Last year, when the Hart Dynasty debuted on WWE television, I knew they would eventually be wearing the straps. This week, they beat the highly entertaining team of ShowMiz to win the belts and hopefully they can use this win to start putting some focus back onto tag team wrestling.

2) Minoru Suzuki: He beat the reigning champion to become a two-time AJPW Triple Crown Champion; and anytime a major title like that in Japan changes hands…
3) Ted DiBiase, Jr: Once again with the Million Dollar Championship, he won the 10-man/2-team battle royale on RAW to get 3 picks. It may not seem big, but winning these battle royales is usually a good thing.
4) Edge
5) Jack Swagger

THE WINNERS~!

Special Mention…Jack Swagger/Chuck Taylor – 8 Votes

Fifth Place…Chris Jericho – 11 Votes

Fourth Place…Edge – 13 Votes

Third Place…The Big Show – 14 Votes

Big Show was drafted over to Smackdown but not before turning face and being announced as the new #1 contender to the World Heavyweight Championship.

Second Place…Minoru Suzuki – 28 Votes

Suzuki ended the 7-month reign of Ryota Hama to again become the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion.

Wrestler of the Week…The Hart Dynasty (Tyson Kidd and DH Smith) – 48 votes

The team opened the week strong by defeating the reigning champions ShowMiz to become the new WWE Unified Tag Team Champions then followed it up with a win over The Dudebusters on Superstars to become your Wrestler(s) of the Week!

Year-End Standings~!

Week 5 is in the books as we have our first major appearance on the list from Japan; the WWE is starting to really make its presence on this list as we had five wrestlers make their first appearance on the list. Swagger still has his lead though; how long can he keep it up?

Let’s check out the Year-End Standings!

1. Jack Swagger – 40 (SmackDown)

2. Claudio Castagnoli – 24 (ROH)

3. Madison Eagles – 15 (SHIMMER)
3. Randy Orton – 15 (Raw)
3. Rob Van Dam – 15 (TNA)
3. Tyson Kidd – 15 (Raw)
3. DH Smith – 15 (Raw)

4. Chris Hero – 12 (ROH)
4. Ares – 12 (US Independent)
4. Tursas – 12 (US Independent)
4. Kurt Angle – 12 (TNA)
4. Minoru Suzuki – 12 (AJPW)

5. Mr. Anderson – 10 (TNA)

6. Wade Barrett – 9 (NXT)
6. Big Show – 9 (SmackDown)
6. Kazarian – 9 (TNA)

7. Heath Slater – 6 (NXT)
7. Tyler Black – 6 (ROH)
7. Nick Jackson – 6 (TNA)
7. Matt Jackson – 6 (TNA)
7. Bison Smith – 6 (NOAH)
7. Keith Walker – 6 (NOAH)
7. Edge – 6 (Raw)

8. Sheamus – 3 (Raw)
8. Davey Richards – 3 (ROH)
8. Jon Moxley – 3 (US Independent)
8. Chris Jericho – 3 (Raw)

9. Daniel Bryan – 1 (NXT)
9. John Morrison – 1 (Raw)
9. Beth Phoenix – 1 (SmackDown)
9. Christopher Daniels – 1 (ROH)
9. Ted DiBiase – 1 (Raw)
9. Shingo Takagi – 1 (Dragon Gate)
9. Chuck Taylor – 1 (US Independent)