411’s Wrestler of the Week 05.09.11: Year Seven, Week 6
Posted by Larry Csonka on 05.09.2011
Randy Orton won the World Title, Hiroshi Tanahashi retained the IWGP Title, the Miz and John Cena battled on Raw and more! Check out 411's Wrestler of the Week for all the details and for an updated look at the Year-End standings!
Welcome to Week 6, Year SEVEN, 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…
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 around WrestleMania. This will be posted every Monday. Let's see who wins this week…
Larry Csonka
1) Randy Orton
While many didn't like it, the biggest news of the week was Randy Orton winning the World Title on Smackdown. It was going to happen, but it came much quicker than expected. Can Orton carry the blue brand? I guess we'll find out.
2) Hiroshi Tanahashi: Defeated his main rival Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title.
3) Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas: Strong wins over Cole & O'Reilly as well as The Broscoes this weekend help them continue their dominance over ROH's tag team division.
4) Takashi Sugiura
5) Kharma
Wes Kirk
1) Randy Orton
The man who hears voices in his head also heard the announcement of his newest world championship victory on SmackDown, just a few days removed from definitively beating CM Punk in a Last Man Standing match on PPV. With the week Orton has had, he is head and shoulders above the competition for WOTW.
2) Christian: The now former World Champion put on a great match with Randy Orton but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to keep the championship. However, the match itself got more attention for Christian at the main event level, which is what he needs to keep getting those championship opportunities, maybe even one lasting over two days!
3) Kurt Angle: A significant victory in the main event for Kurt, and the fact that Knockouts got to be in the main event of Impact. Angle's skills are well known, and against Jarrett one-on-one Angle is likely to tear it up and finish this feud once and for all, possibly while attempting to kill himself with moonsaults off a steel freakin' cage!
4) Velvet Sky
5) John Cena
Colin Rinehart
1) Christian
Even if his title reign only lasted a matter of days, this was still the biggest week in Christian's life, and a moment that a lot of fans had been waiting and clamoring for, for a very long time. Orton and Cena won the World title this last week as well, but wasn't nearly as monumental or memorable of a title win as Christian's was this past Sunday.
2) Hiroshi Tanahashi: Tanahashi proved effectively once and for all that he is THE man in New Japan. Sure, most of us knew that already, but with his triumphant victory over longtime rival Shinsuke Nakamura this past week, he's proven it to the fans.
3) Randy Orton: Some people saw Orton's drafting to Smackdown as a demotion, but it was made abundantly clear over the last week that it was a promotion if anything as he's now the number one focus of Smackdown instead of playing second fiddle to Cena on RAW each week. A title win and two great matches this week again Punk and Christian respectively, yeah, even those who aren't too keen on Orton like myself have to give him props this week.
4) John Cena
5) Takashi Sugiura
Michael Ornelas
1) Randy Orton
Even though he stole Christian's thunder, I honestly believe this is the beginning of a longer feud between the two that sees Christian get the belt back. Winning a vacated title makes you look weaker than beating the current champion, so I think this will get Christian over even stronger.
2) Hiroshi Tanahashi: Huge victory over Nakamura gives Tanahashi the number two spot.
3) Christian: Was one half of the best match on free TV last week and proved himself a worthy main eventer despite a huge loss.
4) The Miz/John Cena
5) Takashi Sugiura
Ryan Byers
1) Randy Orton
Normally when a multi-time champ like Orton wins the title yet again, I don't put him on the top of my list, because his career is really in no better position as a result of the title win. However, so little happened this week across the globe that I really can't think of another reasonable #1 other than Randy Orton.
2) Hiroshi Tanahashi: The careers of Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura have been inexorably linked to one another for years now, almost to the point that you can't have one accomplish something major without having the other knock on his door. That happened again this week, with Tanahashi successfully defending his IWGP Heavyweight Title over Nakamura.
3) Takashi Sugiura: Speaking of title defense, Sugiura kept his GHC Heavyweight Title over Minoru Suzuki this week. That's the eleventh successful defense of Sugiura's reign, putting him two away from tying the all-time GHC Title defense record set by Kenta Kobashi.
4) John Cena / Mike the Miz
5) The World's Greatest Tag Team
Jeremy Thomas
1) Randy Orton
There were two guys who put on an awesome show in the Big Two this week, and they both deserve a lot of credit for doing so. Unfortunately for Christian, one of those two won a World Title and one of those two lost a World Title. People may bitch about Orton ending Christian's too-short reign, but you can't deny it's solidified him at the top of Smackdown and gets him entirely out from under Cena's relative shadow.
2) Christian: This is the other half of the equation and the one who lost. This is far from the end of the line for Christian as a main eventer in my book; lots of guys have gotten the rug pulled out from under them very early on and come back to win big again and again. Will it happen for Christian? I believe so, especially given how well he handled himself in defeat.
3) Hiroshi Tanahashi: Tanahashi gets the big win over Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title, which is enough for #3 for me.
4) John Cena/The Miz (tie)
5) Kharma
Greg DeMarco
1) Randy Orton
Randy Orton won the World Heavyweight Championship in a win that was only expected because we read the spoilers. You knew he'd eventually get the title, but didn't think it would happen less than 1 week after Christian won it himself. The match itself was great, one of the best Randy Orton matches I've ever seen. If this was broadcast live, the internet may have exploded and might no longer exist today.
2) Christian: I can't remember someone came out of a loss--one that has drawn much criticism--looking so great. The naysayers on the quick title switch (and I said "Nay" loud and clear) just might end up being wrong here. Christian had a great match and showed great emotion. This emotion was scripted and pulled off brilliantly, which exceeds his emotion after winning the title (which was genuine and real--requiring very little effort). This shows his ability to act and sell a result, and I hope the WWE believes in him even more after this match.
3) Eddie Edwards: Eddie Edwards beat Chris Hero in an estimated 40-minutes to retain the ROH World Championship. Hero has been dubbed a future champion for a quite some time now, and this is a big win for the fighting champ.
4) Hiroshi Tanahashi
5) Takashi Sugiura
Andy Critchell
1) Randall K Orton, Esq
Orton has won the title before so it is not a HUGE deal but what really put Orton over the top in my book was that he took to his twitter and retweeted a bunch of tweets from the butthurt nerds out there. You gotta love a guy who does stuff like that. Orton is the man on Smackdown and that's all there is to it. Heck, he can even lay claim to being the best in the world right now.
2) Ezekiel Jackson: Big Zeke had a big week. He seems to be in the position of being the breakout star from the Corre and cementing his place as the most dangerous bad ass on Smackdown. It's not just anyone who can take out either Kane or the Big Show and Zeke got them both. His mic skills need work but you can't deny he's definitely got a fierce demeanor and a striking look.
3) Sheamus/Daniel Bryan: These guys put on my favorite TV match of the week. They work so well together and I would love to see them have a long series of matches where they can bust out some crazy stuff. Daniel Bryan has long had a reputation for being great but Sheamus is the guy who has really impressed me as of late. It seems like he is incapable of having a bad match, no matter who he works with. In any event, both guys are great at what they do and they deserve a lot of praise on a semi-slow week like this.
4) Miz
5) Zack Ryder
THE WINNERS~!
Special Mention…The Miz - 7 Votes
Fifth Place…Takashi Sugiura - 8 Votes
Fourth Place…John Cena - 9 Votes
Third Place…Christian - 20 Votes
Had a great match even though he lost the World Title.
Second Place…Hiroshi Tanahashi -21 Votes
Retained his IWGP Title in a big match this weekend…
Wrestler of the Week…Randy Orton - 38 Votes
Your NEW WORLD Champion!
Year-End Standings~!
And here are the rankings after week six…
Christian (WWE) – 39
Sin Cara (WWE) - 27
Randy Orton (WWE) - 25
John Cena(WWE) - 18
Sting (TNA) - 15 HHH (WWE) – 15 Alberto Del Rio (WWE) – 15 R-Truth (WWE) – 15 Yuji Nagata (NJPW) - 15
And, once again your WWE Wrestler of he Week is ...
Posted By: Guest#6595 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 02:18 PM
Yes... It is true...
Losses can make you one of the top 5 wrestlers of the week.
411 and the vast majority of commenters yelled in jubilation when Christian was votedWoTW after his win at Extreme rules.
Then they cried when he lost the title (nevermind the fact that had edge never retired he wouldnt be in the match) to RKO.
Now he is being mentioned in the top 5... Sometimes number 1... Colin "neidhart" because he showed emotion in his loss and he will be champion again?
MAIN EVENT JTTS.
Slow week but i shall grab my popcorn and hear people bitch as usual.
Posted By: The Fuj (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 02:25 PM
Del Rio or R-Truth will win Wrestler of the Year. You heard it here first.
Posted By: Frie (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 02:27 PM
Hiroshi what?
Posted By: Guest#2693 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 02:38 PM
Hmmm, think Ezekial should have gotten more love for his fairly decisive victory over the Big Show. Still, Orton won a title and Christian was involved in match of the week; can't really complain with the choices here
Posted By: mr_wishart (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 03:19 PM
Hiroshi what?
Posted By: Guest#2693 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 02:38 PM
---
Hiroshi Tanahashi. The World Champion of the #2 wrestling company on the planet (NJPW). The guy who has been putting on great matches for 11+ years, and even worked for CMLL in Mexico and had matches in TNA (even appeared on one of their PPVs).
THAT guy.
Posted By: Guest#1315 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 03:56 PM
Losses can make you one of the top 5 wrestlers of the week.
Posted By: The Fuj (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 02:25 PM
Appearing on a main event (when you are a main eventer) can also put you in the top-5 (see Wes Kirk's nomination for Kurt Angle on 3). So stop whining.
Posted By: Guest#4589 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 04:00 PM
Now he is being mentioned in the top 5... Sometimes number 1... Colin "neidhart" because he showed emotion in his loss and he will be champion again?
MAIN EVENT JTTS.
Posted By: The Fuj (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 02:25 PM
I never said a thing about "emotion he showed in the loss" nor did I say he would win the title again. I voted him wrestler of the week because to me, his title win on Sunday was the biggest wrestling moment of this last week. Orton and Cena both won titles this week as well, but it wasn't the first time for either of those two.
But I'm pretty sure you're a troll, so whatever.
Posted By: Colin Rinehart (Registered) on May 09, 2011 at 04:03 PM
"
Losses can make you one of the top 5 wrestlers of the week.
Posted By: The Fuj (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 02:25 PM
Appearing on a main event (when you are a main eventer) can also put you in the top-5 (see Wes Kirk's nomination for Kurt Angle on 3). So stop whining."
Except Kurt Angle WON his match, so your point is moot.
Posted By: Guest#0150 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 04:12 PM
never said a thing about "emotion he showed in the loss" nor did I say he would win the title again. I voted him wrestler of the week because to me, his title win on Sunday was the biggest wrestling moment of this last week. Orton and Cena both won titles this week as well, but it wasn't the first time for either of those two.
But I'm pretty sure you're a troll, so whatever.
Posted By: Colin Rinehart (Registered) on May 09, 2011 at 04:03 PM
WAIT...
So Christian can just HOLD the belt for 2 days and lose it, and that (in your opinion) is having a better week than:
1. Jap wrestler who won the IWGP title. Number 2 promotion in the world.
2. Randy Orton, who beat Christian (your number one pick, mind you) for said title THIS WEEK.
Biased much?
Posted By: The Fuj (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 04:41 PM
Hiroshi what?
Posted By: Guest#2693 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 02:38 PM
---
Hiroshi Tanahashi. The World Champion of the #2 wrestling company on the planet (NJPW). The guy who has been putting on great matches for 11+ years, and even worked for CMLL in Mexico and had matches in TNA (even appeared on one of their PPVs).
THAT guy.
Posted By: Guest#1315 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 03:56 PM
So another Indy midget? Ahhh ok
Posted By: Guest#9955 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 06:29 PM
you do realise no-one gives a damn except crapheads right?
Posted By: life (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 06:37 PM
Hiroshi what?
Posted By: Guest#2693 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 02:38 PM
---
Hiroshi Tanahashi. The World Champion of the #2 wrestling company on the planet (NJPW). The guy who has been putting on great matches for 11+ years, and even worked for CMLL in Mexico and had matches in TNA (even appeared on one of their PPVs).
THAT guy.
Posted By: Guest#1315 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 03:56 PM
So another Indy midget? Ahhh ok
Posted By: Guest#9955 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 06:29 PM
Indy is not the term for everything but WWE. NJPW is huge. In Japan. International is the term you're looking for. It draws MUCH more than TNA and Tanahashi is just under 6' and 230 lbs. That's basically the same exact size as Kurt Angle (although Kurt's got a few pounds on him).
Educate yourself. Or does it hurt too much?
Posted By: Guest#4202 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 07:57 PM
To me, this list wouldn't be legitimate without Hiroshi Tanahashi this week. So, consider me one informed reader who enjoys 411's worldview. No need to cater to the short sighted/close minded.
Posted By: Simon Dalton (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 08:41 PM
Hiroshi what?
Posted By: Guest#2693 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 02:38 PM
---
Hiroshi Tanahashi. The World Champion of the #2 wrestling company on the planet (NJPW). The guy who has been putting on great matches for 11+ years, and even worked for CMLL in Mexico and had matches in TNA (even appeared on one of their PPVs).
THAT guy.
Posted By: Guest#1315 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 03:56 PM
So another Indy midget? Ahhh ok
Posted By: Guest#9955 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 06:29 PM
If New Japan is an indy, than indy can be defined as "Not WWE" because it's the number 2 in the whole wide world.
Posted By: Guest#2438 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 08:48 PM
And, once again your WWE Wrestler of he Week is ...
Posted By: Guest#6595 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 02:18 PM
Exactly.
Posted By: the ghost of Buddy Rogers (Guest) on May 10, 2011 at 12:32 AM
1 - The Rock - Had a whole show dedicated to him, if that's not a good week, what is? Even if the show did suck...
2 - Randy Orton - World title win in yet another great match from Mr. Orton.
3 - Ezekiel Jackson - Looked like a million bucks. When he comes back from selling the LAUNDRY HAMPER OF DOOM!, he should get a huge push.
4 - Christian
5 - Sanguinito
HM - Sheamus, Kurt Angle, Mason Ryan
Year End Standings:
1. Randy Orton 33
2. Christian 24
3. Alberto Del Rio 18
4. Kurt Angle 16
5. HHH 15
5. Bully Ray 15
5. The Rock 15
Posted By: rshort2001 (Guest) on May 10, 2011 at 02:03 AM
WAIT...
So Christian can just HOLD the belt for 2 days and lose it, and that (in your opinion) is having a better week than:
1. Jap wrestler who won the IWGP title. Number 2 promotion in the world.
2. Randy Orton, who beat Christian (your number one pick, mind you) for said title THIS WEEK.
Biased much?
Posted By: The Fuj (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 04:41 PM
1. Tanahashi did not WIN the title this last week, he defended it against Shinsuke Nakamura. Atleast get your facts right if you want to rant and rave. A successful title defense is usually not as meaningful as a midcarder winning a world title for the very first time IMO.
These aren't MMA rankings based on legit fights, they're based on the impact that wrestler had on the last week, and IMO Christian winning the title was a much bigger "moment" than Orton winning another title on TV.
Posted By: Colin Rinehart (Registered) on May 10, 2011 at 01:25 PM
...But he won the title LAST WEEK.
So the "moment" he had gotten (fair enough) is enough to be voted to consecutive weeks? (biased)
I'm not ranting and raving, Im just pointing out inconsistancies.
You like christian, thats fine, Byers hates TNA.
All you gotta say is "Hey, Im not being objective in my voting."
Posted By: The Fuj (Guest) on May 10, 2011 at 02:30 PM
"...But he won the title LAST WEEK.
So the "moment" he had gotten (fair enough) is enough to be voted to consecutive weeks? (biased)
I'm not ranting and raving, Im just pointing out inconsistancies.
You like christian, thats fine, Byers hates TNA.
All you gotta say is "Hey, Im not being objective in my voting."
Posted By: The Fuj (Guest) on May 10, 2011 at 02:30 PM"
I was under the impression this was wrestler of the week for the week INCLUDING Sunday, when Christian won the title.
And I'm being perfectly objective, I have no bias towards any specific promotion.
Posted By: Colin Rinehart (Registered) on May 10, 2011 at 05:01 PM
I voted him wrestler of the week because to me, his title win on Sunday was the biggest wrestling moment of this last week. Orton and Cena both won titles this week as well, but it wasn't the first time for either of those two.
But I'm pretty sure you're a troll, so whatever.
Posted By: Colin Rinehart (Registered) on May 09, 2011 at 04:03 PM
He won the title last week, though, and won Wrestler of the Week for it then...why is he still getting votes for it now?
Posted By: Paul (Guest) on May 10, 2011 at 05:13 PM
Posted By: Guest#1315 (Guest) on May 09, 2011 at 03:56 PM
So another Indy midget? Ahhh ok
Great Kahli wrestled outside of WWE... Total indy midget right there!
Posted By: Guest#5315 (Guest) on May 10, 2011 at 07:45 PM
He won the title last week, though, and won Wrestler of the Week for it then...why is he still getting votes for it now?
Posted By: Paul (Guest) on May 10, 2011 at 05:13 PM
Good promo, great match, involved in main storyline on SD. It's plausible.
Plus take into account WotW isn't tied down to a certain specific criteria. If it was, then all the picks would be the same. I could say Christian is number one because aside from the aforementioned things, it looks like he might be going somewhere big with this.
Posted By: Guest#6931 (Guest) on May 10, 2011 at 07:49 PM
If Tanahashi ties the record for most title defenses as IWGP champion he's definitely going in my top 2 - Very important championship.
Posted By: Wes Kirk (Guest) on May 11, 2011 at 12:36 AM
So we give ppl the nod based off of potential?
That case then, the rock should be voted number one everytime he is on wwe tv cuz it has potential to be big. So should zach ryder
Posted By: The fuj (Guest) on May 11, 2011 at 06:20 AM
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