411’s Wrestler of the Week 07.04.11: Year Seven, Week 14
Posted by Larry Csonka on 07.04.2011
CM Punk delivered an epic promo on Raw, Giant Bernard continued to dominate Japan on his way to a title shot, Gunner beat AJ Styles 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 14, 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) CM Punk
2) Low Ki: Low Ki made his return to TNA this past week, defeating Jimmy Yang and Matt Bentley to get into the four way contract match at Destination X. Ki looked great in the match, and clearly belongs on TV every week. I am still amazed that WWE could not find something useful for him to do.
3) The Sheik: On July 3rd, NWA World Heavyweight Champion the Sheik defeated ZERO1 World Heavyweight Champion Ryouji Sai via referee stop in a title vs. title match. This has been quite the year thus far for The Sheik.
4) Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
5) Gunner
Michael Ornelas
1) CM Punk
No one quite made waves in the wrestling world this past week in the way that CM Punk did. He has the most interest behind him right now and I can't wait to see where they go with this at the PPV and after.
2) Daniel Bryan: Won the best match this week on television.
3) Derrick Bateman: Back in the fold on NXT!
4) R-Truth
5) Low Ki
Wes Kirk
1) CM Punk
I often rank the top wrestlers of the week according to titles and contender status but if they truly have a career changing moment that tops the list. CM Punk had this Monday night when he absolutely excoriated the WWE from top to bottom with a scathing worked-shoot promo that will ensure a larger check in any federation he goes to, and if he re-signs with WWE it will likely be for quite a nice chunk of change.
2) Gunner: It simply cannot be debated anymore that TNA has no plans for Gunner as he now owns pinfall victories over Sting, Anderson, and AJ Styles on Impact. Gunner is currently in the lead with 21 points in the Bound For Glory Series and if he continues his run will be able to challenge for the title in the main event of TNA's biggest PPV, Bound For Glory.
3) Ted Dibiase: It takes two to tango, and Dibiase provided a great opponent not only for Sin Cara a week ago but Daniel Bryan this week on Smackdown. Since moving to SmackDown, Dibiase has really upped his game and put on some great matches along the way and I could see Dibiase challenging for gold sometime in the near future.
4) Low-Ki
5) The Sheik
Michael Bauer
1) CM Punk
Is there any doubt? Punk proves again that he is one of the best today with that awesome promo.
2) Daniel Bryan: He did indeed win the best match on TV this week.
3) Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson: Retained the IWPG Tag Team Titles by besting the IWPG Heavyweight Champion.
4) Christian
5) The Sheik/Gunner (tie)
Andy Critchell
1) CM Punk
I don't think can even be debated as Punk had the web buzzing in a way not seen since the origin of the Nexus angle. His promo was the charts amazing and could be the beginning of an angle that will astound and amaze.
2) Mark Henry: The only bad part about Punk's promo is that it overshadowed the fantastic performance Mark Henry had, destroying both a cage and the Big Show. He followed that up with a show stealing performance during his post match angle on Smackdown. Mark Henry is kicking ass and splitting wigs, just like the World's Strongest Man should.
3) Trent Barreta/Jimmy & Jey Uso: Far be it from me to disagree with my esteemed colleagues here but Danial Bryan did NOT have the best TV match this week; that honor belongs to the team of Trent Baretta, Jimmy Uso, and Jay Uso. For those of you who did not watch Superstars, you missed a hell of a six-man match, which these three won. Sometimes it is easy to forget that WWE has an abundance of talent all throughout the roster not just at the top and Superstars is a great way to realize that.
4) Wade Barrett
5) Daniel Bryan
Ryan Byers
1) CM Punk
When I watched Punk's promo on Monday night, I thought to myself, "Well, that was a pretty good promo." Then I came on the internet and saw people wetting themselves and calling it among the greatest promos of all time. I think that if you're calling it one of the best of all time you're significantly overrating it, but it was definitely the most entertaining thing on television this week and, by far, the topic in professional wrestling that has generated the most buzz over the past seven days. That's enough to earn Punk my top slot, even if I didn't love the interview as much as many others did.
2) Giant Bernard: Bernard continues to build momentum heading into his coming IWGP Heavyweight Title match against Hiroshi Tanahashi, as this week Bernard and his partner Karl Anderson retained their IWPG Tag Team Titles by beating Tanahashi and his partner Hirooki Goto. Bernard beat Tanahashi at Bernard's specialty (tag team wrestling), and we'll see how things turn out when the two meet again in Tanahashi's specialty (singles wrestling).
3) Dick Togo: Usually I don't like to make "tribute" style votes just because a wrestler dies or retires. However, I have a hard time not acknowledging the retirement this week of one of my all-time favorites, Dick Togo, who many will remember from the glory days of Kaientai in both the United States and in Japan.
4) Christian
5) Alex Riley
Chad Nevett
1) CM Punk
Could it be anyone else, really?
2) Mark Henry: He manhandled the World Heavyweight Champion and, once again, looks like a fucking monster.
3) Gunner: A big win over AJ Styles to jump to the top of the Bound for Glory Series standings.
4) Christian
5) Low-Ki
Steve Cook
1) CM Punk
I said this on the 411 on Wrestling podcast and I'll say it here too: Monday night's promo was the crowning moment of CM Punk's career. You may argue that he had some better promos on the indy scene, but he's never had that kind of performance in front of the type of audience he had on Monday night. This cements him as the best talker of his generation. I don't exactly have faith in WWE to not screw this up, but for one night (and week, really), the Punker was the talk of the wrestling world.
2) Mark Henry: Mizark has been an absolute beast since Capitol Punishment and had a great week. He destroyed the WWE cage with Big Show's body on Raw, then tossed a sound technician across the Mexican border on SmackDown. You wanna get in this guy's way? I don't think so.
3) Terra Calaway: Not only did the Vegas Vixen have a great interview published in News From Cook's Corner last Tuesday, she won her very first singles' title on Sunday, defeating Amanda to become the first LuchaPro Womens' Champion. This will be the first of many titles that she wins during her career.
4) Dick Togo
5) Christian
Jeremy Thomas
1) CM Punk
CM Punk delivered what is, in a year with some pretty epic promo moments so far, the best one to date. He's delivering solid gold during this current run and has everyone talk—
2) Gunner: Gunner's huge push continues, as he beats AJ Styles in a Bound for Glory Series match and now leads the pack.
3) Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson: The IWGP Tag Team Champions retain their titles by pinning Hirooki Goto and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Can't argue with that.
4) Christian
5) Low Ki
THE WINNERS~!
Special Mention…Dick Togo &The Sheik - 5 Votes
Fifth Place…Karl Anderson & Daniel Bryan - 8 Votes
Fourth Place…Low Ki & Christian - 9 Votes
Third Place…Giant Bernard & Mark Henry - 12 Votes
Giant Bernard continues to look good on way to a title shot, while Mark Henry is just a scary man!
Second Place…Gunner - 13 Votes
Pinned AJ Styles on Impact and continues to look good.
Wrestler of the Week…CM Punk - 45 Votes
"Hi Colt Cabana!"
Year-End Standings~!
And here are the rankings after week FOURTEEN…
1. Christian (WWE) – 57
2. Randy Orton (WWE) - 46
3. R-Truth (WWE) – 42
4. CM Punk (WWE) - 30
5. Sin Cara (WWE) - 27
6. Giant Bernard (NJPW) - 24
6. Kota Ibushi (DDT) - 24
Davey Richards (ROH) - 15 Mr. Anderson (TNA) - 15 Kurt Angle (TNA) - 15 Claudio Castignoli (US Independent) - 15 HHH (WWE) – 15 Alberto Del Rio (WWE) – 15 Yuji Nagata (NJPW) - 15
Edge (RETIRED) - 13
Karl Anderson (NJPW) - 12 Johnny Gargano (US Independent) - 12 Gunner (TNA) - 12 Max Buck (TNA) - 12 Jeremy Buck (TNA) - 12 MVP (NJPW) - 12 Undertaker (WWE) - 12
Kharma (WWE) – 10 {PREGNANT}
Daniel Bryan (WWE) - 9 Mark Henry (WWE) - 9 Alex Riley (WWE) - 9 Angel De Oro (CMLL) - 9 BxB Hulk (Dragon Gate) - 9 Abyss (TNA) - 9 El Generico (ROH) - 9 Charlie Haas (ROH) - 9 Shelton Benjamin (ROH) - 9
The Sheik (US Independent) - 7 Jeff Jarrett (TNA) - 7 The Miz (WWE) - 7
Eric Young (TNA) - 6 Ezekiel Jackson (WWE) - 6 Kofi Kingston (WWE) - 6 Escorpion (CMLL) - 6 Low Ki (US Independent) - 6
Bully Ray(TNA) - 3 Fire Ant (US Independent) - 3 Green Ant (US Independent) - 3 Soldier Ant (US Independent) - 3 Cody Rhodes (WWE) - 3 Tyson Kidd (WWE) - 3 Kelly Kelly (WWE) - 3 Hirooki Goto (NJPW) - 3
Eddie Edwards (ROH) - 1 David Otunga (WWE) - 1 Dolph Ziggler (WWE) - 1 Michael McGuillicutty (WWE) - 1 AJ Styles (TNA) - 1 Kazarian (TNA) - 1 Ultimo Guerrero (CMLL) - 1 Mohammed Yone (NOAH) - 1 Dick Togo (RETIRED) - 1
Voting began 4.04.11
Year-End Rankings Key:
WWE, Raw, SmackDown and NXT-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.
Australian Contracted Wrestlers are represented in INDIGO.
Posted By: Da Homie Mack (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 03:05 PM
Hey Colt Cabana, how you doin?
Posted By: CP Munk (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 03:29 PM
So you can get WRESTLER of the Week for cutting a promo?I thought you had to WRESTLE to win the 'award?"
Posted By: Gary (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 04:51 PM
Hey Michael Bauer it's the IWGP title, not IWPG title. Sheesh !
Posted By: D (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 05:08 PM
Knowing TNA, this still won't lead to anything for Gunner. They've blown better build-ups before.
Posted By: Guest#5038 (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 05:13 PM
Hey Colt Cabana, how you doing?
Posted By: CK Munp (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 05:20 PM
Ryan Byers could fuck up a wet dream.
Posted By: Da Homie Mack (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 03:05 PM
How? The fact that he said that Punk's promo ISN'T the greatest promo of all time?
Well, he's right - it's not. It's probably one of the best of our respective lifetimes, and the best WWe promo of the last 15 years. But of all time? No.
Posted By: Shane (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 05:36 PM
Ryan Byers could fuck up a wet dream.
Posted By: Da Homie Mack (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 03:05 PM
How? The fact that he said that Punk's promo ISN'T the greatest promo of all time?
Well, he's right - it's not. It's probably one of the best of our respective lifetimes, and the best WWe promo of the last 15 years. But of all time? No.
Posted By: Shane (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 05:36 PM
I'm assuming it's because he didn't use anybody from TNA and used people not from TNA and WWE even though others didn't have any TNA and others had the same people he had on their except for Riley. I agree with Andy even though while I didn't watch it when it aired, I saw the six man online and it was awesome. Also, great Punk gif Larry, we need to have that on a weekly column online(maybe the R's columns?).
Posted By: Still Guest#8287 (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 06:25 PM
The problem Low Ki wasn't just because the writers didn't have anything for him. He also clearly have too little patience to work a undercard. When he joined WWE he expected to be in the upper card without any work besides FCW. Thats what I call a complete prick.
Look at Daniel Bryan, he clearly enjoy being wherever he is on the card and in a year from now I KNOW that he will have a major belt. Thats how it is and Low Ki doesn't have the brain to accept that.
Posted By: Guest#4183 (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 07:57 PM
So you can get WRESTLER of the Week for cutting a promo?I thought you had to WRESTLE to win the 'award?"
Posted By: Gary (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 04:51 PM
No...it's the person, whose career is BEING a wrestler, who made the biggest impact or progressed their career the most or who was the most interesting in a given week.
You want to find out who's putting on the best matches each week, read Match of the Week, retard.
Posted By: Guest#5680 (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 08:41 PM
i'm shocked wes kirk didnt put gunner #1
Posted By: Guest#5226 (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 08:50 PM
So you can get WRESTLER of the Week for cutting a promo?I thought you had to WRESTLE to win the 'award?"
Posted By: Gary (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 04:51 PM
where have you been??? do you not remember the countless weeks miz accomplished this resulting in his win of WOTY that he dosent diserve!!!
their have also been many others...
stupid isnt it???
i loved the promo as much as the next guy but... it was a promo, and in the end, wrestling fans should be watching to see wrestling matches... period...
Posted By: Guest#6018 (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 09:51 PM
Sting + Doink = STOINK!
thank you, Big Fat F*g, for giving this stupid idea a name! 411 needs to do a top 3 dumb ideas of the week, STOINK would top it every week.
Posted By: olio (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 11:18 PM
So you can get WRESTLER of the Week for cutting a promo?I thought you had to WRESTLE to win the 'award?"
Posted By: Gary (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 04:51 PM
where have you been??? do you not remember the countless weeks miz accomplished this resulting in his win of WOTY that he dosent diserve!!!
their have also been many others...
stupid isnt it???
i loved the promo as much as the next guy but... it was a promo, and in the end, wrestling fans should be watching to see wrestling matches... period...
Posted By: Guest#6018 (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 09:51 PM
Or, you know, you could NOT accept 411mania's WOTW as being your own personal bible and move on with your lives...
Posted By: mr_wishart (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 11:29 PM
making wrestling history counts for something you whiny crybabies. couldn't be anybody BUT CM Punk this week.
Posted By: Guest#5473 (Guest) on July 04, 2011 at 11:42 PM
funny how many people get in a tizzy about Wes Kirk having his own oppinion. Does it challenge your indoctrination?
Posted By: Guest#6730 (Guest) on July 05, 2011 at 12:28 AM
Is this the 1st time everyone has voted for the same person as wrestler of the week?
Posted By: 2000AD (Guest) on July 05, 2011 at 04:27 AM
If Ric Flair can be wrestler of the year in 2005, then yes, you can be WOTW for a promo
Posted By: joe blow (Guest) on July 05, 2011 at 06:56 AM
I think that people forget that when they say vince loves big guys, Japan is far more obsessed with them...
Posted By: Guest#5037 (Guest) on July 05, 2011 at 07:54 AM
Hey Colt Cabana, how you doing?
Posted By: K-Nup MC (Guest) on July 05, 2011 at 09:24 AM
First of all, promos are a big part of a WRESTLER'S JOB. So yes, a kick ass promo deserves consideration, especially when it causes the stir this one does.
Does TNA have plans for Gunner? At the moment, it appears so. The same once appeared true for Jay Lethal and now he's gone.
Posted By: Carl (Guest) on July 05, 2011 at 02:00 PM
Michael Ornelas
1) CM Punk
No one quite made waves in the wrestling world this past week in the way that CM Punk did
laughably no one QUITE made the same waves punk did..
no wrestler has come close to making these waves for years, its a shame they waited til he is allegedly leaving to let him do it
Posted By: mozza1974 (Guest) on July 05, 2011 at 07:49 PM
funny how many people get in a tizzy about Wes Kirk having his own oppinion. Does it challenge your indoctrination?
Posted By: Guest#6730 (Guest) on July 05, 2011 at 12:28 AM
whats even funnier is that he is a troll gimmick. notice how in his last article he lamely posts the troll face, makes racial comments, claims he plays the stock market and brings up yellow cake in iraq.
troll gimmick to spike viewers in crappy columns.
though that last bit i think he was just trying to make smarks mouths salivate
Posted By: James (Guest) on July 06, 2011 at 08:59 PM
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