411’s Wrestler of the Week 08.29.11: Year Seven, Week 22
Posted by Larry Csonka on 08.29.2011
John Cena won a WWE Title shot, Tadasuke won the CHIKARA Young Lions Cup, Hiroshi Tanahashi was crowned the man in Japan 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 22, 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) Tadasuke
Tadsuke defeated Mark Andrews, Sean South, and Nick Jackson in a four way match, then Archibald Peck and Green Ant all in one night to win the 2011 Young Lions Cup. The Osaka Pro star wasn't thought of as a favorite to win the whole thing and made quite the impact over the weekend.
2) Evan Bourne & Kofi Kingston: I like both guys, I think that they COULD help revive the tag team division, and that is a good thing. Plus it is great to see Bourne win some gold.
3) John Cena: Defeated CM Punk on Raw in another good match, and won a shot at the WWE Title.
4) Hiroshi Tanahashi
5) Crimson
Ryan Byers
1) Hiroshi Tanahashi
The biggest wrestling show of the week was "All Together," which united stars from New Japan Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling NOAH for a charity show geared at raising money for victims of the Japanese earthquakes earlier this year. It was the first time that AJPW and NJPW had done a joint show since 1979, and it drew a sellout crowd of 17,000 fans in addition to being aired on pay per view and every major Japanese broadcast outlet that carries wrestling. Simply put, it was the biggest Japanese pro wrestling show in years. Hiroshi Tanahashi, the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion, got the pinfall in the six man tag team main event, which is huge for his career, as it establishes him as the top man not just in NJPW but in all of puroresu and gives him prime exposure to the numerous fans who turned out for All Together who had otherwise given up on wrestling years ago.
2) Tadasuke: CHIKARA's Young Lions Cup tournament is always one of the highlights of the year in indy wrestling, and, this year, there was a surprise winner in the form of Osaka Pro's Tadasuke. Given that the Cup is generally defended throughout the CHIKARA year like a singles championship, this opens some real doors for Tadasuke in terms of further United States exposure.
3) John Cena: Like CM Punk said, Cena being named number one contender felt like a rerun, but I suppose you've got to give him credit for having a helluva match in the main event of Raw this week.
4) Green Ant
5) Albert Del Rio
Michael Ornelas
1) Tadasuke
Won CHIKARA's annual Young Lion's Cup tournament.
2) Hiroshi Tanahashi, Suwama, & Go Shiozaki: Victorious in the 6-man tag at the Japanese All Together shows, which showcased NJPW, ASJPW, and NOAH all on one card as a benefit to the Japanese earthquake victims.
3) John Cena: Won a great match against CM Punk to be No. 1 Contender to the WWE Championship.
4) Trent Barreta
5) Green Ant
Greg DeMarco
1) John Cena
With CM Punk preoccupied by Kevin Nash and no other real challengers for Alberto Del Rio, Cena seemed like a default top challenger for the WWE Championship. But he cut a promo that was effective in stating his case for a title shot without being corny, and followed it up by beating CM Punk to earn that title shot.
2) Hiroshi Tanahashi: The IWGP Champion teamed with the AJPW Triple Crown champ and the GHC Champ in the main event of the "All Together" super show, and he got to score the victory. This basically points to him as the biggest star in Japan right now—and this main evented over Keiji Mutoh teaming with Kenta Kobashi!
3) Alberto Del Rio: The hits just keep on comin' for the champ. He beat John Morrison clean, and continues to roll as WWE Champion—Strong Heel Version. I love how he's being used and suspect we could be in for a long reign. That's a great thing.
4) Tadasuke
5) Samoa Joe
Chad Nevett
1) Tadasuke
Won CHIKARA's Young Lion's Cup Tournament this weekend.
2) Crimson: Held his own against Kurt Angle with the match ending because of interference.
3) Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne: Won the WWE Tag Team Titles, giving Kingston yet another title, while Bourne finally gets some championship gold. I'm looking forward to what these two can do as a team.
4) John Cena
5) Alberto Del Rio
Steve Cook
1) John Cena
Some weeks I like to go with the wrestler that made the most news, but most of the wrestlers that made a lot of news this week did so for not very good reasons. Cena defeated CM Punk in another classic match between the two to get another WWE Title shot, and he didn't do anything to make a buffoon of himself. This week, that's good enough.
2) Christian: Got himself back into the World title picture with some assistance from his legal team, and beat Daniel Bryan in a nice little match.
3) Mark Henry: Will keep getting votes from me because I don't want him to split my wig. Came up short against Sheamus, but was standing tall at the end of the night.
4) Hiroshi Tanahashi
5) Tadasuke
Jeremy Thomas
1) Tadasuke
It was a very slow week in the Big Two, but even if it was a bit bigger than I think Tadasuke would have to be considered for the top spot as he won the Young Lions tournament and put a huge feather in his proverbial cap.
2) John Cena: Beat CM Punk (albeit with unasked-for help) in a great match on Raw and regained the #1 contendership.
3) The Miz & R-Truth (tie): For my money these two were one of the most entertaining parts of wrestling television this week. And their team-up, I think, will mean great things for both men.
4) Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne
5) Bully Ray
Andy Critchell
1) Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne
I'm sure most people don't put a whole lot of stock in these guys winning the tag belts but most people would be wrong. First of all, Otunga and McGillicutty have actually had quite a bit of success as of late which did add a little bit of prestige for the tag belts. And in a larger sense the win for Kofi and Evan could signal a new direction in which tag team wrestling is emphasized more in WWE. Being the potential standard bearer for a new era is a pretty big responsibility and to have that thrust upon Evan and Kofi could be a pretty significant moment in their careers.
2) Hiroshi Tanahashi: I don't usually pay much attention to the goings on in Japan but this week is a real exception for me. In today's era of quick news significant events are often forgotten almost as quickly as they arrive despite whatever lasting effects they have. In this country the Japanese earthquakes of March have been largely forgotten in the wake of presidential politics, the east coast earthquake and Hurricane Irene but for the people of Japan it is still something that is being dealt with daily. In the spirit of coming together for the people this weekend saw an unprecedented coming together of stars from the three biggest Japanese wrestling companies to put on a televised charity show. The big winner from that show was Hiroshi Tanahashi and I have given him my vote as a testament for the fine work of all involved to make that show possible.
3) Mark Henry: I have decided that Mark Henry deserves my vote as long as he remains one of the best acts in all of pro wrestling. So basically I will be voting for him until he retires. Once again Mark and Sheamus faced off in a hard-hitting match and once again it was the best match on the show. Every once in a while the perfect wrestler is in the perfect situation at the perfect time and Mark Henry is definitely in that situation. He will be World Champion, it is not a matter of if…just when.
4) Ted Dibiase
5) Tadasuke/Green Ant
THE WINNERS~!
Special Mention…Crimson - 5 Votes
Fifth Place…Mark Henry - 6 Votes
Fourth Place…Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne - 14 Votes
Third Place…Hiroshi Tanahashi - 21 Votes
Was the big winner at the All Together show in Japan, making him THE MAN in Japan.
Second Place…John Cena - 23 Votes
Defeated CM Punk in another great match and has earned yet another title shot…
Wrestler of the Week…Tadasuke - 28 Votes
Won the 2011 Young Lions Cup!
Year-End Standings~!
And here are the rankings after week TWENTY ONE…
Kofi Kingston (WWE) - 12 Karl Anderson (NJPW) - 12 Johnny Gargano (US Independent) - 12 Winter (TNA) - 12 Gunner (TNA) - 12 Nick Jackson (US Independent) - 12 Matt Jackson (US Independent) - 12 Undertaker (WWE) - 12
Kharma (WWE) – 10 {PREGNANT}
Alex Riley (WWE) - 9 Cody Rhodes (WWE) - 9 Angel De Oro (CMLL) - 9 BxB Hulk (Dragon Gate) - 9 Go Shiozaki (NOAH) - 9 Abyss (TNA) - 9 Charlie Haas (ROH) - 9 Shelton Benjamin (ROH) - 9
AJ Styles (TNA) – 7
The Sheik (US Independent) - 7 Jeff Jarrett (TNA) - 7
Eric Young (TNA) - 6 Evan Bourne (WWE) - 6 Ezekiel Jackson (WWE) - 6 Escorpion (CMLL) - 6 Low Ki (US Independent) - 6 Sara Del Rey (US Independent) - 6
Bully Ray(TNA) - 3 Fire Ant (US Independent) - 3 Green Ant (US Independent) - 3 Soldier Ant (US Independent) - 3 Tyson Kidd (WWE) - 3 Kelly Kelly (WWE) - 3 Zack Ryder (WWE) - 3 Hirooki Goto (NJPW) - 3
Posted By: This Guy! (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 02:17 PM
Does CM Punk have what it takes to be the first person to win WOTY twice? I believe he does. Let's just hope they don't book him poorly the rest of the WOTW year.
Posted By: ZHDarkstar (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 02:22 PM
Queue the CHIKARA bashing in 3...2...1
*insert vanilla midget comment here*
*insert grenade comment here*
*insert homemade costumes comment here*
*insert high school gym comment here*
*insert magic spells comment here*
*insert Fire Ant got screwed comment here*
*insert general indy hate here*
Posted By: Think I Covered Them All... (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 02:28 PM
Queue the CHIKARA bashing in 3...2...1
*insert vanilla midget comment here*
*insert grenade comment here*
*insert homemade costumes comment here*
*insert high school gym comment here*
*insert magic spells comment here*
*insert Fire Ant got screwed comment here*
*insert general indy hate here*
Posted By: Think I Covered Them All... (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 02:28 PM
You didn't put one for the no selling comments, but I guess that might be included in the "general indy hate" part.
Posted By: Still Guest#8287 (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 02:56 PM
Kingston and Bourne deserved a higher ranking simply because they got the titles off McGilla and the Gorilla. Plus this is Bourne's 1st WWE title.
Definitely deserved to be above the SHAKIRA guy.
Posted By: SpankyHamm (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 03:06 PM
A surprisingly unbiased collection of rankings this week. Good shit.
Posted By: Gozzo (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 03:28 PM
What the hell is Young Lions Cup?
Posted By: Guest#4062 (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 04:12 PM
Sounds like Hiroshi Tanahashi won a main event that to Japan woulda been like Wwe,TNA,and ROH putting on one show.
How does that not make you wrestler of the week.
Posted By: watcher (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 04:26 PM
Mark Henry is in the top 10 of WOTW! YES!! I hope he wins this year.
Posted By: DivasRGr8 (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 04:49 PM
There are 8 WWE guys in your top 10, somebody seems a little biased
Posted By: Just sayin (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 05:00 PM
Queue the CHIKARA bashing in 3...2...1
*insert vanilla midget comment here*
*insert grenade comment here*
*insert homemade costumes comment here*
*insert high school gym comment here*
*insert magic spells comment here*
*insert Fire Ant got screwed comment here*
*insert general indy hate here*
Posted By: Think I Covered Them All... (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 02:28 PM
You didn't put one for the no selling comments, but I guess that might be included in the "general indy hate" part.
Posted By: Still Guest#8287 (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 02:56 PM
I didnt know Cena was an indy wrestler.... weird.
Posted By: CM PUNK (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 05:02 PM
im really surprised that Mark Henry didnt get more votes, guess jsut proves not many watch Smackdown because he's been red hot looking like a total BOSS!! Even in a countout losing effort everyone forgot h even lost and just showcased the dominance of The Wrld's Strongest Man, and this is the way you build someone, and using his strengths!
Posted By: JIVE (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 05:39 PM
Sheamus gets his win back on Henry by prooving he can knock him outta the ring for 10 sec. too but Henry gets votes while Sheamus get none?
I call BS
Posted By: Aaron in GR (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 05:52 PM
Look it up, 4062. You're on a computer, dumbass. Anyway, Tadasuke winning is great.
Posted By: Guest#6799 (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 06:25 PM
This is all just posturing to try and make sure CM Punk gets WOTY again. They know he is not really going to be in the main event, upper mid card at best. I hate TNA, but this is almost as bad as when AJ Styles BLATANTLY got robbed.
Posted By: Guest#2472 (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 06:53 PM
There are 8 WWE guys in your top 10, somebody seems a little biased
Posted By: Just sayin (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 05:00 PM
Yeah. In a column about progressing your career. Who in TNA is more over than they were at the start of the year? MAYBE Crimson and Austin Aries. Aries is just outside the top 10 and Crimson's growth has been too gradual to really garner votes here.
A lack of TNA on the list actually DOES reflect the unbiased truth. Deal with it fanboy.
Posted By: Guest#3232 (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 08:06 PM
Crimson has a good match with Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe injures two wrestlers yt they each barely get a mention in the "wrestler" of the week.
Not saying they have to win but they had a better week than those 2 jobbers on Raw that won those Penny Belts
Posted By: 411 hates TNA (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 09:18 PM
Wow, Tadasuke over Hiroshi Tanahashi? Thats surprising.
Posted By: Yup. (Guest) on August 30, 2011 at 02:02 AM
"A lack of TNA on the list actually DOES reflect the unbiased truth. Deal with it fanboy."
You're not wrong as TNA has sucked all year; but 411 does troll for it, what with the anti-TNA gimmick guy and all.
Posted By: Guest#1193 (Guest) on August 30, 2011 at 02:15 AM
What the hell is Young Lions Cup?
Posted By: Guest#4062 (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 04:12 PM
What this guy said. Anyway it was just a slow week in Wrestling anyway.
Posted By: WK&SM&CN In Cahoots (Guest) on August 30, 2011 at 06:10 AM
There are 8 WWE guys in your top 10, somebody seems a little biased
Posted By: Just sayin (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 05:00 PM
Yeah. In a column about progressing your career. Who in TNA is more over than they were at the start of the year? MAYBE Crimson and Austin Aries. Aries is just outside the top 10 and Crimson's growth has been too gradual to really garner votes here.
A lack of TNA on the list actually DOES reflect the unbiased truth. Deal with it fanboy.
Posted By: Guest#3232 (Guest) on August 29, 2011 at 08:06 PM
no a lack of tna does reflect bias... and your comment reflects stupidity...
your reasoning behind having no tna stars here is because there not more over now than when the year started?
well then doesent super cena earn the same treatment... hes no more over now than he was 3 years ago... so he shouldnt be reconizied anymore right???
hell orton is no bigger than he already has been... so he should be dropped too according to your dumbass..
fact of the matter is this colum has always had too much bias and near the end of each year the top guy usually gets undiserved pitty spots for promos that they dont diserve just ensure victory..
everyone knows aj styles should have won. he had the better year with out a doubt...
and it looks like punk is gonna rob christian this year...
now i love cm punk but, there have already been some undiserved wotw wins... and im sure thy will continue the closer christian gets...
and as far as bias: look at bully ray-3pts... wtf... this is easily one of the best years in his great career and his character is currently one of the best heels in the business... his in ring work is much better and he has held his own with the top guys all year, yet he has a whole 3 pts...
this column is a fn joke!!!
it doesnt matter if you like a guy or not... thats not what its supposed to be about... its supposed to be about who had the best year and the top 10 doesent represent that...
hell even sting should be higher!!!
Posted By: Guest#0123 (Guest) on August 30, 2011 at 08:09 AM
Instead of whining at people posting their opinion, why don't you whine directly at TNA for sucking?
Posted By: Guest#5560 (Guest) on August 30, 2011 at 12:38 PM
This column comes out every Monday, if there is a wrestler whom you believe should get more notice then you should email the writers on Sunday night and let them know to give that guy another look. Might work, might not, but it would probably be more effective than bitching about it AFTER the votes are already in.
Posted By: DivasRGr8 (Guest) on August 30, 2011 at 01:55 PM
Green Ant. Surrrreee.
Posted By: andy (Guest) on August 30, 2011 at 04:57 PM
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