The Crystal Ball 12.24.05: OVW Year-End Awards (Part 1)
Posted by Steve Sullivan on 12.24.2005
Who’s going to break out in 2006? Who was the best callup? Who’s going to get called up? Find out In Part 1 of the year end edition of The Crystal Ball!
The end of 2005 is here. The OVW wrestlers have been given the holidays off, which caps off a truly breakout year for the small indy federation. OVW in 2005 became one of the most talked about organizations on the Internet and gave this columnist a new job. We saw a few new champions. Some stars who rose out of nowhere. Brutal matches and a change in management. 2005 truly was a great year for OVW and 2006 can only bring improvements to an impressive year.
In this first part of the year end edition of The Crystal Ball, we’re going to look into OVW alumni who was called up to the WWE this year, and who the best edition was for the WWE. We will also take a look into the future for 2006 and see who will be more likely to breakout in 2006 and who will likely break out in OVW in 2006. Larry Csonka, Ari Berenstein, Bayani Domingo, and myself hand out awards and look to the year that is upon us.
First off, there are a couple of things that have happened since I asked these writers for help. First, Matt Cappotelli. God bless him. First he had a concussion that kept him from winning the Cruiserweight title from Chavo. Then when he’s about to be called up again, he breaks his fibula. And once again, after he finally captures the OVW Heavyweight Title and again seems poised for a callup, he is diagnosed with a brain tumor. So to Matt and his family, I am keeping you in my prayers this holiday season and am hoping for the best.
Secondly, Ken Doane seems to be getting the callup to lead Team Spirit. If you read my Special Edition this week, you know how I think of that. If you didn’t…go read it. Both of these wrestlers are in a couple of categories that may not make much sense now, but know that these answers were given before the news.
The voting goes like this.
First Place Vote- 5 Points
Second Place Vote- 2 Points
Third Place Vote- 1 Point
Here’s the victims…I mean voters.
Larry Csonka- If you haven’t read one of his columns. You aren’t really tying hard enough.
Ari Berenstien- Column of Honor and C.M. Punk’s Mickie James.
Bayani Domingo- From Truth B Told. I guess he thought he owed me a favor for helping him with some stable information!
Steve Sullivan- You’re reading it. The Anti Team Spirit and Boogeyfan for life!
Ok let’s get started. First, Who is Most Likely To Breakout In OVW in 2006. The nominees are:
Aaron “The Idle” Stevens- With the fall of the Jersey Shore Crew (Nova was called up to be Simon Dean), Aaron Stevens’ had a great feud battling his former JSC partner Danny Inferno. Stevens moved on and has now become one of the most popular heels on OVW TV. Beth Phoenix and Shelly (also known as Leather and Lace) seem to be a key ingredient to getting The Idle to the top. He had a World Title match against Cappotelli at the end of 2005. Look for the Maja Raja Of the Moniageah Toisgah to hit it big in 2006. Deuce Shade- The son of Jimmy Snuka Junior had a great middle half of 2005 before disappearing off OVW TV for the second half. Shade won the first ever OVW TV Title Tournament over Ken Doane after Brent Albright vacated the belt for his World Title reign. Shade’s reign was over quick as Doane turned heel with the help of Bolin Services and won the TV Title from Shade shortly after. Shade, who is very popular with the fans of OVW, has mainly worked dark matches for the second half of 2005. So it’s safe to assume, with the callups of several people for Team Spirit, Deuce Shade should be able to find some time on OVW TV in 2006. Da Beast- He hasn’t really had the greatest career in 2005. I actually don’t think he won a match. But as I’ve said, Da Beast is the most underrated wrestler in OVW, and OVW has been showing the fans just how powerful he is. Now if they can just get him in a role that allows him to be a threat, Da Beast could be a viable contendor to the title in 2006. Mike Mondo- He’s about the same as Da Beast. He actually took losses to Mickie James and Victoria in one-on-one competition in 2005. He’s a veteran to OVW and one of the most hated heels in OVW. Like Da Beast, with the right role, he could become a great contendor. Maybe a tag team title reign with Beast could boost both their values. C.M. Punk- Punk already made a major impact late in 2005. He won the OVW TV Title from Ken Doane and has been in a bitter feud with Brent Albright. Punk is insanely popular with the fans and a World Title Reign in 2006 seems inevitable.
So who do the writers believe will breakout in 2006? Let’s find out.
Larry Csonka
C.M. Punk – He’s Paul Heyman’s pet project, so if anyone will break out he will. He has the mic skills that the E loves, and if he can break the stigma he has with some of the E higher ups, he’ll be fine.
Aaron "The Idle" Stevens
Deuce Shade
Ari Berenstien
CM Punk- Considering I'm one of Punk's biggest fans, I betcha didn't see that one coming; although I'd go so far as to say he has already broke out of the pack in late 2005. He is the OVW TV champion, has put on some great matches and promos, has the fans behind him despite his tweener character. And you know why all this is so? It's because he's better than you. Things will continue to go strong for Punk in '06.
2. Aaron "The Idle" Stevens
3. Deuce Shade
Bayani Domingo
C.M. Punk - Dare to dream...although then again I have no clue who any of the other guys are...where's the dude with the afro that looks like that dude from the old 7-up commercials?
Aaron "The Idle" Stevens
Da Beast
Steve Sullivan
Aaron “The Idle” Stevens- Sorry to break the unanimous vote. Stevens has been getting a lot of TV time lately and while Punk is dominating the TV Title right now, Stevens’ looks ready for a run at the World Title long before Punk gets a shot.
C.M. Punk
Da Beast
5th Place- Mike Mondo (0 Points)
4th Place- Da Beast (2 Points) TIE
4th Place- Deuce Shade (2 Points) TIE
2nd Place- Aaron “The Idle” Stevens (11 points)
Most Likely To Break Out In 2006- C.M. Punk (17 points)
C.M. Punk looks very ready to dominate OVW. Look for him to dominate the TV Title for a few more months early in 2006, then take a move toward the World Title around Spring.
Next up, Most Likely To Be Called Up In 2006. Who will be the next big superstar in the WWE next year? Who will be the recipient of McMahon’s next great gimmick? The nominees are as follows:
Brent Albright- He became the first ever Triple Crown Champion in 2005. In his last few matches, he’s been pulling off a lot of Chris Beniot like moves, such as the 3 German Suplexes and the flying headbutt. It almost seems as if they are expecting Chris Beniot to leave? Albright would be a great replacement. Johnny Jeter- After he and Cappotelli dominated the tag division for a few months, Jeter turned on Cappotelli and won the World Title from Brent Albright. Thus the beginning of one of the most heated storylines in OVW history. Jeter dominated as World Champion and became the # 1 heel in OVW. At the very last show of 2005, he formed a new, powerful stable with Mark Henry and Chris Cage that dominated the entire lockeroom n W O style, including one Boogeyman. Ken Doane- Looks like he’s already getting the callup early in 2006, but will the male cheerleader gimmick work for him? He won the TV Title and became a viable heel. He hit a great RKO on Bobby Lashley that really impressed everyone. Can he continue that success in the WWE? Matt Cappotelli- If you think your luck is bad, try being Matt Cappotelli. If he can pull through his brain tumor and get back in the ring before the end of the year, I look for the WWE to give him the call before something else happens to the guy. Good luck Matt! Chris Cage- The Former World Champion made the heel turn on the final show of 2005 and joined up with Johnny Jeter and Mark Henry to beat up on World Champion Matt Cappotelli. A second World Title reign might impress someone in the WWE.
Let’s see what the writers think:
Larry Csonka
Matt Cappotelli – The E has a hard on for him, and he will probably be brought up in a tag team.
Johnny Jeter
Brent Albright
Ari Berenstien
Ken Doane- Who has been working dark matches and house shows recently. Although I think its a mistake to be sending up wrestlers that young to the main circuit and it would be a mistake to do it with Doane. The hazards of the road and the fact that as good as Doane is (and he is VERY good even at his age), there is STILL so much to learn that he should be kept in OVW until he's a bit older and wiser.
2. Brent Albright
3. Matt Cappotelli
Bayani Domingo
Ken Doane - He's almost already up. PLUS I hear he has the bitchin'est gimmick since Mordecai. Ready...OK!!
Matt Cappotelli
Johnny Jeter
Steve Sullivan
Brent Albright- He’s done it all in the OVW. He’s got nothing left to do but to move up to the WWE and win it all there.
Ken Doane
Johnny Jeter
5th Place- Chris Cage (0 Points)
4th Place- Johnny Jeter (4 Points)
3rd Place- Matt Cappotelli (8 Points) TIE
3nd Place- Brent Albright ( 8 Points) TIE
Most Likely To Be Called Up In 2006: Ken Doane (12 points)
The 19 year old Doane already has got the call to be the leader of Team Spirit while fellow nominee Johnny Jeter also seems to be getting the call to be a cheerleader. Should be….interesting.
And lastly, who was the best callup from OVW this year? Who made the biggest impact on WWE TV? The nominees include:
Chris Masters- The former OVW Southern Tag Team Champion with Brent Albright got the callup to work the Masterpiece gimmick and has got over very quickly. At 22 years old, he’s getting set to step into the Elimination Chamber next month at New Year’s Revolution and looks to be the future of the WWE.
2) The Boogeyman- He got the call late in 2005 and has been insanely over in just a couple of matches. He hyper extended both legs late in the summer which kept him from wrestling sooner but no matter, WWE fans everywhere are talking about this guy.
3) Bobby Lashley- He showed everyone how great he can be at Survivor Series. He’s undefeated in singles action and with every match, he seems to be getting more and more over. Batista vs. Bobby Lashley anyone?
4) Alexis Laree (Mickie James)- James brought in a much needed refreshing face to the Women’s division and has everyone watching the women’s’ division with the Trish/Mickie saga.
5)MNM- Already has 2 Tag Team Title runs under their belts. They broke up Eddie & Rey. They’ve wrestled with the World Champ. They have the greatest entrance ever in the WWE and Melina is just…wow.
Let’s see what the writers think:
Larry Csonka
MNM – MNM was an excellent call up as they were a big part of making the tag division exist on Smackdown. They are a bit watered down in the E, and they got jobbed the hell out a lot, but they work great together and are a good package. Plus, they can actually have good matches, unlike some of the others…if only they had Boogey’s comedy skills.
Chris Masters
The Boogeyman
Ari Berenstien
MNM- Chris Masters will never be "best" anything except "best turn off the channel when he's on". MNM won the WWE SD titles on their debut, broke up a long lasting friendship between Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio and generally were some of the most annoying shit disturbers on the Smackdown roster this year. Melina on my television brings me joy, and its good to see another Tough Enough success in Nitro and the improvement in Joey Matthews/Mercury.
2. Alexis Laree (Mickie James)
3. Bobby Lashley
Bayani Domingo
MNM - Until recently they revitalized a tag division and brought us the best ring enterance this side of Stacy Keibler...the back side of Stacy Keibler that is.
Chris Masters
Alexis Laree (Mickie James)
Steve Sullivan
MNM- 2 Title Reigns in their first year. Winning the tag titles in their first match. A hot chick. What more could you ask for in a rookie tag team? 2 hot chicks maybe?
Bobby Lashley
The Boogeyman
5th Place-The Boogeyman (2 points)
4th Place-Mickie James- (3 points) TIE
4th Place-Bobby Lashley ( 3 points) TIE
2nd Place- Chris Masters ( 4 points)
Best OVW Callup- MNM (20 points)
Unanimous voting for the former Tag Champs. MNM, who started the gimmick in 2004, got the call early 2005 and never looked back.
Join us next week as we continue with Part 2 of The Crystal Ball’s Year End Edition! Next week we will look at the best Tag Teams of the OVW, The Storyline Of The Year that brought OVW so much attention to the Internet, and the big prize. OVW Wrestler of the year. It’s all in next week’s Crystal Ball!
