411’s Wrestlers of the Week 03.13.06: Week 24
Posted by Larry Csonka on 03.13.2006
Do you believe in self-fulfilling prophecies?
Welcome to week 24 of 411's Wrestler of the Week. A quick overview for those who don't know the score…
Each writer chooses three wrestlers from any promotion and each wrestler gets a vote attached to that ranking. It looks a little like this…
1st – 5
2nd – 3
3rd – 1
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 five vote getters get a points value for their ranking which looks something like this…
1st – 15
2nd – 10
3rd – 5
4th – 3
5th – 1
...and they go towards the 411 Wrestler of the Year award to be announced each year at WrestleMania. So this week is the first instalment to be posted every Monday. Let's see who wins this week…
Andy Clark
1) Christopher Daniels
While they will probably continue to say that Joe is undefeated since he didn't get pinned, Daniels was the man to end Joe's X Title reign. Daniels had a great run with the X Title the first time he held it, and here's hoping for a run that is just as good.
2) Christian Cage
3) Scott Steiner
JT
1) Christopher Daniels
While it may have been a shorter match than expected, it was fast paced and full of good spots. No "dead air" if you will for the most part. Beat AJ Styles and the Samoan Submission Machine (who is/was on a roll no less) to regain the X Division Championship.
2) Christian Cage
3) Finlay/Lashley
Steve Cook
1) Christopher Daniels
Anybody who can take the X Division Title from the unbeatable Samoa Joe deserves some props. He had a rough night at the ROH show, losing to Colt Cabana, but that means nothing compared to the bright lights of Destination X, and with everything on the line in Ultimate X, he delivered. It's just too bad Joe's gonna kill him at Lockdown.
2) Christian Cage
3) Necro Butcher
Stephen Randle
1) Christopher Daniels
Because he's really been carrying the feud with his excellent promo work, including some great stuff while he was doing play-by-play back when he was "injured", and he finally got rewarded with the belt. With so many rematches, Joe had to lose eventually, anyway. And yes, Joe's going to kill him in the rematch. But I think the fans can live with that.
2) Christian Cage
3) Paul Burchill
Ryan Byers
1) Christopher Daniels
Phew, I'm glad I missed the TNA roundtable this month, because the result of this match and a couple of others would've made me look like a staggering moron. Anyway, it's great to see Daniels with the title once more, as he repeatedly got his butt handed to him by Joe in the build-up to the match and would have looked like the loser of the century if he didn't win the blow off. Plus the first title reign by the Fallen Angle was quite fun, as he adopted the Bret Hart-esque "fighting champion" persona. Doing that again while he is a full-fledged babyface could do a lot of good in the eyes of an Orlando crowd that is burnt out on AJ Styles.
2) Alex Shelley
3) The Naturals
Jeff Small
1) Christopher Daniels
Didn't get to see the show tonight, but there's no denying that Daniels came out of DX in the best shape. Not only did he pick up a victory over Samoa Joe, which not many can say they have, he also defeated his archrival, AJ Styles. He even wrestled a ROH show this weekend and still got to win this match. Take that Austin Aries!!!
2) Lashley
3) Chris Sabin
Ari
1) Christopher Daniels
AMEN to the "gospel" according to the Fallen Angel. Daniels got the big win of retribution for getting bloodied and beaten and destroyed. Like the proverbial Phoenix, Daniels rose up from the ashes and reclaimed the X Division title. He also ended Joe's X reign, which looked to be quite unstoppable...and you could probably put an asterisk on Joe's win streak as well...and that's a great accomplishment.
2) BJ Whitmer
3) Chris Sabin
John Meehan
1) Christopher Daniels
Foreshortened kneepads and all, 411's favorite conference caller took the X Division title back in spectacular fashion this week, besting long-time rival AJ Styles and ending Samoa Joe's unbeaten streak in the process. Awesome showing by Mr. Crooked Neck Tattoo this week, and a well-deserved #1 spot for a job well done.
2) Paul Burchill
3) Scott Steiner
Bayani Domingo
1) Christopher Daniels
Sure the match was about 15 minutes shorter than it could have been but Daniels proved himself to still be a major player in the X-Division by beating the unstoppable monster and Mr. TNA. Daniels has proven to be probably THE most well rounded X-Division champ both in the ring and on the mic. And THAT is gospel.
2) Christian Cage
3) Lashley
Scott Slimmer
1) Christopher Daniels
Call it the obvious choice. Call it the cop-out choice. It's still the right choice. Daniels won the most important championship in TNA (yeah, I said it, and you know I'm right about it) in one hell of a match. The X-Division is the face of TNA, and now Daniels is the face of the X-Division. That has Wrestler of the Week written all over it for me.
2) Christian Cage
3) Finlay/Lashley
Larry Csonka
1) Christopher Daniels
This is what I call a self fulfilling Prophecy. During the pre-show Christopher Daniels promised that we would see a resurrection, the second coming of the "Fallen Angle." When the man speaks the gospel, we damn well better listen because this is not bible thumping, it's the truth. An easy win this week in my eyes.
2) Chris Sabin
3) Alex Shelley
THE WINNERS
Special Mention…Chris Sabin - 5 Votes
Chris Sabin proved that he could go in the International X Match at Destination X this past weekend and earned himself a special mention this week.
Third Place…Lashley - 6 Votes
With his feud with Finlay picking up steam, it's hard not to take notice of the big man named "Lashley."
Second Place…Christian Cage - 18 Votes
The NWA World Champion might have taken an ass whipping during and after the match this weekend at Destination X, but he's still the man with the 10 lbs of gold; which was enough to earn him a second place nod this week.
Wrestler of the Week…Christopher Daniels - 55 Votes
It was a run away victory this week for the Fallen Angel. When ever you win a title that helps. Winning it in one of the most innovative matches going today is also special. But when you do them both and defeat Samoa Joe and AJ Styles in the process, there is no doubt that it was Mr. Daniels week.
Year End Standings
With Ric Flair non-existent in the voting yet again, the bog story was Christian Cage and Christopher Daniels making big leaps this week. Daniels had been in a logjam with 15 for a long time, but with his huge win at Destination X he was able to break from the pack. Christian Cage has been quiet for a while, but has made it into the top five and is possible contender. With Three weeks to go, it is still wide open.
