411’s Wrestler of the Week 11.27.06: Week 34
Posted by Larry Csonka on 11.27.2006
The King got dethroned at Survivor Series, as two Kings were defeated in ROH. With all of this royalty on the down turn, who had enough momentum to capture the 411 Wrestler of the Week award?
Welcome to Week 34, Year-Two, of 411's Wrestler of the Week. A quick overview for those who don't know the deal…
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. This will be posted every Monday. Let's see who wins this week…
The Voting!
Scott Slimmer
1) The Hardy Boyz
I was a HUGE Hardy Boyz mark during the waning days of the Attitude Era, so it's a good bet that I would have given them my vote for WOTW this week simply for reuniting as a tag team for the first time in nearly five years. However, luckily enough, Matt and Jeff had a huge week and completely justified my decision. First, Jeff defeated Johnny Nitro in a rather impressive ladder match on Raw to retain the Intercontinental Championship. Next, Matt and Jeff invaded ECW, dismantled the FBI, and gave a nice little boost to ECW's ratings in the process. Then, to top it all off, Matt and Jeff teamed up with CM Punk, Shawn Michaels, and Triple H to more or less bury Team Rated-RKO at Survivor Series, thus aiding in the defeat of their long-time nemeses Johnny Nitro, Gregory Helms, and, of course, Edge himself. It's been a LONG time since any tag team in WWE has had a week this good. Now let's all hope that WWE realizes they might actually have something good on their hands before they screw it up.
2) Batista
3) CM Punk
Ryan Byers
1) The Hardy Boyzs
Yeah, I refuse to do the "z" thing. Sorry. Anyway, I'm not quite the old school Hardy fan that Slimmer is, but you've got to admit that there's something pretty darn impressive about what they've managed to accomplish over the course of this past week. Jeff's series of matches with Johnny Nitro has been far better than it has had any right to be, and the ladder match on Raw was the saving grace of an otherwise boring show. On top of that, the brothers tag team reunion seems to have sparked some genuine interest amongst fans, so much so that WWE is planning on using it to prop up the nonexistent under card of December to Dismember. Top that off with a solid performance at the Survivor Series, and you've got yourself an easy first place finish.
2) Lita
3) Ric Flair
ARI
1) The Hardy Boyz and Lita
I was going to put Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal first, but Yo SLIMMA has made some excellent points. This was definitely the week of Team Xtreme considering the big wins for the boyz. Jeff Hardy was awesome in the ladder match against Nitro on Monday, and has absolutely made a career comeback in WWE, so much so that he's even saving the career of his brother. Also you can throw in Lita's final two matches of her career, including giving one of her finest promos ever on Monday Night Raw as well as going out on her back (Jerry Lawler and Bayani can fill in the rest of the joke) in a decent last match. Daniels and Sydal won the ROH World Tag Team Titles from the Kings of Wrestling as well as main evented the Long Island NY show the night previous. It's Daniels' first ROH title win in four years as well as the full circle of a year long quest for Sydal to win the ROH tag team titles. CM Punk was one of the most over wrestlers on the Survivor Series PPV. His chants were even recognized by HHH of all people, who put him over...AGAIN!...and let him begin the "Are You Ready?" crowd participation sing along. Most importantly he looked competent and solid in the ring and fit in with everyone, including top stars Edge and Randy Orton. Batista won the title, but he cheated to win and he didn't look so hot while doing it. I don't know if the decision will stand come Smackdown, so for the second week in a row a new Heavyweight champion is crowned and really doesn't have a strong case for making it at the top spot of the WOTW.
2) Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal
3) CM Punk/Batista
Steve Cook
1) Christopher Daniels
He might not have made PPV this week, but Daniels still had the most impressive week out of anybody in wrestling. His team with AJ Styles went out in style on Impact with a victory over the Naturals, and in ROH he and Matt Sydal wrested the tag team titles from the late, great Kings of Wrestling. Not too shabby, eh?
2) Matt Sydal
3) Homicide/Samoa Joe
Sat
1) Batista
He finally regains the title that he never lost.
2) The Hardy Boyz
3) CM Punk
JT~!
1) The Hardy Boyz
So here I am all prepared to give my three picks for this week's WOTW, and Slimmer has to go and make all kinds of sense. The others have made the case. They were basically on every show including the PPV and looked strong in all cases, not only on an individual basis but - more importantly - when working together. Couple in the fact that one of them had one hell of a title defense on Monday in one of the best matches of the week, and it's almost a no-brainer.
2) Batista
3) Christopher Daniels
Jeff Small
1) The Hardy Boyz
Damn it, I hate when Slimmer's right. But yes, Jeff was involved in three entertaining matches this week, while Matt Hardy is getting a push that he truly deserves on Smackdown. Throw in the fact that neither man was pinned on Team DX AND that they will be involved in the semi-main event on next week's ECW PPV. If only they would reunite T&A...
2) CM Punk
3) Batista
Andy Clark
1) Batista
He won the World Title and FINALLY ended the reign of Booker T. Congrats, big man, do us all proud.
2) CM Punk
3) Tomko
Julian Williams
1) Batista
Finally won the world heavyweight title back after it seemed he might never get his hands on gold again. Now hopefully he can keep fans interested in seeing him as champ.
2) Hardy Boyz
3) Mr. Kennedy
MEEHAN
1) Batista
CHEATED to win the World Title, but might have kick started a *desperately* needed heel turn in the process, which should go a long way in making up for lost time and momentum following a long sabbatical from injury. Going into the build-to-WrestleMania-mode, it's nice to see a fresh heel on the make for at least one of the show's main events.
2) Mr. Kennedy
3) Tomko
Larry Csonka
1) Christopher Daniels/Matt Sydal
I usually love to go with the it title victories this week, but the Batista/King Booker match was below mediocre and rather unsatisfying. Daniels and Sydal defeated the KOW, one of the hottest acts on the Indy scene and in all of tag wrestling. That's pretty big to me because it is the first gold Daniels has gotten in ROH in a LONG time. Punk and the Hardyz had great weeks and were mad over at Survivor Series, and Batista did win the title so he snags the third spot.
2) CM Punk/The Hardy Boyz
3) Batista
THE WINNERS!
Special Mention…CM Punk - 12 Votes
CM Punk continued his winning ways on ECW this week, but more importantly had a great showing at Survivor Series. He eliminated Gregory Helms and survived the match, and even upstaged DX during their intro. I believe that Mr. Punk has arrived.
Third Place…Christopher Daniels - 14 Votes
Christopher Daniels had a spiffy little win on Impact this week, but more importantly he and Matt Sydal dethroned the KOW for the ROH tag team titles this past weekend. That is huge news as the KOW were having a banner year.
Second Place…Batista - 29 Votes
Big Dave captured the World Title this week at Survivor Series. He never lost the title and now looks to continue on a path of destruction.
Wrestler of the Week…Matt and Jeff Hardy - 34 Votes
While big Dave won the world title, the big story of the week was the reuniting of Team eXtreme. They were back in action on ECW this week and were dominant over the FBI. They then had a great showing at Survivor Series, as they survived their match in part of a clean sweep. Add into this that Jeff won a great ladder match over Nitro, and the Hardyz are having the best week ever.
Year-End Standings!
Not a lot of movement in the top 15, Christopher Daniels was the only man that made anything happen and is now tied for 8th place. Jeff Hardy made a strong move towards the top 15, and Batista more than doubles his year-end total this week with the world title win. Matt Hardy debuts strong with the 1st place tie, CM Punk makes a small move upward and Matt Sydal debuts on the list. Three more PPV in the next three weeks, be prepared for lots of changes.
The top 15 spots are marked.
1. KING Booker - 90 (Smackdown)
2. Samoa Joe - 85 (TNA/ROH)
3. RVD - 72 (ECW)
4. Homicide - 60 (ROH/TNA)
5. Kurt Angle - 51 (TNA)
6. Edge - 43 (Raw)
7. Hernandez – 41 (TNA)
8. AJ Styles - 40 (TNA) 8. Konnan - 40 (TNA) 8. Christopher Daniels - 40 (TNA/ROH)
William Regal - 5 (Smackdown) BJ Whitmer - 5 (ROH) Jay Lethal - 5 (TNA) Hiroyoshi Tenzan - 5 (New Japan) Minoru - 5 (New Japan) JBL - 5 (Smackdown) Mark Henry - 5 (Smackdown)
Johnny Nitro - 4 (Raw)
Roddy Piper - 3 (Raw) The Undertaker - 3 (Smackdown) Brian Kendrick - 3 (Smackdown) Paul London - 3 (Smackdown) Rey Bucanero - 3 (CMLL) Shelton Benjamin - 3 (Raw)
