411’s Wrestler of the Week 12.25.06: Week 38
Posted by Larry Csonka on 12.25.2006
It is Christmas time! Who got the gift or Wrestler of the Week? Unwrap this column to find out!
Welcome to Week 38, 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!
Brad Borchardt
1) Edge
Let's see, he won the biggest battle royal in the history of RAW to become #1 Contender for the WWE Championship, had a great match with John Cena until DX and Randy Orton came in, and along with Orton, left DX bloody in an awesome beat down. Add to this that he did it all in one night and you got my pick for Wrestler of the Week. Rob Van Dam gets on my list only because you don't see to many wrestlers lose a match and then named #1 Contender for a world title.
2) Johnny Nitro
3) RVD
Mathew Sforcina
1) Homicide
Who would have thunk it, American Dragon, all this time, was just another Gringo? Huh.
2) Edge
3) The Briscoes
Daniel Wilcox
1) Edge
He wrestled three times on Raw this week. First he one a 30 man Battle Royal to become #1 contender, then put on a great match with John Cena, and finally competed in the 6 man tag team main event. Add to that he and Randy Orton destroyed DX at the end of the night, The Rated R Superstar gets my number 1 vote.
2) John Cena
3) Johnny Nitro
JD Dunn
1) Homicide
Big wins always mean more when you end a long title reign, but the fact that this is Homicide's first gold in ROH makes it that much sweeter. Plus, he delivered on a promise he made in the middle of the year -- he won ROH gold before the end of the year.
2) Joey Mercury
3) Edge
Mike Bauer
1) Homicide
I think the writing was on the wall for the title change when they said Homicide was putting his RoH career on the line. That not withstanding, when you get the chance to end a 15-month title reign, you deserve the top spot. Congrats to Homicide, you deserve this.
2) Briscoes/Kings of Wrestling
3) Edge
Jeff Small
1) Homicide
He delivered on his year-long promise to wear ROH gold and defeated a champion that looked unbeatable. Sure he won't hold the title nearly as long as Danielson or Samoa Joe of years past (due to his TNA obligation), but it will be interesting to see just how long he holds it (like CM Punk a year ago). In addition, Homicide and his LAX brethren keep on entertaining on TNA by retiring AMW last week and then punking out Santa Runt this week. Anytime you beat the crap out of Spike Dudley, it's a plus in my book.
2) Edge
3) The Briscoes
Steve Cook
1) Homicide
The Notorious 187 finally broke the curse that had plagued his otherwise outstanding career in ROH, defeating long-time rival Bryan Danielson to win the ROH Heavyweight Championship. Cide closed out a remarkable 2006 by attaining one of the major goals of his career in front of his hometown fans and friends, and there's no reason he can't have an even better 2007 in ROH & TNA. Larry Sweeney made his Ring of Honor debut this weekend and will be wrestling alongside Chris Hero in 2007. He's definitely one to keep an eye on next year. Finally, I'm giving Am Drag some love for his tremendous 15 month reign as ROH champion that saw the company raise itself to even new heights. He might not be the champ anymore, but he can still call himself the best in the world if he wants to.
2) Larry Sweeney
3) Bryan Danielson
ARI
1) Homicide / American Dragon Bryan Danielson
In the immortal words of some wrestler...OH HELL YES!!!!! Homicide came through in his hometown and put on a hell of a show in becoming only the 8th ROH World Champion. He put on a very dramatic and exciting match and the NYC crowd reciprocated with tons of love and its well deserved at that. Of course the crowd reaction couldn't have been the same without Danielson's awesome 15 month title reign setting the stage for the dramatic moment. In second are The Briscoes and Kings of Wrestling who had one of THE BEST tag matches I've seen all year. BOTH teams were super over, the heat was nuclear and the quality was off the charts including an insane SIMULTANEOUS shooting star press and flying leg drop combo by The Briscoes to finish. Beg, borrow or steal to get ROH Final Battle 2006 once it gets published on DVD. Finally, Edge gets a ton of credit for working triple duty on last week's Monday Night Raw, including winning the Battle Royal in innovative fashion, closing out a great year of matches with John Cena and then doing his very best heel work as part of Rated RKO to cap off the night. To close, in the immortal words of another wrestler...BLYYYYYAT!
2) The Briscoes / The Kings of Wrestling
3) Edge
Samuel Berman
1) Homicide
In the most important title change in all of wrestling since Samoa Joe lost the ROH Title to Austin Aries two years ago, Homicide ends the Dragon's reign in truly epic fashion. The Briscoes traded wins with the Kings of Wrestling, but in winning the rematch were set up as big players for 2007. Danielson deserves special mention, both for his (reportedly) tremendous match against Homicide and for the sheer greatness of his title reign as a whole.
2) The Briscoes
3) Bryan Danielson
JT
1) Homicide
When you end a fifteen month world title reign by becoming champion of ANY kind for the first time in Ring Of Honor, you get the nod from me.
2) Edge
3) The Briscoes
SAT
1) Homicide
He wins the ROH title and ends Danielson's amazing run as champion.
2) Edge
3) Bryan Danielson
Andy Clark
1) Homicide
While I'm not pleased that ROH has given yet another title to a TNA guy, Homicide has earned it and most importantly he ended Bryan Danielson's reign! That in and of itself was a great Christmas present.
2) JBL
3) Edge
Larry Csonka
1) Homicide
"D" did what no one else could, end the 15-month reign of Bryan Danielson. It has been a long time coming, but "D" finally has the ROH Title, something I feel he should have won a long time ago. Add to this the year he has had in TNA as a part of LAX and it has probably been the best of his career. Rumor has it "D", Samoa Joe and Punk all went out to a club, where "D" celebrated by peeing on Punk. Just like the old days! "SWEET AND SOUR" Larry FN Sweeney(~!) gets 2nd for making a huge debut in ROH, WELCOME TO LARRYDISE BITCHES! And Danielson snags third for being a FN soldier throughout most of the year with basically a destroyed shoulder. Get that shit taken care of and return to having great matches dude. PS: "D" did it…for the hootlums~!
2) "SWEET AND SOUR" Larry Sweeney~!
3) Bryan Danielson
THE WINNERS!
Special Mention…Bryan Danielson - 9 Votes
Danielson was a warrior to the end, and even though he lost his title, he did have a big win this weekend and still has the respect of this panel.
Third Place…Mark and Jay Briscoe - 12 Votes
Mark and Jay had a huge win over the dominant KOW this weekend, and look to head into 2007 with a ton of momentum.
Second Place…Edge - 26 Votes
The Rated R Superstar won the huge 30-man battle royal, had a hell of a match with Cena and then left DX laying. Any other week he would have stolen the top spot easily, but not this time.
Wrestler of the Week…Homicide - 55 Votes
Edge had a hell of a week, but Homicide continued a great year by winning the ROH title from Bryan Danielson. His year has been great thus far, and with this WOTW win he is now in a place to challenge for the year-end award.
Year-End Standings!
The top 15 had quite the shake up in a non-PPV week thanks to two big ROH shows and the 3-hour Raw. Chris Benoit drops out of the top 15 as Danielson separates himself, although with his impending surgery that may not last long. Edge leap-frogged John Cena and is just 1-point behind Kurt Angle. The big move was Homicide. With his first place finish he leaps over RVD and into the top 3 for the year, while Mark and Jay Briscoe, along with Larry Sweeney all debut. With another three months left to go anything can still happen, but this was a very interesting week!
The top 15 spots are marked.
1. Samoa Joe - 100 (TNA/ROH)
2. KING Booker - 90 (Smackdown)
3. Homicide - 75 (ROH/TNA)
4. RVD - 72 (ECW)
5. Kurt Angle - 54 (TNA)
6. Edge - 53 (Raw)
7. John Cena - 45 (Raw)
8. Abyss - 41 (TNA) 8. Hernandez – 41 (TNA)
10. AJ Styles - 40 (TNA) 10. Konnan - 40 (TNA) 10. Christopher Daniels - 40 (TNA/ROH)
13. Lashley - 39 (ECW)
14. Christian Cage - 38 (TNA)
15. Bryan Danielson – 36 (ROH)
Chris Benoit - 33 (Smackdown)
Jeff Hardy - 32 (Raw)
Rey Mysterio - 30 (Smackdown) Fit Finlay - 30 (Smackdown)
