411’s Wrestler of the Week 6.18.07: Week 11
Posted by Larry Csonka on 06.18.2007
Kurt Angle won the TNA Title, Milano Collection AT is the Best of the Super Jr’s, Black Machismo won the X-Title and Vince McMahon exploded! So who took the WOTW title? Come on into see!
Welcome to Week 11, Year-Three, of 411's Wrestler of the Week. A quick overview to kick things off as we have some new rules for year three…
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…
1st - 5
2nd - 4
3rd - 3
4th - 2
5th - 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 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 at WrestleMania. This will be posted every Monday. Let's see who wins this week…
The Voting!
Scott Slimmer
1) Kurt Angle
I had it written. Seriously. I had it written. I KNEW that Samoa Joe was FINALLY going to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in the King of the Mountain Match at Slammiversary, so I went ahead and wrote up my explanation for naming him WOTW. Because we all KNEW that Joe was going to win, right? I seriously had it written. And then, just as I'm about to submit my votes for the week, I find out that KURT F'N ANGLE was the man that actually won the title at Slammiversary. Oops. Look, I love Angle as much as the next IWC inmate. And there's no doubt that he deserves to be named this week's WOTW for winning the title. But as far as I'm concerned, Angle's biggest accomplishment this week was finding a way to beat destiny and once again keep the gold out of Joe's hands. And I for one wouldn't mind seeing a few more Joe / Angle classics, especially with the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on the line.
2) Matt Hardy – Matt Hardy gets my second place vote this week for defeating William Regal in a great match on Smackdown. Hardy continues to score important victories in impressive singles matches, and there's now a realistic chance that he may be the next challenger to Edge's World Heavyweight Championship.
3) "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal – "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal gets my third place vote this week for defeating Chris Sabin to win the TNA X-Division Championship at Slammiversary. Some may question how far Lethal can go using another wrestler's gimmick, but then again Hulk Hogan became the biggest star in the history of this industry using "Superstar" Billy Graham's old gimmick.
4) Bobby Lashley
5) Abyss
Andy Clark
1) Vince McMahon
He may not have wrestled in a match this week, but his actions affected the entire WWE this past Monday. The whole wrestling world is talking about the demise of one of the greatest heels in the history of this business. This was what the week was all about.
2) Kurt Angle- He shocked the world by becoming the first ever TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Samoa Joe can start calling Johnny Ace at this point, but Kurt Angle should feel honored to be on top of the TNA mountain.
3) Edge- In a different time this would have been a huge deal, but Edge did win a Champion vs. Champion Match on Monday.
4) Millano Collection AT
5) "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal
Meehan
1) Vince McMahon
Sorry wrestling fans, but there is simply no story, no performer, and no angle greater this week -- nay, this year -- than Mr. Vincent Kennedy McMahon. He's gotten the mainstream media talking about pro wrestling again, and he's managed to deliver a massive kick-start to what should be the single hottest angle of the summer. Vince owns, and deserves the WOTW nod.
2) Kurt Angle - A great match at SlammiVersary puts the Olympic gold medallist into a much deserving number two slot this week. Maybe now that he's champ, he can work towards regaining all of that momentum he lost not so long ago.
3) Jay Lethal -- Black Machismo has arrived. Great to see Lethal wearing gold, so let's see what he can do.
4) Milano Collection AT
5) Warren Cromartie
Mike Bauer
1) Kurt Angle
Now my friends, that is what we call a great main event match. For as much as we bash TNA, they can turn it on, on the right time and did with that main event. And like I called on the round table (and the ONLY person to do so), Kurt Angle walked out of a stellar match as the first ever TNA World Heavyweight Champion. And he continued to punk out Samoa Joe in the process.
2) "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal - Jay Lethal finally captured the X Division Title and has continued his rise in the TNA ranks.
3) Abyss - He came back and looked like he had not missed a beat in his matches.
4) 2 Cold Scorpio (How often does that happen?)
5) Jimmy Wang Yang (see #4)
Jeff Small
1) Vince McMahon
This man died for our entertainment this past Monday and I truly believe we should all vote him #1. His death was so well done (or should I say dunn-well) that there are plenty of marks out there that truly believe he's dead. The summer has started with a literal bang and I know I'm not the only one who's interested to see where this is all heading.
2) Kurt Angle - Angle put on a great performance that saw him regain the title he should have never lost. Not only that but it looks like he is restarting his feud with Samoa Joe which can only lead to good things (and matches).
3) Matt Hardy - Hardy was put over hugely on Smackdown. With the lack of main event superstars on Smackdown (thanks in part to this draft), Hardy has a good shot at breaking through to the top.
4) Milano Collection AT
5) Jay Lethal
Matt Adamson
1) Kurt Angle
Being the first ever TNA Heavyweight Champion is a pretty huge accomplishment. I was surprised because I really truly thought Joe was going to be the one to win here. I can't believe some of these other guys are voting for a dead guy. He can't even accept his trophy for goodness sake.
2) Milano Collection AT - Winning the Best of the Super Jrs is HUGE and winning it while being considered a bit of a long shot is even bigger. Color me amazed and excited that he won. He also eliminated my pick Ryusuke Taguchi in the semifinal.
3) Jay Lethal - I watched a lot of Lethal this weekend, two of his matches in ROH including the Fight without Honor against Low Ki. Then he goes and wins the X title, which is fantastic. He deserves it.
4) CIMA
5) Wataru Inoue
Ryan Byers
1) Vince McMahon
We'll see on Tuesday whether the death angle has the legs to help the company's TV numbers, and it'll take a month or so to see whether they can spin it in such a way that it helps PPV buys. However, purely for the sake of getting people talking, the death angle on Monday was one of the biggest success stories in recent memory. No matter what, it would've been that way to a certain extent. However, it was the awesome nightlong performance of Vince McMahon that turned it from something memorable in to something legendary. It was one of the greatest pieces of pro wrestling acting that I've seen in my time as a fan. Kudos, Vince, wherever you may be.
2) Millano Collection AT - Wins the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. That's a hell of an accomplishment for a guy who was barely main eventing CHIKARA shows a year ago.
3) MVP - Helluva match against Batista on Friday. This guy's time with Benoit served him well.
4) Razor Ramon Hard Gay
5) Walter Cromartie
SAT
1) Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle wins the TNA Title by winning the King of the Mountain match.
2) Vince McMahon - Vince McMahon gets the second slot for his death.
3) Jay Lethal - Jay Lethal gets the third slot for finally winning the TNA X Division Title
4) Abyss
5) Edge
Mike Minotti
1) Kurt Angle
Kurt has become the first ever TNA World Heavyweight Champion, beating some of TNA's best talent in the process. I think it's a pretty safe bet that he's in store for a long title reign. I predict he'll hold onto the belt until he drops it to Joe at Bound for Glory.
2) Vince McMahon - Blowing up has to count for something. I haven't seen a wrestling angle get people talking this much in a long time. Some people think it's in bad taste, but the fact of the matter is that this storyline alone (if executed properly) can boost ratings and careers for some time to come.
3) Jay Lethal - lol, Black Machismo. Oh snap, he's the X-Division Champion? I guess the joke's on us.
4) Millano Collection AT
5) 2 Cold Scorpio
J~T~!
1) Mr. McMahon
I really, REALLY don't particularly like giving this spot to him, but his presence (or lack thereof depending on how you look at it) this week cannot be denied. First, he shocks the world with his "presumptuous" death which happens to appear several times over the week, superstars and legends alike turn out to either show their support or shit all over him, and - most importantly - the ENTIRE MEDIA NATION makes a spectacle of it. No press is bad press, and this week, Vince may have drawn the most media attention in the HISTORY of the WWE. This garnished attention (be it big time or even a little mention) that blows the Vince/Trump shit out of the water. EVERYONE - love it, hate it, know nothing about it, don't give a shit, EVERYONE - was talking about it in some capacity. I had more than one person who does not watch, care about, or know anything about call me this week to find out what the hell was going on. There was one name that was on the tip of every wrestler, promotion, and fans tongue this week. That name was Mr. McMahon.
2) Kurt Angle - There is no explanation needed in my opinion. TNA had a decision to make on who would be the first official TNA champion; the man to lead them into a new era for them. They had several options, from Sting to AJ Styles to Samoa Joe to Christian Cage to Jeff Jarrett to others, and they handpicked Kurt Angle.
3) Black Machismo - This character has been GREAT. The problem here is that while TNA has done a really good job of getting the character exposure, they haven't put him in many if any situations to show him some love for it. This week, that all changed. They showcased him on their 5th anniversary PPV, and he walked away with TNA's secondary title. Not sure how many times we'll be able to show him some love here, so I'm definitely going to capitalize on this opportunity.
4) Milano Collection AT
5) Edge
ARI
1) "Sensational" Sherri Martel
Screw the fake dead guy, how about we show a little class and a little tribute to one of the REAL fallen wrestlers. Martel passed on this week, FOR REAL, and now WWE is in a bind as to how to pay tribute. But I gladly give my choice for the number one spot to Martel, one of the finest female managers in wrestling history. She managed champions of the time and champions of the future, such as "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Shawn Michaels and Booker T. In her own era she was one of the better women's wrestlers. She was "Scary Sherri" to the kids and then later on she was the "woman who screeches HBK's theme song" to another generation of fans. Her Hall of Fame induction speech was epic and truly showed her energy and her joy for her business. It's a shame she went so soon, because she had so much left to give. My condolences to all who remember her.
2) Abyss: The monster made an epic return on iMPACT this week, just DEMOLISHING Christian left and right and getting payback for the wrongs done against him by the Christian Coalition. Then he goes out and wins a barbaric match against Tomko at Slammiversary using glass. GLASS. This guy doesn't come back part of the way, when he returns he is in all the way.
3) Kurt Angle: Yeah, he won the TNA title again...so then what was the point of him being stripped of it in the first place? Looks to me like Angle got lucky he was in the right place and the right time. It's only a matter of time before Joe chokes this bitch out and takes what's rightfully his.
4) Milano Collection AT
5) Jay Lethal
Zac Calhoun
1) Kurt Angle
The number one spot has to go to your NEW TNA World Heavyweight Champion. The KOTM match was apparently great, and now we have another series of Angle/Joe to look forward to, this time with the stakes raised a whole bunch. The choice to put the title on Angle is kind of boring, but with the post-match antics we can be looking at a heel run for Angle and a triumphant one-on-one title victory for Joe. Nonetheless, Angle deserves the top spot this week for his win.
2) Abyss - The Mitchell-less Abyss gets my pick for number two after looking like a badass on Impact and getting a PPV win over a well-pushed Tomko. When his music hit Thursday, and Christian had this "I wasn't prepared for this crazy fuck" look on his face, it made for a great character defining moment. And he poured BROKEN GLASS in the ring for God's sake.
3) "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal - Yes, TNA sweeps my top three despite the fact that I never write about them. Lethal's new character has taken him places his in-ring ability wasn't going to take him, and his title win is a result of his finally connecting with the crowd. And if takes gimmick infringement to get him there, so be it. It's not like WWE's using Macho's legacy for anything productive.
4) Bobby Lashley
5) Chris Benoit
Bayani Domingo
1) Kurt Angle - This spot should have been Samoa Joe's, but I can see where TNA is going with this. Winning it from Angle will mean a lot more in the long run I suppose, but you can't deny Angle for winning his (technically) 2nd TNA title. Or is it 1st TNA and 1 NWA or...eh, never mind.
2) Milano Collection AT - He won the BOSJ tournament and that is no small feat considering there were some great talents this year including a couple of past winners. I can only hope Milano makes a trip or two back to the states soon as it looks like his on again-off again infatuation with the states may be at an end.
3) Jay Lethal - He did win the X-Title after all...ooooooh yeeeeah. DIG IT!!
4) Vince McMahon's Ego
5) MVP
Samuel Berman
1) Kurt Angle
Well, I would have put the title on Joe, but they DID put the title on Angle, so he's the WOTW. At least my prediction that Joe doesn't sniff the title until Bound for Glory seems to be intact, but that's cold comfort when the best thing in wrestling (outside of the Briscoes, of course) continues to astoundingly be denied a run at the top of TNA. Anyway, congrats Kurt. I hope you'll do the right thing at BFG and lay down for Joe.
2) "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal - I like Sabin more, but Lethal's pretty good as a new-age Savage.
3) Milano Collection AT - ROH alum wins BOSJ Tournament. You know where this vote's going.
4) Chris Benoit
5) Sherri Martel
Matt Short
1) Kurt Angle
So many people had pegged Slammiversary as Samoa Joe's night. Myself included. But Angle came out on top in the King of the Mountain match as the first ever TNA Champion. Looks like we're moving back into Angle vs. Joe again, but this time the title is going to be on the line.
2) Milano Collection AT- Huge surprise from the Best of Super Jr. Tournament as Milano won the whole thing after beating Wataru Inoue in the finals. While Milano is popular no one was expecting this win.
3) CIMA- CIMA has been clamoring for a shot at Jushin Liger and his Open the Dream Gate title for awhile now. He finally earned the right by beating rival Gamma and faces Liger on July 1st.
4) "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal
5) Abyss
Andy Critchell
1) Vince McMahon
Normally a new titleholder would automatically get the #1 spot but not this week. The Vince "death" angle has been the talk of the wrestling world ever since the limo explosion and it does not look like the talk will abate any time soon. This angle has also received tons of mainstream media attention in newspapers, the E Channel, and even ESPN proving once again that Vince is smarter than all of us.
2) Kurt Angle – Kurt overcame the odds in TNA's signature match to be the first ever TNA Heavyweight Champion. Unfortunately, the PPV in which he won it might be remembered more for being a signature TNA event (i.e. a total clusterf*ck) than Angle's moment of ultimate glory. Regardless, Angle is once again the face of a North American wrestling promotion and he has a lot to be proud of.
3) Edge and MVP – I don't normally like to give out ties but both of these men are worthy of recognition for their contributions last week. Edge won the Champion vs. Champion match on Raw to kick of the three-hour extravaganza and also had a really fun match with the debuting Flair on Smackdown. In a match with Batista, MVP impressed once again and is showing more and more every week why he belongs in the main event scene. For some perspective, MVP is ahead of where Kennedy was at this stage.
4) Jay Lethal
5) Jimmy Wang Yang
Mathew Sforcina
1) Mr. McMahon- After all, how often do you see someone take a Limo Explosion '07? That moves like banned in Japan after all.
2) Kurt Angle- So Kurt won back his title. That's good news, although if I'm Joe I'm worried and if I bought the PPV I'm annoyed.
3) Milano Collection AT- He did good. He still sounds too much like a stable though.
4) Sherri Martel
5) Abyss/Black Machismo
Larry Csonka
1) Kurt Angle
Why people may debate who the winner should have been, the fact remains that Kurt Angle win the KOTM match and IS the TNA Champion. Coming out of the match with the title when AJ, Cage, Joe and Harris are involved is a big deal. Bravo Kurt, and you didn't even have to fake your death.
2) Milano Collection AT - Milano Collection AT pulled off what had to be an upset over Wataru Inoue to win the Best of the Super Jr's tournament.
3) Black Machismo Jay Lethal/Abyss – Black Machismo won the X-Title while Abyss made a huge PPV return in an INSANE No DQ match.
4) 2 Cold Scorpio
5) Jimmy Wang Yang
THE WINNERS!
Special Mention…Edge and Sherri Martel - 8 Votes
Fifth Place…Abyss - 19 Votes
Fourth Place…Milano Collection AT - 38 Votes
Third Place…Black Machismo - 43 Votes
Black Machismo didn't beat the Dragon or the Snake, but he did beat Chris Sabin and the youngest member of the TNA Roster now holds X-Division gold!
Second Place…Vince McMahon - 45 Votes
In Memory.
Wrestler of the Week…Kurt Angle - 77 Votes
Kurt Angle went into Slammiverary last night and won the TNA title. Angle is now the top dog in TNA and looks to be headed into another feud with Samoa Joe..
Year-End Standings~!
We had some shake up this week on the big list. Kurt Angle takes the overall for the week and now leaps into the top 6 in the rankings. Edge gains one point and gets closer to Cena, Abyss makes a small move and so does Vince. Black Machismo and Millano Collection AT make their debuts on the list, adding to the diversity in the rankings.
John Cena – 43 (Raw)
Edge – 38 (Raw)
Matt Hardy – 33 (Smackdown)
Bobby Lashley – 32 (ECW)
MVP – 31 (Smackdown)
Kurt Angle – 30 (TNA)
Sara Del Ray – 18 (US Independent) Vince McMahon – 18 (WWE)
Jeff Hardy – 16 (Raw)
Samoa Joe – 15 (TNA) CM Punk – 15 (ECW) Lance Cade – 15 (Raw) Trevor Murdoch – 15 (Raw) Shawn Michaels – 15 (Raw) Santino Marella – 15 (Raw)
Elijah Burke – 12 (ECW) Deuce – 12 (Smackdown) Domino – 12 (Smackdown) Chris Harris – 12 (TNA) James Storm – 12 (TNA) Brother Ray – 12 (TNA) Brother Devon – 12 (TNA) Dick Togo – 12 (New Japan) PAC – 12 (Independent) Roderick Strong– 12 (ROH/FIP)
Black Machismo – 9 (TNA) Abyss– 9 (TNA) Batista – 9 (Smackdown) Bryan Danielson – 9 (ROH) Nigel McGuiness – 9 (ROH) Mark Briscoe – 9 (ROH) Jay Briscoe – 9 (ROH) Vito Thomaselli – 9 (US Independent) Sal Thomaselli – 9 (US Independent) TAKA Michinoku – 9 (New Japan) Yugi Nagata – 9 (New Japan)
Paul London – 7 (Smackdown) Brian Kendrick – 7 (Smackdown)
Sting– 6 (TNA) Scott Steiner– 6 (TNA) Milano Collection AT – 6 (Japan)
Mike Quackenbush – 4 (US Independent)
Charlie Haas – 3 (Raw) Shelton Benjamin– 3 (Raw) Mistico – 3 (CMLL) Ultimo Guerrero – 3 (CMLL) Christopher Daniels – 3 (TNA) The Great Khali – 3 (Raw) Togi Makabe – 3 (New Japan)
Jeff Jarrett– 1 (TNA) Rob Van Dam – 1 (ECW) Colt Cabana – 1 (WWE) Jimmy Jacobs – 1 (ROH) El Generico – 1 (US Independent) Chuck Taylor – 1 (US Independent) Sherri Martel – 1 (Deceased)
Voting began 4.09.07
Year-End Rankings Key:
Raw and Smackdown Wrestlers are represented in BLUE.
ECW Wrestlers are represented in GREEN.
TNA wrestlers are represented in RED.
ROH/FIP Wrestlers are represented in MAROON.
US Independent Wrestlers are represented in ORANGE
