411’s Wrestler of the Week 8.20.07: Week 20
Posted by Larry Csonka on 08.20.2007
Ricky Banderas wins the IWC-AAA title, Orton dominates on the way to Summerslam and Abyss finally defeats Christian on the way to his TNA title shot! But who had the most impressive week and took home the coveted 411 Wrestler of the Week Award? Come on into find out!
Welcome to Week 20 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!
Ryan Byers
1.) Chuck Taylor
This up and coming indy star has had a very hot 2007, and the trend continued for him this past weekend with CHIKARA's big International Invaders events. Chuck, who initially came out of Kentucky, has had a lengthy rivalry with a young fellow named Ricochet. They've taken their feud to Indies across the country, and it most recently manifested itself in CHIKARA. In what many think will be the final match of their series, Taylor not only scored the victory but also retained his prestigious Young Lions' Cup, a trophy that he defeated Ricochet to earn back in June. Now that this longstanding grudge is settled, Chuck Taylor is primed to continue his ascent up the Indy wrestling ladder.
2.) Randy Orton - Orton has been built up well for his title shot at Summerslam against others, but had yet to really make a mark against the champ himself. He certainly made that mark at Saturday Night's Main Event with an RKO on to a chair.
3.) Team F.I.S.T. (Icarus & Gran Akuma) - Retained their CHIKARA Campeonatos de Parejas against Los Ice Creams in a match many thought they would lose.
4.) C.M. Punk
5.) Ricky Banderas
Daniel Wilcox
1) Randy Orton
The Legend Killer takes my number one spot solely for the swank RKO he delivered to the WWE Champion at Saturday Night's Main Event, destroying both Cena's head and the chair. Here's hoping he'll be WWE Champion this time next week.
2) John Cena - The champ got two big wins this week against Carlito. Cena pinned Carlito on Raw and made him submit at Saturday Night's Main Event.
3) Stone Cold Steve Austin - He's here simply because he entertained me as much as any other wrestler this week with his brief appearance on SNME.
4) CM Punk
5) Umaga
Matt Short
1) Randy Orton
It's been a slow week, but I'm giving Orton the top spot since he's built himself a hell of a lot of momentum heading into Summerslam. And the RKO he gave Cena onto the chair was awesome.
2) Team F.I.S.T. - CHIKARA's Campeonatos de Parejas managed to get by Los Ice Creams this weekend. And I've got to admit, F.I.S.T. has looked good since last year. They look better with each defense.
3) CM Punk - Despite The lame count out loss to Big Daddy V on ECW, Punk once again got the pin fall on the ECW champion.
4) Chuck Taylor
5) Ricky Banderas
JD Dunn
1) The Great Khali
He did something I thought impossible; he brought back the Iron Claw and made it a viable finisher again. Plus, he actually does look unstoppable as Batista has been unable to generate *anything*.
2) Kurt Angle - He's the first champion in a while that doesn't feel like he's just hanging around waiting for Jarrett to come back and beat him for the title...even though he is.
3) Matt Hardy - Continues to be one of the most solid performers, even when he's getting his ass kicked with no end in sight. He's got that old-school underdog persona down pat.
4) Abyss
5) Ron Simmons
ARI
1) Claudio Castagnoli and PAC
Reportedly they received a standing ovation after their match this weekend in CHIKARA. I love great wrestling in the ring and both of these men have provided plenty of it in 2007. Claudio is on fire in ROH and CHIKARA right now and PAC has become one of the most dependable European imports since Earl Grey Tea and Doug Williams.
2) Matt Hardy: Although they didn't hype it nearly enough, Hardy may have leaped up even more in the estimation of all WWE fans everywhere. Sure, it was a worked Boxing match and in that worked match he got his ass handed to him by 4 Time Heavyweight Champion Evander "Real Deal" Holyfield. That's exactly the point--fans knew Hardy was walking the plank, hardy knew it too but he still went through it, took his lumps and persevered. The fans at MSG reveled in this moment. They loved when Holyfield and Hardy embraced. Now THAT is what giving the "rub" in a loss is all about.
3) Chuck Taylor: The CHIKARA Young Lions Cup tournament didn't scare any kids this week but he did get rid of a thorn in his side by defeating long time rival Ricochet in the main event of CHIKARA's second show of the weekend. Ricochet can no longer wrestle for CHIKARA under the stipulations of the match (at least for now).
4) Delirious
5) Steve Austin
JT~!
1) Randy Orton
While Orton may have cut a rather vanilla promo on Monday, but then Saturday rolled around and he delivered the RKO heard round the world. That RKO on the steel chair was BANANAS, and he in one swift move solidified himself as a legitimate contender to Cena's title.
2) Matt Hardy - Now, Matt Hardy lost the Masterlock Challenge and received a beatdown courtesy of MVP and Chris Masters on Friday, then came out on Saturday and got beat up by Evander Holyfield. Not a lot to celebrate. That being said, I - like Ari and Dunn mentioned - think this is very smart booking for him. The point of an underdog is that they do not ALWAYS overcome, and Matt Hardy certainly does not ALWAYS overcome. But the fans really get behind his "get back up and try again" character, as it's no secret that Hardy is a crowd favorite.
3) Abyss - Beat a former NWA Champion and top level guy Christian Cage to get himself a title shot for the TNA title at the next PPV.
4. CM Punk
5. John Cena
Scott Slimmer
1) Matt Hardy
Matt Hardy gets my first place vote this week for getting his ass handed to him by Evander Holyfield at Saturday Night's Main Event. That might not sound all too impressive, but Matt showed a ton of heart and was on his feet at the end of the night. And that puts him a step ahead of both MVP and Bart Gunn...
2) Big Daddy V – Big Daddy V gets my second place vote for defeating both CM Punk and Tommy Dreamer on ECW. You might think it would be a travesty if Big Daddy V were to ever win the ECW Championship, but trust me, he can still work circles around at least one other World Heavyweight Champion I can think of…
3) "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal – Jay Lethal gets my third place vote this week for defeating Christopher Daniels to become the Number One Contender for the X Division Championship. A high profile win over Kurt Angle could provide a huge boost for Lethal's career, but at this point there's no way to tell how Lethal and the X Division Championship will fit into the larger story of Kurt Angle and this thirty-seven titles.
4) "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
5) The Great Khali
Michael Bauer
1) Randy Orton - For me, this week sucked. Randy Orton made the biggest impact of the week and he gets the #1 spot.
2) Ricky Banderas - It's a Title win in the IWC for Ricky.
3) Ken Kennedy - Humor me here. NYC crowds are the smartest and listen to ovation he got when McMahon stared at him. That's instant overness. And it shows how bad of a week it was.
4) Chuck Taylor
5) The Great Khali
Mathew Sforcina
1) Randy Orton
Now THAT's how to make yourself over as a heel. Make a loud Clanging sound with your opponent's head and a steel chair.
2) The Great Khali- Now, all he needs to do is start using the Claw as a chokeslam variant and we're set.
3) Rick Banderas- Debut in TNA already!
4) Chuck Taylor
5) Big Daddy V
Samuel Berman
1) Chuck Taylor
Winning his big feud with Ricochet in CHIKARA is to me the most impressive feat of the week (which is albeit a weak one (no pun intended)). Having seen some of Taylor's CHIKARA and Mid-South work, as well as seeing him perform live in April, count me among those expecting increasingly bigger and better things from him in the future. I figure it's a low impact week and why not showcase someone who's really doing something with their talent.
2) Team F.I.S.T. (Gran Akuma & Icarus) - Winners and STILL your CHIKARA Campeones de Parejas.
3) Jay & Mark Briscoe - Winners and STILL your FIP Tag Team Champions. Remember, I go with the Briscoes on default in quiet weeks pretty much if they wrestle at all.
4) CM Punk
5) Takeshi Morishima
SAT
1) Randy Orton
Randy Orton gets the top slot from me in a slow week because of the RKO on the chair against John Cena. The RKO definitely made the biggest impact of the week and that's enough to get him the top slot.
2) Ricky Banderas - Ricky Banderas gets the second slot for winning the IWC Heavyweight Title
3) The Great Khali - The Great Khali gets the third slot for defeating Kane on SmackDown.
4) Chuck Taylor
5) Big Daddy V
Mike Minotti
1) Ricky Banderas
A title win wins Ricky the top spot from me this week.
2) Randy Orton - You know it's a slow week when I give Orton the number 2 spot for doing a sweet RKO.
3) Black Machismo - Although I have to agree with Daniels that Lethal shouldn't have been given a shot at the X Division title just because Lethal pinned Daniels in a tag team match, the win is important non-the-less.
4) CM Punk
5) Abyss
Bayani Domingo
1) Ricky Banderas
Well it was a title win and it was over his long time nemesis Cibernetico. In a weak week this will do it.
2) Chuck Taylor - CHIKARA, IWA:MS, perhaps RoH and FIP sooner than later, is there anywhere this man doesn't shine? PWG. I guess that's really it. Still beat that little spot monkey to retain his Young Lion's Cup, so not bad.
3) Briscoe Brothers - Another successful title defense in FIP for THE tag team in the states.
4) Team F.I.S.T.
5) Black Machismo
Larry Csonka
1) Abyss
Sure it was the wrong way to do it, but Abyss finally got his measure of revenge on Christian and is solidly the #1 contender for the TNA world title.
2) Randy Orton – Orton has been on a roll, and the beat down on SNME was excellent and he deserves some recognition.
3) Team F.I.S.T. (Icarus & Gran Akuma) – The CHIKARA Campeones de Parejas defeated the almighty force of LOS ICE CREAMES, they more than earned this.
4) Ricky Banderas
5) "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal
THE WINNERS!
Special Mention…Abyss - 11 Votes
Fifth Place…CM Punk - 13 Votes
Fourth Place…The Great Khali - 14 Votes
Third Place…Matt Hardy and Team F.I.S.T. (Icarus & Gran Akuma) - 16 Votes
Matt Hardy battled through MVP's tricks and survived the Real Deal, earning respect along the way.
-Team F.I.S.T. retains the titles and escapes the dangerous challenge of LOS ICE CREAMES!
Second Place…Chuck Taylor and Ricky Banderas - 25 Votes
Chuck Taylor continues to have a stellar year on the US Independent scene. He ended his lengthy rivalry with a young Ricochet and is just continuing to dominate.
-Banderas won the IWC Heavyweight Title from his main rival Cibernetico at the last set of AAA taping, and with him about to debut with TNA he could be a force in the upcoming months.
Wrestler of the Week…Randy Orton - 42 Votes
Randy Orton is the clear winner this week. A strong promotion of him on Monday Night along with the devastating beat down of Cena on SNME make him look great as he heads into Sumerslam to challenge for the title..
Year-End Standings~!
The top 10 undergoes some change this week as the Briscoe Brothers and El Generico drop out and Khali and Orton jump into the list. Hardy and Punk solidify their 3rd and 4th positions while Taylor makes a huge leap up and is just outside the top 10. Ricky Banderas makes his debut on the list and we feel the presence of Team F.I.S.T. (Icarus & Gran Akuma) in week 20.
-The top 10 spots are marked
1. John Cena – 63 (Raw)
2. Kurt Angle – 57 (TNA)
3. Matt Hardy – 54 (Smackdown)
4. CM Punk – 45 (ECW)
5. Samoa Joe – 42 (TNA)
6. Edge – 38 (Smackdown) {INJURED}
7. Bobby Lashley – 35 (Raw) {INJURED}
8. MVP – 31 (Smackdown)
9. Randy Orton – 27 (Raw)
10. The Great Khali – 24 (Raw)
Mark Briscoe – 22 (ROH) Jay Briscoe – 22 (ROH) Chuck Taylor – 22 (US Independent) El Generico – 22 (US Independent)
Brother Ray – 18 (TNA) Brother Devon – 18 (TNA) Sara Del Ray – 18 (US Independent) Vince McMahon – 18 (WWE)
