411’s Wrestler of the Week 8.27.07: Week 21
Posted by Larry Csonka on 08.27.2007
Kensuke Sasaki wins the All Japan Triple Crown, The Briscoe’s and Morishima both have two great title defenses, John Cena leaves Summerslam still the champ and much more happened in the world of wrestling! But who will leave this column the 411 WOTW Champion? Come on into find out!
Welcome to Week 21 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) John Cena
John Cena gets my first place vote for defeating Randy Orton and once again retaining the WWE Championship. You can talk about Cena always finding a way to win even when he seems destined to lose. You can talk about Cena's ability to have a good-to-great match with just about anybody on the roster. You can even talk about Cena now having the longest championship reign in nearly two decades. But as far as I'm concerned, the single most impressive aspect of John Cena as a performer is his unparalleled ability to drive a crowd into an absolute frenzy. Some cheer for him, some cheer against him, but ALL of them cheer. And that is ultimately what this business is all about. I can count on one hand the number of men in the history of this business who have literally defined an era. I'm now adding John Cena to that list.
2) Triple H – Triple H gets my second place vote for returning to the ring and defeating King Booker at SummerSlam. Triple H has been one of the most hated heels in the history of the business on numerous occasions, but you only need to listen to the reaction of the crowd at SummerSlam to understand just how much they truly appreciate him.
3) Rey Mysterio – Rey Mysterio gets my third place vote for returning to the ring and defeating Chavo Guerrero at SummerSlam. Mysterio may never again hold a World Championship, but his connection with the fans and value to the WWE are undeniable.
4) The Briscoe Brothers
5) Takeshi Morishima / Bryan Danielson
Michael Bauer
1) The Briscoes/Kevin Steen and El Generico
These four men took each other to the limit not once, but twice this weekend in two RoH Tag Team Title matches that absolutely tore the house down. The cage match Friday Night was amazing from all reports and the 2 out of 3 falls match right now if my Match of the Year of all wrestling. The Briscoes won both matches, but Steen and Generico were able to keep the heat on the feud after Saturday. So now it looks like we get one more match between the two great teams.
2) Takeshi Morishima - Successfully defended the RoH World Title twice, including another surefire MOTY candidate against Bryan Danielson.
3) John Cena - The man continues his legendary title reign as he has slain the Legend Killer.
4) Kensuke Sasaki
5) Triple H
Ryan Byers
1.) John Cena
I LOVE THIS MAN. Seriously. Obviously, a big part of what got Cena the top spot this week was his retention of the WWE Title over Randy Orton at Summerslam. However, my Cena fandom is growing for other reasons. It's not because I'm some twelve-year-old boy who thinks that being a "Chain Gang Soldier" is the coolest thing ever. It's not because I'm a woman who loves his abs. It's because, night in and night out, he is the hardest working man in professional wrestling and always delivers a solid match no matter how many media appearances he's done or no matter how many other shows he's wrestled in a week. As much as I may like my Indy wrestling, Cena's out there doing ten times the work of any Briscoe Brother, American Dragon, or King of Diamonds. Given his big victory this week, it seems like the perfect opportunity to celebrate all things Cena. Plus I just love watching the so-called "smart" fans who hate his guts react with pure rage every time he wins. Face it, boys, this was
the right move for business whether you like it or not.
2.) Kensuke Sasaki - In a weekend with a WWE PPV in which some folks expected all three of their "World Titles" to change hands, we actually got no major championship victories in the states. Sasaki, however, ended the yearlong reign of Minoru Suzuki to win All Japan Pro Wrestling's prestigious Triple Crown.
3.) Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino - Doi & Yoshino outlasted ten other tag teams to win a month long tournament hosted by Japan's Dragon Gate promotion and declared themselves the first DG Tag Champs.
4.) Beth Phoenix
5.) Austin Aries
Bayani Domingo
1) Briscoe Brothers
Killed Steen-Erico and their push. Cage match and 2/3 falls, how much more dominant can you get? Problem is that they've effectively rid themselves of all competition in RoH and the Tag Division looks bleek, but who cares, they MANNED UP this weekend.
2) DoiYoshi (Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino) - The MO'z "A" team took the Dragon Gate Summer Adventure Tag League title after beating New Hazard. They beat some pretty tough competition and immediately made an impact by saying they'll use the cash to create a New Tag Team Title.
3) Kensuke Sasaki - The old man gets it done. And to think, he was the most successful Frolida Brother to date...how sad for Johnson and Jackson.
4) Takeshi Morishima
5) John Cena
Andy Clark
1) John Cena
The man had a match that saved the second biggest show of the year and successfully defended his WWE Title. John Cena is without a doubt the Wrestler of the Year thus far, I just hope that we do not take him for granted and not give him the props he deserves as the year continues.
2) The Briscoes- Successfully defended the most prestigious Tag Team Titles in the business in two great matches against Kevin Steen and El Generico at ROH's two big weekend shows.
3) Takeshi Morishima- Put on a MOTYC in a successful title defense against ROH god Bryan Danielson.
4) Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino
5) Kensuke Sasaki & Umaga
Mike Minotti
1) The Briscoes
Defended their ROH Tag Team Titles in two high quality matches. Not just normal matches, but a steel cage match and a best out of three falls match. Although there were a lot of title retentions this week, these two get the top spot for doing it in the highest quality matches.
2) John Cena - Man, I really thought he was going to lose it this time. I guess "the champ" showed me. It looks like Cena is on his way to a having a yearlong championship reign, which is quite an achievement indeed. Also, his match with Orton was the brightest spot in a card filled with mediocrity.
3) Umaga - God almighty, Umaga looked unstoppable on SummerSlam's triple threat match. He is being booked as strongly as ever before. Even with Carlito and Kennedy teaming up, it looked like they had no chance against the Samoan Bulldozer. His latest IC run is actually shaping up rather nicely.
4) Kensuke Sasaki
5) Takeshi Morishima
Jeff Small
1) John Cena
Cena once again did the impossible and retained his title over another valiant foe. Really, we should have seen it coming with the Unforgiven PPV being his next title defense on his 364th day as champion. As for now, he put in another stellar performance and lives to see another day as the champ.
2) The Briscoe Brothers - From everything I've heard both matches this past weekend were awesome. Outside of the main event of Summerslam, nothing else on the show was remotely awesome so based on match quality alone, this is an easy #2.
3) Triple H - Bow down to the king. Thankfully, he did not subject peasant Booker to a 20 second pedigree.
4) Takeshi Morishima
5) Rey Mysterio
Matt Short
1) The Briscoes
They defended their titles this weekend. Twice. Against their toughest competitors to date. That's number one for me.
2) Takeshi Morishima: Not only did he survive the triple threat defense, but he got past Bryan Danielson.
3) John Cena: He beat Orton. I thought it would go the other way around, but that's my fault for betting against the champ.
4) Kensuke Sasaki
5) Triple H
JT~!
1) John Cena
I don't care if you hate him or you think this was the worst decision possible, John Cena is the most popular wrestler in the world right now, PERIOD. Slimmer mentioned it and myself and Larry also talked about it during the match, there are few people in this business that can have each and every fan - be it love or hate - emotionally involved in a match the way he can. It amazes me that people say that he has no in-ring psychology or the ability to properly grab the fans. Watch his matches, listen to the crowd, what do you call that? And what did the most popular wrestler do this week? Oh, not much, just main-evented one of the four biggest annual shows in the wrestling business, put on the only PPV worth match of the entire evening, and retained his title against a HOT Randy Orton. There is no question he is the wrestler of the week. And on a side note, like Byers said, this was the right decision.
2) Takeshi Morishima - To be honest, defending twice doesn't matter to me; that is very commonplace for ROH. The one match however, when Morishima defended against the most popular independent wrestler in North America - in a match of the year candidate - you get my vote.
3) Briscoes - Same thing I said about Morishima, only in the tag team division.
4) Triple H
5) Kensuke Sasaki
Julian Williams
1) John Cena - Once again put on another great main event match and he's continually proving that he is THE man in the WWE. You can say what you want about him, but he ALWAYS creates an insane crowd reaction. I was there LIVE for Summerslam and his match with Orton created a frenzy within the crowd unlike anything I've ever seen before. Respect Cena dammit!
2) Randy Orton - Lost in Cena's victory is the fact that Randy Orton put on one HELL of a show against Cena and it can be argued that he was the glue in the match. Orton has seemed really focused lately and he proved in his match with Cena that he could put on classic matches when he applies himself.
3) Triple H - Made his triumphant return at the Meadowlands and the crowd reaction the man got was off the chain. People were jacked up all night for the return of Trips and he didn't disappoint as he looked very crisp in the ring and got the victory over King Bookaaaahhh!!
4) Rey Mysterio
5) The Briscoe Brothers
ARI
1) Takeshi Morishima / Bryan Danielson
These two just about wrestled the perfect match possible and the more I think about it, the more this is for sure my match of the year for 2007, unless when I see McGuinness vs. Danielson in September and it changes my mind. Still then it would involve two matches with Bryan Danielson, the most awesome wrestler around the independent scene. If you haven't given ROH a try yet or watched Danielson in action, you my friend, are missing out. Morishima also looked world class and was treated as a world-class champion. There was no title change, but the fight was incredible. This match had emotion, passion, psychology, moves that looked like they killed (and a few that actually might have) and a crowd that went up to heights of the best of ROH crowd reactions. 8/25/07, Manhattan Mayhem II, Danielson vs. Morishima. SEE THIS MATCH.
2) The Briscoes: Two excellent title defenses back to back this weekend against their archrivals. The Briscoes ARE the face of the ROH tag division in 2007 and every time they wrestle they go out and prove why they deserve that moniker. They hit hard, they take punishment hard, but most importantly they have the love and affection of the crowd and they use that to create some very dramatic moments in their matches.
3) El Generico / Kevin Steen: Generico and Steen provided two tough challenges to The Briscoes and are worthy, worthy challengers to the title. They have brought their best to ROH and the crowd has embraced their act in response. They also added heat to their war by attacking the champs post match on both shows, including hitting them with a ladder and stealing the ROH tag belts in Manhattan.
4) Kensuke Sasaki
5) Rey Mysterio
Samuel Berman
1) Jay & Mark Briscoe
By far the best tag team in the world, the Briscoes completely dominated in a pair of high-profile title defenses. Kevin Steen & El Generico were given their opportunity to shine a couple of weeks back when they were able to defeat the Briscoe Brothers in singles and non-title environments, but the truth is that when their belts are on the line, no one MANS UP like Jay & Mark Briscoe. The next hurdle is the unlikely team of Bryan Danielson & Austin Aries in Detroit, but with a Pay-Per-View taping the next night, I don't think it's a stretch to expect that defense to go pretty much the same way that all of them have been since March.
2) Takeshi Morishima - Successfully defended his ROH World Title against three men in two days, including generally undisputed top contender "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson.
3) Austin Aries - Establishes himself as the TRUE founding father of Generation Next.
4) Kensuke Sasaki
5) John Cena
Daniel Wilcox
1) John Cena
The champ had another great match at last night's SummerSlam against a Randy Orton who a lot of people (myself included) thought was going to finally end the reign. Cena's only one more pay-per-view win away from holding the title for a year and its performances like the one last night that justify keeping the title on him.
2) Randy Orton - Orton gets the second spot this week for his part in the tremendous main event at Summerslam. Orton's been on a role as of late and here's hoping it continues.
3) Triple H - The King of Kings is back with a win and that's enough to take my 3rd spot.
4) Rey Mysterio
5) John Morrison
Andy Critchell
1) John Cena
I usually don't make a big deal out of someone retaining a belt unless they put on one hell of a match and Cena did just that. He is one of the hardest workers in the business and he is able to get amazing reactions out of the crowd. Orton is no slouch in the ring and yet Cena was still able to make Orton step it up even more. It remains to be seen where this will go but you gotta give THE CHAMP his props.
2) Randy Orton – After this Summerslam performance anyone who still hates him is either jealous or a gigantic mark who hates him because he's a heel. Orton has been on fire these past few months and it is impossible not to be impressed with the guy. His match with Cena was pretty epic and I know I would love to see more from these guys. That RKO at the end was swank as hell, too bad it wasn't swank enough to win.
3) Takeshi Morishima – He beat Bryan Danielson, the Indy idol, and that is no small task. His ROH run has been much more impressive than I imagined it would be and I don't see any reason for it to end any time soon.
4) John Morrison & the Palace of Wisdom
5) Beth Phoenix
Stuart Carapola
1) Takeshi Morishima
As impressive as he's been since winning the ROH World Title in February, he really solidified himself as the man to beat this past weekend with two impressive title defenses. First he survived a three way elimination match against two of his toughest challengers in Connecticut, then he went on to not only defeat longtime former ROH World Champion Bryan Danielson the following evening in a great match, but did it cleanly and didn't even need to hook a leg. Morishima has now defeated every top contender in ROH, and it'll be interesting to see what circumstances will surround his eventual loss of the title.
2) Jay & Mark Briscoe - The brother tandem successfully defended the ROH World Tag Team Title against their toughest opponents not once, but twice this weekend, first defeating Kevin Steen & El Generico in a steel cage in Connecticut before beating them in two straight falls the following night in New York City. I strongly feel that they're the best tag team in the business, and with each successful title defense, they continue to prove it.
3) Kevin Steen & El Generico - Despite losing both matches this weekend, Steen & Generico showed how tough they were by hanging with the Briscoes every step of the way, and also managed to set the stage for one final match between the two teams in Chicago. Plus, recognition has to be given to the insane bump Generico took when the Briscoes hip tossed him over the corner post and to the floor. Did anyone think at the beginning of this year that Steen & Generico would be main eventing ROH shows in Manhattan? I sure didn't, but I'm damn glad they are.
4) Bryan Danielson
5) John Cena
Larry Csonka
1) Kensuke Sasaki
This week there was a huge title change in Japan that really needs recognized, and that is of Kensuke Sasaki ending the yearlong reign of Minoru Suzuki to win the prestigious All Japan Pro Wrestling's Triple Crown. A huge accomplishment to be sure, and worthy of the WOTW top spot from me.
2) John Cena – John Cena had yet another great PPV main event showing this past Sunday at Summerslam. It is undeniable that he has been great and certainly deserves all of the accolades that he receives. Sasaki only gets the nod over him due to the fact that he unseated a champion with a run, in length, parallel to Cena's. A great week for both men.
3) Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino – They outlasted and won a tournament featuring ten other tag teams to win a month long tournament hosted by Dragon Gate. That deserves some love.
4) Satoshi Kojima & TARU
5) Beth Phoenix
THE WINNERS!
Special Mention…Naruki Doi and Masato Yoshino - 16 Votes
Fifth Place…HHH - 17 Votes
Fourth Place…Kensuke Sasaki - 29 Votes
Third Place…Takeshi Morishina - 38 Votes
Takeshi Morishina still sits a top the ROH Mountain as the world champion. This weekend he took out Claudio, Albright and Bryan Danielson and is still the man.
Second Place…Mark and Jay Briscoe - 48 Votes
Speaking about sitting a top the ROH Mountain, Mark and Jay Briscoe are still the tag team champions with two great wins over Steen and Generico.
Wrestler of the Week…John Cena - 61 Votes
The champ has done it again, another great main event performance and another title defense. He is closing in on a year, something amazing for WWE and when he finally drops the title the heat will be amazing.
Year-End Standings~!
John Cena takes the top spot this week and extends his lead in the overall rankings. Mark and Jay Briscoe have managed to get back into the top 10 and Morishima is just on the outside. Sasaki, Yoshina and Doi all debut this a week along with HHH; and if this crazy week is any indication, the second half of the year could be VERY interesting!
-The top 10 spots are marked
1. John Cena – 78 (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. Mark Briscoe – 34 (ROH)
8. Jay Briscoe – 34 (ROH)
10. MVP – 31 (Smackdown)
Randy Orton – 27 (Raw)
The Great Khali – 24 (Raw)
Chuck Taylor – 22 (US Independent) El Generico – 22 (US Independent)
Takeshi Morishima – 21 (ROH/NOAH)
Brother Ray – 18 (TNA) Brother Devon – 18 (TNA) Sara Del Ray – 18 (US Independent) Vince McMahon – 18 (WWE)
