411’s Wrestler of the Week 05.12.08: Week 6
Posted by Larry Csonka on 05.12.2008
LAX wins the TNA Tag Titles, Kaz conquers the Terror Dome while earning the right to main event Sacrifice, Nigel retained the ROH title and Brent Albright decides he is his own man! But who had the goods to take home the WOTW award? Check out the latest edition of 411's Wrestler of the Week for all the details!
Welcome to Week 6, Year-FOUR, of 411's Wrestler of the Week. A quick overview to kick things off as we have some new rules for year four…
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!
Jerome Cusson
1) Bryan Danielson
The best wrestler in the world had a dominant weekend and two fantastic matches by all indications. He defeated one of the best rising independent stars in the business in Tyler Black and one half of the GHC tag team champions (and a former GHC champion himself) in Naomichi Marifuji for a second time.
2) Nigel McGuinness - After months of taking garbage from certain Ring of Honor fans, he comes out of the weekend with the championship after Ring of Honor's biggest show ever. He can now celebrate being the champion for seven months.
3) C.M. Punk- Even though he went 1-1-1 this week, he still wrestled on RAW, ECW, and Smackdown. The push is a simmer, but it is there.
4) LAX
5) Samoa Joe
ARI
1) Nigel McGuinness
Main events Ring of Honor's Hammerstein debut and wins big against Claudio Castagnoli.
2. Bryan Danielson: Had one of the better matches on the Virginia ROH debut and then defeated Marufuji in a singles match. Maufuji seldom loses in America, so for Danielson to go over here is very noteworthy.
3. LAX: Whether or not the tournament was over booked (it was) at times illogical (it was) or unnecessarily ridiculous (it was, oh yes), take all of that away and you still have the fact that LAX won out in a one night tournament, defeated three teams including AJ Styles & Super Eric (wrestlers who could each claim a stake at the titles) and became new TNA tag champions.
4. Samoa Joe
5. Kaz / Johnny Devine
Matt Short
1) LAX
Won the Deuces Wild Tournament and got a very much deserved third reign as TNA Tag Team Champions.
2) Ryo Saito & Susumu Yokosuka: On the other side of the world, Saito & Yokosuka won the Open the Twin Gate titles from Taku Iwasa & Kenichiro Arai.
3) Kaz: Won TNA's first ever Terror Dome match earning himself an X-Division title shot and a chance to take Kurt Angle's spot in the triple threat main event. Not a bad night for Kaz at all.
4) Brent Albright
5) CIMA
John Gregory
1) CIMA
Won big on the Dead or Alive Dragon Gate PPV, being the last to escape the Six-Man Mascara contra Cabellera Cage Match. In the course of the match, he came to the aid of former ally Dragon Kid and risked losing doing that.
2) Nigel McGuinness - Retained the ROH title on their biggest show ever. That's gotta count for something.
3) LAX - Climbed over awful booking to regain the TNA tag titles.
4) Chuck Taylor
5) Samoa Joe
Jarrod Westerfeld
1) Kaz
Quite possibly the most shocking turn of events was Kaz getting in a big break from the week thanks to tragedy befalling Angle out in Korea. Kaz not only wins a title shot against Petey Williams, but further displays that he belongs in TNA's main event as he put on a strong showing in the triple threat later in the night at Sacrifice. TNA take notes, this is what your main event should look like - young and athletic.
2) Bryan Danielson: Big weekend of wins for Bryan. Getting back his victory over Tyler Black from earlier in the year, and then getting a big win over Morishima's hand picked opponent for him in current GHC World Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, and former GHC World Heavyweight Champion (and former GHC World Junior Heavyweight Champion) Naomichi Marufuji. A series of wins for the Best in the World solidifies his spot here.
3) LAX: Winning a tournament to win the TNA World Tag Team titles almost makes up for the fact that TNA poorly booked around them in that triple threat tag team bout that led into this Deuces Wild tournament, but nevertheless it's a big enough deal to mark them high up on this listing. Now let's see where they go from here.
4) Nigel McGuinness & Samoa Joe (tie)
5) Sabian & Chuck Taylor (tie)
Ryan Byers
1) Homicide y Hernandez
As I've said many times in the past, my WOTW votes are controlled primarily by who advances their careers, not by kayfabe accomplishments or quality of matches. In that regard, I've got to give top honors to LAX. Granted, winning the TNA Tag straps isn't going to make them in to legends in the business, but these guys went from being one of the hottest acts in the promotion to being on the bottom rung of the tag team division. Their victory in TNA's wacky little tournament turned that all around in one night, and they once again have the potential to be a big deal in professional wrestling. Let's just hope that they avoid the gratuitous Eddy Guerrero references with Hector at ringside.
2) Frankie Kazarian - As with LAX, Kaz was a really hot act in TNA at one point and then got shoved down the card and back in to obscurity. He too got a major shot in the arm at the Sacrifice PPV, though I had to rank him below Homicide and Hernandez because young Frankie's crack at the main event was created by a last-minute injury, meaning that any rub he got tonight could be completely negated and done away with at the next set of tapings.
3) Sabian - ROH had what a lot of people are calling its "biggest show ever" this weekend. The venue may have been large, but, frankly, I don't think anything all that important came out of the show itself. Thus, I think the biggest Indy accomplishment of the weekend was Sabian capturing CZW's annual "Best of the Best" tournament for junior heavyweights. Sabian has floated around a few different Indies for a while now without getting much of a push. This could be his ticket to more recognition outside of CZW, the promotion that has been behind him the most thus far.
4) Chavo Guerrero
5) Rhett Titus
Jeremy Thomas
1) LAX (Homicide & Hernandez)
Well, congratulations. This means I don't have to, as I stated in the Roundtable, go after Russo with a chainsaw, hydrochloric acid, and pruning shears. The Deuces Wild tournament was predictably retarded, the matches were rushed, and it was all silly, but the right team got the win. It's great to see Homicide and Hernandez at the top of the heap. You can say this about TNA, and I won't deny it; while WWE continues to rape their tag team division on a regular basis, TNA DID put an entire tag tournament on their Pay-Per-View. And congratulations to LAX for winning it all.
2) Kaz: Well, well. Welcome again, little Mister Cruiserweight that could. Angle's injury worked out in spades for Kaz, who is one of the people that TNA could strike gold with if they knew how to properly book him. Kaz gets big win after big win...unfortunately, they come with zero follow-up after the fact. Still, it was great to see Kaz with the Terror Dome match, and then go into the main event and not even eat the pin. Can they capitalize on his roll now? We'll see.
3) William Regal: The King of the Ring continued his streak of controlling WWE Television by shutting off not one, but (including Heat) two separate matches. In addition, he got to show Triple H and Kennedy who was boss by booking them against the ECW Roster. In terms of career rolls, there's no denying Regal is on one, and it's working in spades.
4) Samoa Joe
5) Colin Delaney
Christi Csonka
1) Kaz
Kaz won my favorite match at Sacrifice, the Terror Dome and gets an X-Division title shot. But he also won his way into the main event, and had a really good showing there. I approve of Kaz getting more main event stuff!
2) LAX – They won the tag titles and were the right choice in my opinion. They'll make for more exciting matches, and they deserve it.
3) Gail Kim -Gail gets a rematch against Kong, this pleases me!
4) Samoa Joe
5) Edge
Andy Clark
1) LAX
Not only did LAX win the belts for themselves, but they won the belts for the "established" teams in TNA. We know that LAX can bring the goods in the ring, the question is whether TNA booking will let them run with it like they did last time. Winning the titles is a good start.
2) Nigel McGuinness- Retained the ROH Title in hostile territory in the biggest show in ROH history.
3) Brent Albright- Got a surprising, if uninspired, victory in a Four Corner Survival in Manassas, then broke away from Sweet'n'Sour Inc (much to the delight of the fans) in NYC.
4) Kaz
5) CM Punk & Kane
Shawn S Lealos
1) LAX
I really like the way the Deuces Wild Tournament went. First, none of the makeshift teams won a match. This, in my opinion, solidified the real tag teams in the division. Next up, the veteran team of Team 3D beat the another makeshift team in Rhino and Cage while LAX beat yet another makeshift team of Styles and Eric. This made the final match between the two best – and cohesive – teams in the tournament in Team 3D and LAX. There was no real shenanigans during the match, Team 3D did not implode like many predicted and LAX ended up beating one of the most decorated teams of all time for the titles. It was a worth win for the great tag team. I feel that while the tournament seemed to be a bad idea, the right teams moved on and the best final took place. Bravo to LAX for the title win.
2) Kaz – All I kept hearing about this match was bitching and complaints about a new gimmick match. All I thought was it is a new way for the X-Division guys to show their stuff. The Motor City Machine Guns looked good working together, and I hope it leads to a tag title feud with LAX, but the true star is the man that seems to get a lot of good gigs lately. From going toe-to-toe with Kurt Angle for the title in the last year, to winning the tag team titles for about five minutes, to winning this match and becoming the new number one contender to the X-Title and finally getting into the triple threat match for the World Championship. The great thing is, he did not take the loss like most would assume, and it was still Scott Steiner who got pinned. I remember the day where the X-Division Champion was on even playing ground with the World Champion (remember A.J. Styles and Jeff Jarrett?) and if Kaz can turn this into a X-Division victory and then proclaim that he never lost in this World Title match, it could lead to great things for Mr. Frankie Kazarian.
3) Colin Delaney – Finally won his contract by defeating a surprisingly ripped Armando Alejandro Estrada. Congratulations to the kid.
4) Brent Albright
5) William Regal
JT
1) LAX
Most will tell you it was wacky (which it was), some will tell you it was unnecessary (which it may be), and just about everyone will tell you it was horribly booked (which is probably true). That being said, TNA for at least one night attempted to re-establish and give importance to their tag team division (especially by having every actual tag team win against the "random" guys). LAX was the benefactor of that, as they put on three decent enough matches, captured their third TNA (or first TNA with 2 NWA reign depending who is fact checking) Tag Team Championship, and Hernandez displayed why in my opinion he is one of the best big men in this business.
2) William Regal: People, there are four free wrestling shows on television a week. RAW is the biggest and brightest of them, the "flagship" of wrestling if you will. Well, Regal didn't "take over" RAW. He purchased it and got a receipt, because he OWNED it. Turning off the lights, ending matches, making matches, sending out announcers nobody (in the audience at least) wants to see… all with the endorsement of UBER-HEEL Vince McMahon. If you don't think Regal solidified himself this week as RAW's top heel, you are mistaken. Why? Because he is an equal opportunity douche bag. It isn't just the faces that can't stand him, it's the heels as well! He showed up and said "MY SHOW, MY WAY", and did so for two hours. The funny thing here is that he did so as GM, which doesn't even count the fact that he also happens to be KING Regal, making him a legitimate threat to the title should he so find the time to pencil it in.
3) Nigel McGuinness: Yes, Bryan Danielson had himself a fabulous week, but at the end of the day he didn't successfully retain the highest title in the company at it's biggest show ever, which also happened to be their debut in a new territory.
4) Kaz
5) Samoa Joe / Brent Albright
Bayani Domingo
1) LAX
For some reason the Deuces Wild Tourney actually was booked...logically. I'm scared. Well at least Russo made up for it by shaving a woman bald later in the night. LAX right now is on top of a very ragged tag team division but with a little luck and some refocusing on the division they could end up with an even longer, if less interesting, title reign than before.
2) Kaz: He escaped the cage of mild discomfort and got a main event slot to boot, plus he didn't even have to eat the pin. Not bad.
3) Sabian: He's the best of the best in CZW. But apparently not the best after the best of the best. Damn...that's confusing as hell.
4) CIMA
5) Samoa Joe/Chuck Taylor
Sammy Berman
1) Nigel McGuinness
The ROH World Champion cemented his legacy with a successful defense over top challenger Claudio Castagnoli at the company's Hammerstein Ballroom debut. Nigel has truly raised his game in recent months after a lackluster beginning to his reign. With wins in the bank over Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson, Austin Aries, Kevin Steen and Tyler Black amongst others, McGuinness continues to simultaneously dominate and maintain his heelish persona.
2) "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson: A pair of huge wins this weekend, over upstart Tyler Black as well as GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Naomichi Marufuji.
3) Susumu Yokosuka & Ryo Saito: Won the Open the Twin Gate Titles by upending Taku Iwasa & Keni'chiro Arai on Dragon Gate PPV.
4) Chuck Taylor and Sabian (tie)
5) Brent Albright
Daniel Wilcox
1) Colin Delaney
Colin made ECW's 100th show a memorable one by FINALLY earning his ECW contract in a match against Armando Estrada. Colin FTW~!
2) Kaz: With Kurt Angle out injured, TNA once again looked to one of their hottest young stars to step in the main event at Sacrifice, which is a testament to the faith they have in him. Kaz stepped up to the plate and had a good showing once again and was also the star of TNA's debut of the Terror Dome.
3) LAX: LAX beat out 7 other teams in TNA's ridiculous Deuce's Wild tournament and are our new tag team champions and now maybe we can have some reality restored to the tag division.
4) Samoa Joe
5) Edge
Stuart James
1) LAX
Won the Deuce's Wild Tag Tournament. While the booking of the overall tournament sucked mightily, and the lack of clean finishes dampens the win, IMO the right team won, and went over a legitimate tag team. Like TNA's event or not, this was the absolute right call despite questionable booking.
2) Kaz: One huge win for Kaz and one great display in the main event gets him second spot, although ideally I'd like to make it equal to first. Kaz made a star of himself again, and almost certainly secured himself a title match at Slammiversary. Lets hope TNA don't drop the ball again.
3) Samoa Joe: He doesn't get enough credit around here, but a successful world title defense against two really good competitors does it for me. If you ask me, I don't know what people expect TNA to do with the world title to make it better: Samoa Joe is champion at last, he won the title cleanly with no bullshit, and retained it cleanly in a fine main event caliber match. No bullshit, and while it isn't a MOTYC match, it was absolutely solid. TNA might do a lot of bullshit, but they did three things right, on PPV, which is enough to get three votes.
4) Colin Delaney
5) Edge
Chris Lansdell
1) LAX
FINALLY! They got top spot because a title win is bigger than a title retention, and because they had to win 3 matches to do it. Now, if they can only keep the belts a while, and not become a Tag team! Who Do Not! Get ALONG!
2) Samoa Joe/Nigel McGuinness: Both defended their titles in big matches against quality opponents. Joe would have won this alone had Angle been in the match, but as good as Kaz is, it drops the quality a notch. Nigel's win in front of an RoH record crowd is a big deal for him and the promotion.
3) BG James: The man used the word "druthers" on national prime time TV. Last week it would have won him #1. NUMEROUS PURCHASES~!
4) Colin Delaney
5) Bryan Danielson
Michael Bauer
1) Brent Albright
Remember, it is not always about winning titles or having the best match or even being part of the big two. Brent Albright did two things this weekend. First, he won a four-way match that involved the RoH World Champion and #1 contender. Second, he built himself up tremendously by leaving Sweet N' Sour Inc., destroying the whole stable, and making the huge face turn we have been waiting for. Hammerstein exploded when this happened and for all of the above, he is my pick for Wrestler of the Week.
2) Bryan Danielson - Two very impressive victories over Tyler Black and Marufuji this weekend.
3) Nigel McGuiness - Still the RoH champion and did it cleanly, like it or not.
4) LAX
5) Batista/Samoa Joe
Larry Csonka
1) LAX (Homicide y Hernandez)
After a year LAX have FINALLY climbed back a top the tag team mountain and are the TNA Tag Team Champions. Sure it was a clusterfuck of a way to get there, but it is great to see LAX being back to kicking ass. VIVA LA LAX, 5150, BLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAT~!
2) Kaz: It is start and stop with Kaz as far as pushed go, but let's hope that they realize what he is capable of and keep him away from Super Eric, Rellik, Black Reign and douche bags like that.
3) Samoa Joe: Joe had a solid title defense and is off to a good start as champion.
4) Gail Kim
5) Ryo Saito & Susumu Yokosuka
THE WINNERS!
Special Mention…Brent Albright - 14 Votes
Fifth Place…Bryan Danielson - 22 Votes
Fourth Place… Samoa Joe - 25 Votes
Third Place…Nigel McGuiness - 34 Votes
Nigel McGuiness survives the weekend with the ROH title still in his possession.
Second Place…Kaz - 46 Votes
Kaz once again has a career night as he wins the first ever TERROR DOME match, and also earned a shot in the main event of the show where he had a very good showing.
Wrestler of the Week…Homicide y Hernandez -70 Votes
The Latin American Xchange is back on top of the tag team world in TNA as they were the big winners in the Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament. Homicide y Hernandez now have the tag titles for the first time in a year, and I don't think that they are going to give them up anytime soon.
Yearend Standings~!
Matt Hardy gets no love this week but is still on top of the mountain as far as points go. TNA is represented large this week as Homicide, Hernandez and Kaz all debut, and Joe gains some ground towards the top spot. Only 6-weeks in, and we have a lot of competition going on.
Matt Hardy – 30 (Smackdown)
Suwama – 24 (All Japan) King William Regal – 24 (RAW)
Yeah, well done to LAX. I'd have voted for Kaz first, but LAX definitely deserved the full nod.
Posted By: T.G. Corke (Registered) on May 12, 2008 at 12:18 PM
"Getting back his victory over Tyler Black from earlier in the year"
Guy, Danielson beat him then too.
Posted By: Guest#9191 (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 12:32 PM
I really like that TNA is pushing its good talent rather than the old WWE rejects.
Posted By: natedoggcata (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 01:05 PM
There, you guys happy? Someone YOU KNOW got the WOTW. Now get your bottles out of your mouth.
Posted By: Kevin F. (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 01:25 PM
And where the fuck is John CENA?!?!?!? I demand a recount!!
Posted By: Angry Smark (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 01:27 PM
The right people took the top two spots this week.
However, no votes should have even been given to idiots like CIMA, Nigel McGuineess, Brent Albright, Ryo Saito, Susumu Yokosuka, Chuck Taylor, Rhett Titus, and Sabian. They're losers.
Posted By: K-Money (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 01:55 PM
YEAH for TNA originals!
Posted By: Joe (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 02:29 PM
"However, no votes should have even been given to idiots like CIMA, Nigel
McGuineess, Brent Albright, Ryo Saito, Susumu Yokosuka, Chuck Taylor, Rhett
Titus, and Sabian. They're losers."
Ah, the good ol' "let's see who I can piss off" comment. Bravo.
Posted By: Guest#5054 (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 02:29 PM
well finally a good WOTW...give credit where credit is due
Posted By: chris hyatte (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 02:48 PM
Honestly, i haven't watched TNA in about 2 months. And thats because they have been doing the same shit forever. But with Samoa Joe as champ, the Booker T heel turn, LAX winning the titles, and Kaz's new momentum, i think i'm gonna give them another chance.
Posted By: Jordan (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Wrong, Guest#5054.
John Cena, had a better week than those guys just for having his name mentioned on Raw.
Posted By: K-Money (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 03:09 PM
First off to Guest#9191, my mistake. I guess I remembered those results differently for some odd reason.
As for the person posting as Hyatte, credit has been handed out to those who've earned that due for the past several hundred weeks. Sorry most of you still feel we should only vote for who YOU people know, but this is a topic still open to those within the ENTIRE wrestling industry, and last I checked, the indy and international scene still made up the wrestling industry. After all, where else would WWE get their better superstars from? I don't think guys like Nathan Jones worked out for a reason...
Posted By: Jarrod Westerfeld (Registered) on May 12, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Bravo again.
Posted By: Guest#7742 (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Excuse me Sam Berman, but what legacy did Nigel cement exactly? He cemented his legacy as one of the greatest unimportant wrestlers of the modern era? Did he cement his legacy the equivalent to one of the greatest minor league wrestlers of all time?
Let’s look at your list of significant victories. Claudio Castagnoli who has accomplished what? Bryan Danielson who had tryouts with different major feds and didn’t last? What about Austin Aries, the world’s biggest over-seller that couldn’t get past the opening match on TNA. Then Kevin Steen who’s biggest accomplishments have been in the tag division and Tyler Black who it was only 2 months ago became “a star.” How can a guy be a star for less than 6 months, but a victory over him is worth superstar status?
Berman, you are an idiot.
Posted By: Guest#5466 (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 03:20 PM
I love how people feel it necessary to shit on Cena when he hasn't been doing anything wrong. or event been present. This priove that you guys have bbasolutley no credibilty.
Posted By: Guest#5526 (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Michael Bauer, Sammy Berman, John Gregory, Jerome Cusson, and Ari Berenstein the ROH mark. What a shock they all vote for indie acts very few people saw or heard about. If the show wasn't available for all to see then it none of its wrestlers should be eligible for the award.
TNA does stupid things, but they had a PPV and LAX were the only choice for #1. Samoa Joe, Gail Kim, and Roxxi should also have gotten votes. Not meaningless pasty indie guys nobody cares about.
Berman should be canned for not having LAX or a TNA/WWE wrestler even on his list. This award has become a joke. Way too smarky and inside.
Posted By: Oscar (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 04:09 PM
Was there no wrestling in 3rd world countries this weekor something? Where's the love for the new Outer Mongolian Junior Heavyweight Musical Chairs Champion?
Posted By: The Sandman (ROH Champ) (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 04:10 PM
Considering mor epeople saw the RoH Hammerstein event live than a normal TNA event in Orlando, I think you may wish to reconsider that statement Oscar.
Posted By: Michael Bauer (Registered) on May 12, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Gah! It was completely dominated by Indy wrestlers that I've never even heard of!
Posted By: TYpical 411mania reader (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 04:59 PM
You guys are acting like this is something that's broadcasted on ESPN or National Television. This is a countdown on a wrestling website, and whether we like it or not, a lot of the people who go on this site at least know who these guys are. Now, if this were a website with an audience like WWE.com's, then it would be silly to have indy-dominated countdown, but as it stands, this is an independent website viewed primarily by smarks and people with broader selections for their wrestling.
Posted By: JJ (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 05:04 PM
^^
Burn
Posted By: Money Mack (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Fear not, Oscar, because you and your ilk continue to provide the elitist comments that help to balance and counteract the smarky and inside voting process of this award every week. You're our answer to Super Eric, only you wear a pink and neon orange collage of colors and tights that leave people ready to claw out their own eyes. But you too shall be ready to claim championship gold soon, for you are cash money, apparently.
Gotta love the irony of the casual fans being more elitist than the "smarks" who are "elitist" for actually acknowledging there's more to wrestling than what's on their television - oh, wait, AAA and CMLL are on your television as well. Should we disqualify them on the wacky grounds that they don't speak English, so because you can't understand them they don't matter?
Posted By: Jarrod Westerfeld (Registered) on May 12, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Oscar:
"If the show wasn't available for all to see then it none of its wrestlers
should be eligible for the award."
The shows are available for all to see. You just need to care enough to go find it. And if you don't care enough, then that's your deal. I may typically vote TNA or WWE for my WOTW's, but I do watch and appreciate the independent feds. And many times, they are WOTW vote-worthy. Bottom Line: Just because you don't watch it, doesn't mean that it's not WOTW-worthy. And yes, it is out there, available. Just look.
Posted By: Jeremy Thomas (Registered) on May 12, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Ok all you haters, haven't you considered that Berman might be too poor to afford cable? Or maybe even a TV? You're all so insensitive.
Posted By: poffo316 (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 05:14 PM
We should just copy and paste Jarrod's and Jeremy's last two responses and post them every time idiots come here. Face it you guys: there is such thing as wrestling outside of what comes on on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and [occasionally] Sunday.
Posted By: JJ (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Guest5466, I'm pretty sure I never used the word "superstar" anywhere in my picks, but regardless, I am disappointed that you consider me an idiot. However will I go on? As for your specific points: Castagnoli is incredibly accomplished across the Independent scene, Danielson is widely accepted as the top non-WWE or TNA competitor in North America, Aries' issues in TNA were reportedly attitude-related and not talent-related, and Steen & Black are both incredibly talented and competent challengers who have been putting on show-stealing matches for the better part of four years each.
Oscar, it's kind of tough for me to be "canned" considering I'm now adjunct staff. Sorry.
poffo316, I genuinely appreciate your concern, but rest assured that I have cable and a very nice television. I'm actually getting a new, better tv soon, so I'll be able to watch TNA's mind-numbingly boring product with even higher resolution.
Posted By: Samuel Berman (Registered) on May 12, 2008 at 05:29 PM
ROH is the most popular indy promotion, whether you like it or not. While their DVD's don't chart the top 10, they sell well for a small company, air on PPV (don't give me the 19 people Bullshit because that was only in Canada), and are even promoted on WWE.com. And on an independently run website that covers more than WWE and TNA and his viewed by people that know what ROH is, then it damn sure deserves to be included in countdowns. Same goes for Japan. However, it would be dumb to include local indy promotions that barely draw 100 people (and ROH consistently draws 1000+ people and recently set a record of 2100 fans, before you idiots say that they only draw one hundred fans at shows).
Posted By: Mista Grimm (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Rather than fight with sticks and stones and name calling I'd like to add some facts here.
FACT: three out of the top four this week were from TNA as a result of actions from last night's PPV.
FACT: Of the current top ten as of this week, FOUR come from TNA, FIVE come from WWE (with 1 man retired) and one wrestler from Japan who is currently reaching new career pinnacles.
FACT: NO ROH or independent talent are currently in the top ten.
And Oscar, don't be such a grouch. I revel in being an ROH mark, but I was born and raised a WWF / WWE guy.
Posted By: Ari Berenstein (Registered) on May 12, 2008 at 06:32 PM
It always amazes me that people complain about Indy and International Talent being talked about on this list.
Folks AAA,CMLL and NJPW talent should be talked about just as much as TNA talent. AAA and CMLL are actually more popular in this country than TNA is, and NJPW is arguably the 3rd or 4th most important promotion in the world so there is more of a grip that none of their talent is on this list than anything else.
Also maybe if you have never heard of these guys you should go check some of them out. Its easier today than it was 15, 10 or even 5 years ago when a lot of us where watching 4 hour tapes for ONE match.
I would close with this allot of the complaints are null in my opinion do to this..most of you apparently wouldn't have put ECW wrestlers on this list back in 90's. yet almost all of you would probably say you are fans of that product.
Posted By: Truthslayer (Registered) on May 12, 2008 at 07:11 PM
If Nigel isn't allowed to appear on this list after headlining the Hammerstein Ballroom then when is he?
I would identify myself as a "casual" fan. I'd like to spend more time enjoying wrestling, but it's not likely to happen. This column allows me to at least learn about the important happenings from around the globe, and on several occasions I've been able to watch some of these, so I hope this carries on.
Posted By: Simpleton (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 07:56 PM
"As for the person posting as Hyatte, credit has been handed out to those who've
earned that due for the past several hundred weeks"
i was giving credit to you the writers,
you are a prick!!!!
Posted By: chris hyatte (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 08:12 PM
I love this ever going saga between the writers and commenters, hell even between the commenters. Kepp it going this is funnier than half of the crap on TV today! (Except the office)
Posted By: The 778 (Guest) on May 12, 2008 at 09:16 PM
Sam, I still don't know what you are talking about with a "legacy," and Nigel. I don't know what his "legacy" is. Wrestling will be the same whether he was ever around or not. His matches will be largely forgotten in 10 years time and that's because the companies he has wrestled these "show stopping" matches for won't exist in a decade. Know your role Berman for you are a tard
Posted By: Guest#0969 (Guest) on May 13, 2008 at 12:10 AM
What does it matter if they like indy wrestlers? I have never watched ROH and other Indy Feds nor do I want to right now but it doesn't make me piss on everyones opinion because I've never watched it. We're not all retarded marks like you guys
Posted By: Jones (Guest) on May 13, 2008 at 01:28 AM
To those arguing what legacy and difference wrestlers like Nigel McGuinness and Claudio Castagnoli will have and make on the business, I will raise this point.
While people remember Austin and Rock on top during the attitude era, the mid-card (outside of the Radicalz, 2 of whom left no real mark in WWE) was largely forgettable due to the high propensity of crap they booked.
What do I, and many many others remember most fondly from the 90s? ECW.
Their feuds up and down the card were gold, their presentation was gritty and different, and they were an alternative.
People wish WWE could be more like WWF, but people are OUTRAGED that the ECW name has been used so poorly. That is a legacy.
Raven, Dreamer, Mikey Whipwreck, The Dudley Boyz, The Gangstas, have a real legacy, remembered for being unique, not for being part of an era.
10 years time? ROH will likely still be around, being better run than ECW, but they will have the enduring feuds and the guys people fondly remember too.
And look at the current main event scene in TNA and WWE. Samoa Joe and CM Punk. Both guys who made their names in ROH. Who is to say Nigel, Claudio, Chris Hero, Kevin Steen and many others won`t do the same.
And as for complaining over the last few weeks over Suwama getting votes, I presume in the past you wouldn`t have wanted legends like Baba, Inoki, Maeda, Hansen, Kobashi, Jumbo, Tiger Mask, Black Tiger, Lyger and Chono to get votes either?
WWE and TNA are on top in the western world, there is no doubt about that, but that is the status quo. Wrestling means more on the smaller more intimate scale in the US, and certainly means more in Japan where it is revered.
Posted By: Chris Nelson (Guest) on May 13, 2008 at 09:12 AM
man, we really do love complaining, mirite?
Posted By: db (Guest) on May 13, 2008 at 12:29 PM
To answer the question of "Where's Cena"?
He wasn't on TV last week. He was on Monday, LOSING to Randy Orton. He's nowhere near the title picture, so he won't be on WOTW for the unforseeable future. So, cry some more because all of you make me laugh.
Posted By: Guest#1830 (Guest) on May 15, 2008 at 03:33 PM
