411’s Wrestler of the Week 11.17.08: Week 33

Posted by Larry Csonka on 11.17.2008

Jeff Hardy defeats the Undertaker, Jimmy Olsen survives 15-men to win the CHIKARA Torneo Cibernetico, Matt Hardy retains his title, Chris Jericho adds to his lead and much, much more! Check out the latest edition of 411's Wrestler of the Week for all the details!



Welcome to Week 33, 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

If you are wondering how some of the writers decide who to vote for, please check out our Wrestler of the Week Supplemental Column!

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…

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The Voting~!
Andy Clark
1) Jeff Hardy
Quite simply Jeff rocked this week. New attitude? Check. New look? Check. Good promo? Check. Good match? Check. Win over the freaking Undertaker? Check. Jeff Hardy is well on his way to becoming your WWE Champion.

2) Matt Hardy: Jeff's brother was no slouch this week either. He had a great ECW Title Match with Finlay and then had a good match with Shelton Benjamin on SmackDown. Nice little week there by the ECW Champion.
3) Jimmy Olsen: Generally I don't give a lot of props to CHIKARA, but I've always liked the Torneo Cibernetico concept and in order to win you have to have done something pretty special. Jimmy Olsen is your winner this year, so congrats.
4) Chris Jericho & Shawn Michaels (tie)
5) William Regal


Christi Csonka
1) Jeff Hardy
While I am more of a Matt Hardy fan, you cannot deny the fact that Jeff is on a roll and that his victory over the Undertaker could be a sign of big things to come.

2) Matt Hardy: My boy Matt Hardy not only defended his title Tuesday, but defeated the US Champion on Friday.
3) William Regal: Finally someone beat Santino!
4) Eric Young
5) Chris Jericho


Michael Bauer
1) Jeff Hardy
It's not often that the Undertaker loses cleanly on free television and this week saw just that as Jeff Hardy defeated the Undertaker in an Extreme Rules Match. Jeff new attitude has put him on a hot streak as of late and I like it.

2) Matt Hardy: Match of the Year on ECW's TV show and Matt Hardy walked out the winner, defending the ECW Title against Finlay.
3) Jimmy Olsen: Torneo Cibernetico is one of the most unique tournaments and his win is certainly worthy of a spot.
4) William Regal
5) Chris Jericho/Shawn Michaels


Jarrod Westerfeld
1) Jeff Hardy
Everyone else has pretty much explained this one, and like a good sheep I'm going to follow the flock and hand over some more points for Jeff's reignited character direction that should possibly propel him further into the main event scene that actually pays off with a title. Maybe.

2) Matt Hardy – Successfully defended his ECW title in a match that is being considered for the free TV match of the year by some.
3) William Regal – Won the Intercontinental Championship in his hometown. What more need be said then that?
4) Jimmy Olsen
5) Tigers Mask & Black Buffalo (tag team)


Robert S. Leighty Jr
1) Jeff Hardy
Going over the Undertaker clean on free TV is damn impressive, and that alone gets Hardy my vote. I also appreciate the fact that creative is giving the guy a more defined character. Let's just hope he doesn't screw this push too.

2) William Regal: He won the IC Strap in his home country. Again, we can debate the value of the IC Title in this day and age, but it's still the #2 title on RAW.
3) Chris Jericho: He gets the win in what is apparently the blow-off to the awesome Michaels/Jericho feud. He is running away with Wrestler of the Year, and a lot of that is because of the feud w/ Michaels. I'm just sad to see it go.
4) Eric Young
5) Matt Hardy


Matt Short
1) Jeff Hardy
This past week might have been the best week Hardy has had in quite awhile. He opened the show with an incredibly intense promo rocking the Sting/Joker/Jigsaw face paint. Then he laid out Kozlov through a table. Then capped it all off by pinning The Undertaker in an extreme rules match. Like him or not, Jeff Hardy looked like a huge star this week and if can carry on at this level I see him really cementing his spot as a top name in the WWE.

2) William Regal: While some might not like the squashing of Santino, Regal was put over very strong in England this past week as he steamrolled Santino for the Intercontinental Title. The Honk-a-Meter is gone, but Regal is champ again and that's something I like.
3) Jimmy Olsen: Continued rolling in CHIKARA after winning the Torneo Cibernetico this Saturday. Jimmy's really turned around since he was betrayed by Colin Delaney and he's got a strong upper hand his war against The UnStable.
4) The Colony
5) Shingo Takagi


ARI
1) Jeff Hardy
Only the large ass freaks usually seem to be able to gain decisive wins against The Undertaker. Jeff Hardy may be a freak, but he's a small ass freak and someone who just on paper looks to be a huge underdog to Taker's size and legendary status. Yet Jeff's new in-your-face attitude has not only evolved his character but it has revitalized his positioning in WWE, at just the right time. In 2002 we came oh so close to defeating Undertaker in a ladder match. Six years later, he did it and did it convincingly (Big Show's interference aside, it was the leapfrog leg drop that did the deed). I know we shouldn't necessarily tip our hand to spoilers, but I expect Jeff to be high up next week as well.

2) Matt Hardy: The "other" Hardy brother didn't do too bad for himself either, what with a fantastic main event match against Finlay and all on ECW. Hardy continues to deliver stability and quality to the ECW TV show.
3) Shingo Takagi: Successfully defends the top title in the Dragon Gate promotion against mainstay Susumu Yokosuka.
4) William Regal
5) Jimmy Olsen


Ryan Byers
1) Jimmy Olsen
I've said it before, but I'll clarify it again one more time to hopefully alleviate some of the complaining which will no doubt occur regarding my putting Mr. Olsen at number one over Jeff Hardy: My primary consideration in picking for WOTW in a given week is NOT what a wrestler's accomplishments mean in a kayfabe sense. I look much more at what the real world implications of what has happened in a man's career, particularly when it involves advancing that career. This weekend, Jimmy Olsen took a huge leap forward in winning CHIKARA's torneo cibernetico, a victory that could very well take him from being a midcard act in the company to being a legitimate main eventer. Yes, it's a main event slot in a small indy, but it's the biggest company in which Olsen will have that role in his career to date, AND it's a company, which is a proven springboard in to Ring of Honor, a larger company still. Given those facts, I consider his win to be much more significant than Hardy's, which is an established WWE main eventer beating an established WWE main eventer, i.e. something that in the long run will have an impact on neither man's career.

2) Jeff Hardy - Though I think that Olsen's win was more significant, that doesn't mean that I think Hardy's win was completely insignificant. The man's credibility has taken a beating lately given repeated losses to Triple H, and this will hopefully be the band-aid that allows him to continue to be perceived as a top dog after being beaten like a drum in recent pay per view main events.
3) Tigers Mask & Black Buffalo - Yes, I'm the only person on this website who gives a rat's ass about Osaka Pro. No, I don't care. This week, Tigers & Buffalo captured the company's interim Tag Team Titles, putting some real steam behind their recently formed heel faction. Tigers, who is making his first run as a heel after many years in the business, is really coming in to his own in the role.
4) The Colony
5) Tracy Smothers & Little Guido


Samuel Berman
1) Jimmy Olsen
Another 16-hour Sunday workday means more brief remarks. Won CHIKARA's annual Torneo Cibernetico, besting 15 other men in a 77-minute marathon. Do yourself a favor and YouTube some Jimmy Olsen. He's good times.

2) Shingo Takagi: Retained his Open the Dream Gate Championship in the main event of Dragon Gate's Pay-Per-View.
3) Amasis & Ophidian: Retained the CHIKARA Campeonatos de Parejas.
4) Jeff Hardy
5) Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels


Jeremy Thomas
1) Jeff Hardy
This one really isn't too tough. Jeff got a big pin over the rarely beaten Undertaker and really established that his new edge to his character might solidify things for him in the main event. Jeff my not win the title any time in the immediate future, but his status as Wrestler of the Week is secure.

2) Chris Jericho/Shawn Michaels: Man, did these two guys put on one hell of a match to end off Raw (and, presumably, their feud). Jericho went over in the end to send him off to Survivor Series against Batista, and HBK has his feud with JBL moving ahead. Good work by both this week.
3) The Undertaker: It's not every week that someone beats Taker; it's even less that Taker loses and is one of the wrestlers of the week. The Dead Man put on a great match against Jeff though and really helped make him look like a star.
4) William Regal
5) Matt Hardy


Daniel Wilcox
1) Jeff Hardy
By any standards, Jeff Hardy has had a fantastic week. His new direction on SmackDown could be just what he needs. His promo at the top of the show was tremendous and something nobody ever expected out of Hardy. On top of that he looked to put himself back in the title hunt by interrupting the contract, and then there's the small matter of beating the Undertaker in the main event. It's not often that Taker gets pinned on TV, and I guess this just goes to show that WWE does still have faith in him. Don't be surprised if Hardy's roll takes him right to Survivor Series and the WWE Championship.

2) Chris Jericho: Jericho's greatness was evident again Monday night, as the World Champ beat Shawn Michaels again, this time in a very good Last Man Standing match. Some people didn't like the finish, but a win's a win and this was a big match. It may not have been on par with some of their past encounters, but it was still a great outing.
3) Shawn Michaels/Undertaker: Taker and HBK tie for third place due to their part in two fantastic free TV matches this week. Although both men came up short, they helped make their respective matches incredibly enjoyable.
4) Matt Hardy
5) William Regal


JT
1) Jeff Hardy
Okay, NOBODY beats Undertaker clean, not even on free television (although some would say an Extreme Rules Match negates the possibility of a "clean" finish but it's the closest thing you're going to get out of the Undertaker). Despite his seemingly endless problems, WWE continues to give him chances and it appears (yet… again) that Hardy plans to make the most of it. New look, new attitude, great match; not hard to pick him as my WOTW.

2) Chris Jericho/Shawn Michaels: These two had their "final encounter" on RAW this week and it was in my eyes the match of the week. I'm not going to let a JBL run-in I disliked take away from what these two did.
3) Jimmy Olsen: Won the 5th Torneo Cibernetico, an annual CHIKARA match that is relatively new to U.S. soil.
4) William Regal
5) Matt Hardy


Larry Csonka
1) Jimmy Olsen
Jimmy Olsen fought through fifteen men for over 77 minutes and prevailed as the winner of CHIKARA's fifth annual cibernetico. He last eliminated Ophidian in a shocker of a match that saw Worker Ant and Ultramantis Black staking their claim as two of the tops in CHIKARA with multiple eliminations and Eddie Kingston going on an absolute rampage after being bounced by Fire Ant. This is a big deal every year, and that is why I am giving Olsen the nod this week.

2) Jeff Hardy: Cut a good promo, had a good match and then beat The Undertaker. Yeah, this was a good week for young Jeffery.
3) William Regal: Regains the IC Title in "Warrior-Like" Fashion
4) Matt Hardy
5) Tracy Smothers and Little Guido

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THE WINNERS~!

Special Mention…Shawn Michaels - 15 Votes

Fifth Place…Chris Jericho - 21 Votes

Fourth Place…Matt Hardy - 26 Votes

Third Place…William Regal - 27 Votes

He regains the IC Title in his home country, all for the Queen.

Second Place…Jimmy Olsen - 30 Votes

The winner of CHIKARA's fifth annual cibernetico, surviving 77-minutes and 15-men to claim victory.

Wrestler of the Week…Jeff Hardy - 55 Votes

Jeff Hardy has a huge week as he defeated the Undertaker!


Yearend Standings~!
Chris Jericho gains a bit more ground in his overall lead, while Matt Hard and William Regal improve their overall positioning in the top 15. Jeff Hardy gets closer to the top 15 with his victory, and Jimmy Olsen makes his debut on the big list this week.


Let's check out the Yearend Standings!

1. Chris Jericho – 116 (RAW)

2. Batista – 74 (Raw)

3. Edge – 64 (Smackdown) {Sent to Hell}

4. Matt Hardy – 61 (ECW)

5. Shawn Michaels – 52 (RAW)

6. HHH – 48 (Smackdown)

7. Samoa Joe – 48 (TNA)

8. AJ Styles – 42 (TNA)
8. Sting – 42 (TNA)

10. The Undertaker – 36 (Smackdown)
10. CM Punk – 36 (Raw)

12. William Regal – 34 (RAW)
12. Masato Yoshino – 33 (Dragon Gate)

14. Naruki Doi – 30 (Dragon Gate)
14. Evan Bourne – 30 (ECW) {Injured}


Nigel McGuinness – 29 (ROH)

Low Ki – 27 (US Independent)
Lance Cade – 27 (US Independent)
Kofi Kingston – 27 (RAW)
Jeff Hardy – 27 (Smackdown)

KENTA – 25 (NOAH)
James Storm – 25 (TNA)
Robert Roode – 25 (TNA)

Suwama – 24 (All Japan)
Jimmy Jacobs – 24 (ROH)

Alex Shelley – 21 (TNA)
Keiji Mutoh – 21 (All Japan)
John Morrison – 21 (ECW)
The Miz – 21 (ECW)
Kevin Steen – 21 (ROH)
El Generico – 21 (ROH)

Jeff Jarrett – 20 (TNA)

Bryan Danielson – 19 (ROH)
John Cena – 19 (RAW) {Injured}

Kaz – 18 (TNA) {"Retired"}
Chris Sabin – 18 (TNA)

Kurt Angle – 16 (TNA)

Taylor Wilde – 15 (TNA)
Homicide – 15 (TNA)
Hernandez – 15 (TNA)
Petey Williams – 15 (TNA)
Mick Foley – 15 (TNA)
Ric Flair – 15 (US Independent)
Shelton Benjamin – 15 (Smackdown)
Mickie James – 15 (RAW)
Yuji Nagata– 15 (New Japan)
Bison Smith – 15 (NOAH)
Akitoshi Saito – 15 (NOAH)

Tyler Black – 13 (ROH)
Brent Albright – 13 (ROH)
Chris Hero – 13 (US Independent)
THE Brian Kendrick – 13 (Smackdown)

Sheik Abdul Bashir – 12 (TNA)
The Big Show – 12 (Smackdown)
The Great Khali – 12 (Smackdown)
Jay Briscoe – 12 (ROH)
Mark Briscoe – 12 (ROH)
Roderick Strong – 12 (ROH)
Jimmy Olsen – 12 (US Independent)
MsChif – 12 (US Independent)
Jack Evans – 12 (US Independent)
Taiji Ishimori – 12 (NOAH)

Randy Orton – 10 (RAW)
Mark Henry – 10 (ECW)

Scott Steiner – 9 (TNA)
Ashley Lane – 9 (US Independent)
Nevaeh – 9 (US Independent)
Chuck Taylor – 9 (US Independent)
Volador Jr. – 9 (Mexico)
Mistico – 9 (Mexico)
Hector Garza – 9 (Mexico)
Go Shiozaki – 9 (NOAH)
Kensuke Sasaki – 9 (NOAH)
Shingo Takagi – 9 (Dragon Gate)
Michelle McCool – 9 (Smackdown)
Drake Younger – 9 (US Independent)

Awesome Kong – 7 (TNA)

Masato Tanaka – 6 (Zero One Max)
Tiger Mask IV - 6 (NOAH)
Wataru Inoue – 6 (New Japan)
Rey Mysterio – 6 (RAW)
Mr. Kennedy – 6 (Smackdown) {Injured}
Incognito – 6 (Mexico)
Erick Stevens – 6 (ROH)

Villano V – 3 (Mexico)
Blue Demon Jr. – 3 (Mexico)
Claudio Castagnoli – 3 (ROH)
Hiroshi Tenzan –3 (New Japan)
Hirooki Goto –3 (New Japan)
Ryuji Hijikata –3 (All Japan)
Ophidian – 3 (US Independent)
Amasis – 3 (US Independent)
Fire Ant – 3 (US Independent)
Player Uno – 3 (US Independent)
Player Dos – 3 (US Independent)
Beth Phoenix – 3 (RAW)
JBL – 3 (RAW)
Carlito Colon – 3 (Smackdown)
Primo Colon – 3 (Smackdown)

Naomichi Marufuji - 2 (NOAH)

Vladimir Kozlov – 1 (Smackdown)
Ted DiBiase – 1 (RAW)
Cody Rhodes – 1 (RAW)
Sonjay Dutt – 1 (TNA)
Mike Quackenbush – 1 (US Independent)
Nick Jackson – 1 (US Independent)
Matt Jackson – 1 (US Independent)
Scotty II Hotty – 1 (US Independent)
Joe Doering – 1 (All Japan)
Anthony W. Mori - 1 (Dragon Gate)
GAMMA - 1 (Dragon Gate)
Taiyo Kea - 1 (All Japan)
Minoru Suzuki - 1 (All Japan)
Yoshinobu Kanemaru - 1 (NOAH)
Kotaro Suzuki - 1 (NOAH)
Zack Ryder – 1 (Smackdown)
Curt Hawkins – 1 (Smackdown)

Voting began 4.07.08

Year-End Rankings Key:

WWE, Raw, ECW and Smackdown Contracted Wrestlers are represented in BLUE.

TNA Contracted Wrestlers are represented in GREEN.

ROH Contracted Wrestlers are represented in RED.

US Independent Wrestlers are represented in MAROON.

Japanese Contracted Wrestlers are represented in BLACK.

Mexican Contracted Wrestlers are represented in MAGENTA.

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**PREVIOUS WINNERS**

Year One Winner: Ric Flair


Year Two Winner: Samoa Joe


Year Three Winner: John Cena