411’s Wrestler of the Week 01.05.08: Week 40

Posted by Jeremy Thomas on 01.05.2009

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Team 3D and the Motor City Machine Guns all win gold in NJPW, JBL is the new Number One Contender and more! Check out the latest edition of 411's Wrestler of the Week for all the details and for an updated look at the year-end standings!



Welcome to Week 40, 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~!
Jarrod Westerfeld
1) Brother Ray and Brother Devon (Team 3D)
That's it; their legacy is forever solidified as the greatest tag team in the history of this industry. No other team has accomplished so much in their entire career as these men have, and they capped their already impressive résumé off by capturing the IWGP Tag Team Championships at the WrestleKingdom III show against the 51st champions of Togi Makabe and Toru Yano. Say what you will about them, but make sure you keep in mind the word "great" when referencing them, they've certainly earned it.

2) Hiroshi Tanahashi – Defeated Keiji Mutoh to become the 50th IWGP Heavyweight Champion in a very strong bout. It's also doubly worth noting that Tanahashi did this off of a huge undefeated streak upon his return to Japan after his short lived stint down here in America working with TNA.
3) Motor City Machineguns – Just showed their massive worth at the WrestleKingdom III show by defeating Yujiro and Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Titles.
4) JBL
5) Tiger Mask


Andy Clark
1) Hiroshi Tanahashi
Tanahashi became the 50th IWGP Champion by defeating a legend (Keiji Mutoh) at one of the biggest wrestling shows of the year. Relax, commenters, this show will be retrofitted as "Global Impact" so for once it might be relevant to your interests. Tanahashi has shown off his abilities here in the states, now he has yet another World Title run to his credit.

2) Team 3D
ECW Tag Team Champions. World Tag Team Champions. WCW Tag Team Champions. WWE Tag Team Champions. NWA Tag Team Champions. TNA World Tag Team Champions. Real World Tag League Champions. And now they add the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions to their resume. Say what you will about their talent or their overness but they still manage to get opportunities to be the flag bearers for tag divisions worldwide.
3) Shawn Michaels & JBL (tie)- In general I'm not a fan of the "HBK is broke" storyline. It's not realistic and I hate the possibility that it could end up being Shawn Michaels' big WrestleMania program. That being said, the work these guys put into their angle on Raw was phenomenal. JBL is as over as I think he has ever been, and Shawn Michaels played the sympathetic figure extremely well. JBL clotheslining a man in prayer was just the ultimate in heelness and I loved it.
4) Yuji Nagata
5) Matt Hardy


Larry Csonka
1) Team 3D
Team 3D wins the IWGP Tag Team Titles, and by doing so adds to their claim that they are the greatest tag team in the history of the sport. The ECW, WWE/World, WCW, NWA/TNA, All Japan and now IWGP tag team champions. That demands respect.

2) Tanahashi: Tanahashi ends the title reign of Muta as he becomes the 50th IWGP Champion. Let's hope that this push of Tanahashi works out.
3) The Motor City Machine Guns: Over the last month or so The Motor City Machine Guns have been on a roll, but that got cranked up this past weekend as they took home the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Titles, and became the 22nd champions. VIVA DETROIT!
4) Tiger Mask IV
5) Yuji Nagata


Christi Csonka
1) The Motor City Machine Guns
I am a huge fan of The Motor City Machine Guns, and their stuff over the last few weeks has been great. And now gold has finally found its way around their waists as they win the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Titles. This is awesome.

2) Tanahashi: While he didn't get to show off his skills in TNA, I have really enjoyed what Tanahashi brings to the table, and the title win is well deserved. Hopefully the win over Muta kicks off a great 2009 for him.
3) Team 3D: I think everyone is covering the basics, this win just adds to their dynasty, and that isn't a bad thing.
4) Tiger Mask IV
5) JBL


Michael Bauer
1) Hiroshi Tanahashi
This is really hard, because I could justify voting any of my 1st, 2nd, or 3rd picks as #1 this week. In the end, I chose Hiroshi Tanahashi because Kenji Mutoh is a legend in this industry and he just defeated a legend for on the grandest, if not the grandest championship in Japan.

2) Team 3D: They could easily be #1 also, but I will not use legacy as a reason. They had that legacy, with or without this title win.
3) Motor City Machine Guns: Like 3D, they could be #1 or 2, but Jr. Heavyweight Titles are not the same.
4) Yuji Nagata
5) Tiger Mask


Matt Short
1) Hiroshi Tanahashi
After a brief exile to TNA, Tanahashi was called upon by New Japan to win back the IWGP Heavyweight Title from All Japan's Keiji Muto. This had an added personal touch to it as this was a true Teacher vs. Student story, where Tanahashi was going to have to dig down deep to finally overcome the legendary Muto. He succeeded this Sunday at the massive Wrestle Kingdom III show, which featured talent from literally all over the world. It was a huge stage for the biggest title win in Tanahashi's career to date against one of Japan's most respected stars.

2) Team 3D: Also coming from WKIII, Team 3D found their three-way tag title match become a two-on-two affair when the heavily favored Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima were shelved after Tenzan suffered a serious eye injury. Brother Ray and Brother Devon made the most out of their increased odds, defeating the IWGP Tag Team Champions Togi Makabe & Toru Yano for the second straight year, but this time claiming the belts and adding to their already vast trophy case. They're more than likely keeping the belts warm for TenKoji, but it's impressive no matter how you look at it.
3) Minoru Suzuki & NOSAWA Rongai: While MCMG's title win was pretty big for them, as a whole the crowning of the 81st All Asia Tag Team Champions in All Japan was bigger. The oldest active titles in Japan are a highly respected title and holding them gives Suzuki's group, Tokyo GURENTAI, that much more influence.
4) Tiger Mask
5) JBL


Robert S. Leighty Jr
1) Team 3D
It was a slow week in the States, so we look to Japan, and there we find Team 3D adding another tag title to their resume. Already Tag Team Legends, this just adds more to their decorated careers.

2) Hiroshi Tanahashi: Again, we head to Japan, and we have a new IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Any World Title deserves respect and going over Muto only makes it that much sweeter.
3) JBL: He wins the #1 contender's spot and the ending angle with Shawn generated more heat from any segment I've seen on RAW in a good while.
4) Shawn Michaels
5) The Motor City Machine Guns


Bayani Domingo
1) Hiroshi Tanahashi
Did anything really happen this week of note? Sure you could give the top spot to JBL for winning a #1 contendership match, but the thing just kinda fell flat as HBK gave up the match rather than JBL winning it. Tanahashi won a respected title in Japan and beat a true legend in Keiji Mutoh, for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. While some people may not recognize the title as being all that important, on a world wide level it is and a title win over the "Great Muta" is about as important an event as there was this week.

2) Team 3D: These guys keep winning titles all over the world and in a slow week they managed to add to their legacy as one of the best tag teams of all-time. Seems odd to say, but you know, if you can name 3 or 4 more highly decorated teams I'd like to see them.
3) JBL: A #1 contendership is a #1 contendership, no matter how you win it.
4) Motor City Machine Guns
5) Tiger Mask


Samuel Berman
1) Hiroshi Tanahashi
The comeback is complete with an IWGP Heavyweight Title win over the legendary Keiji Muto. Tanahashi now reprises his role as New Japan's point man going into 2009. Hopefully, we'll get a rematch of his 2007 Match of the Year Candidate against Hirooki Goto at some point.

2) Yuji Nagata: Defeated a bloody Masato Tanaka to retain the World Heavyweight Title in the presumed climax of one of wrestling's underrated rivalries over the past year.
3) Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin: Won the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Titles, their second major belts in Japan.
4) Tiger Mask
5) Brother Ray & Brother Devon


Jeremy Thomas
1) Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon)
Seriously, how can you NOT give Team 3D some love this week? Adding the IWGP Team Team Titles to their already legendary resume is just icing on the cake in a lot of ways, and that they beat a team who held the belts for nearly a year is even better. Kudos to the ol' Dudleys.

2) Hiroshi Tanahashi: Beating Muta at a major show is big. Beating him for the title is even bigger. Suffice it to say that many of us actually got a chance to check this match out, and after watching it I'd be an absolute moron not not give Tanahashi some serious respect for the match. Big win for him, and a great start to the year.
3) John Bradshaw Layfield: I havent' been a fan of this storyline at all, but JBL and Shawn made me believe in it, if only for one show. That JBL won the # 1 Contendership gives him the edge over the Heartbreak Kid.
4) The Motor City Machine Guns
5) Shawn Michaels

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THE WINNERS~!

Special Mention…Yuji Nagata - 9 Votes

Fifth Place…Tiger Mask IV - 11 Votes

Fourth Place…John Bradshaw Layfield - 16 Votes

Third Place…Alex Shelly & Chris Sabin - 22 Votes

The Motor City Machine Guns continue their roll, earning a major feather in their cap by winning the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles.

Second Place…Brother Ray and Brother Devon - 40 Votes

Team 3D cements their legacy in place by adding the IWGP Tag Team Titles to their already impressive resume.

Wrestler of the Week…Hiroshi Tanahashi - 45 Votes

Tanahashi becomes the historic 50th IWGP Heavyweight Champion by defeating his mentor Keiji Mutoh, thus earning him the top spot in the voting this week.


Year-End Standings~!

Tanahashi makes his debut on the rankings late in the game with his big first place win while Team 3D, and the MCMG's jump up several spots. Sabin is now just five points outside of the top 15, while JBL, Tiger Mask & Nagata all add points to make minor moves. Time's starting to get shorter and shorter; can anyone catch Y2J at this point?

Let's check out the Year-End Standings!

1. Chris Jericho – 128 (RAW)

2. Edge – 85 (Smackdown)

3. Batista – 74 (Raw) {Injured}

4. Matt Hardy – 61 (ECW)

5. HHH – 60 (Smackdown)

6. Samoa Joe – 54 (TNA)
6. Naruki Doi – 54 (Dragon Gate)

8. Shawn Michaels – 52 (RAW)

9. Jeff Hardy – 49 (Smackdown)

10. The Undertaker – 48 (Smackdown)

11. John Cena – 46 (RAW)

12. CM Punk – 45 (Raw)

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

15. Nigel McGuinness – 41 (ROH)


Chris Sabin – 36 (TNA)

William Regal – 34 (RAW)
Bryan Danielson – 34 (ROH)

Masato Yoshino – 33 (Dragon Gate)
John Morrison – 33 (ECW)
The Miz – 33 (ECW)

Evan Bourne – 30 (ECW) {Injured}
Alex Shelley – 30 (TNA)

Tyler Black – 28 (ROH)

Low Ki – 27 (US Independent)
Lance Cade – 27 (US Independent)
Kofi Kingston – 27 (RAW)
Keiji Mutoh – 27 (All Japan)

Kurt Angle – 26 (TNA)

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

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

Randy Orton – 23 (RAW)

Kevin Steen – 21 (ROH)
El Generico – 21 (ROH)

Jeff Jarrett – 20 (TNA)

Kaz – 18 (TNA) {"Retired" & Injured}
Brother Ray – 18 (TNA)
Brother Devon – 18 (TNA)

Yuji Nagata– 16 (New Japan)

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)
Bison Smith – 15 (NOAH)
Akitoshi Saito – 15 (NOAH)
Erick Stevens – 15 (ROH)
Roderick Strong – 15 (ROH)
Hiroshi Tanahashi - 15 (New Japan)

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)
Jimmy Olsen – 12 (US Independent)
MsChif – 12 (US Independent)
Jack Evans – 12 (US Independent)
Taiji Ishimori – 12 (NOAH)

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)
Eric Young – 9 (TNA)
Trish Stratus – 9 (US Independent)
JBL – 9 (RAW)
Tiger Mask IV - 9 (NOAH)

Awesome Kong – 7 (TNA)

Masato Tanaka – 6 (Zero One Max)
Wataru Inoue – 6 (New Japan)
Rey Mysterio – 6 (RAW)
Mr. Kennedy – 6 (Smackdown)
Incognito – 6 (Mexico)

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)
Carlito Colon – 3 (Smackdown)
Primo Colon – 3 (Smackdown)
Ultimao Guerrero – 3 (Mexico)

Naomichi Marufuji - 2 (NOAH)

Jack Swagger – 1 (ECW)
Vladimir Kozlov – 1 (Smackdown)
Ted DiBiase – 1 (RAW) {"INJURED"}
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)
Jun Akiyama– 1 (NOAH)
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)
Maryse – 1 (Smackdown) {INJURED}

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