From The Other Side: The WRES-PYs - Part Two
Posted by TWV Guest Columnists
on 12/20/2006
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Guest Column By Raul Smith
The red carpet is still rolled out, the paparazzi are still standing by, and the A-Listers are still out and about, only in different $10,000 outfits this time. No, this is not a setup to an MNM entrance (get well soon, Joey Mercury), but rather the scene of Day Two of the WRES-PY Awards. When I left, I only was able to hit three categories. But I will attempt to hit more than that today. So, enough introductory talk; time to pick up where I left off!
Best Wrestling Move
What would a wrestling awards column be without awarding a wrestler for having the coolest-looking move in the business? There are so many good moves in wrestling today that I've had to split this category in two sub-categories: one for TNA and one for WWE. So here are the best wrestling moves in the business today!
Best Wrestling Move (TNA)
"Border Toss" Hernandez
Seeing Hernandez pull this off on petite women (Gail Kim) is not impressive; seeing him pull it off on heavier opponents is definitely impressive. What it reminds me of is a modified Razor's Edge, only instead of allowing his body weight to bring his opponent down from that position, he just tosses them across the ring; hence the name "Border Toss."
"Muscle Buster" Samoa Joe
When I first saw Samoa Joe use this move, I had flashbacks of playing Tekken on my Playstation 2 years ago because it's a very similar move to a move used by King; ironically, the name of the move in the game was "Muscle Buster." This is more often than not the setup to Samoa Joe's finisher, the Rear-Naked Choke Sleeper.
"Ankle Lock" Kurt Angle
This year saw Angle use both of his variations of this move: the variation in which he stands up and adds pressure and the variation where he grapevines the leg. It also saw Angle use this move on all four mainstream national TV shows. Nobody does it better.
"The Gringo Killah" Homicide
I last saw this move used by the Hurricane (Gregory Helms) when he called it the "Verta-Breaker." However, Homicide just seems to add a little bit of salsa to the move, figuratively speaking.
It should come as to no surprise which move got the honors here, so here is the best wrestling move in TNA for 2006:
"The Canadian Destroyer" Petey Williams
One of the most awesome moves I've ever seen, period. He hasn't used it as much since Team Canada disbanded, but he still pulls it off to perfection every time. How this move is humanly possible is still beyond me.
Best Wrestling Move (WWE/ECW)
"Crippler Crossface" Chris Benoit
This is arguably one of the most innovative submission moves I've ever seen in professional wrestling. Benoit has done a fantastic job of coming up with new ideas on how to block counters to the Crossface, how to prevent the opponent from getting to the ropes, et cetera. Very nicely done by the Rabid Wolverine.
"Pedigree" Triple H
Simply put, one of the most effective-looking finishers in all of professional wrestling...err, I mean "sports-entertainment." Now if they could only make up their mind on which entrance music he's going to go to the ring with when he wrestles in singles competition..."The Game" or "King of Kings"...decisions, decisions...
"Back-Cracker" Carlito
This move looks like it might hurt. Carlito is coming up with some nifty innovative moves lately. I especially love some of the moves he does off the ropes, like that springboard back elbow.
"Anaconda Vice" CM Punk
This has to be the most innovative submission move I've seen in wrestling since Chris Benoit's "Crippler Crossface." It doesn't look like it hurts much at first, but you look closer and you'll see how it could hurt if somebody worked a little too stiff on that one.
All of these moves are very cool, but a move that may or may not have been forgotten, mostly because it's only been used on mainstream television maybe twice, is the single-most impressive move I've seen in wrestling in a long time aside from the Canadian Destroyer. So it's only appropriate that this be the Best Wrestling Move in WWE for 2006:
"C-4" Paul Burchill
Those that have followed this guy since the OVW days did somewhat say that if creative allows Paul Burchill to use this move more, he'd be an instant fan favorite. Yeah, I could see how it could make him a fan favorite. I can't even begin to describe what this move is like. Perhaps if somebody could send me an accurate description, then I'll share it with everybody in my first column for 2007. That'd be a lot more effective in making him a fan favorite than dressing him up like Captain Jack Sparrow.
Best Heel
Because 2006 didn't really see that many true heels in TNA, this is one of those rare categories that I won't have to split in two. These are the guys that are good at their job and their job is to make you hate them. Whether it be slipping in that cheap shot on the local sports team, cheating at all costs to win, or even just talking
way too much and not backing it up, these are the heels that the fans have come to know and hate so passionately. Here are the top heels of 2006:
Randy Orton
His heel character has new added depth, making this young superstar even more arrogant and cocky, but also more dangerous. His defeat at SummerSlam at the hands of Hulk Hogan definitely didn't help his power ranking though, and in this case, may have even cost him top honors. Oh well; as we in Utah are used to hearing by now, at least there's next year.
The Latin American X-change (Konnan, Homicide, & Hernandez)
Yeah, WWE marks will call these guys "La Resistance South," but trust me when I tell you these guys have taken the Anti-American gimmick to a whole new level that WWE can't even touch. Threats to burn the American flag, tossing a woman halfway across the ring, brutal 3-on-1 beatdowns, thug-like mentality, hiring a lawyer to file a lawsuit against TNA for violating their 1st Amendment rights, and Konnan channeling Malcolm X. That's what Konnan reminds me of in this role, a Mexican Malcolm X. By any means necessary, amigos!
"The King Of The Mountain" Jeff Jarrett
Corruption. Power. Greed. Deceit. The desire to retain the symbol of excellence that is the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Jeff Jarrett has portrayed all of these heel characteristics to perfection. However, come to find out a face turn may be on the horizon for Double J.
Mr. Kennedy...
He may have a big mouth and he may talk a big game, but on some occasions, he can back it up. His program with the Undertaker is giving this character new added depth that we've never seen before. Yes, he's cocky. Yes, he's brash. Yes, he's a little crazy too. But in the end, you will never forget the name...
Kennedy
All of these guys are true heels of the business. But none works harder at his craft, thrives more at pissing every last fan off, and gets off on every last fan standing and booing his ass out of every arena than the man I'm about to introduce. In a way, you almost have to respect that kind of commitment. He is the Best Heel in Wrestling for 2006...
"The Rated R Superstar" Edge
I may not have any respect for this man as a human being, after all that happened with Matt Hardy, but I have to respect this man's drive and determination at putting on a performance of a lifetime, coming out on top in the end and pissing everybody off in the process. Let's not forget, by cashing in on his Money In The Bank privileges, he became the WWE Champion for the first time in his career in January of this year. A now two-time WWE Champion, his on-air and off-air relationship with Lita may be over, but I predict that, perhaps with help from Randy Orton, Edge will find a way to take advantage of an opportunity and become the top heel in WWE again next year, all the while making all of us hate him every step of the way.
Best Face
Another category split into two sub-categories. They get the biggest pops, the loudest chants, and the most t-shirts sold. They're the guys your kids want to watch beat up that mean guy and the guys you want to see victorious. They are the top faces of 2006 and we'll start with TNA.
Best Face (TNA)
Samoa Joe
I believe this man could very well be a future megastar in professional wrestling, right alongside John Cena and CM Punk. Get a good look at the future of the business; he's only going to get better and his popularity will only go up from here.
"The War Machine" Rhino
Quickly became a fan favorite shortly after his arrival in TNA last year and his power ranking did put him here after his passionate speech telling Vince McMahon to piss off, followed shortly by his burning the last true ECW Championship belt in a garbage can and making a little fire for all the homeless people around Universal Studios.
Christian Cage
Let's not forget that it wasn't too long ago that the fans were in the ring celebrating with Christian Cage when he won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship away from Jeff Jarrett. When was the last time you saw that at a wrestling event?
Kurt Angle
From the minute his video is played on the screen to the end of the match, you can almost feel the electricity from the fans at the iMPACT! Zone through the TV screen. The cheers, the "Angle" chants, the "Break His Ankle" chants; you'd almost think Kurt feels right at home in TNA. But then again, maybe he does.
Each and every one of these guys have earned the admiration and respect of the TNA fans, but none more so than the clear-cut winner of the Best Face in TNA award for 2006:
Sting
After arriving in TNA back in January this year, Sting's popularity within the TNA fan base has never been better; every time I see a match of his on TV these days, the crowd's always letting him hear them cheer. It's like he gets a standing ovation every time he comes out to the ring and properly so.
Best Face (WWE/ECW)
Rey Mysterio
I believe Rey Mysterio could be the most beloved superstar on the SmackDown! roster mostly because of Eddie Guerrero. Go ahead, watch a match from earlier this year with Rey in it and you'll hear more "Eddie" chants than you do "619" chants, even during his matches against Chavo Guerrero. And the best part is Rey has always been popular with the fans; I cannot recall Rey Mysterio ever being a heel. I just can't envision that happening.
John Cena
Sure, he had his valleys early and often throughout the year in terms of popularity, but I think he hung in there and convinced everybody that he is working his hardest to try and please the fans. But therein may lay the problem; as people in New York have been saying about Alex Rodriguez, maybe John Cena needs to "work easier."
CM Punk
I cannot begin to describe how impressed I am already of this guy. The fan following he has accumulated is stunning. Many were asking me why I was so hesitant to put this guy on my "Future World Champions" list and it's because I didn't want to jinx this guy. I just see so many great things in his future, whether he's wrestling for ECW, RAW, SmackDown!, or TNA.
"The Game" Triple H
How drastic of a change has this guy made in 2006! From the most hated superstar on the RAW roster, the same guy that supposedly crushed Big Show's hand right before New Year's Revolution and the same guy that physically destroyed Ric Flair, Triple H went from all of that to one of the most beloved superstars on the RAW roster, seemingly overnight. It's almost as if Triple H's popularity with the fans took off faster than he could say those two words DX is known for.
And speaking of D-Generation X, the winner of Face of the Year for 2006 in WWE should know a thing or two about DX; hell, he helped found it!
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels
Let's face it; Triple H's face turn doesn't go as well as planned without the fans' sympathy for the struggles of Shawn Michaels, as the founding father of D-Generation X was in the middle of a battle for his life against the McMahons and the Spirit Squad. Once Triple H entered the picture, it was easy putting the puzzle together, even for the most oblivious of fans. Triple H may be the muscle and 10-time champion of the outfit, but Shawn Michaels is what makes D-Generation X the fan favorites they are.
That's all that I'm going to be able to post for today. Check back again tomorrow for more. If you want to react or believe I've missed somebody, emails are always welcome. Tomorrow will be my last column posted for 2006 so if you want me to touch on something before the holidays hit, drop me a line today. Otherwise, it'll have to wait until the first week of January 2007.
If K-Fed can rap, hell, why can't I?
Eddie Guerrero 1967-2005
May you rest in peace, but never rest in our hearts
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RaulCBK@comcast.net.
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