From The Other Side: The WRES-PYs - Part Three
Posted by TWV Guest Columnists
on 12/24/2006
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Guest Column By Raul Smith
This is a sad day, but at the same time a good day because today is the last day for the WRES-PY Awards and my last column for 2006. So far, I have taken care of six categories, but feel I can take care of the rest today. With that said, it's time to get back to the grind.
Best Storyline/Feud
Let's be realistic and call it like it is; a bad storyline or feud, if anything, will only get more negative attention for WWE. However, a good or even great storyline or feud will tend to capture our attention that much more. The storylines and feuds from 2006 aren't exactly just three-line notables though. There were some difficult decisions made because a lot of them were really good, but I finally got it down to five total candidates and here they are:
Sting Vs. Jeff Jarrett
This program started in January when Sting made his successful return to TNA. After his attempted retirement, Jarrett went on a personal crusade to confront Sting and get him to say he's never coming back, just to give Jarrett some piece of mind. However, Alex Shelley's paparazzi tactics backfired and Sting returned once again. The feud had also involved Christian Cage, Scott Steiner, AMW, and Samoa Joe before Sting ended the bitter feud at Bound for Glory winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship away from Jarrett, as well as cementing his name in the history books. After the match, Jarrett congratulated Sting on defeating him and has not been seen on TNA programming since.
LAX Vs. AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels
This feud pretty much was LAX's "coming-out party." Aside from his feud with Samoa Joe late last year, nobody had ever seen Christopher Daniels get as bloodied as he did in this rivalry; same with AJ Styles. Before this rivalry, nobody had ever even heard of the Latin American X-change. Sure, Konnan was already a very popular name in the wrestling industry, especially considering he's been a member of the Dungeon of Doom, the nWo, the Wolfpac, the Filthy Animals, and 3 Live Kru, and has been wrestling for the better part of two decades now. But before this, nobody had ever heard of Homicide or Hernandez besides those that follow the indy circuit. Now, those three names, along with the letters LAX, are household names. You can thank AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels later.
Rey Mysterio's Dreams Come True
Shortly after Eddie Guerrero died in November 2005, I just knew that either Chris Benoit or Rey Mysterio would get a main event push. Turns out it was the one out of those two that we least suspected. Mysterio started the ball rolling by dedicating his Royal Rumble performance to Eddie Guerrero. Mysterio ended up winning the Rumble therefore earning himself a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. The match turned out to be a Triple-Threat Match involving the champion Kurt Angle and Randy Orton. Mysterio would win the match, became World Heavyweight Champion (although technically, he's a cruiserweight, not a heavyweight, but regardles ) for the very first time, and was the feel-good story of the first half of 2006 in the world of professional wrestling.
John Cena Vs. Edge
This rivalry actually started back at New Year's Revolution shortly after John Cena had successfully defended the WWE Championship inside the Elimination Chamber. After the match, Edge had cashed in his "Money in the Bank" contract, earning him the next title shot...only minutes after the Chamber match had ended! Edge won the match and the WWE Championship, sparking a rivalry that would last, off-and-on, approximately ten months.
The entire program was focused around one thing: the WWE Championship. In those ten months, the championship had changed hands five times, with two reigns going to Edge, two going to Cena, and one going to Rob Van Dam. The belt itself had also changed during this feud. At first, the WWE logo was still spinning in the center. At one time, Edge had replaced the WWE logo on the belt with the "Rated R" logo. Cena changed it back, however, after he won the championship at Unforgiven.
All in all, the one telling story behind this rivalry is that despite Vince McMahon's failed efforts to get the fans behind Cena by putting him in programs with Kurt Angle and Triple H, Edge was the one man that got more fans behind Cena than anybody else. That is another huge reason why Edge won the Best Heel of 2006 award.
These were just absolutely great events to watch unfold, but none more so than the winning effort for the Best Storyline/Feud award for 2006:
D-Generation X Reunites
The main part of this story started back in December 2005 when Shawn Michaels suggested that Vince McMahon grow up and "move on." Vince has since been on a mission: to end Shawn Michaels' career. One of the plans that Vince concocted was to have Triple H clobber him. When Triple H was getting ready to bash Michaels' brains in with a sledgehammer, Kenny of the Spirit Squad took the sledgehammer away from Triple H and volunteered his services. Triple H, pissed off that he wasn't the one that was going to do the work, beat up the Spirit Squad.
Only a few weeks later, Triple H and Shawn Michaels reformed one of wrestling's most notorious groups: D-Generation X! However, DX has now shifted their focus away from the McMahons and more towards Edge and Randy Orton, two young superstars that are tired of seeing DX on top all the time. This rivalry will continue next year, and has already involved Cade and Murdoch as well as Ric Flair. But the bottom line is DX is back; are you ready?
Best Entrance
Now, granted, a flashy entrance does not a superstar make; however, it does catch people's attention right away. That's just the way the business is these days. Many wrestlers have had just plain vanilla entrances and have gone on to become the popular fan favorites. On the flip side, you can have the greatest entrance of all-time, and if you can't perform in the ring, it just doesn't matter. The ten superstars listed below, five from TNA and five from WWE, are prime examples of flashy and really cool entrances, regardless of whether they can perform in the ring or not.
Best Entrance (TNA)
"The Monster" Abyss
Love the whole Kane ripoff where he comes out to the red lighting, has the pyros going off when he comes in, and of course, James Mitchell, who some would say is the perfect Paul Bearer ripoff, but if it were me, I'd say he acts more sinister and evil than Bearer ever did. Perhaps that's why he was known in ECW as "The Sinister Minister." The only thing missing is the ring pyro. But to be fair, Abyss' music is much cooler than Kane's was when he started.
Sting
The lighting, the music, and the whole feel to it are just incredible. The fans popping loud for it also helps. He could also come in either via entrance ramp or just go old school and come down from the rafters.
The Latin-American Exchange (LAX)
The music is fitting, the lighting is fitting, and the entrance video they roll is just all too fitting. Somewhat of a spin off the DX entrance video style where they flash back and forth between the live entrance and the video package. I also love how they have their own entrance ramp in the crowd where they have the barbed wire at the top, sort of signifying that they're coming over from across the border.
Christian Cage
Before somebody else came into TNA, this was by far the best entrance in TNA. The music is a perfect generic instrumental rip-off of Evanescence's "My Last Breath," the lighting and video is a perfect knock-off of Chris Jericho's Y2J entrance, and Christian as always adds a little something extra to it just by being Christian.
All of these are prime examples of why TNA's entrances could give WWE's entrances a run for its money, but this by far was the best of the best and deserves to win the Best Entrance in TNA award for 2006:
Kurt Angle
Without question, this has to be the very best entrance ever in TNA! I love how they steered away from doing anything that would get the fans to chant "You Suck" or anything that even closely resembles Angle's entrance in WWE. The lighting is just incredible, the pyros are off the charts, the video makes him out to be some sort of bad-ass, the music is top-notch, and I'm still pissed that his entrance music is not on the TNA 3rd Degree Burns CD. That pretty much sums it all up.
Best Entrance (WWE/ECW)
Mr. Kennedy
Nothing spectacular or special about his entrance other than him doing the whole microphone coming down from the rafters deal; that by far could be the most original thing I've ever seen in an entrance. Plus, everybody's starting to do with "Kennedy" like they did when the Rock would say his catchphrase. Kennedy even said that he and he alone gets to do that; in other words, no sing-along with the champ.
Undertaker
Many could call this old and played, but fifteen years later, the Undertaker's entrance is still as electric, as awesome, and as spectacular as it has ever been. He's just got that aura about him when he comes in that way.
John Cena
Give the man credit where it's due; when his music "You Can't See Me" hits, people stand to either cheer him or boo him out of the building. His music and video are especially fitting, and his little salute that he added is a nice little addition.
Jeff Hardy/Hardy Boys
Before, their entrance wasn't really that great. But, that was before Jeff added the pyros to his entrance and then to the Hardy Boys' entrance. That's some awesome pyro.
All of these entrances are attention-getters and eye-openers, but none of them in reality can compare to the winning entrance for Best Entrance in WWE for 2006:
D-Generation X
The old video style, where they flash back and forth between the live entrance and the entrance video, is never going to get old. In fact, it's actually inspired LAX in TNA to do the exact same thing now. I could somewhat do without Triple H asking everybody if we're ready every week, but he does try to add to it at the end. Plus, the fans appear to be really into it.
Best Wrestler
There's a number of ways you can go with this. You could say the winner was the best champion in 2006, the best at playing off the crowd, or even the best at mat work. Maybe he's the best at doing promos. Or perhaps he was the best overall worker. I do take all of these things into account and not just go by who I like versus who I don't like, and all of the votes I received here opened my eyes just a little.
But before I get started, I want to say that there are very few wrestlers in the business that I do not respect. I do, however, respect all the sacrifice, all the hours, and all the hard work they put in to entertain us fans every single week. It can't be an easy job. As I said, there are a few and I do voice my opinions about them when I can. With that said, here are the five best in TNA and WWE and as we've been doing, we'll start with TNA.
Best Wrestler (TNA)
Jeff Jarrett
Some can argue earlier on that his promo skills were like he was reading cue cards. But I think he's worked hard at improving in the areas that he felt he needs improvement in. Coming from a two-generation wrestling family, anything less is unacceptable.
AJ Styles
It could be really easy for this guy to rest on his laurels after the reputation he's earned over the last few years, but thankfully, he continues to work hard at not only his ring work, but his promo work as well. Plus, a heel turn should add a breath of life to his character.
Christian Cage
Despite having won his first world championship late last year, Christian Cage has not slowed up this year. In fact, you could argue that he has bettered himself in almost every aspect and that he is just about to reach his peak.
Samoa Joe
Angle once called Joe "the hardest working big man I know." Coming from somebody that does work his ass off, that's high praise, perhaps even accurate praise. In fact, he's worked so hard, his body reportedly is starting to show the effects. Let's just hope that it won't be in vain and he can fulfill his being on my "Future World Champions" list in 2007.
All of these guys are perhaps the best well-rounded wrestlers TNA has to offer, but none more so than the winner of Best Wrestler in TNA for 2006 and it's not even a guy that's been with TNA that long:
Kurt Angle
Showing the ring skills, promo skills, and mat skills that led him to be a six-time world champion in WWE, Angle has decided to ply his craft now for TNA. All TNA can do in this case is benefit from having a wrestler of Angle's caliber on-board. Angle also has that natural ability to draw the very best out of others. His rivalries with Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and recently with Samoa Joe are prime examples of this.
Some may not have noticed, but Kurt Angle this year also did something unprecedented: he has wrestled on all four mainstream national TV shows. He started out 2006 on RAW, as he wrestled in the Elimination Chamber match at New Year's Revolution. He then jumped to SmackDown! once Batista got hurt, was drafted to ECW in June, and then signed with TNA in the fall. Call this guy Ricky Nelson, because he was a traveling man in 2006.
Best Wrestler (WWE/ECW)
John Cena
His promo skills are as good as they come, despite the crap he's fed everyday by creative. His in-ring skills, however, have taken a brutal beating from the fans. I think the opinions of the fans in general were summed up earlier this year in three simple words: Cena Fears Workrate. I would look for Cena to improve in that department in 2007.
Batista
Sure, he was out for a few months and his in-ring skills have diminished, but he's still one of the marquee stars on SmackDown!, the current World Heavyweight Champion, and somebody that's learned all he could under the guidance of Triple H and Ric Flair, two of the best ever in the business.
Carlito
There was once a time in his young career that Carlito was being held back for not working enough to improve his own skills. That time, clearly, has come and gone, and now he's got probably the brightest future of anybody in WWE. I can easily see this guy headlining WrestleMania 24; you heard that here first.
"The Rated R Superstar" Edge
Again, I may not respect Adam Copeland the human being, but I do respect Edge the performer. As good a job as he does getting everybody upset at him, his efforts in that regard are probably bested only by his abilities in the ring. His promo skills at this stage in his career have never been better and he's showing everybody why he is a former two-time WWE Champion.
All of these guys have busted their tails this year to get to where they are, but none had the year they had quite like this guy, the surprising winner of Best Wrestler in WWE for 2006:
"The Game" Triple H
Again, this guy has had a drastic public opinion turnaround and is now loved by all the fans that have dogged him for years for any number of things: being married to the boss' daughter, not working hard enough, not putting others over, holding certain wrestlers back, et cetera. Sure, there will still be detractors of Triple H's out there just like there will always be detractors of John Cena's. Unfortunately, that just happens to come with the territory. But I do have one question to ask everybody: would DX be as big a success, past or present, without this guy? Didn't think so.
Who to Watch in 2007
The last award of the WRES-PY awards goes to the three guys from TNA and WWE that could take the entire wrestling world by storm next year, given in no particular order.
Who to Watch in 2007 (TNA)
Jay Lethal
The match this kid had with Jeff Jarrett for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship a while back may be indicative of this young man's bright future. Oh, by the way, he's only 20. He's not even old enough to drink! Like that song from the 80's said, this kid's future is so bright, he's gotta wear shades. I'd look for him to win the X-Division title at least once next year.
Petey Williams
We're already starting to see a different side to Petey. Truth be told, we as fans have wanted to cheer for this guy for months, but his affiliation with Team Canada stopped us in the past. That all changed when he refused to partake in burning Old Glory with LAX. He's already a former X-Division Champion; 2007 could see this guy slowly mold into an NWA World Championship contender.
Abyss
Already the NWA World Heavyweight Champion for the very first time, he's not yet reached his prime. He could be a complete dud or a very tall stud in 2007; which he will be will rely on him and him alone.
Who to Watch in 2007 (WWE/ECW)
Chavo Guerrero
I'm glad to see Chavo finally get a long overdue push, but at the same time, I'm torn inside because I would've liked to have seen him get this push under better circumstances; circumstances such as those that wouldn't include creative desecrating his uncle's good name.
CM Punk
This guy has really impressed me so far. So much so that I used to have an award in the middle of all this that I hand out to the one wrestler that's had the most impressive first year in a national mainstream show or the Rookie of the Year award. There's no sense in handing it out this year because this guy is clearly the winner of the award after the impressive year he's had. Where he goes from here can depend on creative and/or on him. Reports already indicate that he could potentially headline WrestleMania in the ECW main event challenging Bobby Lashley for the ECW World Championship, assuming there is still an ECW by the time WrestleMania comes around.
Matt Hardy
Having watched SmackDown! lately, it just seems to me that JBL may somehow be sending subliminal messages regarding Matt Hardy. JBL seems to think highly of Matt. Take this past Friday for example. JBL said something to the effect of "I've always thought Matt Hardy has what it takes to be a main eventer and I have a feeling that he may end up becoming one soon." Granted, everybody is really digging the Hardy Boyz reunion, myself included, but there's got to be a reason JBL said that. Man, if that's true, Matt's good friend on RAW "feces" isn't going to be too happy about that.
This ends the WRES-PY awards columns as well as my columns for 2006, and certainly we've discussed a lot this year. Although this has been my first year writing columns on a regular basis, it has certainly been a rewarding ride for me personally. This is something that I've always wanted to do, albeit not really what I wanted to get paid to do, but just something that I love to do as an on-the-side thing or a hobby. I definitely look forward to writing more with you and getting more reaction from all of you in 2007.
I wish each and every one of you a very safe and happy holiday season, regardless of your religious beliefs. If you are a Jehovah's Witness or an atheist, then I guess have a safe and happy next couple of weeks. I will write again early and often next year. Until then, you know that I will always welcome your questions, your comments, your concerns, your complaints, your compliments, and your emails, no matter how sour or sweet. Until the first time I am ready to grace you all with my presence in 07, you are encouraged to read, to learn, and to give to others. As a wise man once told me, it's better to give than to receive.
The three best words uttered this week by far, other than "God Bless You" after I put a $5 bill in one of those red Salvation Army tins outside the local Wal-Mart, were "K-Fed is Dead," but I still feel obligated to ask...if Kevin Federline 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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