My Torch Top ten draft pickes

[Guest Brian]

I doubt mine will get published so I'll put them here. I'm trying not to go ut of North America (except for my ninth pick).

 

1. Austin – Austin is my top choice for quite a few reasons. He’s a great wrestler for one. He hasn’t been over-exposed in the last few months and a return would probably be more than welcome from the fans. He’s the last WWF main eventer of his era with a big job left in him. He may be the last legit draw in the industry, or at least the biggest draw if you compare him to Rock and Goldberg (because Rock’s leaving and returning and Goldberg’s time away have hurt them). Any promotion that uses Austin has a chance to put over new stars, build around a proven and strong draw, and have quality wrestling in the main event. Add into that part of the marketing mind behind 3:16, the guy who worked on his own shirts and wrote many great promos, and you can probably see why he’s my top pick.

 

2. Kurt Angle – The most versatile active wrestler in the industry. A great promo man, excellent wrestler, and great entertainer. He’s so well-rounded, even though he lacks the seasoning and experience of most of my other choices. Lots of untapped drawing potential. They uncertainty of his ability to work as a face in the ring, and out, is the big downside.

 

3. Eddie Guerrero – Eddie has a lot of years on him but is probably as good, if not better, of a well-rounded performer as Angle. Great on the stick, amazing in the ring, and oozes charisma especially as a heel. Eddie’s only downside is his uncertainty in recent years and his age; though the former has never been much of a problem before and wasn’t when he could have easily succumbed to those problems on the indies.

 

4. Chris Benoit – You can say all you want about mic skills and such but Benoit is an amazing asset for any promoter. The best wrestler in the world. A charisma that is overlooked by most, with the little nuances of a Guerrero. Pair him against almost any worker and get a good match-up. His offense works well in the main event and he can work snug too, which makes him all the more believable despite his size.

 

5. The Rock – The Rock would be higher if not for his other commitments, which are starting to take a toll on his drawing ability. He’s done a ton of jobs too. He’s a decent worker who brings a lot of excitement and still has name value.

 

6. Rey Mysterio – A year ago I would have stayed away from picking Mysterio. Once built upon a reputation of being a spot wrestler, he’s changed his game into one of the best in the business. He’s a modern Morton in the ring who has the ability to hit the mat and build from there as well as his lucha libre influenced genre. He’s learned how to work around his knee problems. He’s still has the name value in America from his WCW days, and would make the perfect face component of the building blocks of a cruiserweight division.

 

7. Rob Van Dam – Maybe I don’t see it as well as other people, but there is something to RVD that everyone likes. Everything he does caters to the crowd and he bumps like crazy, though the other attributes of his wrestling ability are shaky. Still, run with it while you can, and RVD is a performance artist.

 

8. Chavo Guerrero – Chavo has the potential to be as good as his uncle in every category but seems to be holding back. Definitely has a way of carrying himself around that reeks of rudo-ness. Still hasn’t broken out and is a dark horse at that.

 

9. Jushin Liger – Liger is probably the best junior in the world right now, and has a little exposure in North America that might help his chances. Meshes well with just about everyone, but his English will probably be an issue. Still, he’s the type of wrestler that can make almost anyone look good and has the ability to play the senior worker in the division, thus getting the most out of the younger supporting guys and making everyone look good.

 

10. Brock Lesnar – Doesn’t have the seasoning but in the right environment he could evolve in the same way Angle did. Already seems to be an above average bumper with a good look. Maybe now it’s not as tempting but like I said, he needs to be given the chance to prove himself.

[Guest BionicRedneck]

Jushin Liger – Liger is probably the best junior in the world right now, and has a little exposure in North America that might help his chances. Meshes well with just about everyone, but his English will probably be an issue. Still, he’s the type of wrestler that can make almost anyone look good and has the ability to play the senior worker in the division, thus getting the most out of the younger supporting guys and making everyone look good.

 

I completely agree. Liger is STILL the man.

 

Austin would be my number one aswell. He is still the best all-rounder in the world, and one of the best ever.

[Guest Anglesault]

Trade Brock for 20 bucks and a ham sandwich, and you have one HELL of a roster.

 

Or better yet, instead of Brock, pick someone more useful. (Jericho, Booker, Flair, Gorilla Monsoon)

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

This is a damn good idea.

 

I saw the results on the Torch site had Angle at #1 and RVD at #2.

 

Here's my abbreviated top 10 picks:

 

1. Steve Austin

2. Kurt Angle

3. Chris Benoit

4. Eddy Guerrero

5. RVD

6. Rock (of course...I wouldn't let him do as many movies)

7. Jerry Lynn

8. Rey Misterio

9. Tajiri (I still want this guy in any cruiser division)

10. Lance Storm (well...I still think he can be the most solid midcarder out there)

 

Jericho misses the list because he is officialy useless at this time.

 

The person I blame for this, also missed my list.

[Guest Angle-plex]

My picks:

 

1_Austin

2-Angle

3-Rock

4-Benoit

5-Jericho

6-RVD

7-Jerry Lynn

8-Tajiri

9-Misterio

10-Jericho or Masato Tanaka (Where is he anyways?)

[Guest El Psycho Diablo]

Masato Tanaka's currently in Zero One..and holds the tag belts with Shinjiro Ohtani (I believe)

[Guest Angle-plex]

This is a damn good idea.

 

I saw the results on the Torch site had Angle at #1 and RVD at #2.

 

Here's my abbreviated top 10 picks:

 

1. Steve Austin

2. Kurt Angle

3. Chris Benoit

4. Eddy Guerrero

5. Rock (of course...I wouldn't let him do as many movies)

6. Jerry Lynn

7. Rey Misterio

8. Tajiri (I still want this guy in any cruiser division)

9. Edge (he gets a pass...because people like him)

10. Lance Storm (well...I still think he can be the most solid midcarder out there)

 

Jericho misses the list because he is officialy useless at this time.

 

The person I blame for this, also missed my list.

You put Edge on there but not RVD? Are you the REAL BPS?

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I thought I had RVD on there right after Eddy.

 

I remember typing the letters...what the hell happened.

 

Well...I know who's getting booted...

[Guest CanadianChick]

1) Kurt Angle-all around great wrestler

2) Chris Benoit-great wrestler

3) RVD-exciting, people love him

4) Eddy Guerrero-great wrestler, entertaining

5) Edge- good wrestler, potentially great, popular

6) The Rock- great entertained, pretty good wrestler

7) Jericho- maybe useless right now but is a good wrestler and entertainer nevertheless

8) Booker T- funny, entertaining, well liked

9) Rey Misterio- favorite cruiser

10) Chavo Guerrero-2nd favorite cruiser.

[Guest Anglesault]

1) Kurt Angle-all around great wrestler

2) Chris Benoit-great wrestler

3) RVD-exciting, people love him

4) Eddy Guerrero-great wrestler, entertaining

5) Edge- good wrestler, potentially great, popular

6) The Rock- great entertained, pretty good wrestler

7) Jericho- maybe useless right now but is a good wrestler and entertainer nevertheless

8) Booker T- funny, entertaining, well liked

9) Rey Misterio- favorite cruiser

10) Chavo Guerrero-2nd favorite cruiser.

My Guess: Edge was reall 73, but he speared everyone before him until he got to five, where Eddy finally had the balls to no sell it.

[Guest NazMistry]

1) Kurt Angle (Indispensible)

2) Rob Van Dam (Very much the next big star)

3) Steve Austin (Still got it)

4) Eddie Guerrero (Prefer him to Benoit)

5) The Rock (If he drops the movies, he will be The Great One again)

6) Brock Lesnar (The guy is really starting to grow on me)

7) Chris Benoit (No questions asked)

8) Booker T (Like he says, he's 'Over like Rover')

9) Rey Mysterio (The most exciting commodity in wrestling)

10) Edge (Like him or not, He's popular and half decent)

[Guest Brian]

I basically was looking for someone with years ahead of him and some promise, that could be built off of. And it came down to him or Edge. I should have chosen Christopher Daniels.

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

Well, I'm speaking strictly WWE here.

 

1. Benoit

2. Angle

3. Guerrero

4. RVD

5. Booker T

6. Tajiri

7. Rey

8. Jericho

9. Chavo

10. Storm

 

Japan and US indies is a whole other issue.

[Guest Brian]

AngleSualt, the thing is Booker is too old and probably will retire with the next two years which doesn't really make him worth it. He's really not much of a worker as much as I pimp him all the time.

 

Jericho is utterly useless at the moment and his work (wrestling and talking) goes through so many swings. He also has other distractions, that take away from him. I'd have a motivated Jericho probably at number seven, but Jericho isn't always motivated.

 

Flair's fifty-three. As a wrestler, he's worthless really. He has nothing to give left in him. If I needed another guy who could talk, I'd tak him. But with Austin, Angle, Eddie, and the Rock; plus Chavo in the cruiserweight there's no reason to make a push for him.

 

Brock's the kind of guy who can make an excellent big man. Not Vader level, but excellent. He just needs to be developed.

[Guest BigPoppaKev]

I think I will do two top 10 lists. One for North America and one for Japan.

 

North America:

1. Kurt Angle

2. Steve Austin

3. Rey Mysterio

4. Chris Benoit

5. Brock Lesnar

6. Low-Ki

7. Chris Jericho

8. Eddie Guerrero

9. American Dragon

10. The Rock

 

I tried to put junior and heavys but that is the top 10. There are so many guys that deserve to be in the top 10 it isn't an easy thing to do.

 

Japan:

1. Hiroyoshi Tenzan

2. Satoshi Kojima

3. Jun Akiyama

4. Yuji Nagata

5. Yoshihiro Takayama

6. Jushin Liger

7. Tiger Mask IV

8. Milano Collection AT

9. Takao Omori

10. Genichiro Tenryu

 

I could easily make a list of 30 for Japan because of all the great juniors that they have along with a ton of great heavys. It is very hard just to pick 10 guys.

[Guest Anglesault]

AngleSualt, the thing is Booker is too old and probably will retire with the next two years which doesn't really make him worth it. He's really not much of a worker as much as I pimp him all the time.

 

Jericho is utterly useless at the moment and his work (wrestling and talking) goes through so many swings. He also has other distractions, that take away from him. I'd have a motivated Jericho probably at number seven, but Jericho isn't always motivated.

 

Flair's fifty-three. As a wrestler, he's worthless really. He has nothing to give left in him. If I needed another guy who could talk, I'd tak him. But with Austin, Angle, Eddie, and the Rock; plus Chavo in the cruiserweight there's no reason to make a push for him.

They can all still put on better matches than Brock at this point. And besides stories and the fact that he is an NCAA champ, I see none of Brock's potential.