Who'd be No. 1 in the PWI 500?

[Guest Redhawk]

The grading period for the next PWI 500 has ended, so the magazine should hit stands in like November (knowing them). With that in mind, this year's selection of the top spots should be harder than usual, due to injuries, bad matches, weak booking, WWE's monopoly, etc. So who should be No. 1?

 

The top candidates...

 

Triple H -- The reigning RAW World Champion held the WWE Undisputed title for a short time and won the Royal Rumble. But he was injured for five of the 12 months in question (August 2001-December 2001), and is clearly not the wrestler he used to be. Still, he managed to have standout matches with Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, and Chris Jericho.

 

Steve Austin -- Held the WWF Title off-and-on (mostly on) from August til December, and lost in the finals of the Undisputed Title tournament. Austin turned out standout matches with Angle, Ric Flair, Jericho, and RVD. However, Austin left the company in May (?) and seemed very unmotivated from about February until then.

 

The Rock -- Held both the WCW and WWE titles for a short time, as well as a WWF Tag Team title reign with Jericho. Scored the winning pinfall in the WWF vs. Alliance Survivor Series match. Rocky had standout matches with Jericho, Hulk Hogan, Brock Lesnar, and Angle. But he took significant time off to shoot movies.

 

Rob Van Dam -- Held the Intercontinental title, winning a series of unification bouts along the way. Competed in the No Mercy PPV main event with Austin and Angle. He and Austin were the stars of the Alliance. Made it to the KOTR finals. Had standout matches with several stars, including Eddie Guerrero, Angle, Jeff Hardy, Austin, and Chris Benoit. The only bad mark on RVD is that he never really broke into the main event picture.

 

Chris Jericho -- Held the Undisputed and WCW World titles, and held the Tag Team titles with The Rock. Feuded with and had standout matches with The Rock, Ric Flair, RVD, Austin, and HHH. However, he was seemingly de-pushed to the point where he lost to rookie John Cena in a midcard at Venegance.

 

Chris Benoit -- Held the IC belt. Put on some of the better matches the WWE has seen in 2002, but has only been active for about 3-4 months.

 

Kurt Angle -- Briefly held the WWF title, as well as the WCW US title. Put on standout matches with almost everyone he stepped in the ring with, even Kane and Undertaker. But like Jericho, hasn't really been in the main event consistently. Also, his WWF title reign pretty much bombed.

 

Brock Lesnar -- Won the Undisputed title at SummerSlam. Before that, he won KOTR. Most of his matches were squashes, but nevertheless he scored big wins over Hogan, Rock, Flair, and RVD. Is gaining momentum, but he didn't debut until after Wrestlemania, so he's only been on the main roster for a few months.

 

Undertaker -- Held the Undisputed title, the Hardcore title, and both the WCW and WWF Tag Team titles. Feuded with Austin, Rock, Angle, Booker T, Flair, HHH and RVD. Stayed in the main event picture all year, though like HHH, isn't nearly as good as he used to be in the ring.

 

Booker T -- Briefly held the WCW Title and the WCW and WWF Tag Team titles. Feuded with Edge, Undertaker, Rock, Austin, Big Show and the Un-Americans, but rarely seemed to win the big matches.

 

Edge -- Held the IC and WCW US titles, as well as the Tag titles with Hogan. Feuded with and had standout matches with Christian, Angle, Guerrero, Booker T and Jericho. But like RVD, has only flirted with the main event picture.

 

Hulk Hogan -- Held the Undisputed and Tag titles. Had standout match with The Rock at WM 18, but pretty much stunk it up in the ring. Still, was involved in feuds with 'Taker, Angle, Brock Lesnar, Jericho, and HHH. Also, Hogan was only active from February on.

 

So who's No. 1? Every one of the WWE candidates has pros but some issues hurting their case. So would you choose someone from Japan or Mexico? Or someone from a smaller organization like OVW?

 

From the markish/smarkish perspective that PWI often takes, my pick would be, and I can't really believe I'm saying this...The Undertaker. He's been active and in the main event for the whole grading period, he's held the World title and Tag titles. Although he can't really "bring it" like smarks like, he does fit into his role well, that of the bullying badass (speed and skill not required). He did beat HHH, Hogan, RVD, Booker T, Flair, and The Rock.

 

I could see the Top 10 being...

 

1. Undertaker

2. Rob Van Dam

3. Kurt Angle

4. Chris Jericho

5. Steve Austin

6. The Rock

7. Triple H

8. Edge

9. Brock Lesnar

10. Booker T

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

RVD is #1, Brock is #2

[Guest TheRockIsTheEuropeanChampion]

There's no way Brock could/should be number 9.

 

Just sayin'..

[Guest Mik at Cornell]

Doesn't the PWI 500 always have foreign wrestlers on it? Or am I thinking of a different list?

[EL DANDY~! 0]

Ummm...EDDIE GUERRERO ANYBODY????????????????

 

The ROH Intro Show, his two matches with RVD at the PPVs? His ladder match with RVD? WHERE IS HE?

[Guest razazteca]

yeah there is always a Japanese wrestler in the top ten, its usually Misawa or Muto. not sure how they would be ranked since I do not watch it, I guess whoever the champ is would be in the top 10.

 

1. Chris Jericho

2. HHH

3. RVD

4. Brock

5. Rock

6. Angle

7. Hogan

8. Benoit

9. Booker T

10. Eddy Guerrero

 

highest ranked Luchadore Black Tiger 15 and Hijo de Santo 20, Shocker 23

[Guest Redhawk]

Like Hogan, Gurerrero has only been active for a few months within the given grading period. And UN-like Hogan, all he has is a IC belt to show for it.

[Guest Mole]

I think Low Ki, A.J. Styles and/or Jerry Lynn would be on there.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Angle should be number one.

[Guest Bricks]

With the exception of Dean Malenko in 1997, isn't it always someone who's at least held the World Title for the time period?

 

So, if that's the case, I'll go with The Undertaker since he won matches without the belt, while Jericho jobbed when he didn't have it.

[Guest humongous2002]

RVD or Angle should be #1.

[Guest cabbageboy]

I'll say Angle will be #1 simply because he managed to win a world title during the grading period while RVD didn't. I'd say far and away from August 2001 to August 2002 that those guys performed at the highest level. That is the key here.....Rock can't be considered due to his movie making inactivity, Austin quit so he's not eligible. HHH was hurt from August to January so he's not a good choice. UT will be pretty high I guess but not #1 I wouldn't think. Jericho has looked like a total job boy from roughy August to Oct. 2001 (when he beat the Rock), then he was a job boy again after jobbing to the Rock till he won the undisputed....then after WM to SS 2002 he was a MAJOR job boy. His title run will get him in the top 10 but don't count on him being there next year.

 

Lesnar just debuted after WM so he won't be that high on the list, maybe #8 or so.

[Guest Brian]

If PWI was even somewhat credible, Nagata, El Hijo del Santo, and Shocker would probably lock up three of the top five spots.

[Guest SuperTonyJaymz]

1. The Undertaker

2. Chris jericho

3. Brock Lesner

4. Rob Van Dam

5. Hulk Hogan

6. Edge

7. Kurt Angle

8. Triple H

9. Booker T

10. The Truth

[Guest cabbageboy]

The Truth in the top 10? What has he done to earn that aside from cut race baiting promos and beat a past his prime Shamrock? I'd put Lynn, Styles, or Lo Ki ahead of him easy.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

As I se it...

 

there are 4 people with a legit shot at the #1 spot.

 

Chris Jericho. If PWI plays up the first WWE undisputed champion thing...this could be his year.

 

Kurt Angle. No one had a more solid year in the WWE than Angle (don't forget...Benoit injured, Eddy returned later)

 

HHH. If they decide that wins and losses are the key...his mega push could rank him high...but the half year he missed will likely HOLD HIM DOWN!!!

 

RVD. PWI loves him. In fact, they have started to question why his time hasn't come yet in all the PWI run mags. He was #2 as the TV champion in ECW...I predict that they will put him #1 this year.

 

Victories over Austin, Angle, Rock, Jericho, Taker, Benoit, Eddy...3 IC title runs and brief flirtation with the main events. He technically won the Brock feud...so many things. Overness, and the fact that PWI seemingly WANTS RVD pushed as much as us RVD marks do...I say they give it to him.

 

I'd give it to him or Angle.

[Guest The Notorious CRD]

RVD or Angle as the #1 pick would seem pretty logical, but you just never know with PWI. I think it's obvious whom I'd choose.

[Guest midnight_burn]

I think Angle will probably be #1, with RVD #2, though it wouldn't surprise me to see RVD at the top. Jericho and the Undertaker i think will be ranked pretty high as well.

[Guest tombstone]

For the year aug 2001 - aug 2002 my thoughts on the top WWF Wrestlers

 

Qualifications: To have main evented a PPV event or held the WWF, IC or tag Team titles in said period. Also six months participation in WWF events.

(Eliminates Hogan WM - KOTR only four months) (Big Show's ME at Survivor Series dosn't count, cause I'd just be mean)

 

Giving me a field of about 15:

 

Austin

Super - worker, kept WWE afloat in 2001, but proceeded to suck after Armageddon. Became increasingly unmotivated and irrelevant after a banner year.

 

Angle

Maybe the best worker in the company, can make anyone look good. Solid period feduing with Austin - HHH then losing his way after No Way Out. Made Hogan tap out at KOTR and ME at Vengeance, but back to the midcard for SS.

 

Rock

The true star of the show, immediately hit the hights at SS coming back leaner and faster. Made WWE watchable throughout the autumn, and main evented Wrestlemania and dragged a good match out of Hogan.

Went to holywood and came back and put Brock lesnar over excellently before leaving again.

 

Booker

Was unjustly buried by the WWE in the autumn, and subsequent feud with Austin went nowhere. Rehabilitated by association with GOLDUST of all people and is a good bet for ME status next year.

 

Rob van Dam

Exploded onto WWE scene and had a breakout first six pay per views, puttibng in **** matches on two of them (InVasion & Unforgiven), main eventing two (No mercy & Survivor Series) and dragged a good match out of the Undertaker. Also became the longest reigning Hardcore champ EVER. Period in doldrums vs. Regal & Goldust followed, but has started a re-elevation in his KOTR run and feud with lesnar and now looks to be moving up to permenent ME status against HHH.

 

Chris Jericho

Bad Summerslam, followed by great matches at unforgiven & No mercy. Hell turn on Rock and Undisputed Title win technically the high points of his career, but despite good efforts against Rock political forces killed Y2J at Wrestlemania. Didnt even wrestle at Backlash and was then jobbed to HHH and RVD at subsequent PPV's. Well down the card at Vengeance and Summerslam, he jobbed to a rookie and a 53 year old.

However, seeds of a face turn and reelevation to the upper mid card are showing.

 

Triple H

Returned in full face mode and nobody cared despite a Rumble win and winning the WWE Title at WM. Jobbed to Hogan then beat Jericho in a pointless match, I acnt even REMEMBER what he did at KOTR or Vengeance but had a killer Summerslam match with Shawn Michaels.

This is not the Game you played in 2000, its slow hard to control and keeps crashing.

 

The Undertaker

Is getting too old for this. Was terrible throuigout the Invasion, with RVD getting his best match in years at Vengeance. Forgettable bouts with Rock, Ric Flair and Austin led to a Title win over Hogan and a two month reign, until pinned by Rock. face turn has reignited him, but match against Test at SS was nothing to write home about.

 

Brock Lesnar

Rookie of the year. Pushed to the stars with dominant showings against the Hardys, RVD and now Hogan & Rock. Has yet to show a grasp of psychology, mike skills or ring charisma but the signs are promising.

 

Edge

Forgettable feud with Christian and then Regal and then Booker. Reignited with Hogan partnership and seems to be the no.2 face on SD! more than a year after his KOTR triumph.

 

Test

Golden period with Booker in Autumn, then dissapeared again till resurfacing as an unamerican in a hot, if surely short lived angle.

 

William Regal

Doesnt play well with others, run with IC title forgettable and shows to inclination to work decent match with younger stars.

 

My top ten from this list.

 

1. Rock. Good matches, bankabilty and willing to put you over.

2. Angle. Great matches, promoters dream, willing to put you over.

3. RVD Breakout star of the year and will only get better.

4. HHH On top all of 2002, but his matches suck and hes a political vampire.

5. Austin Good matches until losing intrest in March. Hissy fit = history

6= Booker Buried, but rehabilitataed and looking for a push.

6= Edge " "

8 Undertaker Solid year + title eign, but the Bell Tolls For You Mark

9. Brock The next big thing has yetb to fully impress but the force of his push gets him into the top 10

10. Nobody really worthy.

 

In 2002 - 03 Look out for my hot seven to crack the ME and the upper mid card.

 

Brock

Booker

Edge

RVD

Rey

Jericho

Test

[Guest alfdogg]

Angle should be #1. That's not really a contest.

[Guest webmasterofwrestlegame]

It will be interesting to see where they place Austin and HHH. Going by the August 01 - August 02 year, Austin was about for 9 months of that, and HHH 7 months.

 

In that time, Austin held the WWF title on and off in a great feud with Angle. Main evented PPV's v Jericho (Vengeance 2001, No Way Out 2001), the Royal Rumble, and was a part of the main event at WMX8 (well, WWE say he did).

 

In HHH's time, he won the Rumble, title at WMX8, but since then has been on a losing streak PPV wise with his match vs HBK at SummerSlam the only good one out of the lot.

 

To me, there is not much difference here. One is still with the company, while one is still "suspended".

 

Who will finish in the higher position?