My Take On 12.16.11: My Top 10 Wrestlers of 2011

WELCOME!
Some of you have clicked on this column and thought, what the hell is this? I have never seen this column before, so how can it be returning. Others remember the column and think; man this has been gone for a long time. May 18th, 2010 to be exact. But I thought to myself, the year is coming to an end and everyone is getting into the year-end stuff, and what the hell, I think I will as well. It has been an interesting year in wrestling, some have had banner years, some have fallen from grace, and some, well, some haven’t done jack or shit. So again, I thought to myself, “Self, lets get in on this and share our opinion!” Now, I do not claim that this is the end all be all list. I have not seen as much pro wrestling in 2011 and normally would have in the past. So there will not be much independent or international representation. I know some of you will be thrilled, while others will hate it. But the bottom line here is that this will represent who, in my opinion, had the best 2011. I will look at the year they had in matches, promos, career growth, feuds and basically the whole spectrum of what makes a great pro wrestler. I do not expect everyone to agree, but I would like your thoughts, and please share your top 10 in the comments section.

AND NOW… LARRY’s TOP 10 WRESTLERS OF 2011!

I don’t know about you guys, but when I plan to do a list like this, I start thinking of names and make a long list of people I will consider. I honestly feel that there were a good number of wrestlers to consider, and that made the list quite hard to narrow down. Here are some wrestlers that were under consideration at one point before cutting it down to ten: Daniel Bryan, Wade Barrett, Johnny Gargano, Christian, Kevin Steen, Alberto Del Rio, Sheamus, Eddie Kingston, Cody Rhodes and Hiroshi Tanahashi. I am sure that this just stirred more shit, but hey, it’s in the interest of full disclosure.

#10. BULLY RAY

Coming in at #10 is the former tag team specialist, Bully Ray. When Team 3D came to an end, no one gave Ray or Devon much of a chance to amount to anything, but sometimes wrestling is funny, and sometimes the unexpected happens, and it is great. “Brother Ray” became “Bully Ray,” and while his feud with Devon didn’t exactly set the world on fire, the transformation started to win me over. When Jeff Hardy screwed the pooch, and Matt Hardy failed to become the replacement for him in Immortal that they hoped he could be, Bully Ray stepped up and I for one am glad. Ray worked hard in 2011, he got in shape, he cut great promos, he had some great matches (with AJ Styles is a great example, and he pulled his own weight there) and he became one of the most enjoyable characters in TNA. The man is 40, most would say on the “down side” of his career, but the man has reinvented himself and considering most left him for dead when Team 3D split, I think that you truly have to applaud his revival in 2011. The only thing that has held him back is the booking, because they could do so much more with him.

#9. AUSTIN ARIES

Coming in at #9 on the list is the “Greatest Man that Ever Lived,” A DOUBLE, Austin Aries. Aries had a year that could have ended sadly, as he contemplated retiring from the wrestling business. He was frustrated not making much money on the independent scene after busting his ass for years, and then that was made worse when he was rejected as a contestant on the revival of WWE Tough Enough. It looked bad for Aries, but then he decided to head down south to TNA. I know, make your own jokes here. In June he competed on Impact and really stole the show in a match with Jimmy Rave and Kid Kash. This led to the Destination X PPV, and he once again shined in a match that featured Low Ki, Zema Ion and Jack Evans, “earning” and TNA Contract. From there, Aries has been the complete player that they have wanted to revive the X-Division around. He is a great in ring performer; he has a great character, and cuts great promos. I for one am glad that Aries decided to head to TNA instead of retire, because while many slam TNA, and I understand that, Aries has been a bright point of their programming in the second half of 2011.

#8. James Storm

Coming in at #8 is the Tennessee Cowboy, James Storm. Storm has had a very good year in TNA, much like his partner Bobby Roode who will also appear on this list. We all know Storm was involved with Fortune and as one half of Beer Money, but in 2011 the man grew leaps and bounds. He was always a good in ring performer, but took steps to improve event more and has now become a very good singles wrestler. On top of that, his already good promo ability got even better, and in my opinion, he is one of the best promos in all of wrestling right now. Just the right amount of rage combined with his true passion that he brings connects everything that the man has to say. He went from a guy that easily could have been pigeonholed into the “beer guy” gimmick, which was fun, and is now that renegade baby face that the people can really rally behind. If his recent match with Kurt Angle in any indication of his 2012, then we will be seeing some great outings from the man, and that is not only good for TNA, but good for the wrestling fans. James Storm kicks ass, plain and simple.

#7. BOBBY ROODE

TNA hits a hot streak on the list with their fourth wrestler in a row. Coming in at #7 is Bobby; don’t call me Robert, Roode. I have always been a fan of Roode, and he is actually one of the first people I interviewed for 411. Back in the day, TNA was cool about giving out interviews because they wanted the publicity, and Roode and Chris Harris were cool enough to give me their time. But back to Roode, I always liked him as part of the Team Canada stable. He was great as the enforcer, and was a guy that I always felt was reliable and delivered. He started to grow as a performer, and for a time, his career peaked when he and James Storm were running wild as Beer Money. In 2011 Beer Money was popular, a part of Fortune, and many wondered if these guys would break through to the to level, or stay where they were. Roode, along with Storm were part of the Bound for Glory series, and at the end of it all he won and earned himself a title shot against Kurt Angle. The build to the title match was some of the better TV TNA did all year. The TNA fans were behind Roode, the programming allowed you to get to know Roode, and through matches with his Fortune stablemates, he was built into a viable contender. I feel that this was a success due to the outrage fans showed when he lost the match at Bound For Glory. But Roode did get the title, turning heel on long time tag team partner James Storm. Roode was a great tag team wrestler, and is constantly growing as a singles performer. At 34, the future is bright for Mr. Roode.

#6. ZACK RYDER

Woo woo woo, you know it. Coming in at #6, Zack Ryder and the Ryder Revolution make an appearance. While Ryder doesn’t give great promos or have great matches, I do not think that you can argue that the man has come a long way. In 2009 he had some success on the ECW brand, but in 2010, he was little more than a joke. A mainstay on Superstars, losing to Sheamus in 11-seconds on Raw, and losing to rookies on NXT, many thought that he would be on the Future Endeavored Express. But all too often we have heard that in WWE, “no on gets their turn, you have to get yourself over to get a chance in WWE.” Well, Zack Ryder is proof positive of that. In February he launched Z! True Long Island Story and the IWC took notice. But more importantly than that, many within WWE took notice. Guys from Cena to Austin to Jericho made notice of the man’s efforts, and eventually, so did the WWE higher ups. He got on TV, he has a ton of merchandize that sells well, and the reaction at MSG this year is proof that people have taken notice. I know a lot do not “get” Ryder. The fact is this. Zack Ryder plays the wrestling fan. He plays the ultimate mark. He wanted to be a wrestler all his life, he marks out when he is with stars on screen, and he wants to go out there and have fun, and I have fun when I watch him. I have no delusions of grandeur that Ryder will become world champion any time soon, but the fact that he entertains me and has finally found a place in WWE, that pleases me. The man has had a great year, and no one can take that away from him.

#5. SARA DEL REY

Coming in at #5 is the Queen of Wrestling, Miss Sara Del Rey. I can feel the venom filling up as people prepare to comment on this article, and that is cool. Your top 10 is yours, and this is mine. In my opinion, Sara Del Rey is easily the best women’s wrestler of 2011, and she also deserves to rank highly among the gentlemen. First of all, her work in SHIMMER has been great as always. Del Rey is a cornerstone of that promotion, and is a very important part of every taping. But the real highlight of her year was working for CHIKARA. At the beginning of the year, Del Rey was a part of the once dominant BDK stable, but as the year went on, the stable started to break down. She was inserted into the 12 LARGE tournament, which was set up to crown the first ever CHIKARA Grand Champion. And that is where the magic began. Del Rey split from the BDK stable, and in the destruction of that stable, she emerged as a star. She nearly made the finals of the tournament, which in the CHIKARA universe makes sense, since there is not a “women’s” and “men’s” division. Her split from the BDK was done well, and she ran through the stable, earning victories and proving that she belonged at the top of the CHIKARA roster. Add on top of that great matches with Mike Quackenbush, KANA, Hamada and others, and her 2011 was something truly special. That is why she is known as the Queen of Wrestling and that us why she deserves a place on my list.

#4. DOLPH ZIGGLER

EXCUSE ME! I SAID EXCUSE ME! Coming in at #4 is Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler is another guy that had a great 2011. First of all, lets remember that he overcame horrible gimmicks (Kerwin’s Caddy, Spirit Squad, HI! I’m Dolph Ziggler) and blossomed into a great performer before our eyes. Ziggler has had a long run as US Champion, and while like Cody Rhodes the booking hasn’t always helped him, he has overcome that as well and in my eyes has been a standout performer in 2011. The man has had very good TV and PPV matches, WWE has thought so highly of him that they have had him pull double duty at multiple PPVs, and he has simply delivered. As of late, the company has allowed him to talk more for himself, and he has shown the personality that he has shown in videos with Zack Ryder that has made many see the overall potential in him as a performer. This is a man that constantly wants to steal the show, and that is not just a gimmick, (FOLLOW THAT) he tries to each and every time out. He has components of Shawn Michaels and Curt Henning in his work and selling, and seems to constantly improve. As good as 2011 has been for Ziggler, 2012 could be even better. Later marks! #HEEL.

#3. CM PUNK

Coming in at #3 is the man known as the Voice of the Voiceless, CM Punk. There was a time where it looked as if CM Punk would top any list of this like, but like some of his contemporaries on this list, the booking was against him. Early in 2011, CM Punk was going along fine as the leader of the New Nexus, leading to a feud with Randy Orton. While the feud gave us good matches, Punk was on the losing end, and with rumors of his contract coming to an end, many thought that the CM Punk era in WWE was about to end. But then in June, things turned around. Victories over John Cena, Rey Mysterio and Alberto Del Rio led to a “shoot promo,” and his “last night in WWE” at MITB, where he would challenge for the title. During this time, the wrestling business was buzzing. It felt fresh, former fans got interested, the website traffic for numerous wrestling sites peaked, and wrestling seemed fun. It was the “Summer of Punk” all over again. CM Punk won the title at MITB in a GREAT match with John Cena, he “left the company” with the belt, and people felt as if they saw something special. Punk made an “unannounced appearance” at a joint WWE and Mattel panel at the San Diego Comic Con, mocking Triple H, and people were buzzing. The MITB PPV had a spike in buys from the previous year, Punk was making media rounds, and it was all due to him and his habit of dropping “pipe bombs”. But in my opinion, WWE dropped the ball. They brought him back too soon. Punk lost the title, feuded and became friends with Triple H, dueled with Kevin Nash of all people on promos, lost on PPV, and then won the title back once again. Punk certainly had a great year, but I really feel that it could have been more. But we’ll always have the summer.

#2. MARK HENRY

The man that comes in at number 2 is the curator of the Hall of Pain, Mr. Mark Henry. I use “Mr” because I do not want my ass kicked, nor my wig spit. Now I will be the first to admit that I have not always been the biggest fan of Mr. Mark Henry. He has had a long career, with many ups and downs, embarrassing bookings, demotions to developmental, and sometimes uninspired work. I freely admit that, but I feel that in 2011 he was one of the best-booked wrestlers in the industry. When WWE was getting ready to “shake up the rosters,” they decided to make Mr. Mark Henry a heel and they decided that he would get a big push on the blue brand. But instead of being cute and coming up with an overly contrived angle, they kept things simple. They took a guy that was once recognized as the strongest man in the world, and they had him destroy low-level guys. They then had him “injure” two established, fan favorite wrestlers that were perceived as monsters in Kane and Big Show. Sure he took out others, but those were the important ones, with all due respect to Vladimir Kozlov. Mr. Mark Henry then went on to win the world title in dominating fashion over one of the top men in the company, Randy Orton. Through out this whole time, Mr. Mark Henry has been cutting good promos, has seemed more motivated than ever, and it just goes to show you if you keep things simple and believable, that it can work, even in 2011. Kudos to you Mr. Mark Henry, you turned a doubter into a believer. Sure he won’t be working five star catch as catch can classics night in and night out, but he is the right guy in the right role, and it worked.

AND NUMBER ONE IS…

#1. TIM TEBOW

TEBOW TIME! No? Ok then…

#1. RANDY ORTON

And coming at #1 on my list is Randal Keith Orton. I know that the fancy picks may be for a CM Punk, who has had a great year, but in 2011 I feel that Randy Orton had the best year of his career. Now the year started out slowly for Orton, losing to Miz at the Rumble. He had a fun feud with CM Punk that showed us good matches, and Orton punting bitches left and right. But it was after WrestleMania, when Orton was moved to the blue brand that his year really took off. Orton won the world title in May, and kicked off a tremendous series of matches on both TV and PPV against Christian. On TV he had great matches with Cody Rhodes and Dolph Ziggler, two up and comers that many have high hopes for. And to be honest I guess I do as well, otherwise they would not be on this list. But more importantly than that, Orton has really grown up before our eyes. He has reached a level of maturity in he business, and seems to have no ego. The man seems to have no problems going out and having great and long matches with secondary guys like Barrett, Rhodes and Ziggler. He also had no issues losing to these guys on TV. On top of that, reports have always stated that he hated to work with Mark Henry, but when it came time for them to feud, Orton worked hard and made sure to give Henry his best. You take all of this into account, and the fact that I personally feel that he has been the most consistent performer I have watched all year, and it was quite honestly easy to place him at the top of the list. You need guys like Randy Orton. The fans perceive him as a star, he worked hard, he has good matches; he can work with the top of the card and be a believable main eventer, but can also work with the mid-card and help elevate them. The summer may have belonged to CM Punk, but 2011 has been the year of Orton.

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Again, I am sure you think I missed some, like some of the names I mentioned above, so share your lists in the comments section and keep it clean kids, I fully expect most if not all to disagree, but hopefully we can have some good discussion from this article. Thanks for reading, and have happy Christma-Kwanza-Chanuka-Festivus!

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