The Wrestling Framework 02.12.12: Frame’s Top 10 Best Current Wrestlers

10. BULLY RAY

Bully Ray has been a highlight in TNA since he went solo. I’m always very vocal, when I can be, about Bully Ray. The character he has evolved in to is perfect. The only question I have about Bully Ray is what does the future hold for him. Will TNA push him to the moon? Or will they continue to give him the Arn Anderson treatment? We all know Ray got his start as half of one of the best tag teams that has ever graced the business. From their brutal actions and controversial promo skills in ECW, to being a third of one of the greatest matches in WWE history, to helping make tag team wrestling relevant in TNA, you can’t argue that Team 3D/Dudley Boys have made an unforgettable mark on this business. Right now, Bully Ray is being pushed in the main event, but only as an enforcer. They haven’t made it clear whether he is a contender for the title. Or if he would even be booked as a credible contender. Right now, he looks like he could easily back stab Roode and take that title off of him. Then he could continue to destroy guys like Storm and Hardy. While Ray wouldn’t be considered one of the best in the ring, he does carry a style that fits his build and personality to the dot. If and when they give Ray a shot at the title. I know he’ll have no problems being a great champion.

9. CHRISTOPHER DANIELS

Here comes the backslash and I’m ready for it. I’m sure a lot of you are wondering why I would put The Fallen Angel ahead of Ray on this list. The answer is quite simple. Ray is in a secondary enforcer role in a main event storyline. Daniels is the brains and leader role of an upper midcard storyline. Of course, some will argue it being considered an upper midcard storyline, but I stand by my assessment. Christopher Daniels has once again made himself relevant in the world of wrestling. He’s one of the few guys that can be pushed around in to bad gimmicks and run with them. He’s also able to be off TV for a while and when he comes back, it’s pretty awesome. Maybe not to the casual fan, but lets be honest, we all love to see Daniels come around. Daniels is good. He’s damn talented. I’ve always been impressed with his mic work. Well, sometimes. He can be a bit hit and miss. But most other times he is damn good and able to make a lot happen with words. Whether he is face or heel, he always has great intensity and emotion behind what he is saying. Then once he has wowed you with his words, he backs it up with fantastic in-ring work. He is one of the guys that I will always be excited to see in a match because he rarely disappoints and he truly brings one hundred percent.

8. CODY RHODES

Rhodes is another guy who continues to impress me and rarely fails to entertain me. I have watched the evolution of his character and I am so glad he has been able to run his course. He has such a natural charisma that makes people pay attention when he shows up. While I think he still has a little bit to go before I would consider him a truly great promo guy, he still is able to cut one hell of a promo. And let us not forget that he is the current reigning Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion. Or, I guess it’s just the Intercontinental Championship these days. The heavyweight part has been dropped for a while. I should get with the times. I don’t think there is anybody else who could be as great with that title as he is now. If he had to drop it to go on to the world title picture, I would probably give the nod to Jinder Mahal or even Hunico to see what they can do with it. Lets not forget that Rhodes has improved by leaps and bounds in the ring, too. His work is one of the best that WWE has in the middle ranks. I think he could do great things when he is finally moved up to the main event. Think about Rhodes wrestling in a match against Daniel Bryan or CM Punk for a world title. Think of how awesome those matches could be. Unfortunately, Rhodes is stuck in some kind of limbo that has him in matches with people like Kahli. I hope the single out Rhodes and Gabriel for a feud because I think those two could make some magic.

7. AUSTIN ARIES

Aries is the greatest man that ever lived. He’s one of four ROH alumni that is on this list. And he fits right in at number 7. While he is able to cut one hell of a promo and make the action inside the ring incredible, he still isn’t getting as much time on TV as I would like. Guys like Aries and Daniels have paid their dues on the indie scene and it’s definitely paid off for them. Aries especially. I still can’t believe he was going to retire. This is one of my all time favorites from ROH. His natural ability to come off as a self centered douche is absolutely awesome. And not only that, but he’s good at backing it up with the way he looks. His promos really have the effect on you that makes you want to hate him so much. Then when he gets in the ring, it’s hard to not like him. He backs his talk up with phenomenal actions. Aries is one of the most gifted men to show up in the last decade. Whether it’s talking or wrestling, he can control a crowd. And let’s not forget that Aries is the reigning X Division champion. He’s given new meaning to that title. At least for me, anyhow. And he’s been the center point of some of the best wrestling on TV. I don’t think Aries will still be around wrestling in the next five years. His time is coming that he should step back and maybe revive his manager role. He could be a really great mouth piece for a heel with no promo skills.

6. SHEAMUS

Sheamus has really been on a hot streak. He is beating the hell out of people left and right. Have you seen those clubbing forearms he does? Well, if you watch WWE at all, yes, you have. Those things look brutal, fella. Sheamus is, without a doubt, in a much better place than he was like three or four years ago. I think he has finally evolved in to the character and role he belongs in. Sheamus has the ability to be a flexible character without having to change too much. All he has to do is stop smiling, and start scowling again. Though I’m not exactly sure that he’s as good as a heel than he is a face. He seems to have that Irish charm(does that even exist?) or something that makes him fun to watch as he’s being a nice(ish) guy. And his little Irish anecdotes are kind of funny sometimes. More that they just don’t make a whole lot of sense. Don’t forget that the guy is built like a brick house. He is a big dude that is capable of beating his opponents with strikes or impressive slams. I love his move set. It’s great for him. Sheamus wrestles like a big man, but he’s not exactly a big man. I could do without the Brogue Kick, but I understand it’s purpose. Basically that he can hit it out of nowhere. But, it’s kind of lame. But I’m a huge fan of the High Cross and that back breaker he does. And that new move he used just recently was pretty cool. Excuse my lack of move name knowledge at the moment, I’ve had a long week. Lastly, I would also like to remind everyone that Sheamus is the 2012 Royal Rumble winner and has effectively been re-entered in to the world title picture. Here’s to a great 2012 for Sheamus.

5. DOLPH ZIGGLER

I don’t care what you say, I like Dolph. He has been able to take that next step in to the world title picture. He has had matches that show he can run with the championship. CM Punk and him have torn houses down. And the scary part is that Ziggler still isn’t quite finished with his improvements. There is so much more potential with him, it’s ridiculous. His in ring skills are among the best WWE has. Give him another year or two, and he’ll be on par with Bryan and Punk. Mind you that Punk and Bryan spent years in the indies developing their styles and perfecting them. Ziggler has been in the business almost nine years. He didn’t really get his chance to shine until about five years in. Punk and Bryan have been in the business for twelve and thirteen years. They have had the chance to really move around and get the chance to work with different styles and create their own unique styles. That’s more than Ziggler can say. And look where he is now. The idea of Ziggler in the title hunt really has me damn excited because Ziggler can run with just about anyone and have a *** match. The one thing that I think he needs a little bit of help on is some of his promo work. He’s got it down to a certain point. He can definitely pass off as a narcissistic asshole, but he doesn’t have that great of a presentation with his words. I don’t really know how else to explain it. Or possibly it’s that sometimes I don’t believe what he says. I don’t feel the emotion behind it. Once he gets that part down, Ziggler will be the perfect show off.

4. JAMES STORM

Here’s another guy that has blown me away as of late. When he won the title instead of Roode, I have to say I was shocked. I wasn’t really behind the idea that he could be a credible champion. Then they took it off of him, as you all know. He, and amazingly the booking, has changed that view of him for me. I now see him as the true #1 contender and the guy who should be the one to beat Roode. I didn’t think Storm was going to be able to break away from the tag team stigma like Roode did. I thought for sure that Storm was going to go the way of Marty Janetty, but damn I was wrong. And I’m glad I was wrong. Storm has always been a huge part of the TNA tag team division. Whether he was tearing it up with Chris Harris as America’s Most Wanted or having some good ol’ drunken fun with Bobby Roode as Beer Money, he was without a doubt a vital part of the division. And let’s not forget that Storm has been one hell of a loyal company man. Did you know that he is one of three men that has continuously worked for TNA since it’s first broadcast in June 2002? He is in that group with AJ Styles and Jeff Jarrett. And if you want a more recent example of why James storm deserves to be number four, take a look at how he was able to have TWO high ranked matches in ONE night. Both matches I could possibly rate ***1/2-***3/4. And I think he deserves to be where he is above someone like, oh, Jeff Hardy?

3. CM PUNK

Punk is an easy top five. But why would he be at number three?! Because I think he has become a bit of a one show horse. Don’t get me wrong. I always listen when he talks and I generally enjoy it. But it’s always the same thing. We get it, Punk. You’re edgy and cool. You like to make the insider references and all that fun stuff. You like to come out and say what the fans want to hear you say. And that’s cool. But maybe, just maybe, Punk could change up his presentation a bit. He always has that know-it-all way about him that’s starting to get annoying. But, on the other hand, he’s doing what he does best. He’s always been a controversial talker. He’s always had that “holier than thou” attitude when he speaks. Hopefully, with the incoming feud with Jericho, we’ll see a much better Punk on the mic. Which reminds me. Think about Punk and Jericho in the ring. I know they have had matches before, but I’m still excited to see what they can do. Both of them always want to give it their all and try and out do past performances. I think they could really have a great feud both verbally and physically. Overall, I have to say that I like Punk where he is. He’s a good WWE Champion. He can take on any challenger and make it entertaining. And I have to wonder if he’ll still be champion going in to WrestleMania.

2. DANIEL BRYAN

Booker T’s boy D-Bry. Why would he be at number two? Because he has really come in to his niche as the little ass he has become. And of course there’s that whole vegan thing. Which, in my opinion, he could do a whole lot more with. Instead of focusing on the meat aspect, he should really go full on douche. Like that blonde dude from Scott Pilgrim. That guy was the epitome of vegan douche. And Bryan could learn a lesson from that. He needs to go more down the road saying he’s a role model because he is the image of perfection that can only be achieved through the ways of veganism. Or something like that. Then again, I don’t think Bryan is still quite at the full on heel mode point yet. I think he’s still slowly, very, very slowly turning. I think the culmination of his heel turn will have something to do with AJ. That cute, poor little girl. She’ll have her heart broke by Bryan making her do something or she realizes he is blatantly putting her in harms way. And I find myself really enjoying his promo work. It is LEAGUES better than when he was US champ. I think Bryan is one of those guys that really can only play one face role: the underdog. Sure, he can wrestle like it’s nobodies business, but he can only go so far with being the happy-go-lucky underdog. I hope that the heel character that Bryan takes on becomes something to be remembered. But only time will tell what the deck holds for him.

1. HORNSWOGGLE

Screw you and your opinion and the obvious flames about my “credibility”! This is my column! So suck it! But, obviously, I’m only kidding…the real #1 should be obvious….

1. BOBBY ROODE

Without a doubt my number one pick for this list is Bobby Roode. Tone down your hate, kid, and think outside the box. Screw company affiliation. Bobby Roode has become something of an enigma. A better enigma than Hardy. He has been able to continue to look like a dominant champion while never winning cleanly. He’s such a perfect chicken shit heel. It’s almost baffling to me. I don’t know why I’m so entertained by the way he wins matches and continues to think he’s the high tom titty. Maybe it’s the fact that he can actually put on a great match before he wins by dastardly means. Or maybe, it’s because he really looks like he could dominate cleanly, but would rather cut corners. What heel wouldn’t? And I know there have been many matches that he would have lost had there not been outside interference from Bully Ray. I can accept that. Roode has just become something I never thought he could when I watched him as part of Beer Money. When he got his BFG run, we all know what we saw. Roode definitely had that “it” factor. And everyone knew he was going to be the guy. Regardless of what some old husk of a once great wrestling face said. Hell, even he knew it. He just likes controversy. Without Linda, he has to make it himself. But this isn’t about that spray-tan banana. No, it’s about the reigning TNA Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode. And as of right now, I have him on my top ten because he has made the most improvement to become who he is now. And that, to me my friends, is just damn impressive.

And that will do it for me. I don’t have a part hard gif this week because I don’t want to waste one on this. Again, sorry about doing it this way. I’ll try and make next week some kind of special. Until next week….do whatever you want.