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411’s Wrestler of the Week: Year 10, Week 22 – Reigns & Lashley Battle For The Top Spot

September 9, 2014 | Posted by Larry Csonka

Welcome to YEAR TEN, WEEK 22 of 411’s Wrestler of the Week. A quick overview of the rules to kick things off for us as a reminder…

Each writer chooses FIVE wrestlers (although ties and tag teams are allowed) from any promotion and each wrestler gets a point total attached to that ranking. It looks a little like this…

1st – 5
2nd – 4
3rd – 3
4th – 2
5th – 1

Then we tally up the votes and the official 411 Wrestler of the Week is crowned. But wait, there’s more! Each week the top SIX vote getters get a points value for their ranking which looks something like this…

1st – 15
2nd – 12
3rd – 9
4th – 6
5th – 3
6th – 1

…and they go towards the 411 Wrestler of the Year award to be announced each year around WrestleMania. This will be posted every Tuesday (the voting week runs Monday through Sunday). Let’s see who wins this week…

 photo WrestlerOfWeek_zps4f74fe91.jpg

Larry Csonka
1) Jay Briscoe:
Jay Briscoe defeated Michael Elgin to win the ROH Title at All Star Extravaganza VI. Briscoe now becomes a two time ROH Champion, and completed his road back to the title he never lost. There seems to be a lot of drama around the whole thing due to Elgin, but that doesn’t take away from Briscoe’s accomplishment.

2) Lashley : Lashley defeated Samoa Joe in a fun match on Impact, but maybe even more importantly for his character and title run, he won in the Bellator cage on Friday night. Lashley is billed as “The Destroyer,” and part of that is that they play off the fact that he is a fighter. Lashley took a gamble by taking an MMA fight at this time, but it paid off. He scored the win, he’s been booked very well as TNA champion, and now the company can build off of that during the next set of TV tapings.
3) AJ Styles: Defeated Adam Cole in a great match at ROH All Star Extravaganza VI over the weekend. AJ is kicking ass and having great matches with everyone these days, because right now he may be the very best performer in the business.
4) reDRagon (O’Reilly and Fish)
5) Bobby Roode

justin watry
1) Roman Reigns
Pretty simple. Both RAW and Smackdown last week were about Roman Reigns. With millions of viewers watching WWE, it stands head and shoulders above anything else…as usual.

2) Mark Henry: Two weeks in a row, WWE Raw was a bad show, while Smackdown was pretty good. The bright spot all around was Mark Henry. I know, I know. He should be a monster heel and destroying guys, not s some smiling “USA!” face. I agree. I am with you 100 percent. Even so, Henry is entertaining regardless as to what he is doing.
3) Rusev: I credit Mark Henry more than anything, but Rusev is in a GREAT spot right now, surely being lined up to defeat the World’s Strongest Man. Coming off the series of matches with Jack Swagger, I was curious to see where Rusev would go next. So far, so good.
4) John Cena
5) Nikki Bella

Mike Chin
1) Roman Reigns
Raw and Smackdown were both headlined by big tag matches this week. Reigns picked up the win for his team in the first outing and was a star participant in each.

2) Bobby Lashley: Lashley picked up a win on Impact over Samoa Joe and added to his MMA resume with a win at Bellator 123, which adds an interesting fold of credibility to his TNA title run.
3) Jay Briscoe: The new ROH world champ earns his spot on the countdown this week for a clean win over Michael Elgin.
4) Rusev
5) Bobby Roode

Ryan Byers
1) Roman Reigns
This was a pretty dull, nothing happening week. However, Roman Reigns got the pin the main event of Monday Night Raw in order to continue his ascension up the card. He was also on Smackdown, where he did . . . things.

2) Nikki Bella: Returned to her position as the lead of Total Divas. You may think this is a joke vote, but how many other WWE talents have an entire hour-long television program booked around them?
3) Kenou: The young wrestler from Michinoku Pro has transitioned well into Pro Wrestling NOAH and got a quite surprising upset this past weekend when he pinned GHC Heavyweight Champion Naomichi Marufuji in a non-title bout.
4) Jay Briscoe
5) Masakatsu Funaki

Mike Hammerlock
1) Bobby Lashley
He beat Samoa Joe in a solid champ vs. champ match requiring only a slight distraction to get the victory. It’s a refreshing break from back when Magnus had the title and needed the RAF to carpet bomb his opponents before he could secure a pin. Lashley also won a real fight this week at Bellator 123. That deserves recognition because if he loses in MMA, then it’s hard for TNA to portray him as a legitimate badass champ. There was real risk involved for Lashley in that MMA match and he got a stoppage.

2) redDragon: My vote is going to be ROH-heavy this week because it was the best wrestling that happened. While Jay Briscoe won the title off Michael Elgin (whose reign has to be considered a disappointment) and AJ Styles put on a clinic with Adam Cole, redDragon (Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish) beat the Young Bucks in a 2-of-3 falls main event that universally has been regarded as the best match of the night. All four guys let it rip. The really cool thing is the tag title was the main event. Somebody actually booked a show instead of painting by the numbers. Way to go ROH. Oh, and please make AJ vs. Briscoe for the ROH belt happen.
3) Roman Reigns: WWE was terrible this week and we all know it. If this was just one bad week, it would be easy to write it off. However, this is becoming a trend. Reigns had the best week of anyone in the WWE, but that is extremely faint praise. He’s doing well, though I worry the crowd’s enthusiasm for him is going to wane if he’s marking time for seven months until his story gets its payoff.
4) AJ Styles
5) Jay Briscoe

GREG DEMARCO
1) John Cena
This week was all about John Cena. He was the crux of the six man tag team match on Raw, and even though Roman Reigns got the pin, he did so because John Cena allowed it (and so Cena could partake in some jaw-jacking with Triple H on the floor). On Smackdown it was Cena who won the fall in the 10-man tag. This week was all about making Cena look credible headed into Night of Champions.

2) Bobby Lashley: Bobby Lashley had a big week, despite half of it taking place several weeks ago. Lashley defeated Samoa Joe to continue his impressive streak of victories—which he should have, as a dominant world champion. Then he was victorious in Bellator MMA. While not it’s not directly wrestling related, it raises his overall awareness and does boost his stock when he steps inside the squared circle.
3) Jay Briscoe: Becoming only the second man to ever hold the Ring of Honor World Championship for a second time should be a bigger deal, but Briscoe was really just in the right place at the right time. Work visa issues (and I believe that was the #1 reason) are far more devastating than a Jay Driller, and caused the premature end of Michael Elgin’s reign at the top. But the “record books” will always how that Jay Briscoe was the second ever 2-time ROH World Champion.
4) Roman Reigns
5) Red Dragon – Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly

Dylan Diot
1) Jay Briscoe
Jay Briscoe defeated Michael Elgin at All Star Extravaganza VI to become the NEW ROH World Heavyweight Champion. There was a lot of controversy regarding the title change but we shouldn’t ignore the career accomplishment for Jay, as he joins Austin Aries as the only two wrestlers to ever win the ROH Championship twice.

2) Bobby Lashley: A big week for Lashley in two different organizations. He defeated Samoa Joe in a Champion vs. Champion match on Impact and at Bellator 123 he dominated Josh Burns to build some momentum in his MMA career.
3) Bobby Roode: Bobby Roode defeated Eric Young to become the #1 Contender for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and now looks toward a clash with Bobby Lashley.
4) reDragon
5) Roman Reigns

Jack McGee
1) Lashley:
Lashley had the most to lose on several levels, so he gets the #1 spot from me. Sure he beat X-Division Champion Samoa Joe on Impact, but to be honest with you, the MMA victory in Bellator is what puts him over the top. If Lashley gets destroyed or puts in a humiliating performance, he either loses the title or loses credibility. Instead he comes away with a good victory, and now TNA can continue to book him as a bas ass world champion. Lashley’s booking, thus far as TNA Champion, has been great and I hope that they can keep it up.

2) Jay Briscoe: Jay Briscoe defeated Michael Elgin over the weekend to become only the second man to win the ROH World Title for the second time. Some will say that it doesn’t mean as much to them due to the Elgin situation, which is fair play, but the overall accomplishment I feel needs recognized, especially how it did wrap up Briscoe’s story overall.
3) Bobby Roode: Your new #1 contender for the TNA World Title, the “It Factor” defeated Eric Young in a damn fine little TV match on Impact and continues to consistently deliver.
4) AJ Styles
5) Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly


THE WINNERS~!

  • Special Mention…AJ Styles – 6 Votes
  • Fifth Place…Bobby Roode – 8 Votes
  • Fourth Place…reDRagon (Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish) – 9 Votes
  • Third Place…Roman Reigns – 21 Votes

    Roman Reigns continues to be positioned as one of WWE’s main stars.

  • Second Place…Jay Briscoe -22 Votes

    Jay Briscoe is now your TWO TIME ROH World Champion!

  • And 411’s Wrestler of the Week is…

     photo bobby-lashley-tna-champ_zps79b7049b.png

    Lashley – 26 Votes

    “The Destroyer” Lashley had a successful week in the TNA ring and the Bellator cage. At age 37, Lashley is having a great year…

    Year-End Standings~!
    And here are the standings after week twenty-two

    Seth Rollins – 84pts.

    AJ Styles – 74pts.

    Roman Reigns – 71pts.

    Eric Young – 58pts.

    Bobby Lashley – 51pts.

    Dean Ambrose – 47pts.

    John Cena – 39pts.

    Rusev – 33pts.

    Kazuchika Okada – 30pts

    Ricochet – 27pts
    Brock Lesnar – 27pts.
    Kyle O’Reilly – 27pts.

    Bad News Barrett – 21pts.

    Bobby Fish – 18pts.
    Cesaro – 18pts.
    Bray Wyatt – 18pts
    Jey Uso – 18pts.
    Jimmy Uso – 18pts.

    Batista – 16pts.

    Paige – 15pts.
    YAMATO – 15pts
    Takao Omori – 15pts
    AJ Lee – 15pts.
    Sheamus – 15pts.

    Samoa Joe – 12pts.
    Hiroshi Tanahashi – 12pts
    BxB Hulk – 12pts
    Icarus – 12pts.
    KENTA – 12pts.
    Daniel Bryan – 12pts.
    Chris Jericho – 12pts.
    Michael Elgin – 12pts.
    Bully Ray – 12pts.
    Jay Briscoe – 12pts.

    KUSHIDA – 10pts.
    Davey Richards – 10pts.
    Eddie Edwards – 10pts.

    Ultimo Guerrero – 9pts.
    Adam Cole – 9pts.
    Charlotte – 9pts.
    Luke Harper – 9pts.
    Triple H – 9pts.
    Austin Aries – 9pts.
    Yujiro Takahashi – 9pts
    Minoru Suzuki – 9pts
    Stardust (Cody Rhodes) – 9pts.

    Randy Orton – 7pts.
    Alicia Fox – 7pts.

    Shelton Benjamin – 6pts.
    Gail Kim – 6pts.
    Devon – 6pts.
    Suwama – 6pts.
    Bad Luck Fale – 6pts
    Biff Busick – 6pts.
    Erick Rowan – 6pts.
    Stephanie McMahon – 6pts.
    Goldust – 6pts.

    Joe Doering – 3pts.
    T-Hawk – 3pts.
    EITA – 3pts.
    Jeff Hardy – 3pts.
    Bobby Roode – 3pts.
    Tyson Kidd – 3pts.
    Mark Henry – 3pts.
    Tyler Breeze – 3pts.
    Adam Rose – 3pts.
    Jack Swagger – 3pts.

    Dasher Hatfield – 2 pts.
    Mr. Touchdown – 2 pts.

    Dolph Ziggler – 1pt
    The Miz – 1pt
    Kane – 1pt
    Brie Bella – 1pt
    Uhaa Nation – 1pt
    Naomichi Marufuji – 1pt
    Kota Ibushi – 1pt
    Sanada – 1pt
    Bram – 1pt
    Alex Shelley – 1pt
    Isami Kodaka – 1pt
    Kazuyuki Fujita – 1pt
    Vickie Guerrero – 1pt
    Drew Galloway – 1pt


  • Voting began 4.15.14
  • Year-End Rankings Key:

    WWE Contracted Wrestlers are represented in BLUE.

    TNA Contracted Wrestlers are represented in GREEN.

    ROH Contracted Wrestlers are represented in RED.

    US Independent Wrestlers are represented in MAROON.

    Japanese Contracted Wrestlers are represented in BLACK.

    Mexican Contracted Wrestlers are represented in MAGENTA.

    Other International Wrestlers are represented in INDIGO.


    **PREVIOUS WINNERS**

    Year One Winner: Ric Flair (2005-2006)
    (Shortened year, starting September 2005)


    Year Two Winner: Samoa Joe (2006-2007)


    Year Three Winner: John Cena (2007-2008)


    Year Four Winner: Chris Jericho (2008-2009)


    Year Five Winner: CM Punk (2009-2010)


    Year Six Winner: The Miz (2010-2011)


    Year Seven Winner: CM Punk (2011-2012)


    Year Eight Winner: CM Punk (2012-2013)


    Year Nine Winner: Daniel Bryan (2013-2014)

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    Larry Csonka