411’s Worst Wrestler of the Week 04.08.09

Welcome to 411’s Worst Wrestler of the Week! I am your humble host, JP “JP II” Truss.

In this special Wrestlemania edition of the 3W will be looking at our pre-Wrestlemania predictions. First of course I’d like to thank you for holding off for a day while I handle a few things off the site and the 3W will be back next Tuesday at it’s regularly scheduled time. In the meantime as you know a few months ago this article prediction five wrestlers who would end up with the worse deal at Wrestlemania. Historically, these five have been stuck in a rut and have been passed over on the big show. Well, now that the pyro has faded and Wrestlemania has closed for this year, how did we do? Well, here we’ve got not only what I said then but what I think now. Let’s start it off with number five!

5. Matt Hardy

Then

Matt’s latest heel turn at the Rumble as of right now is cannon fodder. Yes it was pretty shocking but it was all done without explanation. And while I want to believe that there will be an interesting enough reason to tie everything together, there is a fundamental truth that cannot be ignored here;

Edge is once again WWE Champion.

No matter how venomous, no matter how scarring the reasons for Matt’s betrayal are, it will not overshadow the fact that he helped Edge become WWE Champion again. No matter how this plays out, unless somehow Matt becomes WWE Champion before Wrestlemania (which would be hands-down the biggest shocker of 2009), he is going to take the backseat to Edge and Jeff.

So where does that leave Matt? Your answer is as good as mine.

This is a shame. Well before Jeff returned to Vinnie Mac’s good graces, Matt was over with the WWE fan base. He is a solid worker in the ring and has consistently done an excellent job no matter who he’s in the ring with. The problem is, for whatever reason, he hasn’t been given the opportunity to headline. And, at least for the time being, that pattern will continue.

Oh well. Maybe next year Matt.

Now

Anyone who reads my work with the Weekly Smackdown Review knows that Matt Hardy has stepped his game up since I wrote that article. His mic work has been incredible and the match against his brother Jeff was as brutal as I’m sure we were all hoping for and for that I am more than willing to eat crow here. Hopefully Matt’s performance leading to and at Wrestlemania will lead to great things for what has been a under appreciated superstar.

4. The Women’s Division

Then

Playboy.

Playboy has gone from an interesting Wrestlemania tie-in to, and I can’t be the only one thinking this, the bane of Women’s wrestling. Ever since it was introduced, there has not been a decent women’s match at Wrestlemania. By the end of this coming month, another “lucky” Diva will strip for all of us to see, and we will be forced to watch yet another awful match.

Could this be fixed? Of course. Will it be fixed? Of course not.

Some question what is considered my preoccupation with Women’s wrestling. What it comes down to for me is rationale. If I’m going to invest my time in watching wrestling, and this goes for any wrestling program, I want that time well spent. Whenever air time from something good has to be taken away so that two women can roll around in the ring, it may be interesting television for that moment but overall it’s not a good investment.

Especially for an event like Wrestlemania where everyone should be stepping up their game, but any decent female wrestler will be dragged down in order to ensure Playboy gets a bang for their buck.

The entire Women’s division is about to a raw deal. End of story.

Now

Well it looks like I was wrong; Playboy did not trip up the Women’s division this year. The WWE was kind enough to do it on their own. Between Kid Rock and “Santina”, the entire Women’s division became something of a side show on Sunday that ended up taking the audience out of the show almost completely. Considering that the WWE bumped the Colons and Miz and Morrison, a group that had delivered every time they’ve been in the ring AND a championship match to boot only makes the debacle that was ‘Miss Wrestlemania’ stick out. With the level of talent on the female roster growing there is, quite frankly, no excuse to put a Women’s match on the biggest show of the year unless it’s going to be taken as seriously as ever other match. It clearly wasn’t and, at least for one more year, the Divas get a raw deal.

3. Triple H

Then

Now, before the comment section completely explodes hear me out. There are few places Triple H can go anymore. He’s been a heel and won championships and he’s been a face and won championships. He’s been in feuds against the absolute best the WWE has had to offer for over a decade. He’s not only reached the glass ceiling; he’s broken it, rebuilt it, and broke it one more time just for the hell of it.

Now what?

It’s kind of like trying to buy a birthday gift for Bill Gates. What can you do for someone who’s done everything?

Say what you will about the man, but no one can deny his talent in the ring. And the simple fact is that right now Triple H is more or less re-doing what has already been done, just replace Vickie with him and go back five or six years. The rub here is that despite that, he will have a prominent role in Wrestlemania unfortunately for no clear reason. This can only diminish his stock as an on-screen performer, which in the end gives him a pretty bad deal.

Now

Well no one will be writing home about the WWE Championship match this year but it is far from what has been reported. Of course it doesn’t defy what my prediction. The concept heading in wasn’t that bad; in fact when it was done right it was done very well. However the match in and of itself fell flat. Why? Well most of the blame goes to his buddy Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker. The simple truth is that nothing, not even two World Championship matches, could top the confrontation between Michaels and Taker. The bar was set far too high and it undermined the importance of the WWE Championship match at least for that moment. Second is a little something called OPUD; Over Promised, Under Deliver. The match itself felt like it was straight out of Raw. It didn’t have the air of a big time main event that was NEEDED in this situation. Let me be clear; the match itself was pretty good. But it wasn’t Wrestlemania good. So, where does that leave us? I have no idea. But, it was a pretty bad deal for The Game never the less.

2. Finlay and William Regal

Then

Okay, before anyone complains I am well aware that this is another cheat. Just go with me on this one.

Let me take you back to Wrestlemania 3. No true wrestling fan will ever forget that night, when Hogan slammed the late, great Andre the Giant. But, as good as that match was, there was another match at that same event considered to be one of the greatest matches in World Wrestling Entertainment history.

Don’t know what I’m talking about?

Well before Hogan and Andre faced off, Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat tore the house down to decide the Intercontinental Championship. This match had everything you could ask for and more. No one expected for it to rise to the level that it did. In fact, I am willing to wage that had it not been for Hogan vs. Andre, this match would’ve stolen the show.

As much as I appreciate a spectacle, sometimes there can be too much sizzle and not enough steak (thanks J.R.). There should be a place for a more old-school type of match at Wrestlemania, if only to bring diversity to the event. That’s what Finlay can provide. That’s what William Regal can provide. That’s what both these men and a few others on the roster with similar psychology have done longer than most.

But, that’s not how they will be booked.

This, I feel, is a giant waste of their talent. Instead of being forced into faux hardcore matches or Money in the Bank, guys like these can be let loose to do what they do best. Every time they aren’t allowed to we, the fans, are robbed of something that could be great and this happens year, after year, after year.

It is one of the true tragedies of our time and, unfortunately, it will continue.

Now

There’s nothing that I can say here that I haven’t already said. But as a long time fan who watched the Dragon raise the specter of NWA for one night, I wish like hell that I wasn’t right on this one.

1. Shelton Benjamin

Then

Shelton. Shelton. Shelton.

A few weeks ago in this very forum I discussed the lack of interest the WWE creative force has with veteran talent. Much of that logic can be applied to Shelton Benjamin. I’m sure a lot of what I say here can also be applied to my number five choice, Matt Hardy, as well since both he and Shelton Benjamin has always had the ability to get it done on the big stage. But, it can be argued that Benjamin has more pure, untapped talent than 2/3s of the entire WWE roster and you could even through in TNA for that one. All you have to do is look at his recent series of matches against The Undertaker to see that.

To top all of this Benjamin has been apart of three of the last four Money in the Bank matches and each time he has been without a doubt the standout star in those matches.

So, why is he still breaking his skull against the aforementioned glass ceiling? Again, I don’t know.

If it was a lesser wrestler, maybe I’d be much more inclined to let this all go. But, we’re talking about someone that is loyal to a fault. We’re talking about someone who has not lowered his own personal standards during his tenure with the WWE and has actually worked to improve on any weaknesses. Isn’t that something worth rewarding?

I’m not saying that he should be in the main event. But is it too much to ask that he at least wins the Money in the Bank since everyone and their grandmother knows he’ll be apart of it again this year. But, I have a bad feeling sticking to my craw that there will be someone in the MITB. Someone else that the WWE wants to push this year. Maybe they want to give Mr. Kennedy another shot. Maybe someone is pushing John Morrison to break out. But, whoever it is, I doubt it will be Shelton Benjamin.

Once again a great talent will not reach his full potential. Therefore, Shelton Benjamin is your unfortunate winner this week.

Now

This hurts. I mean this really…really hurts. I called nearly all of this to a T; but somewhere deep inside of the darkness that is the Most Negative Man in 411 Mania History, I was hoping that I was wrong. Money in the Bank has come and gone and again Shelton Benjamin stands out. This time he nearly killed himself doing it as well, which makes me wonder what in the hell he’s got to do? I like CM Punk and I think he’s got a strong future with the company, but I don’t feel this was his year to win it. Not after doing it last year. I’m not saying give Benjamin a World Title or put him in the main event. But it would not have killed WWE to throw the guy a bone. Honestly, I’m not sure what will happen to Shelton Benjamin now. In all likelihood he’ll shift brands yet again. I can only hope that he continues to improve on the mic and the ring until the day comes when someone decides to let him run with the ball for a little bit.

I called this one perfectly. Shelton Benjamin, no doubt in my mind, has gotten the worst deal this Wrestlemania.

Of course, there is another question to be answered. What was the Worst of Wrestlemania? For that I had an opportunity to talk to a few of the writers of 411 Mania about their thoughts on the weak points of this year’s Wrestlemania. What I got was varied but flowed in a steady direction;

Around the Horn

Michael Bauer

Runner-Up:

JBL: Losing the IC Title in 21 seconds and then Quitting on the biggest stage of them all… yeah, that’s a Fail.

Chris Jericho: Yes, he won his match. But he also got knocked the fuck out by Mickey Rourke. I’m sorry, but that is pathetic and he definitely failed.

Worst of Wrestlemania:

Santino Marella: Is there any doubt here? The guy had to dress up as the ugliest woman ever to compete in the Ms. WrestleMania match and become the first Kin… er… Queen of the Ring. Not to mention, he did it by not even touching a Diva until he grabbed Beth Phoenix at the very end. And that dancing… I had nightmares last night. He is the worst of everything this event and that includes me 100% hating how Kid Rock took away valuable time that should have gone to the Tag Title match that got bumped to the pre-show, despite so much hype for the match. Santino, you don’t just fail… you EPIC FAIL!

Matt Short

Runner-Up:

JBL: The guy had spent months trying to work his way onto the ‘Mania card. First, it was trying to face The Road_Dogg. Then he actually achieved some success by winning the Intercontinental Title and we were set for a showdown between him and Rey Mysterio. Most fans were just excited for the title to be defended at Wrestlemania for the first time in a long time. Then the match lasted 21 seconds and the segment ended with JBL quitting. Certainly not all that good.

Santino Marella: Okay, it was kind of obvious that Santino was going to work his way into the Miss Wrestlemania match. Yes, the drag was funny but… the horror. The unbridled horror.

Worst of Wrestlemania:

Kid Rock: No, he’s not a wrestler. But Kid Rock was the absolute worst thing on Wrestlemania last night. Here we have a performance from a guy who hasn’t been relevant in years. The proof of that can be found when he holds out the mic for the crowd sing along and all that was heard was dead silence. And then his set just kept going and going until the Divas came out. Now while the Divas match wasn’t going to be amazing it would have at least been nice for them to acknowledge the women who came back. But no, they came out to Kid Rock singing them in. And as I watched the rest of the show I realized that if Kid Rock hadn’t been there to eat up an ungodly amount of time the Tag Team Unification match might have made the show. Or JBL vs. Mysterio might have gotten some real time. Instead we had Kid Rock Bawitdabaw-ing immediately after the Money in the Bank match and successfully took the crowd out of the show until Michaels vs. Taker. Boo-urns to you Mr. Rock.

Aaron Hubbard

Runner-Up:

“Santina” Marella: This was quite possibly the DUMBEST thing I have ever seen. Worthless segment, unless you like having nightmares about heavily tattooed men in drag.

Jimmy Snuka: Yeah, he’s 7,000 years old. He still SUCKS. Jerry Lawler could have played the same role and done it better.

Worst of Wrestlemania:

Randy Orton/Triple H: While I did not hate the match as much as most of the world, I thought this was dissapointing, which is the third year in a row I’ve been disappointed with a ‘Mania main event. I’ll compare this to Delerious/Roderick Strong from ROH Respect is Earned. Judging the match for what is there, it’s a good, intense ****+ competitive match in slow motion, so about ***. However, when you have this good, intense Judgment Day main event as the pay off to the most personal rivalry on the card, and as the main event to the Silver Edition of the BIGGEST SHOW OF THE YEAR, it makes it even worse. Needed a faster pace, better stipulations, and blood. Too bad.

Now, what do I, JP II, think was the Worst of Wrestlemania? Well, this one should be pretty obvious;

Okay as bad as it was, I’m willing to give “Santina” a pass…for now. This is because of Kid Rock who, if you missed it, insulted not only Rock as a genre but music in general at Wrestlemania. Sorry Kid, but when your act is so bad a crowd of over 70,000 die for almost 30 minutes, you failed. Not to mention, what was the point of having Kid Rock perform at Wrestlemania? Nostalgia? Was that really worth cutting time from matches that thousands paid to see and because of which deserved a fair amount of time? Doubtful. Very few times does anyone want to forget celebrity involvement at Wrestlemania but this time we’ll make an exception. Kid Rock is the first ever Worst of Wrestlemania!

No comment section this week. It shall return on Tuesday with your regularly scheduled 3W.

You got questions, comments, or just want to bite my head off? Leave a comment and I could answer it right here next week. And be sure to drop by this Friday for the 411 Weekly Smack down Report! And don’t forget to bookmark this site, 411 Mania Wrestling to get instant news from the most reliable wrestling source on the web!
Until next week; JP is DONE SON!