ZeeWI: The Officially Unofficial GFW Grand Championship Rankings (Week 5)

A new week brings us to a new set of rankings for the toughest title in all of Global Force Wrestling, the Grand Championship! This past Impact was about one thing, and one thing only – the Gauntlet For the Gold match for the vacant Global Force Wrestling Championship. Well, okay, we also saw Ohio Versus Everything wrestle, but for the most part, the promotion looked to restore some order at the very top.

So, how did this effect the rankings? Did anyone have a showing good enough to propel them into the rankings? Did others fall from grace?

Let’s get to it! But first, please do remember…

In ranking the contenders, the following scientific criteria shall be considered:

1. Wins / Losses in recent outings
2. Crowd Response / Interest
3. Momentum Meter (Green, Yellow, Red)
4. Megamove

As Global Force Wrestling can, at times, be the Wild West, it is always difficult to try and instill some order, and that’s understood. Still, the second most important championship needs to have a clear path for those who hope to win it, and I intend to provide it.

To that end, we will break down the Top 5 in the Grand Championship Division, and hope to show the Global Force Wrestlers exactly where they stand!!!

On to the rankings! (Writer’s Note: Don’t forget – if it hasn’t aired, it isn’t official!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxXdTtC9jNY
Grand Champion: Ethan Carter, III (EC3)
Last Week: Champion

Well, Ethan looked to make Global Force history as he attempted to become the first man to hold both the Global and Grand Championship titles simultaneously. Unfortunately, EC3 came up short, as he was eventually ousted by the combination of Moose and Eddie Edwards.

In the short-term, yes, this was something of a huge let-down for EC3. The man knows that the moment was his for the taking, that he could have put his immortal stamp on the company with that big win, but it didn’t happen, and he has to move on.

While he may be disappointed in his failure to win, he cannot overlook the important thing here – it was Moose that took him out of that match. It was Moose that cost him the chance to do something unprecedented. Carter may have started this reign off under less-than-impressive circumstances, and he may have even been given a few weeks to dilly-dally while the X Division was spotlighted and the GFW Title situation was cleared up, but he was given a very clear message last Thursday: Moose hasn’t forgotten. On top of that, Eddie Edwards let it be known that he’s someone to keep an eye on, as well.

It was a quiet start to EC3’s reign, but it seems like he might have two big challenges staring him down, and one is an angry man looking for redemption, who may finally be starting to find something of a mean streak deep down inside.

In the end, though, he remains the champ, which keeps him atop these prestigious rankings for yet another week.

#1 Contender: Moose
Last Week: #1 Contender

He may not have logged a lot of time in the Gauntlet for the Gold, but Moose still made sure to make his time count. Coming in at #19, it seemed like the former Grand Champion was in a prime spot to walk out the GFW Champion. Instead, he focused on making sure a fire didn’t burn out, successfully eliminating EC3 from the match itself.

This was a big move for Moose, who desperately needed to do something to justify his spot in the rankings, because eventually, saying “I lost a questionable decision once” isn’t going to be enough.

Moose was also responsible for the elimination of Garza Jr. quickly upon entering, but it was his removal of EC3 that made the biggest statement. He was able to make it to the Final Four, but would get no farther, as Eddie Edwards would eliminate the big man on a rana takeover.

And this is where I point out that Moose was eliminated by a guy he had considered a friend in Eddie Edwards. Edwards had offered the assist on the EC3 elimination, and Moose took his eye off the ball. When Eddie went for the rana, Moose was able to counter it and try for a powerbomb, but it seemed to be Eddie’s plan all along, as he was then able to switch to the elimination attempt, and successfully so.

In a match where no one was to be trusted, Moose yet again played nice, and ended up paying the price for it. When freakin’ Mr. Anything Is Possible is more cutthroat than you, then it might be time to reconsider your approach.

Still, Moose got the elimination he needed to get, and still had an overall good showing for himself, which helps to keep him in the #1 contender spot this week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HsxqQvauQQ
#2 Contender: Eddie Edwards
Last Week: Not Ranked

Eddie Edwards joins the rankings this week on the strength of an incredible performance in the Gauntlet for the Gold matchup. Entering at #1, Edwards seemed to have a huge mountain to climb. And while the big, fast, strong, and athletic of Global Force came at him, Edwards would nearly fight them all off, lasting until the end, where he was the final man eliminated.

Along the way, Edwards helped eliminate current Grand Champion EC3, along with #1 contender Moose. Grabbing the attention of those two was a very smart move by the man who has come painfully close to holding the Grand Championship before, but has yet to accomplish the task.

The former TNA World Champion carries a lot of clout in the company, especially with his good relationship with Jim Cornette, so Eddie usually doesn’t have a hard time getting what he wants. But he also makes it easier on himself by not only leaning on others, but by taking care of matters himself.

He may have to wait for Moose and EC3 to settle their issue before he gets his crack, or he might not; EC3 might decide that both men are worthy contenders, and force them to settle it out for the proper #1 Contender spot. If that were to happen, then yours truly could see Eddie taking from Moose, just like he did Thursday night.

Edwards definitely found a huge ball of momentum Thursday, and it’s up to him to keep it going. He knows he can beat either EC3 or Moose, and he’s put himself in the right spot to potentially get the chance to prove it.

Good to see one of The Wolves doing something meaningful in life.

#3 Contender: Low Ki
Last Week: #3 Contender

Low Ki holds tight this week, but is in danger of suffering a big fall if he can’t figure something out soon.

The man that some think rules the world was on top of the world just a few short weeks ago, in line for a GFW Title match against Alberto El Patrón, and with his new friends in LAX watching his back, it appeared that Ki was going to find himself actually running things.

But El Patrón wouldn’t make it to Destination X, and he wouldn’t be recognized as the Global Force Champion, as the company stripped him of the belt. That left Low Ki out in the cold, and though he tried to secure another one on one title opportunity, he had to settle with being the last man to enter the Gauntlet for the Gold.

Low Ki fought like an angry man, but just couldn’t overcome the odds. The man clearly had a target on him, as he was sought out by nearly everyone else in the match, eventually eliminated by Lashley. Low Ki now finds himself in a very unenviable position, as he has nearly no friends on the roster, nor in management. He has historically had a very volatile relationship with Jim Cornette, and while Cornette absolutely did him a favor with his Gauntlet placement, Low Ki would be foolish to bank on another chance like that from the Louisville Lip.

Low Ki needs a win in a big way if he’s going to stay in these rankings. If not, he’ll quickly find himself on the outside looking in.

#4 Contender: Matt Sydal
Last Week: #2 Contender

Staying strong due to the win over Lashley two weeks ago, Matt Sydal wasn’t active last week, and probably rightfully so. He had devoted a lot of time and energy to that match with Lashley, and coming off such an incredible win, Sydal had no real reason to participate in the Gauntlet for the Gold.

He is the master of his own destiny now, holding the right to a title shot thanks to that win. It’s been said before, but it bears repeating – Sydal may be assumed to be seeking an X Title shot, but there is no reason for him to doubt his ability to win either the Grand Championship or GFW Titles, not after beating someone the caliber of Lashley.

If Sydal does decide to go after one of the non-X Division titles, either division would immediately be put on notice as having someone immensely capable of being in their ranks. For now, Sydal’s not spilling the beans on his future plans, but he really doesn’t have to.

As far as this columnist goes, Sydal would be smart to bide his time and wait for the absolute perfect moment to strike. If he does, he could very well find himself with gold around his waist, something he’s not a stranger to in his career.

#5 Contender: Johnny Impact
Last Week: Not Ranked

The man best known simply as “Johnny” joins the rankings this week, following a rather impressive debut for Global Force Wrestling!

The surprise was perhaps somewhat diluted, as he had been announced the week prior as “Coming to GFW,” and so when there was an open slot announced for the Gauntlet for the Gold, it didn’t take much super-sleuthing to put it all together.

Entering at #13, Johnny Impact showed he belonged, lasting until the final three, before finally being eliminated from the match.

Impact has impressed all over the world, and coming in with such a hot start was exactly what he needed to do in Global Force. With the Grand Championship Division so very volatile, Johnny could easily find himself competing for the title with a few more performances like what we saw on Thursday night.

For now, it’s probably a bit too soon, but the man knows how to win, and he knows how to do it in an impressive manner. The world is his now that he’s in Global Force Wrestling.

What about you guys? Agree with the rankings? Disagree? Let us know in the comments below!!!

Further GFW Impact Musings…

Lemme talk to ya!

As you may have noticed in this week’s rankings, there is no listing for a man that had been a staple in these pages, a Mr. E_Li_Drake. And that’s because, for the first time in the history of these vaunted rankings, someone has failed to make the rankings due to their success.

Last week, in that Gauntlet for the Gold matchup, Drake would enter at #2, after successfully persuading Jim Cornette to believe that #1 wasn’t fair at all. Cornette thought he was rather clever in this move, but this seemed to light the fire that many of us Drake fans have wanted to see burn out of control.

Drake headed to the ring a man on a mission, unafraid of any confrontation that came his way. Future power players like Mahabali Shera would be thrown to the side by Drake as he refused to let anything stop him. He went toe to toe with guys like EC3, Johnny Impact, Moose, and Eddie Edwards along the way, constantly getting the better of the exchanges.

When it was down to the final two, we were back to where we had started – with Drake and Eddie Edwards staring at each other from opposite corners.

The two would go back and forth for a few minutes more, until Drake was able to capitalize on a mistake by Edwards, rolling through a cross-body to hit the move that is most definitely not called the Eli Drop, and securing himself the biggest win of his career.

“Eli Drake, Global Force Champion.” There are so many reasons that I felt I’d never write that. For one, the company wasn’t called “Global Force” until Slammiversary, not leaving me with a lot of time to consider that possibility. For another, Drake always seemed to be the guy that’d almost climb the mountain, only to be distracted in his quest, losing all progress and momentum.

Thursday night, though, Drake put it all together, and showed what so many of us had known for such a long time – that he can be The Man of the company. With this win, he is now on top of the company, and not so concerned with his place in the GFW Grand Championship rankings.

A huge congratulations to E_Li_Drake for proving us right, and proving himself to be great. And, of course, for the tingle in my loins.