01/05 Pruett's Weekly Power Rankings: Will Pruett uses his biased eye and tremendous discernment to break down the top ten wrestlers in WWE, TNA, ROH, PWG... hell, the entire industry
Jan 5, 2014 - 12:00 PM |
By Will Pruett
These rankings are scientifically calculated by the Rank-o-matic 4000 and verified by four out of five top scientists in the wrestling arts. They are to be taken solemnly and with absolute seriousness.
1. Daniel Bryan. For the first time in 2013 (and the last), WWE took an interesting route to developing a character. Daniel Bryan showed frustration after months of cheerleading for himself in the face of resistance from The Authority. The moment with The Wyatt Family made Daniel Bryan the most interesting man in wrestling. He has a home (unlike TNA Impact Wrestling).
2. Brock Lesnar. Brock Lesnar is not about old grudges (like his snubbing on my best of 2013 list), but about moving forward. Now, after not wanting the extra carry-on baggage that a championship requires, he is after two belts joined together in holy matrimony. Lesnar wants the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. He also Bork Laser-ed the hell out of Mark Henry.
3. Magnus. When I talk about interesting development of wrestling characters, I have to give Magnus a major thumbs up. He stood up to Dixie Carter when Dixie didn't want him to fight A.J. Styles. He turned his back on the fans. He is interesting. I've often discussed the potential of Magnus to be TNA's major home-grown star, but he is starting to show more than potential now.
4. The Uso's. The Samoan tag team with three entrances attached together as one had a really good night on Smackdown bookending the show with matches against The Shield. The show was a bit of a throwaway with very little development, but watching these guys in the ring made it work. Now if only we could get JBL to stop screaming "Oh" when they say "Ùs" in their second entrance. JBL is annoying.
5. The Shield. If I'm giving The Uso's credit, I have to give credit to The Shield for bookending Smackdown with entertaining matches as well. Bonus points go to Dean Ambrose, who was awesome as a guest commentator for Reigns and Rollins' opening match. Dean Ambrose singing his answers to Michael Cole is always a winner.
6. The glass box around Kane's mask. When a glass box is constructed, it could only dream of being honored the way this glass box was. Some glass boxes just sit in jewelry stores or Wal-Marts hoping to be seen. On Raw, we saw a close up of a glass box with style. Not just style, but it was given the privilege of holding the mask and wig of WWE's Director of Operations, Kane. Someday, I hope to achieve as much as this box has.
7. Bray Wyatt. I have no idea what "The Wyatt Family" does or why they wrestle, but I do know they convinced Daniel Bryan to join their family. I'm not sure what Bray's motivations in life are or why he doesn't replace the flickering lightbulb in the empty barn his rocking chair is usually in. I do know Wyatt is part of the best story in WWE right now.
8. Aksana. I wasn't even sure she was on the roster still. Now, she is trading wins with John Cena's lady friend. I plan on forgetting about her again next week, but it's good enough for a ranking this week.
9. A.J. Styles. Making a pre-taped return to TNA with the TNA Championship was a pretty big deal. Making a return to ROH (set to air on ROH TV sometime in 2042) is a mildly big deal. Styles is also doing all sorts of podcasts and shoot interviews for that sweet shoot interview money. Styles is making the released wrestler rounds right now. I'm not quite sure if I believe he is done in TNA or not, but he's playing the part well.
10. Randy Orton. It turns out a Randy Orton video package is more compelling than a Randy Orton appearance. I'm just as shocked as you are. Raw didn't miss the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. It did benefit from playing an updated version of the Orton package used at TLC. Maybe WWE should only have Orton appear via video package from now on.
Just missing the cut: Chris Sabin, Bobby Roode, Kurt Angle, Aaron Rodgers, Randal Cobb, TNA Creative, EC3, Sting, Luke Harper, C.M. Punk, John Cena, and Brie Bella.
Nowhere near this list: Dixie Carter, Rockstar Spud, Velvet Sky, Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, the Fingerpoke of Doom, Colin Kaepernick, Stephanie McMahon, Zack Ryder, R-Truth, and B-Boy.
Will Pruett writes about wrestling in a facetious and often humorous way. Feel free to email him at itswilltime@gmail.com or to follow him and interact on twitter at twitter.com/itswilltime.
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