Wrestling Wonders Pro 50 2013, Part 1 (50 - 25)

Wrestling Wonders Pro 50 2013


Part 1 (50 - 25)

Over the last year fifty of the finest, best all round workers in the pro wrestling industry have surpassed themselves. Below, Wrestling Wonders presents the annual professional 50 countdown. Included are the top 50 who made the most impact judged on a magnitude of criteria including in-ring ability, skill, promos and everything needed to make a pro wrestling match a pro wrestling joy for fans the world over. How have previous entries managed to keep a place from the previous year and create enough standing to rise the ranks? 

Spanning over 1st January - 14th December 2013 based on talent and not 'top of company' projection or favouritism, below is the ultimate acknowledgement in the pro wrestling business. 

It is the list everyone should aspire to be on, can create careers and respects work, earned by many. 

Feel free to comment, subscribe and debate your thoughts, if you so wish. 

You can also join the discussion on social media. Check our page above or use the #WWPro50 

You're Welcome!

50

RHETT TITUS

FREELANCE

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Consistent fodder guided Matt Hardy to an appealing match starting Jan... Tag battle with BJ Whitmer putting Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly forward as strong competition was a joy... Worked with Charlie Haas in a wayward encounter as victim of backstage booking... Joined SCUM stable as only option to participate... Challenged for vacant PWX Innovative television title in Mar as a considerable force... Fell to former WWE heartthrob Antonio Thomas for first round ECWA Super 8s tournament ... Lost rigorous "I Quit" with BJ Whitmer in formidable and respectful mat entry... Lost eight man team steel cage fanaticism in Jun as waste to ignorant names bar Whitmer and Rhino with another commendable performance... Returned three months on at RWE event in Sep... Wrestled with Matt Taven to defeat EJ Risk and VsK with sturdy encounter... Captured ICW tag team title with Taven proving worth as wrestling force from then champs Danny Demanto and Amazing Red on 18th Oct...

ROH booking disaster neglected rational worker able to build opponents up and maintain company foundations... Still under contract to ROH... Is well respected on Independent circuit for talent given to fan engagement... Can elevate company projections is used correctly without defiance... Could join three or four man faction in 2014 in the right promotion under thoughtful circumstances...

49

RICOCHET

DRAGON GATE

2012 Placing - 38

Made no real sustainable level of impact as wrestler until Apr after three months of useless outings... Began feud with former friend CIMA where both lost momentum as supposed star pack pressed into tags to gain appeal once more... Entered King of Gate tournament passing Ryo Jimmy Saito, Masato Yoshino and reaching finals in May against Shingo Takagi where 'ochet was carried by all three to seem credible... Average performance as high flying gimmick in Best of Super Juniors battle in Jun for annual NJPW event... Couldn't win Dream gate gold against champ CIMA in poor attempt to generate interest on 16th Jun... Was given tag title instead as back up to Naruki Doi next month... Unconvincing win in three man action guided by veteran Masaaki Mochizuki and Jimmy Kagetora... Meek victory over hapless lax Johnny Gargano and Trent with AR Fox tag victory in EVOLVE... Became fallic laughing stock over Sep in UK showoff tour adding no development to career... Rave fantasy with Prince Devitt on 19th Oct was illusion holding no skill whatsoever from either... Pitiful continuation over October...  Hammered by Tony Nese back in Dragon Gate singles... Fell short in AAW tag tournament failure to Jimmy Jacobs and Silas Young...

Coasting along 25 year old needs to make informed choices rather than naive approach in the business... Once hailed as the potential new, young high flying superstar may have been clear myth... Has shown no real signs of improvement and dips further down which is bad for young star... Has held on to a place but hasn't shone with any exceptional skill relying on a gimmick spot alone... 

48

JOEY RYAN

FREELANCE

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Fought for MWE heavyweight title in first round loss to James Morgan... Feb and Mar calamities in TNA saw throwaway battles with bungling buffoon Abyss to no avail... Could not feasibly beat Rob Terry with beefcake Jesse and clown Robbie E in three on one handicap 25^th Apr... As WPW champion upheld wins over Aug from Mr.Tanaka and Ray Rosas... Couldn’t grab vacant MEXPRO heavyweight gold in tense four man claimed by Famous B... Defended CWFH title TV title over Aug... Joined weak team of Chuck Taylor and Trent? For PWG in eye-raising Aug end addition... Won IWL Anarchy title soon after... Fell on 2^nd Nov to Eric Watts for MPW.... Maintained CWFH Heritage TV title on 3^rd Nov from challenger Drake Younger...

Independent luvvie and fan fun enthusiast delivers however hasn’t amounted to bigger echelons of taste... Bungled TNA reputation has not helped... Year of rising star became complete disaster to career... Had low ranking before TNA... Needs to enhance captivation to general consensus than one way street pinnacle... Adequate but uneventful in full... 

47

THE UNDERTAKER

WWE

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Gave match of the evening in phenomenal singles struggle with CM Punk at Wrestlemania maintaining undefeated streak... Gave glowing endorsement to The Shield's Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns on Apr 22nd Raw losing six man anticipation burster with Kane and Daniel Bryan... Gave Dean Ambrose match of his career at London, England's O2 centre on following Smackdown setting Ambrose for further glorious road in year ahead... Disappeared afterwards into parts unknown...

Part timer can still deliver expert input when required... Should be kept healthy to preserve standing for future matches... Has proven to work youngsters up well... Could guide newer, selective stars occasionally to bigger prospects... Has at least three more Wrestlemania opponents in feasible contention... Still gave one of best workings of many in ring players... 

46

ADAM COLE

RING OF HONOR

2012 Placing - 12

Defended secondary World TV title against BJ Whitmer in a poor showing for ROH... Was defeated by Caleb Konley as unconvincing heavyweight champion at PWI event in Feb... Proved inferior once again at ROH in Mar continuing as a loser to Matt Taven who took the TV title with him... String been bounced around with Matt Hardy resorting to a disqualification victory to get over on 3rd Mar... Ignorant PWG champion failed to sell for Drake Younger in bungled title match on 23rd... Lost to pigeon chested Johnny Gargano at AIW Lightning invitational in May... Underachiever beat Roderick Strong by count out on 22nd Jun at Best in the World... Led path at ROH World title contest becoming new champion in stretched out tournament over three months ending as champion in Sep after carried by strong suggestion from wrestling ambassador Max Waltham... Victorious title defence in a no count out match with Strong yet again adding comedy value to heavyweight title in Oct... Disgraced himself on international shores in unworthy encounters over Nov for cheap heat... Qualified for annual 16 Carat Gold series for shortcoming promotion xWx...

Long haired independent worker leapt to heavyweight champion as well as TV champ from Max Waltham influence here - Adam Cole: From crumb to conqueror  ... Made mockery of business devaluing titles to comedic value... Needs to carefully consider match bookings and repent where necessary if future to be brighter for 24 year old novice... Ignorant attitude does not add to wrestling value in sloppy matches on offer...  Needs to bother more if serious about place in wrestling industry...

45

VsK

FREELANCE

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Retained FWE tag title as Adrenaline Express with EJ Risk against Young Bucks Matt and Nick Jackson... Entered King of New York tournament for VPW reaching semi finals with Amazing Red and winner Jay Delta in Feb... Qualified for ECWA Super 8’s yearly contest on 16^th Mar in four way thriller halting Apollyon, Kekoa The Flying Hawaiian and Ricky Martinez...Lifted VPW championship from champ Kevin Tibbs mid Mar... Shone exceptionally as industry player in a loss to Mike Mondo during peachy first round of ECWA tournament on Apr 13th...  Made up for loss gaining ECWA Unified Heavyweight title instead from Josh Daniels mid May... Impressive defences over late May and early June... 1^st June triple threat win against Josh Daniels and Tommaso Ciampa for Unified ECWA title wholesome encounter... 7^th July defences proved tough with success over Ricky Reyes only to be toppled by Papadon taking the title excitingly, in tow... Held on to VPW title in lumberjack battle with Jay Delta in Jul... Sep 21^st title battle saw no contest equaliser with Reyes... Two out of three falls draw with Reyes on 2^nd Nov anticlimactic... 23^rd Nov win over Romeo Roselli was decent encounter...

Needs to gain title victories that enhance repertoire than harm or stagnate them... Capable of holding titles well, should be given more respect in main events... Needs to develop strength of character on both sides... Should add depth... Looks better with short hair... 

44

TOMMASO CIAMPA

RING OF HONOR

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Debuted for Ring of Honor in May with easy win over nonentity Rip Impact... Fought decent pre-liminary match with Brian Fury for CW Heavyweight title contendership in first round... Tangled with Rhino in brief yet agreeable contest on 12th Jul for ROH reclamation card... Paired in six man tag with lackluster superstars including burly atrocity Kevin Steen and Michael Elgin on the winning side against an efforted BJ Whitmer, Eddie Edwards and ignorant string bean Davey Richards who again lied about retirement another year on... Won first and second round battles for vacant ROH heavyweight championship over Aug dropping Silas Young and Michael Bennett... Could not surpass Adam Cole to be crowned new world champion in an intense thirteen minute tussle on 20th Sep... Had PWG four man in late October losing to Drake Younger with Tony Nese and obnoxious tool Brian Cage... Ploughed through TNA reject Jesse Sorensen on 26th... Shuffled into TV title instead as standard ROH company practice when failing to grab main title circa Adam Cole, 2011... Lost to Chris 'Dirty' Dickinson in Nov at Beyond Wrestling... Beat Biff Busick for XWA in decent action at Descent on Nov 22nd... 

Young, muscled 28 year old is in dangerous waters with ROH despite win record in company losing plot... Should jump ship as soon as possible into a wrestling company... Booked as barbarian physique in barbarian company, not fully developing talent... Chaperoned with ignorant and obnoxious talent in ROH can be harmful for career prospects... Needs to get out before senseless losses rack up... Should attempt level force than full on monstrous charge to retain smoother sailing... 

43

BROCK LESNAR

WWE

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Wrestlemania battle with Triple H defeat for Lesnar proved gripping but wayward in part fan thriller... Resurrected Hunter feud month later at Extreme Rules with a Steel Cage victory that finally ended lagging rivalry on even keel... Returned at Aug Summerslam event to destroy 'The Best' CM Punk as 'The Beast' in an outstanding display of work ethic but lost fraction of mystique due to minimal appearances and build up with promos... Disappeared into obscurity for meantime... 

Despite three matches, Lesnar slips through to the 50 for sheer portrayal, technique and willingness towards others to drive some of WWE’s greatest matches of the year amid entire roster becoming hazy... Flanked by Paul Heyman elevates standing when called upon... Holds own in brief appearances with nifty brawler behaviour... Beanie babe should consider making more appearances for WWE come 2014...

42

DAMIAN DRAGON

RETIRED

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Appeared for ECWA Super 8 entry level no disqualification match to bag place over Matt Saigon in progressive action in Mar... Beat Breaker Morant in strong singles action on 16th... Took final match entries on 13th Apr for ECWA Super 8s tournament stumping Mike Mondo with compact first round trail... Second round of same evening dropped Chris Wylde in another tight contest... Finished up in finals with Papadon in final retirement match having a positive sendoff as victor... Has chosen to retire from the industry following an impressive seventeen year career often under appreciated...

Short stint for year in ECWA over final year of wrestling expertly contained professionalism inside squared circle... Will be missed on independent circuits... Has given supportive and powerful match portrayal... Could potentially be coaxed out of retirement if circumstances alter with bookers... Valued technical professional kept foundations on scene sturdy for future generation... 

41

KAHAGAS

FREELANCE

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Halted Von Hess to retain NWA heavyweight championship over Jan... Maintained NWA title prestige over March in DWE with both NWA and DWE titles up for grabs climbing both over Rico Casanova... Double champion was supplanted by Rob Conway for NWA heavyweight gold in extraordinary tingler at Monster's Ball in Texas on Mar 16th... Added extra gold to trophy case with NWA North American heavyweight title in Apr... Transmitted DEW belt back to Rico on 21st... Lost to NWA FUW champion Michael Tarver in a tepid double disqualification... Kept North American title from multiple challengers including stalemate draw with Pain over Summer... Could not be dropped in further glorious defences over three months following... Kept NA title once more in a phoney result by DQ at end of Nov with Jeff Boom...

Representing NWA well in a time of commercialisation... Alternative option driving competition with different prospect in outlook for company... Adapts to others in decent attempts to support... Could do with more legitimate wins gaining higher impact as match outing... Might need to consider lowering dominance a tad to allow others to develop a longer feud for the pair... Consistent force for NWA overall...   

40

STUPEFIED

FREELANCE

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Smashed at PWG DDT4 card falling at first round tag title tournament as champion in defining sparkler to lackluster blocks Michael Elgin and Brian Cage... Dropped Ethan Page and Michael Von Payton as Stu Grayson with Player Uno on C4 Rise Above card... Lost tag titles in NSPW to TDT's Mathieu St-Jacques and Thomas Dubois in four team elimination tingler in Feb... April victories served in fourteen minute tag frenzy with aerial antics as Super Smash Brothers against Young Bucks...  Fought fair eight man tag title confusion for C4 in Ontario mid Jun... Could not wrest tag gold back from Brent Banks and Jae Rukin on 28th Sep event... Prevailed over Radioactive Wave, The After party and Le Tabarank de Team in four team elimination at Saturday Night Slammers in C4 promotion during Nov stint... Succeeded four man lone victory on 23rd against Sebastian Suave, Sexxxy Eddy and Surfer Mitch...

Previous year rise to world title dominance, on horizon, unable to bag full place in WW 50 for 2012 required natural business fall in 2013... Maintained quality in matches with aerial and technical contributions... Has levels of connection and fun emphasis on character to connect with fans... Needs cleaner ground work as all rounder... Could fly high again in tag success for 2014... Should avoid singles until gathering range in skillset...   

39

CHRIS JERICHO

WWE

2012 Placing - 46

Made good impact in Royal Rumble loss to John Cena... Went fifteen minutes on early Feb Raw with CM Punk provoking interest again... Shape waivered with rusty character zapped by mild matches with Dolph Ziggler and Big Show... Lost Elimination Chamber contendership in massive upset for Y2J... Played with The Shield on post Chamber Raw with block loafers Sheamus and Ryback as failed support... Woven into fabric of Wade Barrett and The Miz distiller for Intercontinental title match on Raw over Mar... Gave masterful technical whizz with Antonio Cesaro on April Fools Raw... Followed onto feuds with joke dancer Fandango... Lost to CM Punk in superlative contest in Chicago at Payback where Jericho had unexpected equal fan support... Great ground work with Alberto Del Rio with favourable disqualification ending over Jun... Minor feud with Curtis Axel ended in Intercontinental challenge on Smackdown during Jul becoming last appearance for company thus far...

Part timer slotted back into talent worker well... Should be used as talent builder before fuller main event boost... Will surely return to WWE shortly... Could expand on mid level division as Intercontinental champion... Tag and turn on Daniel Bryan with CM Punk abandonment would benefit product... Dependable worker is valued and needed for restructured foundation to future...

38

TETSUYA NAITO

NEW JAPAN ALL WRESTLING

2012 Placing - 20

Returned from damning injury for NJPW on 27th Apr... Joined with ignorant barren limpster Hiroshi Tanahashi to best CHAOS stablemates Tomohiro Ishii and Yujiro Takahashi on Mayday... Competent yet losing action over May in tags... Admirable but uneventful encounters over following months restoring profile from injury in supportive multi-man matches... G1 climax tournament gave equal win loss ratio of 2:4 over Aug with stunning matches against Kazuchika Okada and Shinsuke Nakamura... Paired back with beefy bore Karl Anderson in empty tag matches... Had testing battle with Yujiro Takahashi on Oct 8th achieving satisfying results...

Despite re-integration from sidelined injury, has joined with wasteful stars... Needs to seize opportunity to strike harder chord with fans regardless of aggression or not... Should work crowds over slowly in promo's and match progression to achieve maximum interest... Has settled back into comfortable position all things considered...

37

BOBBY FISH

RING OF HONOR

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Gained comfortable footing in promotion over Jan in tag partnership with Kyle O'Reilly... Gave good standing in pairing against BJ Whitmer and Rhett Titus on 18th... Captured tag tiles in March as team reDRagon in poor tag transition... Boosted tag enthusiasm with title defence night later with Forever Hooligans Rocky Romero and Alex Koslov... Continued tag team dominance over coming month in Apr... Went over to NOAH to respect Japanese roots who placed faith in him when almost everyone gave up on him... Entered NOAH's Global Tag League with Eddie Edwards as standout force of team... Back in ROH in May took on Roderick Strong and unknown half-wit Cheeseburger adding sheer laughing stock to ROH booking over Jul... Further tag title dysfunction continued on 27th Jul losing tag belts to Koslov and Romero... Won tag titles back from intermediary champions Edwards and ignorant gloomer Davey Richards month later... Beat by Papadon on ICW card with fine exchange over Sep... Put in fair fight for IWC heavyweight championship on 19th Oct against John McChesney... Fought C&C Wrestle Factory's Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander in successful tag victory in appropriate showing over Nov...

Held glue together as defining member of partnership... Seems difficult major American promotion will book aging muscleman capable of working well... Can only hope to be respected should no other strong offers arise... Limited stockpile on offer needs to distribute Fish careful and competitively... Needs to work on mic skills more succinctly... Is greater tag partner of teaming pair...

36

AUSTIN ARIES

TOTAL NON-STOP ACTION

2012 Placing - 3

Couldn't best Jeff Hardy in three way elimination at Genesis featuring tag pal Bobby Roode... Won tag championship with idle Roode on Impact from Hernandez and minuscule motormouth Chavo Guerrero... Went to no contest with Hardy in stale March singles... Empty three way tag tease at Lockdown saw Aries attempt only saving grace to match... Continued shoddy tag rematches as predicted by TNA with almost every team available... Lost best two of three falls to Chavo and Hernandez dropping tag team gold in process... Shoved crotch in ring announcer Christy Hemme's face in complete disregard for botching entrance promo of Aries in mid May... Fined undisclosed sum believed to range between $2,500 and $5000 immediately after... Written out of tag scenarios after paving way for other teams over Jun... Qualified in Bound For Glory series passing comedy clown Eric Young... Failed to regain tag straps once again... Fell short of Bound For Glory contest in Aug to Sep... Failed to achieve X-Division title in Ultimate X five man won by inconceivable Chris Sabin at Bound For Glory... Loser to Kurt Angle in submission title contendership challenge early Nov... Failed to win X-Title on 7th with Sabin... Impressed TNA to bag title in baffling transition on 23rd with lousy input...  On dense side of 12 Way Feast or Fired frenzy with unclear process as Samoa Joe, Norv Fernum, James Storm, Hernandez, Curry Man, Dewey Barnes and Chris Sabin were toppled in nonsense booking once more on 23rd Nov Impact...

Desperado heavily following AJ Styles line is quickly ruining options in field with lacklustre action and bad attitude with naivety outside media promotion... Needs focus on priority of outside influences supporting Aries... Should think about career benefactors more intuitively... Only forces able to help are fading without repention... Once vocal of retirement one year ago should be sign for 35 year old to mature prospects than hinder them... No one else is available to support 5 ft. 9 in. vegan to fullest potential... 

35

JOE DOERING 

ALL JAPAN PRO WRESTLING

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Could not topple Akebono to gain number one contendership to Triple Crown title... Joined with SUWAMA as Last Revolution team to establish tag division... Knocked out by Akebono and Masakatsu Funaki in KO or submission brawl... Played hefty role in Champion Carnival over Apr... Battled with tag team champs Go Shiozaki and Jun Akiyama in unsuccessful blighter with SUWAMA on Jun 2nd... Romper stomped over Summer with glowing victories gaining stead... Took on partner SUWAMA at second round Royal Road contest in twelve minute shiner...  Fell at semi finals end of Sep tourney to Go Shiozaki in another splendid thrashing... Became unstoppable force with 7/8 victories next month including AJPW tag title reign in thirty-one minute scramble over Shiozaki and Akiyama... With tag champ SUWAMA blitzed division soon after... Failed to dethrone Akebono of Triple Crown on 24^th Nov in double count out... Restarted match over two minutes then laid out in pointless process... Finished up on 30^th Nov in World Strongest tag league with success alongside SUWAMA in pleasantly... 

31 year old Canadian became important name in AJPW... Has proven strong support pillar to tag division... Must be kept on level standing and equal at certain times with others... Could be given more promo time and efficiency... Strong continental appeal in Japanese market if done correctly... Key figure for All Japan if it wants to rise above competition and drive wider outlook over 2014... Had monumental year boosted by tag division in All Japan... Firmly placed on the map to those necessary... 

34

JESSE

TOTAL NON-STOP ACTION

2012 Placing - 39

Lost almost every match in TNA during January yet was the star worker of all winning opponents disrespecting Jesse... Took three minute idiocy booking with Rob Terry on 25th Apr... Couldn't win three man handicap over Terry with Joey Ryan and Robbie E despite being Terry's gargantuan equal... As tag team The BroMans began programme with James Storm over Summer months... Lost girlfriend Tara in heartless TNA cull on July 16th... Was allowed feeble win over Eric Young in Aug... Fought authentic six man tag with Gail Kim and Robbie E against Young, Joseph Park and ODB... Fought a laughable yet very workable bout with ODB where both excelled over two minutes in disqualification for Jesse on Oct 10th Impact... Won the tag team gold for TNA at Bound For Glory where James Storm and broad bod Godderz were only outstanding workers in eleven and a half minute stronghold...  Destroyed comedy jobbers Norv Fernum and Dewey Barnes in a thanksgiving tag team Turkey Bowl bout...

Highly ignored by TNA and constantly booked as prop to all dreadful staff on TNA roster harms full potential... After last year's predicted TNA handling would go awry Jesse was a serious contender for title success if TNA prioritised... Neglected as spare, catapults everyone around self to colourful action... Needs to have less comedy and more precision... Could expand repertoire a little...

33

PETEY WILLIAMS

FREELANCE

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Was mistreated poorly in meritous display against laughable duo Christopher Daniels and Kazarian for TNA X-Travaganza PPV in Jan... Challenged J.Miller for CLASH title on 19^th... Took on DOC and Knox of pathetic Aces and Eights faction early Feb for TNA in brainless World X-Cup PPV... Fought former on air pal Scott Steiner to a loss in thirteen min okay bout for HRT... Was dropped by TNA again in more nonsense airings on PPV over Mar... Played against J. Miller again for CLASH title in tenacious 30 man Ironman battle ending in a draw... Followed up with title verses career where Williams was defeated and barred from promotion...  Returned on 26^th Apr as Canadian Destroyer dropping Randy Casey... Became wasteful surplus in TNA again over May in capable encounters... Went to House of Hardcore on Nov 9^th in epic battle with winner Tony Nese and Alex Reynolds in three way thriller...

Orange sheen skirt toting hero holds tender action and audience engagement... Requires strong booking cards... Should avoid UK markets... Dependable worker in matches with others in unison... Delivers quality and story... Needs to develop cleaner transitions in moves to fully become believable... 

32

KURT ANGLE

TOTAL NON-STOP ACTION

2012 Placing - 28

Locked into tedious Aces and Eights battles over Jan and Feb... Put forwards Wes Brisco in Steel Cage at Lockdown which didn’t harm Angle’s position in company... Helped youngsters Garrett Bischoff, DOC and Brisco in attempt to become interesting names over Mar... Handicap battle with Bischoff and Brisco couldn't help their future rise despite accommodating effort... Resigned D’Lo Brown from company on 25^th Apr sending Brown away from TNA’s constrained purse... Had full on thriller with AJ Styles in fifteen minute win at Slammiversary... Catastrophic challenge on 1^st Aug to re-integrate to TNA with lacklustre Chris Sabin against bumbling Bully Ray and haphazard Devon was wasted downer at Bound for Glory where Angle gave spirited effort to achieve workable encounter... World title tournament gimmick match with Austin Aries in submission encounter was decent win over loser Aries... Had to lose to useless featherweight Magnus of all people in Last Man Standing bungle as TNA defiantly believe Magnus should beat strong workers which helped ruin Angle’s standing and failed to increase Magnus’ profile... Stupidity continued in lame set up on ‘1D Day’ shaming the business in a match with One Direction pop tart Liam...

Not best year for Olympic Gold medallist... 44 year old pillock slowly becoming washed out at this rate... Minimal action required and respected as enhances meaning in action than spare goof... However, is needed in light of financial culls and useless co-workers clinging on for cheap labour... Difficult position with TNA and its dependable yet useless talent on tap... Needs invigorating... 

31

ANTONIO CESARO

WWE

2012 Placing - 19

Fantastic Beat The Clock challenge battle with headline act Randy Orton in eleven minute blaster on Raw mid Jan... Made star out of The Miz over Feb as partially interesting challenger to United States title... Parted with United States championship after massive title raising by WWE's most dependable asset Kofi Kingston on Apr 15th Raw... Created huge levels of vulnerability, believability and compassion for Kingston in rematch battles afterward... Briefly worked with Randy Orton once more in physiological masterpieces by both talent raisers... Put in a glorious display at Money in the Bank with aerobatic and aerial spots that encapsulated fans during the comedown period of match... Lost twenty man US title contendership battle royal in decent show by Rob Van Dam on Raw... Joined with nationalistic propagandist mouthpiece Zeb Colter in Real Americans tag team... Used as spare stepping stone from all WWE tag teams made minor star standing for Darren Young and Titus O'Neil, The Uso's and comedy teams including Santino Marella over Summer-Year End... Held an impressive level of consistent work as Integral cog in wheel at Survivor Series five man elimination laying ground work... Now uses novelty giant swing to capitalise on muscle power...

Found place on PPV pre-shows more often than not... Needs to be launched as honourable man in heavyweight title race... Must ditch Xenophobic Colter and lame duckling Jack Swagger... Wasted in tag scene... Needed desperately by WWE to drive new product and quality... Must have strong character in place... Needs to keep rugby socks... Should switch back to red tights... Requires sturdy promos than gimmick tomfoolery... Should be ousted by Swagger in short feud to move on...

30

CHRISTIAN YORK

TOTAL NON-STOP ACTION

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Entered X-Division title hunt advancing over Kid Kash and Kenny King in semi’s to fight Rob Van Dam over Jan... One night only X-Travaganza PPV farce rewarded victory over Alex Silva, Jimmy Rave, Sam Shaw, Puma and Lince Dorado adding character boost... Fought Van Dam at Genesis for X-Title in faulty five minute battle... On winning side of PCW War Games Steel cage eight man match with Adam Flash, Kevin Chesney and Tyler Steel on 19th... Won MCW Heavyweight championship from Ryan McBride in fifteen minute triumph for MCW Anniversary on 22^nd Feb... Had hot contest with Petey Williams in HRT on 2^nd Mar... Could not wrest TNA X-Division title from Kenny King in three way including Zema Ion at Lockdown... Used sparingly as fodder to Wes Brisco on 23^rd... Downed Michael Facade for NWA Mid-Atlantic in late Apr goldenly... Last appearance for TNA on 09^th May Gut Check falling to leaden Jay Bradley... Released from TNA in random shock decision to contain company finances... Defended MCW Championship against C-Fed in another fine bout for Shane Shamrock memorial cup event... Lost tag battle with Cobian against Cody Hall and C-Fed on Nov 23^rd for MCW...  

Despite TNA’s financial turmoil, and apathetic booking practice, has had fruitful year... Unknown star has shown capabilities to industry... Needs complacency and strength in character to fully captivate... Should be able to do so more freely away from TNA clutches... 

29

PRINCE DEVITT

NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING

2012 Placing - 4

Battled Kota Ibushi and Low Ki in an outstanding IWGP Junior title three way keeping the title... Proved inconsistent over March with tag action... Lost high stakes in wrestling industry through ignorance unrelated to character... Failed to put Alex Shelley over in distasteful Junior Heavyweight battle on Arp 5th in NJPW... Took undefeated loss in all Best of Super Juniors matches failing to support anyone else in selfish showoff that didn't enhance company direction...  Stick insect Devitt was unconvincing challenger to IWGP heavyweight title smashed into oblivion by Kazuchika Okada... Dominated G1 Climax show with further self-serving attitude which cost event serendipity... Relied upon in World tag league due to short roster available... Beaten by CHAOS members Shinuske Nakamura and Tomohiro Ishii on 3rd Dec for tag league continuation...

Revealed true face of ignorance as performer over 2013... Severely betrayed wrestling industry... Has harmed own credentials on British shores and should avoid any bookings that harm career... Has immense making up to do with key industry players... Needs to work on promos... Should consider selling for others... Needs to respect business and drive company honour... Isn't as mesmeric as often perceived... Magical core to inner self has been lost... NJPW redistribution is essential to survival as business...  

28

SHINSUKE NAKAMURA

NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Retained IWGP Intercontinental Championship from La Sombra with conviction in Jan... Contributed to tag team action on losing side to prop up winners considerably well... Defended IWGP IC title from Lance Archer over organic fifteen minute fight... Lost immense conceivability in pathetic encounter on 11th Mar New Japan Cup first round with Davey Boy Smith Jr which should have been avoided... Constant work continued in tag matches decreasing to self serving buffet monger Smith... Failed to win IWGP tag title in Apr with Tomohiro Ishii... Lost meaning in title defence on 7th Apr... Joined Kazuchika Okada as team CHAOS in grand work with Shelton Benjamin and Minoru Suzuki... IC title upheld against Benjamin in sterling near fifteen minute teaser in early May... Traded on Mex-Jap tour with CMLL over May establishing dignified inter-brand trade communications despite no victories in eleven matches... Lost IWGP IC title on Mexican shores on 31st May to La Sombra professionally... Recaptured title in Japan on 20th Aug transition from La Sombra... Joined G1 Climax tournament with lavish detail... Brief appearance in NOAH over Aug against KENTA and Takashi Sugiura with CHAOS member Naomichi Marufuji was fulgent twenty minute fumble... Calm defences in Sep with Benjamin and Oct with Marufuji... Solid Nov clash with Minoru Suzuki ... Took place in world tag league with Ishii over Nov losing on 30th to Manabu Nakanishi and Strong Man splendidly...

Must honour prestigious title with worthy challengers for company and own standing alongside title linage... Needs to contain level approach in match strategy... Works with others practically... Drives results for mid level title scene in New Japan... Keeps tag and mid level areas well supported... 

27

ROB CONWAY

NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Made return to wrestling's independent circuit for NWA in Jan... Proved still had levels of charisma in two of three falls challenge over Ricky Starks at 2-0... March madness propelled Conway to valid NWA heavyweight title win over Kahagas... Expert contest with Satoshi Kojima on NJPW's Invasion Attack card in Apr was awe-inspiring... Ironman Conway had to guide sloppy Chris Masters to nineteen minute defence which should have been avoided... Stunning defences as champion over coming months elevated opposing talent and company fortune... Stalemate success with Chase Stevens over thirty minute standoff was another jewel for NWA's crown in Jun... Turned down offer as Head trainer at WWE Performance Centre being unable to relocate... Destroyed all in path with amazing defences including 18th Oct win over Byron Wilcott... Paired up with Jax Dane over Nov with dynamic team placement... Joined the world tag league in NJPW churning out belters with Shelton Benjamin and Minoru Suzuki on 30th Nov... Followed excellence with victory over Kazuchika Okada and YOSHI-HASHI on 1st Dec...

Returned meaning to heavyweight gold and institution for NWA... Could easily hold NWA title for two years minimum to re-brand and contain NWA's platform in industry... 39 year old Conway is far from finished with pro wrestling... Is fully committed as champion and respected by community as full on striver... Still in physical prime... Cannot be faulted for workrate...

26

NAOMICHI MARAFUJI

PRO WRESTLING NOAH

2012 Placing - Unlisted 

Held strong presence in BRAVE tag tandem over Jan with Takeshi Sugiura and Mohammed Yone... With Sugiura defended GHC tag titles on 27^th... Made it to quarter finals in Torneo Latinoamericano de Lucha Libre in Feb with Kaiser welcomely... Entered global tag league in Apr... Survived sterling Captains Fall elimination battle in Jun with team BRAVE... Took challenge to champion KENTA in durable effort for GHC title month later unsuccessful... Tons of tag victories followed until Oct... Fought cross promotion battle with NJPW Intercontinental champion Shinsuke Nakamura at King of Pro Wrestling card, failing to snare gold... Excellent flexibility in Global Tag League continuation in multiple bouts spanning daily over last week of Nov... Stumped by Yuji Nagata on 10^th ending progress... 29^th Nov tag fortune with Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls and Tatsuhito Takaiwa ends year of action...

Tense warrior comfortable in tag action sets scene well for future prospects... Needs to work on promos a little... Could do with title in Apr months... Can hold company walls together as one of its most reliable staff... Has impressed continental and over-shore onlookers... Could tie match quality together a little neater...  

25

ALEX SHELLEY

NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING

2012 Placing - Unlisted

Kept up Time Splitters team with KUSHIDA over Feb and Mar as new champs in non title elasticity... Stopped Forever Hooligans Rocky Romero and Alex Koslov on 10th fruitfully... Followed up successive tag defence number two form Jushin Liger and Tiger Mask... Was highly disrespected by NJPW and Prince Devitt as challenger to IWGP Junior Heavyweight championship in Apr used in excess... Returned form in defence two days later as tag champs... Dropped tag titles on May 3rd to Romero and Koslov... Became runner up in masterful aerial anxiety at Best of Super Juniors... Failed to recapture tag gold at Dominion... Won following twelve matches in glorious tag matches that kept core of tag division together... Earned title contendership with KUSHIDA on Sept 29th Destruction card to set rematch taking a crushing Liger Bomb by Taichi... Revealed on Oct 7th would be sidelined by devastating back injury becoming fourth mishap since late 2012 return...

Work in Time Splitters has been extremely worthwhile for all involved... Limited tag teams should highlight need to raise Shelley and his technique further than submerge it... Added defining point to division, character and co-workers... Will need support when returning from injury... Steady work back into early months with hard footing later can become advantage for NJPW... Injury casts huge doubt over incredible worker... Rough workers in NJPW should learn to put on the breaks, unless NJPW wants to become barbarian promotion than one that can excel amid competition...

Click here for part two of the Wrestling Wonders Pro 50 (24 - 1)  - WW Pro 50 Part 2

You can also check previous year entries here - WW Pro 50



©  Max Waltham 19th December 2013