Movers and Shakers
Posted: 03/30/02
Hey all. Not much to say this holiday weekend. Just one note before I dive in. I mention the Champion Carnival a few times-that's an annual event All Japan Pro Wrestling holds every year where a group of wrestlers get split into two groups. Everyone wrestles everyone else in their block, amassing points based on the outcomes. Finally, the winner of block A meets the winner of block B to determine the Champion. Got all that?
Okay then, let's see who tops the charts for 3/24 through 3/30.
10. Kaz Hayashi (All Japan): Heck of a week for Kaz, as he goes 4-1 for All Japan, including being a part of the 3/28 main event six-man tag in which he scored the winning pinfall on Kazushi Miyamoto. We wish Kaz was still around here in the States, but he's probably a lot happier in his home country, and looks to be one of the main players in AJPW's fledgling juniors division.
9. Ricky Marvin (CMLL): Everyone's favorite high-flying youngster returned to Galavision for the first time in a few months, teaming with Felino and Hombre Sin Nombre over Zumbido, Virus, and Dr. X. Ricky did pull out the worst Majistral Cradle ever, but other then that was his usual crazy self (check out the nasty spill he takes at the start of the second fall). Not only that, Ricky is entered in this year's El Numero Uno (Toryumon's own version of the Champion Carnival). Sure, he's 0-1 so far, but he's got several matches left, and just competing in the event says a lot about his talents.
8. Guerreros de Infiierno (CMLL): That would be Ultimo Guerrero, Rey Buccanero Jr., and Tarzan Boy, maybe the coolest three wrestlers on the planet. What makes them
so awesome? Well, normally when the rudo dominates a fall in a lucha match it's a punch/stomp/mask-rip fest. Not so with the Guerreros, who have added the craziest double and triple-teams to their repertoire. Not to mention the fact that the have the best chemistry of any trios team since Dr. Wagner, Blue Panther, and Black Warrior still teamed up. It was another killer week for them, as they headlined the past Galavision show and defeated Olimpico, Atlantis, and Lizmark Jr., and they have a big showdown with Wagner, Panther, and Fuerza Guerrera next week for the trios titles. I can't imagine the titles swapping again after Wagner and co. just won them, although I can't think of anyone more deserving than the GdI.
7. Gen'ichiro Tenryu (All Japan): Not only is he doing well in the Champion Carnival (2-0 so far, and only 1 point behind Taiyo Kea for the block lead), he's going to take on Keiji Mutoh for the vacant Triple Crown on 4/13 (the two will also face off on 4/1 as part of the Carnival) in a rematch of their Match of the Year from last year. I'd peg Tenryu as the underdog, but it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility to see him with the belts for a third time.
6. Kane (WWF): Heck of a week for Kane, as he was first drafted by Ric Flair to keep the nWo in line on Raw, and lived up to that obligation by making the save in the main event. He then teamed with the Rock and Hulk Hogan to beat Hall, Nash, and X-Pac on Smackdown when Kane planted X-Pac with a chokeslam. Oh yeah, he also showed a little personality too by imitating both Rock and Hulkster in an interview. With Rock and Hogan confined to Smackdown, it looks like Kane will have the nWo feud all to himself on, as well as some direction for the first time in a while.
5. X-Pac (WWF): Something of a left over from last week, as we somehow forgot that X-Pac not only returned after many months of inactivity, but also joined the nWo
immediately upon his return. Some argue that 'Pac has moved into this high profile angle based purely on who his friends are, and especially since
nothing he has done in the ring in the last few years would precipitate such a move. Others argue that he was a member of the original now, and his placement
is a perfectly logical move, and it also allows Kevin Nash to do even less in tag
matches. But two things you have to agree on: 1) X-Pac has successfully maneuvered his way back up the card, and 2) Kevin Nash sucks.
4. Keiji Mutoh (All Japan): After dropping his first match to Steve Williams, Mutoh rebounded by winning his next two Champion Carnival matches (against Greg Hines and Mike Rotundo) to put him right back in the hunt. Not only that, with Toshiaki Kawada being forced to forfeit the Triple Crown, Mutoh will face off with Gen'ichiro Tenryu for the vacant belts on 4/13, and he's got to be the favorite to win them back.
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Masa Chono (New Japan): Tenzan makes a big comeback after falling short in his bid to win the IWGP Heavyweight title by teaming with Chono
to beat Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi for the belts on 3/24 in a tournament
final (The belts had been vacant since Keiji Mutoh jumped to All-Japan in February). Neither man is a stranger to the tag straps: this is the duo's record tying fourth run with the belts
(Tenzan has also had two other reigns with Satoshi Kojima, Chono a pair with Keiji Mutoh). With no serious contenders on the horizon, I'd look for
Tenzan and Chono to enjoy a lengthy reign.
2. The Rock (WWF): The famous Rock proved his mettle when Vince McMahon selected him as the #1 pick in last Monday's draft. Not only that, with Rocky on Smackdown and the New World Order on Raw, Rock will no longer be forced to sell Kevin Nash's low-octane offense of punches and lifting his leg in the air. A good week all around, I'd say.
1. Triple H (WWF): The Undisputed World Champion had a successful title defense on Raw, fending off Chris Jericho and Stephanie McMahon. Not only that, with the win Stephanie is gone from the fed forever (or about 90 days, whatever comes first). He also headlined Smackdown, teaming with Ric Flair in a losing effort. Which such a high profile week and for his services to humanity, HHH makes an obvious choice for #1.
And now some bonus awards:
Poor Dope of the Week: Toshiaki Kawada (All Japan). The guy finally gets the Triple Crown back, but has to vacate it a month after he wins it due to a knee injury. And the last time he won the Triple Crown, he had to vacate it a week later, because he broke his arm during the title match. Man, did Papa Shango put a curse on him? Poor dope.
Attaboy of the Week: Mr. Wondercut 2002 (Osaka Pro): If for no other reason than I love that name.
That's all for this week. Next week sees the debut of the split rosters, as well as a New Japan PPV on Friday. See you then.
Joe Gagne
bwo@infi.net