We carry on.
40. Davey Richards
Points: 1326
Ballots: 18
Highest Vote: 11th Place (Jerome Cusson)
Last Year's Placement: 36th Place
39. Jigsaw/Rubix
Points: 1356
Ballots: 21
Highest Vote: 5th Place (Okori Wadsworth)
Last Year's Placement: 63rd Place
TH: Jigsaw had an interesting year in Chikara, which again was more based in story than in showcase matches. His best performance may have been in the season finale, when he went full rudo. It makes me way more excited for him in 2013 than anything else. However, as far as him in Chikara goes, he had a fairly standard year, which is a good year in my book.
Philip Rosenbaum: There are three superkicks that stand out in my mind in wrestling history, and the first two belong to Shawn Michaels: When The Rockers broke up, and when he retired Ric Flair. The third superkick heard 'round the world came in November 2012, when the friendship and partnership of Mike Quackenbush and Jigsaw came to a quick end as "The Wrestling Riddle Wrapped in an Enigma" delivered a shocking superkick to his old friend's throat. He also delivered another notable superkick in the season finale, as assailANT took the bullet and finally proved himself to be the tecnico that he strived to be.
While it wasn't a great year for wins and losses for Jigsaw, it was an extremely developmental year in his career as he got a tryout in TNA and teamed with Hallowicked to unsuccessfully challenge the Briscoe Brothers for the ROH tag titles after defeating them earlier in the year.
Robot Hammer: You don't get to be one of the cornerstones of Chikara by being a slouch. Jigsaw ain't no slouch. His singles matches with Brodie Lee, Icarus, and the Shard were all great performances, and that's not factoring in his tag, trios, or atomico matches. His frustrations with the Gekido, and later his mentor Mike Quackenbush, pushed him in a more aggressive direction. Even when the outside distractions cost Jigsaw the match, his efforts did not go unrecognized.
Typical ROH Fan: Jigsaw had a great 2012. As someone who does not watch a lot of Chikara, seeing him in TNA was a great reminder of what he can do as he stole the show at the Impact Zone. He should have had a spot there and maybe he will in 2013 with the new X Division rules but this reminded me how good he was and in finding some of Chikara matches in 2012 to see he's one of the better dudes out there. PS I love the name Rubix. Sorry. (Favorite 2012 match: with Quackenbush and Toyota vs. Sendai Girls at Chikara KOT)
38. Colt Cabana
Points: 1376
Ballots: 20
Highest Vote: 7th Place (Frank McCormick)
Last Year's Placement: 37th Place
John Rosenberger: Full disclosure: I am a comedy wrestling mark. I like comedy, and I like wrestling and yet I know a lot of fellow comedians who are all “BLAH BLAH BLAH I LIKE MY WRESTLING TO SEEM REAL.” Not me. If you can do comedy and wrestling at the same time, you’ve got me. I’ve not seen someone so effective at blending the two worlds in a long time as Colt Cabana. His ability to make me giggle at the dumb stuff he does, while also appearing to be an effective wrestler is a duo that I hadn’t seen and even when he rehashes bits such as the “Look up there” and then slap move, it still feels fresh. Part of this is because he seems to enjoy himself as much as the fans enjoy him and it builds a sense of all being in on the same thing. A sense of community in between the wrestler and the audience during a match, and not just at the merch tables, is something I treasure in any performance.
37. Tyson Kidd
Points: 1379
Ballots: 19
Highest Vote: 5th Place (Paolo Chikiamco)
Last Year's Placement: 55th Place
TH: Guys like CM Punk advocate for Tyson Kidd to get more time, and after seeing some of his performances on lower shows, it's hard to argue against them. His match with Michael McGillicutty on NXT was good enough to headline RAW if it just had the story and support. I had hopes for his tag run with Justin Gabriel, but he went and shredded his knee – obviously not his fault. However, what he showed before he got hurt was evidence he's being wasted. Give this man a bigger stage, dammit.
Mike Germano: If you didn't see any of Tyson Kidd's feud with Michael McGillicutty from NXT in early 2012, I'd advise you to look it up as soon as possible. Thought Kidd never got much time on Smackdown or Raw, his work on NXT and Main event it 2012 is some of the best work in the WWE this year. He can't come back soon enough, and I truly hope he gets a spot matching his in-ring talent.
Dylan Hales: For a fleeting moment Tyson Kidd lived up his hype. Kidd is a guy that has been touted by some people in "smart" circles since he was...well...a kid. He's always looked good, but never looked particularly great. That is until him and Hunico became the WWE C-shows aces for a couple of months in 2012. Did he have a great year? No. But he did make the most out of his opportunities and had some really strong bouts with guys like Hunico and Michael McGullicutty. When he made the main shows he looked good. I was really starting to warm to him and then he got hurt. Which sucks. Hopefully he comes back ready to go on a similar tear.
36. AR Fox
Points: 1393
Ballots: 19
Highest Vote: 3rd Place (Jennifer Logsdon)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: Fox started the year as a guy on the cusp, and by the end of the year, he was being positioned in dream match scenarios. This is not an accident. If you watched the Iron Man match against ACH at AIW Straight Outta Compton, you know it wasn't all ACH there. He's one of the best at the flippy shit, but he works surprisingly well as a bigger wrestler, thanks to his taller stature. He also has a great finisher in the Lo Mein Pain. He's only going to get better, even if that means he'll be more and more on WWE's radar.
Dylan Hales: One of the only interesting flippy dudes in wrestling. I am not sold that Fox is anything close to a great wrestler, but he'll work hard, take a nutty bump and can steal the show if matched up with the right opponent. I don't really go out of my way to watch many guys that work the places he works, but I'll usually give a card a chance if he is working someone who I think can make his positives stand out.
Typical ROH Fan: 2012 introduced me to AR Fox and he is crazy. In what I consider my random wrestling watching (outside of my main four - WWE, TNA, ROH, PWG), AR Fox often leaves the most memorable moments in DGUSA, EVOLVE and CZW. The match I'm about to list as my favorite was one of my favorites the entire WrestleMania weekend in 2012. (Favorite 2012 match: vs. Rich Swann - Check it out for free LEGALLY. Yes LEGALLY)
35. Mike Quackenbush
Points: 1402
Ballots: 19
Highest Vote: 3rd Place (Okori Wadsworth)
Last Year's Placement: 32nd Place
TH: Quack teased everyone with a rudo transformation, one that was eerily coincidental with comments made by Chris Hero in a shoot interview exposing some unsavory traits of his backstage. It was his student, Jigsaw, who ended up going bad, but that doesn't mean the bad traits in Quack's in-ring game weren't well-appreciated. They added depth to his already stellar mechanics and technical mastery, especially in the Green Ant match from the season premiere. It's subtle at times, but when you catch it, it's gratifying. Outside of the Green Ant match, Quack worked mostly in tags and multi-person matches, but given that he's the godfather of a promotion where those matches are at the foundation, that's not a complaint at all.
Philip Rosenbaum: Chikara's founding father had yet another stellar year in the ring, with a twist. This year, he got to show off a new mean streak in defending his home. He single-handedly put out a pair of members of the Gekido. It wasn't the best year for Quack in the wins column (much to the chagrin of his now-former partner Jigsaw) as he was disqualified for the rare "excessive violence" after putting 17 out of wrestling with a greatest hits countdown of his 4 different variations of the Quackendriver. 2012 was the year that "Lightning" Mike stopping put up with BS.
34. Tim Donst
Points: 1446
Ballots: 20
Highest Vote: 5th Place (Alex Torres)
Last Year's Placement: 74th Place
TH: There were two Tim Donsts in 2012. One was the cocky bad boy-turned-modern day Raven in Chikara, and there was the honorable folk hero Champion in AIW. Both turned in great matches under varying circumstances. Versatility is a great trait to have, and any great wrestler needs to show it in the ring. He excelled as a serial cheater, an abusive tag partner, a sadist who didn't care if he got disqualified, an equal competitor against a fellow babyface challenger, or as a defender of the status quo against rogue invaders. There was a lot to love about Tim Donst last year as a wrestler.
Philip Rosenbaum: There is a fine distinction between wrestling ability and what you do in matches.
It was a rough year for Tim Donst. After having his head shaved due to his loss to Hallowicked, Donst's descent into misery and antipathy truly did manifest itself during matches. Not only his own, which he seemed like he could not care less about unless triggered, but also in the matches of Jakob Hammermeier, who looks up to his BFF Tim. He distracted Jakob to keep him from having a shot at winning the Young Lions Cup because he actually felt like it ruined lives. Then, in the penultimate confrontation of his feud with Eddie Kingston in Chikara, Donst attacked the War King, a member of his own team, during the Torneo Cibernetico and held him down on the outside so that he could only watch until the time was right to throw Kingston in the ring and pick up the win himself.
Tim Donst wasn't the best or most exciting person to DO WRESTLES in 2012, but the path of his persona told through matches he was involved in was so compelling that he was among the best of the year.
Robot Hammer: I'm a big fan of in ring character work. I wonder if I was watching a match with someone who'd never seen either wrestler before what they could tell me beyond 'the guy in red is the good guy, the one in blue is the bad guy.
I can't imagine someone seeing a Tim Donst match and not getting the vibe of his character. Considering the fact that he started the year in Chikara as a brash , arrogant man who claimed he was the greatest Young Lion's Cup champion, then spiraled into a self-destructive pattern that led him to dare someone to kill him in the ring, that's no small feat. He expressed these changes through his bell to bell wrestling just as well as he did through his promos. His body language and mannerisms shifted with his ring work to reflect his shifting mental states.
Oh yeah, and he's a really good wrestler too.
De O'Brien: Over the course of my love affair with CHIKARA, I've watched Tim Donst change from a goofy, smiling star-struck kid with nothing more than a willingness to please everyone, to a scheming, bitter devious madman (sorry, UltraMantis) who wants to change wrestling the only way he knows how: by destroying it and molding it in the correct image. His image. Right now one of the most compelling stories going on in CHIKARA is Donst's Grand Plan, which only a few - if any - seem to be privy to, and if you have any doubt that Donst does indeed have something in mind and up his sleeves, look no further than his match with CHIKARA Grand Champion Eddie Kingston at last year's Under The Hood for proof. You could see the decline of a once-sane, once-pleasant kid into a raving, abusive lunatic who was doing it all for the best reason possible: To save and change the sport he gave up his life, family and love for. I for one have no doubt that if more of us begin to support Donst's Grand Plan and watch him demolish those who interfere, we'll have wrestling the way it should be.
Or at the least, he'll convince us in the end that's what we've wanted all along.
Alex Torres: I wrote about Tim Donst last year, mostly as a person who had only just learned of him. This year, I've seen him become a champion, and I can confidently say he was the most interesting part of a weird year of Chikara. While the rest of Chikara juggled multi man wars which had no real interest for me, Donst stood out with his darker, stronger character, his compelling relationship with Jakob Hammermeier, and his personal feuds with Hallowicked and Eddie Kingston. The hair vs. mask match was the highlight of Chikarasaurus Rex, Donst conveying an array of intense emotions throughout. Without Donst, I doubt my interest in Chikara would have been as strong this year.
Donst was also a power player in AIW, being a part of the biggest storylines, and finally completing his long journey since 2011 for the company's top title. AIW has put Brian Kendrick, BJ Whitmer, Johnny Gargano, Shiima Xion, and ACH in his path, and TIm Donst has more than delivered against each of them.
Tim f'n Donst took over his promotions in 2012, arguably the MVP of both. I'm excited for his 2013.
33. Robert/RD Evans/Archibald Peck/Mixed Martial Archie/The Mysterious and Handsome Stranger
Points: 1577
Ballots: 21
Highest Vote:1st Place (Lee Spriggs)
Last Year's Placement: 52nd Place
TH: Across several promotions under several names with different iterations even under similar characters, RD Evans was maybe the most interesting wrestler of 2012. If we had just limited his resume to just the match against Portia Perez at Guilty by Association last year, he'd have been a strong candidate to make my ballot as a single match wrestler, just as strong as, say, Brock Lesnar was for the Cena match. It's hard, especially in wrestling, to play out a lover's quarrel in the wrestling ring without coming off as hateful or misogynistic, but in no small part to Evans assuming the role as creeper and having Perez kick his ass. But Evans had far more notches in his belt than just that one. There were matches in Chikara as Marchie Archie and the Stranger against Sara del Rey and Lancelot Bravado. Hell, he even made a MMA exhibition against Darkness Crabtree highly enjoyable.
Philip Rosenbaum: If you're not having fun when any of the personas of Robert Evans are in the ring, I don't think there is anything I can say to make you understand the brilliance. He had a sad when Veronica left him. He went backstage during a match and got himself sent back in time. He came back as a masked Stranger, who was Mysterious, Handsome, and capable of pulling off a surprising number of wins in the latter half of the year.
Ryan Kilma: Unlike most wrestlers with bells and whistles, when you take away Robert Evans’ whistle, and his bell, (and his drum, baton, giant hat, mask-on-a-mask, finger guns, off-the-wall promos, wooden horse, and his pidgeon sidekick) you still got yourself a pretty fine wrestler. Whenever I hear one of my friends say “Wrestling is stupid” I either show them Generico vs. Ibushi vs. Jackson vs. Jigsaw or I pop in Archibald Peck vs. Colt Cabana from KOT 2011. Are Archibald Peck matches stupid? Yes, insanely stupid. I read a synopsis on his no disqualification match with Mr. Touchdown and it started to sound like a beautiful, dark, twisted fantasy. But there are few people I’d rather see wrestle than the Faces of Peck.
Frank McCormick: It's hard to put into words just how much of a mark I am for Archibald Peck/Mixed Martial Archie/Mysterious and Handsome Stranger. He just appears and I pop. He's a big, gangly, goofy guy playing big, gangly, goofy characters, whose big, gangly, goofy body somehow pulls out moves you wouldn't think a big, gangly, goofy body could, and my heart flutters with joy at the very sight of him. His most recent tag team partner was a pigeon! He is a time-traveler with multiple doppelgangers/quantum doubles! But what makes him so great is his sheer ability to connect with an audience. He makes you care about every match he is in, to feel the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. And, really, isn't that what this crazy thing called "professional wrestling" is all about? Taking the fans along on your rollercoaster ride?
John Rosenberger: Personality is something Robert Evans has in spades. It’s hard enough to throw yourself as completely in to one wrestling persona let alone juggle as many as he does and still invest yourself so completely in each one. The match at Chikarasaurus Rex where he is able to switch between personas mid match is one of my favorite matches of 2012 due in no small part to him. (Also due to the fact that it features 3 other people on this list).
Shawn Duckett: Evans' work in Chikara in 2012 was absolutely awesome. In fact, I think it was the highlight of the 2012 Chikara season. The Mysterious and Handsome Stranger character was brilliant. Wrestling matches should tell a story and be entertaining. Evans delivered every time I watched one of his matches in 2012.
Lee Spriggs: Robert Evans may be the most gifted performer we have as wrestling fans. Whether as Robert Evans, RD Evans, Archibald Peck, Mixed Martial Archie, or the Mysterious and Handsome Stranger, Evans brings a commitment to character that no one can touch.
He's the embodiment of psychopathic hatred: witness his sadistic match against Portia Perez in ACW at Guilty By Association 6. The look on his face when Portia's leg fails her, and the way he takes advantage, is easily the most chilling moment I've seen in a wrestling match (besides another Evans moment from 2011... but that's another story).
He's the best comedic wrestler out there: all you have to watch is his Chikara match against Chuck Taylor in March in Ottawa (at "It's How You Play the Game"), a match that featured pose-offs, attempted drownings via painting, and Peck getting stuck in the ceiling.
He's a source of pathos: the story in the first half of 2012 for Archibald Peck was that his girlfriend had left him, and in an attempt to seem more macho, he adopted an MMA gimmick (which went wrong) and eventually lost his career at Chikarasaurus Rex. After returning, his beloved feral pigeon was brutally killed in the ring by his arch-nemesis Mr. Touchdown. And we were able to see him mourn in the ring and then turn that into an even deeper enmity with Mr. Touchdown, a rivalry that's carrying forward to today.
There are only two wrestlers who I'd be intimidated to meet because I wouldn't know how to really thank them for everything they've made me feel: from fear, to humor, to a surprisingly touching sadness. And Peck is one of them.
P.S. There are few wrestlers who have not only become indelibly linked with certain songs, but have also saved songs I used to have a deep and abiding hatred for. I can't hear "Don't Stop Believing" anymore without Evans coming to mind, so that's something else that he deserves thanks for.
32. Matt Jackson
Points: 1781
Ballots: 24
Highest Vote: 6th Place (Typical ROH Fan)
Last Year's Placement: 51st Place
TH: I can't really separate one Buck from the other, so count this as my entry for Nick Jackson too. The Bucks are one of the most underappreciated tag teams in America today because they work primarily for PWG. I also get the feeling that people see them as Chikara interlopers instead of awesome guest stars/pseudo-roster members like they are. That's a shame, because any time the Bucks are in a match, they are going to be super entertaining to the meta-fan and infuriating in terms of heel heat to the regular fan. They're the best intersection of old school heels and new school indie wrestling move innovation, and I think any card they're on immediately becomes must see. While their most lauded match – vs. Team FIST at Chikarasaurus Rex – was a bit overdone for my tastes, all their PWG work was must-see, especially the three-way ladder match and the bout against Generico and Kenny Omega.
Philip Rosenbaum: The Young Bucks have mastered the art of tag team wrestling to the point that it even works when a third is added in a trio. This year, they got even more crisp. Nick and Matt have such amazing synergy that even as heels, you have to appreciate what they do in the ring. They are always on point with their tandem maneuvers, much to the dismay of all the challengers for the Campeonatos de Parejas in the second half of 2012. They were perfect in their role as the outsiders that just couldn't QUITE be beaten for the titles, and their smugness took them to new heights in 2012.
Ryan Kilma: Matt Hardy should pay Matt Jackson to wrestle as him.
Typical ROH Fan: Considering this is based off the best matches, I have to put the Bucks here. Very few people make me enjoy wrestling as much as they do. Whether it's the PWG DVDs, the odd Dragon Gabe or Chikara show or the local indy show which I was lucky to see, I never not enjoy their matches. Matt gets ranked higher than Nick because he does the Spear. (Favorite 2012 match: with Petey Williams vs. Brian Kendrick, Jay Lethal and Paul London at FWE Back To Brooklyn)
31. Kane
Points: 1791
Ballots: 27
Highest Vote: 7th Place (Jesse Powell)
Last Year's Placement: 82nd Place
TH: Kane will be most remembered for his in-character antics with Daniel Bryan as positive and his involvement in the John Cena feud as a black mark (and I think that badness was overblown… that feud had some memorable moments even if the big picture missed the mark). However, the dude has had one of the most under-the-radar years in WWE in recent history. The Cena matches were popcorn fun, even if they weren't going to appear on any Match of the Year lists. He dragged no fewer than three awesome matches out of Randy Orton, including the rollicking opener to their best PPV of the year, Extreme Rules. Then, there was the tag team run with Bryan which produced a lot of good, if not great, matches that concluded with maybe the WWE match of the year, the six man against the Shield at TLC, of which the Big Red Monster was a HUGE part.
Jesse Powell: What a year for the Big Red Monster. Sure, the Cena feud at the beginning of the year was kind of “eh”, but his match with Orton at WrestleMania was surprisingly good, and the rest of his year was one hell of a fun ride, from competing for the WWE title to winning the Tag Team gold with Daniel Bryan, Kane continues to build on a career that will likely find him remembered as certainly one of the top five big men in the history of the game.
Ryan Kilma: Whoops, I wrote a paragraph about how awesome Kana is before I realized I was writing about Kane. I will say this: It has been a career year for psychopaths. First Abyss becomes America’s Sweetheart, and then Kane evolves into this generation’s Walter Matthau. Kane also has had a spring in his step that has been almost non-existent in the nearly two decades (!) he has been with the WWE.
30. Nick Jackson
Points: 1801
Ballots: 24
Highest Vote: 7th Place (Lee Spriggs, Typical ROH Fan)
Last Year's Placement: 47th Place
Ryan Kilma: The Nick-Matt Talent Chasm is not nearly as wide as the Jeff-Matt, but the Youngest Buck remains my favorite. I debated for hours whether or not the botched tightrope walk before the ROH/Sendai Girls match was real or not. When I saw him do it again, two months later, at A Piece of the Action, he became one of my new favorite wrestlers.
Typical ROH Fan: See Matt Jackson. But without the spear.
29. Rachel Summerlyn
Points: 1864
Ballots: 23
Highest Vote:1st Place (De O'Brien)
Last Year's Placement: 61st Place
TH: Intergender wrestling has taken huge strides forward in the last two years in no small part to wrestlers like Sara del Rey, LuFisto, Jessicka Havok, MsChif, Mena Libra, and Candice LaRae, but the OG of all that noise has been Rachel Summerlyn. She was wrestling men before wrestling men was cool in Texas. While other wrestlers were branching out of their regions though, Summerlyn, outside of a couple of dalliances into 2CW, stayed at home. Thankfully, ACW is a fine place to have as a home base.
It was there where she spent the first half of her year rattling off MOTYC after MOTYC, whether against Jessica James, Matthew Palmer, Jazz, or in the Yoga Pants Party match. Her approach in each match was strikingly similar, but tailored to each opponent. Watching a Rachel Summerlyn match was never about defining whether it was "women's wrestling" or "intergender wrestling" insomuch as it was just about being a "wrestling match."
That's why she's the prototype. While other wrestlers seem to be defined by labels, Summerlyn is one of the best in the country, if not the world, because she has done so much to cast these labels off and normalize any promotion she steps into. Even above and beyond that, she's just good. If that sounds simplistic, well, it's as simple as making a declarative sentence about her worth. She's as good at trading wristlocks as she is getting tossed off a balcony, with everything in between being part of her repertoire. If she doesn't have a top 10 resume, no one does.
Jesse Powell: I never even considered that women could fight against men, and it wasn’t because of antiquated ideas about gender, I had just never seen it. Then I came across Rachel this year as I immersed myself more in wrestling. She is just…perfect. Every match looks like it takes 100% out of her, and of her opponent. Every move looks painful, and not in a botchy way.
De O'Brien: My feelings on the treatment and portrayal of women over the last year in wrestling have been pretty obvious; I wrote a piece about how AJ Lee was screwed over completely by WWE for Drop Toehold, I've had several moments about how the Big Two treat their ladies on my Twitter, and I've sort of felt like giving up on American wrestling companies altogether because I didn't feel like they respected women as wrestlers, but expected us - the audience - to see them as pretty eye candy who were there to make the boys look good/give them something to beat up on.
And then my friend Kurtis (Kayfabe, from Drop Toehold/The KGBCast/Twitter) asked me one day, Have you seen Rachel Summerlyn?
Much to my chagrin, I had never heard of her before, and that day my eyes were opened to the fact that here was a woman wrestling in America not named Sara del Rey who was a bruiser, who could keep up with and surpass the boys, and who was very much a woman excelling in a male-dominated field. I didn't think anything could possibly happen to elevate my opinion of Rachel Summerlyn as one of the best wrestlers I've ever seen - until I bought Anarchy Championship Wrestling's Nothing Is As Real As A Dream 2012 on DVD.
If you're not familiar with ACW, you ought to be; they boast a roster of impressive wrestlers (including two of my favorites, JoJo Bravo, the heaviest sumo in the land, and Jack Jameson, bringing MANarchy to this country, one wrestling ring at a time), but on a card that was full of great matches - Davey Vega and Athena vs. Matthew Palmer and Su Yung being one of the better mixed tag matches I've had the privilege to witness - the thing that stands out the most is a gimmick I normally despise: An Evening Gown Match. And not just any Evening Gown Match, but an Evening Gown Dream Partner tag match that pitted Angel Blue and Lady Poison vs. Portia Perez and Rachel Summerlyn. I wasn't expecting to like a match that I was convinced was going to lower these ladies to mere sex objects, and I wasn't prepared for the sheer amount of storytelling that I, a new viewer of ACW up to that point sans a couple YouTube matches, was able to experience in one single match. Portia's untrustworthy (emphasized over and over by a rather bitter Robert Evans on commentary); why would Rachel lower herself to tagging with someone she knows is pretty much pure evil? Lady Poison and Rachel have a rather strange history. Angel's just a jerk. All of the ladies in this match went above and beyond to make it far far more than your standard "Oh my gosh, stripping ladies! TEEHEE!" evening gown match, and for that I am grateful, but what I most remember and will most likely mention from now until the day I die is that in that match, a match full of great spots and great in-ring storytelling that was ACTUAL WRESTLING, Rachel Summerly stood out, regal head and shoulders above it all.
And for that, I very much believe she deserves to be my Number One vote for this ballot, because without Rachel Summerlyn, and ladies like her who are ready and willing to come along and take up the challenge that the misuse of women in the past by wrestling has left them, I think a small part of me would have given up on women in American wrestling altogether. So for that, Ms. Summerlyn, I cannot thank you enough.
Eamon Paton: Rachel Summerlyn opened my eyes to the role of a female in professional wrestling. That’s not to say I was sexist or opposed to equality beforehand, but I didn’t believe that females could ever be looked at as highly as their male counterparts. Then I watched her forearm the hell out of Matthew Palmer and throw him off a balcony, have one of the best wrestling contests I have seen with Jazz, and put on phenomenal, thought provoking matches every time she stepped through the ropes. There is nothing better than that point in a Rachel Summerlyn match where her opponent hits her with everything he or she has, goes for the pin, and Rachel not only kicks out, but bridges upwards, pounds on the ground and starts screaming at the top of her lungs. It can only be compared to that of Bruce Banner’s transformation into the monstrous Hulk. And when that happens, nothing is left in that beast’s path.
John Rosenberger: I’ll be the first to admit being behind on the Summerlyn train. It’s not that I didn’t think she was worthy of all the hype; it’s just that I was utterly uneducated about her. However, having now seen her on video (Unfortunately the one show she did relatively close to me was still 8 hours away and I opted to go watch Stone Cold ET cut a promo and my buddy Sam wrestle) I was blown away by her ferocity in the ring and her willingness to let it all hang out.
28. Mark Angel/Angelosetti
Points: 1939
Ballots: 26
Highest Vote: 4th Place (De O'Brien)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: He rocketed out of Beyond Wrestling, where he was already putting together the beginnings of a resume, to take over not only that company but Chikara as well. On the surface, he was two different characters, but Mr. Touchdown was just Mark Angel with the trappings of a football player, which I thought enhanced his in-ring ability with some much-appreciated personality. Either way, he had some phenomenal matches in what amounted to be his rookie year against competition like ACH, Green Ant, and Drew Gulak. I would like to see him have a good-to-great match with someone below his talents to see if he's the complete package, but I can't fault him for being great in the ring with fellow elite-level wrestlers.
Frank McCormick: The word that always comes to my mind when Mr. Touchdown Mark Angelosetti (and I'll confess here that I know him from his Chikara and Wrestling Is... work only) enters a ring is "stud." And, no, no just because he has cobblestone abs and an ass that won't quit, but because despite being a relative newcomer, he so damn GOOD, not just technically, but character-wise. He embodies the "Nerd!" bullying jock asshole to perfection. Even his moveset is entirely in-keeping with his character. The Tebowing? The up-down splashes? The hard tackles? And have you seen him jump? Those sculpted legs aren't just for show. As far as I'm concerned he has "star" written all over him.
Mike Pankowski: It’s incredible that Mr. Touchdown is a rookie. He combines a great in-ring persona with excellent skills and power. He does a good job in making his power moves look clean and look strong. I always like a wrestler that makes it look like he destroys someone when he hits them with a spinebuster, and Mr. Touchdown excels at destroying nerds. Also, his interplay with both his tag team partners and his opponents during the match always give me joy. I look forward to seeing what Mr. Touchdown can do this year with a year’s worth of matches under his belt.
John Rosenberger: The man is a great heel. Being able to translate your character in such a way that you don’t even have to say a word in the ring and people know exactly what your about is a thing that a lot of people underestimate in this world of breath-taking promos and video packages. When Mr. Touchdown steps in the ring, whether you love him or hate him, you know exactly who he is and what he represents.
27. Mark Henry
Points: 2091
Ballots: 28
Highest Vote: 3rd Place (John Rosenberger)
Last Year's Placement: 6th Place
TH: Damn, Mark Henry was on his way to having another awesome year until he finally went out with his year-ending injury in April. He was rumored to be off the slate even before then, but working hurt, he still wrestled in a perfectly acceptable cage match at the Rumble with Daniel Bryan and Big Show, had a few really good singles matches on TV, and then totally burned down the house twice in three weeks with CM Punk after Mania. It's a shame he couldn't have built off that; even though his injury did give us Punk/Bryan for a couple of months, I perversely wanted to see what Henry could have done in a prolonged WWE Championship feud against a then-babyface Punk in the ring.
Robot Hammer: If you're still not buying what The World's Strongest Man is selling, I just.....Man, I don't even...
Mark Henry is a big, pissed off, engine of destruction. If he had been active the entire year, the landscape of the WWE would've been drastically different. Now that he's back, I want to see him destroy everyone who steps in his way because, as he likes to remind us, THAT'S WHAT HE DOES.
John Rosenberger: I don’t know exactly what it is about his style that draws me so strongly to him. I’m not a particular lover of Hosses. Not that I dislike them, but I just don’t love them more than anyone else. However, whenever the World’s Strongest Man is on my screen I am glued to it. I’m not sure if I just love watching him massacre people or if there is something that aesthetically makes me like him more than somebody like Ryback, but there’s something about him that puts him this high on the list.
Dylan Hales: When I was compiling my ballot I didn't expect for Mark Henry to end up so high. Yes he is my favorite wrestler on the planet and yes he was my number one last year. But he missed 2/3 of the year and I'm generally a guy who puts a fair amount of weight on volume. But the thing is this year was filled with guys who had mini-runs of greatness, followed by long periods where they were injured, vanished, taking time off, relegated to jobber status or otherwise disappeared. In 2012, being arguably the best wrestler in the U.S. for the first four months of the year is enough to get you into the top fifteen, especially when you were in the Raw match of the year and went out with a bang having a dynamite month of April (two awesome matches with Punk, two awesome matches with Orton - one of which was on a house show circulated online, and a very good match with Sheamus) that was among the best months anyone had anywhere on earth last year. When I look at my ballot Henry still seems high, but then when I look below him there is no one I really believe should be ranked above him. So I am fine with him sitting in my top fifteen.
26. Sami Callihan
Points: 2093
Ballots: 24
Highest Vote:1st Place (Devon Hales, Dylan Hales)
Last Year's Placement: 62nd Place
TH: Sami Callihan is a guy that defined the indies last year. He went to all different places against different opponents and had great matches in different styles. He gained the most credibility through DGUSA, because that's where he was positioned as a star. As you may or may not know, I didn't really watch a whole lot of that for whatever reason. However, he did do a lot of really cool stuff in PWG, which is the biggest reason why he was in the top 10 of my ballot.
PWG has been maybe the best fit for him, because the mantra of the promotion is that you go out and have the best match on the card, no matter where it is, no matter who the opponent. Callihan was in the ring with guys like Willie Mack – with whom he could trade bombs – TJ Perkins – with whom he would go to the mat hard, quick, and complex – and Adam Cole – with whom he could do the "heated rival" thing with great results. Every match he had there was must-see, and this was in a promotion where guys like El Generico and Kevin Steen were holding court for years on end.
The stuff outside of Reseda that I caught of his was gravy, but maybe calling it that is a disservice. I mean, the man wrestled two top-level matches the night the Arena closed, one against Rich Swann for CZW and the other with Bobby Fish at EVOLVE 10, and while both had technical edges to them, were totally different. Hell, even though he spent the year as a brash anti-hero/heel, he found time to wrestle as a classic babyface for MCW in a televised three-way against Swann and Alex Colon (one of my many YouTube gems of the year). There's no denying that Callihan is one of the top three or four wrestlers not signed with WWE, but if the rumors are right, I think we might be seeing a lot more of him under a different name. It might sting at first, but if the tradeoff is getting to see Callihan every week doing his thing in the ring? It might be worth it.
Alex Torres: The Callihan Death Machine elevated any place he stepped in to, tearing the house down in Chicago, Reseda, and New Jersey. I predicted he'd rule over 2012, and he didn't let me down.
Dylan Hales: In 2011 Mark Henry was the best wrestler in the United States, but he was not the best wrestler in the world. In 2010 the best wrestler in the United States was Rey Misterio, but he was not the best wrestler in the world. In 2012 the best wrestler in the United States was Sami Callihan and he was also the best wrestler in the world. To be fair this has to be qualified a bit. Negro Casas who I would rank number two in the world, didn't appear on tape nearly as much as Sami and was completely MIA for a couple of months. Finlay was outstanding through July and on pace to at least be Callihan's equal when his indie tour ended (Finlay was eighth on my ballot here, but if international work was counted would have been third - he was outstanding in both Europe and Japan in 2012). But after that there was really no one who had the resume Sami had. While I knew early in the process that Derrick King would be my number 2 (and shame on you people for not having a clue who he is), the gap between him and Callihan was clear and reasonably wide.
As someone who takes these sort of exercises way to seriously, when trying to figure out who was better than who and what constitutes a great year, I look at several things. Here is a rough summary of the sort of things that run through my mind when compiling a ballot for something like the TWB 100.
-Does the wrestler have any serious match of the year contenders or otherwise outstanding "top tier" matches that would finish near the top of cumulative "best of" list for the year?
-Does the wrestler have sound mechanics? Does he have good ring positioning, is his offense good, does he sell well, is he a great bumper, does he have strong timing, et.
-Does the wrestler have a high volume of good matches?
-Does the wrestler have any "stinkers" or disappointing matches?
-Is the wrestler versatile? Was he good in a variety of settings and/or did he have good matches against a variety of opponents?
Now I am not a fan of the modern "super indies" and in a way it feels odd to go to bat for someone who comes out of that culture with my number one vote. But when I look at that checklist, the guy who comes out looking the best is Sami Callihan. Easily.
Did he have a MOTYC? Yes, at least two, though one was in Europe against Finlay. The other was in the States against Finlay and to my mind was one of the two or three best singles matches from anywhere in the world in 2012.
Does he have sound mechanics? Absolutely. Callihan is one of the few super indie guys who can pace a match well and knows how to switch gears depending on opponent. He can take big bumps if needed, is good at working heat segments on top, has strong offense, sells very well, and is usually excellent at working hope/comeback spots with his opponent.
Did he have a high volume of good matches? This is really Callihan's strongest category as he had such a high volume of good matches that I'm still finding and hearing about 2012 Callihan matches I didn't see that others thought were outstanding. The latest I've heard about was a match from December v. Goldust. One day I hope to see that match which has gotten rave reviews, but even absent that Sami had quality matches v. Finlay, Adam Cole, Rhino, Rich Swann, AR Fox, Michael Elgin, Davey Richards, Willie Mack, Johnny Gargano, Drake Younger, DJ Hyde, Alex Colon, John Morrison, Kevin Steen, Danny Damento, and others. This is to say nothing of tag matches and multi-man matches where he put on good performances and doesn't count international matches against guys like Tama Williams, Finlay and Dave Mastiff which ranged from good to excellent.
Did he have any "stinkers" or disappointing matches? Well the Generico match was a bit disappointing, because Generico wanted to work his match and wasn't interested in letting Sami build heat, but Callihan was trying and you can't blame him for the sins of an inferior worker (sidenote - this is not a knock on Generico who I generally think is good. But I cannot believe so many folks were so high on him last year. Where are the great matches and performances? Generico had run out of things to do on the indies and was coasting in a lot of things I saw. I left him off my ballot and I'm glad he's gone to the WWE where at least he'll have new faces to work). The Sabu match wasn't much and I didn't like the BxB Hulk match, but Hulk is one of the worst wrestlers in the world. So while Sami may have had some matches that didn't hit the highs I wanted, I don't think any of his matches suffered for his performance.
Was he versatile? Well I covered this to some degree with the laundry list of guys he had good matches with, but I will go a little further here and point out a few things. Sami can work quality long matches, even against middling competition. He can work excellent short sprints (in my view he's the best in the world at this type of match). He can work matches built around big spots and moments, or matches built around slow build and getting heat. He can brawl, or he can have a straight match. He can work with a vet or a novice and get strong results. He can carry an abysmal wrestler like Davey Richards to a great match, or have possibly the best match of Rhino's career on one of the biggest indies shows of the year. I wouldn't argue that Sami doesn't have stock spots or even that he doesn't have a preferred formula - he does. But I don't consider those bad things and I don't think that makes him any less versatile.
It's possible that other guys had more truly tremendous matches in 2012 than Sami Callihan. It's possible that other guys had good matches against a pool of opponents as diverse. It's possible there were guys as consistent. But there was no one in the U.S. - or the world - who put all these things together in quite the fashion he did. So even if it is a bit of an unconventional pick for me, and even if Southern indies absolutely decimate "super" indies in terms of quality, the best wrestler in the world in 2012 was Sami Callihan.
Having said that, shame on you all for not watching Derrick King.
25. Johnny Gargano
Points: 2013
Ballots: 28
Highest Vote: 3rd Place (Alex Torres)
Last Year's Placement: 28th Place
Alex Torres: On this list, there are three people who have held the belt for over a year. Johnny Gargano is the one who has put on the best matches, time and time again. He's the perfect face for DGUSA, someone who connects easy with the crowd. He's the kid we saw grow into a champion, and Gargano has ran with it. After a very scary beginning of the year, Gargano came back and reminded everyone why he deserved his place, being one of the best parts of any company he stepped into.
Mike Pankowski: Between Chikara and Dragon Gate, Johnny has pulled of some great matches. He has the great ability to look dominant and controlling in one match, and then act as if he will have trouble pulling out a victory in the next one. He can give some of the stiffest looking shots in a match. Yet when he gets the same shots in return, Johnny will sell it for all it’s worth and make it look like he got run into by a truck. His ability to give and take makes all wrestlers involved stand out.
John Rosenberger: Brash, confident and the skills to back it up. 2012 was a big year for Gargano and I’d look for 2013 to be bigger. He is one of the better athletes I’ve seen in the ring and his cockiness as a personality is, much like Angelosetti, something that can translate without saying a single word.
Typical ROH Fan: I always joke that every few months I realize I've forgotten that Johnny Gargano is one of my favorite wrestlers. It's a DGUSA/Evolve issue of the shows often not mattering or not having a buzz which is sad because every time I watch a show, Gargano blows me away. I think the guy is one of the best on the planet and probably up there with anyone as the best un-signed talent. A true joy to watch wrestle. Note for my fav match: This wasn't his best pure wrestling match but the aftermath in the ring led to it. This was part of the match story to me and I consider it part of the match. (Favorite 2012 match: vs. AR Fox at Evolve 13)
24. Dean Ambrose
Points: 2106
Ballots: 28
Highest Vote: 4th Place (Brandon Infinger)
Last Year's Placement: 39th Place
TH: Ambrose didn't really get to show the world what he was made of in 2012 outside of one match. It was one phenomenal match of which he was a huge part, but he spent most of the year mired in developmental. Luckily for me, entrepreneurial souls ripped torrents from Bright House Networks and posted several of his matches online from FCW, including the rematch with William Regal that ended in a ref's stoppage. He showed he's great as a cerebral loner in FCW, and in WWE, he's now showing how he can work in a group dynamic, especially a group that's as special and in some ways as innovative as The Shield.
23. Michael Elgin
Points: 2107
Ballots: 26
Highest Vote:1st Place (Alex Torres, Pablo Alva, Dave Musgrave)
Last Year's Placement: 75th Place (tied)
Alex Torres: Unbreakable Michael Elgin is perhaps unmatched in match quality in 2012. He gave AIW one of its best matches, taking on Johnny Gargano. He tore down AAW with Silas Young, and Chicago somehow still stands. He was part of ROH's two best matches of the year. And he somehow managed to get to PWG to melt some faces on top of it. After this year, when I think of the best, I think Michael Elgin.
Typical ROH Fan: Elgin probably should be higher. But this is the way I see it. Dude had an incredible year though. Racking up great matches throughout the entire calendar year. Most would have view him as the shining star of indy wrestling in 2012 and I wouldn't argue too much despite my Adam Cole love. (Favorite 2012 match: vs Davey Richards at ROH Showdown in the Sun)
22. Sara del Rey
Points: 2170
Ballots: 28
Highest Vote: 2nd Place (Gregory Davis, Erin Pronovost)
Last Year's Placement: 26th Place
TH: The Queen has left us. Sara del Rey took her considerable talents and went to teach the trainees cycling through NXT. Some may consider that a waste. She's already proven she can do, so why deign herself to teach? Well, I make no judgments of a person's work life. However, for whatever she started doing in the summer of '12 to continue on into indefinite perpetuity, she at least left us with over six months of content to remember her by. Whether it was against Eddie Kingston or El Generico, Leon or Mickie Knuckles, del Rey left a farewell tour greater than most other people's peaks. My personal favorite match was her last one in AIW, against Hailey Hatred (whose omission from this list makes me angry at my fellow voters), which encapsulated everything about the modern independent female that in many ways makes the fairer sex a far more impressive unit within pro wrestling.
Eamon Paton: It says a lot towards why Sara del Rey is one of the best, when the leading pro wrestling company in the world signs her to train all of their upcoming female performers, even though she has never once worked for their company. That’s a testament to Sara del Rey’s skill if I have ever seen one. Here is seriously hoping that anyone who trains with her soaks up as much knowledge as possible, because anyone who knows the reputation Sara has built for herself would be dying to gain that knowledge.
Jennifer Logsdon: The Queen of Wrestling was the first to become a double crown champion in SHIMMER when Courtney Rush won the tag team titles for both her and del Rey in March 2012. Alas, we will never know what may have happened there, as her signing with WWE aborted that angle. Before she left for new shores, however, she gained a shot at the CHIKARA Grand Championship and had a hell of a match against Eddie Kingston. Plus, she was part of the very first SHINE show, and fans were treated to a dream match between her and Jazz. There was much sorrow when it was revealed she was signed to become a trainer in NXT. The Queen, training Divas? Utter rubbish, some said. Yet, if Jesus could turn water into wine, I have no trouble believing del Rey can take models and make them wrestlers. But 2012 was a damn fine year for the Queen, as every year has been.
21. Eddie Kingston
Points: 2179
Ballots: 27
Highest Vote:1st Place (Robot Hammer, Okori Wadsworth)
Last Year's Placement: 21st Place
TH: Like his peers Johnny Gargano and CM Punk, The War King spent the entire year as Champion of his promotion. I don't think he performed under the physical duress Gargano did, nor did he have the sheer number of defenses that Punk did, but his high-end matches I thought were comparable to the latter. I haven't seen enough of Gargano's defenses to compare those two. I just fucked my narrative up in the first couple of sentences. Ha. Anyway, Kingston's best matches, against Kevin Steen, Sara del Rey, and Harlem Bravado (of all people), stack up favorably. He had a dominant title reign, but even against Bravado, he played up his vulnerability in a way where it wasn't a foregone conclusion that he was going out on top. That's invaluable for any main event-level wrestler.
Philip Rosenbaum: The temperamental War King successfully defended his Chikara Grand Championship throughout the entirety of 2012, fending off such foes as Vin Gerard, Kevin Steen, Sara del Rey, and Tim Donst in a feud that encompassed the latter part of 2012. His contrasting style with the rest of the roster made almost every match compelling, and the clash with del Rey was particular exciting as the King of Diamonds barely managed to defeat the Queen of Wrestling.
Robot Hammer: I believe in Eddie Kingston.
Or perhaps the better way to say it is, I believe Eddie Kingston. I believe every action and reaction he creates in the ring. When he enters the ring and holds the Chikara Grand Championship over his head, I believe he's proud to be champion. When he throws a punch or kick, I believe he's trying to hurt his opponent. When he steps back to wind up for the Backfist to the Future, I believe he's going for the knock out. When his opponent has him down and he's holding his knee and screaming in pain, I believe he's hurt. When he slapped the taste out of Dasher Hatfield's mouth after Dasher gave him a 'good game' pat on the rear, I believed he wasn't playing around.
I singled out an instance from his match with Dasher because it was a small moment that said a lot, but I could have picked spots from his matches with del Rey, Steen, Donst, or anyone else he stepped in the ring with.
In a time where we as fans probably have too much access to the inner workings of pro wrestling, suspending belief can become a bit of a challenge. It seems being snarky and nit-picking everything to holy hell and back is the norm for wrestling fans. We toss getting into the match and enjoying the ride to the side to play armchair promoter and miss the entire point of entertainment. I want someone to make me believe in the story they're telling in the ring and no one else did that in 2012 like Eddie Kingston. If that doesn't make him The Last Of A Dying Breed, then I don't know what does.
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| Richards putting the kick pad to Mike Mondo's gut Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 1326
Ballots: 18
Highest Vote: 11th Place (Jerome Cusson)
Last Year's Placement: 36th Place
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| Jigsaw throwing a chop from his knees to Tim Donst Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 1356
Ballots: 21
Highest Vote: 5th Place (Okori Wadsworth)
Last Year's Placement: 63rd Place
TH: Jigsaw had an interesting year in Chikara, which again was more based in story than in showcase matches. His best performance may have been in the season finale, when he went full rudo. It makes me way more excited for him in 2013 than anything else. However, as far as him in Chikara goes, he had a fairly standard year, which is a good year in my book.
Philip Rosenbaum: There are three superkicks that stand out in my mind in wrestling history, and the first two belong to Shawn Michaels: When The Rockers broke up, and when he retired Ric Flair. The third superkick heard 'round the world came in November 2012, when the friendship and partnership of Mike Quackenbush and Jigsaw came to a quick end as "The Wrestling Riddle Wrapped in an Enigma" delivered a shocking superkick to his old friend's throat. He also delivered another notable superkick in the season finale, as assailANT took the bullet and finally proved himself to be the tecnico that he strived to be.
While it wasn't a great year for wins and losses for Jigsaw, it was an extremely developmental year in his career as he got a tryout in TNA and teamed with Hallowicked to unsuccessfully challenge the Briscoe Brothers for the ROH tag titles after defeating them earlier in the year.
Robot Hammer: You don't get to be one of the cornerstones of Chikara by being a slouch. Jigsaw ain't no slouch. His singles matches with Brodie Lee, Icarus, and the Shard were all great performances, and that's not factoring in his tag, trios, or atomico matches. His frustrations with the Gekido, and later his mentor Mike Quackenbush, pushed him in a more aggressive direction. Even when the outside distractions cost Jigsaw the match, his efforts did not go unrecognized.
Typical ROH Fan: Jigsaw had a great 2012. As someone who does not watch a lot of Chikara, seeing him in TNA was a great reminder of what he can do as he stole the show at the Impact Zone. He should have had a spot there and maybe he will in 2013 with the new X Division rules but this reminded me how good he was and in finding some of Chikara matches in 2012 to see he's one of the better dudes out there. PS I love the name Rubix. Sorry. (Favorite 2012 match: with Quackenbush and Toyota vs. Sendai Girls at Chikara KOT)
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| Cabana getting ready to drop the elbow on Teddy Hart Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 1376
Ballots: 20
Highest Vote: 7th Place (Frank McCormick)
Last Year's Placement: 37th Place
John Rosenberger: Full disclosure: I am a comedy wrestling mark. I like comedy, and I like wrestling and yet I know a lot of fellow comedians who are all “BLAH BLAH BLAH I LIKE MY WRESTLING TO SEEM REAL.” Not me. If you can do comedy and wrestling at the same time, you’ve got me. I’ve not seen someone so effective at blending the two worlds in a long time as Colt Cabana. His ability to make me giggle at the dumb stuff he does, while also appearing to be an effective wrestler is a duo that I hadn’t seen and even when he rehashes bits such as the “Look up there” and then slap move, it still feels fresh. Part of this is because he seems to enjoy himself as much as the fans enjoy him and it builds a sense of all being in on the same thing. A sense of community in between the wrestler and the audience during a match, and not just at the merch tables, is something I treasure in any performance.
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| Kidd catches Damien Sandow with a high cross-body Photo Credit: WWE.com |
Points: 1379
Ballots: 19
Highest Vote: 5th Place (Paolo Chikiamco)
Last Year's Placement: 55th Place
TH: Guys like CM Punk advocate for Tyson Kidd to get more time, and after seeing some of his performances on lower shows, it's hard to argue against them. His match with Michael McGillicutty on NXT was good enough to headline RAW if it just had the story and support. I had hopes for his tag run with Justin Gabriel, but he went and shredded his knee – obviously not his fault. However, what he showed before he got hurt was evidence he's being wasted. Give this man a bigger stage, dammit.
Mike Germano: If you didn't see any of Tyson Kidd's feud with Michael McGillicutty from NXT in early 2012, I'd advise you to look it up as soon as possible. Thought Kidd never got much time on Smackdown or Raw, his work on NXT and Main event it 2012 is some of the best work in the WWE this year. He can't come back soon enough, and I truly hope he gets a spot matching his in-ring talent.
Dylan Hales: For a fleeting moment Tyson Kidd lived up his hype. Kidd is a guy that has been touted by some people in "smart" circles since he was...well...a kid. He's always looked good, but never looked particularly great. That is until him and Hunico became the WWE C-shows aces for a couple of months in 2012. Did he have a great year? No. But he did make the most out of his opportunities and had some really strong bouts with guys like Hunico and Michael McGullicutty. When he made the main shows he looked good. I was really starting to warm to him and then he got hurt. Which sucks. Hopefully he comes back ready to go on a similar tear.
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| Fox readies his elbow for impact on Tony Nese's head Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 1393
Ballots: 19
Highest Vote: 3rd Place (Jennifer Logsdon)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: Fox started the year as a guy on the cusp, and by the end of the year, he was being positioned in dream match scenarios. This is not an accident. If you watched the Iron Man match against ACH at AIW Straight Outta Compton, you know it wasn't all ACH there. He's one of the best at the flippy shit, but he works surprisingly well as a bigger wrestler, thanks to his taller stature. He also has a great finisher in the Lo Mein Pain. He's only going to get better, even if that means he'll be more and more on WWE's radar.
Dylan Hales: One of the only interesting flippy dudes in wrestling. I am not sold that Fox is anything close to a great wrestler, but he'll work hard, take a nutty bump and can steal the show if matched up with the right opponent. I don't really go out of my way to watch many guys that work the places he works, but I'll usually give a card a chance if he is working someone who I think can make his positives stand out.
Typical ROH Fan: 2012 introduced me to AR Fox and he is crazy. In what I consider my random wrestling watching (outside of my main four - WWE, TNA, ROH, PWG), AR Fox often leaves the most memorable moments in DGUSA, EVOLVE and CZW. The match I'm about to list as my favorite was one of my favorites the entire WrestleMania weekend in 2012. (Favorite 2012 match: vs. Rich Swann - Check it out for free LEGALLY. Yes LEGALLY)
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| Quack wrangling Soldier Ant to the mat Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 1402
Ballots: 19
Highest Vote: 3rd Place (Okori Wadsworth)
Last Year's Placement: 32nd Place
TH: Quack teased everyone with a rudo transformation, one that was eerily coincidental with comments made by Chris Hero in a shoot interview exposing some unsavory traits of his backstage. It was his student, Jigsaw, who ended up going bad, but that doesn't mean the bad traits in Quack's in-ring game weren't well-appreciated. They added depth to his already stellar mechanics and technical mastery, especially in the Green Ant match from the season premiere. It's subtle at times, but when you catch it, it's gratifying. Outside of the Green Ant match, Quack worked mostly in tags and multi-person matches, but given that he's the godfather of a promotion where those matches are at the foundation, that's not a complaint at all.
Philip Rosenbaum: Chikara's founding father had yet another stellar year in the ring, with a twist. This year, he got to show off a new mean streak in defending his home. He single-handedly put out a pair of members of the Gekido. It wasn't the best year for Quack in the wins column (much to the chagrin of his now-former partner Jigsaw) as he was disqualified for the rare "excessive violence" after putting 17 out of wrestling with a greatest hits countdown of his 4 different variations of the Quackendriver. 2012 was the year that "Lightning" Mike stopping put up with BS.
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| Donst leaving Eddie Kingston gasping for air in the Dusk 'Til Donst Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 1446
Ballots: 20
Highest Vote: 5th Place (Alex Torres)
Last Year's Placement: 74th Place
TH: There were two Tim Donsts in 2012. One was the cocky bad boy-turned-modern day Raven in Chikara, and there was the honorable folk hero Champion in AIW. Both turned in great matches under varying circumstances. Versatility is a great trait to have, and any great wrestler needs to show it in the ring. He excelled as a serial cheater, an abusive tag partner, a sadist who didn't care if he got disqualified, an equal competitor against a fellow babyface challenger, or as a defender of the status quo against rogue invaders. There was a lot to love about Tim Donst last year as a wrestler.
Philip Rosenbaum: There is a fine distinction between wrestling ability and what you do in matches.
It was a rough year for Tim Donst. After having his head shaved due to his loss to Hallowicked, Donst's descent into misery and antipathy truly did manifest itself during matches. Not only his own, which he seemed like he could not care less about unless triggered, but also in the matches of Jakob Hammermeier, who looks up to his BFF Tim. He distracted Jakob to keep him from having a shot at winning the Young Lions Cup because he actually felt like it ruined lives. Then, in the penultimate confrontation of his feud with Eddie Kingston in Chikara, Donst attacked the War King, a member of his own team, during the Torneo Cibernetico and held him down on the outside so that he could only watch until the time was right to throw Kingston in the ring and pick up the win himself.
Tim Donst wasn't the best or most exciting person to DO WRESTLES in 2012, but the path of his persona told through matches he was involved in was so compelling that he was among the best of the year.
Robot Hammer: I'm a big fan of in ring character work. I wonder if I was watching a match with someone who'd never seen either wrestler before what they could tell me beyond 'the guy in red is the good guy, the one in blue is the bad guy.
I can't imagine someone seeing a Tim Donst match and not getting the vibe of his character. Considering the fact that he started the year in Chikara as a brash , arrogant man who claimed he was the greatest Young Lion's Cup champion, then spiraled into a self-destructive pattern that led him to dare someone to kill him in the ring, that's no small feat. He expressed these changes through his bell to bell wrestling just as well as he did through his promos. His body language and mannerisms shifted with his ring work to reflect his shifting mental states.
Oh yeah, and he's a really good wrestler too.
De O'Brien: Over the course of my love affair with CHIKARA, I've watched Tim Donst change from a goofy, smiling star-struck kid with nothing more than a willingness to please everyone, to a scheming, bitter devious madman (sorry, UltraMantis) who wants to change wrestling the only way he knows how: by destroying it and molding it in the correct image. His image. Right now one of the most compelling stories going on in CHIKARA is Donst's Grand Plan, which only a few - if any - seem to be privy to, and if you have any doubt that Donst does indeed have something in mind and up his sleeves, look no further than his match with CHIKARA Grand Champion Eddie Kingston at last year's Under The Hood for proof. You could see the decline of a once-sane, once-pleasant kid into a raving, abusive lunatic who was doing it all for the best reason possible: To save and change the sport he gave up his life, family and love for. I for one have no doubt that if more of us begin to support Donst's Grand Plan and watch him demolish those who interfere, we'll have wrestling the way it should be.
Or at the least, he'll convince us in the end that's what we've wanted all along.
Alex Torres: I wrote about Tim Donst last year, mostly as a person who had only just learned of him. This year, I've seen him become a champion, and I can confidently say he was the most interesting part of a weird year of Chikara. While the rest of Chikara juggled multi man wars which had no real interest for me, Donst stood out with his darker, stronger character, his compelling relationship with Jakob Hammermeier, and his personal feuds with Hallowicked and Eddie Kingston. The hair vs. mask match was the highlight of Chikarasaurus Rex, Donst conveying an array of intense emotions throughout. Without Donst, I doubt my interest in Chikara would have been as strong this year.
Donst was also a power player in AIW, being a part of the biggest storylines, and finally completing his long journey since 2011 for the company's top title. AIW has put Brian Kendrick, BJ Whitmer, Johnny Gargano, Shiima Xion, and ACH in his path, and TIm Donst has more than delivered against each of them.
Tim f'n Donst took over his promotions in 2012, arguably the MVP of both. I'm excited for his 2013.
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| Evans with the seated waistlock on Bolt Brady Photo Credit: Texas Anarchy |
Points: 1577
Ballots: 21
Highest Vote:1st Place (Lee Spriggs)
Last Year's Placement: 52nd Place
TH: Across several promotions under several names with different iterations even under similar characters, RD Evans was maybe the most interesting wrestler of 2012. If we had just limited his resume to just the match against Portia Perez at Guilty by Association last year, he'd have been a strong candidate to make my ballot as a single match wrestler, just as strong as, say, Brock Lesnar was for the Cena match. It's hard, especially in wrestling, to play out a lover's quarrel in the wrestling ring without coming off as hateful or misogynistic, but in no small part to Evans assuming the role as creeper and having Perez kick his ass. But Evans had far more notches in his belt than just that one. There were matches in Chikara as Marchie Archie and the Stranger against Sara del Rey and Lancelot Bravado. Hell, he even made a MMA exhibition against Darkness Crabtree highly enjoyable.
Philip Rosenbaum: If you're not having fun when any of the personas of Robert Evans are in the ring, I don't think there is anything I can say to make you understand the brilliance. He had a sad when Veronica left him. He went backstage during a match and got himself sent back in time. He came back as a masked Stranger, who was Mysterious, Handsome, and capable of pulling off a surprising number of wins in the latter half of the year.
Ryan Kilma: Unlike most wrestlers with bells and whistles, when you take away Robert Evans’ whistle, and his bell, (and his drum, baton, giant hat, mask-on-a-mask, finger guns, off-the-wall promos, wooden horse, and his pidgeon sidekick) you still got yourself a pretty fine wrestler. Whenever I hear one of my friends say “Wrestling is stupid” I either show them Generico vs. Ibushi vs. Jackson vs. Jigsaw or I pop in Archibald Peck vs. Colt Cabana from KOT 2011. Are Archibald Peck matches stupid? Yes, insanely stupid. I read a synopsis on his no disqualification match with Mr. Touchdown and it started to sound like a beautiful, dark, twisted fantasy. But there are few people I’d rather see wrestle than the Faces of Peck.
Frank McCormick: It's hard to put into words just how much of a mark I am for Archibald Peck/Mixed Martial Archie/Mysterious and Handsome Stranger. He just appears and I pop. He's a big, gangly, goofy guy playing big, gangly, goofy characters, whose big, gangly, goofy body somehow pulls out moves you wouldn't think a big, gangly, goofy body could, and my heart flutters with joy at the very sight of him. His most recent tag team partner was a pigeon! He is a time-traveler with multiple doppelgangers/quantum doubles! But what makes him so great is his sheer ability to connect with an audience. He makes you care about every match he is in, to feel the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. And, really, isn't that what this crazy thing called "professional wrestling" is all about? Taking the fans along on your rollercoaster ride?
John Rosenberger: Personality is something Robert Evans has in spades. It’s hard enough to throw yourself as completely in to one wrestling persona let alone juggle as many as he does and still invest yourself so completely in each one. The match at Chikarasaurus Rex where he is able to switch between personas mid match is one of my favorite matches of 2012 due in no small part to him. (Also due to the fact that it features 3 other people on this list).
Shawn Duckett: Evans' work in Chikara in 2012 was absolutely awesome. In fact, I think it was the highlight of the 2012 Chikara season. The Mysterious and Handsome Stranger character was brilliant. Wrestling matches should tell a story and be entertaining. Evans delivered every time I watched one of his matches in 2012.
Lee Spriggs: Robert Evans may be the most gifted performer we have as wrestling fans. Whether as Robert Evans, RD Evans, Archibald Peck, Mixed Martial Archie, or the Mysterious and Handsome Stranger, Evans brings a commitment to character that no one can touch.
He's the embodiment of psychopathic hatred: witness his sadistic match against Portia Perez in ACW at Guilty By Association 6. The look on his face when Portia's leg fails her, and the way he takes advantage, is easily the most chilling moment I've seen in a wrestling match (besides another Evans moment from 2011... but that's another story).
He's the best comedic wrestler out there: all you have to watch is his Chikara match against Chuck Taylor in March in Ottawa (at "It's How You Play the Game"), a match that featured pose-offs, attempted drownings via painting, and Peck getting stuck in the ceiling.
He's a source of pathos: the story in the first half of 2012 for Archibald Peck was that his girlfriend had left him, and in an attempt to seem more macho, he adopted an MMA gimmick (which went wrong) and eventually lost his career at Chikarasaurus Rex. After returning, his beloved feral pigeon was brutally killed in the ring by his arch-nemesis Mr. Touchdown. And we were able to see him mourn in the ring and then turn that into an even deeper enmity with Mr. Touchdown, a rivalry that's carrying forward to today.
There are only two wrestlers who I'd be intimidated to meet because I wouldn't know how to really thank them for everything they've made me feel: from fear, to humor, to a surprisingly touching sadness. And Peck is one of them.
P.S. There are few wrestlers who have not only become indelibly linked with certain songs, but have also saved songs I used to have a deep and abiding hatred for. I can't hear "Don't Stop Believing" anymore without Evans coming to mind, so that's something else that he deserves thanks for.
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| Jackson getting ready to put Meng in a spinning toehold Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 1781
Ballots: 24
Highest Vote: 6th Place (Typical ROH Fan)
Last Year's Placement: 51st Place
TH: I can't really separate one Buck from the other, so count this as my entry for Nick Jackson too. The Bucks are one of the most underappreciated tag teams in America today because they work primarily for PWG. I also get the feeling that people see them as Chikara interlopers instead of awesome guest stars/pseudo-roster members like they are. That's a shame, because any time the Bucks are in a match, they are going to be super entertaining to the meta-fan and infuriating in terms of heel heat to the regular fan. They're the best intersection of old school heels and new school indie wrestling move innovation, and I think any card they're on immediately becomes must see. While their most lauded match – vs. Team FIST at Chikarasaurus Rex – was a bit overdone for my tastes, all their PWG work was must-see, especially the three-way ladder match and the bout against Generico and Kenny Omega.
Philip Rosenbaum: The Young Bucks have mastered the art of tag team wrestling to the point that it even works when a third is added in a trio. This year, they got even more crisp. Nick and Matt have such amazing synergy that even as heels, you have to appreciate what they do in the ring. They are always on point with their tandem maneuvers, much to the dismay of all the challengers for the Campeonatos de Parejas in the second half of 2012. They were perfect in their role as the outsiders that just couldn't QUITE be beaten for the titles, and their smugness took them to new heights in 2012.
Ryan Kilma: Matt Hardy should pay Matt Jackson to wrestle as him.
Typical ROH Fan: Considering this is based off the best matches, I have to put the Bucks here. Very few people make me enjoy wrestling as much as they do. Whether it's the PWG DVDs, the odd Dragon Gabe or Chikara show or the local indy show which I was lucky to see, I never not enjoy their matches. Matt gets ranked higher than Nick because he does the Spear. (Favorite 2012 match: with Petey Williams vs. Brian Kendrick, Jay Lethal and Paul London at FWE Back To Brooklyn)
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| Kane clutches Daniel Bryan by the throat Photo Credit: WWE.com |
Points: 1791
Ballots: 27
Highest Vote: 7th Place (Jesse Powell)
Last Year's Placement: 82nd Place
TH: Kane will be most remembered for his in-character antics with Daniel Bryan as positive and his involvement in the John Cena feud as a black mark (and I think that badness was overblown… that feud had some memorable moments even if the big picture missed the mark). However, the dude has had one of the most under-the-radar years in WWE in recent history. The Cena matches were popcorn fun, even if they weren't going to appear on any Match of the Year lists. He dragged no fewer than three awesome matches out of Randy Orton, including the rollicking opener to their best PPV of the year, Extreme Rules. Then, there was the tag team run with Bryan which produced a lot of good, if not great, matches that concluded with maybe the WWE match of the year, the six man against the Shield at TLC, of which the Big Red Monster was a HUGE part.
Jesse Powell: What a year for the Big Red Monster. Sure, the Cena feud at the beginning of the year was kind of “eh”, but his match with Orton at WrestleMania was surprisingly good, and the rest of his year was one hell of a fun ride, from competing for the WWE title to winning the Tag Team gold with Daniel Bryan, Kane continues to build on a career that will likely find him remembered as certainly one of the top five big men in the history of the game.
Ryan Kilma: Whoops, I wrote a paragraph about how awesome Kana is before I realized I was writing about Kane. I will say this: It has been a career year for psychopaths. First Abyss becomes America’s Sweetheart, and then Kane evolves into this generation’s Walter Matthau. Kane also has had a spring in his step that has been almost non-existent in the nearly two decades (!) he has been with the WWE.
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| Jackson putting the boots to Marty Jannetty Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 1801
Ballots: 24
Highest Vote: 7th Place (Lee Spriggs, Typical ROH Fan)
Last Year's Placement: 47th Place
Ryan Kilma: The Nick-Matt Talent Chasm is not nearly as wide as the Jeff-Matt, but the Youngest Buck remains my favorite. I debated for hours whether or not the botched tightrope walk before the ROH/Sendai Girls match was real or not. When I saw him do it again, two months later, at A Piece of the Action, he became one of my new favorite wrestlers.
Typical ROH Fan: See Matt Jackson. But without the spear.
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| Summerlyn booting Evan Gelistico right in his dome Photo Credit: Texas Anarchy |
Points: 1864
Ballots: 23
Highest Vote:1st Place (De O'Brien)
Last Year's Placement: 61st Place
TH: Intergender wrestling has taken huge strides forward in the last two years in no small part to wrestlers like Sara del Rey, LuFisto, Jessicka Havok, MsChif, Mena Libra, and Candice LaRae, but the OG of all that noise has been Rachel Summerlyn. She was wrestling men before wrestling men was cool in Texas. While other wrestlers were branching out of their regions though, Summerlyn, outside of a couple of dalliances into 2CW, stayed at home. Thankfully, ACW is a fine place to have as a home base.
It was there where she spent the first half of her year rattling off MOTYC after MOTYC, whether against Jessica James, Matthew Palmer, Jazz, or in the Yoga Pants Party match. Her approach in each match was strikingly similar, but tailored to each opponent. Watching a Rachel Summerlyn match was never about defining whether it was "women's wrestling" or "intergender wrestling" insomuch as it was just about being a "wrestling match."
That's why she's the prototype. While other wrestlers seem to be defined by labels, Summerlyn is one of the best in the country, if not the world, because she has done so much to cast these labels off and normalize any promotion she steps into. Even above and beyond that, she's just good. If that sounds simplistic, well, it's as simple as making a declarative sentence about her worth. She's as good at trading wristlocks as she is getting tossed off a balcony, with everything in between being part of her repertoire. If she doesn't have a top 10 resume, no one does.
Jesse Powell: I never even considered that women could fight against men, and it wasn’t because of antiquated ideas about gender, I had just never seen it. Then I came across Rachel this year as I immersed myself more in wrestling. She is just…perfect. Every match looks like it takes 100% out of her, and of her opponent. Every move looks painful, and not in a botchy way.
De O'Brien: My feelings on the treatment and portrayal of women over the last year in wrestling have been pretty obvious; I wrote a piece about how AJ Lee was screwed over completely by WWE for Drop Toehold, I've had several moments about how the Big Two treat their ladies on my Twitter, and I've sort of felt like giving up on American wrestling companies altogether because I didn't feel like they respected women as wrestlers, but expected us - the audience - to see them as pretty eye candy who were there to make the boys look good/give them something to beat up on.
And then my friend Kurtis (Kayfabe, from Drop Toehold/The KGBCast/Twitter) asked me one day, Have you seen Rachel Summerlyn?
Much to my chagrin, I had never heard of her before, and that day my eyes were opened to the fact that here was a woman wrestling in America not named Sara del Rey who was a bruiser, who could keep up with and surpass the boys, and who was very much a woman excelling in a male-dominated field. I didn't think anything could possibly happen to elevate my opinion of Rachel Summerlyn as one of the best wrestlers I've ever seen - until I bought Anarchy Championship Wrestling's Nothing Is As Real As A Dream 2012 on DVD.
If you're not familiar with ACW, you ought to be; they boast a roster of impressive wrestlers (including two of my favorites, JoJo Bravo, the heaviest sumo in the land, and Jack Jameson, bringing MANarchy to this country, one wrestling ring at a time), but on a card that was full of great matches - Davey Vega and Athena vs. Matthew Palmer and Su Yung being one of the better mixed tag matches I've had the privilege to witness - the thing that stands out the most is a gimmick I normally despise: An Evening Gown Match. And not just any Evening Gown Match, but an Evening Gown Dream Partner tag match that pitted Angel Blue and Lady Poison vs. Portia Perez and Rachel Summerlyn. I wasn't expecting to like a match that I was convinced was going to lower these ladies to mere sex objects, and I wasn't prepared for the sheer amount of storytelling that I, a new viewer of ACW up to that point sans a couple YouTube matches, was able to experience in one single match. Portia's untrustworthy (emphasized over and over by a rather bitter Robert Evans on commentary); why would Rachel lower herself to tagging with someone she knows is pretty much pure evil? Lady Poison and Rachel have a rather strange history. Angel's just a jerk. All of the ladies in this match went above and beyond to make it far far more than your standard "Oh my gosh, stripping ladies! TEEHEE!" evening gown match, and for that I am grateful, but what I most remember and will most likely mention from now until the day I die is that in that match, a match full of great spots and great in-ring storytelling that was ACTUAL WRESTLING, Rachel Summerly stood out, regal head and shoulders above it all.
And for that, I very much believe she deserves to be my Number One vote for this ballot, because without Rachel Summerlyn, and ladies like her who are ready and willing to come along and take up the challenge that the misuse of women in the past by wrestling has left them, I think a small part of me would have given up on women in American wrestling altogether. So for that, Ms. Summerlyn, I cannot thank you enough.
Eamon Paton: Rachel Summerlyn opened my eyes to the role of a female in professional wrestling. That’s not to say I was sexist or opposed to equality beforehand, but I didn’t believe that females could ever be looked at as highly as their male counterparts. Then I watched her forearm the hell out of Matthew Palmer and throw him off a balcony, have one of the best wrestling contests I have seen with Jazz, and put on phenomenal, thought provoking matches every time she stepped through the ropes. There is nothing better than that point in a Rachel Summerlyn match where her opponent hits her with everything he or she has, goes for the pin, and Rachel not only kicks out, but bridges upwards, pounds on the ground and starts screaming at the top of her lungs. It can only be compared to that of Bruce Banner’s transformation into the monstrous Hulk. And when that happens, nothing is left in that beast’s path.
John Rosenberger: I’ll be the first to admit being behind on the Summerlyn train. It’s not that I didn’t think she was worthy of all the hype; it’s just that I was utterly uneducated about her. However, having now seen her on video (Unfortunately the one show she did relatively close to me was still 8 hours away and I opted to go watch Stone Cold ET cut a promo and my buddy Sam wrestle) I was blown away by her ferocity in the ring and her willingness to let it all hang out.
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| Angelosetti posing over Mixed Martial Archie Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 1939
Ballots: 26
Highest Vote: 4th Place (De O'Brien)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: He rocketed out of Beyond Wrestling, where he was already putting together the beginnings of a resume, to take over not only that company but Chikara as well. On the surface, he was two different characters, but Mr. Touchdown was just Mark Angel with the trappings of a football player, which I thought enhanced his in-ring ability with some much-appreciated personality. Either way, he had some phenomenal matches in what amounted to be his rookie year against competition like ACH, Green Ant, and Drew Gulak. I would like to see him have a good-to-great match with someone below his talents to see if he's the complete package, but I can't fault him for being great in the ring with fellow elite-level wrestlers.
Frank McCormick: The word that always comes to my mind when Mr. Touchdown Mark Angelosetti (and I'll confess here that I know him from his Chikara and Wrestling Is... work only) enters a ring is "stud." And, no, no just because he has cobblestone abs and an ass that won't quit, but because despite being a relative newcomer, he so damn GOOD, not just technically, but character-wise. He embodies the "Nerd!" bullying jock asshole to perfection. Even his moveset is entirely in-keeping with his character. The Tebowing? The up-down splashes? The hard tackles? And have you seen him jump? Those sculpted legs aren't just for show. As far as I'm concerned he has "star" written all over him.
Mike Pankowski: It’s incredible that Mr. Touchdown is a rookie. He combines a great in-ring persona with excellent skills and power. He does a good job in making his power moves look clean and look strong. I always like a wrestler that makes it look like he destroys someone when he hits them with a spinebuster, and Mr. Touchdown excels at destroying nerds. Also, his interplay with both his tag team partners and his opponents during the match always give me joy. I look forward to seeing what Mr. Touchdown can do this year with a year’s worth of matches under his belt.
John Rosenberger: The man is a great heel. Being able to translate your character in such a way that you don’t even have to say a word in the ring and people know exactly what your about is a thing that a lot of people underestimate in this world of breath-taking promos and video packages. When Mr. Touchdown steps in the ring, whether you love him or hate him, you know exactly who he is and what he represents.
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| Henry reacquainting Sheamus with the guard barrier Photo Credit: WWE.com |
Points: 2091
Ballots: 28
Highest Vote: 3rd Place (John Rosenberger)
Last Year's Placement: 6th Place
TH: Damn, Mark Henry was on his way to having another awesome year until he finally went out with his year-ending injury in April. He was rumored to be off the slate even before then, but working hurt, he still wrestled in a perfectly acceptable cage match at the Rumble with Daniel Bryan and Big Show, had a few really good singles matches on TV, and then totally burned down the house twice in three weeks with CM Punk after Mania. It's a shame he couldn't have built off that; even though his injury did give us Punk/Bryan for a couple of months, I perversely wanted to see what Henry could have done in a prolonged WWE Championship feud against a then-babyface Punk in the ring.
Robot Hammer: If you're still not buying what The World's Strongest Man is selling, I just.....Man, I don't even...
Mark Henry is a big, pissed off, engine of destruction. If he had been active the entire year, the landscape of the WWE would've been drastically different. Now that he's back, I want to see him destroy everyone who steps in his way because, as he likes to remind us, THAT'S WHAT HE DOES.
John Rosenberger: I don’t know exactly what it is about his style that draws me so strongly to him. I’m not a particular lover of Hosses. Not that I dislike them, but I just don’t love them more than anyone else. However, whenever the World’s Strongest Man is on my screen I am glued to it. I’m not sure if I just love watching him massacre people or if there is something that aesthetically makes me like him more than somebody like Ryback, but there’s something about him that puts him this high on the list.
Dylan Hales: When I was compiling my ballot I didn't expect for Mark Henry to end up so high. Yes he is my favorite wrestler on the planet and yes he was my number one last year. But he missed 2/3 of the year and I'm generally a guy who puts a fair amount of weight on volume. But the thing is this year was filled with guys who had mini-runs of greatness, followed by long periods where they were injured, vanished, taking time off, relegated to jobber status or otherwise disappeared. In 2012, being arguably the best wrestler in the U.S. for the first four months of the year is enough to get you into the top fifteen, especially when you were in the Raw match of the year and went out with a bang having a dynamite month of April (two awesome matches with Punk, two awesome matches with Orton - one of which was on a house show circulated online, and a very good match with Sheamus) that was among the best months anyone had anywhere on earth last year. When I look at my ballot Henry still seems high, but then when I look below him there is no one I really believe should be ranked above him. So I am fine with him sitting in my top fifteen.
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| Callihan attempting the Stretch Muffler on Goldust Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 2093
Ballots: 24
Highest Vote:1st Place (Devon Hales, Dylan Hales)
Last Year's Placement: 62nd Place
TH: Sami Callihan is a guy that defined the indies last year. He went to all different places against different opponents and had great matches in different styles. He gained the most credibility through DGUSA, because that's where he was positioned as a star. As you may or may not know, I didn't really watch a whole lot of that for whatever reason. However, he did do a lot of really cool stuff in PWG, which is the biggest reason why he was in the top 10 of my ballot.
PWG has been maybe the best fit for him, because the mantra of the promotion is that you go out and have the best match on the card, no matter where it is, no matter who the opponent. Callihan was in the ring with guys like Willie Mack – with whom he could trade bombs – TJ Perkins – with whom he would go to the mat hard, quick, and complex – and Adam Cole – with whom he could do the "heated rival" thing with great results. Every match he had there was must-see, and this was in a promotion where guys like El Generico and Kevin Steen were holding court for years on end.
The stuff outside of Reseda that I caught of his was gravy, but maybe calling it that is a disservice. I mean, the man wrestled two top-level matches the night the Arena closed, one against Rich Swann for CZW and the other with Bobby Fish at EVOLVE 10, and while both had technical edges to them, were totally different. Hell, even though he spent the year as a brash anti-hero/heel, he found time to wrestle as a classic babyface for MCW in a televised three-way against Swann and Alex Colon (one of my many YouTube gems of the year). There's no denying that Callihan is one of the top three or four wrestlers not signed with WWE, but if the rumors are right, I think we might be seeing a lot more of him under a different name. It might sting at first, but if the tradeoff is getting to see Callihan every week doing his thing in the ring? It might be worth it.
Alex Torres: The Callihan Death Machine elevated any place he stepped in to, tearing the house down in Chicago, Reseda, and New Jersey. I predicted he'd rule over 2012, and he didn't let me down.
Dylan Hales: In 2011 Mark Henry was the best wrestler in the United States, but he was not the best wrestler in the world. In 2010 the best wrestler in the United States was Rey Misterio, but he was not the best wrestler in the world. In 2012 the best wrestler in the United States was Sami Callihan and he was also the best wrestler in the world. To be fair this has to be qualified a bit. Negro Casas who I would rank number two in the world, didn't appear on tape nearly as much as Sami and was completely MIA for a couple of months. Finlay was outstanding through July and on pace to at least be Callihan's equal when his indie tour ended (Finlay was eighth on my ballot here, but if international work was counted would have been third - he was outstanding in both Europe and Japan in 2012). But after that there was really no one who had the resume Sami had. While I knew early in the process that Derrick King would be my number 2 (and shame on you people for not having a clue who he is), the gap between him and Callihan was clear and reasonably wide.
As someone who takes these sort of exercises way to seriously, when trying to figure out who was better than who and what constitutes a great year, I look at several things. Here is a rough summary of the sort of things that run through my mind when compiling a ballot for something like the TWB 100.
-Does the wrestler have any serious match of the year contenders or otherwise outstanding "top tier" matches that would finish near the top of cumulative "best of" list for the year?
-Does the wrestler have sound mechanics? Does he have good ring positioning, is his offense good, does he sell well, is he a great bumper, does he have strong timing, et.
-Does the wrestler have a high volume of good matches?
-Does the wrestler have any "stinkers" or disappointing matches?
-Is the wrestler versatile? Was he good in a variety of settings and/or did he have good matches against a variety of opponents?
Now I am not a fan of the modern "super indies" and in a way it feels odd to go to bat for someone who comes out of that culture with my number one vote. But when I look at that checklist, the guy who comes out looking the best is Sami Callihan. Easily.
Did he have a MOTYC? Yes, at least two, though one was in Europe against Finlay. The other was in the States against Finlay and to my mind was one of the two or three best singles matches from anywhere in the world in 2012.
Does he have sound mechanics? Absolutely. Callihan is one of the few super indie guys who can pace a match well and knows how to switch gears depending on opponent. He can take big bumps if needed, is good at working heat segments on top, has strong offense, sells very well, and is usually excellent at working hope/comeback spots with his opponent.
Did he have a high volume of good matches? This is really Callihan's strongest category as he had such a high volume of good matches that I'm still finding and hearing about 2012 Callihan matches I didn't see that others thought were outstanding. The latest I've heard about was a match from December v. Goldust. One day I hope to see that match which has gotten rave reviews, but even absent that Sami had quality matches v. Finlay, Adam Cole, Rhino, Rich Swann, AR Fox, Michael Elgin, Davey Richards, Willie Mack, Johnny Gargano, Drake Younger, DJ Hyde, Alex Colon, John Morrison, Kevin Steen, Danny Damento, and others. This is to say nothing of tag matches and multi-man matches where he put on good performances and doesn't count international matches against guys like Tama Williams, Finlay and Dave Mastiff which ranged from good to excellent.
Did he have any "stinkers" or disappointing matches? Well the Generico match was a bit disappointing, because Generico wanted to work his match and wasn't interested in letting Sami build heat, but Callihan was trying and you can't blame him for the sins of an inferior worker (sidenote - this is not a knock on Generico who I generally think is good. But I cannot believe so many folks were so high on him last year. Where are the great matches and performances? Generico had run out of things to do on the indies and was coasting in a lot of things I saw. I left him off my ballot and I'm glad he's gone to the WWE where at least he'll have new faces to work). The Sabu match wasn't much and I didn't like the BxB Hulk match, but Hulk is one of the worst wrestlers in the world. So while Sami may have had some matches that didn't hit the highs I wanted, I don't think any of his matches suffered for his performance.
Was he versatile? Well I covered this to some degree with the laundry list of guys he had good matches with, but I will go a little further here and point out a few things. Sami can work quality long matches, even against middling competition. He can work excellent short sprints (in my view he's the best in the world at this type of match). He can work matches built around big spots and moments, or matches built around slow build and getting heat. He can brawl, or he can have a straight match. He can work with a vet or a novice and get strong results. He can carry an abysmal wrestler like Davey Richards to a great match, or have possibly the best match of Rhino's career on one of the biggest indies shows of the year. I wouldn't argue that Sami doesn't have stock spots or even that he doesn't have a preferred formula - he does. But I don't consider those bad things and I don't think that makes him any less versatile.
It's possible that other guys had more truly tremendous matches in 2012 than Sami Callihan. It's possible that other guys had good matches against a pool of opponents as diverse. It's possible there were guys as consistent. But there was no one in the U.S. - or the world - who put all these things together in quite the fashion he did. So even if it is a bit of an unconventional pick for me, and even if Southern indies absolutely decimate "super" indies in terms of quality, the best wrestler in the world in 2012 was Sami Callihan.
Having said that, shame on you all for not watching Derrick King.
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| Gargano whipping Ricochet towards the corner Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 2013
Ballots: 28
Highest Vote: 3rd Place (Alex Torres)
Last Year's Placement: 28th Place
Alex Torres: On this list, there are three people who have held the belt for over a year. Johnny Gargano is the one who has put on the best matches, time and time again. He's the perfect face for DGUSA, someone who connects easy with the crowd. He's the kid we saw grow into a champion, and Gargano has ran with it. After a very scary beginning of the year, Gargano came back and reminded everyone why he deserved his place, being one of the best parts of any company he stepped into.
Mike Pankowski: Between Chikara and Dragon Gate, Johnny has pulled of some great matches. He has the great ability to look dominant and controlling in one match, and then act as if he will have trouble pulling out a victory in the next one. He can give some of the stiffest looking shots in a match. Yet when he gets the same shots in return, Johnny will sell it for all it’s worth and make it look like he got run into by a truck. His ability to give and take makes all wrestlers involved stand out.
John Rosenberger: Brash, confident and the skills to back it up. 2012 was a big year for Gargano and I’d look for 2013 to be bigger. He is one of the better athletes I’ve seen in the ring and his cockiness as a personality is, much like Angelosetti, something that can translate without saying a single word.
Typical ROH Fan: I always joke that every few months I realize I've forgotten that Johnny Gargano is one of my favorite wrestlers. It's a DGUSA/Evolve issue of the shows often not mattering or not having a buzz which is sad because every time I watch a show, Gargano blows me away. I think the guy is one of the best on the planet and probably up there with anyone as the best un-signed talent. A true joy to watch wrestle. Note for my fav match: This wasn't his best pure wrestling match but the aftermath in the ring led to it. This was part of the match story to me and I consider it part of the match. (Favorite 2012 match: vs. AR Fox at Evolve 13)
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| Ambrose plotting what to do with that ladder Photo Credit: WWE.com |
Points: 2106
Ballots: 28
Highest Vote: 4th Place (Brandon Infinger)
Last Year's Placement: 39th Place
TH: Ambrose didn't really get to show the world what he was made of in 2012 outside of one match. It was one phenomenal match of which he was a huge part, but he spent most of the year mired in developmental. Luckily for me, entrepreneurial souls ripped torrents from Bright House Networks and posted several of his matches online from FCW, including the rematch with William Regal that ended in a ref's stoppage. He showed he's great as a cerebral loner in FCW, and in WWE, he's now showing how he can work in a group dynamic, especially a group that's as special and in some ways as innovative as The Shield.
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| Elgin ponders what to do to Mike Bennett Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 2107
Ballots: 26
Highest Vote:1st Place (Alex Torres, Pablo Alva, Dave Musgrave)
Last Year's Placement: 75th Place (tied)
Alex Torres: Unbreakable Michael Elgin is perhaps unmatched in match quality in 2012. He gave AIW one of its best matches, taking on Johnny Gargano. He tore down AAW with Silas Young, and Chicago somehow still stands. He was part of ROH's two best matches of the year. And he somehow managed to get to PWG to melt some faces on top of it. After this year, when I think of the best, I think Michael Elgin.
Typical ROH Fan: Elgin probably should be higher. But this is the way I see it. Dude had an incredible year though. Racking up great matches throughout the entire calendar year. Most would have view him as the shining star of indy wrestling in 2012 and I wouldn't argue too much despite my Adam Cole love. (Favorite 2012 match: vs Davey Richards at ROH Showdown in the Sun)
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| del Rey using Mickie Knuckles' hand to make an obscene gesture to the crowd Photo Credit: Wayne Palmer/DDS |
Points: 2170
Ballots: 28
Highest Vote: 2nd Place (Gregory Davis, Erin Pronovost)
Last Year's Placement: 26th Place
TH: The Queen has left us. Sara del Rey took her considerable talents and went to teach the trainees cycling through NXT. Some may consider that a waste. She's already proven she can do, so why deign herself to teach? Well, I make no judgments of a person's work life. However, for whatever she started doing in the summer of '12 to continue on into indefinite perpetuity, she at least left us with over six months of content to remember her by. Whether it was against Eddie Kingston or El Generico, Leon or Mickie Knuckles, del Rey left a farewell tour greater than most other people's peaks. My personal favorite match was her last one in AIW, against Hailey Hatred (whose omission from this list makes me angry at my fellow voters), which encapsulated everything about the modern independent female that in many ways makes the fairer sex a far more impressive unit within pro wrestling.
Eamon Paton: It says a lot towards why Sara del Rey is one of the best, when the leading pro wrestling company in the world signs her to train all of their upcoming female performers, even though she has never once worked for their company. That’s a testament to Sara del Rey’s skill if I have ever seen one. Here is seriously hoping that anyone who trains with her soaks up as much knowledge as possible, because anyone who knows the reputation Sara has built for herself would be dying to gain that knowledge.
Jennifer Logsdon: The Queen of Wrestling was the first to become a double crown champion in SHIMMER when Courtney Rush won the tag team titles for both her and del Rey in March 2012. Alas, we will never know what may have happened there, as her signing with WWE aborted that angle. Before she left for new shores, however, she gained a shot at the CHIKARA Grand Championship and had a hell of a match against Eddie Kingston. Plus, she was part of the very first SHINE show, and fans were treated to a dream match between her and Jazz. There was much sorrow when it was revealed she was signed to become a trainer in NXT. The Queen, training Divas? Utter rubbish, some said. Yet, if Jesus could turn water into wine, I have no trouble believing del Rey can take models and make them wrestlers. But 2012 was a damn fine year for the Queen, as every year has been.
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| Kingston wrestling Tadasuke down to the mat Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 2179
Ballots: 27
Highest Vote:1st Place (Robot Hammer, Okori Wadsworth)
Last Year's Placement: 21st Place
TH: Like his peers Johnny Gargano and CM Punk, The War King spent the entire year as Champion of his promotion. I don't think he performed under the physical duress Gargano did, nor did he have the sheer number of defenses that Punk did, but his high-end matches I thought were comparable to the latter. I haven't seen enough of Gargano's defenses to compare those two. I just fucked my narrative up in the first couple of sentences. Ha. Anyway, Kingston's best matches, against Kevin Steen, Sara del Rey, and Harlem Bravado (of all people), stack up favorably. He had a dominant title reign, but even against Bravado, he played up his vulnerability in a way where it wasn't a foregone conclusion that he was going out on top. That's invaluable for any main event-level wrestler.
Philip Rosenbaum: The temperamental War King successfully defended his Chikara Grand Championship throughout the entirety of 2012, fending off such foes as Vin Gerard, Kevin Steen, Sara del Rey, and Tim Donst in a feud that encompassed the latter part of 2012. His contrasting style with the rest of the roster made almost every match compelling, and the clash with del Rey was particular exciting as the King of Diamonds barely managed to defeat the Queen of Wrestling.
Robot Hammer: I believe in Eddie Kingston.
Or perhaps the better way to say it is, I believe Eddie Kingston. I believe every action and reaction he creates in the ring. When he enters the ring and holds the Chikara Grand Championship over his head, I believe he's proud to be champion. When he throws a punch or kick, I believe he's trying to hurt his opponent. When he steps back to wind up for the Backfist to the Future, I believe he's going for the knock out. When his opponent has him down and he's holding his knee and screaming in pain, I believe he's hurt. When he slapped the taste out of Dasher Hatfield's mouth after Dasher gave him a 'good game' pat on the rear, I believed he wasn't playing around.
I singled out an instance from his match with Dasher because it was a small moment that said a lot, but I could have picked spots from his matches with del Rey, Steen, Donst, or anyone else he stepped in the ring with.
In a time where we as fans probably have too much access to the inner workings of pro wrestling, suspending belief can become a bit of a challenge. It seems being snarky and nit-picking everything to holy hell and back is the norm for wrestling fans. We toss getting into the match and enjoying the ride to the side to play armchair promoter and miss the entire point of entertainment. I want someone to make me believe in the story they're telling in the ring and no one else did that in 2012 like Eddie Kingston. If that doesn't make him The Last Of A Dying Breed, then I don't know what does.