[Official] Team U.S.A. Discussion Thread

[Christian Battlez]

Here are my Five Representatives

Hulk Hogan: (Team Captain) The perfect leader for Team USA. Vocally,emotionally,and physically. He would be perfect for getting us by in the Survivor Series match.

Kurt Angle: An Olympic Gold medallist has experience in these Olympic things. Angle has the endurance to wrestle in an Ironman match, one of the most dangerous Submission moves ever for the Submission match, and could very well compete in the Ladder Match as well as be another vocal leader for the Survivor Series match.

Shawn Michaels: The innovator of the Ladder match as well as one of two men to compete in two Ironman matches. He has participated in and won almost every concept match ever. Noone is a better choice than Shawn Michaels.

Undertaker: The man has never tapped out. What better choice for a submission match is there?

Steve Austin: The man is mad American. He drinks beer and he kicks ass.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Dean Malenko would be my choice to represent Team USA for the submission match. Mallenko is criminally underrated as far as his place in wrestling goes. He had 5 star matches with some of the best cruiserweights back in the mid 90s in WCW, and was known as "The Man of 1,001 Holds". He wasn't the greatest on the mic, but he let his in-ring skills do the talking, and his matches were an absolute joy to watch. The Texas Cloverleaf may be one of the greatest submission holds of all-time, and he also taught Benoit the Crippler Crossface, which might be the deadliest hold in wrestling history.

Malenko was a master innovator, and really, The Man of 1,001 Holds should be a natural choice for the submission match event. Malenko also won plenty of titles during his run, winning the ECW TV Title twice, a tag title in both ECW and WCW, a WCW US and Cruiserweight Champion, and he also made the WWF Light Heavyweight Title interesting. PWI also named him the #1 wrestler in the world in 1997, despite not being a Heavyweight Champion. He was also one of The Four Horsemen.

I think Malenko without a doubt deserves to represent Team USA, and could be THE X-Factor in their success.

 

[wewanttables]

I am choosing people based on their event and not their star power.

Iron Man Match: Kurt Angle has been in the most iron man matches in WWE history and also an Iron Man Match in TNA. Also mention: HBK who has been in 2 and has good athletisism. Lou Thesz who invented many of the moves in wrestling and became a star when that required traveling to all the little teritories which has to toughen one up.

Falls Count anywhere: This is a match that can be hardcore so Foley is the obvious choice. Also mention: RVD, because chair surfing and the Van Daminator will make a hardcore falls count anywhere a short match.

Submission Match: Undertaker because he has never tapped and his size will be benificial in the battle royal. Also mention: Rick Flair because he is Mr. Figure 4.

Ladder Match: Jeff Hardy, because he has been a part of many of the greatest TLC matches. I would also mention AJ Styles because of his experience in these matches.

Also include: Yokozuna because he is a 2 time heavy weight champion that won the 1993 Royal Rumble and 1 man is not going to eleminate a 700 lb person. Also mention: Big John Studd who won the 2nd Royal Rumble and had a lot of size and strength. Ed "Strangler" Lewis because he was in 6200 matches and lost 33 so it is always good to have a winner.

 

[wewanttables]

I am choosing people based on their event and not their star power.

Iron Man Match: Kurt Angle has been in the most iron man matches in WWE history and also an Iron Man Match in TNA. Also mention: HBK who has been in 2 and has good athletisism. Lou Thesz who invented many of the moves in wrestling and became a star when that required traveling to all the little teritories which has to toughen one up.

Falls Count anywhere: This is a match that can be hardcore so Foley is the obvious choice. Also mention: RVD, because chair surfing and the Van Daminator will make a hardcore falls count anywhere a short match.

Submission Match: Undertaker because he has never tapped and his size will be benificial in the battle royal. Also mention: Rick Flair because he is Mr. Figure 4.

Ladder Match: Jeff Hardy, because he has been a part of many of the greatest TLC matches. I would also mention AJ Styles because of his experience in these matches.

Also include: Yokozuna because he is a 2 time heavy weight champion that won the 1993 Royal Rumble and 1 man is not going to eleminate a 700 lb person. Also mention: Big John Studd who won the 2nd Royal Rumble and had a lot of size and strength. Ed "Strangler" Lewis because he was in 6200 matches and lost 33 so it is always good to have a winner.

 

[Coco]

I am choosing people based on their event and not their star power.

Iron Man Match: Kurt Angle has been in the most iron man matches in WWE history and also an Iron Man Match in TNA. Also mention: HBK who has been in 2 and has good athletisism. Lou Thesz who invented many of the moves in wrestling and became a star when that required traveling to all the little teritories which has to toughen one up.

Angle has been in one and a half (if you're counting the half hour one). Michaels has been in one. If you want only guy in WWE history to be in two, you'd have to look towards Triple H. Get your facts straight. Also, wrestling has evolved a lot since Thesz was around so he'd fall early in this thing.

Falls Count anywhere: This is a match that can be hardcore so Foley is the obvious choice. Also mention: RVD, because chair surfing and the Van Daminator will make a hardcore falls count anywhere a short match.

RVD is better suited for the ladder match, as I said above.

Submission Match: Undertaker because he has never tapped and his size will be benificial in the battle royal. Also mention: Rick Flair because he is Mr. Figure 4.

Come on, his figure four really isn't one of the baddest submissions of all time. Taker is a good pick though.

Ladder Match: Jeff Hardy, because he has been a part of many of the greatest TLC matches. I would also mention AJ Styles because of his experience in these matches.

RVD has a much better chance of getting the gold in the ladder match.

http://forums.wrestlezone.com/showpost.php?p=1480009&postcount=1

If you want the gold medal in the ladder event, Rob Van Dam is your ticket. Look at his ladder match record:

RVD def. Jeff Hardy (SummerSlam 2001)
RVD def. Eddie Guerrero (Raw, May 2002)
RVD def. Jeff Hardy (Raw, July 2002)
RVD def. Christian (Raw, September 2003)
RVD def. Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin, Finlay, Bobby Lashley, and Ric Flair (Wrestlemania 22)
Sabu def. RVD (ECW, August 2006)
RVD def. Big Show (ECW, October 2006)

That's a pretty hot record, with his only loss coming after a run-in by Big Show.

Who else are you going to pick? Michaels has lost his fair share of ladder matches (vs. Triple H, Jericho, Razor Ramon). Jeff has lost two ladder matches against RVD alone, not to mention defeats against ladder match rookie The Undertaker, random high-flying tag team #783 of Londrick, Edge and Christian @ WM2000, and of course his failure to get it done in the third MITB match.

Don't think Van Dam is up to snuff with the rest of the line-up? Doesn't matter! Team USA is likely to have such a strong line-up that a guy like Van Dam being included to get you an guys easy medal won't weaken the team AT ALL. Van Dam can ride high in team events with guys like Hogan, Cena, Michaels, and Angle leading the way to victory.

Patriotism? No problem! Van Dam stood up for the Red, White, and Blue in a 2003 flag match against Sylvain Grenier.

Pick RVD here. Come on, how many KOTM matches has AJ lost?

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I absolutely agree that RVD should represent Team USA in the Ladder Match portion of the Wrestlezolympics. Not only is he a proven winner in ladder matches, as Coco stated, but he's also innovative enough to use whatever resources are necessary to win Team USA the gold.

Coco discredited everyone else that would be a possibility to represent Team USA quite easily. RVD is also a proven winner. This is a man who throughout his run in the WWE, almost always had a title around his waist. He was also virtually loved by the WWE fanbase, and if you're looking for someone to perform in the clutch, look no further than RVD.

I would love for a Jeff Hardy sympathizer to explain why Jeff deserves to be in this over RVD. Sure, he was in a lot of exciting ladder matches, but he was also a choke artist in those matches.

The only person I could make a case for to go in instead of RVD is CM Punk, who has two MITB wins, and a TLC victory over Jeff Hardy for the World Heavyweight Championship. I would give RVD the edge though, just based on how innovative he's likely to be in a Ladder Match.

Any other suggestion should be thrown out the window though. If Jeff Hardy is representing Team USA in this match, it is certain to be a failure.

 

[Tenta]

Coco discredited everyone else that would be a possibility to represent Team USA quite easily.

Almost Everyone...

I'd like to toss a name into The Proverbial Hat Here...

Yes, I'd like to throw Razor Ramon/ Scott Hall into the list of people that should be vying for The Ladder Match Spot. Lest we all forget, this was the man that won, arguably, the best ladder match of all time, with Shawn Michaels. And while that in itself is a feat, his victory in that match only solidified one more fact for me.... For everything RVD would do, Razor wouldn't. And that's why Razor would win this contest.

You see, while RVD would be so busy pandering to the crowd, and doing flashy moves that can have himself nearly maimed, Scott would go about his business, and would only be concerned about winning. Scott didn't care to perform flashy moves or to be eight bajillion flips off the ladder. All that would matter to him is retrieving the belt from the ladder. He's far more durable than RVD. RVD has a history of injuries, whereas the only times Scott spent outside the ring were mainly due to his own problems. I can't ever remember Razor or Scott missing a show due to injury. He has all the experience you could want. Having been in five ladder matches, and winning three of them. mind you, those three victories include Shawn Michaels, Bam Bam Bigelow (Arguably the most agile big man in the business), and Bret Hart, Goldberg, and Sid Vicious in a match to claim the Vacant WCW United States Title. He's sturdy, and won't be knocked off the ladder, a la some pissant the size of RVD. And, most importantly, the guy wants to win. And I don't know about you, but in the Olympics, I don't particularly care for style. All I care about is merely getting the win.

Scott Hall can guarantee you that.

 

[Coco]

I'm sorry, but Van Dam's 6-1 (the one being a result of Big Show randomly running in) record trumps Hall's 3-2. Who taught you math?

Yeah, you can speculate that Van Dam risking his body might cost him, or that pandering to the crowd might cost him, but the numbers say that he can do those things and still come away with solid victory after solid victory. So basically, your biggest argument against Van Dam is that stuff that hasn't cost him the victory in his previous seven ladder matches will somehow prevent him from getting a victory this time. Yeah, that's a really great argument...

Goldberg, Bret Hart, and Sid aren't exactly guys you'd think would have the same chance in a ladder match as Jeff Hardy (twice Van Dam beat this guy... TWICE!), Eddie Guerrero, Matt Hardy, or Christian. Next!

Best ladder match ever? Pfft. This isn't a match quality-athon and Michaels won the return match and stepped over Hall in the long run. Next!

Van Dam has a history of injuries? Really? Considering the style Van Dam wrestles, he's one of the most built-to-last wrestlers in recent times (Good luck and a great warm-up routine keep this man in the game; Tough as nails as well). For the record, he's had two injuries that have side-lined him in his entire career, and finished the match both times. Hardly Edge or Mr. Kennedy, hardly an argument worth listening to. Hall's more likely to no-show than Van Dam is to get injured.

If that's the best you've got, I'm going to have to insist that Van Dam be picked over Hall.

Picking Van Dam has nothing to do with getting points for style. Van Dam is a lock for victory. If you really care about victory, you'll see Van Dam as the best choice here.

 

[NSL]

If we don't get a Team Samoa or Team PR, are we going to include candidates from them for Team USA, since they are US territories? Pedro Morales deserves a spot in all this, and there's a number of people from Samoa that should be in the running as well.

Also, I'm still backing AJ Styles as a member of this team.

 

[gd]

If we don't get a Team Samoa or Team PR, are we going to include candidates from them for Team USA, since they are US territories? Pedro Morales deserves a spot in all this, and there's a number of people from Samoa that should be in the running as well.

With all due respect to Pedro Morales, I don't think it really matters if he's eligable bacause he wouldn't be on the team anyway. There are much bigger names and much more successful guys that should be on the team over him.

Also, I'm still backing AJ Styles as a member of this team.

Completely agree, AJ shoudl be the ladder match participant for team USA, not RVD, Scott Hall, or anyone else. He's the best in the world today and the champion of the hottest company at the moment.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

The Final 15 Nominees:


Hulk Hogan
Kurt Angle
Steve Austin
John Cena
Jim Duggan
Sting
Lex Luger
A.J. Styles
Shawn Michaels
Rob van Dam
Ric Flair
Mick Foley
Lou Thesz
Dusty Rhodes
Triple H




1. Each poster may vote for THREE WRESTLERS.

2. If someone votes for more than three, all of their votes will be disqualified.

3. Think before voting. Once you hit the submit button, there is no changing.

4. The wrestler with the highest vote total will be named captain.

​

 

[gd]

First of all, you gotta vote Hogan. He has to be the captain for this team and should get a vote from almost everyone on here, it's not really a question.

Secondly, I'm going with Cena. He is the top guy in the biggest company at the moment, which has to mean something, and he definetly wouldn't lose in the submission match, there's just no way.

Lastly, I'm going with AJ Styles. He is the best wrestler in the world today, no question in my mind. If you don't believe me, just watch a few of his matches. They are all fantastic, regardless of his opponent. He works just as well with Shane Douglas as he does with Chris Sabin. He would also be incredible for the ladder match. He's been in so many different high flying types of matches througout his career that nothing at all would phase him.

Team USA needs at least one small, quick guy for the ladder match, and Styles is definetly the best option.

Those are the 3 I'm voting for, my next two choices would've been Angle and Foley.

 

[Coco]

If you want the gold medal in the ladder event, Rob Van Dam is your ticket. Look at his ladder match record:

RVD def. Jeff Hardy (SummerSlam 2001)
RVD def. Eddie Guerrero (Raw, May 2002)
RVD def. Jeff Hardy (Raw, July 2002)
RVD def. Christian (Raw, September 2003)
RVD def. Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin, Finlay, Bobby Lashley, and Ric Flair (Wrestlemania 22)
Sabu def. RVD (ECW, August 2006)
RVD def. Big Show (ECW, October 2006)

That's a pretty hot record, with his only loss coming after a run-in by Big Show.

Who else are you going to pick? Michaels has lost his fair share of ladder matches (vs. Triple H, Jericho, Razor Ramon). Jeff (How did such a great ladder specialist not make the poll? Lulz) has lost two ladder matches against RVD alone, not to mention defeats against ladder match rookie The Undertaker, random high-flying tag team #783 of Londrick, Edge and Christian @ WM2000, and of course his failure to get it done in the third MITB match. How many KOTM matches has AJ Styles lost again?

Don't think Van Dam is up to snuff with the rest of the line-up? Doesn't matter! Team USA is likely to have such a strong line-up that a guy like Van Dam being included to get you an guys easy medal won't weaken the team AT ALL. Van Dam can ride high in team events with guys like Hogan, Cena, Michaels, and Angle leading the way to victory.

Patriotism? No problem! Van Dam stood up for the Red, White, and Blue in a 2003 flag match against Sylvain Grenier.

RVD is guaranteed ladder match gold. I implore everyone to do their part and vote for him. Guys like Hogan are a lock. Van Dam is the kind of guy who needs you support.

 

[gd]

If you want the gold medal in the ladder event, Rob Van Dam is your ticket. Look at his ladder match record:

RVD def. Jeff Hardy (SummerSlam 2001)
RVD def. Eddie Guerrero (Raw, May 2002)
RVD def. Jeff Hardy (Raw, July 2002)
RVD def. Christian (Raw, September 2003)
RVD def. Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin, Finlay, Bobby Lashley, and Ric Flair (Wrestlemania 22)
Sabu def. RVD (ECW, August 2006)
RVD def. Big Show (ECW, October 2006)

That's a pretty hot record, with his only loss coming after a run-in by Big Show.

Who else are you going to pick? Michaels has lost his fair share of ladder matches (vs. Triple H, Jericho, Razor Ramon). Jeff (How did such a great ladder specialist not make the poll? Lulz) has lost two ladder matches against RVD alone, not to mention defeats against ladder match rookie The Undertaker, random high-flying tag team #783 of Londrick, Edge and Christian @ WM2000, and of course his failure to get it done in the third MITB match. How many KOTM matches has AJ Styles lost again?

Don't think Van Dam is up to snuff with the rest of the line-up? Doesn't matter! Team USA is likely to have such a strong line-up that a guy like Van Dam being included to get you an guys easy medal won't weaken the team AT ALL. Van Dam can ride high in team events with guys like Hogan, Cena, Michaels, and Angle leading the way to victory.

Patriotism? No problem! Van Dam stood up for the Red, White, and Blue in a 2003 flag match against Sylvain Grenier.

RVD is guaranteed ladder match gold. I implore everyone to do their part and vote for him. Guys like Hogan are a lock. Van Dam is the kind of guy who needs you support.

Lazy bastard, you could've typed something a little different instead of just copy and pasting most of that.

You're also wrong. RVD did win a fair share of ladder matches, but Styles is just as good in such matches. Not only that, but he's a much better overall wrestler as well. A multi time World Champion and TNA's only Grand Slam champion, he has beaten some of the best. AJ needs to be on this team.

 

[X]

My votes went to Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, and Lou Thesz. Michaels has long been my favorite wrestler, so naturally I had to give my vote to him as a representative of the US in wrestling. Kurt Angle is one of the greatest in-ring performers I've ever seen in my entire life, and the fact that he already owns a Gold medal in the Olympics for wrestling, well he's just a natural choice. The man already has Olympic Gold for God's sake. My final vote went to Lou Thesz, as most of yours should if you have any sense. Thesz dominated wrestling for decades, absolutely dominated it, as well as revolutionize the entire industry and makeup moves left and right like it was his job. The man absolutely deserves everyone's vote here.

I would have voted for RVD for the ladder match factor, but I could only pick three.

 

[Coco]

Lazy bastard, you could've typed something a little different instead of just copy and pasting most of that.

It still gets the point across.

You're also wrong.

Stop talking to yourself. It's not healthy.

BURN.

RVD did win a fair share of ladder matches, but Styles is just as good in such matches.

No. Styles has lost more than Van Dam. Thus, he's not as good. Also, AJ was having ladder-type matches against the guys like Joe, Double J, and Kurt Angle and coming up with losses. AJ fucking blows at the ladder match.

Not only that, but he's a much better overall wrestler as well. A multi time World Champion and TNA's only Grand Slam champion, he has beaten some of the best. AJ needs to be on this team.

The only place anyone would put AJ is in the ladder match as there are better options for every other event. Van Dam > AJ in the ladder event, so Van Dam should make the team. Fuck everything else that AJ's done, Van Dam can get you the gold. Put AJ in there and Canada's Chris Jericho is the new favorite.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

You're also wrong. RVD did win a fair share of ladder matches, but Styles is just as good in such matches. Not only that, but he's a much better overall wrestler as well. A multi time World Champion and TNA's only Grand Slam champion, he has beaten some of the best. AJ needs to be on this team.

RVD is also a WWE and ECW Champion, and he's a WWE Grand Slam Winner. RVD has also proven himself against better competition, and he has won every possible title you could hold in the WWE, except for the US Title. I think his resume speaks for itself.

* World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
o ECW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
o World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Kane (1) and Booker T (1)
o WWE Championship (1 time)
o WWE European Championship (1 time)
o WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rey Mysterio
o WWF/E Hardcore Championship (4 times)
o WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (6 times)
o Mr. Money in the Bank (2006)
o Fifteenth Triple Crown Champion
o Seventh Grand Slam Championship

He also held the ECW TV Title for 700 days, and only had to relinquish it due to injury.

RVD is a proven winner. He's basically undefeated in ladder matches, again with his only loss coming due to Big Show interference, because he didn't want to defend his title at Summerslam. I think Team USA would benefit from having RVD not only in the ladder match, but as a whole.

Also, it's really disappointing Dean Malenko was left off and Jim Duggan actually made the poll. Malenko would have taken the submission match easily.

 

[gd]

It still gets the point across.

Laziness breeds falseness, or something like that.

Stop talking to yourself. It's not healthy.

BURN.

Ur mum.

No. Styles has lost more than Van Dam. Thus, he's not as good. Also, AJ was having ladder-type matches against the guys like Joe, Double J, and Kurt Angle and coming up with losses. AJ fucking blows at the ladder match.

RVD has some pretty stiff competition in Big Show and a young Jeff Hardy. AJ has tons of experience in ladder and X Division matches, revolutionized them, and

RVD is also a WWE and ECW Champion, and he's a WWE Grand Slam Winner. RVD has also proven himself against better competition, and he has won every possible title you could hold in the WWE, except for the US Title. I think his resume speaks for itself.

* World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
o ECW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
o World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Kane (1) and Booker T (1)
o WWE Championship (1 time)
o WWE European Championship (1 time)
o WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rey Mysterio
o WWF/E Hardcore Championship (4 times)
o WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (6 times)
o Mr. Money in the Bank (2006)
o Fifteenth Triple Crown Champion
o Seventh Grand Slam Championship

If we're listing accomplishments.

All Access Wrestling
AAW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[2]
Ballpark Brawl
Natural Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[78]
Christian Wrestling Federation / Christian Wrestling Entertainment
CWF/E Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[2]
Independent Professional Wrestling
IPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[79]
Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South
IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1]
Ted Petty Invitational (2004)[1]
International Wrestling Cartel
IWC Super Indies Championship (2 times)[80][81][82]
Independent Wrestling Revolution
IWR King Of The Indies Championship (1 time)[83]
Maximum Pro Wrestling
Max-Pro Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)[1]
Midwest Pro Wrestling
MPW Universal Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[2]
New Korea Pro Wrestling Association
NKPWA Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[2]
NWA Wildside
NWA Wildside Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[84]
NWA Wildside Television Championship (3 times)[85]
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
PWG Championship (1 time) [86]
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI Tag Team of the Year (2006)[87] with Christopher Daniels
PWI ranked him #8 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2004[88]
Pro Wrestling Report
Tag Team of the Year (2006) - with Christopher Daniels
Ring of Honor
ROH Pure Wrestling Championship (1 time)1[89]
ROH Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Amazing Red[90]
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
NWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)[91]
NWA World Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Jerry Lynn (1), Abyss (1) and Christopher Daniels (2)[92]
TNA Legends Championship (1 time)[2]
TNA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)[93]
TNA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tomko[94]
TNA X Division Championship (6 times)[95]
First TNA Triple Crown Champion (4 times)
First TNA Grand Slam Champion
Mr. TNA (2003–2005)[1]
TNA Match of the Year (2006) with Christopher Daniels vs. Homicide and Hernandez at No Surrender, September 24, 2006[96]
TNA Tag Team of the Year (2006) with Christopher Daniels[96]
World Wrestling All-Stars
WWA International Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)[97]
Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Best Flying Wrestler (2005)
Best Wrestling Maneuver (2003) Styles Clash
Worst Worked Match of the Year (2006) TNA Reverse Battle Royal on TNA Impact![98]
5 Star Match (2005) vs. Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels at Unbreakable on September 11

He also held the ECW TV Title for 700 days, and only had to relinquish it due to injury.

Holy shit, the ever prestigous ECW TV Title. That's fucking aweome.

RVD is a proven winner. He's basically undefeated in ladder matches, again with his only loss coming due to Big Show interference, because he didn't want to defend his title at Summerslam. I think Team USA would benefit from having RVD not only in the ladder match, but as a whole.

RVD is unreliable and never was in the spotlight for long on the biggest stage. AJ may not have the same record as AJ in ladder matches, but overall is miles ahead of him.

I don't understand how you can keep the best wrestler in the world today off a team like this, that'd just be silly.

 

[Coco]

AJ has tons of experience in ladder and X Division matches, revolutionized them,

Against who? A washed-up D'Lo Brown and a washed-up Jerry Lynn? Van Dam's wins over a force like Jeff Hardy (in his prime), Eddie Guerrero, Christian, and Matt Hardy & the bunch trump what AJ's done in ladder matches.

If we're listing accomplishments.

All Access Wrestling
AAW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[2]
Ballpark Brawl
Natural Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[78]
Christian Wrestling Federation / Christian Wrestling Entertainment
CWF/E Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[2]
Independent Professional Wrestling
IPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[79]
Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South
IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1]
Ted Petty Invitational (2004)[1]
International Wrestling Cartel
IWC Super Indies Championship (2 times)[80][81][82]
Independent Wrestling Revolution
IWR King Of The Indies Championship (1 time)[83]
Maximum Pro Wrestling
Max-Pro Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)[1]
Midwest Pro Wrestling
MPW Universal Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[2]
New Korea Pro Wrestling Association
NKPWA Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[2]
NWA Wildside
NWA Wildside Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[84]
NWA Wildside Television Championship (3 times)[85]
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
PWG Championship (1 time) [86]
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI Tag Team of the Year (2006)[87] with Christopher Daniels
PWI ranked him #8 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2004[88]
Pro Wrestling Report
Tag Team of the Year (2006) - with Christopher Daniels
Ring of Honor
ROH Pure Wrestling Championship (1 time)1[89]
ROH Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Amazing Red[90]
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
NWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)[91]
NWA World Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Jerry Lynn (1), Abyss (1) and Christopher Daniels (2)[92]
TNA Legends Championship (1 time)[2]
TNA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)[93]
TNA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tomko[94]
TNA X Division Championship (6 times)[95]
First TNA Triple Crown Champion (4 times)
First TNA Grand Slam Champion
Mr. TNA (2003–2005)[1]
TNA Match of the Year (2006) with Christopher Daniels vs. Homicide and Hernandez at No Surrender, September 24, 2006[96]
TNA Tag Team of the Year (2006) with Christopher Daniels[96]
World Wrestling All-Stars
WWA International Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)[97]
Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Best Flying Wrestler (2005)
Best Wrestling Maneuver (2003) Styles Clash
Worst Worked Match of the Year (2006) TNA Reverse Battle Royal on TNA Impact![98]
5 Star Match (2005) vs. Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels at Unbreakable on September 11

Indy titles and PWI rankings for the most part, copied and pasted from Wikipedia. I expected better from you. My mistake.

Holy shit, the ever prestigous ECW TV Title. That's fucking aweome.

AJ has never held any of his silly indy titles as long as Van Dam held that one. Advantage: RVD.

RVD is unreliable and never was in the spotlight for long on the biggest stage.

But he was there for six years. That's six more than AJ was in the spotlight on the big stage.

AJ may not have the same record as AJ in ladder matches, but overall is miles ahead of him.

Yeah, a guy who spent the last few years as a midcarder in a company that barely inches above indy status is miles ahead of a guy who was as over as Rock and Austin in their primes on the big stage and who himself is a form WWE Champion.

Bullshit.

I don't understand how you can keep the best wrestler in the world today off a team like this, that'd just be silly.

RVD is better than AJ in the only event AJ has a chance of qualifying for. What aren't you understanding?

Do you want to hand the gold medal in the ladder match to Canada's Chris Jericho? 'Cause that's exactly what AJ styles representing the USA will do.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

If we're listing accomplishments.

Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI Tag Team of the Year (2006)[87] with Christopher Daniels
PWI ranked him #8 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2004[88]
Pro Wrestling Report
Tag Team of the Year (2006) - with Christopher Daniels
Ring of Honor
ROH Pure Wrestling Championship (1 time)1[89]
ROH Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Amazing Red[90]
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
NWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)[91]
NWA World Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Jerry Lynn (1), Abyss (1) and Christopher Daniels (2)[92]
TNA Legends Championship (1 time)[2]
TNA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)[93]
TNA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tomko[94]
TNA X Division Championship (6 times)[95]
First TNA Triple Crown Champion (4 times)
First TNA Grand Slam Champion
Mr. TNA (2003–2005)[1]
TNA Match of the Year (2006) with Christopher Daniels vs. Homicide and Hernandez at No Surrender, September 24, 2006[96]
TNA Tag Team of the Year (2006) with Christopher Daniels[96]
Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Best Flying Wrestler (2005)
Best Wrestling Maneuver (2003) Styles Clash
Worst Worked Match of the Year (2006) TNA Reverse Battle Royal on TNA Impact![98]
5 Star Match (2005) vs. Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels at Unbreakable on September 11

I deleted the ones that aren't worth shit, which are the indy promotions... pretty much 3/4ths of what you listed. Let's be fair here, I only listed what was done in major promotions, and ROH wasn't a major promotion back when AJ was working for the company (it could be argued it still isn't, but I digress). RVD was also Ranked #1 by PWI in 2002, was PWI's Most Popular Wrestler Twice, and won Comeback of the Year in 2001. Pro Wrestling Report gave RVD and Cena the Match of the Year Award for 2006.

As far as these "Accomplishments" go... I would easily say that the ECW TV Title was more prestigious than the defunct ROH Pure Wrestling Title. Also, at least the TV Title wasn't a title that was created by Booker T and already has gone through a name change.

I think RVD's WWE Accomplishments more than speak for themselves, and again, that was against much better competition than what was in TNA.

Holy shit, the ever prestigous ECW TV Title. That's fucking aweome.

He defended that title against the likes of Rhino, Jerry Lynn, Sabu, Lance Storm, and Chris Candido, all while they were in their prime. He also won the ECW Tag Title twice with Sabu, beating the Impact Players and the Dudleys. This was also when both teams were in their prime. Either way you cut it, holding a title for 700 straight days in a promotion where such good talent was working for the company is a very good accomplishment, and it shows that all RVD did was win.

RVD was also set for a unification match with Mike Awesome for the ECW Title, but he got hurt. Chances are he would have won that match.

RVD is unreliable and never was in the spotlight for long on the biggest stage. AJ may not have the same record as AJ in ladder matches, but overall is miles ahead of him.

I would say RVD is pretty reliable. He did whatever he was asked of the company and only had to miss time once due to injury. I would call constantly being loved by fans and being a merchandise mover being in the spotlight. I bet there would have been more accomplishments and world title wins under his belt over the last couple of years if it hadn't been for his wife getting cancer.

Again, if we're looking for a proven winner, who has proven himself against top competition, then RVD is who Team USA needs.

 

[gd]

[

Against who? A washed-up D'Lo Brown and a washed-up Jerry Lynn? Van Dam's wins over a force like Jeff Hardy (in his prime), Eddie Guerrero, Christian, and Matt Hardy & the bunch trump what AJ's done in ladder matches.

Not sure how 2001 Jeff Hardy is in his prime, but whatever. AJ's record may not be that same as RVD, but you can't say he wasn't great in ladder matches.

Indy titles and PWI rankings for the most part, copied and pasted from Wikipedia. I expected better from you. My mistake.

If you don't think the Ted Petty invitional is big, you don't know anything about real wrasslin'.

AJ has never held any of his silly indy titles as long as Van Dam held that one. Advantage: RVD.

Who was RVD's competition for the ECW TV Title? It's not AJ's fault that he's in TNA where you're lucky to keep a title for a month. He has the potential to lose his Heavyweight Title to Shark Boy any day now.

But he was there for six years. That's six more than AJ was in the spotlight on the big stage.

He was a main eventer for like a month in the WWE, AJ's been a main eventer for a substantial period of time in the fastest growing company in the world.

Yeah, a guy who spent the last few years as a midcarder

He's been a main eventer for awhile now, he was in the World Title title picture as early as 2003.

in a company that barely inches above indy status is

Barely above indy status? I think you're selling TNA a little short there.

miles ahead of a guy who was as over as Rock and Austin in their primes on the big stage and who himself is a form WWE Champion.

As over as Rock and Austin? Maybe at ONS, but aside from that, there's no way.

Bullshit.

Poppycock.

RVD is better than AJ in the only event AJ has a chance of qualifying for. What aren't you understanding?

AJ is plain better than RVD as an overall wrestler.

Do you want to hand the gold medal in the ladder match to Canada's Chris Jericho? 'Cause that's exactly what AJ styles representing the USA will do.

I want the best wrestlers on Team USA, and that means AJ Styles ahead of RVD.

AJ may not have the best record or the most random titles in ECW, but he is the most exciting wrestler in world today and is the reason to watch TNA. If you want to go based on statistics, RVD may be a slightly better choice, but if you want the best, most interesting guy possible, go AJ.

 

[Uncle Sam]

I voted for Kurt Angle, John Cena and AJ Styles.

As far as I'm concerned, these three represent the cream of the crop as far as American wrestling goes.

Although he's faded in recent years, I'd consider Kurt Angle the greatest wrestler in the world between 2000 and 2006 - he's a real contender for my favourite wrestler of all-time.

Oddly, I'm normally indifferent to John Cena. However, every now and then he'll have an absolutely incredible, show-stealing match. What else can I ask for?

And, while Kurt may be favourite wrestler of all-time, AJ Styles is my favourite current wrestler. He's smooth as silk in the ring, incredibly athletic and - despite common misconceptions - can go on the mic. I'm adamant that AJ deserves a place on Team USA.

 

[Coco]

Not sure how 2001 Jeff Hardy is in his prime, but whatever.

Before injuries slowed him down. Fucker was a bigger threat in ladder matches back then, and Van Dam squashed him like an ant twice.

AJ's record may not be that same as RVD, but you can't say he wasn't great in ladder matches.

Like... Shelton Benjamin great? Yeah, that doesn't count.

If you don't think the Ted Petty invitional is big, you don't know anything about real wrasslin'.

If it is, I'll take Quack over AJ any day.

He was a main eventer for like a month in the WWE

You're wrong. He had spurts as a headliner in 2001, 2002, and 2006. Far more than a mere month at the top.

AJ's been a main eventer for a substantial period of time in the fastest growing company in the world.

"Fastest growing wrestling company" isn't a big deal in the current wrestling climate.

He's been a main eventer for awhile now, he was in the World Title title picture as early as 2003.

And then they finally got on Spike TV and management wanted stars. Say hello to midcard purgatory, Mr. Poster Boy.

As over as Rock and Austin? Maybe at ONS, but aside from that, there's no way.

RVD out-popped Austin face to face on many an occasion in 2001 and was easily on Rock's level. Were you not watching the WWF back then?

AJ is plain better than RVD as an overall wrestler.

It doesn't matter.

IT.

DOESN'T.

MATTER.

Being a better wrestler gets the USA no gold. I'm sure people think Lou Thesz is a better wrestler than RVD too, but you don't send "better wrestler" in to do a job RVD is objectively better at. Bottom line. Until I have to reply to you again.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

[

Not sure how 2001 Jeff Hardy is in his prime, but whatever. AJ's record may not be that same as RVD, but you can't say he wasn't great in ladder matches.



If you don't think the Ted Petty invitional is big, you don't know anything about real wrasslin'.



Who was RVD's competition for the ECW TV Title? It's not AJ's fault that he's in TNA where you're lucky to keep a title for a month. He has the potential to lose his Heavyweight Title to Shark Boy any day now.



He was a main eventer for like a month in the WWE, AJ's been a main eventer for a substantial period of time in the fastest growing company in the world.



He's been a main eventer for awhile now, he was in the World Title title picture as early as 2003.



Barely above indy status? I think you're selling TNA a little short there.



As over as Rock and Austin? Maybe at ONS, but aside from that, there's no way.



Poppycock.



AJ is plain better than RVD as an overall wrestler.



I want the best wrestlers on Team USA, and that means AJ Styles ahead of RVD.

AJ may not have the best record or the most random titles in ECW, but he is the most exciting wrestler in world today and is the reason to watch TNA. If you want to go based on statistics, RVD may be a slightly better choice, but if you want the best, most interesting guy possible, go AJ.

RVD was maineventing PPV's as soon as he got to the WWE in 2001 and 2002. If we are choosing either Styles or RVD for the ladder match, then I'm choosing RVD because he has the better track record in winning LADDER matches. How many ladder matches has AJ Styles won? Basically the only match that uses ladders in TNA are King of the Mountain matches and I don't remember him winning any of those.

RVD has won countless ladder matches against different opponents and is almost a sure thing against Jericho if they meet because we know Jericho's track record against RVD- not so good.

 

[My$terio_Fan]

Shit, just read the rules. My votes are disqualified, but I voted for HBK, Angle, Luger, Styles, and RVD. Luger was just a throw away vote, but the other 4 are pretty much my favorite wrestlers ever(and Jeff Hardy who wasn't included).

Styles is the young, fresh guy that every team needs. He has proven to be a real asset to TNA and even coming from a smaller company he has been able to get a big fan base, huge acclaim, and has shown to be a very talented wrestler.

HBK & Angle are two of the best wrestlers of all time(imo). Angle is the original All American American, and not having him on Team USA just seems wrong. And HBK is the showstopper and time and time again shows he can put on amazing matches and is a strong worker.

I guess Hogan, Austin, and Cena are all great choices too, for being 3 of the most popular guys of their era's, but I went with my personal favorites.