IrishCanadian25
Going on 10 years with WrestleZone
With the fantastic anticipation of the 2nd Annual Wrestlezone Forums Tournament in full-swing now, I wanted to take a moment to campaign for one man in each bracket whom I feel you all need to give a look to, and who should earn your votes more times than not. I fully expect a mix of agreement and disagreement on each of these, but that's why I am posting it - in an effort to convince you.
Yokozuna is, in my book, the greatest heel in WWE history. He was an unstoppable, believable Super Heavyweight at 505 lbs during his debut and as much as 700 lbs during his later years. A formidable 2-time WWF Champion, Yoko holds impressive wins over the likes of Bret Hart, The Undertaker, and Hulk Hogan, as well as some strong feuds with Lex Luger and Jim Duggan. His entourage of Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji also gave him the appearance of a true monster led by deceitful leadership, tugging at the heartstrings of pro-americans and conjuring memories of World War 2 videos and the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Before Yoko even LOST a match, he attempted the biggest slap in the face of America - and among the best marketing ploys in WWF history - a bodyslam contest on the Fourth of July aboard the Intrepid in New York City. What genius. The man was so massive and unmovable, yet so many signed up to be a part of the event. In one day, the man renewed a sense of partriotism in wrestling fans as Lex Luger completed the slam and won the contest. For someone who didn't speak English for years, he did an admirable job.
He also reincarnated the feel of Andre the Giant, as a dominating World Champion in the early going, he teamed with Owen Hart in the later years of declining health and still made fans gawk at his size. Tragically, despite losing a great deal of weight, he died of a heart attack at age 34.
Yokozuna vs Ron Killings - Yoko would squash captain high spot. Killings is athletic and has talent, but he is like 220 pounds, and wouldn't be able to knock Yoko off his feet, let alone pin his shoulders to the mat.
Yokozuna vs Ricky Steamboat - See: Ron Killings
Yokonuza vs The Warlord - Warlord has the power to match with Yoko, but his #1 weapon, the Full Nelson, is USELESS against Yoko. Even Warlord couldn't wrap his arms around Yokozuna, and he sure as hell can't slam him.
My pick to win the entire tournament is Big Van Vader. While I consider Yokozuna to be the greatest heel of all time, I look at Vader as the greatest Superheavyweight in history. In the early 1990's, Vader dominated WCW with the likes of Ric Flair and Sting hanging around. He helped make the legacy of Ron Simmons in his title matches with him, and of course, had a tremendous feud with Mick "Cactus Jack" Foley culminating in the Texas Death Match at Halloween Havoc.
Vader was as agile as a 250 pounder. He hit moonsaults when you least expected it, and the Vader Bomb and Vader Splash were as high impact and vile as they were visually impressive. Vader also used his weight well and sold as a big man should. He used the same psychology as a killer in a slasher film - put him down, but he keeps coming at you, slowly stalking you. If he gets the upper hand, you're getting punished.
In addition to mat and high flying wrestling ability, Vader also came equipped with some Martial Arts skills, hitting open-handed ear punches that made anyone cringe. He wasn't so big that he was immoble, yet was still one of the biggest champs in wrestling history.
Vader vs Barry Windham - This is actually Vader's hardest test. Barry is strong, agile, and is familiar with Vader and the times he wrestled. Here's the issue - everything Windham does well, Vader does a little better. Windham is strong, Vader is stronger. Windham is agile, Vader is more agile. Windham is ruthless, Vader is a monster.
Vader vs James Storm - Similar to Windham, only Storm also doesn't have Windham's experience, so I'd look for this match to be even easier for Vader to win.
Vader vs Lance Storm or Hakushi - A joke. Storm can't expect to mat wrestle Vader into a submission or a pinfall. Vader would have an easier time with these two that he did with Storm.
SO NOT ALLOW THE BAD BOOKING OF THE WWE IN 1996-1998 TO INFLUENCE YOU AWAY FROM THIS LEGEND! Vote Vader in the TNA Region and beyond!
I will not post a picture of this man with that silly "Damn!" shirt on. Fact is, long before the hilarious gimmick, even prior to the great Acolytes Tag Team, Simmons was a tremendous athlete and champion. He is the first African American World Champion ever, when he defeated Vader for the WCW Title in the early 90's before suffering a shoulder injury and dropping it back.
Take it even a step further. Simmons, along side Butch Reed, was one half of one of the late 80's / early 90's best tag teams of all time, DOOM. Managed by Teddy Long, Doom came out for sneak attacks whipping opponents into submission with weightlifting belts. They were angry, fast, strong, athletic - Ron Simmons himself is the Apollo Creed of pro wrestling, and he deserves a look. OH YEAH, he turns 60 this year!
Ron Simmons vs Yuji Nagata. I don't know Nagata at all. Simmons wins for familiarity. Sorry, Japan marks.
Ron Simmons vs Raven / Santino. Raven is talented, but he's not too much more than hardcore and he's out of his element here. Simmons is stronger and just as ruthless from his Doom days. Santino is too green, and since the entire match doesn't occur on the microphone, the former WCW World Champion gets the nod either way. He could also then go on to defeat Bam Bam Bigelow the same way he beat Vader in the 90's.
Ron isn't my pick to win the region, but he deserves consideration, at least for a few rounds.
I almost went with Tully Blanchard, but more of you know Tully than Sasaki, and going up against Eddie Guerrero first round, there is more of a need for you to know who this is. And that is, to be specific, a Japanese Wrestling Legend.
Like many all-time greats, Sasaki started as a tag team wrestler, forming a team with Road Warrior Hawk in New Japan and winning several tag championships. He also held titles in a promotion you may have heard of - Stampede Wrestling in Canada. In November of 1995, he won the WCW United States Title over Sting, in a match held in Japan. He is also a two-time winner of the G-1 climax tournament, which is a standing room only wrestling event in Japan which makes the front page of Japanese newspapers.
Sasaki is a 5-time IWGP World Title holder, and a 7-time IWGP tag-team champion. He and Hiroshi Hase enjoyed Match of the Year honors with the Steiners in 1991, and even at advancing age, Sasaki was ranked #103 in the PWI 500's Singles Wrestlers and held #27 and #50 spots on the tag team list with different partners.
Sasaki vs Eddie Guerrero - TOUGH match, but I think Sasaki has the wherewithall to post the biggest upset in the tournament. Sasaki made a career of defeating everyone, from the fast, high flyer (like Guerrero) on up. He has a win over Sting for God's sake! Guerrero is talented, but his untimely death has made him little more than a sentimental favorite and should not get past Sasaki in the first round. Remember, Eddie's really an overacheving Cruiserweight.
Sasaki vs Iron Sheik - Tough match, but Sasaki has elements of his game that Sheik doesn't. Sheik is ruthless and has a nasty submission move, but he was fairly over rated and acted as the transitional champ in a tainted win over Bob Backlund to give the WWF Title to Hulk Hogan. Sasaki should dismantle the slow, deliberate Sheik in under 20 minutes.
Ok, so there you go. 4 guys YOU should vote for, and the reasons WHY you should. I welcome the debate, and I have included a poll for you to tell me if I've successfully convinced you or not.
IC25
ECW Region
Yokozuna is, in my book, the greatest heel in WWE history. He was an unstoppable, believable Super Heavyweight at 505 lbs during his debut and as much as 700 lbs during his later years. A formidable 2-time WWF Champion, Yoko holds impressive wins over the likes of Bret Hart, The Undertaker, and Hulk Hogan, as well as some strong feuds with Lex Luger and Jim Duggan. His entourage of Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji also gave him the appearance of a true monster led by deceitful leadership, tugging at the heartstrings of pro-americans and conjuring memories of World War 2 videos and the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Before Yoko even LOST a match, he attempted the biggest slap in the face of America - and among the best marketing ploys in WWF history - a bodyslam contest on the Fourth of July aboard the Intrepid in New York City. What genius. The man was so massive and unmovable, yet so many signed up to be a part of the event. In one day, the man renewed a sense of partriotism in wrestling fans as Lex Luger completed the slam and won the contest. For someone who didn't speak English for years, he did an admirable job.
He also reincarnated the feel of Andre the Giant, as a dominating World Champion in the early going, he teamed with Owen Hart in the later years of declining health and still made fans gawk at his size. Tragically, despite losing a great deal of weight, he died of a heart attack at age 34.
Yokozuna vs Ron Killings - Yoko would squash captain high spot. Killings is athletic and has talent, but he is like 220 pounds, and wouldn't be able to knock Yoko off his feet, let alone pin his shoulders to the mat.
Yokozuna vs Ricky Steamboat - See: Ron Killings
Yokonuza vs The Warlord - Warlord has the power to match with Yoko, but his #1 weapon, the Full Nelson, is USELESS against Yoko. Even Warlord couldn't wrap his arms around Yokozuna, and he sure as hell can't slam him.
TNA Region
My pick to win the entire tournament is Big Van Vader. While I consider Yokozuna to be the greatest heel of all time, I look at Vader as the greatest Superheavyweight in history. In the early 1990's, Vader dominated WCW with the likes of Ric Flair and Sting hanging around. He helped make the legacy of Ron Simmons in his title matches with him, and of course, had a tremendous feud with Mick "Cactus Jack" Foley culminating in the Texas Death Match at Halloween Havoc.
Vader was as agile as a 250 pounder. He hit moonsaults when you least expected it, and the Vader Bomb and Vader Splash were as high impact and vile as they were visually impressive. Vader also used his weight well and sold as a big man should. He used the same psychology as a killer in a slasher film - put him down, but he keeps coming at you, slowly stalking you. If he gets the upper hand, you're getting punished.
In addition to mat and high flying wrestling ability, Vader also came equipped with some Martial Arts skills, hitting open-handed ear punches that made anyone cringe. He wasn't so big that he was immoble, yet was still one of the biggest champs in wrestling history.
Vader vs Barry Windham - This is actually Vader's hardest test. Barry is strong, agile, and is familiar with Vader and the times he wrestled. Here's the issue - everything Windham does well, Vader does a little better. Windham is strong, Vader is stronger. Windham is agile, Vader is more agile. Windham is ruthless, Vader is a monster.
Vader vs James Storm - Similar to Windham, only Storm also doesn't have Windham's experience, so I'd look for this match to be even easier for Vader to win.
Vader vs Lance Storm or Hakushi - A joke. Storm can't expect to mat wrestle Vader into a submission or a pinfall. Vader would have an easier time with these two that he did with Storm.
SO NOT ALLOW THE BAD BOOKING OF THE WWE IN 1996-1998 TO INFLUENCE YOU AWAY FROM THIS LEGEND! Vote Vader in the TNA Region and beyond!
WWE Region
I will not post a picture of this man with that silly "Damn!" shirt on. Fact is, long before the hilarious gimmick, even prior to the great Acolytes Tag Team, Simmons was a tremendous athlete and champion. He is the first African American World Champion ever, when he defeated Vader for the WCW Title in the early 90's before suffering a shoulder injury and dropping it back.
Take it even a step further. Simmons, along side Butch Reed, was one half of one of the late 80's / early 90's best tag teams of all time, DOOM. Managed by Teddy Long, Doom came out for sneak attacks whipping opponents into submission with weightlifting belts. They were angry, fast, strong, athletic - Ron Simmons himself is the Apollo Creed of pro wrestling, and he deserves a look. OH YEAH, he turns 60 this year!
Ron Simmons vs Yuji Nagata. I don't know Nagata at all. Simmons wins for familiarity. Sorry, Japan marks.
Ron Simmons vs Raven / Santino. Raven is talented, but he's not too much more than hardcore and he's out of his element here. Simmons is stronger and just as ruthless from his Doom days. Santino is too green, and since the entire match doesn't occur on the microphone, the former WCW World Champion gets the nod either way. He could also then go on to defeat Bam Bam Bigelow the same way he beat Vader in the 90's.
Ron isn't my pick to win the region, but he deserves consideration, at least for a few rounds.
WCW Region
I almost went with Tully Blanchard, but more of you know Tully than Sasaki, and going up against Eddie Guerrero first round, there is more of a need for you to know who this is. And that is, to be specific, a Japanese Wrestling Legend.
Like many all-time greats, Sasaki started as a tag team wrestler, forming a team with Road Warrior Hawk in New Japan and winning several tag championships. He also held titles in a promotion you may have heard of - Stampede Wrestling in Canada. In November of 1995, he won the WCW United States Title over Sting, in a match held in Japan. He is also a two-time winner of the G-1 climax tournament, which is a standing room only wrestling event in Japan which makes the front page of Japanese newspapers.
Sasaki is a 5-time IWGP World Title holder, and a 7-time IWGP tag-team champion. He and Hiroshi Hase enjoyed Match of the Year honors with the Steiners in 1991, and even at advancing age, Sasaki was ranked #103 in the PWI 500's Singles Wrestlers and held #27 and #50 spots on the tag team list with different partners.
Sasaki vs Eddie Guerrero - TOUGH match, but I think Sasaki has the wherewithall to post the biggest upset in the tournament. Sasaki made a career of defeating everyone, from the fast, high flyer (like Guerrero) on up. He has a win over Sting for God's sake! Guerrero is talented, but his untimely death has made him little more than a sentimental favorite and should not get past Sasaki in the first round. Remember, Eddie's really an overacheving Cruiserweight.
Sasaki vs Iron Sheik - Tough match, but Sasaki has elements of his game that Sheik doesn't. Sheik is ruthless and has a nasty submission move, but he was fairly over rated and acted as the transitional champ in a tainted win over Bob Backlund to give the WWF Title to Hulk Hogan. Sasaki should dismantle the slow, deliberate Sheik in under 20 minutes.
Ok, so there you go. 4 guys YOU should vote for, and the reasons WHY you should. I welcome the debate, and I have included a poll for you to tell me if I've successfully convinced you or not.
IC25
