
Ladies and gentlemen (Mostly genetlemen), this is the year for the New School. To the best of my recollection, the last three years has seen WZ crown Tournament Champions who were major players during the WWF's down time in the mid-90s. Yes, a couple of them have aged well, and who doesn't love Bret Hart? However, the lack of respect given to the New School is, at times, appalling. The refusal of many wrestling fans to let go of the past and leave the late 90s behind is disturbing, and gives an immediate advantage to everyone in this competition from the Attitude Era and before. For every fan who, like me, enjoys today's crop of Cena, Batista, Edge, Orton, Punk, and so on, there're five who abhor our continued enjoyment of contemporary professional wrestling. This year, we are subservient to them no longer. This year, we make a stand. It's time for us to show people that the New School has earned it's place in wrestling history.
Why Batista?
Cena's a great choice, but the fact is that Batista has maintained his desired reaction in a way John Cena can only dream of. Batista has proven himself to be a larger draw than Edge and certainly Randy Orton, and could out-match both in any sort of kayfabe related debate. Punk? His best days are ahead of him. Don't even bother.
If you want someone who came along in shocking fashion and had a meteoric, unplanned rise to sustained success, look no further than Batista. In that way, he's this generations Steve Austin. There was no blue-print to build Batista into a franchise-maker, yet he's become a cornerstone of the largest wrestling company in the United States.
Looking for a great worker? You're talking about Batista, the man who carried Undertaker to big man vs. big man matches of greater quality than the Deadman's been able to have in ages.
Looking for a draw? You're looking at the man behind WrestleMania 21 and WrestleMania 23 (the latter producing the highest buyrate in the history of WrestleMania). You're also looking at the man who drew top notch numbers in his rematches with Triple H and is part of what casuals would have seen as the top match of this year's WrestleMania, Batista vs. Cena. That show is already projected to be a record breaker.
You want kayfabe glory the likes of which no logical person will be able to trounce in nine out of ten possible matches? Batista is this generation's man for that.
Add onto all of that the fact that Batista is having an extremely hot run as a heel right now, and you've got an extremely viable contender.
Where's the weakness?
If you're thinking there is none, you're on the right track.
Back Batista for the 2010 WrestleZone Tournament Champion. Join the winning team. Solidify this generation's place in history.