Round 1: Day 1. San Antonio, TX

[X]

While I'll admit I haven't seen a lot of Castagnoli, I do remember seeing some of his stuff (possibly in your Wrestler of the Week thread Shadow?) and being pretty impressed with his in-ring skills, but I can't hide the fact that I'm a bit of an Ultimo Dragon mark.

He was one of the guys you could solidly rely on week-in and week-out to put on a damned good match back in the original NWO-heyday of WCW. With crappy main events and terrible stuff like Hugh Morris and the Dungeon of Doom taking over the midcard, guys like Ultimo Dragon and the then young Eddie Guerrero & (not so young) Dean Malenko were able to salvage many a Nitro from a pure-wrestling standpoint. And that puts him ahead in my book, that he could make up for maybe forty five minutes of total garbage on Nitro with his 8 minute match.

Winner: Ultimo Dragon

 

[X]

Man. This is a hard one for me. Two of my all time favorite promo-men. How the hell can I pick? Then again, this is about in-ring action.

DDP is quicker then Jesse, thats for sure. And he's a great improviser with his Diamond Cutter, as well as being a skilled brawler from his feud with Randy Savage (the first time I really started to take him seriously).

But Jesse is just too big here IMO. He's got a physique thats ridiculious, and he was one of my favorite wrestlers in the old-school WWWF(Thats not a type for you youngin's, the WWE was known as the WWWF until about 1982). Granted I've only been able to see his old stuff through tape-trading and WWE 24/7, but man do they show a lot, and man was he a bad-ass.

This is a close one, and I feel like DDP is kinda getting gypped, but thats the way it goes here.

Winner: Jesse "The (Governing) Body" Ventura

 

[X]

While the pure smark vote would be to go for Nagata, you can't deny Ron Simmons.

Am I the only man alive who still remembers he was WCW champion, and the first black world champion for that matter? He dominated for a while there in WCW, and has one of the most physical styles in the ring that I've ever seen. Find me someone who throws a better spinebuster (not even AA can beat the raw physicality of Simmon's spinebuster) not to mention the Dominator is a fantastic finisher.

Winner: Ron Simmons

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Simmons was a beast back in his day, and not even THAT long ago, when he was with the APA as well. Great, brutal spinebuster, great athlete, was an all american football player for florida state. Yuji Nagata was very very good as well, but Simmons toppled the greatest monester heel of all times, Vader, for the world title. Simmons for the win.

The only factor the crowd would play here is that Simmons is, and always has been way over with the crowd, while Yuji is probably a lot less well known.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

I cant see an awful lot of smarky votes going to DDP here, so he gets my vote. I used to be really high on DDP back in his coming in through the crowd days, and right off his battlebowl victory. One of the first tweeners we see so often in the current era. Ventura would probably be more over with the WWE crowd, becuase he is such a staple of the old school WWWF and WWF, with the commentating ("CMON MCMAHON!!!" "look at the SIZE of the GIANT"). But DDP gets my vote for the win, with a diamond cutter out of nowere, after probably taking quite a beating from the overpowering Vetura.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

the ultimo dragon is the fuckin MAN. His matches with Rey Mysterio, Dean Malenko, La Parka, Juventud Guerrera, Eddie Guerrero, ad Billy Kidman were some of the best action ive seen, and the best stuff going on Monday Nitro. The Dragon was always very entertaining, and Im hoping his weak run in the WWE doesnt totally kill him in this thing

 

[ydp]

Gotta go with Waltman. Even though I'm a huge Dudley MARK. Bubba is just in the wrong region. He'd get DQ trying to go Extreme.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Like Xfear said, I dont think Bubba would have a chance in singles competition with a former champion like Waltman. If it were ECW rules, id go Bubba ray for sure, but with sanctioned rules, in a singles match, certainley gotta go with Waltman. This match would probably get booed out of the building, becuase everyone hates both of these guys lol.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

I like IC25s evaluation here. Bam Bam would have a tough time swatting at this guy, and would probably be close to getting put away many times. But there is no way you are gonna be able to beat Bam Bam through using rolling German suplexes and/or a tornado DDT, becuase of Bams strenght and size advantages, and experinence. I could see Williams going for the tornado ddt, gettin caught and sidewalk slammed for the bam bam win.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

somehow, some way, palumbo has two votes...against SHAWN MICHEALS in a WWE RING in SAN ANTONIO TEXAS...I doubt Palumbo would even make it off his bike before shawn superkicked him off it, leading to a count out victory.

Palumbo doesnt even get in an offensive move, and the crowd pops like a motherfucker. Absolute squash for Micheals, bring on round two.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

While I belive Elijah is hugely talented, and greatly underused, he has done next to nothing in the buisness, and Delirous is a proven gritty, if not underexpsed talent. Delirous probably wont get real far in this thing becuase of that underexposure, but to be honest, its hard for me to figure out how anyone could even vote for Burke, who has done NOTHING to prove anything to anyone. Delirious for the win, in what would probably be a fantastic match.

 

[Jesse]

Bubba will lose for 2 reasons:

He has no tag team partner, he is a tag team wrestler

It is a real WWE style match, if this was ECW, then it would be a different story


Bubba is an accomplished tag team wrestler, but he comes no where near X Pac in singles competition, even in a hardcore match, i think X Pac will out do Bubba Ray, this is actually a 1 sided matchup

Winner: X Pac/Sean Waltman

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Oh god..as much as I love santino, raven would DESTROY santino, probably to a huge pop lol...I could see this being the second shortest match of the evening, right behind Shawn Micheals superkicking Palumbo so hard he backflips off of his motorcycle. Raven is a superb guy, one of the few old ECW guys whose in ring skills command respect, and has phsycology that is tough to be matched. Santino..well hasnt really done anything except be hilarious. Raven would be anything BUT hilarious in this match lol. Raven, in under 5 minutes (sorry IC25 lol)

 

[Shadowmancer]

Results are here

Well this is one of the easier choices of the first round. Santino Vs. The second most devastating DDTs in the History of Wrestling. This match will be over in under 5 Minutes including Entrances and Exiting the ring. Raven has the experience in the rules of the WWE and is one of the great psychologists of Wrestling History. EvenFlow DDT early on and Santino is rolled up for the Pin. This isn't Milan and there will be no Miracle this Day.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

What is with all the people voting for Elijah? Really. Come on. Name one classic Burke match and I'll give you ten Delirious. Shadowmancer said it best. Exposure is what will get Burke through. It'll also probably be what get's The headbangers through, depending on who they face. It's a shame that people are voting for Burke though. I think that if you haven't seen both competitors in action, then you shouldn't vote.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Has anyone seen a Ventura match? Jesus he loses this on matches alone. He's a better mic man, but it's about wrestling. Or even acting. Don't get me wrong. There's nothing more entertaining in a film than a bit of Ventura. But he still can't act for shit. Maybe it's because he was besides Arnie that he looks ok, but he's terrible. DDP on the other hand more thna held his own in Ready To Rumble.

But it is actually about wrestling, so the average DDP gets it.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Simmons man, what a pile of shit. How can anybody vote for him over Nagata? The highlight of Simmonds career is probably getting tag gold with Bradshaw. His WCW title win was important in a way (black champ and all that jazz), but it was still out of nowhere and nobody gave a shit. Nagata on the other had was an excellent wrestler. He's also a legit fighter, not the best, but he tries bless him.

 

[Nathan]

Wow, this is tough. Even though I don't know much about Nagata, I also think that Ron Simmons isn't all that good. I'd have to say Simmons though as even though he has never been that good of a wrestler, he beat arguably the best super-heavyweight of all time, Vader for the WCW title, becoming the first Black Champ.
My vote has to go to: Ron Simmons

 

[Nathan]

I voted for Jesse "The Body" Ventura as he is very under-rated and DDP is very Over-rated. DDP will be remembered for losing the WCW Title to David Arqeutte and that stupid Stalker Angle.

My Vote goes to: Jesse "The Body" Ventura

 

[Nathan]

Can I just start by saying: WHO THE HELL VOTED FOR PALUMBO!!!

Shawn Michaels could beat Palumbo with both hands tied behind his back. Palumbo isn't worthy of being in the same ring as the showstopper! Palumbo mighn't even get an offensive move in. HBK in 4:00 with Sweet chin music. Round 2 Here he comes!

My Vote: Shawn Michaels

 

[Shadowmancer]

Results are Here

Again I reiterate the question everyone has asked so far except in a different format. Why vote for Chuck Palumbo. HBK has the home field advantage, in both rules and arena. Combine with the fact that HBK is one of the best everand you have a squash with HBK coming out and Superkicking Palumbo straight after the bell for the pin.

 

[StInGeR-HBK]

I really don't think I can put it any better than the previous people have. This has to be a no-brainer. Shawn against Palumbo in Shawn's home town???? C'mon!! lol! Well, I guess I made my point! Shawn Michaels all the way.

 

[Shocky]

Duh, as in no brainer, as in anyone that votes for Palumbo should probably be red repped to hell and back. Chuck Palumbo, the man whose had had more failed more times with gimmicks then Jeff Hardy has failed with a container of Hair Dye. Outside of an incredible physique, what does Palumbo possibly bring to the table to be in the same ring with Shawn Michaels?

 

[Shocky]

Waltman gets a lot of shit, and a lot of it is justifiable. But when you watch his stuff from when he first began, before he was fucked royally by his Kliq pals, the kid had a shit load of talent. I reference his match with Bret Hart on Raw for the WWF title. The guy was within a year of his debut, and managed to ahve an incredible match with arguably the most technically sound guy to ever step foot in a ring. Can Bubba dudley cut an incredible promo, yes, is the guy strong as hell, yes, can the guy keep up with a guy as well rounded as Waltman, No.

 

[Shocky]

I'll admit, before WOTW, I couldn't have picked Castagnoli out from a line of 2 guys. I had never heard of him. Since that thread, I liek what I see from the guy. He's solid and a great guy on the mic to boot.

But the Ultimo Dragon is something simply different. Here was a guy that debuted in WCW carrying 9 different titles. Now whether that was legit or kayfabe, it's still pretty damn impressive to see a guy with that much gold. He was one of the few reasons I stayed tuned to WCW. The guys matches were solid, and he still managed to hold a little credibility in the land of the lost cruiserweights, WWE. I have to go with the Dragon, but Double C is not too far away from breaking into something special.