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2. Cena - Has been the top draw for the last 3 plus years and only recently slowed by injuries.
3. Orton - Character issues and injuries aside, he is reliable in the ring in a top spot.
4. MVP - Possibly a future breakout star who I could see being #1 in a year or 2.
5. C.M. Punk - I didn't see much in him at first as a major draw but he connects with the fan in a unique way.
6. John Morrison - Super athletic and has grown leaps and bounds as a character and in the ring in the last couple years.
7. Ted DiBiase Jr. - Maybe a stretch with him being so new but I see big things in his future, a natural heel.
8. AJ Styles - Always puts on a good match and shows good fire in his promos when given material to work with.
9. Evan Bourne - Promos aside, he wows the crowd in the ring and showed in his ECW match with Miz that he can do more than just high spots.
10. Hernandez - Has been a bright spot of TNA whenever he is in the ring, could be that breakout star Tomko was positioned to be a while back.
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Picks by Eric Gall of Bridgeport, Conn...
I approached these ten picks as "franchise players" in the sense that their market value would necessitate grabbing them early while at the same time being aware that some of the other talents I want would still be available later.
1. John Cena - Cena is the face of professional wrestling and will continue to be so until the next big wrestling boom. I'd want Cena because I really wouldn't want any other company having him. I think the term "draws money" is horribly over-used, but John Cena is one of the very few, if not the ONLY, current wrestler who I feel really does so.
2. Ric Flair - A new promotion needs a stamp of legitimacy and a face that anyone who knows anything about wrestling can recognize. Enter Ric Flair. Flair can wear a multitude of hats in the company (heel manager, announcer, "commissioner") and still cuts the best promo in the business.
3. Shawn Michaels - In the early days of ECW, Terry Funk was the elder statesman who groomed future main eventers and was a presence in the locker room for young wrestlers to learn from. In my fed, Shawn Michaels would be that guy. He still has enough to be a part-time main eventer, but his legacy and talent would help shape the future of the company.
4. Chris Jericho - Jericho can do it all, has done it all, and his versatility and overall talent make him irreplaceable. Whether it be having words with legends or taking rising stars to time-limit classics, Jericho would be the company's go-to guy.
5. Samoa Joe - The first "new blood" pick of my company, Joe brings a flavor all his own. Already a champion of ROH and TNA, Joe is a household name. His physicality and presence adds a one-of-a-kind dimension to my fed.
6. "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson - While maybe not the most visible wrestler, I believe he is the best in the business. Danielson would be the future of the company and would raise the bar of wrestling excellence to new heights. The sky is truly the limit with Dragon.
7. The Briscoe Brothers - While tag team wrestling has largely been ignored on national TV, Jay and Mark show why it is still alive and very much kicking. I feel that the Briscoes are simply the best tag team to come along in years, and the people need to see them.
8. Amazing/Awesome Kong - No other woman is as physically imposing as Kong. She also never has a bad match. Her presence can help redefine what women's wrestling will be thought of in the future.
9. Jim Ross - No announcer since Gordon Solie has had so much respect and credibility than JR. Anybody who's ever tuned into Monday night wrestling would recognize Ross' match calling, and Ross is enough of a talented, unique, and irreplaceable talent, I would certainly use a "franchise player" pick on him just because I would not want him working for a competitor.
10. Paul Heyman - Wrestling's Dr. Frankenstein. The most creative mind and best booker in wrestling, ever. It baffles me how no one has brought him back to wrestling. I think his skill set is so once-in-a-lifetime, I would use the #10 pick for the man who would mold all the ingredients of the company, accentuating strengths and hiding weaknesses.
Sleepers/Waiver Wire: Just like a "fantasy" draft, there are going to be talents that, while not "big money" or main eventers, are definite bargains or valuable role players. Here are a few of mine.
- Rey Mysterio - He would've been #11.
- Cheerleader Melissa - A future superstar; someone a women's division can be built around.
- C.M. Punk - Joe filled the same role in the Top Ten, but still a great pick-up.
- Steve Corino - A great mind for the business, this generation's Jim Cornette.
- Matt Striker - I'd make him JR's commentary partner, a bright future in announcing.
- Colt Cabana - Comic genius.
- Takeshi Morishima - a well-rounded and fresh face who provides diversity in its best sense.
- Shelton Benjamin - always overlooked, I would hope to pick him before anyone else does.
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Picks by Kay-V of Calgary, Alb.
I've been a wrestling fan for around 15 years. The first pay per view I watched was King of the Ring 1993 and have been hooked ever since. With the timing of when I began watching and being from Calgary, my first "hero" in wrestling was most certainly Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
As a wresting fan, I believe a performer should ideally be the 'total package'. He should be able to go in the ring athletically, understand psychology and story telling in the ring, be able to talk fans into the building and have the charisma and personality to connect with them on an emotional level. All of these tools makes a great wrestling performer. My draft picks reflect who I believe out of the current crop of performers come closest to being the ideal total packages. Also, to start a promotion, I believe there should be a blend of youth and experience. For example, Shawn Michaels in my opinion is the all time best, however I cannot start my promotion with ten Shawns, since he is in the twilight of his career and doesn't have that longevity from 2008 onwards. On the flip side, my favourite "young talent" is Kofi Kingston, however, I cannot pick ten Kofis since a Kofi Kingston lacks the name value recognition to sell tickets and pay-per-views. My draft picks therefore reflect a good blend of youth and experience to sell tickets in the present and build for the future.
1. Edge: In my opinion, currently the overall best performer in the industry. He is amazing in the ring, he can single handedly carry a 20 minute promo segment, his acting and facial expressions are priceless and he has shown time and again his ability to carry a storyline or a feud. Case-in-point, his year long storyline with Vickie Guerrero. What on paper seemed like a disaster and a ratings killer, Edge has single handedly taken this very poor, illogical story given to him and turned it into gold on screen with his performance. He is also the sole reason for changing the TV viewing habits of myself and many people I know by turning Friday Night Smackdown from a WCW Thunder-esque filler show to must see engaging and entertaining TV. He would be the top star in my promotion
2. Triple H: He carries great name value, he cuts a great promo, his in-ring work is solid and he carries a superstar presence. People can say what they want about this man, but his dedication and passion for the wrestling business is second to none. I would use Triple H the way WWE currently uses The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. As a mega star, a legend in his own right and as a special attraction, but not necessarily in the world title picture at all times.
3. Shawn Michaels: He is arguably, and certainly in my opinion, the greatest of all time. He was always great on the mic, but his promos have become phenomenal over the last few years of his career. While in the ring he isn't quite at the level he was a decade ago, he is still very good to excellent and can consistently deliver that 5 star performance at a big event. To quote Jim Ross there has never ever been a big match performer quite like Shawn Michaels in this business. The experience he brings to the table would be a great asset to my promotion.
4. Chris Jericho: The greatest asset of Chris Jericho is his charisma and ability to talk people into the building. He is definitely among the top five talkers in the history of the business. He has proven he can get over big as a face and a heel. A versatile, charismatic performer like Chris Jericho would be a great asset to my promotion.
5. John Cena: Say what you want, but when it comes to charisma, this man has truck loads of it. His in ring work improves on a weekly basis and he can deliver a great match given the right opponents. His work ethic is incredible and he would be a model employee.
6. C.M. Punk: This man has a special connection with the audience. He has a special presence with which he can get a reaction without being 6'5, or a great talker or great in the ring. I would however turn him heel and let him loose to bring out some of the magic he showed with his heel work in ROH.
7. Kofi Kingston: Great athleticism and he has a special connection with the audience.
8. The Brian Kendrick (w/ Ezekiel): He has a special charisma too, but as a heel. His work as "The" Brian Kendrick has been very entertaining. His mic work is improving on a weekly basis and his in ring work speaks for itself. I believe Ezekiel adds a lot to his character as his manager, a throwback to the classic duo of a young heel Shawn Michaels and Diesel crica 1993/1994.
9. MVP: His charisma is great, he brings a lot of "attitude" to the table and his in ring work is solid. He certainly has all the tools needed to be a main event superstar.
10. Samoa Joe: He's a machine in the ring and he has a great connection with the fans. I would love to see him as a badass babyface against a heel CM Punk (throwback from ROH) , a heel Brian Kendrick and Edge. After those, I would see how he would do as a heel against a Shawn Michaels. A mega-star badass encounter with Triple H would also be a money match given the proper build up.
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AND NEW FOR 2009! Monthly "Vintage Audio Torch Talks." We are releasing for the first time ever audio versions of our text Torch Talk updates, the historical first series of insider interviews ever. Wade Keller's newsmaking in-depth interviews with wrestling's biggest names are now being made available exclusively to VIP members. But you must be a member each month, as these are not archived, so they are replaced with a new one each month! This debuted in January 2009 with a 68 minute interview with the late "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith. Who's next? Hulk Hogan? Eric Bischoff? The Rock? Goldberg? Jeff Hardy?
